Chain of Dreams

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The World of Phantasia.

A fantastical world of flowing Mana, unsolved mysteries and crawling danger. During the Era of Origin, it was a harsh world filled with chaos; and both Mortal and God alike formed a pact bound to last eternity to set a definite order. While the humans were gifted to grasp the concepts of both magic and science alike, the higher beings they now worshiped as their deities reshaped Phantasia into the world it is now. Or so the legend tells. The world itself is like a jigsaw puzzle--many vital pieces that necessary to comprehend it are missing and complete exploration of the planet is severely restricted by the natural hazards that exist. And thus, while a vast mantle of undefined danger conceals a majority of Phantasia, the slowly-growing patches of thriving population that exist contrast it into perfect harmony. I shall welcome you to the universe of Oblivion Phantasy, a collection of tales spanning the length of time of this world from the start, through the end. All within one's grasp.

Our world is changing. The end of a global-scale event draws near as the millennial boundaries between two worlds faint, clash and merge as one, day by day, week by week, month by month. It will not only open virtually every door to the solving of Phantasia's mysteries, but also help reestablish contact with this parallel realm our ancestors sealed during the Era of The Ancient, to be later forgotten by countless layers and layers of generations. This is The Convergence, which has begun nearly three decades ago, and its completion will mark the end of the Golden Era, and commence the dawn of yet another Era. The gargantuan gaps still separating the two worlds are rarely crossed, for there are exceedingly unstable rifts within the ever-weakening boundaries, but they have recently been considerably shortening as a sign of an imminent merger. However, The Convergence is actually the least of concerns among the High Council.

The Land of Dharmastia, the focal point of civilization and major metaphysical and technological breakthroughts throughout the history of Phantasia. Ever since the Wars of Mana which occurred centuries ago, this highly populated continent has remained standing as an individual nation, a symbol of power in equilibrium as the High Council holds the primordial political authority over Dharmastia from within The Spire in the citadel of Antica. It is, essentially, a congress of a select few from the entire world, as only those who are wise and capable enough are invited to join in order to be able to manage the country based on democratic desicions made between their members. However, that is not where I am intending to lead you. The Golden Era started almost fourteen years ago after the discovery and reassembly of the God Machine.

Voidsday, Arkra 8th, Year 1286. The entire sleeping population of Dharmastia experienced a phenonenon--a simple dream. While the exact ocurrences within that dream varied greatly from person to person, it directly lead to the extensive shores of the Nasakra Region, in which a majestic monument of the finest clockwork could be clearly seen over the sands which were later found to have its very scattered components buried beneath. Further research provided paradoxical answers--if they can be even called that--as it dates to absurdly ancient ages, while it is composed of materials foreign to Phantasia. Naturally, it was reassembled, and once the first experiment had been carried out, everyone knew the world had leapt forward into the grasp of a new Era. Installed inside the middle levels of The Spire in Antica, The God Machine, although not ultimately understood yet, is capable of transmogrifying objects through unknown means into... practically anything. It has turned rusted swords of steel into crafted hilts sprouting vibrant blades of pure Mana, prototype automatons into fully fuctional robotic wonders of clockwork, and even common plant life into exotic specimens of inorganic nature.

And thus, civilization developed exponentially from this point onwards--a true Golden Era for Phantasia.

Mortesday, Xanamt 19th, Year 1299. The Centennial Festival draws near. However, I cannot help but be unsettled by the deep feeling something is going to happen, and it is not The Convergence I am talking about. The God Machine seems to taint a once peaceful Dharmastia with the essence of its synthetic, alien creations--its reign having extended to the furthest reaches of Phantasia. The lines of Clockwork automatons roam the streets in a mechanized march as they have been assigned to merely three years ago by the High Council's unquestioned command, and the God Machine's crafting power. I do not know what their intentions are, but they are certainly beyond watching and protecting our homeland with them. While the majority of population remains blinded by this inanimate icon, there are few of us who have decided to get something done, and hopefully soon enough.

It... just seems horribly wrong.

The dream, the machine, everything...

I fear we might be playing with fire.

Oblivion Phantasy
~ Chain of Dreams ~


Merely the beginning of the end.

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