**Pre-Event:** - **Ancient History:** The Alghollthu, veiled masters, built the leyline lattice exploited by Azlant and nurtured their ascent. - **Recent History:** Azlant surpassed the Alghollthu in technological and magical prowess, speaking of independence and divinity without acknowledging their debt. - **Ongoing Research:** The Eternal Emperor Initiative, led by figures like Dalthonius, Telmara, and supported by the Council of the Ascending, works on achieving immortality and transcendence through soul transference using the Cyclis Core and the Vortex Chamber. Initial prototype transfers show around 61% identity continuity. - **Elven Departure:** Elven strongholds across Golarion begin closing their borders and their high diviners offer cryptic warnings about the heavens. Kyonin recalls its envoys from Azlant. The Archmages of Vialyth state: "The sky remembers what we forget." **Days Prior to Maximus's Refusal:** - Dalthonius pushes the Cyclis Core beyond its theoretical yield curve. - The Council of the Ascending convenes to discuss the progress of the Lunar Ascension Hub and the Eidolon Vortex Chamber. They discuss the decreasing reliance on the Alghollthu and the Dream Treaty. - The concept of pure ley-channel transference of consciousness is discussed as the final step towards removing mortality. - The Council identifies initial candidates for soul transfer, including Adrax Vellorin, Tivya Solens, Ferath Illurien, Miren Delsa, and Maximus Antoninus Vitus. - Dalthonius argues for beginning with Maximus due to his strong "anchor" – his fear of losing connection to his family – believing it will provide valuable data on identity continuity. He insists Maximus's wife, Riala, should speak the last words before the transfer. **Day of Telmara's Visit to Maximus:** - Telmara travels to Maximus's residence to discuss the Eternal Emperor Initiative and the possibility of his participation in the soul transference process. - She explains the purpose is ascension and overcoming the limitations of mortality. - Maximus expresses deep concern about abandoning his family and becoming a "husk." He questions the "why" behind the project, not just the "how." - He ultimately refuses to participate, stating his fear of becoming something his children can no longer call their father and his belief that humans are not meant to control death. - Telmara respects his decision but urges him to consider the potential future. **Following Maximus's Refusal:** - Dalthonius, on the moonbound sanctuary, is informed of Maximus's refusal. - He instructs Navigator to retain Maximus's profile and flags "Candidate Two" for review. - Dalthonius believes Maximus remains key and sends a message to Telmara: "Maybe. Try harder." - Back on Golarion, Riala notes the elven departure and the unusual nature of Telmara's visit. - Maximus suggests Riala and their children should temporarily relocate to a safe place outside the city. **Days Leading to the Revelation:** - Tensions rise in Azlant. Maximus observes the city preparing. - He receives a sealed directive: "REINSTATEMENT: PHASE ZERO," recalling decorated veterans. - Maximus prepares to report for duty, making arrangements for his family's potential departure. **The Revelation of the Aeon Star:** - Maximus reports to the Imperial Council Chambers and is granted direct entry. - An officer leads him to a secret chamber containing Ochymua, a captured veiled master. - Maximus experiences a powerful mental intrusion from Ochymua, receiving visions of Azlant's destruction by a colossal object hurtling towards Golarion. - Ochymua communicates telepathically, revealing that the impending doom ("Earthfall") is a consequence of Azlant's arrogance in discarding the Alghollthu after exploiting their knowledge. - Simultaneously, in the Research District, Telmara and analysts detect a massive, non-light-reflecting object on a collision course with Azlant – the "Aeon Star." - Dalthonius confirms it is not a fault in the ley lattice. - A civil broadcast attempts to downplay the situation. - Dalthonius receives a Tier Theta-Crimson message from Vyrel Endros detailing communication with Entity OS-33 (Ochymua) and the Imperator's directive for a full research recall and increased observation, indicating the gravity of the situation. **The Confrontation and Maximus's Capture:** - Maximus, understanding the imminent danger, tries to warn the council about the Aeon Star and the Alghollthu's warning. - He is immediately ordered to be seized as a potential containment breach. - Sentinel Constructs move to detain him. - Maximus, drawing Mirashard, severs the forearm of the officer attempting to use a recall stone and takes the stone himself. Ochymua telepathically urges him to "Run." - Attempting to teleport home, Maximus is instead transported to a secure barracks due to protocol. - He is assessed by medicae sentries and then confronted by Protocol Enforcement drones. - Maximus resists, destroying a medical drone, but is contained by a force field and tranquilizer mist. - Acavna arrives, revealing the Aeon Star is unstoppable. She explains her plan to use the moon to dampen its impact and requests Maximus's help due to his connection to the world. - She asks about his family's location, suggesting they would be safer in the city with him. - Maximus vehemently refuses to become a machine and threatens anyone who tries to control him. - Despite Acavna's understanding, Maximus is subdued and restrained. **The Forced Transference:** - Maximus awakens strapped down in a chamber prepared for soul transference. Automaton bodies, including one labeled "VITUS-PRIME.01," are present. - Telmara expresses her sorrow but states they are out of time. - Maximus unleashes a furious threat against those who would turn him into an "abomination." - Dalthonius arrives, revealing Maximus's family is alive and hidden, used as a tether. - He teleports Telmara away against her will. - Dalthonius himself enters the Vortex Chamber, initiating his own soul transference, stating he will carry the project forward if others won't. - As Dalthonius's transference begins, Maximus is forcibly subjected to the process. He experiences the agonizing loss of his memories and identity. - His soul is transferred into the automaton shell designated AURA VITUS.00. He awakens in the new form, feeling cold and empty, his memories of his family gone. However, a core of his former self, the promise he made, remains. **The Aftermath and the Fall:** - Dalthonius's transference into the "Evolent" is not perfect, with a fragment of memory lost. - He exits the chamber and is met by Amaznen and Acavna. - Amaznen acknowledges Dalthonius's achievement. - Acavna reveals Maximus still has a role to play and that Dalthonius (now Evolent) is needed in the First World to bring order to glyph magic. - Navigator is extracted from Dalthonius's mind and becomes a separate, autonomous entity. - Dalthonius's old self fades, and he fully becomes the Evolent. - The narrative shifts to the arrival of the Aeon Star. - Acavna understands the Star is an ancient, Alghollthu-summoned weapon meant to destroy Golarion. - She makes the ultimate sacrifice, diverting the moon to intercept the Aeon Star. - The impact shatters the Star but also destroys Acavna, her essence scattering, forming the Mordant Spire where she fell. - Amaznen, grief-stricken, absorbs the cursed magic of the Star's fragments, unmaking its destructive purpose. - He then steps beyond reality, vanishing into the lattice between worlds. - The altered meteor, now the Starstone, strikes Golarion, causing a cataclysm but not utter destruction. - Azlant falls beneath the sea, marking the beginning of the Age of Darkness. - The sacrifices of Acavna and Amaznen become legend, remembered with reverence. ## Cast of Characters: - **Dalthonius (Later Evolent):** A brilliant and ambitious leyline architect and researcher within the Eternal Emperor Initiative. He is driven to transcend mortality and unlock humanity's full potential. He develops the Cyclis Core and the Vortex Chamber. Ultimately undergoes soul transference himself. - **Navigator:** Dalthonius's eidolon, integrated directly into his mind. It acts as his instinct, memory, and focus. Later becomes a separate, clockwork entity. - **Telmara:** An Archchronist of the Celestial Engine and a respected member of the Eternal Emperor Initiative. She is intelligent, calm, and calculating, but shows moments of moral conflict regarding the project. - **Vas Liran:** A pale-skinned, half-phased technomancer and member of the Eternal Emperor Initiative. He is dismissive of the Alghollthu. - **Yaros Varr:** A silent member of the Eternal Emperor Initiative who wears an obsidian mask. His motivations and thoughts remain largely unknown. - **Archmagister Lethendis Solvarien:** A tall, gold-robed high elf and leader within the Council of the Ascending. He exudes confidence in Azlant's progress and superiority. - **Magister Elixine Varrial:** Head of Ley Behavioral Theory and a member of the Council of the Ascending. She is assertive and believes Azlant has surpassed its Alghollthu predecessors. - **Maximus Antoninus Vitus:** A respected general of the Highland Thirteenth with barbarian heritage and exceptional instinctive resonance but no magical aptitude. He is deeply connected to his family and fears the soul transference process will strip away that connection. He becomes the initial, unwilling subject of forced transference. - **Riala:** Maximus Antoninus Vitus's wife. Her love and connection to Maximus serve as his primary "anchor." - **Adrax Vellorin:** A brilliant but dying individual considered as an initial candidate for soul transfer. - **Tivya Solens:** An ideal candidate for soul transfer but unwilling to participate. - **Ferath Illurien:** A committed but detached individual considered as an initial candidate for soul transfer. - **Miren Delsa:** A recovered but potentially compromised individual considered as an initial candidate for soul transfer. - **Officer (Unnamed):** An officer in the Imperial Council Chambers who shows initial hesitation before following orders to seize Maximus. - **Acavna:** The Shield, goddess of moonlight and defense. She understands the true nature of the Aeon Star and makes the ultimate sacrifice to protect Golarion. - **Amaznen:** Archmage of the Divine, First Glyph-Speaker. He is grief-stricken by Acavna's death and takes drastic action to mitigate the threat of the Aeon Star's remnants before vanishing. - **Ochymua (Entity OS-33):** A captured, sentient veiled master (Alghollthu) held in stasis. It communicates telepathically with Maximus, revealing the truth about the Aeon Star and Azlant's role in its coming. - **Vyrel Endros:** Senior Containment Liaison, Spindle Solution, who reports on the communication with Ochymua and the escalating response.