Summary[]
The Journal of Padunas Ori, also known as the Book of the First Prophet is an ancient document that dates back to roughly 5 million BCE. The original book has long since decayed and withered away, however the surviving version of the text is now fully digital. The book itself contains a firsthand perspective of the life of Padunas Ori, the first known practictioner and master of Void Energy, and the predecessor to beings such as Xizouyu Moa, Xizohano Ada, and Manadrae D'an.
Contents[]
Padunas Ori's journal mentions an ancient conflict known as the Nyarqae-Golon war. It is unknown when this war occurred or what a Golon even is, as the only time the word "Golon" appears in the salvaged texts of the Nyarqae and Nyarqaeshu is in this specific text. The rest of the text seems to give us a first-hand account of Padunas Ori's discovery of the Abyss, and eventually the Void. A lot of what he says seems nonsensical, though the Orist sect of Voidism claim his words are divine in nature.
"Mother got me a journal to write in. She says that all Nyarqae of importance chronicled their own and thoughts. The name I was given at birth was Ori. I'm told it means 'One' or 'The First'. I live in a small home on my own, tending to wounds and recording events. I'm a sage by trade you see, trade which my father finds to be 'brainless'. He works as an engineer, and intended for me to follow in his footsteps. I've never been the most gifted Nyarqae when it comes to working with machines. I was born with a natural talent for harnessing Una'tas1, so I decided to become a sage to help my people.
As of late I've helped chronicle the history of the Nyarqae and the decrees of the elders who lead us. My people are currently at war with barbarians that call themselves 'Golons'. Although saying 'at war' would be an overstatement. So far, the elders have been giving up our lands to the Golons to prevent them from outright slaughtering us all. It's ridiculous, but their will is the will of the 'great beyond', or so I'm told."
- 1 The word "Unatas" has a confusing translation from the ancient Nyarqae language to Tyris Basic. It roughly translates to "The Understanding". Scholars assume that Padunas Ori was referring to an energy or force that was not Essence. Scholars believe this because the Nyarqae word for "Essence", "Esh", appears independently from "Una'tas" in other ancient Nyarqae and Nyarqaeshu texts.
"The chieftain has decided to relocate again. Honestly this can't keep happening. Once our "glorious leader" leads us to yet another trash heap to call home, those filthy Golons will simply bring their armies to our doorstep, and we will flee again.
The elders are complacent, and suggest that this is the 'will of the great beyond', while people my age believe that we should take up arms against the Golons. If we don't do something, we will eventually be chased back into the ocean by these brutes. I'll be going to court tomorrow to speak my mind."
"Of course they didn't listen to me. The elders did not like my words of 'heresy and violence'. They claim that to fight the Golons, would be to deny the path set for us by the 'great beyond'. It seems that even if this so called path leads our people to ruin, the elders will do nothing but watch.
If this is the case, I must figure out how to prevent the Golons from attacking us again. I refuse to allow my life or the lives of others cut short by filthy barbarians."
"I've been spending a large amount of time meditating in the Sacred Caves. There are legends of warriors that used Essence to fight foes. If I have the ability to use Una'tas, then I should be able to use Essence as well. I just need to meditate. I do not have the luxury of time however...I've heard word that the Golons may be planning yet another assault.
The theory is that if one meditates using Una'tas, they can delve into the world and draw power from it. I've discovered that the deeper I go, the stronger I can become. But what I have is not enough. I have to go deeper."
"I have discovered something. Or...nothing? How does one explain something that has no context? I was diving deeper into the world, the universe, and I fell. Fell so far where no light, no darkness, no substance could reach me. I felt something pick at my mind and attempt to fill my head with...with...what I assumed were lies. I screamed, but no sound came. I pleaded, but no one responded. Just that invading, corrupting feeling. It was a mistake to go there. I clawed my way out and back into the light. It was a horrifying experience...but at the same time it was rather enlightening. There was great power to be gained from that 'place'.
Against my better judgement, I need to understand this better. If it leads me to the power I need to save my people, I have to try. I have to try."
"I've returned from the depths of that place. Remember those lies I mentioned before? They are irrelevant. When you find yourself at the end, you find a truth. A truth so profound that all that would wish to deny it simply cannot. Is this the power I sought? The power to overrule? I believe so now. I see that the Golons are liars. Liars who will be corrected. Liars who will see the truth."
"The Golons are no more. I showed them like I said I would. They...didn't want to understand. Maybe they couldn't? For now, I must focus on my own people. I was going to show them too, but I have decided against it. Part of me wants to of course. That part of me that I left in the depths. But I can resist it's gnawing for now.
My people have begun to praise me for saving them. They call me "Padunas" 1. The elders are quite displeased with my show of force. It's unfortunate that they continue to be an obstacle to our people. Perhaps...perhaps just I'll show them the truth. Maybe they will understand."
- 1 The Nyarqae word or title "Padunas" roughly translates to "The Enlightened". This means that Padunas Ori's full name means "Enlightened One" or "The First Enlightened".
"I have spent a lot of time to help restructure our civilization. We have been conquering the world over the past few years and we are no longer ruled by weak elders. Scientists have been discovering methods of reaching space, which will be invaluable to the future of the Nyarqae. Soon the world will be in our hands.
Some groups of my kind have been worshiping me as a prophet of some kind. One who will pave the way for the ascension of our people. I have no desire to rule over my people...I've left that to our new government. Though I have been reflecting on my purpose regardless.
See, I've come to see that this power that I have now has no real explanation. No true way to understand it. I've dubbed it, "Uni'El". Of course my followers see it as divine. However I see it as a spiritual tool. A tool to figure out the mysteries of our universe. "
"Five generations has been spawned since we have conquered our solar system. The selective breeding initiatives enacted by the council produced powerful essence wielders in the last generation, and I can sense that this generation is even more powerful. It would appear that the council wishes to produce an army of elite Essence wielders to aid in some sort of large scale conquest of space. For some reason I've grown rather disgusted with the thought. Perhaps it is my age catching up to me...or maybe the Uni'El is trying to tell me something.
Regardless, I have grown interested in one of the hatchlings. The child has a lot of potential, and I believe that It has come time for me to truly pass down my knowledge to someone. My last attempts to teach the truth to my fellow Nyarqae, ended in their own destruction. But perhaps this one will understand."
"I named him Moa. He is a glutton of a child, but his mind is very sharp. His ability to harness the powers of the world are growing as rapidly as his weight. I believe that one day he will be more powerful than I. His connection with the depths even deeper. I am not sure if I should dread or rejoice at that possibility. But I must pass on the truth to someone. I can't explain why. Especially not here...you probably would never understand it."
"Moa understands now. He knows the truth. I am proud of him, however he came away from the depths different than I did. He has what I would call an insatiable hunger. But not the kind one would associate with food...or at least I don't think so. His abilities have been growing rapidly...faster than I can teach him.
Did I make a mistake somewhere? He's different from me in both ideology and power...yet I am his mentor. Is this the will of the Uni'El? Or is there something that I failed to understand when I dove?
"I was right...There was something I missed. Moa has abandoned me as his mentor. I went as deep into the depths as I could go, but my limited understanding would not permit me to go any further without risking my own death. I have given up on figuring out what Moa knows...he won't tell me. His methods are violent and against what I saw in the depths. I believe that perhaps Moa was corrupted, or maybe that he has perverted the power of Uni'El for whatever dark desires he has.
Regardless of my efforts, my body is beginning to fail me. My death is nearer than ever now. I've written my teachings and philosophy in scrolls for my followers to study and meditate on. So that even in death, maybe someone will discover what I did. Maybe someone will discover the truth."
The journal ends here.
Effects of the Text[]
It is known that during the writing of this journal, Padunas Ori also wrote the Scrolls of Null as a sort of legacy. Scholars now know that Padunas Ori wrote the scrolls to preserve his teachings for future generations while his former student Xizouyu Moa was preaching a drastically different version of his mentor's original teachings.