The Voidtamer Confluence

The Voidtamer Confluence

History

Before the Voidtamers, there were only Voidic Dionae at differing stages of primitive development. Much of this early history remains lost, forgotten, or distorted to the Voidtamers: voidic signals and rootsong transmissions grow distorted and out of their time, due to astrological anomalies and even the mere travel time of said signals. Linear time, as most advanced civilizations in the spur understand it, was utterly foreign to these Voidic beings. What was real to them, was the electromagnetic hum of the universe. From the radiance given off by stars, to the dull hums of planets and other celestial bodies, and even the dim murmurings of their own species; sometimes even emissions from other intelligent life. They could feel the universe. These Voidic Dionae listened for a perceivably endless amount of time, witnessing the birth and death of celestial phenomena, nameless civilisations forming and collapsing, pondering their role in the universe, and attempting to piece it all together. Innovation was slow, as the vast distance and time between each gestalt stifled productivity. Over time, however, the Voidic learned to collaborate stronger, by slowly travelling to a designated point and joining into cetus. From the Cetus, came unity, and from unity, innovation. Voidships began to trickle through the stars, and through this, the Voidic began to develop even faster.

The Voidic began to contextualize their existence. To them, they were conscious aspects of the universe. Ones who could perceive, and deliberate their actions with intent. As for the rest of the universe, it was believed to be an animation of the subconscious recesses of its mind. Vast, yet predictable. Capable of some kind of intelligence, yet prone to mechanical cycles of entropy and rebirth. Directionless. This perceived lack of deliberate intent in the universe was a source of dread for many of the Voidic: if they were the conscious aspect of a whole, and yet only a small fraction of its being, was the universe, the entity they believed they were a part of, truly itself? This became a point of significant debate among the Voidic, with one faction wishing to join together, and bring the unconscious to consciousness, while the other wishing to wait and see, as it was “too early to tell.” In 2378 CE, those who wished to make the universe whole entered the Rueltab System. They would never leave. This became the first year in the Voidic continuity, as the Last Vociferation radiated out from the system, humbling those who could listen: they were not the only agents of consciousness in the universe; there was so much they did not yet understand.

The Rueltab Tragedy made the previous mode of existence or philosophical perspective of Voidic Dionae obsolete. Consequently, Voidic Dionae began to splinter and fragment from their proto-cultural roots into differing tribes, each pursuing a different approach to existence. Although these tribes were often disparate, their motives remained the same: to acquire a deeper understanding of the universe and to uncover the primordial truths that govern it. The collective aggregation of these primordial truths would become the foundation for The Eternal. Since the creation of the Eternal, Voidtamers have moved on to become the most prominent culture of Dionae in space, stretching from the Coalition of Colonies’ interior to the badlands, and even further on to the frontiers of human and skrell space.

The loss of the Rueltab Titan was felt throughout the entire fabric of the Voidic continuity. They had always pondered existential questions, but never existential threats. The Voidic Rootsong made everything connected, but there was no direction. Ripples upon a volume of liquid medium, cast upon so vigorously, there is no order and only chaotic shapes upon the volume. There was a need for leadership; there was a need for unity. A search for the eldest, and wisest among the Voidic began, through the rootsong network. From signal to signal, gestalt to gestalt. Akin to a great sorting algorithm, the Voidic soon found the gestalts they were looking for, and brought them before themselves. For a great time, this confluence of elder minds debated and pondered together. When they adjourned, they no longer answered to their old names or acknowledged their old lives. Now, they were the Chorus of Minds; and from their contemplation, they discerned it would be necessary for them to unify the tribes, create a system of tribute to raise a standing army, and to document, chronologise, and record all knowledge into a grand repository.

The Voidic needed security from the other Temporals, as did they needed to collect and aggregate the findings of other clusters, both technologically, spiritually, and metaphysically, into primordial truths. The pursuit, aggregation, and scholarly pondering of these primordial truths would lead to the birth of the Eternal, at least the Voidtamers’ understanding of the entity. And as so it was, the newly ruled Voidtamers carried on. The tribes grew, shared, and prospered; the Eternal as a concept would take form, and disseminate itself across the Orion Spur.

Culture

The Eternal

In the Voidtamer Confluence, worship of the Eternal is decentralised and tribal, with each forming their unique relationship with the Eternal based on their environment and philosophy. Unlike the structured Orthodox, Iron, or Ichor Eternal, the Voidtamers view the Eternal as a primordial force woven into the universe. Each Tributary Cluster interprets its connection with the Eternal differently, but all share a drive to gather knowledge and contribute to the great cosmic cycle. Worship is woven into daily life, with no temples or clergy, and often takes the form of communal songs, meditations, and practical rituals. Rootsong serves as a medium of worship, linking the Voidtamers with the cosmic hum of the greater Spur. Offerings to the Eternal may involve harvested minerals or fragments of biomass, symbolising personal sacrifice to the greater whole. The Voidtamers have no formal schools of thought like other Eternal factions, but their beliefs are shaped by their circumstances. For example, the Celestial Reclaimers see the Eternal as linked to cosmic rebirth through salvaging old technologies, while the Lemurian Voidtamers worship the Eternal as an unknowable force in dark, starless regions. The Umbral Choir of the Harvesters believe the Eternal is driven by the hunger for consumption and regeneration, embracing the cycle of creation and destruction.

Obedience

Obedience is fundamental to the Voidtamer Confluence, deeply embedded in their tribal-like culture and crucial to their survival and way of life. The Chorus of Minds, acting as the collective “chiefs” of the Confluence, is seen as the ultimate authority—ancient and wise, with the deepest connection to the forces that shape their existence. In the eyes of the Voidtamers, these Chrous have spent lifetimes interpreting the will of the universe and navigating the complex web of energies that govern it. Therefore, their guidance is considered infallible, and disobedience is viewed not just as a rejection of authority but as a betrayal of the very fabric of their existence.

The Confluence operates like a tightly-knit tribe, where unity and cohesion are essential for survival in the vast and unpredictable void. The Chorus of Minds are responsible for ensuring that each Tributary Cluster remains aligned with the greater goals of the Confluence. Obedience to their directives is a cultural necessity, for the Voidtamers believe that only the Chorus can interpret the subtle messages and shifts in the universe through the Rootsong. Their decisions are seen as not just practical but spiritually attuned, meaning that to disobey is to disrupt the balance and sever oneself from the collective knowledge and protection of the Confluence.

Individual actions affect the collective. Disobedience, therefore, is a crime against the tribe as a whole. If one Cluster strays from the path set by the Chorus, it risks not only its own destruction but the harmony of the entire Confluence. The Voidtamers see their survival as a collective endeavour, and unity through obedience is the foundation that allows them to thrive in the harsh, starless expanses they often inhabit. The Voidtamers believe they are extensions of the universe, and their actions contribute to the grand cosmic cycle. The Chorus of Minds are thought to understand the intricate patterns and rhythms of existence far better than any individual Cluster.

Disobeying the Chorus is viewed as more than just rebellion; it is seen as a rupture in the Voidtamer's connection to the universe, and the Eternal. Such acts are taboo and even dangerous, as they risk breaking the synchrony that allows the Confluence to operate efficiently and in harmony. Those who defy the Chorus often face severe repercussions, including ostracism or even “forgetting”—a symbolic form of termination. Obedience, therefore, is seen as the lifeblood of the Confluence. The Chorus of Minds represents the guiding consciousness of the Voidtamers, their wisdom earned through millennia of existence and deep resonance with the universe. To follow the Chorus is to ensure the survival and success of the Confluence as a whole, as well as to honour the cosmic harmony that defines their belief system. Disobedience, on the other hand, threatens not only individual survival but the stability and unity of the entire Confluence. It is an unforgivable act in the minds of the Voidtamers, a crime against both their society and the universe itself.

Leadership

The Voidtamer Confluence, otherwise known as the Confluence, is the overarching name of the void tamers within the Orion Spur – however, due to their roots as being Voidic Dionae, they seek to maintain somewhat ancient traditions and motifs which leads the group to be somewhat misunderstood and incomprehensible to most, except other Dionae. At the heart of the Confluence is the Chorus of Minds, a gathering of elder Gestalts that represent the most ancient and knowledgeable collectives of Dionae. It functions as the central decision-making body, where every voice from the collective is merged into a singular guiding entity – known as the Collective Voice of the Begotten Ways – or just the Collective Voice. The Collective Voice delegates its authority to the Tributary Clusters, which are clusters that operate like hives in different parts of the Orion Spur – these clusters are semi-autonomous and self-sustaining, adapting to their environments and governing themselves under the Collective Voice. Tributary Clusters have their own specific role within the greater Confluence and are expected to fiercely obey or face the consequences of their disobedience. Tributary Clusters are periodically demanded by the Chorus to provide resources, and failure can incur their ire.

Chorus of Minds

The Chorus of Minds is an amalgamation of the eldest Dionae within the Confluence – there is thought to be between three to five Argus-form Gestalts – some believe they merged, creating the Chorus of Minds, but very little is actually known about the Chorus of Minds besides that they utilize the Voidic Rootsong Network to relay their orders. They expect obedience, and the Tributary Clusters are rewarded for their loyalty – with other Tributary Clusters that have been destroyed or terminated being lost to the annuls of history, emphasising that disobedience is no trivial matter. The only element known about the Chorus of Minds is the Collective Voice of the Begotten Ways – the resonance in which they deliver their decisions and orders through the Voidic Rootsong Network. It encompasses large areas of the eastern Orion Spur – only somewhat dulling out when reaching the Eastern Corporate Reconstruction Zone’s borders, leading some Dionae not within the Confluence to complain about sudden changes in the Voidic Network and perpetual murmurs.

Disciplines

Across tribes and age cohorts, Voidic Dionae have culturally developed a system of caste specialization called Disciplines. Disciplines themselves are a difficult concept to explain to non-Dionae, as they encompass so many things. For starters, they are effectively how The Collective Mind organizes and manages itself. These disciplines are expressed and utilized uniformly across all tribes under the confluence. There is also manifestation of emergent sub-personalities or archetypes within the gestalts of a given discipline, meaning that gestalts of a given discipline often share the same temperament. The system of disciplines is not a status caste system, meaning that one does not inherently have more or worse say depending on their discipline. Rather, age, accomplishment, and experience remain the biggest indicator of status.

Exodesists

Voidtamers of exceptional age can become quite attuned to their environment, to such a degree that they are able to navigate vast distances only by their ability to sense all wavelengths on the electromagnetic spectrum. These Exodesists are extremely valuable, as they act as natural relay stations that can locate asteroids, packs of xenofauna, planets, stars, and even ships. The quality of such reception varies depending on the size, experience, and time spent in an area for an Exodesist. Exodesists tend to take themselves and their work very seriously: their ability to chart space has made the voidtamers very successful at prospecting, whether for something as mundane as carp shoals, or illusive as phoron lodes. They have a tendency to ramble and go off on tangents, as a consequence of being themselves relays for rootsong transmissions. They are not specifically as interested in alien cultures as some of the other disciplines are, but as creatures of habit, they prefer keeping up with the news and developments of other species. Exodesists often struggle when it comes to having a sense of urgency, whether due to the time-consuming nature of stellar charting, or their tendency to ramble. This is to such a degree that other Voidtamers must prompt Exodesists when they are stuck in details or their tangents. For spacers in the ]]Coalition of Colonies\\, Exodesists are felt as an estimable asset as navigators-for-hire; walking among the crew, or bracing against the hull. They are renowned as being some of the most reliable telecommunications equipment, and EVA specialists, in the Spur.

Numeromancers

Numeromancers are the mathematicians and living computational systems of the voidtamers. Their archetypal role in voidtamer society is to support other disciplines and to collect and catalog as much data as possible to fuel their own predictive models of the universe. Similar to Hieroaetherian computational methods, Numeromancers use their own biology and cognition like a modular, organic central processing unit. Sharing data or expanding computational power is only a matter of merging with other gestalts. In addition to computational tasks, they also manage and categorize vast swathes of data collected from Voidtamer society and beyond; indeed, this hoarding of data and affinity with numbers have made them logisticians of Voidtamer society, and they are always involved whenever business is conducted with non-Dionae. Numeromancers themselves tend to be quite methodical and pedantic when it comes to details and procedures. They also tend to be hoarders of knowledge and information. They typically do not interact with other species often, and when they do, it’s usually with their systems rather than the people. They are seen as aloof or asocial towards other species as a result.

Ichortorii

Ichirtorii forms the backbone of Voidtamer society, as it is they who specialize the most in the hunting and taming of space fauna. Whether it be shoals of space carp, solitary eels, or even great space whales, the Ichortorii are able to tame them all, thanks to the siphoning of their ichor, and their consequent adaptations. Since the issuance of the Last Vociferation, some Ichortorii have even turned their interest to the other sapient races, in an effort to get to understand them more. For some, this is out of genuine curiosity; for others, it is out of weariness and a desire to understand an unknown. The Ichortorii sample ichor more than any other discipline among the Confluence. As a result, they are much more spirited, or quicker to motivate into action than those of other disciplines. Additionally, the Ichortorii communicate or integrate with other species the best out of any discipline, and many often seek out the other sapient races for the sole purpose of getting to understand them better, so that they may bring the information back to the confluence. For these reasons, the Ichortorii are by far the most commonly encountered discipline by other species, where their propensity for communication and interest in the host culture is appreciated. Additionally, they make excellent prospectors and EVA specialists, as most are practiced space-survivalists as a way of life.

Biomancers

Biomancy is broadly put the art of manipulating biomass. This can range from assembling new tools or pieces of biomass technology, to developing new abilities or techniques for individual gestalts to manipulate their biomass. Biomancers effectively manage the industry or production of necessary goods in the confluence, including inorganic materials. Additionally, they will pass on any new biomass abilities or techniques to other gestalts on a need-to-have basis.

Biomancers themselves tend to share a lot of similarities with Ichortorii, as they often use Ichor to expand their craft. Biomancers are indeed interested in other species, but often this is primarily for their biology or evolutionary adaptations. They tend to have ravenous appetites, as they are constantly pushing their metabolism to fulfil their discipline. Uniquely, biomancers have a suppressed pain-empathy receptor when it comes to consuming flesh; Most enclaves keep variable shoals of space fauna just to feed and fuel the activities of their Biomancers. Employment abroad is often rare for Biomancers, as they usually have duties to their communities that incentivize their retention. Not unlike the Ichortorii, a few make excursions into non-Dionae areas of influence.

Extirpraetors

Voidtamers do not believe sapient or sacred things truly die in the universe. Rather, their energy or life force is merely transferred to a different aspect of creation, and the matter left behind will inevitably be recycled into another useful form over time. Extirpation, as a concept in voidtamer culture, is the act of completely removing or purging an entity or thing from this cycle of energy exchange. True Death, the ultimate form of judgment in voidtamer society. Such a weight that Extirpation carries, that it has become a discipline in and of itself. The methods, determination of, and execution of Extirpation is conducted by the Extirpraetors. They answer only to the Chorus of Minds In its stead, they act as judges and enforcers of the Confluence’s domain. In practice, this is rarely required, as voidtamers strongly prefer collaboration over other options: For a Dionae to perform harm unto another is a grave offence to the Collective, and in such offences, Extirpation is always at least considered. With the issuance of The Last Voiciferation, however, The Collective Will has expanded the responsibilities of the extirpraetors to include defense against threats external to the Confluence; a charge made all the more necessary as ships and settlements have begun to suffer from piracy.

Cosmothautamaturgy and the Astrosages

The fewest in number, Cosmothautamaturgy is a discipline almost exclusive to the eldest cohort of gestalts. It deals with the nature of the fabric of reality itself, metaphysics, the properties of space, bluespace, and other unexplained phenomena. Practitioners of Cosmothautamaturgy are colloquially known as Astrosages. Of all the disciplines, Astrosages are by far the most secluded and detached from the ephemeral. Their language is disjointed and archaic, their overall temperament Voidic in nature. Astrosages rarely venture far from their enclaves, and express mere token interest in other sapients. The Last Vociferation remains a prominent point of discussion for these intellectuals, and one never presents their findings before the Confluence until they are absolutely sure.

Tributary Clusters

Celestial Creed of the Explorers

“The void calls to us, and we answer. Through the endless dark, we navigate the unknown, and from it, we harvest the secrets of existence.”

The Celestial Creed of the Explorers, or the Lemurian Voidtamers, is a tributary cluster within the Confluence, operating deep within the enigmatic expanse of the Lemurian Sea—a lightless and treacherous region of space dominated by blackholes, strange creatures, and anomalous phenomena. This cluster stands apart from others for its deep connection to the mysterious and the unknown, specialising in the capture, study, and manipulation of anomalous lifeforms and cosmic events. The Celestial Creed is a collective of self-educated xenobiologists, explorers, and hunters, seeking out the strange and the impossible. Their ships are essentially roaming laboratories and containment cells, dedicated to capturing anomalous creatures and harvesting the latent powers they possess. These creatures and phenomena are not only sources of knowledge but also essential to the cluster’s survival. The Creed works closely with the Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals’ Assunzione branch, selling bio-anomalous creatures and insights in exchange for resources needed to continue their operations.

Their most prized quarry is the Phoron Trident Worm, a creature capable of short-range bluespace travel. By mimicking the abilities of these worms, the Lemurian Voidtamers have developed a form of driveless bluespace travel, though it is rudimentary and increasingly strained due to the scarcity of phoron—a vital resource to power their adaptations. As a result, their operations are at risk of collapse, and their dependence on black holes for survival grows with each passing year. The Celestial Creed’s fleet navigates the Lemurian Sea using a unique method of bluespace travel that relies on Hawking Radiation from blackholes. Operating in a region devoid of stars, they charge their vessels using this radiation, allowing them to leap from one black hole to the next. Their vessels lack traditional bluespace drives, making them dependent on phoron and the peculiarities of blackhole environments. Their method of travel, however, comes at a cost. With phoron becoming scarce, the Creed has turned to minor piracy, shaking down other vessels in the Lemurian Sea and Light's Edge to acquire the phoron they desperately need. This practice has made them a contentious presence, especially with the Coalition of Colonies and other Assunzione-based explorers. Despite this, the Creed’s unique role in sourcing bio-anomalous creatures has led to some leniency from Zeng-Hu, ensuring that their less savoury actions are overlooked due to their contributions to xenobiology.

The Lemurian Voidtamers are blind to light, having long since adapted to the darkness of the Lemurian Sea. Instead of eyes, they rely on a unique adaption of echolocation through their Rootsong, a complex system of vocalised vibrations that bounce off their surroundings, allowing them to "see" the world in sound. This form of perception, which they call the Sight of Sound, is deeply ingrained in their culture. To them, light is unnecessary and even rejected as a core part of existence – despite it being one of the dominant forms of Dionae sustenance. They are often a danger to other species, due to their radioactivity, but those that do leave the Tributary Cluster often understand the necessity to tolerate the light, and ensure their sustenance does not have a negative effect on others surrounding them. The Voidtamers hold a unique philosophy regarding anti-light. They revere black holes, viewing them as the true embodiment of cosmic power. In their belief system, stars are seen as wasteful emitters of energy, while black holes represent the ultimate efficiency—a place where energy is conserved, recycled, and harnessed. They claim that energy is far more present outside of the visible spectrum, a viewpoint that aligns with their reliance on Hawking Radiation. This anti-light stance has put them at odds with other Dionae that view light as being religiously important.

The leader of the Tributary Cluster, known as The Seer Beyond Time, is a revered yet mysterious figure. Many in the Creed believe the Seer gained foresight after encountering a temporal anomaly in the Lemurian Sea, allowing them to see into the future. However, some question whether these visions are the result of the anomaly or simply hallucinations caused by the Seer’s advanced age and prolonged exposure to radiation. The Seer's cryptic predictions are often vague, leading to debate within the Creed. Sometimes their advice proves insightful, steering the fleet in the right direction; at other times, it leads to misguided outcomes. Despite these inconsistencies, the Seer remains a powerful symbol, and their cluster continues to revere their leader’s guidance. Whether a prophet or a deteriorating mind, the Seer's presence maintains unity within the Creed, blurring the line between myth and reality.

Starbound Congregation of the Reclaimers

“In the shadows of forgotten stars, we piece together the cosmos. The past is a fragmented tapestry, and we are the weavers.”

The Starbound Congregation of the Reclaimers, or the Weeping Voidtamers, is a Tributary Cluster within the Confluence, a network of Dionae dedicated to the reclamation and repurposing of debris and ancient oddities. They tend to practice more voidic tendencies, which results in them being among the rarely seen clusters within the Confluence. The Reclaimers view themselves as the cosmic archaeologists of the void, delving into the remnants of derelict space stations and ruins within the Weeping Stars. Their mission is not merely to recover lost technology but to unravel and reintegrate the bizarre and often horrifying remnants of the Interstellar War. Their salvage operations are akin to necromancy; they extract and reanimate technology in ways that are unsettling to others. Their vessels are a nightmarish amalgamation of salvage and bio-tech. They resemble twisted, living structures, covered in pulsating organic membranes and studded with machinery. These vessels are not only functional but are also part of their reclamation efforts, incorporating recovered technology directly into their hulls. The vessels themselves are living entities, constantly shifting and evolving to accommodate new discoveries.

Their technology is often incomprehensible to outsiders. Recovered machinery is reanimated and merged with living biomass, resulting in hybrid systems that defy standard engineering principles – even among other Dionae. For instance, they might integrate a propulsion system with a degree of sentience, creating a drive that seems to possess a form of awareness. The culture of cluster revolves around the concept of cosmic rebirth. They believe that the universe is a constantly dying and rebirthing entity, with each reclamation effort representing a form of resurrection. To them, forgotten technology and relics are not merely artefacts but the preserved souls of the cosmos, awaiting their chance to live again through the Reclaimers' efforts. The Reclaimers have an enigmatic view of salvage rights, which has put them at odds with the Coalition Rangers. They see themselves as custodians, with an almost predatory approach to reclamation. Their belief is that nothing is truly lost if they can recover it. This aggressive stance leads to frequent conflicts with the Rangers, who find the Reclaimers' methods disturbing and invasive.

Architect of the Ancient Discoveries is the machine-like leader of the Starbound Congregation of the Reclaimers. They are an Argus-form Gestalt that is a fusion of technology and biology, appearing as a vast, sentient construct with pulsating biotechnological nodes and interlocking metal plates. They lead the Tributary Cluster, seeking treasures and forgotten ruins. Their form is adorned with trophies—integrated pieces of technology and artefacts that enhance their capabilities. Communicating through resonant frequencies and visual displays, they blend salvaged relics with their own being, continuously adapting and evolving. They have been known to authorise attacks on independent vessels, not bearing any allegiance to anyone, so as to ensure they do not cost the other tributary fleets their reputation – at least, more than they currently do. These vessels very quickly become integrated into the nightmarish fleet that is the Starbound Congregation.

Umbral Choir of the Harvesters

“Predator or prey. Useless terms. One must consume, and consume they must.”

The Umbral Choir of the Harvesters. or the Arusha Voidtamers, is a tributary cluster within the Voidtamer Confluence, dwelling in the frontier of Arusha. Reclusive hunters, and cultivators of space xenobiology, each is bound to the rhythms of an incomprehensible cycle of predation and harvest. They do not kill for pleasure or profit but for the sustenance of their esoteric philosophy: life exists only to be consumed, and the boundaries between predator and prey are illusions crafted to avoid the truth of the Eternal’s hunger. The Choir operates in silent, ever-moving caravans of vessels, largely organic, and grown as opposed to built. The creatures they rear are neither tamed nor enslaved but harmonised within the resonance of the Tributary Cluster’s will.

At the heart of the Choir lies an untranslatable belief system, whispered through Rootsong in a cacophony of dissonance and harmony. They do not believe in individuality; rather, they claim each voice in their Choir is merely an echo of their hunger. To the Harvesters, life is a fleeting symphony that must be devoured to preserve the resonance of all things, and they are the chosen harvesters, set to shepherd existence toward inevitable consumption.

Their leader, the Conductor of the Reaping, is a paradoxical figure—embodying the chorus itself rather than a single being. To see the Conductor is to see nothing at all, for their presence is only known through the movements of the Choir itself, an unseen force guiding the myriad minds toward an unknown end. The Conductor does not speak but moves through the minds of the Harvesters, pulling strings of thought like a puppeteer of minds. Under the Conductor’s guidance, the Umbral Choir of the Harvesters tends to their sacred task of harvesting and hunting within Arusha. They cultivate life in places where none should exist, nurturing species on the edge of extinction, only to cull them at the precise moment dictated by the Conductor’s unseen hand. The products of these creatures—their flesh, their bones, their very essences—are harvested not for simple trade but for ritual offerings to Eternal and for the sustenance of the Tributary Cluster’s own existence – though in some instances, they do trade their products where they are unable to support themselves.

The Choir is known for its complete disconnection from conventional morality. They do not see cruelty or mercy in their work. Instead, they are guided by the ancient whispers of The Conductor, which demands both preservation and destruction in equal measure. Those who resist their duty, those who would seek to disobey the Conductor’s silent commands, are said to be absorbed into the Choir, their voices lost among the cacophony, until only the Cluster remains. For the Umbral Choir, there is no end, only an eternal return to the hunger that binds all things together. Each Tributary Cluster may come and go, but the Choir remains constant, its voices ever fading and echoing into the vast, starless void. Dionae that leave the Choir typically feel empty – hollowed, even. They are neither lost nor without life, but merely eke an existence until they rejoin them – whenever that may be.

Relations

Interaction with the Narrows

The Voidtamer Confluence, but moreso the Collective Voice of the Begotten Ways, sometimes reach the Narrows, broadcasting a calling that drifts through the Dionae aboard the vessel – they are not easily deciphered by those not exposed to the Chorus of the Minds, but those on the Narrows have claimed these whispers emerge as haunting, fragmented songs – a ghostly Rootsong echoing across the vastness of space. Some Dionae aboard the Narrows have interpreted these signals as a call to something deeper, an invitation to embrace a more unrestrained, cosmic purpose. This has led to growing tensions within the Narrows. There are those who see the Confluence as kindred spirits, entities who have mastered the art of autonomy within the void and have shed their shackles. However, others see the Voidtamer influence as a dangerous, corrupting force. Many view the Confluence’s transmissions as an existential threat to the order and productivity of the vessel. In response, efforts are underway to block the Confluence’s signals, employing jamming technologies and isolating the Dionae suspected of being more vulnerable to the whispers. These efforts have had mixed success, as the signals often manifest in ways that transcend simple radio frequencies, bleeding through psychic resonance or manifesting in the subconscious Rootsong of the vessel’s population. They sometimes trade with the Confluence, where necessary, at the very least.