The Periphery

“At the edge of everything, reality holds its breath.”
—Archivist expedition log, 189 S.

Quick Reference

Overview

The Periphery is the boundary of the known Aetherium—the place where the luminous void fades to absolute darkness. It is not a single location but a conceptual border in all directions: north, south, east, west, up, down (though direction is relative).

Here, at the edge of everything, the Aether changes. Islands become rare. Light fades. And those who venture too far simply vanish.

No one knows what lies beyond the Periphery. Perhaps nothing. Perhaps everything. Perhaps something humanity was never meant to see.

Geography

The Fade

Progressive darkness: - At ~400-500km from Bright Reaches core, Aether’s glow begins fading - Gradual dimming over 100-200km - Eventually: absolute blackness

The Transition Zone: - Twilight region where light and dark blur - Visibility drops from 100km to <1km - Psychological unease increases - “Point of no return” (fuel consumption to return becomes prohibitive)

The Dark: - Beyond the Transition - No Aether-glow whatsoever - Light sources (lanterns, glow-crystals) work but illuminate only immediate surroundings - Infinite darkness in all directions

Island Distribution

Scattered Fragments: - Islands extremely rare - Average distance between: 50-100km (vs. 5-10km in Bright Reaches) - Mostly small shards - No known permanent settlements

Drift Patterns: - Islands here drift faster (unknown why) - Some appear to be pulled toward darkness - Others orbit at edge, never crossing fully into dark

Aether Characteristics

The Fade Mechanics

Luminosity Gradient: - Bright Reaches: 100% baseline - Inner Regions: 80-100% - Outer Regions: 40-80% - Transition Zone: 10-40% - The Dark: 0% (absolute)

Why Does It Fade?: - No consensus - Theories: - Aether has a “source” in center (fades with distance) - Periphery is where Aether “ends” - Darkness is the true void—Aether is bubble of light within it - Something beyond is absorbing light

Temporal Anomalies

Reports from Periphery expeditions: - Time moves differently - Clocks become unreliable - Crews report hours passing; chronometers show days - Reverse also occurs

Pattern: No pattern. Time distortion is chaotic.

Spatial Distortions

Distance Inconsistency: - Travel times don’t match measured distances - Islands appear closer/further than instruments indicate - Navigation becomes intuitive rather than mathematical

Looping: - Some expeditions report returning to the same island repeatedly - Despite traveling in straight lines - Suggests space folds or loops at edge

Expeditions

The Exploration Imperative

Why do people go to the Periphery?

Seeking the Edge: - Fundamental question: Does the Aetherium have boundaries? - If yes, what lies beyond?

Searching for the Lost: - The Nexus Spire might be at Periphery - Lost cities, artifacts, knowledge - The Hollow’s expansion might eventually push it here

Escape: - Desperate hope: Maybe there’s a way out - Another world? Pre-Shattering reality preserved?

Exile: - Some go because they have nowhere else - Terminal corruption seeking solitude - Criminals hiding forever

Major Expeditions

Year 89 S.: First Confirmed Periphery Contact - Drifting island reached edge naturally - Crew reported darkness ahead - Turned back - “The light just… ended. Like a wall.”

Year 134 S.: Clergy Expedition - Seeking “the edge of divine reach” - 2 ships, 15 clergy - Only 1 ship returned, 3 survivors - Report: “The constellations don’t shine there. We are alone in that darkness.”

Year 189 S.: Great Periphery Survey - Guild-Master Elara Song funded - 5 ships, 50 crew - Goal: Map the Periphery - Results: 2 ships returned - Maps inconclusive (islands had moved) - Discovery: The Beacon Islands

Year 243 S.: Returner Expedition - Fanatics seeking Nexus Spire - 3 ships, 30 believers - None returned - Last transmission: “We see it. The Spire. It’s calling us home.”

Year 267 S.: Solo Journey - Pilot named Veris (exiled from Ironhold) - Entered Dark, didn’t return - Left note: “If there’s nothing beyond, at least it’s mine.”

Return Rate

• Transition Zone: ~60%
• The Dark (shallow): ~20%
• The Dark (deep): <5%
• Beyond (complete darkness): 0% (no confirmed returns)

Discovered Phenomena

The Beacon Islands

Discovery (189 S.): Three islands that glow - Not reflected Aether-light—internal luminescence - Colors: Gold, Silver, Blue - Visible from 200km away - Consistent position (anchor points for navigation)

Characteristics: - Uninhabited (attempts to settle failed) - No vegetation or water - Smooth surfaces (possibly artificial) - Emit low hum (audible when close)

Theories: - Pre-Shattering beacons (ancient navigation aids) - Constellation manifestations (physical presence of stars) - Dimensional markers (boundaries between realities)

The Mirror Effect

At exact edge of Transition Zone: - Reflection phenomenon observed - Islands appear mirrored (upside-down copies) - Reflections are solid (ships collide with them) - Entering reflected island causes disorientation, nausea

Theory: Reality becomes non-Euclidean at boundary

The Whisper Wall

Invisible barrier at certain points in Periphery: - Ships cannot pass - Feel like hitting solid wall (but nothing visible) - Accompanied by whispers (language unknown) - Some walls are temporary (disappear after hours/days)

Pattern: No pattern detected

The Returning Current

Circular Aether-Current at Periphery: - Flows parallel to edge - Prevents accidentally drifting into Dark - But also prevents intentionally entering - Must fight current to go deeper

Theories on What Lies Beyond

The Void Theory

Claim: Beyond is true void—absolute nothingness

Evidence: - Darkness is total - No islands detected past certain point - Expeditions find nothing

Implication: Aetherium is finite bubble in infinite emptiness

The Wall Theory

Claim: Periphery is a wall—physical or metaphysical barrier

Evidence: - Whisper Walls - Ships bouncing back - Consistent boundary

Implication: Something deliberately contains the Aetherium

The Other Worlds Theory

Claim: Beyond are other broken realities

Evidence: - Spatial distortions - Ghost-Islands (appear/disappear) - Temporal anomalies

Implication: Aetherium is one of many shattered worlds

The Return Theory

Claim: If you go far enough, you return to start

Evidence: - Some expeditions report looping - Space may be non-linear

Implication: Aetherium is closed system (sphere? torus?)

The Origin Theory

Claim: Periphery is where the Shattering originated

Evidence: - The Fade could be reality “thinning” at edges - Nexus Spire might be here - Edges are where world broke apart first

Implication: Returning to Periphery = returning to source

The Horror Theory

Claim: Something exists beyond, and it’s hostile

Evidence: - Expeditions don’t return - Whispers at walls - Psychological effects on those who approach

Implication: Periphery is protective barrier, not prison

Dangers

The Absolute Darkness

• No light = no navigation
• Easy to become disoriented
• Ships drift apart
• Rescue impossible

Fuel Exhaustion

• Distance to Periphery enormous
• Return trip requires more fuel (fighting currents)
• Miscalculate, and you’re stranded

The Pull Outward

Some report feeling drawn toward darkness: - Compulsion to continue - “Need” to see what’s beyond - Irrational but overwhelming

Similar to: The Pull in The Deeps (but outward, not downward)

Temporal Displacement

• Enter at year 287, return to find it’s 290
• Or return before you left (impossible but reported)
• Aging mismatch (crew ages differently than expected)

Madness

Periphery exposure causes: - Existential dread - Obsession with returning - Belief that “truth” lies beyond - Permanent psychological damage

The Periphery and Religion

Clergy Position

“The Edge of Grace”: - Periphery is limit of constellation power - Beyond is godless void - To venture there is to abandon divine protection

Forbidden: Clergy officially bans Periphery exploration

Rot-Touched Position

“The First Freedom”: - Beyond Periphery, Voice Beneath is silent - True freedom exists in that darkness - Escape from both constellations and Rot

Some Rot-Touched go to Periphery to die alone

Returner Position

“The Key to Everything”: - Nexus Spire is at Periphery - Finding it will undo Shattering - The darkness hides humanity’s salvation

Notable Locations

The Threshold Outpost (Abandoned)

Established: 189 S.
Abandoned: 194 S.

Description: - Small waystation on shard at edge of Transition Zone - Meant to support deep exploration - Crew went mad within 6 months - Now empty, decaying

Current Status: Ghost outpost (some supplies remain)

The Three Beacons

• Gold Beacon (East Periphery)
• Silver Beacon (North Periphery)
• Blue Beacon (South Periphery)

Function: Navigation landmarks
Mystery: Who built them? (Pre-Shattering? Post? Something else?)

Cultural Impact

The Final Frontier

Periphery represents ultimate unknown: - Maps end here - Knowledge ends here - Certainty ends here

Metaphor

“Going to the Periphery” = giving up, abandoning hope
“Fading to Periphery” = dying or being forgotten

Stories

Countless tales of Periphery: - Ghost ships that emerge after centuries - Explorers who return as something else - Islands that appear with strange inhabitants - The “Other Side” where lost loved ones wait

Recent Developments

Increased Drift

Year 275-287 S.: Islands drifting toward Periphery faster - Outer Bright Reaches islands moving outward - Acceleration noted - Cause unknown

Implication: Aetherium expanding? Or center collapsing?

The Fade Advancing

Year 280-287 S.: Darkness encroaching inward - Transition Zone closer to Bright Reaches (20km shift) - Aether dimming overall - Correlated with Rot acceleration?

Concern: If Fade continues, will darkness consume all?

Mysteries

Is There Truly Nothing Beyond?

Or is darkness itself something?

Why Do Some Return and Others Don’t?

No pattern to survivors vs. lost

Are the Beacon Islands Artificial?

If so, who built them and when?

Is the Periphery Growing or Shrinking?

Data suggests both (contradictory reports)

Did the Nexus Spire Drift Here?

Returners believe yes, but no evidence

Advice for the Desperate

If you must go:

1. Bring twice the fuel you think you need
2. Tether to a Beacon Island (so you can find your way back)
3. Time limit: 7 days maximum
4. Strong crew (weak minds break)
5. Ignore compulsions (the Pull Outward)
6. Mark your path (drop beacons, debris, anything)
7. If darkness becomes total, turn back immediately
8. Don’t listen to whispers

Related Topics

• The Nexus Spire - Possibly located at Periphery
• The Returners - Faction obsessed with finding it
• Aether Phenomena - Strange effects intensify here
• The Deeps - Vertical equivalent (boundary below)

In-World Document

“Log of the Last Lighthouse” - Threshold Outpost (193 S.)

Day 1: > Arrived at outpost. Transition Zone is beautiful in its way. The fade is gradual, like sunset that never ends. We’ll maintain this station and support deep exploration. This is humanity’s frontier.

Day 87: > Resupply hasn’t arrived. Overdue by 3 weeks. Fuel low. We’re rationing. But we can wait. We have to.

Day 134: > Still no resupply. We sent a ship back for help. That was a month ago. Should have returned by now. Starting to worry.

Day 156: > I keep staring into the Dark. It’s… not empty. I know that sounds insane. But I feel something looking back.

Day 178: > Valis went into the Dark. Took a glider. Left a note: “I hear my name. It’s calling me.” We couldn’t stop him. I think we didn’t want to.

Day 189: > Three crew remain. Including me. We don’t sleep anymore. Just watch the darkness.

Day 192: > The Dark is closer. I swear it is. The Transition moved inward overnight. Or we drifted outward? Instruments don’t make sense.

Day 195: > Jhen says she sees lights in the Dark. Cities. I don’t see them. But I want to. That’s worse.

Day 198: > I’m alone now. Jhen and Carris took the last skiff into the Dark. They were smiling. Happier than I’ve seen them in months. > > I should go too. But someone has to record this. > > The Dark is beautiful. > > I understand now why they went. > > When you stare long enough, it stops being darkness. It becomes everything. > > I’m going to follow them. > > This will be my last entry.

Day ???: > I wrote that I would go. But I didn’t. I couldn’t. Not from fear. From understanding. > > The Dark doesn’t want us. It doesn’t want anything. > > It is the absence of want. > > And that is mercy.

[Outpost found empty, 194 S. Logbook recovered. No bodies found.]

“At the edge of light, truth waits. Whether you want to see it or not.”
—Inscription on the Gold Beacon (origin unknown)