Oblivion

From Atlantic Roleplay Wiki

******IN PROGRESS******

“What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from.” -T.S. Eliot

I. Prologue

Long considered the ultimate antithesis to the concepts of virtue and good on Atlantic, the force known as Oblivion has manifested itself in various players, guilds and quests over the years, most notably in the Order of the Ebon Skull. While the “golden age” of Oblivion has long passed on Atlantic, its name can make the most veteran and stalwart role-player quake or become flushed with anger. What is Oblivion really? A deity? A form of magic? A plane of being? For the first time since the collapse of the Order of the Ebon Skull these questions are offered a definitive and canonical answer.

“Sing then the core of dark and absolute oblivion where the soul at last is lost in utter peace.” -D.H. Lawrence

II. Introduction: Is Oblivion Evil?

A common misconception is that Oblivion and it’s followers deem it evil, or prefer evil over good. This is in fact a grave error. Oblivion by its nature detests good and evil, order and chaos, peace and war. Oblivion acts for no other purpose than the furthering of Oblivion; that is the furthering of nothingness, a total lack of matter, form, substance, emotion and morality. Why then does Oblivion seem to attract and align itself with evil beings and groups? Simply because those inclined to darker paths are easier to seduce and bait with promises of power and control. The evil, by their self-serving nature are easily seduced to the will of Oblivion and so Oblivion often manifests itself in an apparent union with the arts of Necromancy and Evil ways, but in the end it would seek the elimination of these things as much as it would good and virtue.

“We were a silent, hidden thought in the folds of oblivion, and we have become a voice that causes the heavens to tremble.” -Kahlil Gibran

III. What is Oblivion then?

Oblivion is a vast formless collection of an uncountable number of souls and spirits from conquered and devoured worlds existing on a plane mostly usually dubbed “That which exists beyond the Shroud”, a Hive-Mind of sorts, individuality, species, alignment and personal freedom do not exist. All that exists within Oblivion is of one will, one intellect and one mind. There seems to exist no definitive ruling class or leader, while most often confuse the beings known as Oblivion’s Lich Lords as holding some dominion over the uncountable multitude. Oblivion from what is known seems to have a solitary purpose that it often veils from it’s most devout material followers, simply put, oblivion seeks to annihilate all matter, all belief, and all discord. A fitting metaphor would be that Oblivion views the multiverse as a chaotic cacophony of noise and directionless sound and seeks to create, by annihilating all that exists, a harmony. Oblivion is –NOT- a Deity, Oblivion is –NOT- a sort of school of Magic, while Oblivion, in an effort to gain control over weaker minds or influence large groups of material beings Oblivion may take on these guises. Oblivion, in order to gain a foot-hold in a world and prepare for it’s eventual consumption, will mask itself as whatever it must to seduce enough beings to eventually, in an act known as The Convergence of Unmaking that will “devour” that world.

“But what is all this fear of and opposition to Oblivion? What is the matter with the soft Darkness, the Dreamless Sleep?” -James Thurber

IV. What is the Relation Between Oblivion, the Undead and Necromancy?

Despite common theory, Oblivion despises all forms of material or semi-material life, undead included. The reason why Oblivion’s followers seem drawn to undeath is simple. The undead, by nature of their being, are more blindly obedient and dependent on Oblivion to sustain their existence. The bond that exists between Oblivion and its undead creation allow for a far greater direct control and influencing. Also, when attempting to enter a plane in some way or form, Oblivion requires a host, the undead-form, being material and firmly magical acts as an easy surrogate form, free of pain and emotion, for extensions of Oblivion’s raw-will to manifest in. Necromancy and undeath are simply used out of raw convenience and their ability to meet the needs of Oblivion on material planes.

“We are Lich, thus we rule!” -Lich Lord Azalin

V. Why Are Oblivionic Sects always led by “The Lich Lord”?

The Lich Lord of The Ebon Skull, (There have been four on Atlantic) are the unquestioned ruler of Oblivion’s “followers” on any given plane, these beings, most usually native to the plane present on, and generally the first to hear the “call” of Oblivion. In truth, as they rely more and more on the force of Oblivion to sustain them, and create a deeper and more holistic bond with Oblivion by use of the Ebon Skull, they become more and more detached from their individual singularity. Their minds are filled with the great multitude of voices, their will, their desire and their drives enslaved by Oblivion. These wretched beings become nothing more then prisoners in their own souls, acting as mouth-pieces for the collective multitude that encompasses Oblivion. Forced for the duration of their rule to lie and distort the truth of their mission, most Lich Lords, if given the ability, would destroy themselves and free themselves from Oblivion’s grip. Oblivion seems to choose its Lich Lords with great care and ominous predestination. Tragically, these wretched beings, while becoming living-gods become inhibited slaves, seduced by the allure of infinite power, they sacrifice themselves entirely and unknowingly to the whims of Oblivion. Lich Lords always retain some aspect of their personalities while living or free, but these aspects are warped and pushed to behavior that pushes the limits of rationality, indicative of the internal struggle between their own personages and the growing influence of Oblivion.