Talons of the Timeless Tome

The Talons of the Timeless Tome are a secretive and enigmatic order of Unknown scholars, mages, artificers, alchemists, and sorcerers who devote their existence to the collection, preservation, and protection of knowledge across the planes of existence. Cloaked in mystery, their influence spans realms, yet few outside the order know of their existence, and fewer still understand their ultimate purpose.

Origins and the Curse of Valekith

The Talons trace their origin to the Mythar, angelic beings of unparalleled intellect and creativity who once formed the foundation of the legendary Mytharil Empire during the First Age of Creation. The Mythar were renowned for their wisdom and ingenuity, crafting wonders and amassing knowledge that spanned the planes. Among their greatest minds were those who served under Valekith, a brilliant but ultimately treacherous figure who betrayed his people.

In the chaos of the First Continuum Crisis, a catastrophic event instigated by Valekith's reckless experiments with planar magic, much of the Mytharil Empire’s accumulated knowledge was obliterated. Valekith, before fleeing to The Shadowfell, cursed his once loyal followers in a cruel mockery of their angelic forms. Stripped of their celestial grace, they were transformed into Owlin, their feathery forms a bitter reminder of the heritage they had lost.

Mission and Goals

Shaped by the devastation of their fall and the loss of their empire’s legacy, the Talons of the Timeless Tome have devoted themselves to a singular purpose:

Preserve Knowledge: To recover, safeguard, and document the remnants of their people’s lost wisdom, ensuring that the mistakes of the past are not repeated.
Prevent Another Crisis: To understand the root causes of the Continuum Crisis and ensure that such a catastrophe never occurs again.
Restore Their Heritage: To piece together the fragmented history of the Mytharil Empire, preserving their culture and uncovering the secrets of their angelic origins.
Track Down Valekith: To find and stop the exiled Archmage Valekith, who has entrenched himself within the Shadowfell, and bring him to justice for his betrayal.

Secrecy and Structure

The Talons operate with extreme discretion, ensuring their anonymity to avoid interference and to protect their members as they move through hostile and unpredictable planes. By remaining hidden, they maintain autonomy and impunity, able to retrieve dangerous or forbidden knowledge without outside constraints.

Each member is chosen not only for their intellectual prowess but also for their ability to operate with subtlety and discipline. The Talons are structured into specialized roles:

Keepers (aka Talon-Keepers): Responsible for cataloging and safeguarding knowledge within Unknown.
Seekers (aka Talon-Seekers): Explorers and adventurers who travel across the planes to retrieve ancient artifacts, forgotten tomes, and planar secrets.
Wardens (aka Talon-Keepers): Mages and artificers who construct and maintain protective wards, magical defenses, and the enchantments that shield their library.
Inquisitors (aka Talon-Inquisitors): Powerful sorcerers and alchemists who study dangerous, volatile, or forbidden knowledge to understand its risks and applications.

Their leadership is veiled in even greater mystery, with the Rift-Maester (Orion) serving as the ultimate custodian of their mission. Only the Rift-Maester (aka the Rift-Keeper) knows the location of the Vault of Khaos, the final repository of the most dangerous knowledge.

The Conjunction of the Realms

The Conjunction of the Realms, a catastrophic planar alignment, disrupted the Talons’ operations and scattered several of their members across the Prime Plane. For the first time in centuries, their secrecy was compromised as some members were forced into the open to survive the chaos. While their primary base, the Archives of Empyrean, remained hidden and protected, their ability to gather knowledge was hindered as the planar disruptions severed key connections to other realms.

The Talons now work to reestablish their network, recover lost operatives, and adapt to the Prime Plane’s shifting environment. The event has also exposed new opportunities, as fragments of knowledge long thought lost have surfaced in the wake of the conjunction. However, they must tread carefully, for the same forces that scattered them may yet bring new dangers to their doors.

Legacy of the Mythar

Though they have been transformed, the Talons remain steadfast in their dedication to the ideals of the Mytharil Empire. The Archives of Empyrean, their secret library carved into the side of a great karst cliff-face, serves as both a memorial to their past and a beacon of hope for their future. It houses the fragments of their heritage, including statues of angelic Mythar, arcane models of the planes, and the tools needed to rebuild what was lost.

To the Talons, knowledge is not merely power—it is a sacred duty, a fragile thread that holds the planes together. They will stop at nothing to ensure that the mistakes of Valekith, and the devastation of the First Continuum Crisis, are never repeated.

The relationship between the Talons of the Timeless Tome and Abraham Zachariah, the god of knowledge, is one of profound reverence and unspoken devotion. While the Talons do not outwardly worship Abraham Zachariah as a deity, they hold him in the highest regard, seeing him as a divine embodiment of their mission to uncover, preserve, and protect knowledge across the cosmos. This alignment has fostered an almost symbiotic connection between the god and the secretive order, shaping their paths in subtle and interconnected ways.

A Shared Purpose

The Talons of the Timeless Tome are dedicated to safeguarding the remnants of knowledge lost during the First Continuum Crisis and restoring the intellectual legacy of their fallen Mytharil Empire. This mission naturally mirrors the essence of Abraham Zachariah, who embodies the boundless pursuit of knowledge and the preservation of truth. It is said that the god takes particular interest in the Talons' work, often guiding their Seekers—the adventurous members of the order—through cryptic omens, moments of clarity, or divine intervention in the form of serendipitous discoveries.

Despite this alignment, the Talons remain resolutely independent, valuing their autonomy above all. They see themselves as agents of knowledge and protectors of wisdom, not adherents to any deity. However, their actions and beliefs inadvertently align with the core tenets of Abraham Zachariah’s domain, leading some to argue that their efforts are, in essence, a form of worship. Whether they acknowledge it or not, their relentless pursuit of understanding reverberates within the divine will of the god of knowledge.

Theories of Origin

The Talons hold no unified belief regarding Abraham Zachariah's origins, but among their vast collections of lore, two prominent theories emerge:

The Mythar Theory: Some Talons believe that Abraham Zachariah ascended to godhood through the relentless intellectual pursuits of the Mythar themselves. As the angelic Mythar sought to unravel the secrets of creation, their collective enlightenment may have birthed a divine consciousness, manifesting as the god of knowledge. This theory resonates deeply with the Talons, as it ties Abraham Zachariah’s existence to their own cursed lineage and strengthens their resolve to restore what was lost.
The Elven Theory: Others speculate that Abraham Zachariah’s genesis stems from the elves of the Second Age, who were similarly consumed by the quest for understanding the cosmos. The elves' devotion to the pursuit of arcane and cosmic truths may have coalesced into a divine force, ultimately becoming Abraham Zachariah. This view is less personal to the Talons but reflects their respect for other ancient seekers of knowledge.

Despite these theories, no definitive origin has ever been confirmed, leaving Abraham Zachariah’s true nature as enigmatic as the mysteries he governs.

Divine Guidance and Assistance

Though the Talons do not openly invoke Abraham Zachariah’s name in prayer, his presence is often felt in their endeavors. Seekers who journey across the planes frequently report moments of inexplicable clarity or guidance, such as ancient tomes appearing in unexpected places, hidden vaults revealing themselves, or visions of a serene, cloaked figure urging them onward. These occurrences are believed to be the subtle hand of Abraham Zachariah, who aids the Talons without imposing his will upon them.

It is whispered among some Talons that the god of knowledge has a vested interest in their success, as their work preserves the fragments of universal truths that form the foundation of his power. By restoring what was lost, the Talons inadvertently strengthen Abraham Zachariah’s divine influence, creating a cycle of mutual benefit between mortal pursuit and divine will.

The Unseen Worship

Whether intentional or not, the Talons’ ceaseless quest for knowledge can be seen as an act of devotion to Abraham Zachariah. Their careful stewardship of forgotten lore, their dedication to enlightenment, and their belief in the intrinsic value of wisdom align perfectly with the god’s divine purpose. For this reason, some scholars argue that the Talons are, in their own way, his most devout followers.

Among the Talons, however, this notion is met with mixed reactions. Many reject the idea outright, emphasizing their independence and autonomy, while others quietly accept the possibility, finding comfort in the idea that their work might resonate on a higher, spiritual level.

A Shared Legacy

Regardless of their stance on worship, the connection between the Talons of the Timeless Tome and Abraham Zachariah is undeniable. Both are bound by a shared purpose: to protect and expand the collective knowledge of the cosmos and to safeguard it against forces of destruction and ignorance. Whether as collaborators, beneficiaries, or unwitting devotees, the Talons carry forward the light of knowledge—a light that Abraham Zachariah watches over, ever guiding them toward the truths they seek.