Azhorra'tha, often referred to as the Watcher in the Abyss, is an eldritch deity of unimaginable power and unknown origins, whose very existence shaped the universe as it is known today. Originating from an ancient dimension beyond the known universe, Azhorra'tha entered reality through a rift between dimensions, bringing with it the primordial essence of chaos that would give rise to the Eldari, and the very cosmos itself. Azhorra'tha’s infinite and dreaming consciousness not only birthed the universe but also continues to influence it as the argent energy that sustains all creation and destruction.
Creation of the Cosmos
Azhorra'tha's presence in the universe was first felt during the First Age (Primordial Chaos), a time when the rift between its ancient realm and the cosmos was torn open. As Azhorra'tha's consciousness entered this new reality, its mere thoughts began to shape the fabric of existence. The Eldari, the first primordial beings, were created as extensions of Azhorra'tha's psyche, each one representing fundamental elements of reality as envisioned by the eldritch being.
The clash between the Eldari’s elemental powers resulted in the chaotic nature of the Void of Infinitum, a void-scape where creation and destruction occurred simultaneously. This unstable, ever-shifting realm mirrored the unconscious mind of Azhorra'tha, where each element violently clashed with the others, threatening to unravel the fabric of reality. The universe was a volatile place, governed by the raw elemental chaos of the Eldari, who, though powerful, were mere fragments of Azhorra'tha’s greater consciousness.
Eldari Rebellion and The Solis Singularity
Though the Eldari were created by Azhorra'tha, they soon realized that their existence was fractured—they were but manifestations of the Watcher’s infinite will. As their elemental forces clashed endlessly, they understood that Azhorra'tha’s influence would eventually destroy the cosmos. In response, Ael, the greatest of the Eldari, devised a plan to bring order to the universe through the Solis Singularity. This event saw the Eldari sacrifice themselves in a cataclysmic explosion of their elemental forces, giving birth to the Continuum Crystal Cosmology—a structured reality where the elemental planes existed in harmony, connected by rift energy.
In a desperate bid to end Azhorra'tha's influence, the Eldari performed a ritual that tricked the Watcher into believing it had been imprisoned within The Continuum Crystal, the nexus of all cosmic energy. This powerful rift ritual caused Azhorra'tha to impose its own mental cage, believing that its essence was confined within the crystal. In doing so, Azhorra'tha became the source of argent energy that fuels the universe’s continued existence.
Imprisonment in the Continuum Crystal
Though Azhorra'tha was imprisoned in the Continuum Crystal, its chaotic influence continues to flow through the cosmos. The Plane of Khaos, a plane of unending turmoil, still reflects the primordial chaos of the Watcher’s consciousness. In this realm, elemental forces are unpredictable and constantly shifting, unaffected by the order that governs the rest of the universe. The chaotic argent energy that emanates from Azhorra'tha powers the Continuum Crystal and ensures the stability of the elemental planes and the Prime Plane itself.
Azhorra'tha’s imprisonment does not mean it is entirely powerless. The Watcher’s influence can still be felt throughout the Infinite Layers of the Abyss, where its subconscious mind continues to spawn chaos and disorder. This realm is a volatile and ever-changing landscape, where the line between creation and destruction is blurred, and where reality itself seems to bend and fracture. The Watcher in the Abyss is both the wellspring of all cosmic energy and the greatest threat to the universe’s stability.
The Watcher’s Influence on the Realm of Chaos
Despite being confined within the Continuum Crystal, Azhorra'tha’s chaotic essence continues to shape the Realm of Chaos, the most dangerous and unpredictable part of the universe. This realm exists in perpetual flux, with elemental forces colliding in an endless cycle of creation and destruction. The Pantheon of Primus—deities whom now govern the balance of the cosmos—hold eternal vigil to keep chaos in balance, yet the influence of the Watcher in the Abyss is ever-present.
Azhorra'tha’s haunting presence is most keenly felt when the boundaries between the ordered planes and the Realm of Chaos weaken. The Watcher’s influence can manifest in the form of chaotic anomalies, elemental storms, or rifts that tear through reality. The call of Azhorra'tha, a terrifying echo of its boundless consciousness, can rupture the fabric of space-time and cause cataclysmic events.
The Eternal Dream
Azhorra'tha remains a paradoxical figure in the cosmology of Osira and Tolria. It is both creator and destroyer, the force that birthed the cosmos, and the chaotic presence that still threatens to unravel it all. Imprisoned within the Continuum Crystal, Azhorra'tha is trapped in an eternal dream, believing itself to be confined while its argent energy sustains the cosmos it inadvertently helped to create.
Some scholars and mystics speculate that if Azhorra'tha ever becomes fully aware of its imprisonment, the consequences could be catastrophic. The very fabric of the universe could unravel, and the elemental planes would collapse into the primordial chaos from which they emerged. Thus, the Primus Gods, and the sentient beings of the cosmos must constantly guard against the possibility of the Watcher’s awakening.
Legacy and Influence
Azhorra'tha, the Watcher in the Abyss, is a being of both creation and destruction, whose chaotic will gave birth to the universe and the forces that shaped it. Imprisoned within the Continuum Crystal, its argent energy continues to fuel the cosmos, but its influence remains a constant threat to the balance of order and chaos. The Watcher’s eternal slumber within the crystal represents the delicate equilibrium between creation and destruction, a balance that the Primus Gods and all sentient beings must fight to preserve. Should Azhorra'tha awaken from its dream, the universe itself may return to the primordial chaos from which it was born.