The First Haven

Within the shadowed corners of Yrdde, beyond the carefully crafted narratives of the Tervalkyre Empire and the whispered prayers of the Sanctum Alliance, lies a fragmented legend – the story of the First Haven, a time when humanity, newly arrived in the sky-sea world, possessed powers that rivaled the gods themselves. It is a history deemed heretical by the Empire, yet its whispers persist, fueling the dreams of scholars, explorers, and those who dare to question the reality presented by those in power.
The legend speaks of a time, long before the rise of empires and the harnessing of Yrddestone’s power, when all of humanity on Yrdde originated from a single location – the First Haven. It is described as a place of extraordinary beauty and abundance, a verdant paradise where the Aetherial Flow nourished the land and its inhabitants lived in harmony with the natural world.
From this haven, small groups ventured forth, driven by curiosity, ambition, or perhaps a divine mandate to populate the newly formed sky-sea world. These pioneers, the ancestors of modern humanity, established settlements, forged their own unique cultures, and eventually gave rise to the diverse societies that now dot Yrdde’s scattered islands and continents.
The legend claims that the First Haven is not merely a place of origin, but a nexus point where the Aetherial Flow emerges, a repository of ancient knowledge far beyond modern understanding, and the resting place of demi-god heroes.
The Emperor has forbidden any research or discussion of the First Haven. Despite the ban, a few scholars, driven by an insatiable curiosity and a belief that truth, no matter how dangerous, must be pursued, continue to search for clues, poring over ancient maps, deciphering cryptic symbols found in Old-World ruins, and venturing into uncharted territories, hoping to uncover a fragment of the First Haven’s lost legacy. Their quest, however, is fraught with peril. Imperial Arbiters, tasked with enforcing the Emperor’s will, hunt these “heretical scholars,” their methods swift and merciless.

My fellow seekers of truth,
I present to you a preliminary analysis of a recently acquired Old-World relic. This relic, recovered from a sealed vault deep within the ruins of a site now held by the Imperial Navy, presents unique challenges and tantalizing glimpses into the minds of those who came before.
The relic appears to be a visual display of a sort, utilizing a combination of moving images and textual elements. While the technology itself is fascinating – a flat, rectangular device that emits light and sound from one side(it has no visible yrddestone power source, further investigation is pending) - it is the content that has captivated my attention, and stirred a sense of unease I cannot ignore.
The visuals depict idealized scenes of domesticity, perhaps? Families gathered in sunlit rooms, children playing in fields of green grass and individuals engaging in recreational activities. Swimming in large bodies of water, consuming prepared meals in communal settings, and even manipulating small, metallic objects with apparent enjoyment.
Interwoven with these visuals are textual elements, written in a dialect of Old-World script that has proven particularly challenging to decipher. I’ve managed to translate a few fragmented phrases:
“A ███ Eden”
“Humanity’s Second Chance”
“Beyond the █████, a New Beginning”
“Haven Awaits”
These phrases are coupled with imagery of individuals entering sleek, metallic vessels (perhaps a form of advanced airship?).
Further analysis is required. Despite the possibility of discovery, I’ve requested access to the Imperial Archives, hoping to cross-reference these translated fragments with other recovered texts.