*Originally published in the Jobe Journal of Research and based upon the research of Daniel "Meldaeyn" Velius, available in Convergence: A Study into the Arcane and Metaphysical from Omni-Tek Press*
With the opening of the gate to the other world that is known as the Shadowlands, one can inquire about the origins, creatures within, and future of this other dimension. One thing is for sure is that we know the name of the one who is doing his best to preserve the Shadowlands, one who calls himself Ergo.
There are a few things we know of this 'Ergo'. One is that he does consider us his masters, as we come from the lineage of those who created him, the mysterious race known as the Xan. Another is that he controls and maintains the massive notum veins that provide power to the spirit tech machinery of the Shadowlands. We also know that he is currently threatened by creatures known as hecklers, which thrive on eating away at the Shadowlands and live on the brink, situated between the remaining land and the chaos that is beyond.
The physical manifestations of Ergo are spread throughout the land. The hovering head does not represent all that is Ergo, merely an interface for communication. Ergo is massive and interconnected to the notum veins and spirit tech machinery that lies throughout the Shadowlands.
Upon recently acquiring a copy of the 'Codex Clavis' and studying it, more light has been shed upon Ergo's origin. After opening a new notum vein, they called forth the greatest in the land, including the mentioning of Ergo the Smith (Verse 117). Does this mean that Ergo was named after a great technical engineer of the Xan race that designed and instilled with him an incredible and fascinating AI? My thoughts would think so but if we continue further on in the 'Codex Clavis' it suggests a new possibility.
In verse 232, it mentions that the Xan begin to construct Ergo to protect what they could of the land that was slowly being torn apart. Now is this Ergo the product of the Ergo the Smith mentioned above? Was the Ergo we know named after him for his invention? Or is it possible there’s another meaning?
If we understand the Xan to have used spirit technology to power their devices and machines, would it then not be possible that Ergo the Smith's own spirit, imbued with engineering and technical skills that was knowledgable on the network of notum veins and the usage of them was embodied with the machinery of Ergo to control and protect the notum to this very day? Its one theory but nothing can be determined of it yet.
Ergo does remain a mystery like much of the Shadowlands. Only time will tell if my theories and research have proven to be true. Then again, everything is theoretical till proven otherwise.
-Daniel "Meldaeyn" Velius is a professor and researcher at Jobe. His is currently employed by Omni-Tek and involved in metaphysical research into the Shadowlands.
