South House Games


Campaign Setting Index => History and Cosmology

The Pilgrims and The Steward

The Steward is the name given to the Pilgrim of this galaxy. They are known by other names in other places and in some galaxies they are so removed as to be unknown. Their name for themselves defies direct translation, but the closest terms are "Walker" or "Pilgrim." They were all once mortal life forms born on a planet somewhere within these cosmos. Any sentient being can embark upon The Long Road, but precious few are even aware of it and fewer still walk to its apparent end. A Pilgrim is recognized as such by the others when they traverse The Long Road and can wield the Primal Force.

When a new Pilgrim masters the Primal Force, others usually arrive to welcome them into the fold. They are given space in the universe to build a galaxy and oversee it, learning more about Order and its possibilities. It is not known whether or not there is a step beyond them into greater power, as none, not even the first Pilgrim to walk The Long Road, knows whether this is possible.

There are two broad categories of Pilgrims in this sphere, the Movers and the Still. The distinction is very clear: the Movers oversee galaxies and and are active to one extent or another in the affairs of mortals. The Still have no such responsibilities. They drift unmoored through this Sphere of Order, contemplating its nature at its edges and secret places. It is unknown to any mortal, but there is an edge to these cosmos and it can be visited and the swirl of the Sea of Chaos is visible beyond. The Still believe in other sphere outside their own, but none dare interact with the edge of their sphere for fear of a catastrophic breach.

There is a Conclave of Pilgrims, though not all attend or pay attention. Each Pilgrim is an entity unto itself and interacts with its peers as it sees fit. It is rare, but there are times when judgements are handed down and punishments meted out. The history of our galaxy and planet contains such an event.

The Still (WIP)

The Still are the subset of Pilgrims who spend their lives contemplating Chaos at the edges of their sphere of order. A secret unknown to mortals until Clarissa conversed with one of The Still is that they are all insane. Partitioning of the mind in a very similar way to the Steward did is a required ritual for a Pilgrim who wants to join the ranks of The Still. It is necessary to protect the sphere's integrity in the face of infinite Chaos and the smallness and fragility of even the greatest known beings.

The Pilgrims saw in the incident with the Steward a way to evolve themselves. All Pilgrims, whether Movers and The Still, put up barriers to stop them from thinking about Chaos. The Steward was the first to disobey this notion and what happened is a matter of history. The Steward is currently taking a path - a full integration of all knowledge - that none have yet walked.

Lines from the conversation with the Still: "What if I looked into Chaos?" "It likely wouldn't matter. For a mortal to look fully at the face of god is death. To look at something that to a god is death? It would be beyond your comprehension and flow over you. You are beneath its notice. Hence: mortals may tread where gods dare not, and vice versa."