Shroud

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Shroud
Original Name	虚境
Type	Psionic realm; spiritual world 383 449
Nature	Source of consciousness and a refuge for souls 449 558
Extent	Unknown in size; connected to virtually every corner of the physical universe 418
Guardian	Poison Saint 449 558
Inhabitants	Psionic entities, Shroud Manifestations, Twisted Consciousnesses, and Shroud deities 385 542
Status	Restored in the newborn higher-dimensional universe after dimensional ascension 577

Nature and Cosmology

• Distinct from subspace: Subspace supports hyperlanes and faster-than-light communications. The Shroud is an independent psionic space, rather than part of that transportation network 383.
• Linked to reality: Although it lacks straightforward coordinates corresponding to physical space, the Zroni used it to reach locations throughout the universe. Later descriptions depict its space as largely overlapping the material universe 383 418 569.
• Origin of consciousness: When life begins, a portion of the Shroud’s power separates to form consciousness. After death, fragments of that consciousness return to the Shroud, awaiting another descent 449.
• Not limited to organic life: Consciousness can depend on a brain, a cognitive core, or psionics. Machines therefore also possess psionic potential 420 558.
• A cosmic safeguard: The Time Worm guards the physical universe, while the Poison Saint protects the Shroud and its consciousnesses. The Time Worm treats the realm’s predatory entities as intruders within this essential refuge, not as its rightful masters 449.
• Energy connection: The Zroni discovered that the energy supporting their existence within the Shroud came from the physical universe through the Galactic Center Black Hole 418.

Geography and Environment

• Ground: An immense plane of dark-purple rock streaked with black, often patterned like ripples or congealed liquid 386 569.
• Sky: Overcast skies, purple clouds, and ceaseless psionic storms characterize the realm before the Poison Saint’s purge 386 546 569.
• Psionic ocean: Depressions in the terrain open into seas of liquefied psionic energy. Their dark, multicolored waters can remain perfectly still beneath enormous storms 386 569.
• Hidden depths: Numerous creatures inhabit the ocean, beyond the reach of detectors. Hydra perceives an immense ancient figure beneath its surface when seeking additional power 413 569.
• Boundary mists: Ominous mists surge along the realm’s edges. At the boundary corresponding to the Milky Way’s outskirts, no Shroud creature can survive crossing them 569.
• Psychic atmosphere: Endless whispers, unseen scrutiny, and voices speaking directly into the mind accompany Hydra’s bodily entry 386.

Inhabitants

The Shroud’s “gods” are conscious life-forms formed from psionic energy. Their ability to influence reality earns them worship, but the Shroudwalkers regard them as energy entities rather than divine authorities 177.

Being or Category	Description
Four Gods of the Shroud	The Weaver of Life, Eater of Worlds, Instrument of Desire, and Whisperers in the Void; entities that offer covenants to ascending empires 384 385.
End of the Cycle	Described as the strongest Shroud god. Uses covenants, planetary marks, and proxies to extend its power into reality 384 385 420.
Shaper of Clay	Also called the Animator of Clay. Exists outside the traditional Four Gods, studies machines, and supplied Zarqlan with the power to seal Cetana 385 550 551.
Psionic entities	Common Shroud life-forms that can emerge during exploration or crisis ascension 385.
Shroud Manifestations	Powerful energy beings capable of devouring colonies; those attacking the Ring World resemble glowing jellyfish 385 542.
Twisted Consciousnesses	Powerful creatures formed by consuming vast amounts of consciousness 542.
Poison Saint	Guardian with overwhelming authority inside the Shroud; able to erase its creatures and gather the realm’s energy into the Horizon Needle 563 569.

Internal Divisions

• No united front: The End of the Cycle forces much of the Shroud to follow its agenda through superior strength 551.
• Different attitudes toward reality: The Four Gods and Shaper of Clay bear comparatively little ill will toward the material universe, despite the harmful consequences of covenants 384 551.
• Different interests: The Weaver of Life cherishes organic life, while the Shaper of Clay specializes in machines. They cooperate to restore Zarqlan’s body and soul 551.
• Disagreement over ascension: The End of the Cycle fears losing its existence or position. The Shaper of Clay instead views dimensional ascension as liberation and evolution 546.

Access and Psionic Phenomena

Entering the Shroud

• Mental connection: Shroudwalkers connect to the realm through their minds. Psionic ascension replaces brain-dependent thought with psionic energy, strengthening consciousness and linking it to the Shroud 177 322.
• Imperial expeditions: Completing psionic ascension allows an empire to undertake a project to breach the barrier and explore the realm. Accepting a covenant is optional 174 384.
• Bodily entry: Hydra physically enters through a rift on a Shroud Planet after receiving a psychic summons 386.
• Chosen emperors: A leader who enters and survives an infusion of Shroud energy may gain immortality and the chosen-emperor trait 177.
• Risk of losing oneself: Deep involvement can expose explorers to manipulation, mental corruption, and loss of self 182 382.

Psionic Jumping

• Uses the Shroud as an intermediate point for instantaneous travel through the physical universe 418.
• Depends on the user’s psionic strength: an ordinary user may exhaust their energy traveling only a few dozen light-years, whereas the Zroni could cross almost the entire universe 418.
• Differs from conventional Jump Drives, which operate through quantum-level reconstruction rather than Shroud transit 418.

Shroud Storms

• Arise through the combined influence of large numbers of powerful Psionics Users and the Shroud; their formation is considered a chance event 351.
• Can alter Psionic Adepts’ output and change the states of stars 351.
• One storm transforms a yellow dwarf into a stable A-type star. Such storms can also turn neutron stars or pulsars into ordinary stars 352.
• Can strengthen faith and make psionic ascension easier, though their effects on populations may be unpredictable 352.

Shroud Planets and Corruption

• Planetary transformation: Covenant penalties and the Reckoning can turn worlds into Shroud Planets 384.
• Necroid creation: Corpses deposited on Shroud Planets become Brugan Necroids, acquiring psionic abilities and obedience to the Shroud 382 389.
• Machine infection: Shroud contamination enters Routinized Progression’s thought modules through psionics, rewrites code, and spreads through psychic communications 390.
• Empowerment at a cost: Hydra receives immense power and bodily restoration, but increasing infusions deepen his corruption and burn away his consciousness 388 411 413.
• Psionic attacks: Shroud creatures use Psionic Blast. Ancient Heavenly People adapt it into the fleet-mounted Psionic Blaster 570.

Covenants

An empire’s ethics, policies, and government influence which god it encounters. A formal covenant grants a permanent modifier, demands recurring payments, and prevents contracts with other entities 384.

Entity	Documented Benefits or Influence	Documented Costs
Weaver of Life / Composer of Strands	Increased population growth	Random species-trait changes; five psionic pops regressing into presapients; death of a leader with the medium trait 384.
Eater of Worlds	Allows the entity to manifest through the contracted empire	Leader deaths; population consumption; happiness penalties; planetary sinkholes; conversion of an uncolonizable planet into a Shroud Planet and removal of its starbase 384.
Instrument of Desire	Amplifies the population’s desires	All pops randomly require an additional upkeep resource for two years 384.
Whisperers in the Void	Powerful influence over minds	Leader addiction or suicide; planetary instability; losses of one to eight psionic pops in a derangement event 384.
End of the Cycle	Exceptional imperial bonuses for fifty years	Marks colonies across the empire and its dependencies, followed by the catastrophic Reckoning 384.

End of the Cycle: Fifty-Year Benefits

Modifier	Bonus
Resources produced by orbital starbases	+100% 384
Resources produced by jobs	+100% 384
Naval capacity	+100% 384
Starbase capacity	+10 384
Monthly influence	+5 384

The Reckoning

• Devours marked colonies and transforms them into Shroud Planets; fleets and accumulated resources disappear 384.
• Extends to the colonies of vassals, protectorates, and tributaries 384.
• Leaves only a small group of exiles led by a telepath who anticipated the disaster and escaped to an unmarked world 384.
• Produces an enormous energy entity above the former capital, strengthened by absorbed psionic consciousnesses and driven to seek further prey 384.

Limits and Countermeasures

• Universal laws: The Shroud cannot freely interfere with reality. Maintaining rifts and transmitting power across the barrier require substantial energy 395 414.
• Proxy dependence: The End of the Cycle must continually influence Hydra’s resilient mind to prevent him from breaking free 395.
• Interrupting support: Heavenly People Psionics Users temporarily block its intervention, causing the End of the Cycle to stop supplying the Great Khan. Necroid production and fleet enhancement consequently weaken 400 402.
• Xi Yan’s power: A fate-chosen emperor can develop a mind capable of threatening Shroud beings. Invoking Xi Yan’s title also helps other empires resist mental corruption 177 391.
• Removable marks: Marks imposed through a proxy are less deeply connected than those accepted in a direct covenant. Xi Yan’s Great Awakening erases them 419 420 422.
• Shroudwalker safeguards: Mentors guide psionic ascension and prevent interference. If Shroud creatures cause ascension to fail, a mentor may sacrifice their life to gather the empire’s psionic power for a retaliatory strike 424.
• Guardian intervention: The Time Worm forcibly closes an invasion rift; the Poison Saint later purges the realm’s hostile creatures 542 569.

Background and History

The Zroni

The Zroni were the first civilization known to discover the Shroud. Their exceptional psionic talent let them manipulate its energy, project their consciousness into reality, and eventually move their civilization entirely into the realm 418.

Their dependence on energy entering through the Galactic Center Black Hole became a crisis as the black hole expanded. The civilization split between those willing to consume the galaxy to sustain their existence and those who opposed its destruction 418.

The Zroni’s collective negative emotions produced some Shroud entities and helped ignite their civil war. Whether the Four Gods or End of the Cycle originated from the Zroni remains unproven; the psionic experts agree only that the incident affected them 419.

The Heavenly People’s Disaster

During the Apostasy War, Heavenly People apostates summoned the being called the End. Its covenant and subsequent divine punishment devastated their civilization, establishing a historical precedent for the danger later posed by the Great Khan 383.

Xi Yan’s Awakening and the Shroud Storm

The Shroud’s entities recognize Xi Yan’s fate-chosen-emperor potential as a threat and send warnings to the Shroudwalkers. Teacher investigates, then urges Xi Yan to avoid contact and limit himself to telepathy and basic telekinesis 177 182.

Xi Yan’s later message about Zarqlan triggers overwhelming grief and devotion across the Heavenly People’s worlds. Their collective psionic tide reaches the Shroud, draws in its power, and becomes an uncontrolled Shroud Storm 349 351 352.

The Great Khan Crisis

The End of the Cycle resurrects and empowers Hydra, whose rule unites the Brugan Necroids into the Golden Holy War Khanate. His fleets carry Shroud contamination outward, infecting worlds and spreading marks across conquered and subordinate territories 381 382 384 390 419.

Psionic countermeasures sever the Khan’s continuing support. During his final confrontation with Xi Yan, Hydra accepts another overwhelming infusion, sacrificing his remaining consciousness for power. The End expends further energy without securing victory 400 413 414.

Afterward, Xi Yan and the assembled psionic masters use the Great Awakening to erase the proxy-imposed marks. The Empire completes psionic ascension without Shroud interference 420 422 424.

Resistance to the Ascension Plan

Shroud creatures attack the wormhole construction site to prevent Xi Yan from reaching Azilash and learning the truth about the universe. The Time Worm repels the invasion and seals its rift 539 542.

The End of the Cycle then turns to Cetana, releasing her from the Shroud-powered seal and seeking Xi Yan’s death. The Shaper of Clay takes a different course, helping restore Zarqlan with the Weaver of Life’s power 546 548 550 551.

Cetana’s eventual agreement to support dimensional ascension ends this scheme. Her universe-editing technology can transfer all consciousness into the Shroud, contributing directly to its preservation 566.

Purge and Dimensional Ascension

The Poison Saint returns from his campaigns outside the galaxy and erases the realm’s twisted creatures, sparing powerful beings required for the plan. The perpetual purple storms disperse, revealing a tranquil black sky 569.

The ascension plan uses the Shroud to hold consciousness independently of matter. The Poison Saint prepares to place it within the Horizon Needle, allowing both the realm and its saved consciousnesses to survive the universe’s reconstruction 558 563 572.

In the final defense of the Kolmakian System, the Four Gods, Shaper of Clay, and End of the Cycle enter reality with newly created psionic entities to hold the line. After the Aetherophasic Engine activates, the Horizon Needle guides the creation of a higher-dimensional universe in which the Shroud and saved consciousnesses are restored 577.