Soulframe Preludes Lore - The Ode and Sinecure

[Cloudkracker]

This is gonna be a long read, so get some munchies and get comfy. :3

Contents (Use Ctrl + f to qucly find desired chapter)

• Ch1: General
• Ch2: Physiology
• Ch3: Religion
• Ch4: Hierarchy
• Ch5: The Spellsong
• Ch6: Sinecure
• Ch7: Utilty

 

Ch1: General

The Ode are technologically advanced alien invaders that hailing from beyond the stars. These space-farers often used stars as forges, artificially creating unique minerals and materials, with such resources being Synsylk (a rough, alien textile that is resistant to fire) Ode Graphite (an ash-like ore that can fortify earthen alloys) and Silistyt (nearly indestructible jagged, crystalline shards that are forged in the hearts of stars. Each fragment posses a single invisible crack that can spilt the entire fragment if precisely struck).

They have descended to conquer the world below, stripping Alca of her flesh and conscripting all of Midrath’s inhabitants. The Ode often reside within great floating Skytowers, whose low-pressure atmospheres are open to the harsh UV rays of the binary suns. Human inhabitants must wear heavy brass apparatuses to breathe tolerably.

 

Ch2: Physiology

Ichor is the basis of all Ode’n life. In liquid form, this silvery grease blights trees and pollutes rivers, allowing the Sinecure to adequately drink the water. Regurgitated by mechanical Ode’n Moaners, ichor can also harden and petrify in sharp, coral-like growths that coat everything nearby.

Due to living in the thin, low-pressure atmospheres of the Skytowers, the Ode are vulnerable to a unique condition called Smogswell; because of the heavy Alcan atmosphere, the legs and feet of the Ode (mostly their Sinecure scouts) will often swell up when on long patrols.

 

Ch3: Religion

They appear to worship celestial or astronomical sources, such as star constellations.

• Culveer - Ode’n constellation of destruction. The symbol of Culveer can be found marked on the centering sphere of the Rivt-II, an Ode’n Splitsword smelted from ore from distant orbits.

• Sidea - Ode’n constellation of natural order. The symbol of Sidea is often embroidered on the Tempest Visard helms.

 

Ch4: Hierarchy

• Lord Synod - The high sovereign of the Ode, very little is known about the Synod. Other than that he desires the history of Midrath to burn, taking anything of value as tribute, and that he craves Alca's children, the Omen Beasts.

• Inquisitors - Presumably high-ranking generals of the Ode. Oversee the duties of earth-bound Sinecure.

  • Torque Inquisitor - The one who banished the Envoy to earth.

  • Mada - A bored Inquisitor of Synod who oversees the collection of earthling resources. Takes pleasure in seeing the Envoy attempt to thwart her plans, but the mood is short lived.

• Regent - Not Sinecure nor Tempest, Gruul nor Thrall, the Regent treads a balance betwixt them all. High ranking spell-sung pawns that act as overseers of their assigned region.

  • Lady Deora - Once a newly-born Knighmaiden of Curlail, Deora now hunts the very beasts she once called friend. A former Ode'n Regent of Dendria, she was freed by the Envoy.

• Tempest - Presumably spell-sung Thrall that act as Ode’n soldiers.

  • The Envoy - A former Ode Tempest, before being banished by the Torque Inquisitor.

• Thrall - Brainwashed denizens of Alca that have been abducted and conscripted into Ode’n ranks.

Ch5: The Spellsong

The Ode's Spellsong is a magical auditory weapon used to charm the denizens of Midrath, causing them to lose their memories and forget their history and culture. First used during the night of the Ode's arrival to neutralize Midrath's awaiting armies.

A side effect of a person being spell-sung are glossy white eyes.

Ch6: Sinecure

Hunters of Omen Beasts, enforcers of Ode decree. Often referred to as 'Cleggs' or 'cans', the Sinecure act as Ode'n mercenaries. Descending from the skies above, the Children of Synod can be found depriving Alca of her earth-flesh, transfusing it with the silvern grease from their infernal, mawed engines.

Ranks

• Nimrod - The great stormrider of Synod. A clap of thunder, and the Nimrod descends. Pain is his power; death is his mercy.
• Banneret - Banner-bearers of Lord Synod, they lead small teams of Sinecure.
• Gruul-Seeker - Sinecure sent out to scour the isles of Midrath for any left-over Midrathians, or “Gruul” as they so rudely refer to them as. Use the Sollos-I broadsword.
• Extractor  - Those who are delegated to extract and gather material and resources from Alca's muck to store upon Synod’s Collectors as tribute. Highly unfavored work, this duty is often reserved for the lowest of Sinecure ranks. 

Sinecure Armamentarium

The Armamentarium is the collection of weapons and equipment used by the Sinecure.

 

Ch7: Utility

• Ode Bisulcam - Stationary, twin-barreled siege cannons that belong to the Nimrod.

• Mistrel - Ode’n-made barrels with metal faces that slowly let out poisonous gasses. Destroying them causes them to detonate.

• Ichor Tap - Mistrel-like barrels that exude ichor and are linked to the imprisonment of animals. Destroying a Tap will unlock any nearby cages.

• Moaner - Large, statue-like machines that appear like a human head and neck. They slowly drool out a steady stream of ichor into any nearby water source, polluting it. Destroying the two small faces within the Moaner’s eye sockets will destroy it, stopping any more ichor from flowing.

• Collectors - Sent by the Synod, Collectors are large, flying constructs in the shape of triangular slabs that descend groundwards to collect any and all resources as tribute. They are even used to collect any unfortunate beast of Alca and haul them skyward.

[Keysharpe]

I went through my snack before finishing the chapters, so I had to grab another. This is a fantastic short book of the current characters and their places amongst the Ode'n ranks and social structure, thank you for putting it together. As I was reading, I had a couple questions if I may trouble you for some answers:

1. Is Nimrod a singular entity or is it a title given to a specific type of enemy in their ranks? I've fought him so many times, I don't know if it's the same Ode or not.

2. Do you know why the Ode always say "Stolen Ichor" when you attack them?

3. Do you know why we, the Envoy, were banished?

4. What source(s) can I find the information in your topic for future reference, and is there more like it? I'd love to go and read more about the story rather than eagerly await your next lore post. Not that I don't enjoy reading your topics, they're always insightful and full of interesting history.

If you don't know the answers, or there are none yet available, I wholeheartedly welcome your speculation. I feel you'd have better instincts in regard to coming up with the answers than I would.

Thank you, sincerely!

[Chryson_Mal]

Honestly was not at all that long of a read. I suppose everything is extremely bare-bones right now, isn't it?

[Keysharpe]

There's not a whole lot to do right now from a gameplay perspective, but the core foundation has been laid. As far as the narrative experience goes, I will say the story does lack shape right now. I feel like we've been given a stack of pages from a book, but they're all out of sequence and very few of them have any proper context. There are so many elements in the game that create more questions than answers right now. Since the game is so new, it's hard to find those answers if they even exist at all yet. I'd blame that on being a biproduct of pre-alpha though. With the full release of the game and the testing having been complete, I think we'll see those pages fall into order. Time will also bring more content to enjoy, and I especially hope to see the map open up to its full size.

A lot of us are having some fun in the feedback channel hoping to help pitch some cool ideas for future gameplay content. If you've got any cool ideas, add 'em to the pile!

[Nikbis]

In my headcanon, the Envoy and the Drifter (from Warframe) are the same person. Midrath and Duviri are the same place.

I like extended universes :D