Echoes

Little is known about the enigmatic beings called Echoes. These aliens are not native to Pyridian, having arrived on the planet approximately fifteen years ago, accompanied by peculiar lizard-like creatures often referred to as their “pets.” Shrouded in mystery, the Echoes appear as spectral entities, unseen but undeniably present. Their most unsettling ability is the power to create sound in complete silence—an auditory phenomenon that defies natural laws and unnerves even the bravest.

Theories about their existence abound. Some believe the Echoes are manifestations of madness brought on by the dreaded Telquorkhans, while others suspect they are conjurations, summoned by fearless Peltarck warriors to incite fear and confusion among their enemies. Despite their alien origins, the Echoes have shown the ability to communicate fluently in the common tongue of the Citizens, suggesting a level of intelligence and adaptability.

Echoes share one remarkable trait with the superhuman Citizens: the ability to self-heal. Wounds inflicted upon them close almost instantaneously, making them formidable adversaries in any conflict. Accounts describe their semi-transparent forms shifting and repairing before the eyes of their attackers, further amplifying their eerie reputation.

Whether they are malevolent invaders, misunderstood wanderers, or something entirely otherworldly remains a subject of debate. Their presence continues to challenge the understanding and courage of those who encounter them on the ever-tenuous lands of Pyridian.

Some Peltarcks insist that Echoes are in fact pure energy wearing a borrowed shape, suggesting that their translucent skin is no more than a fragile disguise. They argue that the Echoes’ apparent ethereal qualities are a mere hint of their true form, which remains invisible to mortals’ eyes. To these sceptics, every glimpse of an Echo’s features is just another layer in a carefully orchestrated facade.

Meanwhile, a handful of Citizens believe that Echoes serve an unseen deity, dispatched to Pyridian as messengers of cosmic order—or possibly bringers of catastrophic upheaval. Their mysterious self-healing abilities and unusual gift for generating sound, some say, are blessings from this higher entity. Whispers of worship and hidden temples add an ominous edge to the theory, though no one has yet presented concrete proof.

Another rumor suggests that Echoes are masters of their own mythology, fabricating tales to forge a veneer of antiquity and invincibility. With their ability to manipulate sound, they could easily stage elaborate illusions—making them appear more ancient or more powerful than they truly are. If true, it calls into question every story heard about their origins, turning even the simplest Echo legend into a cunning spectacle.

Others say that Echoes are spawned from the recesses of mortal nightmares, an extension of the darkest fears lurking in Peltarck minds. This rumor explains the Echoes’ uncanny knack for amplifying raw emotions, proposing that these beings feed on primal terror and heartbreak. It also implies that destroying the Echoes might require banishing one’s own nightmares, a feat few are capable of.

Finally, there’s a conspiracy theory among certain Citizens that the Echoes share hidden ancestral ties with Odisiris, making them effectively half-Citizen. As evidence, they point out the Echoes’ ability to heal themselves in ways reminiscent of Citizen regeneration, as well as their flawless command of the common tongue. Although lacking substantial evidence, this theory persists—fueling suspicion that the Echoes have closer ties to Odisiris and its people than anyone dares imagine.

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