Vivarium Expansion Prelude
Sentinel
Sentinel is an organization shaped by corporate ambition, determined to harness ancient knowledge for cutting-edge science and technology. Publicly, they promise progress for humanity’s greater good, yet beneath these claims lies a hunger for power.
As primary financiers of expeditions to the Icy Continent, Sentinel’s influence is absolute—they stand as both the guardians and the gatekeepers of the world’s arcane secrets.
House of Bliss
Before Sentinel’s intervention, the House of Bliss stood as a dangerously fanatical faction. They were dedicated to unearthing forbidden lore buried within the icy tombs, willing to tear open realities for a glimpse of arcanic insight.
Their efforts brought the world perilously close to collapse, as their meddling with ancient powers threatened a global unraveling.
The First Sentinel Expedition and Its Aftermath
The truth of the House of Bliss’s machinations came to light during the first Sentinel-led expedition. Uncovering the cult’s twisted agenda, Sentinel took swift, decisive action, halting the catastrophic chain of events before it could consume the known world.
This decisive victory elevated Sentinel’s status to that of an indispensable savior, while also granting them even tighter control over forbidden knowledge.
Clovis-Petrovna Reformation Act
In the wake of these revelations, the Clovis-Petrovna Reformation Act was imposed. Under this mandate, the House of Bliss was disbanded as a power structure. All their archives, research, and resources were seized and placed under Sentinel’s authority. No longer able to operate as a reckless cult, the remnants were forced to reform into a more measured, philosophy-driven order. While now focused on theological and scholarly pursuits, the transition was anything but smooth. Violent resistance flared, as many members refused to bow to Sentinel’s corporate grip.
Today, the House of Bliss exists as a shadow of its former self—still drawn to the arcanic mysteries of Machina Arcana, but tempered by oversight and restraint. Yet beneath this new veneer of calm, old resentments linger, and not everyone is content to let their once-mighty faction submit to the iron hand of Sentinel.
Explorers
All factions rely on Explorers to push their agendas forward, because only these exceptional individuals can withstand the arcanic anomalies that tear lesser mortals apart. Serving as the players’ avatars, they delve into forbidden ruins and hidden sites, piecing together fragments of lost knowledge as they move closer to understanding the grand binding narrative.
The earliest Explorers hold a unique connection. Their minds, bodies, and souls are fused with Machina Arcana. Each such Explorer is recorded within Her etheric vault and can be summoned into reality through strange devices known as Chambers of Natus. As Her children, these chosen Explorers wield powers that set them apart, making them the most valuable assets any faction can possess in the ongoing struggle to harness the arcane.