Metaphysics and the Tro powers

Tro is the energy influencing and permeating all things in the world – be it a living creature, a raging storm, a temple of the gods or an entire historical Age. Tro is in everything and it is made up of three powers known as Velox, Cognox and Striox.

• Velox is connected to the Earth, water, wind and the Spirits. It is creative and quick.
• Cognox is connected to the Divine planes and the Gods. It uses logic and magic to evolve and mold.
• Striox is connected to the Chaos dimension and the Demons. It is destructive and relies on raw strength and dominance.

These seemingly contrary powers complement and balance each other in all existing things. However, the relative strength and influence of the powers in a particular entity determines what aspects are weaker and what are more pronounced. A person with strong Velox is often quick and agile while Cognox correlates with logical thinking and Striox with great strength.
The powers of Tro have a cyclic interdependency. The creations of Velox are evolved by Cognox which are then destroyed by Striox, providing building blocks for new creations.

Tro Power	Dimension	Operator	Method	Personal Attributes	Combat	Magic
Velox	Earth	Spirits	Create	Agility, Wits, Bluff – Velocity	Speed	Weavers
Cognox	Divine	Gods	Evolve	Focus, Logic – Cognition	Precision	Mancers
Striox	Chaos	Demons	Destroy	Might, Intimidate – Strength	Damage	Warlocks

Tro and the Tri Spoked Wheel

Slowly, the Tri Spoked Wheel is forever turning. Creakingly rolling through time, letting one of the Tro powers succeed the preceding in an order stipulated by the Primordial One* himself.

The cycle is said to begin with a black void, filled only with disharmonies, fire and Chaos – an endless room lacking all organization. But as the Wheel slowly turns and the Age of Earth dawns, this violent maelstrom starts to find structure. Out of the chaos, Earth is born along with the sun, the moons and the stars. The intrinsic spiritual power possessed within this primary matter gives rise to great oceans, snow covered mountains, vast silent forests and their guardians.

As matter organizes, so too does thoughts and cognitions, hitherto isolated and out of context in the void. As millenia pass they gather into complex conscious entities, giving rise to the gods and so the Age of the Divine begins. As the wheel slowly turns, the powerful and intelligent gods soon learn how to organize the energy flows of the universe, channeling it as magic.

With this mighty tool, the gods create the mortals, to honor and give praise to their creators. As the mortals start walking the earth, they learn how to exploit and expand their influence over the land to make them stronger. The stronger they get, the less they depend on the gods who eventually sink into oblivion. But as the mortals scrupulously tap the resources of earth, the very creation starts disintegrating and falling apart. Cracks in the earthen spiritual weave allow malign infectious thoughts to seep in from hellish demonic dimensions. As the minds of mortals are corrupted and their souls devoured, the cracks in reality widen, eventually allowing burning demon armies to march through. The Earth and the Divine will be consumed and replaced by Chaos, bringing the cycle to an end and a beginning.

And so the Tri Spoked Wheel keeps on rolling, sometimes slowing to a halt or even backtracking for a bit, but inevitably the journey continues towards a destination known only by the Primordial One*.

This is the way it always has been and always will be. Or will it?

^{*) The Primordial One is also known as “The Silent Coachman”. He is riding a wagon carried by the Tri Spoked Wheel. He does not interfere with anything; just silently continues his never-ending journey through the metaverse.}

Ye olde lore-master speaketh:

Aye, in the last days of the Age of the Divine in the last Era we are. During each Era, a smaller wheel is cycling the powers – starting and stopping with chaos just like the cardinal wheel. An Era therefore ends with a chaotic time-period, just as the War of the Spider ravaged the lands at the end of the first Era and the Cataclysm released the demon swarms at the end of the second Era. Now dusk sets upon the gods and what lies ahead is dread beyond words. We are facing the cardinal Age of Chaos and what dire times await I will not speak of. Prophecies say that at the turning of Ages, the holder of the Dragonstones controls the Tri Spoked Wheel and so too the destinies for both his own people and that of others.

– The Prophecy of the Turning –

In times when the clash of blades rings all across torn lands.
In times when close friends cross swords and sworn foes shake hands.
In times where the fiercest war of all wars rages.
Then, three signs will herald the turning of Ages.

One will be the Star Dragon once again opening its flaming eye.
One will be swarms of unearthly beings floating innumerable in the sky.
One will be a red eclipse where all but the corrupt sun rays die.

Three auguries heralding that the end of the Age of the Divine is closing in.
Three auguries heralding that the horrid cardinal Age of Chaos is about to begin.

Only one blood will be spared as chaos ravages and despoils the lands,
And it is the one blood with the ancient Dragonstones in their hands.