Ethereals: Dossier
Isomnum, the Fallen Overmind and Dread Lord of the Ethereal Collective
"It really says something when the majority of beings would rather spend time with the Creator than Isomnum."
- Quisilia
ADVENT After-Action Report 2091
Subject: D.C. Aftermath and Soldier Conditions
Author: ADVENT Psychologist Trish Pirana
We suffered severe and continuing casualties as we attempt to recover from this devastating attack, and all who gave their lives in the goal of stopping the Battlemaster will not be forgotten. However, our duty is also to the living, and the actions of the unidentified Ethereal who extracted the Battlemaster have had clear and ongoing aftereffects.
I must recommend that every living soldier that was recovered from the immediate area be placed into mental wards, and restrained so they don't hurt themselves, because whatever the Ethereal did to them, they are not themselves. I do not exaggerate when I say that every single one appears to have gone insane, either attacking others, harming themselves, or screaming and shouting at things both seen and unseen.
Right now we are simply unprepared to handle this, and from what I have been able to acquire from the PRIEST Division regarding psionics, it's unlikely that this effect will fade with time. Perhaps it can be reversed through psionic therapy, but that is such a new field that I doubt any such expert exists, let alone one to help thousands of affected soldiers.
In either arrogance or forgetfulness, the aliens did not seem to remember that everything was recorded by hundreds of armor cams, including audio, and it is without a doubt one of the most disturbing elements of this entire situation. I do not want to speculate what will happen to Humans captured except that it would be a fate worse than death.
This is what needs to be done in order to address this:
Response 1 – Immediate Evaluation and Treatment of Affected Soldiers: This is not up for negotiation, and if this is rejected, I will ensure that this gets directly taken to the Supreme Court. Even if we cannot reverse their conditions, we can at least do everything we can to ensure that they are kept alive and safe. I would also recommend that they be made trial subjects in any kind of psionic therapy program as, frankly, that is the best chance they have.
I would also recommend that the details of what exactly caused this be classified, even to the families, until we determine that there is no actual means of reversal. We do not need civilians more scared about Ethereals, especially since this particular one embodies nothing but that goal. It is more prudent to ignore this for now.
If no solution is found, it may simply be easier to tell the families they died in action and easier to explain than stating they were psionically forced into insanity. Given that we are trying to portray a positive view of psionics for the inevitable Civilian branch of the PRIEST Division, this would only stir up resentment and fear towards our own psions.
Response 2 – Selective Utilization of Recovered Video: The conversation, video, and audio between the Battlemaster and the Ethereal is one we must broadcast everywhere to highlight the pure monstrosity of these aliens and what they are willing to do to us. While I personally have no knowledge of a 'Venomorph', the description alone, helpfully provided by the Ethereal himself, is enough.
It would also be advisable to cut the part of the Battlemaster mercy killing the unfortunate victim, as that would undercut any effect we wish this to have. If anything, it will make the Battlemaster seem less malicious as a result, despite him leading the attack on D.C. Any related audio should be cut as well. Not altered, as the aliens and foreign nations may be able to prove it, but simply remove the questionable elements.
It is also advisable that we release the final cut ourselves first, and then send copies to media outlets soon afterwards. We should only offer the facts, as standard, and let the media demonize the aliens for us, not that they need much help with that. As for our official statement, that I will leave to other people.
Response 3 – Expansion of Military Mental Health Services: This is more of a consequence of the situation, and what will inevitably come back. I do not feel it wise to shield soldiers from the reality of what they might face, as opposed to civilians, and as such there are some who are likely going to be extremely shaken or worse from learning and seeing the aftermath of such an event.
This is more addressed to Command and the Congress of Nations, as they are the ones responsible for allocating resources and funding, and thus I would humbly request this be done, as it is arguably not only necessary, but essential if we wish to maintain the morale of our soldiers, especially as the current conflict seems to not be showing any signs of slowing down.
Ultimately, this matter needs to be handled in a quick and decisive manner before things become much worse. Anything that can turn thousands of soldiers into psychotic wrecks is something that we cannot afford repeated strikes from. It is likely this will happen again, and as a result we need to know what to do when it does. This is the first time; let us be sure we never have to ask the question of 'what do we do now' again.
To Respected Overmind Isomnum,
Since your official acceptance into the Division of the Overminds, we have recognized your significant ability and talent in our techniques, and you have been without a doubt one of the most successful Overminds that our division has produced over the centuries. You have been provided everything needed to be a productive Overmind of the Empire, and once your final trials had been completed, there were high expectations.
Overminds, Isomnum, have our first loyalty to the Empire and its citizens. We are the ones who watch over and protect those less powerful than we are against the threats of this galaxy, and ensure that the lesser species understand their place. By that same token, we do not abuse our power on the lesser species, and only act when they act against us.
War, Isomnum, is not the goal of the Empire. Nor is conflict. Many in your position would devote themselves to the betterment and higher understanding of the Gift we command, and further spread that to others. Those who wish for more activity and intrigue in their lives only have to travel to the colony worlds, or participate with the Division of the Battlemasters in training exercises.
Yet, as I understand it, you have not done any of those things.
I do not write this lightly; what I have heard and have been able to confirm is beyond disturbing. If even a fraction of your rumored activities is true, that may not just be grounds for expulsion from the Division of the Overminds, but execution by the Guardians themselves. I find it difficult to understand how you developed this fascination with terror, but I am quite certain that it was not taught by us.
It is one thing to be curious, Isomnum; it is another to leave worlds as barren tombs of aliens with no minds. It is another to destroy the minds of aliens safe on their worlds over a long and torturous process. It is another to solicit Ethereal children for experiments, should you have been foolish enough to have done so.
Such abuse of the Gift is not something I can tolerate. You have two options remaining before you at this point. You will submit to a trial by the Guardians to determine the truth of these rumors, and if you are indeed innocent of the grievances against you, you will remain in your position and the ones who brought this to my attention punished.
While I cannot force you on rumor alone, your only alternative is to simply leave the Division of the Overminds. We do not wish a large public event, and neither do you I suspect. So this is your one and only chance to leave before you tarnish the reputation of our Division. You will be blacklisted from all cloning labs, science, and engineering facilities in the Empire. You will no longer be able to access the resources of the Overminds. You will be required to register and be chipped as a potential psionic hazard-quietly of course, and you will not be permitted to join with a mate or have children.
If you fail to comply with any of the following, you will be taken before the Guardians and tried. You will almost certainly be executed.
I do not wish to believe the acts you are rumored to have performed, but they are too grave to ignore. I will not allow our Division to be tarnished by a child-experimenter. You will have three days to respond.
- The Greater Overmind of the Ethereal Empire
THREAT ANALYSIS: 111101100111
TARGET OF INTEREST: ETHEREAL 09 (ISOMNUM)
KNOWN ALIASES: "ISOMNUM" "DREAD LORD"
CURRENT POSITION: UNKNOWN
SPECIES: ETHEREAL
INFORMATION OF NOTE: COMMANDS PERSONAL ARMY
INFORMATION OF NOTE: CONTENTIOUS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BATTLEMASTER
INFORMATION OF NOTE: APPARENT EXPERT IN TERROR/FEAR PSYCHOLOGY
INFORMATION OF NOTE: HAS EXTENSIVE TELEPATHIC ABILITIES
PSIONIC SPECIALIZATION: TELEPATHY
THREAT LEVEL TO ANDROMEDON FEDERATION (ALLIED): UNKNOWN – ESTIMATED MEDIUM TO HIGH
THREAT LEVEL TO ANDROMEDON FEDERATION (ENEMY): OMEGA
ADDITIONAL MANUAL COMMENT: Until the surprise extraction of the Battlemaster, we had no prior information that this Ethereal actually existed, and after seeing a small glimpse of his capabilities, there is perhaps a reason that he has not interfered much in the Collective. The Ethereal identified as Isomnum appears to be, for all intents and purposes, a weapon of terror.
From the brief conversation between the Battlemaster and Isomnum, it appears that not even the Battlemaster agreed with his methods and in fact overrode his initial plans to infest the civilians with Chryssalids and an unidentified parasite called a Venomorph. This is perhaps the first recorded instance of disagreement between the Ethereals, but it is likely this might be a special case.
Every single being who was in the presence of this Ethereal was reduced to a stuttering wreck (Curiously, this did not include the Battlemaster who appeared to not be affected), including the identified Warlock Senorium, who was told to leave if he wished to retain his sanity. Isomnum does not particularly appear to care about any of his victims, and in fact seems to take pleasure in their suffering. Every aspect of him, from his voice, to his Ethereal death mask, are designed to evoke terror from whoever is unfortunate enough to speak to him.
Isomnum was accompanied by a multitude of aliens, who were primarily Vitakara, but there were, oddly enough, a small number of Sectoids enhanced with unidentified technology that did not appear to be Ethereal. What was strange was that these beings acted like automatons, and wore blindfolds of various types. I suspect this may be somehow ceremonial, as they did not appear to have their vision impaired.
The primary danger Isomnum poses to anyone is his telepathy, which based from initial results, forces the victims to go insane. It is unknown how it works, or what it shows victims, but like the rest of his persona, will likely tie into the fears of the victim. He also appears to have some experience in telekinesis, but there is not enough data to say to what extent.
What is absolutely clear is that Isomnum is perhaps the most dangerous Ethereal that we have publicly seen from the Collective. He shows no regard for any being, and even challenges the Battlemaster, and I firmly believe that any attempt to try and communicate with this Ethereal would result in literal madness. This alien is a clear and present threat that the Ethereals have hid until now.
It is imperative that contingencies be drafted to deal with a potential arrival by this alien, and the Collective should be told in no uncertain terms that Isomnum is not permitted in Federation space. We cannot act passively to this, regardless of political issues that may occur. This is a telepath more powerful than we have ever seen, and as a result, the threat to our species is high.
We cannot risk it. Certainly not with an Ethereal such as this.
RECOMMENDATION: IMMEDIATE DRAFTING OF A PLAN TO NEUTRALIZE THE ETHEREAL KNOWN AS ISOMNUM; INVESTMENT INTO ANTI-TELEPATHY MEASURES; INVESTIGATION INTO ALIENS ACCOMPANYING ISOMNUM
REPORT COMPILER: SPECIAL OPERATOR 077; ANDROMEDON FEDERATION; [ERROR! DATA NOT FOUND!]
END REPORT
AWAITING REASSIGNMENT
CODEX File ****
Subject: Failings and Opportunities
Location: [ERROR! LOCATION DATA NULL!]
Author: Isomnum
It is rare to find a being who is willing to understand the work I specialize in. While I suspect the Imperator is just as unsettled at what I do as the rest of the Empire was, he is at least willing to acknowledge that mine is a perspective that is needed, even as he makes plans concerning the inner galaxy and these Humans.
It is questionable why he wishes to toy with the Humans, as their usefulness to us will only become apparent years after their assimilation and time is of the essence if we wish to uplift this species as one of the chosen. Yet if the Imperator wishes to undertake his own interests, I will do likewise.
Such freedom is something that has been fleeting, and this time I will be able to achieve what I have always intended to create: A galaxy that will bend to the will of the Ethereals, and kept in line by the terror defiance will bring. Even now the words of diplomacy, agreement, and ally are sickening to behold.
We could have controlled the galaxy, yet held back in weakness; our archaic ethics and morals preventing us from reshaping the galaxy as is our right. Revelean is correct about one thing; all beings have a purpose in this galaxy. Ours is to rule it, all others are to be subservient. To treat aliens as equals is to devalue our own kind; it is to say that the predator and the insect are equal.
And we are not equal.
We were too lenient with the Hive Commanders. Their kind should have been slaughtered and ripped apart the moment they even conceived of defying us. Their Hive Commanders should have been flayed and thrown into the vats until the rest swore true fealty to the Imperator. The Andromedons should have been dominated and the Unions that to this day conspire behind us be executed for all to see, and their sympathizers thrown unto oxygen-rich worlds unhelmeted.
The Vitakara are a weak species, one we should have let die, or at minimum established our rule over them publicly. Hiding in shadows does not inspire loyalty, but the constant presence of one of their masters would have prevented the Nulorian, it would have turned the soft races into something worth protecting.
Yet instead we have a species of pacifists that even now is growing more resentful of our generous lenience.
Only the Mutons we have treated correctly. A species that is fully under our control and a weapon to use in the future. The fear of disobedience is instilled into them from their first moments until their deaths on the battlefield. Theirs is the life of a tool, and that is all they are privileged to have. To serve an Ethereal is to serve the rightful heirs of this galaxy.
Yet an empire cannot be sustained by peace; it cannot be sustained by friendship; the naïve and weak views of other Ethereals, even the vaunted Battlemaster, will destroy this Collective as it did the Empire. It is not enough that the species be dominated; it is not enough that we maintain invisible influence.
They do not fear us.
Thus, they will eventually turn on us.
The weak continuously watch the strong; the lesser always attempt to emulate the greater. It is no different for Ethereals and the lesser species. It is the relationship between master and slave; it is what we should be treating these aliens as, as it is what they deserve. But instead we treat them as equals, we grant them the illusion of equality, and inevitably, they will consider themselves greater.
The question then becomes what can keep a diverse Empire together; what can ensure the reign of our species for thousands of years? For we must no longer think in the short term of centuries, but in the view of thousands, for time is meaningless to us, is it not?
The answer is fear.
Fear is at the core of all living beings, from the simplest organism to the ancients of this galaxy. It is an innate, primal instinct from which all desires are based off of. The Ravaged One was incorrect in his assertion of pain being the basis, as it would have no meaning if beings did not fear the pain that came with it.
Terror is overriding in the mind. It cannot be stopped naturally; and the triggers for each being are different, yet it is at the core of who they are. Fears are simple and complex, from them you can control the beings themselves far more effectively than appeasements like gifts or friendliness. Those have a temporary effect, fear is permanent.
Fear is something poorly understood by many, and it is seen in a negative light, which is something personally strange as it is simply another aspect of a personality, yet one many feel should not be touched. But fear can be liberating, as if reveals the true nature of beings; truths that they might not have known themselves. It is a gift to them that few will appreciate, but it will ensure that they live another day.
There are such beings that can resist this. These beings who can see and experience their greatest fears and emerge with their minds intact. These are rare and they are the only ones who can have true value as an alien. These are the highest of tools, and should be treated as one treats a weapon; maintained and treated well, but willing to dispose of if it becomes unwieldy or broken.
But for the rest of the lesser aliens, an empire ruled by terror is not one that is dark, necessarily. It is simply the primary tool of control. Bonds between family and friends shall be allowed to be formed, freedoms should be allowed, and the instant one dares raise their hands and voices against their masters, what they love most is taken away or destroyed in front of them.
Let the lesser species suffer to impart a lesson onto the survivors. Death is the second means of control. Death breeds terror, terror breeds compliance, and compliance breeds stability. Fear will keep the species in line. All aliens are ultimately disposable, and their worlds may be purged and repopulated with life should it be required.
We have not conquered the final barrier; we as a species must push past the fear of embracing what our purpose is. We are too scared, too timid to exert our dominion over the aliens out of a misplaced sense of mercy, tactics, or other trivial excuses. In the end, that is all it is: An excuse.
We are gifted by a second chance to rule this galaxy. We have failed once.
I will not allow us to fail once more. This galaxy will one day be ruled by the new Ethereal Empire, and when the Synthesized return, we will destroy them under the true might of our new Empire.
For if we do not learn from our mistakes, we deserve to be forgotten in the void.
I will bide my time for now, allow the Imperator to play his games with the Humans. But my patience is running low.
The Imperator understands what must be done. It will eventually be time to see if he can overcome his fear and carry it out.
XCOM Profile 191
Authorization Level: Internal Council
Subject: Isomnum
Threat Level: Artemis
Assessment Author: Aegis
Approved by: The Commander of XCOM
SECTION 1: Physical Characteristics
Hair color: None (Ethereal)
Eye color: Solid Orange
Skin color: Dark Purple
Height: 10'2"
Weight: 192 lbs. (Estimated)
Distinguishing Features: Aside from the mixture of robes and armor that is similarly worn by Macula and Quisilia, the most distinguishing thing about Isomnum is his helmet, which is distinctly made to resemble the face of an Ethereal. This combined with the dull metal, gives a skeletal and unnerving appearance. Despite his past, he also does not wear any clothing reminiscent of the Overminds.
Physical Condition: I can only estimate this, but I suspect he is one of the weaker Ethereals. The physical combat of the Guardians or the Battlemaster is not something he is interested, nor specializes, in. If needed, he could likely be physically overpowered.
SECTION 2: Assessment
Isomnum.
It is rare to reach a consensus, even among the few Ethereals that exist, but if there is one universal agreement, it is that Isomnum is without a doubt either disliked, despised, or feared by everyone. I truly believe not even the Imperator is free of this. When alien species feared that the Empire would one day arrive to enslave them, it was Ethereals like Isomnum they envisioned.
I am unfortunate enough to know his history, as the only reason I can fathom for why the Imperator shared it with me at all was in the event that Isomnum acted without his permission, and attacked Collective species or even other Ethereals. I have a theory as to why the Imperator believed allowing him of all Ethereals to survive was needed, but this will be discussed later.
Isomnum was one of the rare children who was born naturally to a mother and father. This already made him a prodigy, and he attracted the attention of many Imperial scientists and figures. Early on he was found to be an expert in telepathy, although even as a child he was…different. He was not one to socialize, and the few times he did he left those involved mentally unsound, if not close to suffering direct mental trauma. This was fixed by Imperial Medics, but all who were affected were too afraid to directly accuse Isomnum of anything.
They did of course, wonder why Isomnum did these things, which also included telepathically manipulating animals on his homeworld, often causing heart attacks or insanity for no apparent reason. But they ultimately deemed it not important enough, and put it down to a young Ethereal experimenting with his powers. The answer, I believe is simple; Isomnum is a sadist. He has always been one, and always will be.
This attitude did not change as he grew older.
His telepathic abilities led him to the Overminds, who gratefully accepted such a prodigy, and once accepted Isomnum began his own sadistic experiments; all of which were closely guarded secrets with few or no witnesses. There are rumors of what he did, but sadly no hard evidence. But what was even implied was unthinkable.
I will address this in more detail later, but Isomnum makes Ethereals like Macula look completely reasonable in their view of aliens. He does not believe non-Ethereals to be anything more than slaves, and as a result, much of his work involved either aliens, or finding ways to 'break' the Empire of this supposed weakness of tolerance.
Entire alien colonies underwent sudden psychotic episodes. Prominent leaders slowly went insane before the public eye. Aliens reported their children and family went missing randomly, only to return and attack them later; insanity clear in their eyes or equivalent organs. There were even rumors that Isomnum had somehow acquired a vat, or had dominated a Creator into supplying him with Ethereal children to experiment on.
I suspect the last point is what forced the Overminds to act, and they gave him a choice between constant monitoring in the Empire, or to submit to the Guardians to determine the truth of these crimes. He chose the former, of course, and everyone considered the issue solved. Isomnum did not seem deterred by this however; despite the constant monitoring, he spent his time reading every single paper and report on alien, as well as Ethereal psychology he could find.
He made no attempts to change or reform, and for all intents and purposes, appeared to be biding his time and maintaining good behavior.
The Synthesized attack initially did not change his situation, although he also began monitoring that extensively. Eventually he was allowed to participate in combat operations, and was granted a license to do whatever he wished on the Synthesized that were captured. He had an entire lab devoted to living subjects, and from what the Imperator told me, there were indeed results.
Isomnum was one of the few Ethereals who could make the Synthesized horde turn and run. Other Ethereals attempted it, but it wasn't a matter of power, but of having the mindset of a depraved being. It was not enough to wield the power; one had to enjoy and bask in the fear and terror caused and that was impossible for many Ethereals to do.
There are few who understand the Synthesized as well as Isomnum does, and that is one major reason why the Imperator allowed him to join. The other is that he is a powerful telepath, and I also suspect the Imperator is curious about the views of such a being. Since awakening, Isomnum has, as usual, kept to himself, and carrying out projects only he knows. Should he enter the war, it will likely not be his choice.
SECTION 3: Psychological Profile
Isomnum is at best described as an Ethereal supremacist. That, however, is too mild a word for the depth of hate Isomnum feels towards alien species. There is no good reason for this, Isomnum simply sees all aliens as inferior, fit only to be slaves or tools to their Ethereal masters. If he had his way, every species would be in a similar position to the Mutons, although likely somewhat better as most other aliens are actually developed. But the point still stands.
He is of the firm belief that the Empire was too lax, should not have bothered having peaceful relations with other alien species, and should have subjugated them under the Empire. It is for this reason that he does not appear to have any feelings towards abandoning the Empire itself. He sees this as a new opportunity, likely to establish another empire, as ludicrous as that is.
We then must talk of his primary means of exerting power over others: Fear. Isomnum is obsessed with the concept and has built his entire persona around it. He is of the opinion that fear is all that is needed to keep order, and has no hesitation in carrying out abhorrent or malevolent acts, and takes extensive pleasure in doing so.
This has earned him the title of "Dread Lord" from Quisilia, which Isomnum has never acknowledged, but seems oddly pleased by.
Isomnum is an unapologetic sadist as well, one who thrives off the power he exerts over others. He derives extensive pleasure from displaying the greatest fears of his enemies, and will happily toy with victims for months to break their minds. He has told me that there is little a more satisfying feeling than the moment when a mind snaps and all the careful programming within breaks down into meaningless code.
Abhorrent.
He has also begun the creation of a small army of soldiers, who I shall detail later if it becomes necessary, even if information is limited. But ultimately, I do not think it is unreasonable for Isomnum to wish to be viewed as a god-like figure. How better to do that than by surrounding himself with disciples and slaves?
I cannot fathom how he ended up this way, but Isomnum is what you would describe as evil. I do not use such a word lightly, as I often see the galaxy, even the aliens you fight against, as being more complicated than such black and white, but in this case, it is a fitting word.
There is nothing redeeming about Isomnum. He should never have been preserved by the Imperator.
SECTION 4: Concerns and Abilities
Isomnum is a former Overmind, and as such possesses the abilities of one. He is an expert telepath, and one none of your psions can hope to beat alone. His main telepathic attacks are centered on the fears of the victim. I do not know exactly how they work, but based on results, they are vivid, they are real, and they can break even the strongest of minds.
Isomnum will almost never kill his victims outright either. He will prolong their suffering as long as possible. Anything that will spread terror, he will do. He has no code like the Battlemaster, or morals like Sana'Ligna, anyone is a fair target from child to adult. Whatever causes the most anguish and pain will be the option he chooses.
Fortunately, while he is a master telepath, he is inexperienced with the other disciplines of psionics. He has limited skill with telekinesis and offensive psionics. His armor will not protect him long under a sustained assault either, and he is physically far weaker than many Ethereals. Yet despite this, he has a tendency to always be in the vicinity of an attack. He will not hide, for better or worse, like the Overmind, but face his enemies in person.
Thus, he can be drawn into a trap, but be vigilant, Commander, for while Isomnum is one of the most despised Ethereals to live, he is not insane. He is not stupid. He will not fall to traps easily, and he would be more than happy to leave anyone left alive a broken, screaming wreck if you fail.
You must take whatever means are necessary to defeat him. He is a disease on our species, and I will do what I can to ensure he is purged from this galaxy once and for all.
If there is one constant across cultures, it is stories. There are so many different kinds, with even more messages and meanings. They elicit emotions from the reader, and in the end, the best ones make us think on some level.
For Ethereals, it is no different. There were stories; from children's fables to the complex plots of galactic warfare. They were used to scare children into compliance, and give them a sense of wonder. However, there is a very particular story I wish to focus on here.
Even Ethereal children can become disobedient, and there were many a story to fall on for the parent in the dead of night, before the child went to sleep. One of these stories was that of the Dread Lord.
It was a simple story, but one which has kept children up at night at one point or another. It tells of a being who was both powerful and arrogant; he amused himself by showing off his gifts, believing himself better than his peers. Yet one day he attracted the attention of beings more powerful than he, and they stripped him of everything he was; his powers, prestige, and his life as a punishment for wasting the gifts he had been provided with.
He was left for dead, yet he managed to survive and reflected on the lesson he had been forced to learn, and so resolved to wander the world and ensure that no one would fall to the arrogance he had. And so the Dread Lord was born. He was a being of shadow and black, one who appeared before the arrogant and first offered what they wanted most.
It was a test, of course, and those who failed the allure of what they desired he condemned to the nightmare of being trapped inside their own mind. Their desires turned to fears, and they lost all semblance of who they were. To those who refused, he simply vanished as retaining their minds and freedom was all the reward they needed.
It is said to this day that the Dread Lord wanders the galaxy, always vigilant for an opportunity to tear the arrogant down and condemn them to the hell of insanity.
The lesson was to teach children that they should not be so arrogant as to believe they were above their parents, and the concept of such a being, in a galaxy where telepathy was very real, proved sufficient to scare children enough to make a point.
This was considered a fable, and the origin of which I have little idea of.
Yet one young Ethereal, instead of being repelled by the tale, instead became enthralled by it. The ideals of such a being were the ones that captivated him and sent him on a journey exploring the depths of fear and the mind which had lasting repercussions to this day. Yet a different message was taken from the one in the fable of the Dread Lord.
The original and common interpretation was a warning against arrogance. The interpretation taken by the Ethereal was one of the presumed alien arrogance to believe they could be equal to the Ethereals themselves.
And in the coming decades, the whispers and stories of a being similar to the Dread Lord manifested. Such incidents in alien governments were put down to chance or freak accidents, but there was one thread tying them together: They were all connected close to the Empire itself. Alien colonies bordering the Empire suffered sudden bouts of psychosis and insanity.
Prominent figures in government who were considering more aggressive negotiations with the Empire suddenly became unstable, in periods lasting months where the alien citizens watched a formerly respected figure slowly descend into insanity. No one could learn why, but after it happened to figures with similar motivations and goals, the fear set in.
The Empire denied any involvement of course, but the terror did not stop. In time there were no more alien colony worlds along the Empire, who later claimed some of the planets for themselves. Yet there was always a sense of unease around the abandoned buildings overrun with vegetation. No one was ever truly comfortable living there.
As for the Ethereal himself, he only grew more in skill and influence. Even the powerful recoiled in his presence, so unnerved were they yet could not explain why. When he spoke it set the hearts of those who could hear into a panic. When they heard his voice they wished to scream and run. He had become the Dread Lord, the dark desire of the Empire to take the galaxy for their own.
However, he was stopped for a time; for committing crimes to heinous to ignore, but he never vanished. He simply waited; he learned; and when the time came, he inspired terror in the heart of a machine. The horde ran from the arrival of the Dread Lord, but even he could see that the Empire he had wished to see rule would crumble.
So he took a different path.
And for a time, he slept soundly, and the galaxy was freed from the terror the Dread Lord brought. The ultimate promise of Ethereal dominance was removed from the galaxy.
Yet that is no longer true.
The Dread Lord once more walks this galaxy, and his name is Isomnum.
- Isomnum, the Dread Lord of the Empire by Archivist Cogitian (Excerpt)