Prologue
The beauty that I find in this world lies in the utter cruelty inherent in nature itself, the very force that drives all forms of life to adapt to the constant changes that occur from moment to moment. Every hardship, every struggle serves as a crossroads for the species of this planet – a fundamental game of chance that, unfortunately, not many are able to take or even win for that matter, and yet, though the probability of survival remains unbelievably small, though the chance of producing viable, healthy offspring seems practically impossible, there still exists life, even in places which would seem impossible to be inhabitable at all. The sheer frailty of existence is matched only by the inherent will found in all living things which motivates us to improve ourselves – mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually, subconsciously, even under the threat of extinction. As it has been since the dawn of creation, so it shall always be for every living organism, for life, can and always, will find a way to be.
Rowan Bell c.1750
The year is 1746. With the coast firmly held by the colonists, settlers, homesteaders, and pioneers began pushing west, hoping to stake a claim on the uncharted and certainly bountiful lands. Of these regions that witnessed the greatest push westward were the Takoda Mountains, some 1690 miles of rolling hills, cloud covered peaks, and dense forests. Such an environment, having gone untouched by human hands for over ten-thousand years is certain to hold vast, untold wealth. But it is not monetary gain I seek, it is what others would overlook, what others may consider to be bothersome or even outright dangerous. What I seek is knowledge. Knowledge of the limitless array of life forms which call these majestic mountains home. Having left my home and mentor behind in the relative safety of Keyes Landing, I set out on my own in order to see for myself this world of creatures that can defy even the laws of natural order. In my time under the tutelage of my mentor, I have seen things most would regard as pure fantasy, a fever dream, or even outright lies; however, because I was witness to these events, I know them to be true, and as a Preservist, it is my sworn duty to uncover the mysteries of these creatures that live amongst us, these phantoms that lurk on the edge of our vision, these Echoes.
What, you may ask, are these creatures, these Echoes? To put such things in the simplest of terms: Echoes are the last mysteries that still roam this world. They are the dreams which vanish from our memories the moment our eyes open from a deep sleep. They are the thought which disappears before we can wholly grasp it. They are everything we have yet to know about the wide world, the last door left unopened. And here, in these Takoda Mountains, I hope to gain some understanding as to the mechanisms and nature of these creatures that we, as humans, a fellow species of this world, may come to know that we are but one tiny piece in the puzzle of life.
