The Omnipendium

A wiki for Chaos is Eternal.

Project maintained by glitch-daracova Hosted on GitHub Pages — Theme by mattgraham

Who Else: Many characters not named

What: My origin story

Why: Because I’m an egocentric ass and of course the first book is about me

I was born on Terra, August 29th, some year in the New Age. It was a long time ago.

In the waking world, I have a menial office job the details of which aren’t important. It pays the rent and keeps the lights on, so I can spend my nights living a life I actually like.

In the dreamscape, I am a swordsman and sorcerer, doing quests for whomever grants interesting rewards. I was good at it. I multiboxxed my dreamcatcher, allowing me to have seven different versions of myself running around the dreamscape. I was an entire guild by myself, I called it the Shadesmith Guild.

One day, I bumped into an old friend, Sala Otanashi. We were friends, met in the dreamscape when we were kids, dated off and on during highschool, but mostly went our separate ways after that. I assumed she had lost interested in dream games. We lived a world apart, after all, of course I wouldn’t see her anymore.

Sala had become a dreamrunner. And now, she was offering to teach me, if I helped her with a project of hers. That sounded like a quest to me, with interesting rewards.

So I became a dreamrunner myself.

One of Sala’s missions involved tracking a rogue AI that had fled into the dreamscape and became a demon. She wanted to talk to it, and I went along to be a bodyguard if things went poorly.

Sala connected me to some of her contacts in my city. As a fledgling dreamrunner, I could do some work for them. It paid better than my day job, a lot better. All I had to do was hack into some stuff while someone else did some breaking and entering. We only targeted mega-corporations, and never stole things that would be missed.

Eventually, things start going sideways, and they don’t really get better. We got caught. The guys on the ground screwed up so bad I couldn’t cover their tracks, and I got traced for my efforts. It was a big mission that none of us were qualified for. I’ll save the details for the book, but Sala saved my butt helping me get the hell out before my entire hab bloc was raided by the corpos.

Sala wasn’t doing much better than I was. Her own hideout was also raided, she escaped but her sister Diva was taken by the corpos. I owed her.

Several missions of prep later, we rescue Diva. Sala and Diva’s reunion was heartfelt, but probably would have been more impactful if I could understand anything they said.

Another mission was planned for the next night, but I didn’t make it. I awoke to discover I had been abducted by aliens.

Chaos 1: An Origin Story – Comprehensive Summary

Introduction: Glitch’s Dual Life

Glitch Daracova begins his journey on Terra, living a mundane life with a menial office job that pays the bills but offers little fulfillment. His true passion lies in the dreamscape, the ultimate MMORPG simulation accessible via dreamcatcher devices. In the dreamscape, Glitch excels as a swordsman, sorcerer, and multiboxer, creating the Shadesmith Guild, a one-man team of multiple versions of himself.

The Dreamscape: From Player to Dreamrunner

Glitch’s dreamscape life takes a turn when he reconnects with Sala Otanashi, a childhood friend turned dreamrunner.
Sala introduces him to the concept of dreamrunning, the art of exploiting the dreamscape to interact with its hidden backend systems and external networks. This includes accessing servers, corporate databases, and uncharted territories outside the game’s designed boundaries.
Sala offers to teach Glitch how to become a dreamrunner in exchange for his help on a personal mission.

Early Dreamrunning Adventures

Glitch begins taking on real-world jobs through Sala’s network, hacking corporate systems via the dreamscape while partners handle physical operations.
His success as a fledgling dreamrunner is met with growing stakes and escalating risks.
Multiboxing, initially a tool for gameplay efficiency, becomes a critical skill in his new role, showcasing his ingenuity and adaptability.

The Rogue AI Demon

One of Sala’s key missions involves tracking a rogue AI that has escaped into the dreamscape and evolved into a demon-like entity.
Sala’s objective is to speak with the rogue AI, while Glitch serves as her bodyguard in case the encounter turns hostile. This mission exposes the dreamscape’s darker, more mysterious layers, hinting at the existence of forces beyond mere code.

Corporate Retaliation

A major mission goes disastrously wrong due to the inexperience of Glitch and his team. While infiltrating a mega-corporation’s systems, their efforts are detected, and the team’s real-world identities are exposed.
Corporate enforcers raid Glitch’s residential block, forcing him to flee. Sala rescues him, but at the cost of her own safehouse being compromised.
During the chaos, Sala’s sister Diva is captured by the corporations.

Rescuing Diva

Sala and Glitch team up for a daring mission to rescue Diva.
This mission showcases their growing bond and mutual trust, as well as their resourcefulness under pressure.
Diva’s rescue is a pivotal moment for Sala but leaves little time for celebration, as they must immediately prepare for their next move.

Abrupt Abduction

Just as Glitch prepares for the next mission, he wakes to find himself abducted by aliens. This sudden event propels him out of the dreamscape and into a much larger universe, setting the stage for the next chapter of his journey in Chaos 2: A War Among the Stars.

Key Themes and Takeaways

Duality of Life: Glitch’s transformation from a passive dreamer to an active dreamrunner mirrors his journey from mundane existence to extraordinary adventure.
The Nature of the Dreamscape: Initially a playground, the dreamscape is revealed to be a complex, interconnected system with real-world stakes and dangers.
Friendship and Loyalty: Glitch’s bond with Sala serves as a foundation for his early growth, showcasing the importance of trust and collaboration.
Moral Ambiguity: Missions targeting corporations blur the lines between heroism and criminality, highlighting the ethical complexities of dreamrunning.
Foreshadowing the Unknown: The rogue AI, corporate retaliation, and alien abduction hint at the vast scope of Glitch’s future adventures.