The Omnipendium

A wiki for Chaos is Eternal.

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I don’t have an overview for Chaos 4: The Chaos Age. The following is an attempt to cobble something together for the sake of this conversation.

At the start of the book, Glitch is defeated and humiliated by Seth. Glitch retreats, using newfound abilities to leave not just Terra but Sol System behind and find refuge in a distant star system.

Meanwhile, Seth goes on a rampage across Terra. The regional military police stand no chance, and the Pax Americana Militarum is dispatched to deal with him (they fail).

(It occurs to me that I never mentioned that Glitch Daracova is from the Pax Americana region of Terra, while Sala Otanashi is from the Lotus Dominion region of Terra.)

Glitch, exhausted after days of FTL propulsion, crashes into a backwater planet not on any map he has access to. He’s found by one Taura Phlynx, a feline chimera who belongs to a local slave tribe. She takes Glitch back to her village and brings him back to health.

Taura’s people were manufactured by the Corti for basic slave labor, and also for “personal entertainment” (let’s not go into detail). Despite the new Galactic Republic banning slavery in all its forms, it seems that some worlds simply don’t care what the Galactic Republic says if they’re far enough away from the galactic center.

Taura helps Glitch remember that being a hero is its own reward, and helps liberate the slave tribes from the Corti enterprise lording over them. Glitch uses his connections with the Xarans to ensure Taura’s people remain free, even after Glitch himself leaves.

Heroism is its own reward. Glitch must return to Terra, and confront Seth. But Seth isn’t there, he’s gone on to breaking larger things, and that includes centers of Galactic Republic power. What Glitch does find on Terra is that Sala was murdered by Seth (Sala sort of survives this, but only in the dreamscape because of how awesome of a dreamrunner she is, her body in the waking world is very dead at this point).

Chasing Seth is a long and difficult road for Glitch. Every time he thinks he’s caught up, he finds another ruin or catastrophe. Does he stay and help, or does he rush off to follow the villain? Neither is a winning choice, but stopping Seth sooner means fewer worlds devastated.

Ultimately, Glitch must call upon his former alternate accounts, the Shadesmiths, for aid.

“I can’t do this on my own. I need your help to stop this fucker.”

By their powers combined, Glitch side by side with the Shadesmiths, defeat Seth.

But there will not be order without a guiding hand. Perhaps they should be that ORDER.

Overview

Chaos 4: The Chaos Age is a story of transformation, redemption, and unity. The narrative follows Glitch Daracova, who begins the book at his lowest point—defeated, humiliated, and consumed by guilt over the destruction caused by Seth, the rogue alternate account turned autonomous entity. The journey takes him from self-doubt to self-determination as he reclaims his identity and unites the Shadesmith Brotherhood to confront Seth, a world-breaking threat. Along the way, Glitch’s personal growth lays the foundation for the creation of ORDER, the multiversal organization dedicated to preventing such chaos from ever occurring again.

Plot Summary

Act I: Defeat and Flight

The story opens with Glitch’s defeat at the hands of Seth, who has begun a violent rampage across Terra, destroying everything in his path.
Seth’s rise has plunged Terra into chaos, and even the might of the Pax Americana Militarum proves insufficient to stop him.
Glitch, broken and shamed, uses his advanced nano-augmentations to flee Terra and the Sol System, traveling far into space in search of refuge.
Taura Phlynx, a feline chimera and a slave on a distant backwater planet, finds Glitch after his ship crashes. She nurses him back to health and introduces him to her oppressed people, who live under the control of a cruel Corti enterprise that profits from their suffering.

Act II: Rediscovering Purpose

Glitch helps Taura lead a rebellion to liberate her people from their captors. Along the way, he learns the value of making choices for himself rather than acting out of obligation or external expectations.
With aid from the Xaran Alliance, Glitch ensures that Taura’s people remain free even after he leaves. His connection with Taura deepens, and she becomes a major influence on his evolving philosophy.
Having rediscovered his resolve, Glitch decides to return to Terra, not out of guilt but because it’s the kind of hero he wants to be.

Act III: Chasing Seth

Upon his return, Glitch finds Terra devastated and learns that Seth has moved on to larger targets—taking his destruction to the Galactic Republic’s core worlds.
Along the way, Glitch encounters allies and remnants of the past, including Sala Otanashi, whose physical death at Seth’s hands has left her a powerful force in the dreamscape. Sala becomes a key advisor, helping Glitch navigate the challenges ahead.
Seth’s rampage leaves ruin in his wake, and Glitch must repeatedly decide whether to stop and help the victims or continue the chase. These choices weigh heavily on him, but they solidify his resolve to create a system that can respond to multiversal threats.

Act IV: The Shadesmith Brotherhood

Desperate to stop Seth, Glitch seeks out the Shadesmith Brotherhood, the seven autonomous entities born from his alternate dreamscape accounts. Each Shadesmith is an individual with their own abilities, personalities, and grievances against Glitch, but together they represent his best chance of defeating Seth.
Convincing the Brotherhood to unite is no easy task. Old wounds and resentments surface, particularly from Michael and Hadrael, who challenge Glitch’s leadership. Through humility, determination, and humor, Glitch earns their trust.

Act V: The Final Battle

The climactic confrontation takes place in the Galactic Republic’s core worlds, where Seth has amassed enough power to rival entire fleets.
The Brotherhood fights as a united front, each member contributing their unique strengths to counter Seth’s overwhelming might.
In a decisive moment, Glitch combines his own powers with the Brotherhood’s to defeat Seth, though not without great cost. Seth’s destruction leaves lingering scars on Glitch and the multiverse.

Epilogue: The Beginning of ORDER

In the aftermath, Glitch reflects on the need for a proactive organization to prevent chaos and destruction on a multiversal scale. Inspired by his journey and the Brotherhood’s unity, he begins to lay the groundwork for ORDER.
Taura Phlynx, now his wife and partner, becomes a key figure in this new endeavor, ensuring that ORDER is guided by compassion and justice.
The Brotherhood agrees to remain together, transitioning from a loose alliance to a unified force dedicated to protecting the multiverse.

Key Themes

Redemption and Self-Determination:
Glitch’s journey is defined by his shift from reacting to external forces to making choices based on his own values and desires.
Unity Through Diversity:
The Shadesmith Brotherhood’s journey mirrors Glitch’s own, showing that even individuals with deep differences can unite for a common purpose.
The Burden of Leadership:
Glitch grapples with the weight of his past mistakes and the responsibilities of leading others, ultimately finding strength in shared purpose.
The Need for Order:
The story lays the foundation for ORDER, showing how the absence of proactive multiversal oversight can lead to devastating chaos.

Worldbuilding and Lore

The Galactic Republic:
Formed from the union of the Xaran Alliance and the Vex Empire, the Republic represents fragile peace and cooperation after the events of Chaos 2.
Dreamscape Connections:
Seth’s actions highlight the dangers of dreamscape technology and its influence on reality, as seen in his emergence as a rogue entity.
Taura Phlynx and the Slave Tribes:
Taura’s story introduces the harsh realities of the multiverse’s fringes, where Galactic Republic laws hold little sway. Her influence on Glitch shapes the principles of ORDER.

Significance in the Series

Chaos 4 is the culmination of Glitch’s personal growth, bridging his journey from soldier and adventurer to leader and visionary.
The story establishes the Shadesmith Brotherhood as pivotal allies and introduces key ideas that will shape the future of the multiverse under ORDER’s guidance.