Salvagers

Salvagers are humans born with the ability to see the past, a magical power known as Hindsight. There are always three alive, (one of the south, one of the center, and one of the north). They have white-blue eyes and shockingly white hair, and they can live up to 3,500 years old.

Following the death of a Salvager, the next in its lineage (south, center, or north) is born at the Spirit Locus west of the previous Salvager’s Spirit Locus birthplace. The next Salvager will be born as soon as a pregnant woman, ready to birth, is near the next Spirit Locus birthplace. The timing of the birth can be minutes or many moons, but rarely takes longer than a year.

Salvagers age as a Commoner would until puberty. Following puberty, they age according to their supernatural lifespans. Though Salvagers can procreate with Commoners, the fetus of two Salvagers will always die in the womb. The offspring of a Salvager is called a Dual. Salvagers offer the power of knowledge and often fulfill roles of leadership, though they, unlike the blood-bonded Shapeshifters, are not obligated to partake in the Anima’s demonstrations of the Task.

A Salvager’s eye color comes from their origin in Source at the Spirit Locus where they are born. Their eyes are the color of water and change in reflection to their mood, like how a still pond will reflect the sky. When depressed, their eyes are a dark blue; when activated, such as with anger, joy, or excitement, their eyes glow white. Their eyes shift between blue and white, like moonstone, when their moods are ambiguous or neutral.

Hindsight and The Third

Salvager’s ability to enter the Third Dimension of the Source—known simply as the Third—and witness any historical moment across space is called Hindsight; the term Hindsight is used to describe a particular memory as well. The Third is the river-like movement of time into the past; it begins at the genesis of Salvagers and Shapeshifters, 9,336 YBP. The Salvager’s physical body is referred to as the Anchor, as it what they return to when they leave the Third. 

When they are ready to return to their Anchor, Salvagers must first flow through the Third to the Second, which is now, and then fly to the First Dimension, which is here. Alternatively, they can first fly to the First Dimension and then flow to the Second. Beyond the Third is the Fourth Dimension Salvagers have also called the Void. It is infinity.

If a Salvager loses connection to their Anchor, i.e. by going unconscious, they will be thrust from the Third into the Fourth. This is because their body anchors them to the First and Second Dimensions (here and now); without it, they will be swept away by the Third into the Fourth.

Salvagers can only hear and see in the Third; they cannot smell, feel, or talk. They can only sense the amount of time that passes in the Third. It is a sensation similar to how we feel the presence of someone watching us. Translating this sensation to a concrete quantity, i.e. years, is difficult, if not entirely impossible. Salvagers must use archeological skills to determine the exact amount of time between their Anchor and the Hindsight.

This is what made timing the mushroom all but impossible prior to Laurel’s discovery of the golden ratio. The first generation of Salvagers were ignorant to the Anima’s existence, and thus the purpose behind their powers. The second generation of Salvagers learned about Order and their larger purpose from Nascha. It wasn’t until the Third Generation of Salvagers, or the Three Thirds, that Salvagers began formalizing their powers and their purpose to serve the Anima.  

Wherever Disorder actively and violently spreads, Salvagers experience migraines that prohibit their use of Hindsight. Mint tonics help alleviate the pain, but cannot eliminate it. 

Salvagers die of brain aneurysms if they spend too much time in close proximity to Disorder in action, (i.e. all three Salvagers who died in the Lyziver War). Their natural desire to avoid pain makes Salvagers impervious to warping; however, they can still choose not to actively participate in the Task.

Salvagers Lineage

Lifespans (Years Before Present) and Birthplaces (Modern Era names)

SALVAGERS OF THE NORTH

Ahnah: Alidima Mountains; 9,336—6,720 YBP

Silla: Ollaoise Forest, Taigas; 6,720—5,776 YBP

Gan: Kare Mountains, Borea; 5,776—3,570 YBP

Esha the Crow: Alidima Mountains; 3,570—741 YBP

Uki: Ollaoise Forest, Taigas; 741—

SALVAGERS OF THE CENTER

Dakini: Three Sisters Lakes, Montane: 9,336—6,663 YBP

Mahpee: Misty Mountains, Montane; 6,663—5,776 YBP

Gaagi: Crazy Mountains, Montane; 5,776—2,189 YBP

Laurel: Orgo Forest, Borea: 2,189 YBP—

SALVAGERS OF THE SOUTH

Jarli: Pachaku Mountains, Boscage; 9,336—6,754 YBP

Walpan: Wildwood Mountains; 6,754—5,776 YBP

Sying: Caidiq Mountains, Morass; 5,763—3,570 YBP

Mayra: Pachaku Mountains, Boscage: 3,570—431 YBP

Rua: Wildwood Mountains: 431 YBP—