Lore

For the resource see: Resources

Lore
Lore has several meanings in That Which Sleeps but all deal with deciphering information from the past. This can be as recent as a freshly generated clue, or it can be knowledge from aeons past. This page focuses on the historical knowledge since its other meanings are closely linked to other mechanics.

Ages
History in That Which Sleeps is divided in different Ages. During these historical Ages there are Ancient Civilizations which are linked to one or more of these Ages. Ruins from the Civilizations can be found in the game and the deeper one goes into a Ruin, the further one goes back into time.

Every Age and Civilization is linked to specific forms of Magic and Danger. Both the AI Nations and the Old One can decide to learn from these bygone ages, but this will take time.

Example Age: Vyrsat, the Obsidion Kingdom
The following picture is an example of one of the Ancient Civilizations available. In the centre of the image is the name of the Civilization and its related Age. On the right side of the image the "powers" that are associated with it are shown and on the left side the average danger level and the most common dangers. Further down the unique sites will always be shown (darkened if not yet discovered) and in the case of Vyrsat there are two which are known. Any discovered artifacts (either in the Old Ones possession or in a hero/notable's possession that the player has infiltration on) as well as the leading scholars researching Vyrsat. When the Old One has relics from this Age they will also be shown on the bottom (the Old One has none in this shot) which are key to researching the rituals/lore of this lost civilization.

Taking a further look at the Scholar, the book icon shows that they have learned the language and the relic icon shows they possess at least one relic - making them formidable scholars of Vyrsat. A key point to the way ruins work is that the discovery of a ritual doesn't automatically let the player learn it, it has to be researched - this can be done by an Agent but as this costs a lot of time it might be wiser tohave the eager scholars of the realm do this. It will expand their knowledge as well, but this can be managed by working with a paranoid or insular researcher (or by killing the research team afterwards).

In addition, the relics will let heroes/notables/agents learn how to craft the unique items that the Culture is associated with. Some of these will greatly benefit the player, the Obsidian Artifacts of Vyrsat will always lead their user towards corruption, but Vyrsat also pioneered methods for controlling the Echoing Souls of Limos and a sage may stumble upon the method of creating pendants that will greatly limit your influence over them.

Age of Horrors
''Old Vyr stood in the middle of the darkness and called the world its own. While the world withered beneath the Obsidian Kingdom Limos howled his first cry in aeons.'' Danger: 4, Threat: 2, Level: 2, Lore: 6, Treasure: 1, Artifacts: 8

Age of Sorrows
''In the Age of Sorrows man met his end in the guise of the Old Masters. Time brought an end to their rule but in that time mankind's history had been rewritten as a slave.'' Danger: 8, Threat: 5, Level: 1, Lore: 3, Treasure: 5, Artifacts: 2

Caverns of the Earth
''The endless corridors of dirt formed from the conflict between Moloch and Enoch in the Lost Ages. Within its confines passage to the Underworld lies, but few find it.'' Danger: 6, Threat: 1, Level: 3, Lore: 3, Treasure: 2, Artifacts: 3

Modern Age
''In the scope of our modern times a thousand kingdoms have risen and fallen and more history has been lost than is remembered. Great treasures await beneath the crumbling ruins of decadent empires.'' Danger: 3, Threat: 2, Level: 1, Lore: 2, Treasure: 2, Artifacts: 2

The Age of Legends
''In the Age of Legends man met his height, but as The Twins waged their war man tumbled and lost itself once again. The Elder Races, already weakened, struggled to put the world right and a new age of darkness descended.'' Danger: 4, Threat: 8, Level: 2, Lore: 8, Treasure: 2, Artifacts: 4

The Age of Wonders
''As the Primals fell their spirits infested the nascent wonders of the industrious Gnomes. From their melding sprang forth a series of wonders that would redefine an age, and almost bring an end to all living beings.'' Danger: 8, Threat: 7, Level: 2, Lore: 2, Treasure: 5, Artifacts: 2

The Lost Ages
What time did not erase the Old Ones took care of, and the distant origins of life on this world is lost - left only in writings on crumbled stone buried deep within the earth. Danger: 9, Threat: 8, Level: 4, Lore: 4, Treasure: 1, Artifacts: 2