In the world of Eldoria, the notion of space travel is intertwined with ancient legends and present fears. The Arcanists, a secretive society of scholars and guardians, are rumored to be descendants or ideological successors of an ancient civilization that had not only flourished on Eldoria but also reached for the stars. The arcane knowledge they protect includes the secrets of space flight and fusion science—technologies that are both wondrous and terrifying in their potential.
For the Arcanists, their duty extends beyond mere preservation of knowledge. They are the watchers of the world, ensuring that the power to leave Eldoria and travel to other solar systems remains lost. This responsibility is born from a profound and somber history; the ancient civilization did not merely vanish but left Eldoria behind, journeying to the unknown realms of space.
The Arcanists believe that such power, if unleashed, could lead to the unraveling of Eldoria’s social fabric and the premature end of its story. The departure of a civilization en masse is a cataclysm of its own kind—a silent apocalypse that leaves worlds barren and histories incomplete. They fear not the act of space travel but the implications it carries: the end of progress, the cessation of all wars and alliances, and the abandonment of a world that still has much to give.
Within the Freeciv game mechanics, as the players vie for dominance, the construction of a spaceship is a means to an abrupt and unceremonious victory, one that the Arcanists and the ruling bodies of Eldoria, such as the British Empire, actively seek to prevent. In their eyes, such an escape to a new solar system is not a triumph but a dereliction, a forfeiting of the rich tapestry of life and struggle that defines Eldorian history. The British rules, reflecting this philosophy, have thus banned the pursuit of space travel technology, with the Arcanists covertly working to suppress any research or discoveries that could lead to such advancements. Their goal is to maintain the natural evolution and challenges of Eldoria, believing that the true victory lies in the journey, not the escape.
In Echoes of Eldoria: The Hidden Arcanum, this background can be skillfully woven into the narrative, creating an undercurrent of tension and a race against time. The Arcanists, while working to protect Eldoria from external threats, also harbor a deep-rooted mission to prevent any nation from achieving the fateful technology that could spell the end for their world.
As the protagonist, Alex, delves deeper into the mysteries of the Arcanists and the ancient civilization, he uncovers the harrowing truth: the ancients’ exodus was not merely a leap into the future but a warning left behind—a cautionary tale of the consequences when a civilization reaches beyond its grasp, forsaking the home that nurtured it.
Thus, the space travel element from Freeciv serves as a crucial narrative device in the novel, symbolizing the ultimate challenge the Arcanists must face: preserving the integrity and continuity of their world, even as they grapple with the allure and dangers of the ancient knowledge they keep.