Prodigal Stone

Prodigal Stone

(Cosmos)

Type

Comet

Diameter

2 miles

Mass

less than 1/100

Gravity

1/10 (surface), 1 (artificial, inside)

Atmosphere

Thin

Source: The Forever Reliquary, pg(s). 8

The Prodigal Stone is a comet sacred to the faith of Hylax, where she revealed herself to the shirrens fleeing the Swarm. It is the site of a monastery called the Forever Reliquary, which protects an artifact known as the Crown of Hylax.

Geography

The Prodigal Stone's orbit is highly eccentric and passes near or through multiple solar systems in the Vast across three years.

History

In 4 AG, during their flight from the Swarm, just after they had built their first Drift-capable starships and made their first Drift jump, the shirrens detected the Prodigal Stone passing nearby and its powerful energy signatures. Several ships landed on the comet, and as the shirrens began to gather materials, Hylax appeared before them and welcomed them into her fold. Most of the shirrens later left the comet, having lost the Swarm, but a few remained to build a temple to honour Hylax, on the same site where she appeared.

After a few years, when the Crown of Hylax was constructed and brought to the Prodigal Stone, the resident monks recognised its significance. In order to secure it, they built a new underground monastery, the Forever Reliquary, to which they shifted their focus from the old temple.

Inhabitants

The Prodigal Stone is home to numerous arthropodal followers of Hylax who were guided there by visions or word of mouth. In addition to shirrens, many formians, trox and haans (among others) live, work and pray in the Forever Reliquary. Due to the passage of time and the difficulty of finding it, most non-Hylaxians are unaware of the Forever Reliquary's existence.