Arell's Report - Oasis

[Field Report from Intergalactic Researcher Arell to Survivors of Old Avakon]

Survivors of Old,

I have spent the last several cycles on the newly discovered planet in AGS Galaxy; Oasis. The name is quite fitting, as the small planet is closet to the sun at the heart of the system. By all measures, no life should be able to exist on the planet due to extreme temperatures and solar radiation. However, life not only does exist on the planet, it flourishes. Oasis is a lush, tropical planet, covered in vibrant flora and teeming with fascinating fauna. Intelligent life, as previously reported, exists on this planet in the form of highly evolved flora. These complex life forms can receive energy via photosynthesis like ordinary plants, but they have also evolved intricate digestive systems to ingest smaller animals; not unlike carnivorous plants we have observed on Avakon and other planets throughout the universe.

The fact that life flourishes so freely on a planet that should have an extraordinarily hostile environment is remarkable. At the root of this growth is what the Oasians call “The Column”, a great structure located at the northern pole of the planet, whose height reaches well above the atmosphere. This structure is of great significance to the Oasians, both religiously and environmentally. It seems to be immensely powerful; generating an aura of Light that blankets the entire planet, shrouding it in a unique, protective atmosphere. Scans of The Column reveal it to be organic in nature. My studies have indicated that it is highly likely that The Column has been present on Oasis either since the planet first formed or very close to it. However, it seems that its influence in terraforming the planet did not happen immediately, but over the course of hundreds of thousands of cycles. This is still a remarkably fast, much faster than life should take to evolve even under optimal conditions.

I can confirm what any Avakonian is already guessing: The Light being emitted by The Column is indeed the very same kind associated with The Great Mother. It is without question. Even the youngest Avakonian would be able to recognize the same Light that fills the air of Avakon. In fact, observations of The Column from space suggest that it is a piece of hair that might have fallen from The Great Mother's mane. Whether on purpose or not is unclear. That this small fragment still possesses enough Light to terraform a whole planet speaks volumes about The Great Mother's power!

The Oasians themselves are somewhat aware of The Great Mother, whom they refer to as The Gardener. The Oasians are very distrusting of outsiders from their planet and were outright hostile to me upon introduction. However, upon seeing my physiological reactions to the Light from The Column, they immediately became curious. I have told them of Avakon, and how The Great Mother rescued us from Our Reckoning. After hearing our stories, the Oasians views drastically reversed. Where they once viewed me as a threat, they now (to my admitted embarrassment) revere me as a “Child of the Gardener” and have expressed desire to meet other Avakonians and visit Avakon.

Religiously zealotry is a major aspect of Oasian culture. They worship “The Gardener” daily and observe many rituals to curry her favor. The Oasians are not an advanced people; they even seem to detest technology in general. Technology is unnatural, which goes against The Gardener's design. Those who go against nature also go against The Gardener, who is the only one allowed to change and shape the Garden (reality itself). While we Avakonians understand The Great Mother to be a kind and loving God, who shows empathy and pity to her children (...even those who do not deserve it...), the Oasians believe their Gardener to be much more cold and controlling. The Gardener came to the Garden with a plan, and every organism is to follow Her will. Should any species go against The Gardener's design, they will be uprooted by Her and cast aside. Therefore, all should play their designated role. Those in Oasian society who try to go against The Gardener's design are ostracized, if not outright destroyed. The Gardener is a perfect being with a perfect plan, and no organism has any authority to question Her. Such views are, of course, very common in religions across the universe. Even we Avakonians once held similar views of The Great Mother shortly after Her departure from Avakon.

The Oasians have never directly witnessed The Gardener, though they claim to have witnessed her in visions. The descriptions they give, however, do not match with what Avakonians observed when The Great Mother appeared before us after the events of the Reckoning. Neither do they pair with the visions passed down from poor Ordin. While this could be that The Great Mother's appearance changes depending on who is observing her, other species who have glimpsed Her have repeated many physical descriptions aligning with Avakonians observed.

I request that another research team be sent to assist me here on Oasis. I do not believe more resources will be required. Oasis is a bountiful planet and her children are in no danger that would require any assistance from Avakon. I would only advise incoming researchers to be mindful of the zealotry of the Oasians. Researchers should expect to park their ships in orbit and keep as much of their equipment there so as not to raise chagrin from the Oasians. Therefore, any researchers willing to come to Oasis should work on honing their skills in more primitive technology (I have personally built a home from sticks and leaves!). Doing so is a great way to earn the trust of Oasians. While their perceptions of the Avakonians is, as of now, of reverence, I believe that if we do not integrate ourselves into their way of life, they will slowly become at best distrusting, hostile at worst.

Survivors of Old, thankfully Oasis is not a planet that is in need of Avakonian assistance. However, Oasis's unique history, coupled with the existence of the Column, makes the planet a great source of information in regards to The Great Mother, specifically Her terraforming powers. The Oasian title for Her, The Gardener, is quite fitting, as Avakonian researchers have discovered many planets that are proven to have been visited by The Great Mother. From this, it seems very apparent that The Great Mother has nurtured life all across the cosmos...much like any gardener would do for their plot of land. It is fascinating to imagine to what end, if indeed there is one, The Great Mother operates towards. What does She envision for the universe as a whole? What motivates Her to cultivate life? Perhaps study of Oasis can elucidate some insight into the mind of Our Great Mother.