Research: Ossoyo’s Bonds

Charles pushes away from the gate research, rubbing his eyes. The ritual framework is theoretical but possible. But what good is reaching the Rime Wastes if they don’t know what to do once they arrive? He needs information about Ossoyo itself—the bindings that keep it imprisoned and how to prevent them from failing.

He pulls out new volumes: bestiaries, treatises on ancient prisons, accounts of the Crown of the World. Most contain only fragments about “the Dreaming Whale” or “the Cold That Ends All Things.” Nothing actionable. From “Primordial Entities of the North” by Valdren Iceweaver, 4595 AR:

“The being known as Ossoyo, the Black Frost Whale, remains one of the most enigmatic entities in recorded history. Bound beneath the Crown of the World by unknown forces, it exists neither fully dreaming nor waking, neither entirely physical nor ephemeral. Traditional divination magic consistently fails when directed at Ossoyo. Augury returns contradictions. Contact with extraplanar entities yields only cryptic warnings. The Whale exists in a blind spot of prophecy…”

Charles’s notes:

We’ve experienced this firsthand. Every divination attempt has given us nothing—just vague terrors and fragments. So how do we learn what we need to know if we can’t divine the information?

He continues reading, growing frustrated. Every source acknowledges Ossoyo but admits ignorance about its nature, its prison, the mechanics of its binding. It’s as if the Whale is intentionally resistant to study.

Then he remembers: the Rime Wastes. The planar convergence. If regular divination fails, maybe an oracle positioned at a convergence point could succeed where normal magic fails.

The fourth book—”Forgotten Shrines and Lost Temples of the Northern Wastes” by Brother Aldemar, 4589 AR—contains a reference:

“Among the Ulfen raiders’ fragmentary records, mention is made of a ‘Henge of Frozen Echoes’—a circle of standing stones at the heart of the Rime Wastes where the wind carries voices of the dead and yet-to-be-born. The raiders avoided this cursed place, though shamans claimed to receive prophetically accurate visions there. The location is described as ‘where the cold burns like fire and the stones sing with ice.’ Modern attempts to locate it have failed, leading scholars to dismiss it as legend.”

Charles sits up straighter. At the center of the convergence. Not just in the Rime Wastes, but at the heart where the planes touch. The next book is older: “Compendium of Northern Oracle Traditions” by the Pathfinder Society, 4521 AR. In a section on “Questionable or Unverified Sites”:

“The Henge of Frozen Echoes (unverified): Alleged oracle site at the center of the Rime Wastes planar convergence. According to fragmentary accounts, this location houses an oracle spirit capable of providing visions about entities that resist traditional divination—particularly extraplanar entities, ancient beings, and matters touching the Dreamlands. The three-way planar convergence (Material, Dreamlands, and Elemental) theoretically allows the oracle to perceive across dimensional boundaries that normally block divination. Several accounts suggest it can provide insights into entities that exist partially across multiple planes or create ‘blind spots’ in prophecy.

Verification Status: Unconfirmed. Several expeditions have disappeared. Not recommended without significant resources.”

Charles sets the book down slowly, mind racing and then he notes:

Oracle that can divine information about entities resistant to traditional divination. Entities that exist across multiple planes. Entities that create “blind spots” in prophecy.

That’s Ossoyo. It exists partially in the Dreamlands, partially imprisoned physically. It resists normal divination. This oracle supposedly specializes in exactly this kind of entity. This could be the answer. Not just a faster route north—a way to actually learn what we need to know. HOW the bindings work. WHERE they’re failing. WHAT can be done to prevent Ossoyo from waking.

He cross-references his earlier notes.

The Rime Wastes: three-way convergence 800 miles south of the Crown of the World. The Henge at the CENTER of this convergence. If Ossoyo is imprisoned both physically (glacial ice) and in dreams (Dreamlands), then the convergence point where both planes touch…

That’s where both prisons overlap. Where an oracle could perceive BOTH aspects simultaneously. That’s why it could provide information no other divination can.

Goddess. Not just reaching the north faster—actually learning how to STOP what’s happening. The mechanics of the bindings, the nature of the failure, the steps to repair them. Ritalsin knew something of this, probably from Xonthar the Herald of Ossoyo, but we’ve been fumbling in the dark, reacting without understanding the underlying problem. If this oracle can show us the full picture…

He pauses, pen hovering.

But at what cost? The Dawnflower teaches that we must act when others suffer, even at cost to ourselves. But she also teaches wisdom and preparation. When does careful planning become cowardice? When does bold action become recklessness?

We know something is weakening Ossoyo’s wards. We know Dreamlands corruption spreads. We know Ritalsin and maybe others are involved. But we don’t know HOW to stop it. Every normal divination has failed.

If this oracle exists, if it can provide information that resists traditional scrying… it might be our only chance to learn how to prevent the Whale from waking. Not just to react, but to actually FIX what’s breaking.

Is the risk worth the potential knowledge? Risking our lives on a damaged gate, a hostile wasteland, an unverified oracle—justified if we might finally understand what we’re fighting? Or am I rationalizing? Convincing myself dangerous choices are necessary because I want to believe I can solve this?

Sarenrae, guide me. Show me the difference between wisdom and fear, between courage and arrogance.