That is just so absurd... hard to believe a developer would put that in!
The Quest To Find Raxxla
- Thread starter Macros Black
- Start date
You make some good points...
However, it is entirely possible that FDev was going to open up a new dimension in this game related to the Raxxla discovery, but as things changed due to Covid and financial weakness (which still persists more than is being stated), FDev thought better of giving out any truly valuable clues because the new discovery would bring upon FDev an overhead support requirement that they currently can not provide or forecast for. However, eternal hope burns for a day when they find that financial relief and can move on with the new dimension. Therefore, they maintain clues of interest but, not ones required for a critical path discovery. I don't necessarily surmise this, but it makes me wonder. And I don't claim to have direct evidence on this.
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I feel like FD have been burned enough times by resourceful players discovering things too quickly to not be in a situation where they think very carefully about what goes live.
I also don't feel like they would put in a clue which can't lead to something solid the moment the correct steps are taken, but that's just a feeling.
I also don't feel like they would put in a clue which can't lead to something solid the moment the correct steps are taken, but that's just a feeling.
It is plausible that "Princess Astrophel and the Spiralling Stars" is an allusion to The Dark Wheel novella.
TDW is the only book we have that say anything noteworthy about Raxxla. If Princess Astrophel and the spiralling stars have hidden clues, so could TDW.
Rafe Zetter is the character that tells us about Raxxla. He says: "It’s a ghost world. A planet."
Interpreting that as literally as possible. Raxxla is a planet in the constellation of Ghost.
Ghost is a Chinese constellation consisting of four stars, in the western constellation of Cancer. The stars are: Theta Cancri, Eta Cancri, Gamma Cancri and Delta Cancri. In ED these are known as: 31 Theta Cancri, Eta Cancri, Asellus Borealis and Asellus Australis.
Ghost are the four stars that form box around M44
There could be something in one of those four systems? Eta Cancri is also known as 33 Cancri, if we want to count dots in the Raxxla logo.
The name Ghost actually refers to the diffuse dot in the box that is M44 or the Beehive cluster (NGC 2632 in ED). This is perhaps a more likely candidate area?
Beehive Cluster - Wikipedia
Beehives and omphalos are very closely related.
Years ago I wrote a long post on bees in ED: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/the-quest-to-find-raxxla.168253/page-276#post-7383581
There is also 42 Cancri in this cluster. The answer is always 42, isn't it?
Edit: As you can see the Ghost compilation is right on the ecliptic, putting it in the orbital plane of earth.
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Agree. That's the counterpoint for sure. I misspoke when I used the term "surmise". I meant to just say it makes me wonder.
Search EDSM or INARA as a starting point. I say this as someone all too familiar with compromised navigation beacons. Systems with a compromised navigation beacon do not show in GalMap search even if you have been there. A.O.E. Allied Order of Exemplars home system is like this. You either have to know where it is visually on GalMap or have it bookmarked as searching for stuff in-system simply doesn't work. Functionally, it is like a lite version of a permit lock. You can route there provided you can find it. That doesn't mean Universal Cartographics intends to make it easy. We're a theocratic faction/squadron and there seems to be certain faction types that the second they gain control of a system it gets taken off the Universal Cartographics indexing service. For a normal populated system with a normal navigation beacon, you can search POIs on GalMap without having to manually search.Another 'Princess Astrophel' curiosity:
Going with my earlier connections with Henrietta Leavitt, she also discovered T Pyxidis, a recurrent nova in the constellation Pyxis, located above the stern of Argo Navis.
The problem is, even its alternate names in simbad don't show up in maps. Does it go by a unique name? or does it not exist as a system
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Nice hypothesis. But there's also the Ghost of Cassiopeia https://esahubble.org/news/heic1818/It is plausible that "Princess Astrophel and the Spiralling Stars" is an allusion to The Dark Wheel novella.
TDW is the only book we have that say anything noteworthy about Raxxla. If Princess Astrophel and the spiralling stars have hidden clues, so could TDW.
Rafe Zetter is the character that tells us about Raxxla. He says: "It’s a ghost world. A planet."
Interpreting that as literally as possible. Raxxla is a planet in the constellation of Ghost.
Ghost is a Chinese constellation consisting of four stars, in the western constellation of Cancer. The stars are: Theta Cancri, Eta Cancri, Gamma Cancri and Delta Cancri. In ED these are known as: 31 Theta Cancri, Eta Cancri, Asellus Borealis and Asellus Australis.
Ghost are the four stars that form box around M44
There could be something in one of those four systems? Eta Cancri is also known as 33 Cancri, if we want to count dots in the Raxxla logo.
The name Ghost actually refers to the diffuse dot in the box that is M44 or the Beehive cluster (NGC 2632 in ED). This is perhaps a more likely candidate area?
Beehive Cluster - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
Beehives and omphalos are very closely related.
Years ago I wrote a long post on bees in ED: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/the-quest-to-find-raxxla.168253/page-276#post-7383581
There is also 42 Cancri in this cluster. The answer is always 42, isn't it?
Edit: As you can see the Ghost compilation is right on the ecliptic, putting it in the orbital plane of earth.
and planetary nebulae can also be viewed as the ghosts of dying stars.
i dont think ive ever encountered this issue. i think i saw systems nav beacon go to compromised when its security got lowered and it got hit with pirate attack, then reverted to regular when security went back up. all the time visible on map regularly... just like any other compromised beacon system. poi (like installations, czs or res zones) visibility normal just like any other system.
however if this happens to theocracies thats another thing.
you want to tell me that the mapping monopoly in elite is intentionally systematically hiding religious cults in power? that certainly doesnt sounds suspicious, right?
smushes tinfoil hat in head even further
One amusing thing about the aforementioned Ghost (called LBN 623 ingame) is that it's highlighted by neighbouring 27 Gamma Cassiopeiae, AKA Navi. This informal name was given by Apollo 1 astronaut Gus Grissom, and means one of his names - Ivan - backwards.
He did the same to his mission colleagues for two other stars: one of them being Regor for Gamma Velorum (which, y'know, names the suspiciously permit-locked Guardian core region) after Roger Chaffee, and the other Dnoces for Talitha (AKA Iota Ursae Majoris) after Ed White - perhaps "Second" because his name has a II?
...also, wouldn't a nebula right by the central star on Cassiopeia's asterism be a fairly good candidate for "jewel in the brow of the mother of galaxies"?
And regarding the Beehive Cluster: its brightest member Epsilon Cancri appears ingame as Praesepe - which is an alternative name for the cluster itself.
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Years ago I pointed out a suspicious Galnet post...IIRC two theocracies were bidding for an explorer's survey data...WHY?i dont think ive ever encountered this issue. i think i saw systems nav beacon go to compromised when its security got lowered and it got hit with pirate attack, then reverted to regular when security went back up. all the time visible on map regularly... just like any other compromised beacon system. poi (like installations, czs or res zones) visibility normal just like any other system.
however if this happens to theocracies thats another thing.
you want to tell me that the mapping monopoly in elite is intentionally systematically hiding religious cults in power? that certainly doesnt sounds suspicious, right?
Search my name in this thread, twas a good while ago!
In terms of comprised nav beacons I always thought they were "low security" / Anarchy systems in the past but having googled how to find them the results there seems to be links to external tools....i dont think ive ever encountered this issue. i think i saw systems nav beacon go to compromised when its security got lowered and it got hit with pirate attack, then reverted to regular when security went back up. all the time visible on map regularly... just like any other compromised beacon system. poi (like installations, czs or res zones) visibility normal just like any other system.
however if this happens to theocracies thats another thing.
you want to tell me that the mapping monopoly in elite is intentionally systematically hiding religious cults in power? that certainly doesnt sounds suspicious, right?
seems like googling the rules on how they appear / disappear seem to not be understood in terms of the BGS.....
It does seem strange on how that seems to have not been worked out unless I've missed something....
LBN 623 Sector JH-V c2-24 Was permit locked at one stage way back, however been there as many have and never found anything or a reason whysmushes tinfoil hat in head even further
One amusing thing about the aforementioned Ghost (called LBN 623 ingame) is that it's highlighted by neighbouring 27 Gamma Cassiopeiae, AKA Navi. This informal name was given by Apollo 1 astronaut Gus Grissom, and means one of his names - Ivan - backwards.
He did the same to his mission colleagues for two other stars: one of them being Regor for Gamma Velorum (which, y'know, names the suspiciously permit-locked Guardian core region) after Roger Chaffee, and the other Dnoces for Talitha (AKA Iota Ursae Majoris) after Ed White - perhaps "Second" because his name has a II?
...also, wouldn't a nebula right by the central star on Cassiopeia's asterism be a fairly good candidate for "jewel in the brow of the mother of galaxies"?
And regarding the Beehive Cluster: its brightest member Epsilon Cancri appears ingame as Praesepe - which is an alternative name for the cluster itself.
Wasn't Regor named after someone taking the Mickey out of a friend named Roger... I forget as I'm old and it's too late to Googlesmushes tinfoil hat in head even further
One amusing thing about the aforementioned Ghost (called LBN 623 ingame) is that it's highlighted by neighbouring 27 Gamma Cassiopeiae, AKA Navi. This informal name was given by Apollo 1 astronaut Gus Grissom, and means one of his names - Ivan - backwards.
He did the same to his mission colleagues for two other stars: one of them being Regor for Gamma Velorum (which, y'know, names the suspiciously permit-locked Guardian core region) after Roger Chaffee, and the other Dnoces for Talitha (AKA Iota Ursae Majoris) after Ed White - perhaps "Second" because his name has a II?
...also, wouldn't a nebula right by the central star on Cassiopeia's asterism be a fairly good candidate for "jewel in the brow of the mother of galaxies"?
And regarding the Beehive Cluster: its brightest member Epsilon Cancri appears ingame as Praesepe - which is an alternative name for the cluster itself.
We're a lower population but medium security theocracy. The population is incredibly happy. This is why I suspect theocratic factions and a few others make their presence harder to detect.
Mmm, The Ghost of Cassiopeia (IC 63 & IC 59) might also fit the toast?
Cassiopeia-mother of Andromeda- the mother of galaxies?
Ghost- whisperer in witch's space?
Parents grief- Andromeda was to be sacrificed? lover's woe- Perseus?
A bit far-fetched perhaps, but no more so than many hypotheses in this thread (including many of my own!
)
Don't forget the Ghost of Jupiter planetary nebula.
(And if you want to allow closely-related words, the Soul nebula and the Veil nebulae can be interpreted to have connections with death and the supernatural)
1) It's dependent on a mix of hidden and visible variables - CNBs are most common in low security and much less common in medium security, but those security levels also have invisible sub-gradations; it's not just the security level - some CNBs stay there permanently regardless of controlling faction, while others come and go as the controlling faction changes or as the state of the controlling faction changes (which may or may not be to do with the state affecting sub-gradations of the security level)
2) It's been known to change arbitrarily: in 3.0 (I think, or thereabouts anyway) a very large number of CNBs and RES sites changed location and intensity all at once, which might imply that there's some sort of pseudo-random skew applied somewhere as well as one of the hidden variables. The existence of CNBs, HazRES, or (visibly) gradated RES have all happened since 1.0 and the next version might throw it all out and replace it with something else again, too.
3) It's largely irrelevant to the business of capturing additional systems for your faction: there are a lot of unsolved things related to the Political BGS which are unsolved precisely because no-one can think of a way that solving it would be weaponisable, and there are insufficiently many people interested in non-applied research to look into them all.
(And if you want to allow closely-related words, the Soul nebula and the Veil nebulae can be interpreted to have connections with death and the supernatural)
Three reasons, I think:
1) It's dependent on a mix of hidden and visible variables - CNBs are most common in low security and much less common in medium security, but those security levels also have invisible sub-gradations; it's not just the security level - some CNBs stay there permanently regardless of controlling faction, while others come and go as the controlling faction changes or as the state of the controlling faction changes (which may or may not be to do with the state affecting sub-gradations of the security level)
2) It's been known to change arbitrarily: in 3.0 (I think, or thereabouts anyway) a very large number of CNBs and RES sites changed location and intensity all at once, which might imply that there's some sort of pseudo-random skew applied somewhere as well as one of the hidden variables. The existence of CNBs, HazRES, or (visibly) gradated RES have all happened since 1.0 and the next version might throw it all out and replace it with something else again, too.
3) It's largely irrelevant to the business of capturing additional systems for your faction: there are a lot of unsolved things related to the Political BGS which are unsolved precisely because no-one can think of a way that solving it would be weaponisable, and there are insufficiently many people interested in non-applied research to look into them all.
Everything here is far-fetched.Mmm, The Ghost of Cassiopeia (IC 63 & IC 59) might also fit the toast?
Cassiopeia-mother of Andromeda- the mother of galaxies?
Ghost- whisperer in witch's space?
Parents grief- Andromeda was to be sacrificed? lover's woe- Perseus?
A bit far-fetched perhaps, but no more so than many hypotheses in this thread (including many of my own!
Most likely Rafe means ghost world in the same way as ghost town. An empty abandoned planet.
Since it is supposed to have an alien construct, it was probably abandoned by aliens.
The main problem here is that we have already found hundreds of ghost worlds with alien constructs. What sets Raxxla apart from those we have found?
Perhaps they are all Raxxlas and we just don't know how to activate the construct to open the omphalos rift?
Norn and Fates alignment
Previously I made various visual observations about a hypothetical alignment with the Norse Norns and Greek Fates systems, since then I’ve been able to map a new set of systems named after Norse names for trees, which have made me reassess this assumption and apply a much more robust mathematical calculation of the alignment.
By identifying the various exact XYZ centroids, mid and end point calculations, I can now confirm that the midpoint between two tree systems; (which I’m identifying as the ‘Thorn’ system) Purisaz and Ansuz aligns with the centroid points of the Norse Norns and the Greek Fates.
It must be acknowledged, that in the absence of any other data there exists an equal likelihood this is simply a coincidence or apophenia. But, if it is not then it identifies that the Fates and the Norns may have some unknown alignment.
The systems of Purisaz and Ansuz if applicable, enable some greater confidence that they do form part of a constellation of systems named after Norse tree names / deities, which I feel is another nod towards Robert Holdstock and a theory where trees (or thorns specifically) form a protective marker for a mystical secret.
’The Thorn is the way’
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/the-quest-to-find-raxxla.168253/post-10284991
Initial assumptions upon the Thorns
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/the-quest-to-find-raxxla.168253/post-10294547
Initial Norn alignment assumption
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/the-quest-to-find-raxxla.168253/post-10281531
This alignment if entertained as intended, and thus then projected outwards utilising the same robust math, can be seen to align directly with the calculated centroid of the Morrigan goddesses systems.
Again this is all possibly coincidence or apophenia but the alignment warrants interest in my opinion.
*edited new picture as realised one ‘thorn’ system was wrongly identified, this does not alter the hypothesis. It may actually strengthen it?
Previously I made various visual observations about a hypothetical alignment with the Norse Norns and Greek Fates systems, since then I’ve been able to map a new set of systems named after Norse names for trees, which have made me reassess this assumption and apply a much more robust mathematical calculation of the alignment.
By identifying the various exact XYZ centroids, mid and end point calculations, I can now confirm that the midpoint between two tree systems; (which I’m identifying as the ‘Thorn’ system) Purisaz and Ansuz aligns with the centroid points of the Norse Norns and the Greek Fates.
It must be acknowledged, that in the absence of any other data there exists an equal likelihood this is simply a coincidence or apophenia. But, if it is not then it identifies that the Fates and the Norns may have some unknown alignment.
The systems of Purisaz and Ansuz if applicable, enable some greater confidence that they do form part of a constellation of systems named after Norse tree names / deities, which I feel is another nod towards Robert Holdstock and a theory where trees (or thorns specifically) form a protective marker for a mystical secret.
’The Thorn is the way’
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/the-quest-to-find-raxxla.168253/post-10284991
Initial assumptions upon the Thorns
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/the-quest-to-find-raxxla.168253/post-10294547
Initial Norn alignment assumption
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/the-quest-to-find-raxxla.168253/post-10281531
This alignment if entertained as intended, and thus then projected outwards utilising the same robust math, can be seen to align directly with the calculated centroid of the Morrigan goddesses systems.
Again this is all possibly coincidence or apophenia but the alignment warrants interest in my opinion.
*edited new picture as realised one ‘thorn’ system was wrongly identified, this does not alter the hypothesis. It may actually strengthen it?
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Contemplating covert dominance, thinking out loud. Chime in if you have any ideas:
I still think an important key is figuring out this 'covert dominance'. Assuming these parts of the myth are true and someone(s) already found Raxxla:
My assumption is that these people (person) already know the 'path' to Raxxla so they can obviously guard it. I assume Jason Ryder was killed because he set foot (metaphorically) on that path directly - as in, he definitely had found something, rather than the many who are hunting and haven't found anything.
However, until 2800 there wasn't really private ship ownership in the way we understand it now, and of course hyperdrive was more limited. So prior to that the opportunities for people to find Raxxla significantly reduce the further back in time you go, by pure function of fewer ships, costing more, travelling less.
And consider that for anyone or any group to dominate humanity, they'd have to control all the other folks that want to do the same. So, to truly dominate humanity you'd have to influence all three superpowers, Sirius, the Kumo crew, the Utopians, the Dredger Clans, Colonia, all the independent factions and pilots (like us), all at the same time, and do it all without being found out by the masses.
What could Raxxla possibly offer that could leverage power over the diverse factions of humanity?
Maybe the myth is exaggerated?
This made me think about the idea that maybe the 'Siren of the deepest Void' is a trap (as the name suggests); Although Raxxla is an amazing treasure with massive potential, it's also incredibly dangerous and whoever found it first realised that it could entirely destroy humanity, so they have to protect it and stop others finding it. This I feel fits with the Lovecraftian themes that Brookes liked too.
I can see how "covert dominance" is necessary in order to fulfil this goal, and maybe to help guide humanity to become strong enough to defeat whatever it is (like the God-Emperor of Dune's Golden Path).
I like the idea that something is calling for us to find Raxxla, and something/someone else is trying to stop us falling into the trap. There's some delicious irony that they can't just tell us to steer clear of it either, since humanity would absolutely ignore such a warning and fall into the trap anyway.
I still think an important key is figuring out this 'covert dominance'. Assuming these parts of the myth are true and someone(s) already found Raxxla:
My assumption is that these people (person) already know the 'path' to Raxxla so they can obviously guard it. I assume Jason Ryder was killed because he set foot (metaphorically) on that path directly - as in, he definitely had found something, rather than the many who are hunting and haven't found anything.
How long has this covert dominance been happening?
Part of the issue is knowing when this group or individual started to leverage Raxxla. If we assume TDW is semi-factual (in that Jason was assassinated for getting too close), then we know this covert domination has been in place for at least 2-300-ish years? at least (could have been much, much longer).However, until 2800 there wasn't really private ship ownership in the way we understand it now, and of course hyperdrive was more limited. So prior to that the opportunities for people to find Raxxla significantly reduce the further back in time you go, by pure function of fewer ships, costing more, travelling less.
Covert?
Of course, "covert" is the real kicker here. If it's truly covert, how would we know at all? We know there are several candidate groups. Certainly they all leverage extreme power, but the most powerful seem fairly benign (PF, UC, The Club) and the ones that are less benign seem far less covert (Feds/Imps/Sirius/Salvation, etc.).And consider that for anyone or any group to dominate humanity, they'd have to control all the other folks that want to do the same. So, to truly dominate humanity you'd have to influence all three superpowers, Sirius, the Kumo crew, the Utopians, the Dredger Clans, Colonia, all the independent factions and pilots (like us), all at the same time, and do it all without being found out by the masses.
What could Raxxla possibly offer that could leverage power over the diverse factions of humanity?
Maybe the myth is exaggerated?
Why dominate at all?
I've also been wondering why? Why dominate humanity? What's the purpose of that?- To make money? - how much and for whom? Why covertly then? Why not start a corporation like Sirius if wealth is the goal?
- Ideology? - believing that they can lead humanity to a better future? We don't see any specific leaning towards any particular ideology in 3310 though? Except maybe war...
- Protection? - believing that humanity needs to be protected from something? Or something needs protecting from us?
...Raxxla is actually bad?:
Thinking about this has made me lean much more towards the idea that Raxxla is extremely dangerous, and some other group is trying to protect us from it. Given that the Thargoids are already here, and we're very handily defeating them at every turn, it seems unlikely to me that the Thargoids are this danger.This made me think about the idea that maybe the 'Siren of the deepest Void' is a trap (as the name suggests); Although Raxxla is an amazing treasure with massive potential, it's also incredibly dangerous and whoever found it first realised that it could entirely destroy humanity, so they have to protect it and stop others finding it. This I feel fits with the Lovecraftian themes that Brookes liked too.
I can see how "covert dominance" is necessary in order to fulfil this goal, and maybe to help guide humanity to become strong enough to defeat whatever it is (like the God-Emperor of Dune's Golden Path).
I like the idea that something is calling for us to find Raxxla, and something/someone else is trying to stop us falling into the trap. There's some delicious irony that they can't just tell us to steer clear of it either, since humanity would absolutely ignore such a warning and fall into the trap anyway.
I suspect almost every part of the Codex has relevance and meaning. To inject red-herring is counterproductive, especially if the text is so allegorical. The potential for such double standards only raises suspicion, and stops us focusing upon the correct path.
Much of the ‘mystery’ I suspect was altered, during the dropping of the DW missions, I suspect the Codex was brought in to tie it all together neatly.
I think the absence of whatever context the missions held, or ultimately lead to being injected, have made this puzzle ultimately muddy.
So I do suspect, that given our evidence identification so far that it likely is in the bubble, for it to be ‘lost’ for so long, there has to be some element of disguise involved.
The comment made by Drew a few posts ago - quoted by a Cmdr, may have some weight if it can be identified as true and directly linked to Raxxla or just indirect knowledge of another mystery. For to ‘hide’ something in game, the only applicable mechanism would be via Factions… but which factions, and how many are involved, and how much interaction is needed…
If it’s not factions, then it’s either just floating around…. Or on a moon… or in a belt… or really far out of the orbital line… or just dark and not registering on the scanners… we simply don’t know.
But if we can identify the ‘area’ of influence; we ought to then take into consideration ‘everything’ in that finite zone. Eg what is the lore in that area, who are the core factions etc.
So yes I feel every aspect of the Codex has direct relevance.
Much of the ‘mystery’ I suspect was altered, during the dropping of the DW missions, I suspect the Codex was brought in to tie it all together neatly.
I think the absence of whatever context the missions held, or ultimately lead to being injected, have made this puzzle ultimately muddy.
So I do suspect, that given our evidence identification so far that it likely is in the bubble, for it to be ‘lost’ for so long, there has to be some element of disguise involved.
The comment made by Drew a few posts ago - quoted by a Cmdr, may have some weight if it can be identified as true and directly linked to Raxxla or just indirect knowledge of another mystery. For to ‘hide’ something in game, the only applicable mechanism would be via Factions… but which factions, and how many are involved, and how much interaction is needed…
If it’s not factions, then it’s either just floating around…. Or on a moon… or in a belt… or really far out of the orbital line… or just dark and not registering on the scanners… we simply don’t know.
But if we can identify the ‘area’ of influence; we ought to then take into consideration ‘everything’ in that finite zone. Eg what is the lore in that area, who are the core factions etc.
So yes I feel every aspect of the Codex has direct relevance.