The Primum Mobile, Yggdrasil, the Silent Song of the Spheres, wandering upon the outer rim of Robert Holdstock’s Lost Realms.
This analysis is drawn from several investigations with potential correlations.
During 2017 two new stations were reported discovered which later held an unusual connection with mythology elements attributed to concepts of an axis mundi; namely of Delphi and Donars Oak another description of a Norse world tree.
Generally in game the galactic map shows an axi mundi with a designation of 0; 0; 0 this being the Sol system. There is also an axis mundi system far below Sol very close to Persephone.
Such a concept is not so unusual until the inclusion of the Codex in 2018, which then identified the use of the term Omphalos, a term linked to Delphi in Greece and the concept of an axi mundi. The codex also referred to various elements associated with the Greek underworld.
This post is under constant review and the findings outlined below are subject to change.
Primary information requirements:
Sources: Frontier Developments Support; Frontier Developments Press Relations (open source); Canon Research; EDDB; various open source references noted below via URL hyperlinks; The Norse Myths by Kevin Crossley-Holland 1888; Paradise Lost by John Milton, edited by John Leonard p 2014; Paradise Lost by John Milton, Parallel Prose, edited by Dennis Danielson p 2008; Milton’s Astronomy, the astronomy of Paradise Lost by Thomas N Orchard MD, p 1913. The Lost Realms by Malcolm Edwards and Robert Holdstock, p1984; Ragthorn by Garry Kilworth and Robert Holdstock, p 2015. Elite Legacy by Michael Brookes, p 2014.
Delph and Donars Oak timeline
FD install The Oracle station at Pleiades Sector IR-W D1-55 at unknown time but certainly prior to Codex.
FD install Donars Oak station at Pleiades Sector IR-W D1-55 at unknown time prior to Codex, noticed by player circa July 2017 player states it wasn’t there 1 week prior!
Another player states seeing a new station named Donars Oak at Pleiades Sector IR-W D1-55 on 3 Aug 2017
CG article identifies The Oracle at Pleiades Sector IR-W D1-55 circa 4Aug 2017
Galnet article regards distress call at named location of Pleiades Sector IR-W D1-55 (not Delphi) involving Thargoids and a battle cruiser 28 Sept 2017
Eagle Eye installations found at Pleiades Sector IR-W D1-55 (not named Delphi) circa 8 Mar 2018
Codex was inserted May 2018.
CG / Galnet articles: The Abroin Universal PLC construct an unknown Pleiades Research Center, but don’t mention Delphi, nor Oracle, nor Donars Oak 28 July - 5 Aug 2018
Codex description shows Universal Cartographics was founded by ‘Omphalos Infotech’ but this name was later changed in the Codex by FD to ‘Unified Infotech’ circa 2018 (earliest 2 records of it I can find are 31 Aug 2018 and 1 Nov 2018)
Aegis acknowledges the existence of the station ‘The Oracle’ in Pleiades Sector IR-W D1-55 2 Dec 2018
Pleiades Sector IR-W D1-55 is renamed as Delphi 11 Dec 2018.
Delphi station inexplicably begins to fall from orbit 2021.
Key findings - Donars Oak
The in game system of Delphi is the location of a station called ‘Oracle’ as well as ‘Donar’s Oak’.
In Greek history Delphi was the location of the Omphalos (navel/centre) which was placed over a fissure/rift, the supposed location of the rotten corpse of Pytho slain by Apollo whom this cult is dedicated to.
‘Donar's Oak’ is a real world historical totem much like that of a more famous world tree ‘Irminsul’ which existed around the same era, and as with Irminsul was destroyed by Charlemagne in 773AD.
The Saxons venerated nature and did not attribute idolatry instead identifying with springs and leafy tree groves honouring ancestral spirits, of these natural spirits also included Mercury (Uuoden/Odin), and Thunder (Thor/Jove) amongst others.
Saxons also worshiped stacks of wood of no small size, set up in the open. In the native language, one such was called “Irminsul” (strong pillar) which in Latin means ‘universal column’.
Irminsul as well as Donars Oak were worshipped as with other sacred trees of the Saxons, as mythic prototypes which can be commonly attributed to or inspired via the concept of a world tree or pillar of heaven, described in Norse mythology as Yggdrasil a form of axi mundi.
Donars Oak was itself described as ‘the World Tree of the Chatti’.
en.m.wikipedia.org
Donars Oak is also known as Thors Oak and Joves Oak; the oak of Jupiter, because Thor was sometimes equated with the Roman god Jupiter (Jove). Jupiter is also known as Zeus.
There exist multiple and contradictory myths attributed to the origins of Delphi involving: Apollo; Gia but also Zeus.
But all essentially attribute it as an axi mundi.
en.m.wikipedia.org
Key findings - Yggdrasil
Much like Donars Oak, Yggdrasil is a Norse cosmological world tree or axi mundi. Within game there are a large quantity of systems named after various elements linked to Yggdrasil (see Key Findings Temporal Astronomical mapping below).
en.m.wikipedia.org
en.m.wikipedia.org
en.m.wikipedia.org
*The Norse Myths by Kevin Crossley-Holland 1888
Yggdrasil consists (it is contextually presumed by various references) to be a three-tier system, with at least 3 branches (above) and 3 roots (below).
The worlds of Yggdrasil do not ’make up’ a physical tree shape, but are entwined within the branches/roots of the tree Yggdrasil and at best is an abstraction of separate elements, as in some sources certain worlds / wells exist above others.
Norse cosmology has never truly been resolved, and is at best a modern interpretation of an oral tradition; there exists multiple iterations of Yggdrasil in contemporary text, but none are genuinely definitive.
Generally there is a lack of systematization or codification of Norse mythology and is comprised of fluidity ambiguity, and contradiction. Any contemporary pictorial representations are at best speculative and unverifiable.
The Old Norse translation of Yggdrasill is ‘Odin's horse’, meaning ‘gallows’.
Ygg meaning Odin; Drasill meaning horse; it is also known as: Terrible Tree; Terrible horse; Odins Tree; Ash Tree; Yew Tree or simply Pillar.
norse-mythology.org
Key findings - Frontier Development
Michael Brookes wore a Yggdrasil T-shirt during an interview whilst discussing Raxxla and also commissioned a similar image that he promoted on these forums, which was described as H.P Lovecraft meets John Milton, expanding upon the narrative of Paradise Lost.
The image depicts a potential world, life or knowledge tree at its centre; the image is relevant as at least 1 segment has so far been potentially been linked to the game with the identification of Triton / the Adamastor (top left), although this is pure speculation and unreliable.
Only recently was I sadly made aware of the system ‘Ross 788’ which is home to the station ‘Brookes Abyss’, named specifically after Michael Brookes himself (RIP).
I find this interesting because ‘Ross 788’ is ‘relatively’ close when viewed in context to the ‘Yggdrasil’ systems, to two particular systems, namely the systems ‘Hel’, which in Norse mythology is a personified deity and ‘Nastrond’ a place in Norse underworld.
Ross 788 controlling faction are the ‘Defence Party of Nastrond’, the same faction required to obtain the permit for the locked system ‘Nastrond’.
It ought to also be noted the Hel is a Norse variant of the Greek deity ’Hecate’ which is also in game, and which is also in relative proximity to Hel and Nastrond.
Hecate is a deity with mythological links to Helios, Demeter, Persephone, and Artemis. All systems in game.
Helios (the sun) is relatively close to the Norse rune system Dagaz which also means sun. Helios was one of the deities linked to the myth of Persephone.
Michael Brookes confirmed in several interviews that one of his favourite stories was ‘Paradise Lost’ by John Milton and which was the direct inspiration for the image he commissioned. Generally Brookes works seem to identify a mixed series of source material, including Catholicism, John Milton, H P Lovecraft and Greek and Norse Mythology (which share a common pan-European origin).
Micheal Brookes also penned the official Elite Dangerous book Elite Legacy. Within this book the primary location was ‘Artemis’.
Artemis was a companion of Persephone before her abduction to the underworld by Haides. This system is in game, and is in very close proximity to Pandemonium, the capital of Hell in Paradise Lost.
Allen Stroud has also proposed that Brookes was more interested in source material of Robert Holdstock, author of the original Elite 1984 games accompanying novels ‘The Dark Wheel’.
Robert Holdstock also authored ‘Lost Realms’ p 1983; within which Holdstock discussed ‘Yggdrasil’, aligning it with sources of Greek mythology.
robertholdstock.com
Faster than light fuel
Within 2022 Allen Stroud reliably confirmed that he assisted FD with the original lore guide, which formed the basis of many of the tourist beacons in game, he confirmed he was not involved in any development nor writing of any references to the max ranges of FTL drives, indicating if any were developed this likely was undertaken later and by unknown writers. It is concluded that Stroud lore guide was repurposed.
Post in thread 'The Quest To Find Raxxla'
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/the-quest-to-find-raxxla.168253/post-9989872
Various other references to earlier FTL travel do exist in game, but these are conclusive in omitting any identification of a max range within the early historical exploration periods prior to 2296.
Post in thread 'The Yggdrasil / John Milton conundrum'
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/the-yggdrasil-john-milton-conundrum.607684/post-9997472
Key findings - John Milton’s Paradise Lost
Within this story it is widely interpreted by independent researchers over the last 100 years that John Milton reliably describes his abstract cosmological model representing our solar system and cosmos, drawing upon Pythagorean theory to imagine a diorama for his story, a Paradise Lost.
Around this Milton imagines and describes in some detail, as possessing an expansive yet solid, spherical shell, called the crystalline sphere.
Outside of this, are a number of locations but only 1 can so far be identified by name in game, ‘Pandemonium’ the capital of hell which sits below the John Milton’s model universe, as the celestial South Pole.
This mobile is essentially a contextual reference to the musica universalis, of which John Milton was a noted exponent.
Musica universalis commonly known as the ‘silent song of the spheres’ was also a phrase utilised in game, referenced in the now removed Pilots Federation/ Dark Wheel missions which also referenced ‘the outer rim’.
These missions were later removed from game, earlier reports identify this period as being around 2017.
The crystalline sphere, the outer rim
In John Milton’s Paradise Lost, this mobile is utilised to literally describe Lucifers journey out of hell to walk upon the exterior of this mobile, known as the crystalline sphere, there he is described wandering towards the apex and the Jasper Sea and sees heavens gate from afar, he then reaches the first steps of the retractable stairs then looks down, where he first observes the interior of the mobile and our universe from his vantage point.
The celestial north / south in Paradise Lost
From the apex of the crystalline sphere, Lucifer view it is again literally described as encompassing as far between Aries and Libra (West and East), it is widely interpreted by independent researchers over the last 100 years to identify a celestial pole, the character is then literally described travelling towards Sol, at an oblique angle through the constellation Ophiuchus, in game when a line is drawn through Pandemonium through Sol this does align with the celestial hemisphere.
John Miltons Crystalline Sphere / Pendant World
*Milton’s Division of universal space - Masson / Miltons Astronomy 1913.
It should be noted that in Paradise Lost John Milton literally identifies the location of the Hells gate in relation to heavens gate, being that of three semi-diameters of this great sphere.
‘As far removed from god and light of heaven as far from the centre three times to the utmost pole’
Note that Heavens gate is not upon the crystalline sphere, it resides far above it and only accessible via a retractable stair!
This sphere literally hangs as a pendant from heavens walls.
Following the passing of Michael Brookes Frontier Developments introduced the Brookes Galactic Tours, within one of the beacon text was a quote from John Miltons Paradise Lost which directly reflects this cosmology:
‘And fast by, hanging in a golden chain,
This pendent world, in bigness as a star
Of smallest magnitude, close by the moon’.
The Fall of Lucifer
In game there are the following systems: Demeter and Persephone; Fall and Pandemonium.
Both Persephone and Pandemonium are located in a zone common with naming attributed to the Greek underworld.
In game if a line is drawn between Demeter to her daughter Persephone, and then Fall to Pandemonium, an alignment can be drawn. The upper segment of this ‘fall’ does align with Ophiuchus.
The Fall to Pandemonium
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/the-quest-to-find-raxxla.168253/post-10212713
The Gates of Hell and the Gates of Heaven
A series of systems all named after gods and goddesses can be found surrounding Sol in a bubble. There exists a clear separation denoting both an upper and lower realm. When analysed by description these form layers. One can identify ‘upper gods’ linked to the Sun, or parental or creation, then those linked to storms, thunder and chaos, then those linked to death and the underworld.
Post in thread 'The Quest To Find Raxxla'
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/the-quest-to-find-raxxla.168253/post-10304929
Post in thread 'The Quest To Find Raxxla'
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/the-quest-to-find-raxxla.168253/post-10129970
Key findings - The Codex
In regards to the Raxxla Codex there is to date only one definitive location confirmed namely Tau Ceti along with the date 2296.
The date 2296 also denotes in game the settlement of the system Achenar.
Tau Ceti is located in the constellation Cetus, in greek myth relating to the constellation Cetus; Cepheus’s land Aethiopia was attacked by the monster Cetus (Ceti) first, before he sees the Oracle, but that was not in Delphi, it was the oracle of Ammon, a cult dedicated to Zeus.
Axis Mundi and Delphi Founders
Within the bubble very close to Pandemonium are a number of systems which denote either an underworld or lost / sunken kingdoms.
Within this location are two systems name Axis Mundi and Hyperborea - land of founders of the Apollo shrines at Delphi.
Lost / Sunken lands of the Underworld and the path of Persephone
Around the system of Persephone exist a series of systems named after lost sunken kingdoms, cities of gold and mythical lost lands, which are also noted within the codex.
Post in thread 'The Quest To Find Raxxla'
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/the-quest-to-find-raxxla.168253/post-10101133
The four wind gods of Ancient Greek mythology
A series of systems representing the Anemoi; the Greek and Roman Winds (compass) which are referenced throughout Greek mythology but are not attributable to any real world star constellations; all exist in game and to an extent correlate with the alignment of Yggdrasil.
study.com
Boreas = north; Zephyrus = west; Notus = south.
Traditionally there is no agreement on the east of the Anemoi, however many attribute this to being either: Eos or Eurus, but these do not correlate with N, S or W represent in the Anemoi in game.
The Anemoi do not correlate with galactic north the protected Miltonian alignment with Aries and Libra, described by Milton as East and West, however it does align with Helios (the highest) and Hecate (the lowest) and the positions of Midgard (lowest) and Alfheim (the highest).
Post in thread 'The Quest To Find Raxxla'
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/the-quest-to-find-raxxla.168253/post-10196337
Yggdrasil anomalous systems
The key findings identify a number of Yggdrasil systems which fall outside the hypothetical spheres of influence.
Certain Yggdrasil systems attributed to the Norse mythology surrounding a concept of ‘the edge of the world’ have very close relationships to each other in myth to those in the relative area, namely systems linked to storms or water gods.
The larger underworld
Although Pandemonium was the capital of John Milton’s Hell, there are other systems very close to it which are also named after locations in Hell or the Greek Underworld.
Robert Holdstock - the Otherworld
Within a separate investigation the works of Robert Holdstock were researched and linked to various systems in game attributed to his book ‘The Lost Realms’.
These systems are interesting because they all fall at the feet of Persephone and Pandemonium, and are situated directly under the Yggdrasil systems.
The Lost Realms of Robert Holdstock
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/the-quest-to-find-raxxla.168253/post-10214625
Additionally as part of that investigation another work by Holdstock was researched ‘Ragthorn’. In this book the author establishes and describes a temple honouring a thorn tree.
The author is well known for utilising Celtic mythology, in this respect this deification of thorn trees has a historical context in Celtic / Saxon / Norse myth where said tree would mark the axis mundi and a path to the ‘Otherworld’.
Considering this separate investigation a high likelihood of probability was established that the existence of the Lost Realms zone, acts primarily as an Easter Egg dedication to Robert Holdstock, but is als a replication of the above cosmology, with the Yggdrasil systems in game acting as the Axis Mundi tree.
Holdstocks Ragthorn is focused primarily upon the myth of Gilgamesh, and the ‘thorny branch’. In game there are a large proportion of systems all named after deities and locations from the epic of Gilgamesh.
These lost realms in game likewise extend far above, and a large number of systems can be found named after the tribe of Danu, an old Celtic mythology.
en.m.wikipedia.org
Robert Holdstock - Ragthorn
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/the-quest-to-find-raxxla.168253/post-10214625
The Ragthorn Temple
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/the-quest-to-find-raxxla.168253/post-10255362
The boundaries of the Otherworld
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/the-quest-to-find-raxxla.168253/post-10262094
*All ‘Lost Realms’ or the ‘Otherworld’ layered over whole Yggdrasil tree and the path of Persephone, and the Fall to Pandemonium.
Key findings - Temporal Astronomical mapping:
The 3D maps below show stars first settled up to 2296 as well as those with a Norse mythological name, or a Milton name, and the old worlds (later than 2296), they all have a standard orientation of galactic north/south, the XYZ coordinates are accurate however the star size is not to scale.
All the following data was obtained via EDDB (note this list is not definitive and may be added to).
Red - Pandemonium (John Milton).
Yellow - Norse myth linked to Yggdrasil: Jormungand; Skuld; Veroandi; Uror; Uroarbrunnr; Utgard; Jotunheim; Midgard; Muspelheim; Niflheim; Alfheim; Urd; Jotnar; Helheim; Hel; Utgaroar; Niflhel; Ratatosk; Vanir; Bifrost; Nithhogg and Nastrond (a permit system).
White - all stars discovered up to the date 2296: Sol (centre); Tau Ceti (2151); Delta Pavonis (2190-2230); Altair (2190-2230); Beta Hydri (2190-2230); Eotienses (2288) and Achenar (2292).
*Arcturus (2304 for reference).
Blue: Nordic Runes - Ansuz; Fehu; Haglaz; Dagaz; Ehwaz; Laguz; Wunjô; Algiz; Ingwaz; Gebo; Tyr; and Jera.
The following is a spacial representation of all the systems identified in the key findings (animated):
The following includes a sphere of influence drawn from Sol (centre) to Achenar (furthest discovered) and all systems discovered up to 2296 and all systems within the key findings:
The following shows the Yggdrasil systems with a Celestial pole drawn from pandemonium and a celestial equator, identifying the north and south celestial hemispheres.
Assessment:
There is a realistic possibility (40% to <50%) that stars identified to John Milton’s Paradise Lost; Sol; Tau Ceti and the date of 2296 do correlate to identify a sphere of influence.
A spherical area can be drawn from Sol to Achenar set by the date 2296, this area encompasses a large proportion of the Yggdrasil systems, however Pandemonium is tellingly situated at the most southern point upon its outer rim.
The placement of Pandemonium is probable (55% - 75%) to have significance due to its close proximity to other systems in that region named after the Greek mythological underworld, and a correlation to other ‘Lost Realm’ systems named after the Cities of Gold, Sunken Lost Land and Mythic Kingdoms identical to those mentioned in the Codex.
The placement of systems related to the the concept of Yggdrasil is probable (55 -75%) to be intentional due to the relative close proximity to other systems named after locations associated with Yggdrasil, but also that of Ross 788, which is a Michael Brookes dedicated system controlled by the faction ‘Defence Party of Nastrond’ whose allegiance unlocks the Nastrond permit.
It ought to be noted that these Yggdrasil systems effectively sit above those systems identified as within the Greek underworld.
The placement of systems related to the the concept of Anemoi is probable (55 -75%) as there is corresponding alignment with the placement of the Greek god system Helios, who was representative of the highest point in the Greek universe, with that of the Yggdrasil underworld namely Midgard and it’s highest point Alfheim.
This identifier not only substantiates the existence of Yggdrasil as intentional but also creates a new shared axis for the Yggdrasil and Greek systems.
The placement of various systems related to the the concept of ‘Lost Realms’ or the ‘Otherworld’ is probable (55 -75%) as there is corresponding alignment with these systems placements around a central focal point.
This identifier not only substantiates the existence of Yggdrasil as world tree or axis mundi within a wider Celtic cosmology but denotes an intentional Easter egg in game dedicated to the author Robert Holdstock.
There is a realistic possibility (40% to <50%) that the systems ‘Bridge’ and ‘HIP 114458’ (Achlys / Death mist) identify an abstract point of origin for Satans bridge to heavens gate, remembering that Sinn and Death guarded the gates of Hell and then built a bridge linking Paradise to Hells gate.
This is based upon its exact alignment with an axis drawn from Sol the centre, through Erebus the base, and which intersects an aspect populated by systems named after the Sun or ‘northern’ deities.
There is a realistic possibility (40% to <50%) that the alignment of the axis with Olorun identify the northern axis of Chaos.
This is based upon their respective locations being within close proximity to each other and being relative to the southern aspects identified.
There is a realistic possibility (40% to <50%) that Celtic named systems named after the Tribe / People of Danu likewise denote the West side of the Empyrean.
There is a Sheela na gig in this location, whose origins may have links to pre-Christian fertility or a mother goddess, their use as protection, placed over doors possibly has additional links to Holdstocks Ragthorn.
She is just next to the Morrigans and slap-bang on the outer rim of the zone of chaos and relatively in close proximity to the Greek compass for North Boreas.
Sheela na gig is also very close to Danu, whose modern etymology not only describes the myth of the Tribe / People of Danu but is associated with water. In that context I wonder if she is an example used by Brookes to denote the ‘waters above’!
Assumptions:
The identified systems and potential correlations are evidence of an archeological retconned narrative, based upon FD confirmation that the Dark Wheel missions being removed. Such use of names could be evidence of divergent narratives being repurposed.
The references the Yggdrasil made by Robert Holdstock via Lost Realms establishes a relationship link as Brookes and Stroud have been confirmed to have worked towards implementing the works of Holdstock namely ‘The Dark Wheel’ and likely had some influence on Brookes given his association with Saxon mythology and John Milton.
The naming of Micheal Brookes system after Artemis is an intentional reference to Persephone. As is the use of the names Artemis and Demeter in his book Elite Legacy. Of note this book is the only official FD publication which identifies a ‘child’s story’ in its text, an informed assumption identifies this to be the same children’s story within the Codex.
In conclusion an informed assumption is that the system of Delphi was established to draw attention to the system Axis Mundi, the inclusion of Donars Oak was to draw attention to the Yggdrasil systems and ultimately draws the attention to a focal point within the Greek underworld in or around Persephone and Axis Mundi and then a grander John Milton cosmological model, and that its architecture reflects the journey of Satan to the pendant universe which hung from the east gate/wall of heaven.
Intelligence gaps:
This hypotheses is restricted to direct match only spellings for systems, any alternate or anglo-Saxon spellings have not been included.
It is an unknown if the circumference of the sphere of influence is set by Pandemonium or Achenar which would shift the area of influence.
It is an unknown if the circumference of the sphere of influence should enclose the celestial equator and all stars within the zodiac, rendering this concept illogical.
Recommendations and conclusions:
The opening of this investigation is to enable wider community input and analysis.
This analysis is drawn from several investigations with potential correlations.
During 2017 two new stations were reported discovered which later held an unusual connection with mythology elements attributed to concepts of an axis mundi; namely of Delphi and Donars Oak another description of a Norse world tree.
Generally in game the galactic map shows an axi mundi with a designation of 0; 0; 0 this being the Sol system. There is also an axis mundi system far below Sol very close to Persephone.
Such a concept is not so unusual until the inclusion of the Codex in 2018, which then identified the use of the term Omphalos, a term linked to Delphi in Greece and the concept of an axi mundi. The codex also referred to various elements associated with the Greek underworld.
This post is under constant review and the findings outlined below are subject to change.
Primary information requirements:
- Identify all Norse named systems in game attributed to Yggdrasil.
- Plot locations within relative proximity to Sol.
- Identify potential correlations to references made by Frontier Developments.
- Identify a timeline for the inclusion of the Delphi systems against the Codex.
- Identify systems linked to the writings of Robert Holdstock.
Sources: Frontier Developments Support; Frontier Developments Press Relations (open source); Canon Research; EDDB; various open source references noted below via URL hyperlinks; The Norse Myths by Kevin Crossley-Holland 1888; Paradise Lost by John Milton, edited by John Leonard p 2014; Paradise Lost by John Milton, Parallel Prose, edited by Dennis Danielson p 2008; Milton’s Astronomy, the astronomy of Paradise Lost by Thomas N Orchard MD, p 1913. The Lost Realms by Malcolm Edwards and Robert Holdstock, p1984; Ragthorn by Garry Kilworth and Robert Holdstock, p 2015. Elite Legacy by Michael Brookes, p 2014.
Delph and Donars Oak timeline
FD install The Oracle station at Pleiades Sector IR-W D1-55 at unknown time but certainly prior to Codex.
FD install Donars Oak station at Pleiades Sector IR-W D1-55 at unknown time prior to Codex, noticed by player circa July 2017 player states it wasn’t there 1 week prior!
Another player states seeing a new station named Donars Oak at Pleiades Sector IR-W D1-55 on 3 Aug 2017
CG article identifies The Oracle at Pleiades Sector IR-W D1-55 circa 4Aug 2017
Galnet article regards distress call at named location of Pleiades Sector IR-W D1-55 (not Delphi) involving Thargoids and a battle cruiser 28 Sept 2017
Eagle Eye installations found at Pleiades Sector IR-W D1-55 (not named Delphi) circa 8 Mar 2018
Codex was inserted May 2018.
CG / Galnet articles: The Abroin Universal PLC construct an unknown Pleiades Research Center, but don’t mention Delphi, nor Oracle, nor Donars Oak 28 July - 5 Aug 2018
Codex description shows Universal Cartographics was founded by ‘Omphalos Infotech’ but this name was later changed in the Codex by FD to ‘Unified Infotech’ circa 2018 (earliest 2 records of it I can find are 31 Aug 2018 and 1 Nov 2018)
Aegis acknowledges the existence of the station ‘The Oracle’ in Pleiades Sector IR-W D1-55 2 Dec 2018
Pleiades Sector IR-W D1-55 is renamed as Delphi 11 Dec 2018.
Delphi station inexplicably begins to fall from orbit 2021.
Key findings - Donars Oak
The in game system of Delphi is the location of a station called ‘Oracle’ as well as ‘Donar’s Oak’.
In Greek history Delphi was the location of the Omphalos (navel/centre) which was placed over a fissure/rift, the supposed location of the rotten corpse of Pytho slain by Apollo whom this cult is dedicated to.
‘Donar's Oak’ is a real world historical totem much like that of a more famous world tree ‘Irminsul’ which existed around the same era, and as with Irminsul was destroyed by Charlemagne in 773AD.
The Saxons venerated nature and did not attribute idolatry instead identifying with springs and leafy tree groves honouring ancestral spirits, of these natural spirits also included Mercury (Uuoden/Odin), and Thunder (Thor/Jove) amongst others.
Saxons also worshiped stacks of wood of no small size, set up in the open. In the native language, one such was called “Irminsul” (strong pillar) which in Latin means ‘universal column’.
Irminsul as well as Donars Oak were worshipped as with other sacred trees of the Saxons, as mythic prototypes which can be commonly attributed to or inspired via the concept of a world tree or pillar of heaven, described in Norse mythology as Yggdrasil a form of axi mundi.
Donars Oak was itself described as ‘the World Tree of the Chatti’.
Donar's Oak - Wikipedia
Donars Oak is also known as Thors Oak and Joves Oak; the oak of Jupiter, because Thor was sometimes equated with the Roman god Jupiter (Jove). Jupiter is also known as Zeus.
There exist multiple and contradictory myths attributed to the origins of Delphi involving: Apollo; Gia but also Zeus.
But all essentially attribute it as an axi mundi.
Delphi - Wikipedia
Key findings - Yggdrasil
Much like Donars Oak, Yggdrasil is a Norse cosmological world tree or axi mundi. Within game there are a large quantity of systems named after various elements linked to Yggdrasil (see Key Findings Temporal Astronomical mapping below).
Donar's Oak - Wikipedia
Category:Trees in Germanic paganism - Wikipedia
Axis mundi - Wikipedia
*The Norse Myths by Kevin Crossley-Holland 1888
Yggdrasil consists (it is contextually presumed by various references) to be a three-tier system, with at least 3 branches (above) and 3 roots (below).
The worlds of Yggdrasil do not ’make up’ a physical tree shape, but are entwined within the branches/roots of the tree Yggdrasil and at best is an abstraction of separate elements, as in some sources certain worlds / wells exist above others.
Norse cosmology has never truly been resolved, and is at best a modern interpretation of an oral tradition; there exists multiple iterations of Yggdrasil in contemporary text, but none are genuinely definitive.
Generally there is a lack of systematization or codification of Norse mythology and is comprised of fluidity ambiguity, and contradiction. Any contemporary pictorial representations are at best speculative and unverifiable.
The Old Norse translation of Yggdrasill is ‘Odin's horse’, meaning ‘gallows’.
Ygg meaning Odin; Drasill meaning horse; it is also known as: Terrible Tree; Terrible horse; Odins Tree; Ash Tree; Yew Tree or simply Pillar.
Yggdrasil - Norse Mythology for Smart People
Yggdrasil (Old Norse Yggdrasill or Askr Yggdrasils) is the mighty tree whose trunk rises at the geographical center of the Norse spiritual cosmos. The rest of that cosmos, including the Nine Worlds, is arrayed around it and held together by its branches and roots, which connect the various parts...
norse-mythology.org
Key findings - Frontier Development
Michael Brookes wore a Yggdrasil T-shirt during an interview whilst discussing Raxxla and also commissioned a similar image that he promoted on these forums, which was described as H.P Lovecraft meets John Milton, expanding upon the narrative of Paradise Lost.
The image depicts a potential world, life or knowledge tree at its centre; the image is relevant as at least 1 segment has so far been potentially been linked to the game with the identification of Triton / the Adamastor (top left), although this is pure speculation and unreliable.
Only recently was I sadly made aware of the system ‘Ross 788’ which is home to the station ‘Brookes Abyss’, named specifically after Michael Brookes himself (RIP).
I find this interesting because ‘Ross 788’ is ‘relatively’ close when viewed in context to the ‘Yggdrasil’ systems, to two particular systems, namely the systems ‘Hel’, which in Norse mythology is a personified deity and ‘Nastrond’ a place in Norse underworld.
Ross 788 controlling faction are the ‘Defence Party of Nastrond’, the same faction required to obtain the permit for the locked system ‘Nastrond’.
It ought to also be noted the Hel is a Norse variant of the Greek deity ’Hecate’ which is also in game, and which is also in relative proximity to Hel and Nastrond.
Hecate is a deity with mythological links to Helios, Demeter, Persephone, and Artemis. All systems in game.
Helios (the sun) is relatively close to the Norse rune system Dagaz which also means sun. Helios was one of the deities linked to the myth of Persephone.
HECATE (Hekate) - Greek Goddess of Witchcraft, Magic & Ghosts
Hecate was the ancient Greek goddess of magic, witchcraft, the night, moon, ghosts and necromancy. She was the only child of the Titanes Perses and Asteria from whom she received her power over heaven, earth, and sea. She was depicted as a woman holding a pair of torches. Her Roman name was Trivia.
www.theoi.com
Michael Brookes confirmed in several interviews that one of his favourite stories was ‘Paradise Lost’ by John Milton and which was the direct inspiration for the image he commissioned. Generally Brookes works seem to identify a mixed series of source material, including Catholicism, John Milton, H P Lovecraft and Greek and Norse Mythology (which share a common pan-European origin).
Micheal Brookes also penned the official Elite Dangerous book Elite Legacy. Within this book the primary location was ‘Artemis’.
Artemis was a companion of Persephone before her abduction to the underworld by Haides. This system is in game, and is in very close proximity to Pandemonium, the capital of Hell in Paradise Lost.
Allen Stroud has also proposed that Brookes was more interested in source material of Robert Holdstock, author of the original Elite 1984 games accompanying novels ‘The Dark Wheel’.
Robert Holdstock also authored ‘Lost Realms’ p 1983; within which Holdstock discussed ‘Yggdrasil’, aligning it with sources of Greek mythology.
Realms of Fantasy
Publication Details UK: Paper Tiger, 1983; PB. ISBN: 0905895835 USA: Olympic Marketing Corp., 1983; HB. ISBN: 0385188889 UK: Paper Tiger, 1984; HB. ISBN: 0905895827 UK: Paper Tiger, 1995; PB. ISBN:…
robertholdstock.com
Faster than light fuel
Within 2022 Allen Stroud reliably confirmed that he assisted FD with the original lore guide, which formed the basis of many of the tourist beacons in game, he confirmed he was not involved in any development nor writing of any references to the max ranges of FTL drives, indicating if any were developed this likely was undertaken later and by unknown writers. It is concluded that Stroud lore guide was repurposed.
Post in thread 'The Quest To Find Raxxla'
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/the-quest-to-find-raxxla.168253/post-9989872
Various other references to earlier FTL travel do exist in game, but these are conclusive in omitting any identification of a max range within the early historical exploration periods prior to 2296.
Post in thread 'The Yggdrasil / John Milton conundrum'
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/the-yggdrasil-john-milton-conundrum.607684/post-9997472
Key findings - John Milton’s Paradise Lost
Within this story it is widely interpreted by independent researchers over the last 100 years that John Milton reliably describes his abstract cosmological model representing our solar system and cosmos, drawing upon Pythagorean theory to imagine a diorama for his story, a Paradise Lost.
Around this Milton imagines and describes in some detail, as possessing an expansive yet solid, spherical shell, called the crystalline sphere.
Outside of this, are a number of locations but only 1 can so far be identified by name in game, ‘Pandemonium’ the capital of hell which sits below the John Milton’s model universe, as the celestial South Pole.
This mobile is essentially a contextual reference to the musica universalis, of which John Milton was a noted exponent.
Musica universalis commonly known as the ‘silent song of the spheres’ was also a phrase utilised in game, referenced in the now removed Pilots Federation/ Dark Wheel missions which also referenced ‘the outer rim’.
These missions were later removed from game, earlier reports identify this period as being around 2017.
The crystalline sphere, the outer rim
In John Milton’s Paradise Lost, this mobile is utilised to literally describe Lucifers journey out of hell to walk upon the exterior of this mobile, known as the crystalline sphere, there he is described wandering towards the apex and the Jasper Sea and sees heavens gate from afar, he then reaches the first steps of the retractable stairs then looks down, where he first observes the interior of the mobile and our universe from his vantage point.
The celestial north / south in Paradise Lost
From the apex of the crystalline sphere, Lucifer view it is again literally described as encompassing as far between Aries and Libra (West and East), it is widely interpreted by independent researchers over the last 100 years to identify a celestial pole, the character is then literally described travelling towards Sol, at an oblique angle through the constellation Ophiuchus, in game when a line is drawn through Pandemonium through Sol this does align with the celestial hemisphere.
John Miltons Crystalline Sphere / Pendant World
*Milton’s Division of universal space - Masson / Miltons Astronomy 1913.
It should be noted that in Paradise Lost John Milton literally identifies the location of the Hells gate in relation to heavens gate, being that of three semi-diameters of this great sphere.
‘As far removed from god and light of heaven as far from the centre three times to the utmost pole’
Note that Heavens gate is not upon the crystalline sphere, it resides far above it and only accessible via a retractable stair!
This sphere literally hangs as a pendant from heavens walls.
Following the passing of Michael Brookes Frontier Developments introduced the Brookes Galactic Tours, within one of the beacon text was a quote from John Miltons Paradise Lost which directly reflects this cosmology:
‘And fast by, hanging in a golden chain,
This pendent world, in bigness as a star
Of smallest magnitude, close by the moon’.
The Fall of Lucifer
In game there are the following systems: Demeter and Persephone; Fall and Pandemonium.
Both Persephone and Pandemonium are located in a zone common with naming attributed to the Greek underworld.
In game if a line is drawn between Demeter to her daughter Persephone, and then Fall to Pandemonium, an alignment can be drawn. The upper segment of this ‘fall’ does align with Ophiuchus.
The Fall to Pandemonium
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/the-quest-to-find-raxxla.168253/post-10212713
The Gates of Hell and the Gates of Heaven
A series of systems all named after gods and goddesses can be found surrounding Sol in a bubble. There exists a clear separation denoting both an upper and lower realm. When analysed by description these form layers. One can identify ‘upper gods’ linked to the Sun, or parental or creation, then those linked to storms, thunder and chaos, then those linked to death and the underworld.
Post in thread 'The Quest To Find Raxxla'
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/the-quest-to-find-raxxla.168253/post-10304929
Post in thread 'The Quest To Find Raxxla'
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/the-quest-to-find-raxxla.168253/post-10129970
Key findings - The Codex
In regards to the Raxxla Codex there is to date only one definitive location confirmed namely Tau Ceti along with the date 2296.
The date 2296 also denotes in game the settlement of the system Achenar.
Tau Ceti is located in the constellation Cetus, in greek myth relating to the constellation Cetus; Cepheus’s land Aethiopia was attacked by the monster Cetus (Ceti) first, before he sees the Oracle, but that was not in Delphi, it was the oracle of Ammon, a cult dedicated to Zeus.
Axis Mundi and Delphi Founders
Within the bubble very close to Pandemonium are a number of systems which denote either an underworld or lost / sunken kingdoms.
Within this location are two systems name Axis Mundi and Hyperborea - land of founders of the Apollo shrines at Delphi.
Lost / Sunken lands of the Underworld and the path of Persephone
Around the system of Persephone exist a series of systems named after lost sunken kingdoms, cities of gold and mythical lost lands, which are also noted within the codex.
Post in thread 'The Quest To Find Raxxla'
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/the-quest-to-find-raxxla.168253/post-10101133
The four wind gods of Ancient Greek mythology
A series of systems representing the Anemoi; the Greek and Roman Winds (compass) which are referenced throughout Greek mythology but are not attributable to any real world star constellations; all exist in game and to an extent correlate with the alignment of Yggdrasil.
Anemoi | Four Wind Gods in Greek Mythology | Study.com
Learn about the Anemoi, the north, sound, west, and east wind gods in Ancient Greek mythology. Learn about how the wind gods were described in...
Boreas = north; Zephyrus = west; Notus = south.
Traditionally there is no agreement on the east of the Anemoi, however many attribute this to being either: Eos or Eurus, but these do not correlate with N, S or W represent in the Anemoi in game.
The Anemoi do not correlate with galactic north the protected Miltonian alignment with Aries and Libra, described by Milton as East and West, however it does align with Helios (the highest) and Hecate (the lowest) and the positions of Midgard (lowest) and Alfheim (the highest).
Post in thread 'The Quest To Find Raxxla'
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/the-quest-to-find-raxxla.168253/post-10196337
Yggdrasil anomalous systems
The key findings identify a number of Yggdrasil systems which fall outside the hypothetical spheres of influence.
Certain Yggdrasil systems attributed to the Norse mythology surrounding a concept of ‘the edge of the world’ have very close relationships to each other in myth to those in the relative area, namely systems linked to storms or water gods.
The larger underworld
Although Pandemonium was the capital of John Milton’s Hell, there are other systems very close to it which are also named after locations in Hell or the Greek Underworld.
Robert Holdstock - the Otherworld
Within a separate investigation the works of Robert Holdstock were researched and linked to various systems in game attributed to his book ‘The Lost Realms’.
These systems are interesting because they all fall at the feet of Persephone and Pandemonium, and are situated directly under the Yggdrasil systems.
The Lost Realms of Robert Holdstock
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/the-quest-to-find-raxxla.168253/post-10214625
Additionally as part of that investigation another work by Holdstock was researched ‘Ragthorn’. In this book the author establishes and describes a temple honouring a thorn tree.
The author is well known for utilising Celtic mythology, in this respect this deification of thorn trees has a historical context in Celtic / Saxon / Norse myth where said tree would mark the axis mundi and a path to the ‘Otherworld’.
Considering this separate investigation a high likelihood of probability was established that the existence of the Lost Realms zone, acts primarily as an Easter Egg dedication to Robert Holdstock, but is als a replication of the above cosmology, with the Yggdrasil systems in game acting as the Axis Mundi tree.
Holdstocks Ragthorn is focused primarily upon the myth of Gilgamesh, and the ‘thorny branch’. In game there are a large proportion of systems all named after deities and locations from the epic of Gilgamesh.
These lost realms in game likewise extend far above, and a large number of systems can be found named after the tribe of Danu, an old Celtic mythology.
Celtic Otherworld - Wikipedia
Robert Holdstock - Ragthorn
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/the-quest-to-find-raxxla.168253/post-10214625
The Ragthorn Temple
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/the-quest-to-find-raxxla.168253/post-10255362
The boundaries of the Otherworld
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/the-quest-to-find-raxxla.168253/post-10262094
*All ‘Lost Realms’ or the ‘Otherworld’ layered over whole Yggdrasil tree and the path of Persephone, and the Fall to Pandemonium.
Key findings - Temporal Astronomical mapping:
The 3D maps below show stars first settled up to 2296 as well as those with a Norse mythological name, or a Milton name, and the old worlds (later than 2296), they all have a standard orientation of galactic north/south, the XYZ coordinates are accurate however the star size is not to scale.
All the following data was obtained via EDDB (note this list is not definitive and may be added to).
Red - Pandemonium (John Milton).
Yellow - Norse myth linked to Yggdrasil: Jormungand; Skuld; Veroandi; Uror; Uroarbrunnr; Utgard; Jotunheim; Midgard; Muspelheim; Niflheim; Alfheim; Urd; Jotnar; Helheim; Hel; Utgaroar; Niflhel; Ratatosk; Vanir; Bifrost; Nithhogg and Nastrond (a permit system).
White - all stars discovered up to the date 2296: Sol (centre); Tau Ceti (2151); Delta Pavonis (2190-2230); Altair (2190-2230); Beta Hydri (2190-2230); Eotienses (2288) and Achenar (2292).
*Arcturus (2304 for reference).
Blue: Nordic Runes - Ansuz; Fehu; Haglaz; Dagaz; Ehwaz; Laguz; Wunjô; Algiz; Ingwaz; Gebo; Tyr; and Jera.
The following is a spacial representation of all the systems identified in the key findings (animated):
The following includes a sphere of influence drawn from Sol (centre) to Achenar (furthest discovered) and all systems discovered up to 2296 and all systems within the key findings:
The following shows the Yggdrasil systems with a Celestial pole drawn from pandemonium and a celestial equator, identifying the north and south celestial hemispheres.
Assessment:
There is a realistic possibility (40% to <50%) that stars identified to John Milton’s Paradise Lost; Sol; Tau Ceti and the date of 2296 do correlate to identify a sphere of influence.
A spherical area can be drawn from Sol to Achenar set by the date 2296, this area encompasses a large proportion of the Yggdrasil systems, however Pandemonium is tellingly situated at the most southern point upon its outer rim.
The placement of Pandemonium is probable (55% - 75%) to have significance due to its close proximity to other systems in that region named after the Greek mythological underworld, and a correlation to other ‘Lost Realm’ systems named after the Cities of Gold, Sunken Lost Land and Mythic Kingdoms identical to those mentioned in the Codex.
The placement of systems related to the the concept of Yggdrasil is probable (55 -75%) to be intentional due to the relative close proximity to other systems named after locations associated with Yggdrasil, but also that of Ross 788, which is a Michael Brookes dedicated system controlled by the faction ‘Defence Party of Nastrond’ whose allegiance unlocks the Nastrond permit.
It ought to be noted that these Yggdrasil systems effectively sit above those systems identified as within the Greek underworld.
The placement of systems related to the the concept of Anemoi is probable (55 -75%) as there is corresponding alignment with the placement of the Greek god system Helios, who was representative of the highest point in the Greek universe, with that of the Yggdrasil underworld namely Midgard and it’s highest point Alfheim.
This identifier not only substantiates the existence of Yggdrasil as intentional but also creates a new shared axis for the Yggdrasil and Greek systems.
The placement of various systems related to the the concept of ‘Lost Realms’ or the ‘Otherworld’ is probable (55 -75%) as there is corresponding alignment with these systems placements around a central focal point.
This identifier not only substantiates the existence of Yggdrasil as world tree or axis mundi within a wider Celtic cosmology but denotes an intentional Easter egg in game dedicated to the author Robert Holdstock.
There is a realistic possibility (40% to <50%) that the systems ‘Bridge’ and ‘HIP 114458’ (Achlys / Death mist) identify an abstract point of origin for Satans bridge to heavens gate, remembering that Sinn and Death guarded the gates of Hell and then built a bridge linking Paradise to Hells gate.
This is based upon its exact alignment with an axis drawn from Sol the centre, through Erebus the base, and which intersects an aspect populated by systems named after the Sun or ‘northern’ deities.
There is a realistic possibility (40% to <50%) that the alignment of the axis with Olorun identify the northern axis of Chaos.
This is based upon their respective locations being within close proximity to each other and being relative to the southern aspects identified.
There is a realistic possibility (40% to <50%) that Celtic named systems named after the Tribe / People of Danu likewise denote the West side of the Empyrean.
There is a Sheela na gig in this location, whose origins may have links to pre-Christian fertility or a mother goddess, their use as protection, placed over doors possibly has additional links to Holdstocks Ragthorn.
She is just next to the Morrigans and slap-bang on the outer rim of the zone of chaos and relatively in close proximity to the Greek compass for North Boreas.
Sheela na gig is also very close to Danu, whose modern etymology not only describes the myth of the Tribe / People of Danu but is associated with water. In that context I wonder if she is an example used by Brookes to denote the ‘waters above’!
Assumptions:
The identified systems and potential correlations are evidence of an archeological retconned narrative, based upon FD confirmation that the Dark Wheel missions being removed. Such use of names could be evidence of divergent narratives being repurposed.
The references the Yggdrasil made by Robert Holdstock via Lost Realms establishes a relationship link as Brookes and Stroud have been confirmed to have worked towards implementing the works of Holdstock namely ‘The Dark Wheel’ and likely had some influence on Brookes given his association with Saxon mythology and John Milton.
The naming of Micheal Brookes system after Artemis is an intentional reference to Persephone. As is the use of the names Artemis and Demeter in his book Elite Legacy. Of note this book is the only official FD publication which identifies a ‘child’s story’ in its text, an informed assumption identifies this to be the same children’s story within the Codex.
In conclusion an informed assumption is that the system of Delphi was established to draw attention to the system Axis Mundi, the inclusion of Donars Oak was to draw attention to the Yggdrasil systems and ultimately draws the attention to a focal point within the Greek underworld in or around Persephone and Axis Mundi and then a grander John Milton cosmological model, and that its architecture reflects the journey of Satan to the pendant universe which hung from the east gate/wall of heaven.
Intelligence gaps:
This hypotheses is restricted to direct match only spellings for systems, any alternate or anglo-Saxon spellings have not been included.
It is an unknown if the circumference of the sphere of influence is set by Pandemonium or Achenar which would shift the area of influence.
It is an unknown if the circumference of the sphere of influence should enclose the celestial equator and all stars within the zodiac, rendering this concept illogical.
Recommendations and conclusions:
The opening of this investigation is to enable wider community input and analysis.
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