The Leap Year Society

Chapter 4 First appears in:

Vincent Lichter

To say a certain degree of pressure was placed on young Vincent is an understatement. Coming of age within the LYS, many felt Vincent represented the “future of the society.” As it turned out, nothing unfolded in the manner that LYS mentors and predecessors foresaw–even Vincent himself understands that he was the "unknown factor" within the society at large.

Amina Li

Amina’s expertise is put to good use in the LYS, and she is thrilled to learn so much from her peers. Among other things, she has learned a great deal about spycraft, deception, how to lead a double life. Being in a secret society demands it, especially when you get tasked with retrieving priceless artifacts from the hands of dubious collectors. Amina finds this new double life of hers terrifying, but exhilarating.&nbsp;

Fortunato Lombardi

Mara Nilsen

Astrid Nilsen

George William Crowfield

The Great Divide

This period marked the end of the Leap Year Society’s Golden Age. There was nothing golden about the death, betrayal, destruction of irreplaceable artifacts, and the loss of extensive Umbric research that characterized the Great Divide.

Infinitus. That’s the motto inscribed on the Leap Year Society’s circular seal. It means boundless, unending—like the quest for knowledge. For well over a century, the LYS has been on that journey, uncovering forgotten parts of history and pushing the limits of scientific inquiry to understand humanity’s role in the cosmos. &nbsp; &nbsp;The LYS is founded in New York City on February 29, 1888, welcoming people of all nations and creeds to join its search. The only requirements for membership are the thirst for knowledge and a willingness to believe in the Unknown. But for decades, the Society itself remains veiled in secrecy, visible only to those who know where to look.&nbsp;

Colleagues sometimes tease Buchra for preferring the company of contraptions and technical manuals rather than flesh and blood. After all, people are awkward and last she checked, LYS machinery doesn’t require insipid chitchat. Back in Paris, it was her Ethiopian mother who exposed her to the sciences at an early age. She remembered clipping articles of Madame Marie Curie from every newspaper she could get her hands on. Applying her unmatched work ethic to a meticulous education, she easily became the youngest woman in France ever to complete a dual degree in engineering and classical mechanics.Buchra feels indebted to Luther for having arranged their meeting in Casablanca many years back. An offer to join the Leap Year Society was apparent: Which other promising genius could produce such fresh theories to complement the society’s own understanding of the Fold? Not all post-graduates stand for hours in the Moroccan desert at night, transfixed by the complexities of space using their custom-made Cassegrain telescope. Much like the Sahin of antiquity, Buchra believes in a cosmic order to the universe; the prospect of finding such a phenomenon makes her heart beat quicker! &nbsp;

Buchra Ilunga

Luther realized the potential of young Buchra's brilliant mind to understanding the way the Fold works and creating the machines to aid this understanding. Buchra was quickly inducted into The Leap Year Society in order to help solve the mystery of the Unknown 9 and a decipher millennia of Sahin technology artifacts.&nbsp;

Luther may be one of the last cowboys to roam the dusty heartland of America. He is also a proud Quaestor, reminding himself every day like a mantra to continue fighting for its continued heritage. Welcomed as a small child he was raised by the Lakota people where he grew a deep love and respect for the ground beneath his feet, the stars within the sky, and the energy that flowed between the two.As the prairies fell further and further to the churn of "progress", Luther sought others that believed as he did, that our past must not be railroaded over – that knowledge was at risk of being wiped from the earth – that our humanity was at risk. &nbsp;As he searched for like- minded individuals he was welcomed into a small gathering, a handful who sought the same end goals as he but who also believed there was more than just our realm hanging in the balance. &nbsp;Luther, ever the outsider, felt like he had found his people, and together they would form The Leap Year Society, dedicating their lives towards preserving the knowledge they knew of, discovering what has been lost, and seeking the knowledge of tomorrow. This new mission in life brought Luther from the brink of despair after having suffered great personal loss. However, if he ever feels down, it only takes two shots of whiskey and his signature folksy sarcasm to steer this cowboy back on the right trail.

Luther Goodwin

Raised on the American plains, Luther had seen horrors committed by the US Army in the name of Manifest Destiny. As one of the LYS’s co-founders, he envisioned a peaceful society that could use their collective knowledge to foster a more harmonious world; they could help make atrocity a thing of the past! But things didn’t quite work out as imagined.

The Ascendants, an offshoot of the LYS, emerged from Vincent Lichter’s desires and obsessions. While the LYS advocates for a steady journey from Earth to the heavens, the Ascendants embody the impulse to leap for the stars, no matter the cost. Their story reflects the universal struggle within each human—to separate oneself from others and rise above.&nbsp;The LYS believes that the quest for knowledge is a fundamentally human concern that must be achieved with unity, the Ascendants are ready and willing to leave behind those who will not walk the path with them.

The Ascendants

The Ascendants splintered off from the LYS in 1908, but these rivals share commonalities: both maintain secrecy, and seek deeper truths about the universe and unravel ancient mysteries. However, the Ascendants believe that the ends always justify the means, while the more scrupulous LYS do not. The topic of Seshin intensifies this philosophical divide.

Rusher

Bruiser

Gunner

Dr. Emilio Matos

Mila Savic

Tethering Capsule

The Cambrian Device

The Sahin Language

The Fold

The Three Bodies

Shield

Dasuden, Richat Structure, Northwest Africa

The Morning Star

Quinta Matos, Sintra, Portugal

The Morning Star: He Found Something

Quinta Matos: Signs of Life

The Deep Fold: First Dive

Unknown 9: Awakening

My goal here is to answer the one question that we as a species are most concerned with in these uncertain times: How do we save this world? &nbsp;

element

The Morning Star: More Than Meets the Eye

The Leap Year Society

First appears in:

Chapter 4