Alien Carving
Overview
The Alien Carving is a relic composed of an unknown natural fiber from an unknown planet, dating back hundreds of thousands of years. Its shape greatly resembles the yin-yang symbol of Earth. It is found within the Primary Containment Facility.
Origin Theories
Two competing theories attempt to explain the similarity between the carving and the yin-yang symbol:
- Precursor Influence: Aliens visited Earth prior to the 4th century BC and influenced the development of ancient Chinese philosophy. This theory gains weight given that the Precursors are known to have visited Earth, taken the Ancient Earth Blade, and stored multiple ancient Earth languages on the Translation Device.
- Universal Concept: The concept of yin and yang is universal. Since it describes the fundamental interdependency of seemingly opposite forces, it may be a necessary existential understanding for all sufficiently developed civilizations. The tapering of two circles (union) into opposed points (the finite) is one logical way to represent this understanding, potentially developed independently by species other than humans.
It is possible that both options are true, with the PDA presenting a false dichotomy. This reflects a Daoist dialectic where seemingly opposing options actually go together: "We are different, but we go together." - Sea Emperor Leviathan.
Context within the Primary Containment Facility
Similar to other alien relics found in the Primary Containment Facility, it is likely that this artifact was not created by the Architects. Instead, they likely collected it from a separate alien species and planet. The facility serves as a museum of sorts, housing unaffiliated relics collected from other visited worlds, such as the Ancient Earth Blade.
However, the argument presented in the PDA's second option is coherent. The fibers are said to be hundreds of thousands of years old, making them possibly older than the aliens displaying them. Additionally, the game contains strong Daoist subtext.
Gallery
The fifth Relic, a Yin-Yang symbol
