Sentinel Larsen, this means you. See below.
—Vule

To: Commander Vule

Several members of my team have voiced concerns about some Sentinels' javelins. To put it bluntly, they don't smell very good. Cyphers often receive sense impressions from the lancers with whom they're linked. This can include impressions of smell in sensitive individuals.

No fewer than three fort cyphers have reported becoming distracted by the stench. You can see how this might become a problem.

Might I ask for your cooperation in making sure your lancers pay attention to the padding within their javelins when they perform routine maintenance? The Sentinel's job is tiring, sweaty, and dangerous. I would prefer not to expose my people, or yours, to more risk than necessary.

Sincerely,
Cypher Setu

A device that extends the range of the cypher seated in it, which allows them to communicate over a great distance. A lancer must wear the link to maintain contact with a cypher in their amplifier. Each link has a unique identification code that the cypher must know before they can send information. Amplifiers were invented by Corvus for diplomatic purposes and not a technology stolen from Fortuo.

Shadow Lock has been breached. Fourth titan spotted. Shadowmark sinking. Evacuation confirmed.

Antium
–Striders en route - 20.
-Estimated arrival - one week

Fort Tarsis
-Confirmed Sentinels for route - 100.
-Governor ready for refugees.
-Freelancer support.

Heliost
-Striders en route - 8.
-Estimated arrival - 3 days.
-Sending weapons.

Cypher support - Freelancer and Sentinel maneuvers

Everyone knows what an overload of Shaper energy from a relic looks like—well, maybe not everyone except most Arcanists and many cyphers—but inversions of energy are relatively rare. Such events are referred to as “conjunctions” because to all appearances the energy that normally radiates outward from a Shaper instrument is instead pulled into it and... through to connect some other location.

What location? Where is it going? We have no idea. It may not even be a location within our physical reality. Energy goes in and objects—even living creatures!—come out from wherever it's connecting to. How do conjunctions form? What's their function?

Further study will bring us answers.

— M. Sumner

Corvus is the diplomatic and intelligence arm of Bastion. They are masters of intrigue and covert operations, answering directly to the Emperor of Antium. Corvus operatives monitor regions across Bastion and beyond for threats against human civilization, with particular interest in the Dominion. It was Corvus that first used cyphers for code-breaking and long-distance communication to keep a close eye on potential enemies. The organization gets its name from Legion of Dawn lancer Sanadeen, who was nicknamed Corvus, after the small blackbird.

—

Crimson Lancer Rewrite: Season Eleven, Episode Four
The roar of thrusters dropped substantially in pitch as the Mark One Ranger decreased its flight altitude. Ansen reached the jungle floor and his ripstream-cooled armor pinged in the heat and humidity.
"Enclave, I'm approaching the ruin." Ansen readied his modified Havoc assault rifle as his boots hit the ground.
"Wait, Ansen!" Kista's voice crackled over the cypher connection, "It's too dangerous! What if the Final Power is in there?"
"Don't worry," Ansen replied, "I brought extra rounds. She's not getting away this time."
"Ansen, no!" Kista shouted unnecessarily over the link, even though volume is meaningless in mental communication. "Wait for the rest—"
As Ansen entered the ruin, the doors sealed shut behind him, and a wave of energy swept outward, severing the link. He was alone.

Crimson Lancer Rewrite: Season Eleven, Episode Five
Kista Stormbreaker watched as Dallus Hardedge unleashed a volley of rockets at the ruin's sealed door. Each projectile impacted harmlessly on the smooth, inscrutable surface.
"It's no use, Kista." Dallus fired one more rocket at the door anyway. "There's no way through."
"There has to be!" Kista said. "There has to be another way in. Ansen will never survive the Final Power alone."
"This ruin is unmapped," Cypher Ada said. "While there could be another entrance, it will take time to locate it."
"We have no choice," Kista declared. "We have to save him. Let's split up and search for a way in."
Her javelin's thrusters ignited and she reached a cruising altitude of two-point-four klicks as she circled the ruin to the west.

Crimson Lancer Rewrite: Season Eleven, Episode Six
Without his cypher link, Ansen's view of the ruin was limited to what his suit's main oculates could see. That was mostly darkness, broken by his flashlight's beam. The floor ahead stretched out for barely a javelin's length before dropping off into impenetrable darkness. There was no telling what he'd be flying toward in that black void.
Ansen jumped. His thrusters engaged as he fell, speeding his descent. His armor's flashlight shined uselessly, illuminating nothing. He was flying blind without any cypher voice to guide him or warn what lay ahead.
Suddenly, the Mark One Ranger struck something. Ansen's javelin lost directional control and hung for a moment, completely still. The light shone oddly in front of him, the beam becoming more distinct. Ansen realized he'd flown into water. The air in his tanks was decreasing. He increased thrust and pushed on into the depths.

Crimson Lancer Rewrite: Season Eleven, Episode Eight
Kista angled her javelin five degrees farther west to compensate for the strong headwind. Below her, the jungle on the mountainside showed no signs of Shaper ruins. Suddenly, she hit turbulence and her vision was clouded by ice and condensation. The ripstream dropped, forcing her to descend into the canopy of the trees.
"Kista, I sense multiple heat signatures closing on your position." Cypher Ada warned.
Kista snapped her thrusters into hover position and readied her Resolution pistol. She scanned the treetops for signs of whatever had alerted Ada. The jungle remained quiet.
A wyvern's fireball struck her armor. Overheated, Kista's flight controls failed and she crashed into the mountainside.

Crimson Lancer Rewrite: Season Eleven, Episode Nine
Dallus landed near the unmapped Shaper entrance. His Colossus javelin landed thunderously and announced his arrival.
"Kista? It's Dallus," he said, "I've found a door, maybe? What do you think, Ada? Could this be the same ruin?"
Cypher Ada hesitated. "The ruin is interfering with my connection somehow."
"Then it has to be the same one!" Dallus declared with too much optimism.
"Wait, Dallus! If you enter the ruin I—" Ada's voice cut off as the Freelancer launched himself through the door and the connection cut out.
"Ansen!" Dallus shouted, rocketing into the darkness. "You hear me? I'm on my way!"

Cyphers are individuals with a sensitivity to the Anthem of Creation and are capable of telepathic communication and heightened mental calculation. Many young people who are identified as having this unique gift undergo ember exposure and dedicated training to enhance their mental skills.
When cypher abilities first appeared, Corvus sought to use these individuals for covert purposes. They developed amplifier technology and created a type of institutional training center called a Satomi. The most important and advanced of these is Esteraat, the premier Satomi located in Antium.
Later, the Cypher Revolution brought cyphers expanded rights, freedom to choose how their abilities were used, opening a new world of communication between settlements and in the aid of lancers. While javelins were invented long before the cypher phenomenon, the addition of cyphers to operations outside the wall has made all lancers safer and more effective.

What do we see? Everything. Images, words, patterns, feelings… our memories are deeper in the amplifier than out. It's not just our memories, but any other cypher we connect with. We become one. It… well, it makes the outside world a bit frustrating, doesn't it?

— From In The Chair: Interviews with Negan Dell

Should cyphers be able to determine their own fate? To ignore such innate skill seems wasteful, yet demanding that all cyphers serve one master favors the individual over the entirety. Since the process of becoming a cypher is risky and often deadly, should we not honor these people accordingly? Let the cypher choose how they serve society. We all benefit from content citizens.

— From Dialogues

A naturally occurring, dangerous by-product of the Anthem, used as a foundation for human technology. While active ember can be found throughout Bastion, it is most bountiful around the Engineer city of Heliost. Legend has it that the urgoth enslaved humanity because the urgoth could not manipulate ember, whereas humans could. Ember is necessary to create the gateway between the human mind and the Anthem and, while excessive exposure to ember can be dangerous, it is often applied to cyphers during their training. If you should find ember in the wild, it can be harvested to craft remarkable weapons and gear.

A talented cypher from Antium, Faye was bored with her sheltered life in the capital before she accepted a position with the Arcanists along the Bastion frontier. While there, she met the Freelancer Haluk, who promised her a firsthand look at the mysterious and wondrous things in the wilderness. Faye quit her Arcanist posting and joined the Freelancers.

You think the Sentinels here are closed off, boring, and insular? You should meet the ones in Antium. if Brin's sharing the Sentinels' hardest missions with a Freelancer, she probably trusts their chances of coming back are high. It's a compliment, from a certain angle.

— Faye on Sentinel contracts

Dawnguard Transcript: Season Two, Episode Three. Last time, we left Walker and her team trapped in the depths of the crumbling Arcanist laboratory.

Alhazen: There's too many Anzu to fight, Walker. We'll never make it out.
Walker: We don't get to die today, Alhazen. If we don't find that relic and silence it, Antium will fall. Easley, you and Hawking search the ruin for the relic. Alhazen, you and I will hold this doorway against the Anzu.
Hawking: We won't leave you behind to die. "Strong Alone, Stronger Together." We all go, or we all stay here.
Easley: We won't fail. Save us a couple Anzu, Walker.

Easley: This place makes my skin crawl, Hawking. Are we getting close? Hawking: Something is resonating in the depths of this ruin.
Easley: Tell me that "something" is the relic.
Hawking: Easley. I think it's not just the relic. Brace yourself.

Alhazen: The barricades aren't holding. They're—Walker!
Walker: We haven't lost yet, Alhazen. We just need to buy the others time.
Alhazen: You're hurt! You have to fall back.
Walker: No. I can still fight.
Alhazen: I'm getting you out of here.
Walker: Something… is coming.

Sound of an avalanche.

What Cataclysm was unleashed in the depths of the Arcanist ruin? And who will live to warn Antium of what's coming? Next time, on Dawnguard.

During Icetide, Freelancers hold a highly anticipated series of time trials, the results of which are broadcasted by the Cyphers of Bastion.

Participate in this festive event by achieving a bronze rank for a time trial in Freeplay with each of the javelins.

"Fort Tarsis is prettier in the rain. Everything shines."

—Cypher Faye Navine

Obtained by Freelancer Yarrow during the War of Seven Luminaries, this was the first completely intact example of Scar technology the Arcanists were able to study. Because of this unexploded mine, Arcanists were able to research better means of detecting and tracking Scar weaponry and disseminate these to cyphers across Bastion and beyond, vastly improving Freelancer and Sentinel effectiveness against Scars.

One of the first Legion of Dawn members, Garred the Chronicler spread the word of General Tarsis and her accomplishments to inspire others to join her cause. Garred was master of the written word, a charismatic speaker, and is best known for writing a historical document about the Legion called The Volume of Tarsis. Little else is known about Garred, for he rarely wrote about himself. It is known he was married to General Tarsis, but he died before her own passing.

Interestingly, Garred's works appeared to be written past his death, and it is believed that others took up the mantle of recording The Volume of Tarsis for at least 30 years after his death. In his honor, Empress Vassala Dell gave the title of Chronicler to cyphers who transfer information to other cyphers.

Picking up Shaper energy, but can't see where it's coming from. Going to explore underwater. My cypher says I should wait for back-up here at the grove, but what fun is that?

— Freelancer Spears

An airtight, armored exo-suit linked to a pilot's thoughts and impulses. Javelins are capable of short flights and have been the major technology of defense and exploration. “Arden Vassa crafted a suit of armor, plated in ember and hope. This would make General Tarsis stronger than the urgoth, than the ursix, than the titan. This would be humanity's salvation. A spear, hurtling towards freedom. A Javelin of Dawn.”

When cyphers began to appear, Corvus integrated new technology into links, so that the cyphers could “accompany” lancers on missions, giving specific direction, information and guidance. While not necessary to piloting a javelin, working with a cypher is a proven life saver.
Since a javelin is merely an extension of its lancer, they work best when specifically crafted to an individual's preference and ability. It is common for lancers to upgrade their javelin to their liking with guns, cannons, shields, and seals.

This all-purpose communication device allows lancers to stay in contact with each other through shortwave radio, as well as maintain mental contact with cyphers. Cyphers can also act as a conduit for additional parties to observe and comment on lancer activities. Early experiments between Corvus and the Satomi dabbled in sensory linking between all parties. However, this overloaded lancers who needed to focus their mental energies on piloting their javelins. Additional technology to limit what information lancers receive has since been developed. Socially, it is considered rude to wear links in certain situations, and the Antium Bard's Union has banned links at all performances.

While word is often sparse from the remote settlement, it is now confirmed that contact with Primoris is lost—and has been for some time. All attempts to reach their cyphers has failed. Whether this is the result of mechanical failure, Cataclysmic interference, or some other cause is yet unknown. The last known person to have contact with Primoris is Gallen Dal, a trader who contacted the local cypher a week after departing the settlement via strider. It's now believed this conversation took place within days of Primoris losing touch. Dal claims the conversation was "ordinary and professional," with no hint of anything amiss. However, the cypher did make an uncharacteristic comment about a flock of butterflies before signing off.

Antium is investigating.

Dear Mayor:

Re: Amplifiers
As per our conversation the other day, I'm following up on the possibility of getting new amplifiers for the cyphers for Shadowmark and for my Volary. The current ones were installed around fifty years ago and sometimes constant repair is a sign that it's just time to give in and get new ones. I'm sure you agree.
Let's talk.

Libor Kahrl,
Chronicler
Shadowmark

A Freelancer tradition of documenting travels through the wild for those who follow. In the days before cyphers, overlooks were a useful way to track the happenings of Freelancers, and became a vital source for understanding an area. Now that technology can document Freelancer activity, overlooks are more often used as a record of when the area was last visited.

Owen is a cypher who works out of the Freelancer enclave in Fort Tarsis, a small town on the frontier in Bastion. Born into poverty, he was sent for cypher training at a young age when he first showed sensitivity to the Anthem. Owen spent most of his life studying at Bronelyn Satomi in Heliost.
Owen is an adventurer and mischief-maker at heart. After leaving Bronelyn, he traveled for a number of years before settling down in Fort Tarsis to work with the Freelancers. However, the few contracts available have left him uninspired and dreaming of grander things. He longs to operate a javelin of his own.

You first met Owen a little over ten years ago in the tiny city of Ponteix when he tried to steal from you. Despite this introduction, you had an unmistakable connection and spent the rest of your week having fun together.
Years later, after the failed mission into the Heart of Rage and rift with your team, your roaming and soul-searching took you to Heliost, where you bumped into Owen again. Since then, you've turned that brief friendship of the past into a solid partnership.

Fueled by resentment and frustration, Owen sabotaged your suit while going into the Fortress of Dawn. He stole the Javelin of Dawn, apparently intending to deliver it to the Dominion. He escaped the fortress without leaving any trail to follow.

After Haluk was ambushed by Dominion at the Fortress of Dawn, Owen came to his rescue. A little worse for wear thanks to his dealings with the Monitor, Owen gave you a seal from the Javelin of Dawn to help complete the Dawn Shield. And then left you to fight a Fury by yourself, because some things never change.

Invented in antiquity, radio communication was not widely accepted until after the defeat of the urgoth. Radio towers are expensive to build, must be maintained against harsh weather and damage from wildlife (tesilars are especially drawn to such structures), and clearly announce the presence of a human settlement to potential attackers. Moreover, interference from Shaper ruins limits the effective range of even the strongest radio transmissions to only a few klicks. And yet for all the drawbacks, radio has saved countless lives. It allows lancer teams to coordinate in the field without a cypher. It keeps Sentinels on patrol in contact with the settlement they defend. Radio distress calls lead rescuers to downed striders and damaged javelins. And of course, everyone inside a settlement's walls relies on radio for news and entertainment.

The Emperor wants you! The Sentinels are looking for motivated young people to join their ranks. Lancers, cyphers, and Arcanists are all welcome to apply for various positions. We have high expectations for our recruits. Applicants must possess basic education and a strong connection to the gateway. Good moral character and an eagerness to protect the free people of Bastion are required.

Follow Vassa's way and stand tall as you keep the citizens of Bastion safe Join the Sentinels!

Of course there have been cyphers who wanted to be lancers. Take the old story of the cypher who wanted to fly. In Satomi, this is not just a folk tale, but a lesson to be heeded. The story goes as follows:

Benwick Xan, a brilliant cypher in his day, thought he could pilot a javelin whilst ignoring his own heightened awareness. Although his initial tests were encouraging, things were not so simple in the face of genuine danger. He hired a Freelancer to escort him into the wild; they hadn't gone three steps when they were attacked by skorpions. In the heat of battle, Benwick could not focus. He found when one of the beasts attacked, his attention was split: sensing a rise in Shaper energy to the East, picking up Arcanist distress signals, noting the rise in humidity due to recent rain, and dozens of other things that did not help at this moment. He tried to fly, but accidentally fired his cannon. He tried to fire his cannon, but instead punched a nearby rock. He had no control. Tragically, it was he and not the skorpions who killed his escort.

You see, lancer and javelin are connected to the Anthem via gateway… but it's a single connection. Slim and direct. We cyphers are already connected to the Anthem, and for us, the gateway is not direct but… engulfing. Javelins cannot possibly channel our every impulse, because our impulses are too many, too vast. The result is a disaster.

There are whispers, of course, of those in the north experimenting with the "creation" of cypher-pilots, but I have yet to see proof of whether they exist or how. 'Tis a rumor and a wish, not a reality.

— From In The Chair: Interviews with Negan Dell

The First Cypher was lost to the music of the Anthem of Creation, and now she stands guard in the gateway, guiding cyphers who stray too far.

— Folk tale.

It was not long after the Cataclysm that the Engineer's daughter developed strange new abilities. She could see faraway things or talk directly into another's mind. Word of her gifts spread. Soon, Arcanists arrived and presented her with a bold experiment… to help them test a device that would amplify her gift. It started with great success, but eventually met with failure. The girl's mind ventured too far from her body and became lost to the music of the Anthem of Creation. To this day, cyphers swear they glimpse the engineer's daughter while in their amplifier. first cypher, they say, watches over those who travel without moving, guiding them back from where she can never return.

— Folk tale

An "interface" that acts as a buffer between the human mind and the Anthem of Creation, making it possible for humans to channel their will into ember-based technology. Arcanists believe that it was repeated exposure to ember that possibly brought about the discovery of the Gateway and while The Volume of Tarsis begins with the Gateway's discovery, it does not specify when it happened in relation to the Legion of Dawn.
The Gateway has made direct exposure to the Anthem rare, but cyphers are often at risk of madness or even death because the Gateway seems to behave differently through an amplifier than other technology.

A rare Dominion operative who is both a skilled lancer and cypher. He is invaluable to the Dominion's expansion plans. Monitors undergo special training to make them into near-omniscient secret police. Corvus first heard whispers about the Monitors from small bands of refugees fleeing south from Stralheim to Freemark.

“Scars have set up just off of Tower Road. Downed the missing transport. Stripped it for parts. If we’re not careful, they’ll start building and then we’ll have a bug problem on our hands. But the Freelancers should be returning from the Heart of Rage soon enough. I expect the issue will be contained. Sorry for the letter; our cypher has been ill all week.”

— Letter to Antium, from Governor Teak

Max,
Our shipments will be late this month. Every strider is running late with the weird weather and whatever that glitched sky is doing. The drivers all say it's messing with navigation unless they have a cypher on board, and you know how much that costs. I'll try to find a closer supplier, but no guarantees.