The 3rd Atlantean Renaissance

The 3rd Atlantean Renaissance, also known as the Crystal Nexus Renaissance and sometimes the Gallery Renaissance, was perhaps the largest change to the people in terms of their continued enlightenment. The people had accepted their new golem bodies, and begun to take a liking to being able to add improvements to them. Although Atlantean had closed its borders to most outsiders, occasional traders and dignified foreigners could still be permitted entry. it was the presence of these flesh and blood people that served to highlight all that the Atlanteans had lost in the 2nd Atlantean Renaissance.

For some the problem was the lack of taste, touch, some simply missed the feel of the wind on their faces. For others it was the sense of smell. But these problems could be remedied by alterations invented by the people themselves, advance improvements that gave these senses, including some of a more personal nature. A complete package was expensive, as the expert craftsmanship of an Atlantean artificer does not come cheap; for an individual to regain each sense costs more than the wealth of any lowborn family.

So it was that a full sense replacement was reserved only for those who needed the most, or could afford the great expense. The nations spies and exalted were given these upgrades at the expense of the state to better serve the interests of Atlantean. It would be very difficult for them to not be exposed in the wider world if they were not able to taste wine and give critique, or buy silks and cloth without being able to assess their value by touch.

Since Atlanteans were now all effectively immortal, all people could theoretically gain access to all these senses over time, though it could take 100's of years to acquire the means.

Atlanteans became a people obsessed with perfection in their pursuits, by their nature they focused on art, crafts and research. They tried to better themselves, but as the decades passed the people started to feel like their was little joy left in life. If one has the time to master anything, what achievement can there really be in mastery? Without sacrificing a portion of your life to achieve, what does achievement matter? Mortal lives have meaning because one chooses how to spend it, but with an eternity to while away, one has time to make all choices, so why make any?

Lord Morpheus addressed this problem before any petition was made, as the solution to this problem also eliminated the threat of infiltration.The Crystal Nexus was created; An artefact that can store the mind of a Atlantean or connect them all together in a mild telepathic link. Anyone who is not part of this link, within the Atlantean borders, can be immediately identified as an 'other'.

For the people of Atlantean, it was the other function of this artefact that brought them the solace their souls craved. The Crystal Nexus can be used to wipe the memories of an Atlantean. In doing so, it gave the Atlaneans an end of sorts to their infinite existence. When The Lament became to great, an Atlantean could be reinvigorated, by removing their skills, and accomplishments, and beginning the quest for perfection anew.

Some Atlanteans reacted poorly to their access to the mind wipe technology, seeing it as a way to remove all pain from their lives. A few would wipe memories of their lost loved ones, friends and life from themselves, effectively becoming drones. Even with an infinite life, that can be made into infinite lives through relearning the arts and sciences, existence eventually becomes to hard for those souls not intended for immortality.

In response to the Infinite Lament, Morpheus created "the Gallery" to be a final resting place for Atlanteans. Morpheus said "when you have mastered all you can, when you have achieved and mastered and even perfected your chosen crafts. When there is truly no more to learn; It is time to die. It is time to make way for a new soul. Your experience will not be lost, and in the Gallery you will enshrine your body so it may last forever, and all may look up to your magnificence and be inspired. When an Atlantean chooses this final death, they enter the Gallery, take up a place and stance of their choosing, and let their consciousness drift out of themselves into the infinite.

In this way, Morpheus gave back to his people the gift of death, but an Atlantean must now earn that death by becoming everything they can be so that when they die, they can join the legends of the world.