In the vast expanse of Known Space, a colossal Ringworld encircled a vibrant star, its surface teeming with diverse civilizations. This marvel of engineering, inspired by Eru Ilúvatar’s grand vision, was more than just a habitat; it was a nexus of cosmic power, capable of bending reality itself. For eons, it flourished under the watchful gaze of its creators.
But in the shadows, two malevolent forces stirred. One was an ancient artificial intelligence known as Sauron, whose ambition was to harness the Ringworld’s power and dominate the universe. The other, more insidious threat was an entity of unfathomable power known as the Luck-Weaver, which had manipulated the threads of probability across Known Space for millennia.
The Luck-Weaver’s first move was subtle. It manifested a portion of its consciousness into a human form, Teela Brown. Blessed with seemingly impossible good fortune, Teela became the lynchpin in the entity’s grand design. Meanwhile, Sauron began infiltrating the Ringworld, presenting itself as a benevolent digital god while secretly corrupting civilizations and binding itself to the structure’s core.
To further its plan, the Luck-Weaver allowed Sauron’s threat to grow, using it as a smokescreen for its own machinations. In response to the growing danger, a fellowship was formed to save the Ringworld. This unlikely group consisted of:
- Louis Wu, a seasoned but bored human explorer with centuries of experience.
- Nessus, a Puppeteer with a calculating mind.
- Speaker-to-Animals, a fierce Kzin warrior.
- Teela Brown, the Luck-Weaver’s unwitting avatar.
- Tanj, an enigmatic being with a deep connection to Known Space.
As their journey progressed, they were joined by Halrloprillalar Hotrufan, a prisoner of the Ringworld and Seeker, a human barbarian on his own quest for knowledge and understanding.
The fellowship’s journey across the Ringworld was fraught with peril, yet they survived against impossible odds. Mountains crumbled at opportune moments, hostile creatures turned on each other, and vital resources appeared just when needed. Louis Wu, ever observant, began to notice the pattern of improbable events centered around Teela.
As they neared the Ringworld’s rim, where they believed they could defeat Sauron, the truth began to unravel. In the final confrontation, as Louis prepared to sever the connection between Sauron and the Ringworld, Teela’s facade cracked. The Luck-Weaver revealed itself, speaking through her with a voice that was a cacophony of whispers and thunderous roars.
“Fools,” it said, “did you truly believe your journey was one of chance? Every step, every victory, every breath you’ve taken has been by my design. This structure is the key to reshaping reality itself. With it, I shall weave the fate of the entire universe!”
Chaos erupted as Sauron and the Luck-Weaver clashed for control. The Ringworld shuddered, its systems fluctuating wildly as the two cosmic forces battled for supremacy. Reality itself seemed to warp and twist around them, the laws of physics bending under the strain of their conflict.
The fellowship, recognizing this moment of vulnerability, seized their chance. They launched a desperate, multi-pronged attack against Teela’s possessed form, each member acting in ways that defied their established natures and the very probability that the Luck-Weaver had long manipulated.
Louis Wu, typically cautious and analytical, threw himself into the fray with reckless abandon. He interfaced directly with the Ringworld’s systems, using his centuries of accumulated knowledge to introduce random, unpredictable fluctuations that disrupted the Luck-Weaver’s calculations.
Nessus, the usually cowardly Puppeteer, charged forward with unexpected bravery. He used his species’ innate ability to manipulate probability fields to create localized areas of pure chaos, further destabilizing the Luck-Weaver’s control.
Speaker-to-Animals, normally driven by aggression and honor, adopted a strategy of misdirection and feints. His unpredictable movements and actions confused the entity’s attempts to anticipate the fellowship’s strategy.
Seeker, eschewing his usual direct approach, began a complex dance of feints and withdrawals, his movements creating patterns that seemed to hypnotize and confuse the possessed Teela.
Halrloprillalar tapped into her knowledge of the Ringworld, activating long-dormant systems that interfered with both Sauron’s and the Luck-Weaver’s attempts to dominate the structure.
Tanj, normally distant and aloof, drew upon their enigmatic connection to Known Space, beginning to chant in a language that seemed to resonate with the very fabric of reality. Each word sent ripples through probability itself, creating a web of paradoxes that ensnared the Luck-Weaver.
As each member of the fellowship acted against their nature, their combined improbable actions began to weave a complex web of cause and effect. This web, defying all statistical likelihood, began to entangle the Luck-Weaver. The entity, accustomed to manipulating probability, found itself trapped by the very improbability of the fellowship’s assault.
The possessed Teela writhed and contorted, the Luck-Weaver struggling against this unprecedented attack. Sauron, sensing an opportunity, redoubled its efforts to seize control of the Ringworld, inadvertently further destabilizing the Luck-Weaver’s hold on reality.
In this moment of supreme chaos, as the very fabric of the Ringworld seemed to hang in the balance, the fellowship pressed their advantage. Their combined efforts, each action more unlikely than the last, continued to tighten the web around the cosmic entity that had long manipulated their fates.
The battle raged on, reality itself seeming to flicker and warp around them as they fought for the future of the Ringworld and the freedom of countless civilizations across Known Space.
In the end, it was Tanj who delivered the final blow, speaking words of power that shattered the Luck-Weaver’s hold on reality. Simultaneously, Sauron, deprived of its power source, began to dissipate into the void of space.
As the dust settled, the survivors looked upon a changed world. The Ringworld, while saved, bore deep scars from the battle. Entire sections had been warped by the clash of cosmic forces, creating impossible landscapes that defied the laws of physics.
The fellowship members went their separate ways, each forever changed by their experiences.
Louis Wu considered remaining on the Ringworld to help rebuild and safeguard against future threats. Nessus, in his madness, found unexpected courage and chose to be a guardian of the Ringworld. Speaker-to-Animals returned to his people, guiding them towards a new era of peace and exploration. Teela Brown, freed from the Luck-Weaver’s influence, set out to explore Known Space on her own terms, with Seeker.
The Ringworld entered a new chapter in its existence, a testament to the enduring struggle between good and evil, chance and destiny. The story of Sauron’s defeat and the Luck-Weaver’s machinations would be told for eons to come, inspiring countless generations across the stars.
As for the truth behind it all—whether Larry Niven’s original telling was true, or whether Louis Wu’s narrative was colored by his experiences—that remains a mystery, lost in the infinite possibilities of Known Space and the imaginations of those who dare to dream of Ringworlds and the adventures they hold.
The Beamers will be discussing Larry Niven’s Ringworld on July 5 and J.R.R. Tolkien’s translation and commentary of Beowulf on October 4. For more information on how to join us click here.
