ABRAXAS MODS (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
abraxasmods) wrote2021-11-16 08:34 pm
abraxasmods) wrote2021-11-16 08:34 pm
Entry tags:
THE SINGULARITY / HORIZON ◎
Singularity / Horizon
Jump to Section
Climate
Arid, uninhabitable
Population
None
Territory
Neutral, unclaimed
Wildlife
Desert creatures, unique animals
Dangers
While Abraxan natives cannot go near the Singularity without disintegrating, the area has a number of dangerous beasts. Further, stepping too close to the crater will cause a character to be drawn into the Horizon - where they will be trapped for 2-3 weeks before the Horizon releases its hold.
Travel
2-3 months by horse, depending on terrain and conditions.
NOTES
Although travel to the Singularity is not ICly prohibited, due to the nature of it, it is effectively RESTRICTED by default for the purposes of the game. Please reach out on the Plot Engagement post if you want your character to make the trek to the Singularity for plot reasons.
The Singularity
View Recent Status & Notable Events
◎ The first of the Summoned were physically taken to the Singularity to unlock their connection to the Singularity and the Horizon
◎ Every year in December, the Singularity undergoes a "Dimming" where its power wanes. Each territory responds to this event in their own way
◎ The Singularity has recently been responsible for a handful of outbursts of power, causing the Summoned who are linked to it to experience shared memories and dreams
◎ The Horizon underwent a minor corruption where some who entered saw strange images flashing into their vision. This has since passed...for now
◎ Every year in December, the Singularity undergoes a "Dimming" where its power wanes. Each territory responds to this event in their own way
◎ The Singularity has recently been responsible for a handful of outbursts of power, causing the Summoned who are linked to it to experience shared memories and dreams
◎ The Horizon underwent a minor corruption where some who entered saw strange images flashing into their vision. This has since passed...for now
A towering relic with a circular opening, the Singularity is the source of all magic in Abraxas and the birthplace of the gods. It is tied to all worlds, but the exact nature of this relationship (whether it sustains the other worlds or feeds upon them) is debated. Feared and worshiped, the Singularity and the crater upon which it sits has been neutral territory for a majority of recorded history.
The land surrounding the Singularity is uninhabitable. Although power can be drawn from it from far away, anyone who gets too close to it will disintegrate into oblivion. The only exceptions are the newly arrived Summoned, whose bodies can freely approach the physical relic but whose minds are forcibly drawn in by its power onto another plane altogether.
Each of the major territories has different beliefs regarding the Singularity and what should be done with it. More will be revealed as time goes on, but as a general simplification:
◎ THORNE wishes to harness the power of the Singularity to change the state of the world. They believe the Singularity's power is waning, and that something must be done to fix this.
◎ THE FREE CITIES wishes to destroy the Singularity entirely and free the world from its influence.
◎ SOLVUNN wishes to keep the state of the world as it is, seeing the actions of the other two territories as dangerous and potentially apocalyptic.
The Horizon
The Horizon is a spiritual plane connected to the Singularity. While it appears, initially, as a sprawling and relatively featureless plane with the Singularity at its center, with the first batch of players having entered, the Horizon has now been shaped and filled with those characters' domains.
After their first visit, characters may choose one (1) change to their person so long as the power/alteration is not at risk of being too overpowered. For a rough guideline, an equivalent to a Level 1 D&D spell is preferred and physical changes should not be too extreme (no turning into a giant dragon). However, the power itself does not need to be based on D&D and we encourage you to think about your character's first time experience in the Horizon to base their gain on. Draw inspiration from wherever you like! It can be a physical change or a new magical power, but cannot be a material regain from their home world. This power can lie dormant as long as you like or be discovered immediately upon waking. We may request certain limitations as needed when your power request is submitted.
After their first visit, characters may choose one (1) change to their person so long as the power/alteration is not at risk of being too overpowered. For a rough guideline, an equivalent to a Level 1 D&D spell is preferred and physical changes should not be too extreme (no turning into a giant dragon). However, the power itself does not need to be based on D&D and we encourage you to think about your character's first time experience in the Horizon to base their gain on. Draw inspiration from wherever you like! It can be a physical change or a new magical power, but cannot be a material regain from their home world. This power can lie dormant as long as you like or be discovered immediately upon waking. We may request certain limitations as needed when your power request is submitted.
To request a Horizon gain, you can submit it during any upcoming Activity Check period on the form. While there is no strict deadline for when you should claim your Horizon gain, we recommend doing so within the first few months following your character's first visit to the Horizon.
The First Visit
New characters will come in with a dormant connection to the Horizon, the same as the first group did. In order to gain access they will need to awaken their connection. While it is possible to do so by making the long trek to the Singularity, this is not recommended and is difficult to accomplish. Instead, characters may use the far simpler method of being taken in by a character who has already been there via physical contact during mutual meditation. All characters will experience memory loss on their first trip, but can choose how long they end up staying.
◎ Memory Loss
Characters will arrive without their memories of their homeworlds or their time in Abraxas. Their personalities will remain intact, and they will still posses knowledge of things that exist in Abraxas and in their home worlds, but they won't remember anything about themselves except their names. The one thing they will immediately know about themselves and each other is their Arcana. The symbol will be marked somewhere on their clothing regardless of how hard they try to get rid of it. Every character will know about all the signs and what they generally signify.
Although characters will not have any explicit memories of their past, they can be influenced subconsciously by who they were. Past traumas, memories, and people they knew can all play a role during their first trip. For example, if they meet a close friend, it's possible that they will feel a deep sense of trust towards this person despite not remembering who they are.
Although characters will not have any explicit memories of their past, they can be influenced subconsciously by who they were. Past traumas, memories, and people they knew can all play a role during their first trip. For example, if they meet a close friend, it's possible that they will feel a deep sense of trust towards this person despite not remembering who they are.
◎ Arcana & Clothing
Characters will find themselves in outfits that in some way reflect their style or personality. Their sign must be visible somewhere on the outfit (in words, as a symbol, or both) but other than that it's completely customizable. Someone who fancies themselves a ruler might be given a grown and a fancy robe, someone who is deeply insecure may have rags, and someone who is secretive and mysterious may be shrouded in a cloak. Feel free to go as wild or as plain as you like with this aspect! This is something that may change in future trips to the Horizon, depending on how your character develops in-game.
◎ Creation & Construction
Once they start to gain their footing inside of the Horizon, characters will find that they can manipulate it to their liking, as if it was a very lucid dream. They can conjure up terrain, buildings, animals, plants, and anything else they want to see. All of it will be tangible while they are in the Horizon, but none of it can be taken back to reality with them. This plane is yours, shape it as you wish! Strong emotions and unconscious desires may also have potentially unwanted effects on the surroundings, however, so be careful.
◎ Compulsion to Create
For as long as characters stay in the Horizon during their first time, they won't be looking for an escape, or even remember that there's a world outside of the Horizon at all. Instead, they'll be compelled to shape this plane to their liking and carve out their own domain inside of it. The more of a domain they have the stronger and better they will feel, and having their constructs destroyed or changed into something they dislike will make them feel weak. There is limited space, however. The Horizon is a circular plane a few miles in diameter, much like the crater surrounding the Singularity, so it may be necessary to compromise with neighbors.
Returning & Subsequent Visits
Characters will keep all their memories from their first time in the Horizon, and will be able to feel their connection to the Singularity. They can sense its location and how far away it is from them, and can return to the Horizon and harness its power for other purposes from now on.
◎ Entering the Horizon
Following their first visit, characters will be able to return to the Horizon on their own. They will need to be in a state of undisturbed meditation to revisit the Horizon. As a result, lack of concentration or even a mental block might disrupt their ability to enter the Horizon. Subsequent visits to the Horizon will not have the memory loss effect their first visit had.
Their clothing will continue to retain the Arcana somewhere on their person. It can be more subtle now that they are consciously aware of it, but they will not be able to fully get rid of their Arcana sign. Regarding all else, though, they can reshape and change things as they wish including their appearance, clothing, and domains. They do not need to keep what they created during their first visit.
Their clothing will continue to retain the Arcana somewhere on their person. It can be more subtle now that they are consciously aware of it, but they will not be able to fully get rid of their Arcana sign. Regarding all else, though, they can reshape and change things as they wish including their appearance, clothing, and domains. They do not need to keep what they created during their first visit.
◎ Physical Effects in the Real World
While their minds are inside the Horizon, characters will not experience any physical changes that would normally occur with the passage of time, including hair growth, hunger, or healing of wounds. This means it's possible for them to remain in the Horizon for days at a time without feeling thirsty or famished upon exiting. However, they can be deliberately injured or harmed, so it's important that they find a safe spot to meditate.
Depending on the character, their concentration can be broken by external influences, such as being shaken awake or attacked. This will pull them immediately out of the Horizon and they will return to the physical world.
Depending on the character, their concentration can be broken by external influences, such as being shaken awake or attacked. This will pull them immediately out of the Horizon and they will return to the physical world.
◎ Territory Reactions
Characters who are noticed entering the Horizon too frequently (several times a week) or for too long a time may begin to draw suspicion or some questions from the territory they are residing in. This also depends on which territory they are in.
◎ THORNE keeps a close eye on its people. As nearly all of them live inside Castle Thorne, it's likely someone will notice if a character has locked themselves in their room for an extended period or if a character frequently meditates.
◎ THE FREE CITIES affords the most freedom for entering and staying in the Horizon due to its size and population. However, those who remain in the barracks will be under much closer scrutiny. Outside of the military base, though, characters will have to go out of their way to attract attention. Meditating in their private home is unlikely to be noticed.
◎ SOLVUNN is a tightknit community. While they avoid casting suspicion on their neighbors, entering the Horizon too often will nonetheless draw attention and curiosity from the commune, and may result in questions or prodding.
Domains
Domains are the spaces that belong to each character who enters the Horizon. Even once their memories return, characters will feel compelled to have some sort of domain. The domain does not need to be a physical space, nor does it need to be a traditional physical structure. Domains can be a traveling tent, a vehicle packed with their favorite things, or even a magic air balloon.
◎ Creating a Domain
To create a domain, characters simply need to will it into existence from their imagination. Depending on personality, some might find this easier than others. They can change it, fill it with animals/plantlife/monsters, and reshape it any way they like. Subconscious desires may influence certain aspects of their domain or the character's appearance, even after they have their memories back, but this is not always the case. In-game developments can also lead to a domain changing subconsciously depending on how events impact your character's state of mind. It's up to you as a player to decide what'll be fun to incorporate and how much.
Characters are also welcome to build their domains using a more traditional method. For example, they can manifest seeds and soil to plant their garden by hand as opposed to manifesting it fully grown. They can create a puppy that they raise over time instead of a grown pet. The choice is yours how you want to play it.
Characters are also welcome to build their domains using a more traditional method. For example, they can manifest seeds and soil to plant their garden by hand as opposed to manifesting it fully grown. They can create a puppy that they raise over time instead of a grown pet. The choice is yours how you want to play it.
◎ Illusion of Time
Time does not flow in the Horizon. While inside, it may be difficult to keep track of how many hours have come and gone. Characters can manifest clocks, watches, and other things to help them keep time, but this is not necessary and as characters acclimate to the Horizon, they can learn to sense time passing (or allow themselves to forget it if that's what they prefer.)
Characters can also choose to have the sun rise and set over their domain if they want, or it can be permanently nighttime or permanently a warm afternoon. This is entirely up to each character, but their manifestation of the sky will only impact their domain space. It will not affect the Horizon as a whole for others. Thus, it's possible to walk next door and find a domain that's suddenly nighttime.
Characters can also choose to have the sun rise and set over their domain if they want, or it can be permanently nighttime or permanently a warm afternoon. This is entirely up to each character, but their manifestation of the sky will only impact their domain space. It will not affect the Horizon as a whole for others. Thus, it's possible to walk next door and find a domain that's suddenly nighttime.
◎ People & Living Creatures
Creating people is a little more complex than landscape. Any people created will either end up needing to be consciously controlled by their creator or will behave more like "NPCs" in a video game that can only do a limited number of things or repetitive tasks. The people may also have blurred features, shadowy forms, or otherwise be somewhat "off." Characters will not be able to create full complex sentient beings in the Horizon. They can only create that person, or a sort of jumbled/distorted version of that person.
Living creatures such as animals or pets are simpler. They do not need to be consciously controlled and will exhibit the expected behavior that their creator has intended. Fantasy creatures or even creatures dreamed up without having ever existed are possible!
Living creatures such as animals or pets are simpler. They do not need to be consciously controlled and will exhibit the expected behavior that their creator has intended. Fantasy creatures or even creatures dreamed up without having ever existed are possible!
◎ Sharing & Entering Other Domains
Characters are completely free to share a domain. This can result in the domain taking up a little extra space, as it is the joint creation of two people, but it won't always. Nothing special needs to be done in order to share a domain. Much like moving into someone's home, characters only need to agree upon it whether consciously or subconsciously.
Entering others' domains is similar in concept. The Horizon is like a small neighborhood. Some may lock their domains tight, others have hidden it, and others still may keep it open for anyone and everyone to come inside. Characters can visit each other's domains and even host events inside the Horizon using their domain. Just be sure to check with a player regarding how much access your character can have to another character's domain if it's unclear. Each player can decide what their domain consists of and how open or welcoming it is, including any locked gates, doors, impenetrable areas, etc.
Entering others' domains is similar in concept. The Horizon is like a small neighborhood. Some may lock their domains tight, others have hidden it, and others still may keep it open for anyone and everyone to come inside. Characters can visit each other's domains and even host events inside the Horizon using their domain. Just be sure to check with a player regarding how much access your character can have to another character's domain if it's unclear. Each player can decide what their domain consists of and how open or welcoming it is, including any locked gates, doors, impenetrable areas, etc.
Questions and Answers
- What are the effects of entering the Horizon?
- Entering the Horizon will continue to strengthen both your character's connection and magic. The more they enter the Horizon, the more they will find learning or channeling spells may go smoother, while those who don't enter it all or enter it very infrequently will have trouble accessing Abraxan magic. This is not yet knowledge that characters have regarding the Horizon, but you may use this information to subtly progress (or not progress) your character's magical aptitude.
- Can my character die while in the Horizon?
- No. Anything that would be painful or pleasurable on the physical plane will still be so in the Horizon, but everyone will be able to recover and re-form themselves even if they are torn apart. It's impossible to lose consciousness while in the Horizon, and no one needs to sleep, either.
- Can my character use their own powers in the Horizon?
- Technically, all the characters can manifest whatever powers they like there! But yes, if you want to have your character use the powers they have in canon, you can. However, canon powers won’t necessarily make things easier for them! If you want them to have a knack for it (or really want them to struggle) by all means.
- Can my character train physically or magically in the Horizon?
- Yes, but as their training is taking place on a metaphysical plane, they will not be able to carry over all aspects of their training into the real world. For example, they can practice a sport in the Horizon and learn its rules or strategies, but they will not be able to build physical stamina or strength. A similar concept applies to magic. They can use the Horizon to supplement their training, but succeeding in the skill will require practice in the real world.
- Can my character bring items in or out of the Horizon?
- No. The Horizon is outside the physical realm, so it would not be possible to physically bring anything in or out of the Horizon. However, to simulate bringing something "into" the Horizon, characters can manifest it themselves once inside. It would be a replicated Horizon version of the object, but it would exist within the space.
- How big is the Horizon?
- There is limited space-it's a circular plane a few miles in diameter, much like the crater surrounding the Singularity. No one person’s domain is limitless without a bit of pushback from their neighbors. This does not mean that characters cannot fight for their domain or take the surrounding land.
- What does that mean for newbies?
- The space that the Horizon takes up doesn’t increase as new people flock to it. The purpose of the Horizon is collaboration with other players, either by adding to each other’s domains or by invading neighbors.
- What happens to my character’s domain while they’re out of the Horizon?
- It is reasonable that characters would be able to maintain mostly static domains. There is still limited space in theory but not so much so that you need to be worried about protecting it all the time. The competitive element remains for people who want their characters to have that sort of conflict only.
- Can my character touch the Singularity in the middle of the Horizon?
- They could go up and touch it and would feel a bit of a buzz from it (think a small jolt of electricity, or licking a battery). The major vibe they'd get from trying to learn more about it is that it's very, very, very old - as old as the universe itself or, somehow, even older - but it is otherwise very difficult to decipher anything about it, like trying to make out images in TV static.
- Can my character help someone else build or decorate their domain?
- Absolutely! Joint building a domain is entirely possible if that's what the players decide. Characters on the whole are welcome to contribute to other domains as much as they want, so long as there's been communication between all players involved.
- Does my character need to enter the Horizon to have access to the network?
- No. All characters will have access to the "network" upon arrival. They do not need to enter the Horizon first in order to use the network. Learn more about the network.
- Will the mods be policing the Horizon?
- No. Please communicate with other players if you plan on changing or moving into their domain, much like you would if your character was attacking another. What you do in your Horizon spaces is up to you and the consent of your RP partners involved!
return to