A popular science book about imagenae suitable for young readers. Found at BOOK-ON!
If you're an imagenae who often hosts off-world tourists, you've definitely been there. A curious visitor looks you in the eye and asks, "What exactly is an imagenae?" and you just turn bright red and try every trick in the book to dodge the question. Not every ghost is a star graduate from Graphia Academy, after all. According to the Intelligentsia Guild, 95% of intelligent life in the cosmos knows next to nothing about their own species' science.
Even so, since we're still here breathing on the soil of Planarcadia, "understanding ourselves" remains a worthy pursuit.
Imagenae are intelligent life forms driven by an internal core, fueled by the Wishpower of the Phantasmoon and human hearts, with bodies composed of discrete matter. Their appearance and "lore" are decided by the artist who drew them and the trends of the era. Putting aside the complexity of Wishpower as an energy source, I'll give you a brief look at what these creatures under the Phantasmoon are really like.
The Core as Primary Drive
The core is the most vital part of an imagenae. In a way, researching the "core" is even more daunting than studying Wishpower. The consensus is that it functions like a massive engine, proving crucial for every action the imagenae takes. It also doubles as a skeleton. Without it, the imagenae's body simply cannot hold its shape.
Looking at the oldest records of imagenae and observations of aberrations (the local term for uncontrollable, degenerated imagenae), it's clear that cores can form naturally. In environments rich with energy or Wishpower, stray matter can aggregate into core-like objects. These exhibit traits similar to a Pathstrider, incorporating surrounding matter to build a body and take action. (Some scholars argue this matter alone isn't enough to account for their mass, but we'll touch on that debate later.)
In the Cindearth Age, Graphia invented and shared the art of imagenesis, which eventually became the process we know today. Since it takes massive amounts of Wishpower to drive an imagenae, creating a core for a new one usually requires official permission. Once the artwork is done and injected with enough Wishpower, a core forms the very instant before the creature comes to life.
The core itself is essentially a cluster of condensed matter, similar to the internal structure of imagenae. What draws it together and empowers it is its primary drive, fueled by the powers of the Path of the Phantasmoon. In other words, from the moment they are born, imagenae are creatures that walk the Paths.
As for how the IPC's recent imagenae production lines manage to bypass the stringent requirements for core generation, that's a trade secret covered by patents. Therefore, they cannot be disclosed here.
Body and Internal Structure
Biologically, all imagenae are the same species, masses of matter held by a core and driven by Wishpower, with no real internal organs. However, depending on the artist's mindset or the public's perception, things can change. For example, under X-rays, orchs appear to have skeletons. The newer mechatrons even have internal systems that match their blueprints. But keep in mind, these are just mimicry. Whether it's orchs or mechatrons, those "bones" don't actually provide physical support or movement. They're no different from any other part of an imagenae's body.
While it's hard to categorize any creation of the Elation, physically speaking, they're not really "humanoid." It's more accurate to think of them as cousins to the jelly-like Baviru or the Shapeless.
Because an imagenae's matter dissipates so fast after death, studying their structure is a bit of a mystery. But don't go getting any ideas about vivisection! Aside from being a massive violation of ethics and Planarcadia's human rights laws, it's a waste of time. Criminals who've tried it found nothing but ordinary particles, no different from a lump of carbon or a glass of water. It's only when they're part of a whole that they become "imagenated matter."
Speaking of "matter," after an artist completes their work, where does it all come from the moment an imagenae is born? This question has stumped experts for years. The two main theories are the "Path Space Theory" and the "Discrete Matter Theory." The first suggests imagenae pull mass from Aha's Path Space at birth and return it when they die. The second argues the core just sucks up stray matter from the surroundings. Some radical thinkers even claim Wishpower converts energy directly into mass.
Ever since Planarcadia returned to the real world, scholars have been at each other's throats over this. Lately, some have even made the wild claim that both theories are right. If you want to know the real secret, you'll have to ask that enigmatic Laughter.
Lore and Design
Folks outside Planarcadia often have the wrong idea. They think giving an imagenae a mighty "lore" or making it huge makes it powerful. But can their bodies even handle that much energy? The thundercoils powering Planarcadia are already at the absolute limit of what a core can sustain. As Planarcadia loses its imagination for grand things and moves toward realism, creating large imagenae has become even harder. Besides, any "lore" you give them needs the right amount of Wishpower to actually work.
For example, if an artist tries to make an imagenae that's invincible and has rocket punches using only their own Wishpower, the core probably won't form at all. At best, you'd get an incomplete creature. The sanitarium in Duomension City is full of these "defective" beings born from selfish whims. It's now a serious crime under the Faekind Protection Act, right up there with trying to create a human imagenae.
On a small scale, a new imagenae looks just like what the artist drew. But on a larger scale, certain forms are just "better" at holding Wishpower. Artists draw what people love, and those popular designs soak up Wishpower more easily. When buff cats are in, the Wishpower follows. But now that everyone wants "tiny kittens," those muscular lightpaws are left out in the cold, starving for Wishpower.
There's a lot of debate on how the moonlulls evolved from rabbits into humanoids. But for most folks, "changing trends" or "shifting art styles" is all the explanation they need for how imagenae change over time.
What You Don't Know About the Express — The Shocking Secret Between Planarcadia and the Astral Express
Special Contributor: Sir Kashen Silver
A tabloid's sensational exposé on the connection between the Express and Planarcadia, filled with a mix of facts and rumors. Found on a trash can west of Perdido Station Waiting Hall
Dear readers, while you're immersed in the thrilling adventures of Fluffy Across the Blue, have you ever wondered about the deep connections between that star-traversing train in the comic and Planarcadia in real life? And did you know that behind the names Astral Express and Planarcadia lies an intricate tale of cause and effect spanning dozens of Amber Eras?
Through bold hypotheses and careful verification, this episode uncovers an earth-shattering secret that has remained hidden from the world.
Secret I: Philological Breadcrumbs
According to Mr. Andre, a keeper of Planarcadia's ancient language, the glyph rendered as "Planar" refers to a flat surface meant for vehicular passage, which possibly suggests the silver rails of the Express. Combined with ancient legends that Planarcadia was founded by visitors from beyond the sky, I boldly theorize that Planarcadia was originally a station of the Trailblaze!
Secret II: The Mystery Behind Bullet Wyrm's Creation
According to the Bullet Wyrm Fan Association's research, Bullet Wyrm actually shares the same lineage as the Astral Express. The striking resemblance between the Astral Express and the Bullet Wyrm Express is no coincidence... Legend has it that the original Bullet Wyrm was traced from the Astral Express, but due to Planarcadia's strict copyright enforcement. The artist added many original elements, and through an unexpected turn of events, the Bullet Wyrm we know today came to be.
Secret III: Eyewitness Account from the Cindearth Age
Ten Amber Eras ago, there was a viral sighting proclamation of the Astral Express in historical records.
In 2148 of the Amber Era, during the "Demonic Apocalypse," many civilians witnessed "a giant dragon falling from beyond the sky," which triggered a massive earthquake. Due to the chaos of war and disasters, no one was able to observe this so-called "giant dragon" up close... According to art historians, many artworks depicting the Cindearth Age feature a long line stretching across them, which was said to be evidence of the sightings. While theories about the Express's visits vary widely, this nonetheless proves that the connection between Planarcadia and the Astral Express has never been severed.
Secret IV: The True Identity of the Express Navigator Revealed
After interviewing dozens of relevant individuals and reviewing massive amounts of documentation, we can confirm that the current Express Navigator, Ms. Himeko, is indeed a native of Planarcadia. Moreover, it's very likely that she hails from the legendary Graphia family. The significance of this ancient family to Planarcadia needs no explanation. Interested readers can refer to our other article: Flourishes of the Pen: The Rise of the Graphia family.
Is there a shady power deal behind the Graphia family's descendants serving as Navigators of the Express? Could there be hidden conspiracies that the public doesn't know about? With these questions in mind, our publication will continue to track and report on the latest developments of the Astral Express in Planarcadia, bringing you first-hand information.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The above content consists of public speculations. This publication only serves to compile and document these theories. Readers are advised to exercise their own judgment regarding authenticity. This publication assumes no responsibility for any risks arising from improper dissemination.
So great to visit Mark Dean Veca’s rad show #graphia at @calstatela @ronaldhsilvermanfagallery today. This is #ronaldmcdonald but I swear I thought it was #thomasjefferson — without the clown makeup and with MDV’s patient, dense #delftblue details… high brow, cleft chin, cheekbones… But then I realized that actually makes sense, all things considered! 🤯🤡🤯 Also his wig is a butt. Love you @markdeanveca 🌠 (at Ronald H. Silverman Fine Arts Gallery) https://www.instagram.com/p/Co8WTQIvp9Y/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
