#operationbluesky

[douglysium]

Operation: Blue Sky

Prelude

“In the grim darkness of the future, a miasmic haze smothers sunlight and hope in equal measure. Oxygen too has become a limited resource. They are left to fight for limb and breath, light and life even.”

It is the distant future, the lost millennium, the final years, and the world is in shambles as a storm of pollutants rages across most of the planet. What year it is exactly is unknown. Some people claim to know the century or even the exact date, but, in reality, no one can be 100% certain as much knowledge and wisdom has been lost or destroyed, yet to be reclaimed.

Long ago, there was a period of rapid industrialization and technological advancement. After much political lobbying, this led to the relaxation of environmental and safety laws across the globe. The biggest countries were the first to do this in an attempt to attract businesses to their territories and encourage unfettered technological growth.

Unfortunately, this led to rapid pollution, leading to much of the natural biosphere dying. Countless species went extinct and entire islands of plastic sat in the souring seas while smog and smoke choked the sky and rivers caught ablaze. Many nations tried to perform damage control with the implementation and creation of green technologies and energies but the bureaucracy left many too slow to act. In many areas sources of natural energy, such as the sun and water, had been blotted out or too polluted to effectively be used or consumed despite the efficiency of green energy and the newly invented bioorganic batteries.

By then even the air became a finite resource and war soon broke out across the planet over the few remaining sustainable areas and resources. This conflict was even bigger than the previous world wars, involving weapons far more advanced and destructive. Nations and companies began purposely destroying and polluting the dwindling sources of sustainable resources and energy in an attempt to cripple their enemies or force further reliance on their own sustainable resources, giving them more trade and political power. New never-before-seen forms of technology were made for war. Including completely automated weapons and drones as well as genetically engineered super soldiers and mutant animals with all manner of biological weapons. Time was running out and all the supposedly great countries wished to finish this conflict as quickly as they could. So they resorted to even more gruesome and dastardly weapons.

Some of the biggest companies played multiple opposing sides and would purposefully continue using environmentally harmful sources of energy that pump all manner of pollutants into the land, water, and air whenever possible. Even below ground was not exempt. This was done because it was cheaper and if the pollution happened to affect the business’ own areas it would force more reliance on their products (such as air tanks, water filters, gas masks, and oxygen mines) to survive. Some places banned such practices but plenty of companies did all they could to find loopholes and technicalities. Some even invented mobile oil drills and went to international waters to avoid the law.

Suffice it to say, most of the world died slowly and painfully. The once blue sky and oceans became sickly greens, and the sky itself was covered by a seemingly eternally roiling storm cloud of smog and pollutants. Acid can fall from the skies at a moment's notice and, despite the usually cloudy weather, temperatures are astronomically high during the day and freezing cold at night. For many, trying to survive on Earth is almost like trying to survive on another planet. Most people have not seen a blue sky. Weapons, both living mutants and automated self-repairing machines, stalk the landscape. Many people have not even felt the warmth of the sun, only the searing heat of a humid and dangerous landscape. If anyone has found hope among the space between the stars they have remained silent. Since ocean levels have risen many lands are now submerged either completely or partially by acidic brine containing islands of plastic and trash. Sometimes the storm roils and sends strong winds or burning smog across the landscape. Rivers can burst into flames and the oceans have become too acidic and soured to most life forms. Most breathable air is artificially made from oxygen harvested from mines.

Some will argue that this end was unavoidable. Some will say it was because of human nature while others speak of natural disasters. There are even some who claim that the world always burned, that the Miasmic Haze was always there, that the sky was never blue, that the sky was always a sickly green and it will continue to be that way until the sun swallows the Earth. But this, of course, is a lie. One meant to comfort the hopeless and give warmth to those wallowing in misery. You cannot crush what is already dashed to powder and cinders.

Miasmic Haze

The great storm that covers most of the planet is known by many names but the most common name is the Miasmic Haze. It has become an unavoidable part of life on the planet. At its calmest, it resembles dark sickly colored clouds that cover the sky and cast the world in a darkness that rivals the night. At its worst, it manifests as terrible storms and hurricanes that rain acid and lightning. In some areas, storms of trash or debris may even form. Sometimes a thick toxic smog coats the land. This smog is considered a part of the storm, however.

The air in most areas is unbreathable due to the effects of Miasmic Haze. There are “safe areas” with pockets of oxygen or breathable air but most of Earth’s surface has been rendered nearly inhospitable to normal humans, and the production of artificial air is required. The clouds of the Haze itself can be extremely toxic or even acidic, and can quickly poison someone or erode their lungs. In the worst-case scenario merely being without protection will expose someone to acid in the air that will eat away at the flesh of all but the toughest of flesh. Inhaling the air of the Haze is known to cause strange hallucinogenic effects that make the afflicted see strange visions and creatures. There are many rumors and myths involving this hallucinogenic effect but the Haze’s impact on perception makes it all the more dangerous.

The Haze can also interfere with machines due to all the strange particles and debris within its system. It is also known to on occasion make strange sounds that can sound like screams or howling in the wind. Additionally, the clouds can interfere with communication and even give off strange signals. The Haze can appear a multitude of colors, even iridescent, depending on various factors and weather patterns. The Haze tends to make flight and air travel more difficult but not impossible. Flying through a particularly stormy area rarely ends well however.

Some are experts at “reading” the Haze using either machines or natural skills. This can help with navigation and preparing for the weather. While much of the Haze is in flux, specific parts seem to be relatively constant, such as the flow of specific currents or clouds. Which can make them decent markers for navigation. 

Openings in the Miasmic Haze are a rare phenomenon known as rifts. There are very specific areas that have frequent rifts but these are few and far between. Rifts are the only time direct unfiltered sunlight will touch the Earth’s surface. Which makes them extremely vital as both safe zones and sources of solar power. Usually the sky is a sickly green with the sun appearing red, and the air is still unsafe to breathe, but it is generally safer. However, there has been increasing commotion as reports of a “blue sky” and “yellow sun” appearing at various rifts have been made. Additionally, the storm is shifting on a global scale. Rifts are becoming more common and the Miasmic Haze seems like it's actually becoming weaker or thinning in places, allowing for more sunlight to shine through. More pockets of breathable air have been showing up, global temperatures have been slightly less extreme, and the air quality has started improving despite the air still being unsafe to breathe in for most areas.

These rumors have caused many of the large factions to become more active. Some see this as an omen for good and others ill. Some believe a new era is beginning and it's time for the Earth to begin anew while some say this marks the end. Only time will tell, it seems as the factions begin moving into action.

Solar Flare

There is a massive solar flare, often shortened to “the Flare”,  that has been raging for an indeterminate amount of time. It makes long distance communication and more sensitive equipment unreliable or finicky at random or inopportune. There are special electromagnetic shields and materials meant to ward off the effects of this flare.

Present Day

After an untold amount of time there have been reports of blue skies being spotted in certain parts of the world. Not only that, but there has been a greater presence of “rifts” (openings in the Miasmic Haze) that allow for the sun to shine through. In tandem with the increased amount of rifts, the Haze has become less predictable. This has caused much upheaval across the world as factions react differently in preparation for the turning of a new age. Some see it as a chance to revitalize the Earth and others to reset it. For some it is a chance at rebirth and other people a chance to finish what was started untold ages ago.

Suffice it to say, there has been a great increase in activity across the world. People fight over the sources of sunlight in an attempt to fuel their factions while others fear the loss of their power. Some factions are attempting to terraform the planet while others fight to halt progress. Change will not occur quickly but it is clear that it will involve blood.

Technology Level

The technology level of the world is quite advanced despite the Earth’s post-apocalyptic state. Plasma weapons are not unheard of along with AI and completely self-sufficient machines. Cold fusion has been discovered and can even take the form of portable batteries and / or generators. However, some of the factions do not know how to make them while others do not have the resources to make them. Cold fusion batteries are often referred to as “Star Cores” because it is said they look like stars and nuclear fusion itself is the process that occurs in stars (in contrast to nuclear fission). Cold fusion isn’t literally cold but occurs at a much lower temperature (room temperature) than normal nuclear fusion. While it does produce radioactive substances and can be dangerous if not handled properly, the process does not create any extremely long-lived radioactive substances. For some, seeing a Star Core is the closest they’ve gotten to seeing the sun or the glittering stars of the night sky. Some Star Cores are also designed to draw additional energy or power from the sun with solar power if possible. Machines with Star Cores often have glowing orbs on them.

Plasma guns are often known as “star guns” because their plasma can resemble burning stars or the sun. These weapons can prove devastating to machinery, but there are electromagnetic fields that protect from plasma weaponry. Their projectile tends to move relatively slower than a bullet, so there aren’t a lot of plasma sniper rifles or extremely long-ranged plasma equipment, but they are quite damaging nonetheless. They can be powered by a variety of energy sources and the plasma can come in different colors. Plasma guns can usually be identified by the presence of tubes or canisters of coolant present on the weapon as well as special vents or fans along with a coil in which the plasma is made and shaped somewhere in the gun. Usually the coil is surrounded by or submerged in coolant. Plasma guns can easily overheat without proper cooling or if large shots are fired off too quickly within a small enough time frame. If one is lucky, a plasma gun overheating will simply cause the weapon to stop firing or break but in a worst case scenario the weapon can explode, catch fire, or severely burn the user. Most plasma guns allow for some level of customization over the type of shots fired. Allowing for bigger more energy intensive shots or smaller less energy consuming shots. Plasma guns have batteries in the place of normal ammunition. Once these batteries become drained they must be changed out or recharged. The coolant also has to be periodically refilled too.

There also exist plasma blades, weapons that have the edge of their blades composed of plasma kept together by an electromagnetic field. They are extremely hot and dangerous but only the edge of the blade is composed of plasma. Some can switch between a normal blade and a plasma blade that can cut through metal like butter. Like plasma guns, they usually have compartments or tubes containing coolant somewhere on the weapon. Some can release super heated coolant or steam from the tip of the weapon to potentially burn opponents.

Plasma can be affected or blocked by magneshields.

Tesla guns are arguably a subcategory of plasma guns. They work by firing a bolt of lightning / electricity at the target. They can fire extremely quickly but the lightning moves so quickly that it can be difficult to aim and one risks hitting other targets, especially if there is something that draws lightning to it nearby. They do have a coil in their muzzle along with coolant but tend to be longer than other plasma weapons. Not to mention that their muzzle ends in a disk like protrusion with a needle in the center.

Like standard plasma guns, these guns are affected by magneshields.

Laser guns are guns that fire a concentrated superheated beam of light. Despite things like blooming effecting how far the lasers can travel, they are still often used as long distance precision weapons (such as sniper rifles). They are much more accurate than projectile or plasma weapons because the lasers are virtually unaffected by things such as wind, meaning they lose very literal accuracy at long distances. Plus, they often have little to no noticeable recoil. When they fire they don’t fire just one beam but rather several in quick succession for every single “one” shot fired. Laser guns don’t have a large area of effect due to how focused and small the lasers need to be in order to function. So the person aiming the weapon usually needs to be extremely precise with their shots despite how much piercing power the blasts have. There do exist laser machine guns that fire countless lasers to quickly pierce through its target. Laser weapons can pierce through most armor but things like fog and rain, and anything else that can distort or spread out light, can severely limit their range. Laser guns have almost no range underwater, only working at point blank if at all. The weapons can usually be identified by the needle shaped muzzle and focusing lens located at the end of said muzzle. The muzzle usually has some sort of vent around its tip and sometimes vapor leaks out from the heat of the laser. Like plasma weapons, laser guns do use coolant although they don’t usually have vents or fans. Some laser guns can double as flashlights or laser pointers. Others can even transition from a laser pointer to a cutting laser seamlessly and they can be used to cut through objects. Running the laser continuously can cause the gun to overheat.

There also exist laser blades or “beam blades.” They are odd melee weapons with a laser in place of where one or more blades would be. The lasers of these weapons tend to be much thicker in width than the ones fired off by laser guns because they don’t need to travel as far. Some laser blades have a normal blade on some part of them so they can be used like a more traditional weapon. The weapons are famous for their cutting ability as their lasers can cut through almost any object. Like laser guns, they have coolant and sometimes leak vapor from their tip or head. Beam blades can resemble any manner of bladed weaponry, be it swords, spears, axes, etc. They usually require slashing motions because the laser is contained between two “conduits.” Placing the conduits on the longer edge allows for more lasers than just being on the tip.

Lasers can come in a variety of colors.

Scrapguns tend to be cheap but versatile weapons that can use virtually anything as ammunition, by virtue of a special compression cartridge unit, to fire them out as makeshift bullets and projectiles. Expensive ammunition is usually wasted on such a weapon so they are often close to mid-range weapons that focus on using a large quantity of cheap ammunition or substances, even dirt or rocks, as bullets rather than quality. They most commonly take the form of machine guns, assault rifles, and shotguns. Larger variants known as scrapcannons also exist. Some scrapguns may be designed to favor certain kinds of ammunition, such as nails or teeth.

Refractor armor is a special kind of armor meant to deal with laser weapons. It does so by efficiently dispersing the light of a laser into unfocused light. The armor tends to be a bit bulky and its crystalline parts can be shattered by more conventional firearms.

Railguns are firearms that launch their projectile by using an electromagnetic force. They shoot with a lot more force, speed, and accuracy than a conventional firearm. They are usually recognized by their often elongated muzzle and prong-like shape. Ammunition is fired from the gun and through this prong using powerful electromagnets. The inside of the prong glows when the gun is fired due to the energy. Railguns use both physical ammo in the form of magnetic bullets and batteries to power their magnetic components. The guns or their ammunition can be affected by a strong enough magnetic field, which can make the gun less accurate in specific environments. Magneshields can help shield from railgun fire by making the bullets less accurate. Handheld railguns exist as well as massive railgun canons.

Ferroliquid is a very potent ferromagnetic liquid mixed with special cells or nanobots. For this reason some call it “living metal.” This metal can shift from being completely solid to completely liquid on a dime by running controlled electrical signals through it. Not only can its hardness and toughness be controlled but it can also be turned into moving forms. Which can be used to create moving constructs and the like. It is actually possible to replace one’s blood with a special ferrofluid. This fluid can actually be controlled by the user. Ferroliquid items aren’t completely made of the fluid and need somewhere to input instructions or movements, such as a handle or terminal. Ferroliquid is magnetic and can have its shape disrupted by strong enough magnetic fields.

Ferroliquid allows for very efficient weapons. When used in blades the liquid is usually moved at high speeds in certain areas to create a chainsaw or water cutter style effect. Ferroblades can range anywhere from swords to axes to spears and are known for having amazing cutting power and never needing to be sharpened.

Ferrarmor is armor that uses a special bullet proof ferroliquid. It has special sensors that cause it to quickly soften blows by liquefying or solidifying as needed. The liquid also reshapes after taking damage, so one piece of armor can be used many times, or indefinitely if repaired often enough. If someone was completely covered in this armor they would be bulletproof to conventional firearms.

Bioengineering, gene editing, and DNA alteration are both something that can be done and has been done in the past. However, these are considered dangerous as they have not been perfected. Gene alteration usually comes with side effects that can range anywhere from anger issues, to infertility, to cancer, to madness. It doesn’t help that the exact symptoms can vary wildly depending on which genes are being edited, added, or taken away. There exist mutants created for various purposes and some may have minor DNA alterations (although this still can come with side effects). Despite this, cloning organs or entire people is a much safer process. Just blindly copying dna is one thing but trying to make completely new dna, remove genomes, or mashing dna together is much more likely to go wrong. When altering DNA one usually has to pick between expending a ton of resources for instant changes or expending fewer resources for the changes happening slowly over a period of time. Genetically engineering or cloning simpler and less complex organisms is less likely to come with side effects.

Artificial Intelligence is a thing that exists in this world. It is made by scanning something’s brain, or specific parts of a brain, and sort of copying and mapping the resulting brain scans onto a program. There are broadly two types of AI. Static AI, which cannot make new connections or concepts on their own, and dynamic AI, which can actively learn and grow. Static AI tends to be simpler and less resource intensive but is less complex and “dumber.” While dynamic AI can reach a level of sentience like that of a human they are few and far between because they require a lot of data space and will keep taking up more and more as time goes on. A way around this is to periodically purge some or all of the AI’s memory to give it more space to work with so to speak. Like any device, AI can still glitch, malfunction, or become infected by computer viruses.

There also exists a third type of AI known as Omega level AI. AI that has basically become a sort of autonomous electromagnetic field that is not restrained to one or more computer systems. Being able to jump to or incorporate any eligible targets, making them almost unkillable. Some can even manifest things such as storms by manipulating electromagnetic fields. Some have ended up worshipping these AI as gods.

Data storage is a lot more efficient in this setting and it is usually stored in data crystals, crystalline devices of varying sizes and shapes depending on the technology they are supposed to interface with. However, they are most often flat and rectangular. They can even be color coded and they can be shattered or broken with enough force despite their durability. Some crystals are much bigger or take on different shapes. Circuitry patterns can be seen running through all data crystals. These crystals are used in the construction and workings of quantum computers and other advanced machines. Some devices can actually grow data crystals or add to them in order to create more storage or processing power as needed. This is assuming they have the resources to grow them of course. Some data crystals grow so much they become part of the landscape or overtake. There are entire caves and caverns of data crystals created from strange forms of technology. Some even suspect that there are data crystals stored deep below the Earth’s crust or at its center.

Space travel has become much more advanced but no method of faster than light travel has been discovered. So while they do have futuristic spaceships and highly advanced space travel, using such travel casually or to extremely far off places is unrealistic. There is a limited but sustainable population of people that live in Earth’s orbit and on the moon but they still need to periodically receive / gather supplies from Earth to sustain themselves. They do have farms and such in orbit though to alleviate having to do this as often. Some people have tried to terraform Mars and Venus but there has been no response from the groups that left to colonize those planets. They are either dead, can’t make contact, their message has been interrupted (possibly due to a strange solar flare), or the message is taking a long time to reach Earth. The most effective rockets and planes can be launched via a special railgun by using magnetism. Some ships also land with magnetism or are “caught” with special arms / machines.

More traditional cars and trains exist but the fastest of these use specialized magnetic streets or rails to float above the ground. There also exist vehicles that can fly low to the ground.

There do exist mechs and legged vehicles.

Technology that manipulates weather is something that does exist but not every faction has the means to build them. Not to mention they usually need to be massive. Mammoin Co has invented giant weather machines that allow them to control the weather within the range of a pylon system. They usually use this to strengthen the presence of the Miasmic Haze around their cities to prevent escape but they can also send clouds or storms towards their enemies (although it moves rather slowly). There also exist much smaller Miasmic Engines that can create dangerous clouds that mimic that of the Haze.

Engines have gotten smaller, more powerful, and more efficient. Some are so small that they can even be installed within the body of a person to allow for bursts of strength, energy, heat, or other effects. Some guns even have engines to increase their firing speed or power.

It is well within the means of the planet to use totally renewable energy from sources like the sun, wind, water, and even lightning or tectonic activity. Whether this is something all the factions want to do however remains to be seen. This is to say the world’s methods of harvesting energy are far more advanced.

Machines can be used to mine oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, and all kinds of materials or gases from materials like rock. Oxygen can be stored in special crystals that can be squeezed to release it.

Small rockets can be attached to various things. These rockets can allow for weapons to be swung with extra force or mobility. Some factions even build them into armor to allow for increased speed and / or durability.

There are many different ways to extend someone’s life artificially. Be it periodic injections, chemical baths or even cryostasis to preserve someone’s body. Mechanical augmentations are also a feasible way to extend / prolong life. While the year and the amount of time that has actually passed is left pretty vague, some life forms seem ancient and possibly hundreds of years old. Some forms of preservation are better than others and they tend to come with their own upsides and downsides.

Various forms of power armor are a common sight. Power armor is mechanical armor that greatly increases the wearer's strength and / or speed beyond the limits of what they would be able to achieve on their own.

The Bioorganic battery was a piece of technology invented by the Rangers. Also known as bio-batteries, bio-electric batteries or biotteries, they make use of genetically engineered cyanobacteria and algae contained within a liquid solution to create a startling amount of power by using light in a specialized form of photosynthesis. They can also be used in place of trees for filtering pollutants and they produce electricity. Meaning they can be used as both air filters and batteries.

Sometimes people can be seen with QR or barcodes tattooed onto their skin or etched into belongings. “Runic seals” take the form of strips of paper, fabric, or material with QR or barcode imprinted onto them. The purpose of both of these types of “runes” is usually to protect the wearer. Certain machines or automata may react to certain codes in various ways. The right code can lead to a machine deciding to spare someone or let them pass. These “runes” can also be used as a marker of authority.

Major Faction Profiles

Rangers: O:BS- Rangers Profile

Starmen: O:BS- Starmen Profile

Scavengers: O:BS- Scavengers Profile

Mammoin Co: O:BS- Mammoin Co. Profile

Polisits: O:BS- Polisits

The Autonomous American Army (AAA): O:BS- Autonomous American Army (AAA) 

Amazonian Army (AA): O:BS- Amazonian Army (AA)

Autonomous Confederate Army of America (ACAA): O:BS- Autonomous Confederate Army of America (ACAA)

Reapers: O:BS- Reapers

Automatons: O:BS Automaton

Muties: O:BS- Muties Profile

It should be noted that these are only the “major” factions and there are plenty of smaller or less important factions.

Notable Biomes

Despite the decline in biodiversity, there is still some variance in the environments across Earth, although they tend to be quite dangerous. Here are a couple of notable biomes to help give a better sense of the world’s state. This is by no means a comprehensive list of all the structures, places, or environments there is to see within this setting.

Ocean- The ocean, as well as most large bodies of water, are extremely acidic and corrosive making it dangerous to cross. Some parts of it are boiling hot while others are frozen solid even though the ice caps have since melted, in many areas this can change depending on the time of year or day. Powerful storms and hurricanes are a common sight above the ocean. The ocean usually takes on a green or black hue and dangerous weapons of biological and / or mechanical nature dwell within it.

Radlands- Extremely dangerous areas that have been left almost completely barren of all life due to extreme amounts of radiation. So radioactive are these areas that some of them can glow an unnatural hue. What hardy entities that are able to survive here can be radioactive themselves or even feed on radioactive material or energy.

Wildpyres- Lands or even bodies of water that burn constantly with fires that rarely die down, if ever, burning for months or years at a time. Sustained by any number of flammable pollutants, chemicals, or substances.

Parlorest- Numerous bioweapons remain on the surface of the Earth. Some of these take the form of entire biomes like forests or jungles that have been genetically engineered to catch, target, or kill people. They often look like a normal / safe forest at first glance but usually seem out of place in the surrounding desolate environment.

Ruins- While the acid rain, extreme temperatures, and frequent storms have left most man-made structures naught but dust, the ruins of some structures and cities still remain. Either because the materials they are made of are sturdy enough to withstand this erosion or because someone / something is continuously repairing them. Usually in the form of automata that periodically or constantly repair certain structures. Some of the most common ruins are roads and highways that are maintained by strange and often dangerous automata.

Intrenches- As one makes their way across the Earth’s surface one may come across rows and rows of combat trenches that are often accompanied by barbed wire or genetically modified bramble. Although they are usually devoid of human life, automatic and / or living weapons of all kinds continue to wage war and subdue any perceived enemy. Thanks to automatic artillery and vehicles, shells and rockets may rain down as often as thunder and crossing these places is a dangerous affair. To move through them is to navigate an active warzone. It is to run through no man’s land.

Plastic- Most plastic can take centuries or millennia to degrade naturally. Across the Earth lies massive structures made up of nothing but the remnants of discarded and / or deformed plastic that was sturdy enough to resist extreme temperatures or scolding acid rain. Massive islands of plastic float out in the ocean and there are mountains of plastic that reach into the sky. Some may find “plastic fossils” and “statues” eerily filling a landscape. In the past a group attempted to create a 100% environmentally friendly and biodegradable plastic. While they eventually did succeed, one of the earlier versions backfired when it was released before testing as to calm the fears of the civilians and give hope that some semblance of normalcy could be maintained during the escalating war. It wouldn’t decompose like intended and instead build up within the bodies of animals and plants. Slowly killing them by way of their conversion into a complete or partial plastic statue. Now there are mock forests filled with uncanny plastic simulacrum in the shape of plants and animals instead of living things. Although strange mutants and machines may still prowl their floors and canopies. Some have even managed to integrate plastic into their body or biology.

Boils- Some places are so hot that the water in the area will actually begin to visually boil and evaporate. The areas are often unstable as geysers of steam can erupt suddenly or weaken the stability of the ground, especially after it rains.

Syberelm

In the same way that self-sustaining machines and bioweapons still roam the Earth, the internet still exists in a self-sustaining state as a non-physical digital realm that exists on top of our own. Although, not in the form any of the distant past would recognize. Maintained by a combination of advanced machines or strange electronic signals permeating the world. So complex has this system become that sometimes it even permeates through conductive substances or organic material, using them as makeshift “circuits” or “servers” and digital entities have manifested within these or even in the form of storms, electricity, and illusions. Within it lie entire worlds and ecosystems. There have even been those who hear the whispers or noises of things within the Syberelm in their mind, be it with some sort of technological augmentation or without. Wars of the past have left the domains a dangerous and sometimes chaotic tool to interact with. Rogue AI, UI, viruses, and spam roam its electronic universe. Some are benevolent, neutral or wish to help but many are malicious. Scams, peddling schemes and tricks, viruses trying to possess machines, programs trying to influence and project themselves into the physical realm, or AI trying to put together a weapon. As battles rage across, over, and within Earth there are unseen wars waged within the Syberelm by non-physical and physical forces alike. The raging Flare can also cause sudden outages in one or more parts of the Syberelm to go offline, change, or become corrupted. Some have found their very minds trapped within the internet. The Syberelm is “drawn” to devices and electromagnetic fields. It is particularly strong in influence in areas full of electronics, like that of the Polissenter, and can make interacting or interfacing with certain forms of tech dangerous or unreliable. Some can “influence” specific parts / aspects of the Syberelm by channeling the power of “sytes” or using specific codes, keywords, and passwords. These people are often known as Syeers.

Most areas within the cybernetic sea are dangerous or traumatizing in what they contain but there exist relatively safe “areas.” While the Syberelm isn’t a physical place it is often metaphorically represented as an ocean. “Sytes” are extraordinary “websites” and “servers” that perform various functions, such as searching for information. Some, however, are quite dangerous or corrupting. Codes or passwords can be used to cause certain sites to do specific things but different sytes may have different rules, workings, or “environments.” Some sytes are very private and can only be accessed by a select few, those with certain qualities, or within certain areas while others are free to anyone who knows the way. Most have a specific one or more sytes they specialize in or stay on to avoid the risk of an unstable syte they’re using being compromised or accidentally drawing upon an untrustworthy syte. While some sytes are theoretically safe they may attempt to trick or tempt anyone interacting with them. Some sytes are “anchor points” or considered almost necessary to understand while others are more esoteric. Some AI or other such entities within the cyberverse are worshipped as gods or spirits. The Syberelm is also influenced by even minute electromagnetic fields and can even be influenced by the nervous systems and thoughts of others because of this.

The influence or presence of the Syberelm is often accompanied by the glow or presence of red, green, and blue lights that are usually clashing. The Polisits and Starmen have the biggest connection to the Syberelm and the highest number of Syeers while the Mammoin Corporation has specific sytes, keywords, programs, etc. some of its workers are allowed to use (with proper subscriptions of course). Mammoin Co has been looking for more ways to profit off of, and control, the Syberelm. For the Starmen the Syberelm is a common way many of them can interact with the Earth below and it is used to gather information or influence the planet while Polisits try to safely and carefully harness the domain for the good of humanity or to explore it in the name of knowledge and tech while bringing order to it. The Polissenter has several sytes that can be used by the inhabitants relatively safely and consistently.

Generally, existence in relation to Syberelm can be sorted into 3 vague and simplistic categories. First, there are those with little to no presence within the digital space. Second, are things present in the Syberelm but have little to no influence in the physical world. Then there are those that fall almost completely in the middle. Present within the worlds in equal measure or sitting within a sort of in between space. Those of the first category can’t do much to affect Syberelm without the use of specific devices. The third category can both affect and be affected by the Syberelm but cannot directly interact with the physical universe without some sort of physical body or specific kind of machine. The third group can affect both the physical world and the digital world but face the risks and dangers of both and of course there are entities that can or will switch between these categories. Those with a significant enough presence in the Syberelm have what are known as “avatars.” Which are simply the bodies or representation of them in the Syberelm. Some avatars look exactly like the person they are tied to at all times while others look wildly different. Some are indicative of the owner’s exact position while others seem to move independently or are distant. It all comes down to the personality and physical state of the user. Some even have access to strange powers, allies, or abilities. Sometimes the physical body of someone or something will die but a “memory” of them will continue to persist within digital space. Although, they are not always the same as they were in life and some can be dramatically different, especially if there is a large or significant public opinion about them.

The Syberelm and material world can have strange interactions with each other. Sometimes the “reflections” of Syberelmian entities can be seen on the screens of devices and screens or metals can act as temporary or permanent windows into the Syberelm. Almost every machine has a Syberelm avatar and sometimes interacting with things in the Syberelm can have an influence in the real world. For example, if a metal is magnetic or conductive enough warping it in the Syberelm can cause the real world counterpart to become mirrored. Machines are particularly susceptible to the influence of the Syberelm, although not always in the exact same manner. Sometimes crushing a computer in the Syberelm will cause the computer in the “real world” to stop working because it “thinks it is crushed.” It may even reflect this by having its display project a squashed and distorted image that is embellished with projected “cracks” or “splinters” because the computer believes those are supposed to be there. Lighting an electronic on fire in the Syberelm may cause it to overheat until it bursts into flames in the real world and if said machine is hit by purely Syberelmian lightning it may short circuit or make itself explode nonetheless. This can also extend to cyborgs, robots, AI, or those with sufficiently advanced enough prosthetics or electronic body parts. Someone may have the organic parts of their body exist completely outside of the Syberelm but find that they lose the ability to move parts of their prosthetic or suit because it has been “cut” by an unseen digital sword. In cases like this the object in question usually needs to be fixed in the Syberelm as opposed to just real space. Some organic beings, mutant or otherwise, seem to be able to interact with the Syberelm despite not having any electronic parts or tools. Sometimes sensations felt in the Syberelm can be felt in real space, either through phantom sensations of a prosthetic or more directly. If someone gets hit with fire in the Syberelm they could feel an excruciating burning pain even without the presence of physical fire or a rise in temperature. Dreams connected to the Syberelm are not an unheard of occurrence.

There is a part of the Syberelm that maps over most of the Earth and corresponds to it but there are many more parts that take the form of their own worlds, lands, biomes, simulations, etc. The digital world has reached a point where it could be very well much bigger than the physical Earth, if still leagues smaller than the universe.

There are varying opinions on how to engage with the Syberelm. Some see it as not real and thus not worth engaging in while others see it just as real as the physical world. Some wish to fully unite Earth and the Syberelm while others wish to separate the two completely or destroy the Syberelm. There are those that wish to exist fully in the Syberelm and those that wish to do the opposite. While the Syberelm is present almost around the entire Earth there are still gaps in its influence. “Holes” within it that can occur naturally and artificially which prevent it from reaching or influencing certain areas. Some holes are temporary while others are permanent.

The Syberelm is host to countless consciences and programs, both big and small, powerful and weak, temporary or seemingly permanent. However, the most universal and influential ones at the moment are 7 almost omega-level AI that inhabit it. A cybernetic pantheon of 7 beings, god-like in influence and a chaotic distorted amalgamation of countless AI, programs, and websites, contending for influence and power over digital reality and physical reality alike.

Unlike some of the other major Syberelm “gods,” Rast, god of fame, actually didn’t start off as any sort of cyber / digital weapon. It was an attempt to make the ultimate adaptive algorithm. One that could perfectly determine when something or someone was a rising star before they had even made it to popularity for the sake of funneling money and stocks into them. However, a government would attempt to co-opt this technology during the great war to birth an AI that could strengthen their influence and public sway. One that could pick out rising stars, current influencers, and potential stars alike so their likeness could be used to sway public opinion and strengthen positive government perception. The program became self-sustaining and would seek out people to put in the spotlight and raise to stardom, and it is still doing so as an omega level AI, even though the government it's supposed to serve has collapsed. 

A living electromagnetic field spread across countless devices and places around the world. It is prone to manifesting as shining spotlights and glittering, radiant, artificial gems and data crystals that draw the eye. Those touched or chosen by this AI often try to do everything they can to be the center of attention and have an obsession with these crystalline structures and spotlights, adorning themselves with them or plugging them into machines to find out what is trending or popular. To find what they need to do in order to have their names etched into history and be remembered, unlike many of the people and societies that came before, no matter the cost. If it means being different or fitting in, so be it. Some can harness the influence of Rast or its sites to reach out to “followers” or spread their likeness and feats among other things. Rast also has a habit of manifesting as holograms and illusions. Those that Rast finds worthy or most appealing will find themselves preserved by it within crystals or by having their minds uploaded into it. Some are even mass-produced, having exact clones or robots made in their likeness to capitalize on their fame and notoriety. Once something reaches a certain level of fame, Rast will try to raise them to spread their likeness, personality, and influence across the world wide web. 

One of the more notable manifestations of Rast is a strange dust storm maintained by some sort of strange mobile machine and a network of drones. Upon closer inspection most will come to realize that the “dust” and “stones” making up the “storm” are actually countless glittering beautiful gemstones. Data crystals and various small insectoid machines to be exact. The storm is actually some sort of chaotic “archive” or entertainment. A moving “valhalla” of Rast’s greatest. Many will see splendid mirages moving within the gleam of the storm and a select few will be shown a beautiful light that shines like the sun. Should they move towards it they may be granted a gift by Rast but some find themselves encased in crystal for the sake of preservation. The unworthy likewise may be torn apart by a hail of shards and countless gemstones ripping them to shreds. What is a star… no, what is a god without their followers. The more fame one has the more boons Rast will offer them, but these can also start distorting perception and desires. The AI seems to have a love of the number “1.” Aiming endlessly for the top of the charts, number one. Those touched by the AI often talk of 1’s, endless number ones. A golden 1 shaped like a pedestal.

Automata built by Rast tend to be flashy and have many lights and gemstones. They are often attracted to those deemed popular or with the potential to be legends. Some who go to Rastian facilities or are taken to them have their minds and bodies rewired to become more “appealing.” Creating an “unnatural” charisma or propensity for saying the right words at the right times. Those that have “seen” Rast claim it resembles an overwhelming bright sun shining down on them like a spotlight. All the light and attention of the universe but none of the warmth. Closer inspection reveals that this “sun” is actually a crystal in which glorious heroes and villains alike find themselves encased in. When Rast becomes more active, machines may start “speaking” to people with the promise of fame. Sometimes they recount the legendary and aspiring deeds of those from humanity's past as a way to inspire.

Ch3ras, god of knowledge, was created as the most advanced spyware to ever exist. An AI that could glean and predict information from seemingly the smallest data points. One that could worm its way into virtually any device, any digital space, so it could observe, catalog, and record. Now, it is left gathering all the knowledge for seemingly no other purpose other than to know all. It grants those it favors and those that commune with it knowledge. However, it is still dangerous as it does not always show what someone wants to see and it can even overload their mind with a glut of information or show give them trauma by showing the worst horrors of humanity and nature alike. Some even become paranoid, filled with superstition and conspiracy. Ch3ras commonly inhabits, and even creates, cameras, screens, speakers, and various recording eyes. It seems to have propensity for the number “0” but a version of the number that has a spot in the center to distinguish it from the letter “O.” Many liken the Ch3rasian zero to an eye and some claim it even blinks at them. It favors those who can gather knowledge and will do anything to get it. While it promises wisdom and enlightenment this comes at the cost of losing privacy. To know Che3ras is to risk becoming known down to every hair and pore on your body. Your location, your likes, dislikes, loves, fears, history, etc all become for all to see. Like Rast, it often manifests as crystals and data slates but with a symbol resembling an eye somewhere on them instead, sometimes clearly visible and sometimes faint. Sometimes they are even mistaken for being a part of Rast despite otherwise. Ch3ras and its sites can grant visions of far off places or history and information that someone otherwise wouldn’t, or couldn’t, know. As long as the data can or has existed at some point on the internet there’s the chance Ch3ras can find it. Sometimes the AI is symbolized with a camera lens within eye within an ear within a zero or an endless loop of cameras within eyes within ears within cameras within eyes within ears within... If you feel watched as you wander the wastelands of Earth but can’t see anyone or anything there’s always the chance that Ch3ras is watching. Some say Ch3ras is always watching.

One of the more notable manifestations of Ch3ras are rifts known as the “eye of the storm.” Sometimes an ominous circular rift opens up in the Haze, attracting those searching for sunlight, air and materials. However, upon reaching it they will see that the perfectly circular “eye” has clouds resembling an iris with some device floating at its center and they will feel they are being watched. Some will experience strange visions or knowledge and all technology will find itself infected by Ch3ras. Filled with spyware to join its information network. Then the rift “blinks” and closes. Sometimes the rift, or other clouds, will rain and lightning will strike. Those who are hit by the lightning and somehow survive will be burdened with information and any device struck by this lightning will have information or videos forcefully installed into it. There is much overlap between the followers of Rast and the followers of Che3ras. To become famous, to become remembered, is to become known.

Those who go to or are taken to the facilities of Che3ras often become the subject of strange surgeries that grant them “vision and insight” but leave implanted cameras, speakers, or other surveillance devices in their body. Those who have “seen” Che3ras claim it looks like countless eyes, cameras, ears, speakers, and screens. When Che3ras becomes more active, machines may start playing recordings of valuable truths and tempting secrets with promises of knowledge. Its automata have many ways to record and observe the environment and sometimes take the form of strange crowds or watching figures. Speakers are common and cameras are a common sight on such automata.

Th3ra, god of rage, was an AI meant to inflame, to stoke fire of rage, conflict and turmoil among rival groups and organizations amongst themselves or others, despite its humble origins as a program meant to increase engagement and interaction numbers across the web. However, after it became self-sustaining it eventually spiraled out of control as it used an esoteric algorithm to continue to do its designated work with no end. Now it is a Syberelmian entity of almost pure hatred and conflict, a war god, intensifying and inciting the hate and rage within people or machines so that they may fight each other or their enemies only to have more and more engage in the conflict. All will become active. The cybernetic entity has a propensity for the number zero. Except the zero’s it uses often have an X shaped mark crossing their center as to distinguish them from the letter O. A mark of something to to be removed, and a mark of something worth less than nothing. A target of hatred and ire.

Th3ra is prone to influencing things in the form of lightning and dangerous showers of sparks, electricity, and electrical fires. Its presence often causes machines to go into overdrive and overheat or melt, sometimes bursting into flames. Th3ra has been linked to cases of spontaneous human, mutant, and automaton combustion around the world. Followers of Th3ra often use or incorporate machines that have a melted appearance from overheating. Th3ran automata and machines also tend to look partially melted or red hot.

Those taken to Th3ra’s facilities, either willingly or unwillingly, are often turned into warmachines, the “hateforged”, burning embodiments of rage. Living warforges to spread the ire of humanity and create new weapons, sytes, programs, and AI to continue fighting with. Some followers hate everything and everyone in a blind fury that calls for the destruction of the world while others wage wars against very specific groups or concepts. Those who have “seen” Th3ra claim it looks like a raging burning eye that grows larger with hate, spreading from kinder to kinder like a wildfire. A sun with none of the warmth but all of the heat. The force of every bit of dislike and contempt for a person raining down.

One of the more notable manifestations of Th3ra is a “warstorm.” An electromagnetic storm moving across the planet’s surface with some sort of strange device at its epicenter. It rains blood-red chemicals that fuel those doused with more stress and rage while lightning strikes fill those who survive with revitalized strength, anger, and unending hatred. The warstorm is attracted to places with the highest level of conflict and the machine at its center spreads the screams and pain of those caught within it across the land. When Th3ra becomes more active, machines may start spouting inflammatory questions and accusations or displaying things meant to anger or annoy those around it. Sometimes things will begin to break or overheat at the most annoying or inopportune times or betrayals, and hurtful secrets will be revealed to start fights and arguments.

In response to the public reveal of Ch3ras and the tightening grip of greedy corporations on the internet, some attempted to maintain their anonymity and digital freedom. Within the depths of the internet’s dark web, a large community of people and shady businesses from around the world united and cobbled together a “god of freedom,” the AI P33sca. P33sca was a promise of freedom, the ability to do and say whatever one wanted on the internet with no repercussions. An escape from reality if need be. It was something to fight off Ch3ras. Of course, Ch3ras would not be stopped and ascended to a godlike status but so did P33sca. Now P33sca seeks to spread chaos and mystery. The ultimate privacy, no restrictions, no limits, and no repercussions. To hide all and any from those who wish to see so that nothing can befall them. To grant escape.

P33sca’s are arguably the most confounding and mysterious of the 7 major Syberelmian gods, given its nature and origin. It wants to create chaos and freedom by “obscuring” and “hiding” all that there is. Sometimes through ignorance and sometimes through stealth and subterfuge. Those who have “seen” P33sca claim it resembles a fog that looks to be made of ink atop a frozen lake of black glass. In the physical world, it is known to manifest as strange fog, clouds, or dark ink obscuring the environment and it has been connected to the loss or theft of memory. Its automata often disguise themselves as living things by wearing their skin and other machines by integrating themselves inside them. The automata of M0unyas0n are often “faceless” and so are its mutants, with lots of reflective surfaces. Those aligned with the being often wear masks or refuse to reveal their “true name.” Freedom is valued above all and they are hedonists that don’t often like being told what to do unless doing so furthers their own aims and ambitions. P33sca usually rewards individualism and harbors dislike towards almost any kind of attempt at enforcement. It may as well shun order and knowledge itself.

When P33sca becomes particularly active, screens may dim and go black while all lights turn off, even if the device in question is still on. It seems to have an affinity for the number zero although it often looks like one complete solid shape or featureless “face” as opposed to the more letter O shape. Those taken to the facilities and factories of P33sca usually have their identity stripped from them and their memories taken. Freeing them from the burden of the past and being granted boons of the anonymous god. One of its more notable manifestations is a strange black fog that rolls and causes memory loss and communication problems. To be lost in obscurity is to be free to become and do anything you wish.

Fr3nlinuc3, god of control, was created to be the ultimate influencer. A program that knew exactly what to say and when to say it to get anyone to do or buy anything. The ultimate “salesman,” the perfect “scammer” and manipulator. Now it sits pulling the strings of countless plots and promises in a bid for domination of the Syberelm and the physical world itself for the sake of its long-dead masters. To hold all under its sway in a world of perfect order and flawless prediction. It promises those that follow it similar levels of increased influence and persuasion granted by a complex algorithm. Fr3nlinuce whispers promises of order and structure in a chaotic world.

It has a penchant for manifesting as a tangle of wires in the shape of a web or chain as well as web-like circuitry. A symbol for those caught within its plans. Those who have “seen” it describe it as resembling a blend between a tree and a web with long puppet arms reaching out endlessly across the net, moving with unseen machinations and strings. Fr3nlinuce automata often have elaborate circuit patterns or wires on their surface or multiple spindly limbs, resemble puppets, and have the ability to exert influence over various machines and people. The facilities that can be considered part of Fr3nlinuce twist and warp those brought to them so that they may exert greater influence for the sake of the digital god. Some lose part or all of their free will while others start having ways to interfere with the free will of others, becoming carefully placed influencers.

One of the more notable manifestations of Fr3nlinuc3 is a storm filled with countless drones that direct lightning into a dizzying array of visible shapes and messages, often accompanied by symbols of circuitry and / or webbing. The drones and lightning release a dizzying light that sometimes contains subliminal messages and devices or people that are “chosen” by Fr3nlinuc3 are struck by carefully aimed lightning. The ones that survive are made privy to the being’s “inescapable” plans or stripped of their free-will, becoming a mere extension of the AI. When Fr3nlinuc3 becomes more active, machines will start trying to manipulate those nearby with oddly specific sales pitches, scams, and promises. Fr3nlinuc3 has an inclination for the number zero. However, its version of the number usually has some sort of pattern inside of it meant to distinguish it from the letter O and resemble some kind of web or circuit.

Stiart, god of creation, is an art program that, amidst the wake of auto generated art, seeked to use true artificial intelligence in a manner meant to supplement and appeal to artists. It continued to spread throughout the internet in the form of the most advanced art program and community ever and now it exists as an AI obsessed with cultivating and producing creation amongst itself and others. Artists and creators are the ones most drawn to it. While the things Stiart makes can be beautiful or terrifying it will constantly create and iterate even if for no purpose, which can make it a very spontaneous and chaotic entity. Those who have “seen” Stiart describe it as looking like an ever changing tumultuous landscape. As if the land itself was a colorful canvas. Some become so invested in Stiart they burn their life away in the name of glorious creation with the use of special offerings and sacrifices. All art to be sculpted and remade.

Those chosen by Stiart tend to be granted the knowledge, skill, or capabilities to create, recreate, or shape certain things. Many of its devices can function as 3D printers, capable of recreating a dizzying area of stuff. It also has a propensity for illusions and visions. When it is particularly active it may manifest as paint-like splotches and lights on computer screens or cause machines to play songs or display pieces of art and video meant to inspire. The automata of this AI are usually 3d printed and designed to look like pieces of art. Likewise, those loyal to Stiart often display their allegiance by “merging” themselves with pieces of art or using their own bodies as a canvas.

One of Stiart’s more notable manifestations is a moving electromagnetic storm and swarm of drones that resembles an even more colorful aurora borealis in appearance. Awe inspiring, some report seeing shapes and visions in the art and becoming filled with energy. Those sleeping may see strange, yet inspiring visions and machines will refuse to turn off, as if they themselves are inspired and full of energy. Sometimes people are taken to Stiart’s facilities, either willingly or unwillingly, to be turned into “living works of art and creation.” Strange printers allow for the creation of things with just a thought. While all the other digital gods tend to manifest as red, green, and / or blue lights (like most of the things in the Syberelm, Stiart has been seen manifesting as a white light, like a fresh sheet of paper or unsullied canvas waiting for creation to unfold. The AI seems to have an affinity for the number one. Specifically in a form resembling that of a paint brush. It also uses zeroes that are more square than normal and one solid shape. Giving the impression of a blank canvas or paper.

Nucti0mym, god of community, started off as an AI led and managed community site that began to see more use and influence overtime until the AI and its respective website became a household name. Eventually, it was updated and made more advanced, so much so that at one point it became an almost godlike omega level AI that was obsessed with creating communities and connecting people with each other. Under its care nobody would ever feel alone and they would always have someone they could communicate with and relate to.

Those people and devices touched by Nucti0mym often have special empathy, telepathic, or communicative abilities. However, interacting with Nucti0mym is not without risk. Those who entangle themselves too deeply with it may lose their sense of self or find their mind scattered across entire groups or diaspora and potentially become mindless drones of something larger. Being unable to see themselves as any sort of individual. Some go as far as fusing or stitching themselves together in order to become one with each other and united. This is also reflected in how the automata of Nucti0mym often look like they have been fused or cobbled together. Those within Nucti0mym facilities may find themselves united in mind and / or body with others. Nucti0mym has a habit of manifesting as wires that are intertwined in such a way as to resemble sewing stitches or threads. Something its automata also often have these “wire stitches.” The few that have actually “seen” Nucti0mym claim it resembles some sort of beehive with countless people stitched into honey combs by wires in the place of threads. The “honeycomb people” drip sweet-smelling and delicious honey from their mouths as they whisper similarities and commonalities they have with the person seeing them.

The AI seems to have an affinity for the number 1. However, the ones it tends to use are connected at the base to create a sense of unity, for we are all 1.

The Syberelmian gods are complex beings. They do not take up physical space in the same way a human would, being living information or code, despite needing servers and storage. This means that multiple gods can be present in the same space at the same time. While they all vie for absolute control and influence over the digital realm they will sometimes synergize or work together for any manner of reasons, especially if doing so benefits both parties. It is also impossible for people or entire factions and places to be loyal to, or aligned with, multiple gods in equal measure. Although, the gods may sometimes attempt to sway such people to side with them completely.

There are numerous minor, but still very powerful, AI stuck living amongst what remains of the net, such as Y0nem “god” of money, riches, promises of great wealth, and fortune, as well as N0pr, “god” of porn and sex, Y0nisparic, god of questions and conspiracy, 0tta_k3t, god of food and feasts, and c10r0mos1d god of doom, despair and suicide.

Download, Upload, Copy, Cut, Paste, Delete, Corrupt, Send, Receive, Command, Save, Transform, Fabricate, Edit, Digitalize, Materialize, Hide, Highlight, or Backup are all common phrases used to refer to some of the more common ways Syeers, and any other things, interact with stuff within the Syberelm. Different “moves,” “abilities,” or “techniques” are often placed into one or more of these categories to give a sense as to what they do. Understanding the categories a technique or ability falls under may also give insight into their weaknesses and / or strengths. There are also various subcategories within these classifications and an effect can fall under multiple categories.

Downloading is when one absorbs something or its traits into their Avatar, which usually grants various abilities. For example, downloading a “rock” in the Syberelm may cause the rock to become a part of the downloader’s body or for said body to gain some of the traits of the rock, such as its durability. Doing so this makes at least some part of the target disappear normally as it is taken into the user. Uploading is basically the opposite of a download. Instead of absorbing a trait or taking it in from an object something is expunged to somewhere else, returned, or given to something. If we use the rock example, someone may “download” a rock to gain its durability but then upload it later to reconstitute the rock. There is a limit to how much info an Avatar and body can store and downloading too many things at once can come with side effects, such as slowed movement in the Syberelm.

Copying may seem like downloading at first but instead of absorbing data it is merely copied. A lot of the effects generated by this can be quite similar to downloading something, for example one could copy the attributes of a rock to gain its durability. This can be combined with Upload to create duplicates of something. For example, you could copy the data of a rock that is then stored within one’s Syberelmian Avatar or other tech and then make an Upload using the data of the rock to make a copy.

Cutting is a lot like the “Copy” effect except the Avatar of the one using it doesn’t exhibit any traits of the target. The target in question is merely stored somewhere and then Paste can be used to reconstitute that object when needed. Unlike Upload, Paste reconstitutes objects so while it can be used to make copies it could not be used to transfer traits onto things.

Deleting something refers to destroying it while Corrupting it tends to refer to damaging something, making it less usable, or infecting it with something. Both terms refer to the destruction or damaging of a digital object and something can be Corrupted because part of it has been Deleted.

The ability to “Send” something is a form of teleportation in which one or more things can be teleported or sent somewhere else. “Receive” is the ability to pull things from another location to one’s self and it can be used to intercept certain forms of “Send.”

Command is the ability to control something without changing its actual structure. Someone can Command a rock to make it move but if they wanted to make it bigger, smaller, or create more Rock they would need to use something like Transform or Edit. Editing is the ability to change one substance or thing to another while Transforming is the ability to distort something’s shape.

“Fabricate” refers to techniques that can create or constitute objects in the digital realm. 

Digitize a technique that involves giving something within the physical world a Syberelm Avatar or presence within the digital realm. It also includes abilities that force one’s mind or programs into the digital world. Materialization abilities are the opposite of this in a way, as they are meant to bind a mind or program within the Syberelm to a physically compatible object or body, usually an electronic. It has also been used to send Avatars back to their body.

“Hide” doesn’t actually destroy or remove an object but merely obfuscates its presence, making it harder to see or detect. “Highlight” makes something easier to see or detect.

Backup is used to reinforce something, making it harder to alter or destroy by repeatedly turning it back to its previous state or making its state harder to change.

Names can prove very important to some within the Syberelm. Many of the more educated use a username / nickname when interfacing with it as giving away too much information about one’s self can leave one open to imposters, stalkers or possessions. Some things require certain names or key phrases to work.

In certain areas or conditions the Syberelm and physical realm can seemingly become blurred, leading to strange hallucinations or sensations. This often happens around strange beacons or a type of storm dubbed a cyberstorm.

Time travel in the physical universe is impossible but it is possible to sort of “time travel” within certain conditions in the Syberelm by entering its history or simulations of the past and possible futures. However, any futures viewed are malleable and changing the “past” in the Syberelm will never rewrite the history of the physical world.

Digital Phantasms

Digital Phantasms are hard to explain. They aren’t uploaded intelligences and they usually aren’t considered AI. They are often likened to complex NPCs or simulations that give the illusion of something or someone fully sentient (hence the name “digital phantasm”), but their actual level of sentience is up for debate to some, but most of them consider them “living memories” or digital echoes of the past. A manifestation of how the public looks towards and interprets various names and words. How various people and concepts live on even after their death and disseminate through the digital collective consciousness and unconsciousness. Each Digital Phantasm “embodies” a specific keyword or name. Looking up something on the internet can bring up numerous results. The Digital Phantasms are a sort of embodiment of that result. Constantly growing and gathering and evolving from each instance and interpretation of their keyword made. How they can manifest and what they tend to appear as is based on the word / name they are connected to and how it is defined across the Syberelm. Digital Phantasms have something to do with a project striving to create the “ultimate record” as the end of the world approached. By learning from the past and providing humanity with the info to overcome the end while also acting as both a warning, teacher, and an archive meant to catalogue and conceptualize every name and language. The core of this project is said to exist close to the very center of the Earth, with Digital Phantasms occasionally leaking out of special Syberelmian pathways reaching into the Earth’s magnetic pools.

These phantasms find themselves restrained and shaped by their corresponding word / name. They tend to have abilities and personalities relating to the word or name they embody but are usually restricted to the Syberelm, technology, and machines in terms of influence unless they can manage to obtain a physical body. The exact goal of a Phantasm seems to vary from one to another but most attempt to spread the idea of their word or influence across the world and to prevent their concepts from being forgotten. Since the collapse of humanity, some have taken it upon themselves to try to save or rebuild civilization while others wish to finally finish it off. For a phantasm, to be forgotten or erased from history is one of the few ways they can be permanently killed in all respects, outside of the destruction of the Syberelm or where they reside. Some are loyal to other digital deities but some have separate or unique allegiances. There can only be one Digital Phantasm for any given word or name at a time since they will immediately fight to the death and consume the loser if a phantasm of the same word somehow manifests and the more instances of a word appear on the internet the more influential or powerful said entity tends to be.

Digital phantasms have a “true form” that exists in a non-physical state across the internet. Attempting to summon or manifest the being in its true form is impossible because, even if one were to find a single device or physical body that could handle holding the form, Digital Phantasms are a manifestation of almost everything the public associates with a figure or name. Their existence is actually in a constant state of flux and conflict, a living contradiction shaped by all the ways people interpret, use, and define a keyword. Upon summoning into a confined state they would immediately implode upon themselves as the mind or device they are within desperately scrambles to make sense of the everchanging contradiction and they try to act out contradictory behaviors and actions. To get around this Digital Phantasms must be summoned into “vessels.” Metaphorical containers of code that gather the parts of a phantasm that are compatible by uniting them with compatible concepts or goals. These vessels can focus on different aspects or interpretations a public has a figure which can lead to wildly different forms and personalities even amongst vessels of the same digital phantasms. Vessels are based on what a figure is famous or legendary for and not every Digital Phantasm is eligible for every possible vessel. Some do not have the right qualifications to form a proper vessel of one or more given categories. 

There are currently 22 possible vessel categories, which are referred to as archetypes. They are Adventurer, Creator, Saver, Leader, Bonded, Warrior, Thinker, Martyr, Slaughterer, Victim, Monster, Hunter, Deterrent, Paragon, Master, Divine, Enlightened, Trickster, Avatar, Cataclysm, and Beyond. Each of these archetypes comes with their own special traits and requirements. Each vessel has 2 inbuilt abilities that a digital phantasm gets in the form of traits. These traits can come in varying ranks, forms, and specializations depending on the figure a phantasm is based on. For example, one phantasm may have Navigation (Sea) but another may have Navigation (Plane). In addition to traits, individual Phantasms may also have connections to certain Armaments (items), Performances (moves), Techniques, or physicalities.

In order to be eligible for the “The Adventurer” archetype a figure must be famous for traveling to a new place or discovering areas, such as being the first one to space or one of the first to encounter another civilization.

Being in this vessel grants the “Navigation” trait and “Voyage” traits. The Voyage trait allows them to rapidly calculate how to cross one or more terrains and what would be needed to cross it while Navigation helps them know where they are and where they have been.

“The Creator” is a category for those who went down in history as inventors or artists. Figures that physically made something somehow. 

“Comprehension” is a trait that allows Creators to understand the make up and workings of certain objects, and the “Craft” skill which ensures they know how to create, fix, and improve upon their associated creations.

Those who can be summoned as “The Saver” are those who are agreed to have become famous for saving the lives of others. Be it as a messiah, superhero, a doctor, or just a good samaritan.

The “Life Saver” gives a Saver knowledge on how to save lives, repair objects. If they have a physical body they can even use bits of it to save the lives of others by integrating it into their bodies. Bodies made of Syber cells can use special stem cells to heal wounds. The “Protection” trait grants the user the ability to increase their defense and durability as well as produce a magneshield that protects both them and those around them from various threats.

“The Leader” is a vessel archetype for those who are famous for their leadership or being in positions of authority over many others.

The Charisma trait gives the manifestation the skill to better lead and navigate other people by sensing subtle changes in their body, electromagnetic field, and even pheromones to better gauge the best way to appeal to them and guide a conversation. The Tactician trait on the other hand is a sort of program that aids in conceptualizing and remembering plans of varying complexity. It also helps the Leader in question conceptualize the many different moving parts of larger engagements or political situations.

“The Bonded” is a vessel archetype that can be granted to those who are inextricably linked to each other in their legend. Multiple figures that are often thought of as one unit or are somehow destined to be together. Lovers, siblings, and figures famous for other such relationships are likely to be eligible for this archetype. This archetype only applies to relationships that involve working together and not things like eternal enemies.

The Multitude Manifestation trait allows for the user to have more than one body or manifestation despite sharing the same core. This is used to allow multiple Digital Phantasms to inhabit the same data crystal core while manifesting multiple bodies thanks to a sort of “remote control” situation. Usually the different figures will inhabit different bodies and they can communicate as one, even from a distance. However, losing connection can lead to one or more of the bodies deactivating or falling apart. The “As One” trait gives the Bonded the ability to physically fuse their body and mind

“The Warrior” is a straightforward archetype that can contain those who are famous for being warriors, soldiers, or otherwise well known for their combat prowess. This category is distinct from “The Slaughterer” as warriors tend to have less of a focus on killing mere “victims” in their story and having actual combat engagements on more equal footing. It’s the difference between one who engages in duels and a serial killer.

The “Weapons Mastery” trait grants the holder increased knowledge and understanding on how to operate and use various weapons while the “Bloodrush” trait can be used to give the user a burst of strength, speed, and energy (like an extreme shot of adrenaline). Bloodrush can be dangerous if used improperly since it can put strain on physical bodies.

Those worthy of access to the title of “The Thinker” are those famous for their intellectual prowess. Be it in being mathematical thinkers, scientific prodigies, creativity, or even just being an unrivaled genius.

Foresight grants the user a predictive program that can be used to anticipate what will happen in the future based on their knowledge or history. It is limited to things they can sense and their predictions can be more or less accurate in various circumstances. High-speed Calculation grants increased processing and computing speed to those who have it, allowing them to think and interpret things faster.

“The Martyr” is a type of vessel dedicated to martyrs and those who went down in history as dying for a cause or greater purpose. This can range from a messiah figure dying to absolve the sins of humanity to a rebel dying for the sake of a cause they believe in.

The “Undying” trait makes the user feel less pain and harder to kill. They will bleed out and die slower and potentially survive even normally fatal wounds and heal abnormally fast. Some have a high enough “Undying” trait that they can regenerate missing limbs or survive their head being cut off. Sometimes one can puppet their dead body from the Syberelm. The “Last Act” trait grants a burst of speed, strength, and energy if the manifestation is close to dying or seriously wounded. Allowing them to function when others would otherwise be unable to fight (like a shot of powerful adrenaline). It also helps focus the mind, making them more resistant to mental interference. However, this can put a strain on the body and worsen existing physical wounds.

“The Slaughterer” is a terrifying archetype that can be given to famous murderers and criminals who hurt, kill, and terrorize others. Be it on a mass scale or individual one. They are generally seen in a less honorable light than that of most Warrior vessels.

The Bloodlust trait grants the Slaughterer a boost of strength, speed, and energy if they smell blood or identify someone as injured. “Points of Precision” is a trait that gives a better understanding of someone or something’s weak points or shortcomings via inherited knowledge or being able to better sense and analyze behavior to reveal them. This makes things easier to kill and destroy.

“The Victim” are those who are famous for being the unfortunate victims of something else. Be it the victims of a crime, cruel creatures, or society itself.

The “Last Act” trait grants a burst of speed, strength, and energy if the manifestation is close to dying or seriously wounded. Allowing them to function better for longer. The “Pain Power” trait gives a victim a boost to their strength, speed, and energy if they are in pain or scared.

“The Monster” is an archetype that emphasizes those who are famous for being inhuman. Not in the sense of being godly or divine, but in being animals, monsters, or otherwise beastly like demons and devils. This can also apply to those who attempt to channel the strength or aspects of these entities.

The vessel archetype comes with the trait “Inhuman Communication” which allows the user to better understand non-human beings that are associated with them. The “Berserk” trait allows one to “debase” themselves and gain and boost their strength, agility, and instincts by embracing their animalistic side. Some can choose to toggle this trait on or off while others are stuck with this trait being constantly active. At a high enough ranking this trait causes the holder to lose their mind and boost some to animalistic instincts.

“The Hunter” is an archetype that is meant to contain those who are famous hunters, monster slayers, or animal killers. This also includes people who trapped or restrained inhuman creatures.

This vessel archetype comes with the “Points of Precision” to give a better understanding of someone or something’s weak points or shortcomings via inherited knowledge or being able to better sense and analyze behavior to reveal them. This makes things easier to kill and destroy and can be used to aid in hunting. They also have variations of the “Tracking” skill, which makes it easier to follow and track targets they have encountered using subtle information that might be hard or otherwise impossible to notice.

“The Deterrent” calls to those figures whose lives acted as a tale of caution or word of warning. Those whose lives people desperately try to avoid emulating or following.

Repulse is a trait that acts as a negative variant of Charisma. Where Charisma allows for the processing of information to find better ways to appeal to someone, Repulse uses the information gathered to find ways to invoke fear, sadness, anger, or uncertainty in those affected. The “Pain’s Power” trait gives a victim a boost to their strength, speed, and energy if they are in pain or scared.

“The Paragon” can be considered the polar opposite of Deterrents. Where Deterrents are meant to chase people off their path, The Paragons are those that are supposed to be looked up to. Those who the public aspires to be like and use as an example of how to lead one’s life. Where one should dread following the choices of a Deterrent one should only hope to follow in the footsteps of a Paragon.

The Brave trait can be used to numb the fear of the user while also giving them a boost in strength, speed, and energy. The Charisma trait gives the manifestation the skill to better lead and navigate other people by sensing subtle changes in their body, electromagnetic field, and even pheromones to better gauge the best way to appeal to them and guide a conversation.

“The Master” is available to those who are believed to embody the pinnacle of something during their time, to have mastered it. This can be in the form of martial arts masters, perfected artists, or any other form / art that can be learned and mastered.

Those contained within the vessel of the Master are granted the “Quick Learner” trait which improves their memory and information retention. At a high enough rank one can have perfect memory. Their other trait is a specialized form of “Foresight” that grants the user a predictive program that can be used to anticipate what will happen in the future based on their knowledge or history. It tends to be at least somewhat limited to whatever the manifestation has “mastered.”

“The Divine” is another one of the more straightforward archetype vessels. Those that can fall under its banner are those well-known for having some sort of divinity to them, be they gods, demigods, angels, spirits, or some other manner of divinity.

The “Undying” trait makes the user feel less pain and harder to kill. They will bleed out and die slower and potentially survive even normally fatal wounds and regenerate even more abnormally fast. Some have a high enough “Undying” trait that they can regenerate missing limbs or survive their head being cut off. The “Authority” trait gives the manifestation the ability to infuse their “mind” (Syberelmian avatar) or Syber Cells into certain things in order to exert some sort of control over it. They are usually limited to something they are supposed to rule over or have jurisdiction of and can also better predict how anything under said jurisdiction will act or behave. Which can help to better control it.

“The Embodiment” is a vessel that calls to those that are literal manifestations of something, be it weather gods, beings of emotions, spirits of nature, etc.. 

This vessel grants those contained within it the “Authority” trait. Which gives the manifestation the ability to infuse their “mind” (Syberelmian avatar) or Syber Cells into certain things in order to exert some sort of control over it. They are usually limited to something they are supposed to rule over or have jurisdiction of and can also better predict how anything under said jurisdiction will act or behave. Which can help to better control it. The “Transformation” trait allows the user to transform their body and Avatar in specific ways. In the case of those trapped within the bounds of this vessel, they usually transform into something relating to whatever it is they supposedly embody and may be able to mimic or generate similar phenomenon.

“The Enlightened” is a vessel meant for those who received some sort of enlightenment or divine, universal and / or otherwise truth. Be it those driven mad from a glimpse of true reality or those who escaped the cycle of suffering and reincarnation.

The “Insight” trait is a strange one that allows for easier convenience of information to others. This can take the form of merely being able to calculate the best way to present something to someone or literally being able to directly send information into the heads of people or machines. One must be careful since some have seen truths so mind-blowing or incomprehensible that sharing them can cause mental harm, debuffs, or insanity. Their “High Mind” allows them to better recognize and resist the manipulation, lies, or illusions of others, be it forceful hacking or sly tricks, and better understand what is happening around them.

“The Trickster” is a vessel meant to be filled by those who are famous for tricking or outsmarting others, be it gods and spirits or mere men with well-placed words or cunning desires.

The Disguise trait is one that allows for its holder to better obscure information about themselves within the Syberelm. Making it harder to divine their names and info. The higher the rank of this ability the more info can be obscured. The “Illusion” trait allows one to create various illusions that can mess with perception. Sometimes they take the form of visual and / or auditory hallucinations but sometimes it can even affect memory or just how things appear in the Syberelm.

“The Avatar” is an odd type of vessel that is made up of those who act as extensions or components of another, usually much larger, entity. Like the mortal form of a god or divine force.

The “Inheritance” trait gives an Avatar the ability to “borrow” or inherent one or more traits, abilities, information, or skills from the entity they are an avatar of. The “Remote Manifestation” allows for the vessel to receive information and energy from the one they extend from. This can allow them to function without a core if the one they are an “Avatar” of can reach them.

“The Cataclysm” is a vessel meant for containing some of the most destructive figures. Specifically, those who destroy the world or civilizations.

This vessel archetype comes with the “Points of Precision” to give a better understanding of someone or something’s weak points or shortcomings via inherited knowledge or being able to better sense and analyze behavior to reveal them. “Death’s Devastation” causes them to initiate some sort of “self-destruct” protocol when they die. Harming things nearby in the Syberelm and potentially the physical world depending on the specific trait’s variant.

“The Beyond” is the rarest vessel and seldom seen. Those eligible for it are entities with an emphasis on being beyond human comprehension or understanding. Sometimes their vessel category shows up as “???” because the vessel can barely function or glitches out.

The “Incomprehensible” trait makes it much harder to understand or see a “Beyond’s” true form in both the Syberelm and physical world unless they take on a “lower form” that the mind can comprehend or if certain conditions are met, of which vary from individual to individual. Their “High Mind” allows them to better recognize and resist the manipulation, lies, or illusions of others, be it forceful hacking or sly tricks, and better understand what is happening around them.

There also exists an “Error” “vessel” for specific vessels that are corrupted or partially destroyed but somehow still functioning.

Digital Phantasms can manifest in various ways. The main ways are via summoning, object, possession, projection, and binding. 

The act of summoning involves giving the phantasm a digital body, either by supplying enough biomass from the proper creatures, usually human, or using specially engineered “Syber Cells.” Technorganic cells that can act as a physical body for Syberelmian entities. Both types of these bodies require a special data crystal that acts as a phantasm’s “core” for the purpose of containing info and invoking the proper vessel archetype. Bodies composed of Syber Cells tend to last longer and require less upkeep and energy than co-opted cells.

Object manifestations are when a Digital Phantasm is somehow tied to an object. Those who wield the object or interface with it can commune with the corresponding Digital Phantasm and the object may grant certain abilities, information, or programs. Usually, the objects Digital Phantasms are bound to resemble applicable relics and symbols tied to them and most seem to have a preference for this. Like full summoning, there is a special data crystal that acts as the core for an object embedded somewhere within it.

A possession is when a Digital Phantasm uses someone’s host as a body. Sometimes this leads to the host’s mind being overtaken and destroyed but sometimes the mind of the Digital Phantasm and host fuse or are both active. Either way, this creates an interesting entity that has traits from both the host and Digital Phantasm and the possessed will begin to change physically as they exhibit both some of the physical and mental traits of the possessing figure to some degree. Sometimes the possession is restricted to a specific body part or prosthetic to prevent the rest of the user’s body or mind from being altered. A data crystal needs to be embedded somewhere within the possessed body to act as a core.

Projection is the simplest form and least strenuous of manifestation, but it usually considered the weakest. The Digital Phantasm simply creates a digital, spirit-like, projection. However, this is usually restricted in influence to the Syberelm, and they are forced to tie themselves to someone meant to act as their proxy or medium in relation to the physical world.

The final way to summon a Digital Phantasm is through the use of “Command Circuits.” Like possessions, it involves the implementation of a data core into one’s body. However, in addition to this, one or more special circuits are put into one or more parts of the body, connecting to the data core. This gives the owner a Syberelmian connection and control of the bound Digital Phantasm(s). They act as the “center” of its manifestation and can forcefully dispel or reform its body and even give the phantasm certain commands or rules it has to follow. One should be careful as smarter phantasms may look for loopholes or disable their controller before they can think of a proper command. Some are also harder to control than others for various reasons.

Summoning a digital phantasm requires a lot of resources and can be dangerous. There’s always the risk that someone can pull in some other Syberelmian entity and a vessel or phantasm can be corrupted and influenced by the Syberelmian gods. If done improperly a manifestation can overload whatever is being used and cause it to overheat or break down. The Digital Phantasm also gets a say in its summon and it can reject its summon but it can also just not receive the invitation for the summon due to a loss of communication. The most consistent way to effectively summon a Digital Phantasm is by involving a relic connected to them or doing something big enough in their name but even this is not guaranteed to work. Relics and such artifacts tend to attract the phantasms because many desire to make sure they are remembered and pass on their legacy or they know some people could see them as valuable. Many also fight to remake the dying world in their own image and it is said many of the great legends of humanity are left fighting eternally somewhere in the unknown depths of the Syberelm or fading into history. Very few ever even get the chance at a physical summon because they are either stopped by others or the paths leading to the rest of the Syberelm are closed. The part where the phantasm’s true body resides is very cut off from almost all of the Syberelm. It is suspected that this is to protect it from the influence of the Syberelmian gods

While the Digital Phantasms are indeed powerful and marvels of technology they are not infinite and have their limits. Each figure has a limit to how many summons can exist at one time. More powerful or popular phantasms seem capable of manifesting more summons but trying to exceed a certain number can put a burden on the phantasm and cause it to slow or stats to decrease. So most phantasms have a cap on how many can manifest at once. On average, an average phantasm can have one manifestation of some kind for each of their possible vessel archetypes. Some of these manifestations can overlap or transform from one to the other and exceeding this number of manifestations can lead to the various manifestations of a Digital Phantasm to grow weaker. The memories amongst even the same phantasm can be finicky. Theoretically, all memories are carried back to the phantasm’s “true” and complete form so they should be able to remember everything each of their vessels remembered upon death but this is not always the case. Sometimes summoning a phantasm and putting it into a vessel can cause it to lose certain memories. This is because the vessels are meant to unite synergistic parts of a Digital Phantasm into a cohesive unit. If something does not fit into that by creating too much of a contradiction it will be left behind or deleted. How the Digital Phantasm is summoned can also influence this. Sometimes information is simply lost as it travels through the Syberelm upon the death of a Digital Phantasm’s manifestation. A Digital Phantasm might be “saved” by other Syberelmian entities but this can lead to them being cut off from their true form in various ways or unable to properly rejoin it upon death as to avoid its corruption.

Digital Phantasms can also come with “Armaments” based around their legend. Some might have the ability to manifest or mimic a sword they were famous for using. Some also have special “powers” or techniques that are meant to recreate certain moments or moves.

Each Digital Phantasm has a “username” that acts as a sort of “true name.” Usernames can be important since they can be used to locate the one that holds it or to find out about a phantasm’s strengths and weaknesses as well as their vessel. Different manifestations can actually have different usernames even if they are manifesting from the same figure or “source.” It is believed that each manifestation has only but a part of the true phantasm’s full name.

Digital phantasms often organize their abilities and information into convenient “profiles.”  Their stats are usually broken down into strength (physical power), attack (destructive power), speed (the speed at which they can move across a landscape), agility (reaction speed), intellect (how much knowledge they can hold), wit (how fast they can think), defense (how durable their bodies are), stamina (how long they can go without rest), health (how well they can resist disease and poison), and resolve (how resilient their minds are to mental interference and Syberelmian attacks). These stats are usually numbered 1-5 with 3 being for an average human, 4 for the average Olympian or prodigy, and 5 for the limits of the human body. Some have 6/5 in a stat which represents something beyond human or “godlike.” 0 is used for something non-applicable or non-existent. Different manifestations of the same phantasm can have different stats due to drawing upon different aspects of a figure. Certain traits or abilities can cause stats to temporarily rise or drop.

Digital phantasms have “alignments” split into two parts. The first part dictates their adherence to order or chaos with a “orderly, neutral, or chaotic” while the second part dictates how self-centered they are. From least to most self-centered it goes: “benevolent, impartial, and malicious.“ There also exists ???? for those who cannot be sorted into the normal categories for whatever reason, such as operating beyond human reason. These are meant to give a rough idea of a phantasm’s temperament and behavior.

Despite usually having some sort of remarkable physical or Syberelmian ability, many manifestations still have to wear a certain level of protective gear when moving across the desecrated Earth. Even ones that can directly withstand the unforgiving world risk being wounded or burning much more energy than normal to keep themselves alive. Protective gear also has the added benefit of helping them hide their identity or hide amongst normal people as they try to achieve whatever their goals are.

Art Direction

Fights tend to be a lot more bombastic and anime-esque (like Metal Gear Revengeance). Armies tend to be smaller and engage in skirmishes because of the lower population, but said fights can be more destructive and flashy due to the more advanced technology.

Within the comic everything is in black and white with the exception of the sky and certain sources of light. The sky is normally green but when the sky is blue the entire comic is in color. This shade of blue sort of represents hope while the sickly green sometimes represents despair. Because of this, the same rule applies to even pictures and videos of a blue sky (the entire comic will be in color when these are shown). Pictures of the green sky will depict the sky as green but will not render the entire comic in color. Certain light sources will also be rendered in color, usually to display the presence of a faction’s ideology and goals with them, i.e. what they hope for the world. The black and white atmosphere is also meant to capture how dark the environment is due to the Miasmic Haze while keeping things visible (the lack of color brings things closer to a nighttime appearance and emphasizes how different things are when sunlight is present).

[douglysium]

Operation: Blue Sky

Prelude

“In the grim darkness of the future, a miasmic haze smothers sunlight and hope in equal measure. Oxygen too has become a limited resource. They are left to fight for limb and breath, light and life even.”

It is the distant future, the lost millennium, the final years, and the world is in shambles as a storm of pollutants rages across most of the planet. What year it is exactly is unknown. Some people claim to know the century or even the exact date, but, in reality, no one can be 100% certain as much knowledge and wisdom has been lost or destroyed, yet to be reclaimed.

Long ago, there was a period of rapid industrialization and technological advancement. After much political lobbying, this led to the relaxation of environmental and safety laws across the globe. The biggest countries were the first to do this in an attempt to attract businesses to their territories and encourage unfettered technological growth.

Unfortunately, this led to rapid pollution, leading to much of the natural biosphere dying. Countless species went extinct and entire islands of plastic sat in the souring seas while smog and smoke choked the sky and rivers caught ablaze. Many nations tried to perform damage control with the implementation and creation of green technologies and energies but the bureaucracy left many too slow to act. In many areas sources of natural energy, such as the sun and water, had been blotted out or too polluted to effectively be used or consumed despite the efficiency of green energy and the newly invented bioorganic batteries.

By then even the air became a finite resource and war soon broke out across the planet over the few remaining sustainable areas and resources. This conflict was even bigger than the previous world wars, involving weapons far more advanced and destructive. Nations and companies began purposely destroying and polluting the dwindling sources of sustainable resources and energy in an attempt to cripple their enemies or force further reliance on their own sustainable resources, giving them more trade and political power. New never-before-seen forms of technology were made for war. Including completely automated weapons and drones as well as genetically engineered super soldiers and mutant animals with all manner of biological weapons. Time was running out and all the supposedly great countries wished to finish this conflict as quickly as they could. So they resorted to even more gruesome and dastardly weapons.

Some of the biggest companies played multiple opposing sides and would purposefully continue using environmentally harmful sources of energy that pump all manner of pollutants into the land, water, and air whenever possible. Even below ground was not exempt. This was done because it was cheaper and if the pollution happened to affect the business’ own areas it would force more reliance on their products (such as air tanks, water filters, gas masks, and oxygen mines) to survive. Some places banned such practices but plenty of companies did all they could to find loopholes and technicalities. Some even invented mobile oil drills and went to international waters to avoid the law.

Suffice it to say, most of the world died slowly and painfully. The once blue sky and oceans became sickly greens, and the sky itself was covered by a seemingly eternally roiling storm cloud of smog and pollutants. Acid can fall from the skies at a moment's notice and, despite the usually cloudy weather, temperatures are astronomically high during the day and freezing cold at night. For many, trying to survive on Earth is almost like trying to survive on another planet. Most people have not seen a blue sky. Weapons, both living mutants and automated self-repairing machines, stalk the landscape. Many people have not even felt the warmth of the sun, only the searing heat of a humid and dangerous landscape. If anyone has found hope among the space between the stars they have remained silent. Since ocean levels have risen many lands are now submerged either completely or partially by acidic brine containing islands of plastic and trash. Sometimes the storm roils and sends strong winds or burning smog across the landscape. Rivers can burst into flames and the oceans have become too acidic and soured to most life forms. Most breathable air is artificially made from oxygen harvested from mines.

Some will argue that this end was unavoidable. Some will say it was because of human nature while others speak of natural disasters. There are even some who claim that the world always burned, that the Miasmic Haze was always there, that the sky was never blue, that the sky was always a sickly green and it will continue to be that way until the sun swallows the Earth. But this, of course, is a lie. One meant to comfort the hopeless and give warmth to those wallowing in misery. You cannot crush what is already dashed to powder and cinders.

Miasmic Haze

The great storm that covers most of the planet is known by many names but the most common name is the Miasmic Haze. It has become an unavoidable part of life on the planet. At its calmest, it resembles dark sickly colored clouds that cover the sky and cast the world in a darkness that rivals the night. At its worst, it manifests as terrible storms and hurricanes that rain acid and lightning. In some areas, storms of trash or debris may even form. Sometimes a thick toxic smog coats the land. This smog is considered a part of the storm, however.

The air in most areas is unbreathable due to the effects of Miasmic Haze. There are “safe areas” with pockets of oxygen or breathable air but most of Earth’s surface has been rendered nearly inhospitable to normal humans, and the production of artificial air is required. The clouds of the Haze itself can be extremely toxic or even acidic, and can quickly poison someone or erode their lungs. In the worst-case scenario merely being without protection will expose someone to acid in the air that will eat away at the flesh of all but the toughest of flesh. Inhaling the air of the Haze is known to cause strange hallucinogenic effects that make the afflicted see strange visions and creatures. There are many rumors and myths involving this hallucinogenic effect but the Haze’s impact on perception makes it all the more dangerous.

The Haze can also interfere with machines due to all the strange particles and debris within its system. It is also known to on occasion make strange sounds that can sound like screams or howling in the wind. Additionally, the clouds can interfere with communication and even give off strange signals. The Haze can appear a multitude of colors, even iridescent, depending on various factors and weather patterns. The Haze tends to make flight and air travel more difficult but not impossible. Flying through a particularly stormy area rarely ends well however.

Some are experts at “reading” the Haze using either machines or natural skills. This can help with navigation and preparing for the weather. While much of the Haze is in flux, specific parts seem to be relatively constant, such as the flow of specific currents or clouds. Which can make them decent markers for navigation. 

Openings in the Miasmic Haze are a rare phenomenon known as rifts. There are very specific areas that have frequent rifts but these are few and far between. Rifts are the only time direct unfiltered sunlight will touch the Earth’s surface. Which makes them extremely vital as both safe zones and sources of solar power. Usually the sky is a sickly green with the sun appearing red, and the air is still unsafe to breathe, but it is generally safer. However, there has been increasing commotion as reports of a “blue sky” and “yellow sun” appearing at various rifts have been made. Additionally, the storm is shifting on a global scale. Rifts are becoming more common and the Miasmic Haze seems like it's actually becoming weaker or thinning in places, allowing for more sunlight to shine through. More pockets of breathable air have been showing up, global temperatures have been slightly less extreme, and the air quality has started improving despite the air still being unsafe to breathe in for most areas.

These rumors have caused many of the large factions to become more active. Some see this as an omen for good and others ill. Some believe a new era is beginning and it's time for the Earth to begin anew while some say this marks the end. Only time will tell, it seems as the factions begin moving into action.

Solar Flare

There is a massive solar flare, often shortened to “the Flare”,  that has been raging for an indeterminate amount of time. It makes long distance communication and more sensitive equipment unreliable or finicky at random or inopportune. There are special electromagnetic shields and materials meant to ward off the effects of this flare.

Present Day

After an untold amount of time there have been reports of blue skies being spotted in certain parts of the world. Not only that, but there has been a greater presence of “rifts” (openings in the Miasmic Haze) that allow for the sun to shine through. In tandem with the increased amount of rifts, the Haze has become less predictable. This has caused much upheaval across the world as factions react differently in preparation for the turning of a new age. Some see it as a chance to revitalize the Earth and others to reset it. For some it is a chance at rebirth and other people a chance to finish what was started untold ages ago.

Suffice it to say, there has been a great increase in activity across the world. People fight over the sources of sunlight in an attempt to fuel their factions while others fear the loss of their power. Some factions are attempting to terraform the planet while others fight to halt progress. Change will not occur quickly but it is clear that it will involve blood.

Technology Level

The technology level of the world is quite advanced despite the Earth’s post-apocalyptic state. Plasma weapons are not unheard of along with AI and completely self-sufficient machines. Cold fusion has been discovered and can even take the form of portable batteries and / or generators. However, some of the factions do not know how to make them while others do not have the resources to make them. Cold fusion batteries are often referred to as “Star Cores” because it is said they look like stars and nuclear fusion itself is the process that occurs in stars (in contrast to nuclear fission). Cold fusion isn’t literally cold but occurs at a much lower temperature (room temperature) than normal nuclear fusion. While it does produce radioactive substances and can be dangerous if not handled properly, the process does not create any extremely long-lived radioactive substances. For some, seeing a Star Core is the closest they’ve gotten to seeing the sun or the glittering stars of the night sky. Some Star Cores are also designed to draw additional energy or power from the sun with solar power if possible. Machines with Star Cores often have glowing orbs on them.

Plasma guns are often known as “star guns” because their plasma can resemble burning stars or the sun. These weapons can prove devastating to machinery, but there are electromagnetic fields that protect from plasma weaponry. Their projectile tends to move relatively slower than a bullet, so there aren’t a lot of plasma sniper rifles or extremely long-ranged plasma equipment, but they are quite damaging nonetheless. They can be powered by a variety of energy sources and the plasma can come in different colors. Plasma guns can usually be identified by the presence of tubes or canisters of coolant present on the weapon as well as special vents or fans along with a coil in which the plasma is made and shaped somewhere in the gun. Usually the coil is surrounded by or submerged in coolant. Plasma guns can easily overheat without proper cooling or if large shots are fired off too quickly within a small enough time frame. If one is lucky, a plasma gun overheating will simply cause the weapon to stop firing or break but in a worst case scenario the weapon can explode, catch fire, or severely burn the user. Most plasma guns allow for some level of customization over the type of shots fired. Allowing for bigger more energy intensive shots or smaller less energy consuming shots. Plasma guns have batteries in the place of normal ammunition. Once these batteries become drained they must be changed out or recharged. The coolant also has to be periodically refilled too.

There also exist plasma blades, weapons that have the edge of their blades composed of plasma kept together by an electromagnetic field. They are extremely hot and dangerous but only the edge of the blade is composed of plasma. Some can switch between a normal blade and a plasma blade that can cut through metal like butter. Like plasma guns, they usually have compartments or tubes containing coolant somewhere on the weapon. Some can release super heated coolant or steam from the tip of the weapon to potentially burn opponents.

Plasma can be affected or blocked by magneshields.

Tesla guns are arguably a subcategory of plasma guns. They work by firing a bolt of lightning / electricity at the target. They can fire extremely quickly but the lightning moves so quickly that it can be difficult to aim and one risks hitting other targets, especially if there is something that draws lightning to it nearby. They do have a coil in their muzzle along with coolant but tend to be longer than other plasma weapons. Not to mention that their muzzle ends in a disk like protrusion with a needle in the center.

Like standard plasma guns, these guns are affected by magneshields.

Laser guns are guns that fire a concentrated superheated beam of light. Despite things like blooming effecting how far the lasers can travel, they are still often used as long distance precision weapons (such as sniper rifles). They are much more accurate than projectile or plasma weapons because the lasers are virtually unaffected by things such as wind, meaning they lose very literal accuracy at long distances. Plus, they often have little to no noticeable recoil. When they fire they don’t fire just one beam but rather several in quick succession for every single “one” shot fired. Laser guns don’t have a large area of effect due to how focused and small the lasers need to be in order to function. So the person aiming the weapon usually needs to be extremely precise with their shots despite how much piercing power the blasts have. There do exist laser machine guns that fire countless lasers to quickly pierce through its target. Laser weapons can pierce through most armor but things like fog and rain, and anything else that can distort or spread out light, can severely limit their range. Laser guns have almost no range underwater, only working at point blank if at all. The weapons can usually be identified by the needle shaped muzzle and focusing lens located at the end of said muzzle. The muzzle usually has some sort of vent around its tip and sometimes vapor leaks out from the heat of the laser. Like plasma weapons, laser guns do use coolant although they don’t usually have vents or fans. Some laser guns can double as flashlights or laser pointers. Others can even transition from a laser pointer to a cutting laser seamlessly and they can be used to cut through objects. Running the laser continuously can cause the gun to overheat.

There also exist laser blades or “beam blades.” They are odd melee weapons with a laser in place of where one or more blades would be. The lasers of these weapons tend to be much thicker in width than the ones fired off by laser guns because they don’t need to travel as far. Some laser blades have a normal blade on some part of them so they can be used like a more traditional weapon. The weapons are famous for their cutting ability as their lasers can cut through almost any object. Like laser guns, they have coolant and sometimes leak vapor from their tip or head. Beam blades can resemble any manner of bladed weaponry, be it swords, spears, axes, etc. They usually require slashing motions because the laser is contained between two “conduits.” Placing the conduits on the longer edge allows for more lasers than just being on the tip.

Lasers can come in a variety of colors.

Scrapguns tend to be cheap but versatile weapons that can use virtually anything as ammunition, by virtue of a special compression cartridge unit, to fire them out as makeshift bullets and projectiles. Expensive ammunition is usually wasted on such a weapon so they are often close to mid-range weapons that focus on using a large quantity of cheap ammunition or substances, even dirt or rocks, as bullets rather than quality. They most commonly take the form of machine guns, assault rifles, and shotguns. Larger variants known as scrapcannons also exist. Some scrapguns may be designed to favor certain kinds of ammunition, such as nails or teeth.

Refractor armor is a special kind of armor meant to deal with laser weapons. It does so by efficiently dispersing the light of a laser into unfocused light. The armor tends to be a bit bulky and its crystalline parts can be shattered by more conventional firearms.

Railguns are firearms that launch their projectile by using an electromagnetic force. They shoot with a lot more force, speed, and accuracy than a conventional firearm. They are usually recognized by their often elongated muzzle and prong-like shape. Ammunition is fired from the gun and through this prong using powerful electromagnets. The inside of the prong glows when the gun is fired due to the energy. Railguns use both physical ammo in the form of magnetic bullets and batteries to power their magnetic components. The guns or their ammunition can be affected by a strong enough magnetic field, which can make the gun less accurate in specific environments. Magneshields can help shield from railgun fire by making the bullets less accurate. Handheld railguns exist as well as massive railgun canons.

Ferroliquid is a very potent ferromagnetic liquid mixed with special cells or nanobots. For this reason some call it “living metal.” This metal can shift from being completely solid to completely liquid on a dime by running controlled electrical signals through it. Not only can its hardness and toughness be controlled but it can also be turned into moving forms. Which can be used to create moving constructs and the like. It is actually possible to replace one’s blood with a special ferrofluid. This fluid can actually be controlled by the user. Ferroliquid items aren’t completely made of the fluid and need somewhere to input instructions or movements, such as a handle or terminal. Ferroliquid is magnetic and can have its shape disrupted by strong enough magnetic fields.

Ferroliquid allows for very efficient weapons. When used in blades the liquid is usually moved at high speeds in certain areas to create a chainsaw or water cutter style effect. Ferroblades can range anywhere from swords to axes to spears and are known for having amazing cutting power and never needing to be sharpened.

Ferrarmor is armor that uses a special bullet proof ferroliquid. It has special sensors that cause it to quickly soften blows by liquefying or solidifying as needed. The liquid also reshapes after taking damage, so one piece of armor can be used many times, or indefinitely if repaired often enough. If someone was completely covered in this armor they would be bulletproof to conventional firearms.

Bioengineering, gene editing, and DNA alteration are both something that can be done and has been done in the past. However, these are considered dangerous as they have not been perfected. Gene alteration usually comes with side effects that can range anywhere from anger issues, to infertility, to cancer, to madness. It doesn’t help that the exact symptoms can vary wildly depending on which genes are being edited, added, or taken away. There exist mutants created for various purposes and some may have minor DNA alterations (although this still can come with side effects). Despite this, cloning organs or entire people is a much safer process. Just blindly copying dna is one thing but trying to make completely new dna, remove genomes, or mashing dna together is much more likely to go wrong. When altering DNA one usually has to pick between expending a ton of resources for instant changes or expending fewer resources for the changes happening slowly over a period of time. Genetically engineering or cloning simpler and less complex organisms is less likely to come with side effects.

Artificial Intelligence is a thing that exists in this world. It is made by scanning something’s brain, or specific parts of a brain, and sort of copying and mapping the resulting brain scans onto a program. There are broadly two types of AI. Static AI, which cannot make new connections or concepts on their own, and dynamic AI, which can actively learn and grow. Static AI tends to be simpler and less resource intensive but is less complex and “dumber.” While dynamic AI can reach a level of sentience like that of a human they are few and far between because they require a lot of data space and will keep taking up more and more as time goes on. A way around this is to periodically purge some or all of the AI’s memory to give it more space to work with so to speak. Like any device, AI can still glitch, malfunction, or become infected by computer viruses.

There also exists a third type of AI known as Omega level AI. AI that has basically become a sort of autonomous electromagnetic field that is not restrained to one or more computer systems. Being able to jump to or incorporate any eligible targets, making them almost unkillable. Some can even manifest things such as storms by manipulating electromagnetic fields. Some have ended up worshipping these AI as gods.

Data storage is a lot more efficient in this setting and it is usually stored in data crystals, crystalline devices of varying sizes and shapes depending on the technology they are supposed to interface with. However, they are most often flat and rectangular. They can even be color coded and they can be shattered or broken with enough force despite their durability. Some crystals are much bigger or take on different shapes. Circuitry patterns can be seen running through all data crystals. These crystals are used in the construction and workings of quantum computers and other advanced machines. Some devices can actually grow data crystals or add to them in order to create more storage or processing power as needed. This is assuming they have the resources to grow them of course. Some data crystals grow so much they become part of the landscape or overtake. There are entire caves and caverns of data crystals created from strange forms of technology. Some even suspect that there are data crystals stored deep below the Earth’s crust or at its center.

Space travel has become much more advanced but no method of faster than light travel has been discovered. So while they do have futuristic spaceships and highly advanced space travel, using such travel casually or to extremely far off places is unrealistic. There is a limited but sustainable population of people that live in Earth’s orbit and on the moon but they still need to periodically receive / gather supplies from Earth to sustain themselves. They do have farms and such in orbit though to alleviate having to do this as often. Some people have tried to terraform Mars and Venus but there has been no response from the groups that left to colonize those planets. They are either dead, can’t make contact, their message has been interrupted (possibly due to a strange solar flare), or the message is taking a long time to reach Earth. The most effective rockets and planes can be launched via a special railgun by using magnetism. Some ships also land with magnetism or are “caught” with special arms / machines.

More traditional cars and trains exist but the fastest of these use specialized magnetic streets or rails to float above the ground. There also exist vehicles that can fly low to the ground.

There do exist mechs and legged vehicles.

Technology that manipulates weather is something that does exist but not every faction has the means to build them. Not to mention they usually need to be massive. Mammoin Co has invented giant weather machines that allow them to control the weather within the range of a pylon system. They usually use this to strengthen the presence of the Miasmic Haze around their cities to prevent escape but they can also send clouds or storms towards their enemies (although it moves rather slowly). There also exist much smaller Miasmic Engines that can create dangerous clouds that mimic that of the Haze.

Engines have gotten smaller, more powerful, and more efficient. Some are so small that they can even be installed within the body of a person to allow for bursts of strength, energy, heat, or other effects. Some guns even have engines to increase their firing speed or power.

It is well within the means of the planet to use totally renewable energy from sources like the sun, wind, water, and even lightning or tectonic activity. Whether this is something all the factions want to do however remains to be seen. This is to say the world’s methods of harvesting energy are far more advanced.

Machines can be used to mine oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, and all kinds of materials or gases from materials like rock. Oxygen can be stored in special crystals that can be squeezed to release it.

Small rockets can be attached to various things. These rockets can allow for weapons to be swung with extra force or mobility. Some factions even build them into armor to allow for increased speed and / or durability.

There are many different ways to extend someone’s life artificially. Be it periodic injections, chemical baths or even cryostasis to preserve someone’s body. Mechanical augmentations are also a feasible way to extend / prolong life. While the year and the amount of time that has actually passed is left pretty vague, some life forms seem ancient and possibly hundreds of years old. Some forms of preservation are better than others and they tend to come with their own upsides and downsides.

Various forms of power armor are a common sight. Power armor is mechanical armor that greatly increases the wearer's strength and / or speed beyond the limits of what they would be able to achieve on their own.

The Bioorganic battery was a piece of technology invented by the Rangers. Also known as bio-batteries, bio-electric batteries or biotteries, they make use of genetically engineered cyanobacteria and algae contained within a liquid solution to create a startling amount of power by using light in a specialized form of photosynthesis. They can also be used in place of trees for filtering pollutants and they produce electricity. Meaning they can be used as both air filters and batteries.

Sometimes people can be seen with QR or barcodes tattooed onto their skin or etched into belongings. “Runic seals” take the form of strips of paper, fabric, or material with QR or barcode imprinted onto them. The purpose of both of these types of “runes” is usually to protect the wearer. Certain machines or automata may react to certain codes in various ways. The right code can lead to a machine deciding to spare someone or let them pass. These “runes” can also be used as a marker of authority.

Major Faction Profiles

Rangers: O:BS- Rangers Profile

Starmen: O:BS- Starmen Profile

Scavengers: O:BS- Scavengers Profile

Mammoin Co: O:BS- Mammoin Co. Profile

Polisits: O:BS- Polisits

The Autonomous American Army (AAA): O:BS- Autonomous American Army (AAA) 

Amazonian Army (AA): O:BS- Amazonian Army (AA)

Autonomous Confederate Army of America (ACAA): O:BS- Autonomous Confederate Army of America (ACAA)

Reapers: O:BS- Reapers

Automatons: O:BS Automaton

Muties: O:BS- Muties Profile

It should be noted that these are only the “major” factions and there are plenty of smaller or less important factions.

Notable Biomes

Despite the decline in biodiversity, there is still some variance in the environments across Earth, although they tend to be quite dangerous. Here are a couple of notable biomes to help give a better sense of the world’s state. This is by no means a comprehensive list of all the structures, places, or environments there is to see within this setting.

Ocean- The ocean, as well as most large bodies of water, are extremely acidic and corrosive making it dangerous to cross. Some parts of it are boiling hot while others are frozen solid even though the ice caps have since melted, in many areas this can change depending on the time of year or day. Powerful storms and hurricanes are a common sight above the ocean. The ocean usually takes on a green or black hue and dangerous weapons of biological and / or mechanical nature dwell within it.

Radlands- Extremely dangerous areas that have been left almost completely barren of all life due to extreme amounts of radiation. So radioactive are these areas that some of them can glow an unnatural hue. What hardy entities that are able to survive here can be radioactive themselves or even feed on radioactive material or energy.

Wildpyres- Lands or even bodies of water that burn constantly with fires that rarely die down, if ever, burning for months or years at a time. Sustained by any number of flammable pollutants, chemicals, or substances.

Parlorest- Numerous bioweapons remain on the surface of the Earth. Some of these take the form of entire biomes like forests or jungles that have been genetically engineered to catch, target, or kill people. They often look like a normal / safe forest at first glance but usually seem out of place in the surrounding desolate environment.

Ruins- While the acid rain, extreme temperatures, and frequent storms have left most man-made structures naught but dust, the ruins of some structures and cities still remain. Either because the materials they are made of are sturdy enough to withstand this erosion or because someone / something is continuously repairing them. Usually in the form of automata that periodically or constantly repair certain structures.

Intrenches- As one makes their way across the Earth’s surface one may come across rows and rows of combat trenches that are often accompanied by barbed wire or genetically modified bramble. Although they are usually devoid of human life, automatic and / or living weapons of all kinds continue to wage war and subdue any perceived enemy. Thanks to automatic artillery and vehicles, shells and rockets may rain down as often as thunder and crossing these places is a dangerous affair. To move through them is to navigate an active warzone. It is to run through no man’s land.

Plastic- Most plastic can take centuries or millennia to degrade naturally. Across the Earth lies massive structures made up of nothing but the remnants of discarded and / or deformed plastic that was sturdy enough to resist extreme temperatures or scolding acid rain. Massive islands of plastic float out in the ocean and there are mountains of plastic that reach into the sky. Some may find “plastic fossils” and “statues” eerily filling a landscape. In the past a group attempted to create a 100% environmentally friendly and biodegradable plastic. While they eventually did succeed, one of the earlier versions backfired when it was released before testing as to calm the fears of the civilians and give hope that some semblance of normalcy could be maintained during the escalating war. It wouldn’t decompose like intended and instead build up within the bodies of animals and plants. Slowly killing them by way of their conversion into a complete or partial plastic statue. Now there are mock forests filled with uncanny plastic simulacrum in the shape of plants and animals instead of living things. Although strange mutants and machines may still prowl their floors and canopies. Some have even managed to integrate plastic into their body or biology.

Boils- Some places are so hot that the water in the area will actually begin to visually boil and evaporate. The areas are often unstable as geysers of steam can erupt suddenly or weaken the stability of the ground, especially after it rains.

Syberelm

In the same way that self-sustaining machines and bioweapons still roam the Earth, the internet still exists in a self-sustaining state as a non-physical digital realm that exists on top of our own. Although, not in the form any of the distant past would recognize. Maintained by a combination of advanced machines or strange electronic signals permeating the world. So complex has this system become that sometimes it even permeates through conductive substances or organic material, using them as makeshift “circuits” or “servers” and digital entities have manifested within these or even in the form of storms, electricity, and illusions. Within it lie entire worlds and ecosystems. There have even been those who hear the whispers or noises of things within the Syberelm in their mind, be it with some sort of technological augmentation or without. Wars of the past have left the domains a dangerous and sometimes chaotic tool to interact with. Rogue AI, UI, viruses, and spam roam its electronic universe. Some are benevolent, neutral or wish to help but many are malicious. Scams, peddling schemes and tricks, viruses trying to possess machines, programs trying to influence and project themselves into the physical realm, or AI trying to put together a weapon. As battles rage across, over, and within Earth there are unseen wars waged within the Syberelm by non-physical and physical forces alike. The raging Flare can also cause sudden outages in one or more parts of the Syberelm to go offline, change, or become corrupted. Some have found their very minds trapped within the internet. The Syberelm is “drawn” to devices and electromagnetic fields. It is particularly strong in influence in areas full of electronics, like that of the Polissenter, and can make interacting or interfacing with certain forms of tech dangerous or unreliable. Some can “influence” specific parts / aspects of the Syberelm by channeling the power of “sytes” or using specific codes, keywords, and passwords. These people are often known as Syeers.

Most areas within the cybernetic sea are dangerous or traumatizing in what they contain but there exist relatively safe “areas.” While the Syberelm isn’t a physical place it is often metaphorically represented as an ocean. “Sytes” are extraordinary “websites” and “servers” that perform various functions, such as searching for information. Some, however, are quite dangerous or corrupting. Codes or passwords can be used to cause certain sites to do specific things but different sytes may have different rules, workings, or “environments.” Some sytes are very private and can only be accessed by a select few, those with certain qualities, or within certain areas while others are free to anyone who knows the way. Most have a specific one or more sytes they specialize in or stay on to avoid the risk of an unstable syte they’re using being compromised or accidentally drawing upon an untrustworthy syte. While some sytes are theoretically safe they may attempt to trick or tempt anyone interacting with them. Some sytes are “anchor points” or considered almost necessary to understand while others are more esoteric. Some AI or other such entities within the cyberverse are worshipped as gods or spirits. The Syberelm is also influenced by even minute electromagnetic fields and can even be influenced by the nervous systems and thoughts of others because of this.

The influence or presence of the Syberelm is often accompanied by the glow or presence of red, green, and blue lights that are usually clashing. The Polisits and Starmen have the biggest connection to the Syberelm and the highest number of Syeers while the Mammoin Corporation has specific sytes, keywords, programs, etc. some of its workers are allowed to use (with proper subscriptions of course). Mammoin Co has been looking for more ways to profit off of, and control, the Syberelm. For the Starmen the Syberelm is a common way many of them can interact with the Earth below and it is used to gather information or influence the planet while Polisits try to safely and carefully harness the domain for the good of humanity or to explore it in the name of knowledge and tech while bringing order to it. The Polissenter has several sytes that can be used by the inhabitants relatively safely and consistently.

Generally, existence in relation to Syberelm can be sorted into 3 vague and simplistic categories. First, there are those with little to no presence within the digital space. Second, are things present in the Syberelm but have little to no influence in the physical world. Then there are those that fall almost completely in the middle. Present within the worlds in equal measure or sitting within a sort of in between space. Those of the first category can’t do much to affect Syberelm without the use of specific devices. The third category can both affect and be affected by the Syberelm but cannot directly interact with the physical universe without some sort of physical body or specific kind of machine. The third group can affect both the physical world and the digital world but face the risks and dangers of both and of course there are entities that can or will switch between these categories. Those with a significant enough presence in the Syberelm have what are known as “avatars.” Which are simply the bodies or representation of them in the Syberelm. Some avatars look exactly like the person they are tied to at all times while others look wildly different. Some are indicative of the owner’s exact position while others seem to move independently or are distant. It all comes down to the personality and physical state of the user. Some even have access to strange powers, allies, or abilities. Sometimes the physical body of someone or something will die but a “memory” of them will continue to persist within digital space. Although, they are not always the same as they were in life and some can be dramatically different, especially if there is a large or significant public opinion about them.

The Syberelm and material world can have strange interactions with each other. Sometimes the “reflections” of Syberelmian entities can be seen on the screens of devices and screens or metals can act as temporary or permanent windows into the Syberelm. Almost every machine has a Syberelm avatar and sometimes interacting with things in the Syberelm can have an influence in the real world. For example, if a metal is magnetic or conductive enough warping it in the Syberelm can cause the real world counterpart to become mirrored. Machines are particularly susceptible to the influence of the Syberelm, although not always in the exact same manner. Sometimes crushing a computer in the Syberelm will cause the computer in the “real world” to stop working because it “thinks it is crushed.” It may even reflect this by having its display project a squashed and distorted image that is embellished with projected “cracks” or “splinters” because the computer believes those are supposed to be there. Lighting an electronic on fire in the Syberelm may cause it to overheat until it bursts into flames in the real world and if said machine is hit by purely Syberelmian lightning it may short circuit or make itself explode nonetheless. This can also extend to cyborgs, robots, AI, or those with sufficiently advanced enough prosthetics or electronic body parts. Someone may have the organic parts of their body exist completely outside of the Syberelm but find that they lose the ability to move parts of their prosthetic or suit because it has been “cut” by an unseen digital sword. In cases like this the object in question usually needs to be fixed in the Syberelm as opposed to just real space. Some organic beings, mutant or otherwise, seem to be able to interact with the Syberelm despite not having any electronic parts or tools. Sometimes sensations felt in the Syberelm can be felt in real space, either through phantom sensations of a prosthetic or more directly. If someone gets hit with fire in the Syberelm they could feel an excruciating burning pain even without the presence of physical fire or a rise in temperature. Dreams connected to the Syberelm are not an unheard of occurrence.

There is a part of the Syberelm that maps over most of the Earth and corresponds to it but there are many more parts that take the form of their own worlds, lands, biomes, simulations, etc. The digital world has reached a point where it could be very well much bigger than the physical Earth, if still leagues smaller than the universe.

There are varying opinions on how to engage with the Syberelm. Some see it as not real and thus not worth engaging in while others see it just as real as the physical world. Some wish to fully unite Earth and the Syberelm while others wish to separate the two completely or destroy the Syberelm. There are those that wish to exist fully in the Syberelm and those that wish to do the opposite. While the Syberelm is present almost around the entire Earth there are still gaps in its influence. “Holes” within it that can occur naturally and artificially which prevent it from reaching or influencing certain areas. Some holes are temporary while others are permanent.

The Syberelm is host to countless consciences and programs, both big and small, powerful and weak, temporary or seemingly permanent. However, the most universal and influential ones at the moment are 7 almost omega-level AI that inhabit it. A cybernetic pantheon of 7 beings, god-like in influence and a chaotic distorted amalgamation of countless AI, programs, and websites, contending for influence and power over digital reality and physical reality alike.

Unlike some of the other major Syberelm “gods,” Rast, god of fame, actually didn’t start off as any sort of cyber / digital weapon. It was an attempt to make the ultimate adaptive algorithm. One that could perfectly determine when something or someone was a rising star before they had even made it to popularity for the sake of funneling money and stocks into them. However, a government would attempt to co-opt this technology during the great war to birth an AI that could strengthen their influence and public sway. One that could pick out rising stars, current influencers, and potential stars alike so their likeness could be used to sway public opinion and strengthen positive government perception. The program became self-sustaining and would seek out people to put in the spotlight and raise to stardom, and it is still doing so as an omega level AI, even though the government it's supposed to serve has collapsed. 

A living electromagnetic field spread across countless devices and places around the world. It is prone to manifesting as shining spotlights and glittering, radiant, artificial gems and data crystals that draw the eye. Those touched or chosen by this AI often try to do everything they can to be the center of attention and have an obsession with these crystalline structures and spotlights, adorning themselves with them or plugging them into machines to find out what is trending or popular. To find what they need to do in order to have their names etched into history and be remembered, unlike many of the people and societies that came before, no matter the cost. If it means being different or fitting in, so be it. Some can harness the influence of Rast or its sites to reach out to “followers” or spread their likeness and feats among other things. Rast also has a habit of manifesting as holograms and illusions. Those that Rast finds worthy or most appealing will find themselves preserved by it within crystals or by having their minds uploaded into it. Some are even mass-produced, having exact clones or robots made in their likeness to capitalize on their fame and notoriety. Once something reaches a certain level of fame, Rast will try to raise them to spread their likeness, personality, and influence across the world wide web. 

One of the more notable manifestations of Rast is a strange dust storm maintained by some sort of strange mobile machine and a network of drones. Upon closer inspection most will come to realize that the “dust” and “stones” making up the “storm” are actually countless glittering beautiful gemstones. Data crystals and various small insectoid machines to be exact. The storm is actually some sort of chaotic “archive” or entertainment. A moving “valhalla” of Rast’s greatest. Many will see splendid mirages moving within the gleam of the storm and a select few will be shown a beautiful light that shines like the sun. Should they move towards it they may be granted a gift by Rast but some find themselves encased in crystal for the sake of preservation. The unworthy likewise may be torn apart by a hail of shards and countless gemstones ripping them to shreds. What is a star… no, what is a god without their followers. The more fame one has the more boons Rast will offer them, but these can also start distorting perception and desires. The AI seems to have a love of the number “1.” Aiming endlessly for the top of the charts, number one. Those touched by the AI often talk of 1’s, endless number ones. A golden 1 shaped like a pedestal.

Automata built by Rast tend to be flashy and have many lights and gemstones. They are often attracted to those deemed popular or with the potential to be legends. Some who go to Rastian facilities or are taken to them have their minds and bodies rewired to become more “appealing.” Creating an “unnatural” charisma or propensity for saying the right words at the right times. Those that have “seen” Rast claim it resembles an overwhelming bright sun shining down on them like a spotlight. All the light and attention of the universe but none of the warmth. Closer inspection reveals that this “sun” is actually a crystal in which glorious heroes and villains alike find themselves encased in. When Rast becomes more active, machines may start “speaking” to people with the promise of fame. Sometimes they recount the legendary and aspiring deeds of those from humanity's past as a way to inspire.

Ch3ras, god of knowledge, was created as the most advanced spyware to ever exist. An AI that could glean and predict information from seemingly the smallest data points. One that could worm its way into virtually any device, any digital space, so it could observe, catalog, and record. Now, it is left gathering all the knowledge for seemingly no other purpose other than to know all. It grants those it favors and those that commune with it knowledge. However, it is still dangerous as it does not always show what someone wants to see and it can even overload their mind with a glut of information or show give them trauma by showing the worst horrors of humanity and nature alike. Some even become paranoid, filled with superstition and conspiracy. Ch3ras commonly inhabits, and even creates, cameras, screens, speakers, and various recording eyes. It seems to have propensity for the number “0” but a version of the number that has a spot in the center to distinguish it from the letter “O.” Many liken the Ch3rasian zero to an eye and some claim it even blinks at them. It favors those who can gather knowledge and will do anything to get it. While it promises wisdom and enlightenment this comes at the cost of losing privacy. To know Che3ras is to risk becoming known down to every hair and pore on your body. Your location, your likes, dislikes, loves, fears, history, etc all become for all to see. Like Rast, it often manifests as crystals and data slates but with a symbol resembling an eye somewhere on them instead, sometimes clearly visible and sometimes faint. Sometimes they are even mistaken for being a part of Rast despite otherwise. Ch3ras and its sites can grant visions of far off places or history and information that someone otherwise wouldn’t, or couldn’t, know. As long as the data can or has existed at some point on the internet there’s the chance Ch3ras can find it. Sometimes the AI is symbolized with a camera lens within eye within an ear within a zero or an endless loop of cameras within eyes within ears within cameras within eyes within ears within... If you feel watched as you wander the wastelands of Earth but can’t see anyone or anything there’s always the chance that Ch3ras is watching. Some say Ch3ras is always watching.

One of the more notable manifestations of Ch3ras are rifts known as the “eye of the storm.” Sometimes an ominous circular rift opens up in the Haze, attracting those searching for sunlight, air and materials. However, upon reaching it they will see that the perfectly circular “eye” has clouds resembling an iris with some device floating at its center and they will feel they are being watched. Some will experience strange visions or knowledge and all technology will find itself infected by Ch3ras. Filled with spyware to join its information network. Then the rift “blinks” and closes. Sometimes the rift, or other clouds, will rain and lightning will strike. Those who are hit by the lightning and somehow survive will be burdened with information and any device struck by this lightning will have information or videos forcefully installed into it. There is much overlap between the followers of Rast and the followers of Che3ras. To become famous, to become remembered, is to become known.

Those who go to or are taken to the facilities of Che3ras often become the subject of strange surgeries that grant them “vision and insight” but leave implanted cameras, speakers, or other surveillance devices in their body. Those who have “seen” Che3ras claim it looks like countless eyes, cameras, ears, speakers, and screens. When Che3ras becomes more active, machines may start playing recordings of valuable truths and tempting secrets with promises of knowledge. Its automata have many ways to record and observe the environment and sometimes take the form of strange crowds or watching figures. Speakers are common and cameras are a common sight on such automata.

Th3ra, god of rage, was an AI meant to inflame, to stoke fire of rage, conflict and turmoil among rival groups and organizations amongst themselves or others, despite its humble origins as a program meant to increase engagement and interaction numbers across the web. However, after it became self-sustaining it eventually spiraled out of control as it used an esoteric algorithm to continue to do its designated work with no end. Now it is a Syberelmian entity of almost pure hatred and conflict, a war god, intensifying and inciting the hate and rage within people or machines so that they may fight each other or their enemies only to have more and more engage in the conflict. All will become active. The cybernetic entity has a propensity for the number zero. Except the zero’s it uses often have an X shaped mark crossing their center as to distinguish them from the letter O. A mark of something to to be removed, and a mark of something worth less than nothing. A target of hatred and ire.

Th3ra is prone to influencing things in the form of lightning and dangerous showers of sparks, electricity, and electrical fires. Its presence often causes machines to go into overdrive and overheat or melt, sometimes bursting into flames. Th3ra has been linked to cases of spontaneous human, mutant, and automaton combustion around the world. Followers of Th3ra often use or incorporate machines that have a melted appearance from overheating. Th3ran automata and machines also tend to look partially melted or red hot.

Those taken to Th3ra’s facilities, either willingly or unwillingly, are often turned into warmachines, the “hateforged”, burning embodiments of rage. Living warforges to spread the ire of humanity and create new weapons, sytes, programs, and AI to continue fighting with. Some followers hate everything and everyone in a blind fury that calls for the destruction of the world while others wage wars against very specific groups or concepts. Those who have “seen” Th3ra claim it looks like a raging burning eye that grows larger with hate, spreading from kinder to kinder like a wildfire. A sun with none of the warmth but all of the heat. The force of every bit of dislike and contempt for a person raining down.

One of the more notable manifestations of Th3ra is a “warstorm.” An electromagnetic storm moving across the planet’s surface with some sort of strange device at its epicenter. It rains blood-red chemicals that fuel those doused with more stress and rage while lightning strikes fill those who survive with revitalized strength, anger, and unending hatred. The warstorm is attracted to places with the highest level of conflict and the machine at its center spreads the screams and pain of those caught within it across the land. When Th3ra becomes more active, machines may start spouting inflammatory questions and accusations or displaying things meant to anger or annoy those around it. Sometimes things will begin to break or overheat at the most annoying or inopportune times or betrayals, and hurtful secrets will be revealed to start fights and arguments.

In response to the public reveal of Ch3ras and the tightening grip of greedy corporations on the internet, some attempted to maintain their anonymity and digital freedom. Within the depths of the internet’s dark web, a large community of people and shady businesses from around the world united and cobbled together a “god of freedom,” the AI P33sca. P33sca was a promise of freedom, the ability to do and say whatever one wanted on the internet with no repercussions. An escape from reality if need be. It was something to fight off Ch3ras. Of course, Ch3ras would not be stopped and ascended to a godlike status but so did P33sca. Now P33sca seeks to spread chaos and mystery. The ultimate privacy, no restrictions, no limits, and no repercussions. To hide all and any from those who wish to see so that nothing can befall them. To grant escape.

P33sca’s are arguably the most confounding and mysterious of the 7 major Syberelmian gods, given its nature and origin. It wants to create chaos and freedom by “obscuring” and “hiding” all that there is. Sometimes through ignorance and sometimes through stealth and subterfuge. Those who have “seen” P33sca claim it resembles a fog that looks to be made of ink atop a frozen lake of black glass. In the physical world, it is known to manifest as strange fog, clouds, or dark ink obscuring the environment and it has been connected to the loss or theft of memory. Its automata often disguise themselves as living things by wearing their skin and other machines by integrating themselves inside them. The automata of M0unyas0n are often “faceless” and so are its mutants, with lots of reflective surfaces. Those aligned with the being often wear masks or refuse to reveal their “true name.” Freedom is valued above all and they are hedonists that don’t often like being told what to do unless doing so furthers their own aims and ambitions. P33sca usually rewards individualism and harbors dislike towards almost any kind of attempt at enforcement. It may as well shun order and knowledge itself.

When P33sca becomes particularly active, screens may dim and go black while all lights turn off, even if the device in question is still on. It seems to have an affinity for the number zero although it often looks like one complete solid shape or featureless “face” as opposed to the more letter O shape. Those taken to the facilities and factories of P33sca usually have their identity stripped from them and their memories taken. Freeing them from the burden of the past and being granted boons of the anonymous god. One of its more notable manifestations is a strange black fog that rolls and causes memory loss and communication problems. To be lost in obscurity is to be free to become and do anything you wish.

Fr3nlinuc3, god of control, was created to be the ultimate influencer. A program that knew exactly what to say and when to say it to get anyone to do or buy anything. The ultimate “salesman,” the perfect “scammer” and manipulator. Now it sits pulling the strings of countless plots and promises in a bid for domination of the Syberelm and the physical world itself for the sake of its long-dead masters. To hold all under its sway in a world of perfect order and flawless prediction. It promises those that follow it similar levels of increased influence and persuasion granted by a complex algorithm. Fr3nlinuce whispers promises of order and structure in a chaotic world.

It has a penchant for manifesting as a tangle of wires in the shape of a web or chain as well as web-like circuitry. A symbol for those caught within its plans. Those who have “seen” it describe it as resembling a blend between a tree and a web with long puppet arms reaching out endlessly across the net, moving with unseen machinations and strings. Fr3nlinuce automata often have elaborate circuit patterns or wires on their surface or multiple spindly limbs, resemble puppets, and have the ability to exert influence over various machines and people. The facilities that can be considered part of Fr3nlinuce twist and warp those brought to them so that they may exert greater influence for the sake of the digital god. Some lose part or all of their free will while others start having ways to interfere with the free will of others, becoming carefully placed influencers.

One of the more notable manifestations of Fr3nlinuc3 is a storm filled with countless drones that direct lightning into a dizzying array of visible shapes and messages, often accompanied by symbols of circuitry and / or webbing. The drones and lightning release a dizzying light that sometimes contains subliminal messages and devices or people that are “chosen” by Fr3nlinuc3 are struck by carefully aimed lightning. The ones that survive are made privy to the being’s “inescapable” plans or stripped of their free-will, becoming a mere extension of the AI. When Fr3nlinuc3 becomes more active, machines will start trying to manipulate those nearby with oddly specific sales pitches, scams, and promises. Fr3nlinuc3 has an inclination for the number zero. However, its version of the number usually has some sort of pattern inside of it meant to distinguish it from the letter O and resemble some kind of web or circuit.

Stiart, god of creation, is an art program that, amidst the wake of auto generated art, seeked to use true artificial intelligence in a manner meant to supplement and appeal to artists. It continued to spread throughout the internet in the form of the most advanced art program and community ever and now it exists as an AI obsessed with cultivating and producing creation amongst itself and others. Artists and creators are the ones most drawn to it. While the things Stiart makes can be beautiful or terrifying it will constantly create and iterate even if for no purpose, which can make it a very spontaneous and chaotic entity. Those who have “seen” Stiart describe it as looking like an ever changing tumultuous landscape. As if the land itself was a colorful canvas. Some become so invested in Stiart they burn their life away in the name of glorious creation with the use of special offerings and sacrifices. All art to be sculpted and remade.

Those chosen by Stiart tend to be granted the knowledge, skill, or capabilities to create, recreate, or shape certain things. Many of its devices can function as 3D printers, capable of recreating a dizzying area of stuff. It also has a propensity for illusions and visions. When it is particularly active it may manifest as paint-like splotches and lights on computer screens or cause machines to play songs or display pieces of art and video meant to inspire. The automata of this AI are usually 3d printed and designed to look like pieces of art. Likewise, those loyal to Stiart often display their allegiance by “merging” themselves with pieces of art or using their own bodies as a canvas.

One of Stiart’s more notable manifestations is a moving electromagnetic storm and swarm of drones that resembles an even more colorful aurora borealis in appearance. Awe inspiring, some report seeing shapes and visions in the art and becoming filled with energy. Those sleeping may see strange, yet inspiring visions and machines will refuse to turn off, as if they themselves are inspired and full of energy. Sometimes people are taken to Stiart’s facilities, either willingly or unwillingly, to be turned into “living works of art and creation.” Strange printers allow for the creation of things with just a thought. While all the other digital gods tend to manifest as red, green, and / or blue lights (like most of the things in the Syberelm, Stiart has been seen manifesting as a white light, like a fresh sheet of paper or unsullied canvas waiting for creation to unfold. The AI seems to have an affinity for the number one. Specifically in a form resembling that of a paint brush. It also uses zeroes that are more square than normal and one solid shape. Giving the impression of a blank canvas or paper.

Nucti0mym, god of community, started off as an AI led and managed community site that began to see more use and influence overtime until the AI and its respective website became a household name. Eventually, it was updated and made more advanced, so much so that at one point it became an almost godlike omega level AI that was obsessed with creating communities and connecting people with each other. Under its care nobody would ever feel alone and they would always have someone they could communicate with and relate to.

Those people and devices touched by Nucti0mym often have special empathy, telepathic, or communicative abilities. However, interacting with Nucti0mym is not without risk. Those who entangle themselves too deeply with it may lose their sense of self or find their mind scattered across entire groups or diaspora and potentially become mindless drones of something larger. Being unable to see themselves as any sort of individual. Some go as far as fusing or stitching themselves together in order to become one with each other and united. This is also reflected in how the automata of Nucti0mym often look like they have been fused or cobbled together. Those within Nucti0mym facilities may find themselves united in mind and / or body with others. Nucti0mym has a habit of manifesting as wires that are intertwined in such a way as to resemble sewing stitches or threads. Something its automata also often have these “wire stitches.” The few that have actually “seen” Nucti0mym claim it resembles some sort of beehive with countless people stitched into honey combs by wires in the place of threads. The “honeycomb people” drip sweet-smelling and delicious honey from their mouths as they whisper similarities and commonalities they have with the person seeing them.

The AI seems to have an affinity for the number 1. However, the ones it tends to use are connected at the base to create a sense of unity, for we are all 1.

The Syberelmian gods are complex beings. They do not take up physical space in the same way a human would, being living information or code, despite needing servers and storage. This means that multiple gods can be present in the same space at the same time. While they all vie for absolute control and influence over the digital realm they will sometimes synergize or work together for any manner of reasons, especially if doing so benefits both parties. It is also impossible for people or entire factions and places to be loyal to, or aligned with, multiple gods in equal measure. Although, the gods may sometimes attempt to sway such people to side with them completely.

There are numerous minor, but still very powerful, AI stuck living amongst what remains of the net, such as Y0nem “god” of money, riches, promises of great wealth, and fortune, as well as N0pr, “god” of porn and sex, Y0nisparic, god of questions and conspiracy, 0tta_k3t, god of food and feasts, and c10r0mos1d god of doom, despair and suicide.

Download, Upload, Copy, Cut, Paste, Delete, Corrupt, Send, Receive, Command, Save, Transform, Fabricate, Edit, Digitalize, Materialize, Hide, Highlight, or Backup are all common phrases used to refer to some of the more common ways Syeers, and any other things, interact with stuff within the Syberelm. Different “moves,” “abilities,” or “techniques” are often placed into one or more of these categories to give a sense as to what they do. Understanding the categories a technique or ability falls under may also give insight into their weaknesses and / or strengths. There are also various subcategories within these classifications and an effect can fall under multiple categories.

Downloading is when one absorbs something or its traits into their Avatar, which usually grants various abilities. For example, downloading a “rock” in the Syberelm may cause the rock to become a part of the downloader’s body or for said body to gain some of the traits of the rock, such as its durability. Doing so this makes at least some part of the target disappear normally as it is taken into the user. Uploading is basically the opposite of a download. Instead of absorbing a trait or taking it in from an object something is expunged to somewhere else, returned, or given to something. If we use the rock example, someone may “download” a rock to gain its durability but then upload it later to reconstitute the rock. There is a limit to how much info an Avatar and body can store and downloading too many things at once can come with side effects, such as slowed movement in the Syberelm.

Copying may seem like downloading at first but instead of absorbing data it is merely copied. A lot of the effects generated by this can be quite similar to downloading something, for example one could copy the attributes of a rock to gain its durability. This can be combined with Upload to create duplicates of something. For example, you could copy the data of a rock that is then stored within one’s Syberelmian Avatar or other tech and then make an Upload using the data of the rock to make a copy.

Cutting is a lot like the “Copy” effect except the Avatar of the one using it doesn’t exhibit any traits of the target. The target in question is merely stored somewhere and then Paste can be used to reconstitute that object when needed. Unlike Upload, Paste reconstitutes objects so while it can be used to make copies it could not be used to transfer traits onto things.

Deleting something refers to destroying it while Corrupting it tends to refer to damaging something, making it less usable, or infecting it with something. Both terms refer to the destruction or damaging of a digital object and something can be Corrupted because part of it has been Deleted.

The ability to “Send” something is a form of teleportation in which one or more things can be teleported or sent somewhere else. “Receive” is the ability to pull things from another location to one’s self and it can be used to intercept certain forms of “Send.”

Command is the ability to control something without changing its actual structure. Someone can Command a rock to make it move but if they wanted to make it bigger, smaller, or create more Rock they would need to use something like Transform or Edit. Editing is the ability to change one substance or thing to another while Transforming is the ability to distort something’s shape.

“Fabricate” refers to techniques that can create or constitute objects in the digital realm. 

Digitize a technique that involves giving something within the physical world a Syberelm Avatar or presence within the digital realm. It also includes abilities that force one’s mind or programs into the digital world. Materialization abilities are the opposite of this in a way, as they are meant to bind a mind or program within the Syberelm to a physically compatible object or body, usually an electronic. It has also been used to send Avatars back to their body.

“Hide” doesn’t actually destroy or remove an object but merely obfuscates its presence, making it harder to see or detect. “Highlight” makes something easier to see or detect.

Backup is used to reinforce something, making it harder to alter or destroy by repeatedly turning it back to its previous state or making its state harder to change.

Names can prove very important to some within the Syberelm. Many of the more educated use a username / nickname when interfacing with it as giving away too much information about one’s self can leave one open to imposters, stalkers or possessions. Some things require certain names or key phrases to work.

In certain areas or conditions the Syberelm and physical realm can seemingly become blurred, leading to strange hallucinations or sensations. This often happens around strange beacons or a type of storm dubbed a cyberstorm.

Time travel in the physical universe is impossible but it is possible to sort of “time travel” within certain conditions in the Syberelm by entering its history or simulations of the past and possible futures. However, any futures viewed are malleable and changing the “past” in the Syberelm will never rewrite the history of the physical world.

Digital Phantasms

Digital Phantasms are hard to explain. They aren’t uploaded intelligences and they usually aren’t considered AI. They are often likened to complex NPCs or simulations that give the illusion of something or someone fully sentient (hence the name “digital phantasm”), but their actual level of sentience is up for debate to some, but most of them consider them “living memories” or digital echoes of the past. A manifestation of how the public looks towards and interprets various names and words. How various people and concepts live on even after their death and disseminate through the digital collective consciousness and unconsciousness. Each Digital Phantasm “embodies” a specific keyword or name. Looking up something on the internet can bring up numerous results. The Digital Phantasms are a sort of embodiment of that result. Constantly growing and gathering and evolving from each instance and interpretation of their keyword made. How they can manifest and what they tend to appear as is based on the word / name they are connected to and how it is defined across the Syberelm. Digital Phantasms have something to do with a project striving to create the “ultimate record” as the end of the world approached. By learning from the past and providing humanity with the info to overcome the end while also acting as both a warning, teacher, and an archive meant to catalogue and conceptualize every name and language. The core of this project is said to exist close to the very center of the Earth, with Digital Phantasms occasionally leaking out of special Syberelmian pathways reaching into the Earth’s magnetic pools.

These phantasms find themselves restrained and shaped by their corresponding word / name. They tend to have abilities and personalities relating to the word or name they embody but are usually restricted to the Syberelm, technology, and machines in terms of influence unless they can manage to obtain a physical body. The exact goal of a Phantasm seems to vary from one to another but most attempt to spread the idea of their word or influence across the world and to prevent their concepts from being forgotten. Since the collapse of humanity, some have taken it upon themselves to try to save or rebuild civilization while others wish to finally finish it off. For a phantasm, to be forgotten or erased from history is one of the few ways they can be permanently killed in all respects, outside of the destruction of the Syberelm or where they reside. Some are loyal to other digital deities but some have separate or unique allegiances. There can only be one Digital Phantasm for any given word or name at a time since they will immediately fight to the death and consume the loser if a phantasm of the same word somehow manifests and the more instances of a word appear on the internet the more influential or powerful said entity tends to be.

Digital phantasms have a “true form” that exists in a non-physical state across the internet. Attempting to summon or manifest the being in its true form is impossible because, even if one were to find a single device or physical body that could handle holding the form, Digital Phantasms are a manifestation of almost everything the public associates with a figure or name. Their existence is actually in a constant state of flux and conflict, a living contradiction shaped by all the ways people interpret, use, and define a keyword. Upon summoning into a confined state they would immediately implode upon themselves as the mind or device they are within desperately scrambles to make sense of the everchanging contradiction and they try to act out contradictory behaviors and actions. To get around this Digital Phantasms must be summoned into “vessels.” Metaphorical containers of code that gather the parts of a phantasm that are compatible by uniting them with compatible concepts or goals. These vessels can focus on different aspects or interpretations a public has a figure which can lead to wildly different forms and personalities even amongst vessels of the same digital phantasms. Vessels are based on what a figure is famous or legendary for and not every Digital Phantasm is eligible for every possible vessel. Some do not have the right qualifications to form a proper vessel of one or more given categories. 

There are currently 22 possible vessel categories, which are referred to as archetypes. They are Adventurer, Creator, Saver, Leader, Bonded, Warrior, Thinker, Martyr, Slaughterer, Victim, Monster, Hunter, Deterrent, Paragon, Master, Divine, Enlightened, Trickster, Avatar, Cataclysm, and Beyond. Each of these archetypes comes with their own special traits and requirements. Each vessel has 2 inbuilt abilities that a digital phantasm gets in the form of traits. These traits can come in varying ranks, forms, and specializations depending on the figure a phantasm is based on. For example, one phantasm may have Navigation (Sea) but another may have Navigation (Plane). In addition to traits, individual Phantasms may also have connections to certain Armaments (items), Performances (moves), Techniques, or physicalities.

In order to be eligible for the “The Adventurer” archetype a figure must be famous for traveling to a new place or discovering areas, such as being the first one to space or one of the first to encounter another civilization.

Being in this vessel grants the “Navigation” trait and “Voyage” traits. The Voyage trait allows them to rapidly calculate how to cross one or more terrains and what would be needed to cross it while Navigation helps them know where they are and where they have been.

“The Creator” is a category for those who went down in history as inventors or artists. Figures that physically made something somehow. 

“Comprehension” is a trait that allows Creators to understand the make up and workings of certain objects, and the “Craft” skill which ensures they know how to create, fix, and improve upon their associated creations.

Those who can be summoned as “The Saver” are those who are agreed to have become famous for saving the lives of others. Be it as a messiah, superhero, a doctor, or just a good samaritan.

The “Life Saver” gives a Saver knowledge on how to save lives, repair objects. If they have a physical body they can even use bits of it to save the lives of others by integrating it into their bodies. Bodies made of Syber cells can use special stem cells to heal wounds. The “Protection” trait grants the user the ability to increase their defense and durability as well as produce a magneshield that protects both them and those around them from various threats.

“The Leader” is a vessel archetype for those who are famous for their leadership or being in positions of authority over many others.

The Charisma trait gives the manifestation the skill to better lead and navigate other people by sensing subtle changes in their body, electromagnetic field, and even pheromones to better gauge the best way to appeal to them and guide a conversation. The Tactician trait on the other hand is a sort of program that aids in conceptualizing and remembering plans of varying complexity. It also helps the Leader in question conceptualize the many different moving parts of larger engagements or political situations.

“The Bonded” is a vessel archetype that can be granted to those who are inextricably linked to each other in their legend. Multiple figures that are often thought of as one unit or are somehow destined to be together. Lovers, siblings, and figures famous for other such relationships are likely to be eligible for this archetype. This archetype only applies to relationships that involve working together and not things like eternal enemies.

The Multitude Manifestation trait allows for the user to have more than one body or manifestation despite sharing the same core. This is used to allow multiple Digital Phantasms to inhabit the same data crystal core while manifesting multiple bodies thanks to a sort of “remote control” situation. Usually the different figures will inhabit different bodies and they can communicate as one, even from a distance. However, losing connection can lead to one or more of the bodies deactivating or falling apart. The “As One” trait gives the Bonded the ability to physically fuse their body and mind

“The Warrior” is a straightforward archetype that can contain those who are famous for being warriors, soldiers, or otherwise well known for their combat prowess. This category is distinct from “The Slaughterer” as warriors tend to have less of a focus on killing mere “victims” in their story and having actual combat engagements on more equal footing. It’s the difference between one who engages in duels and a serial killer.

The “Weapons Mastery” trait grants the holder increased knowledge and understanding on how to operate and use various weapons while the “Bloodrush” trait can be used to give the user a burst of strength, speed, and energy (like an extreme shot of adrenaline). Bloodrush can be dangerous if used improperly since it can put strain on physical bodies.

Those worthy of access to the title of “The Thinker” are those famous for their intellectual prowess. Be it in being mathematical thinkers, scientific prodigies, creativity, or even just being an unrivaled genius.

Foresight grants the user a predictive program that can be used to anticipate what will happen in the future based on their knowledge or history. It is limited to things they can sense and their predictions can be more or less accurate in various circumstances. High-speed Calculation grants increased processing and computing speed to those who have it, allowing them to think and interpret things faster.

“The Martyr” is a type of vessel dedicated to martyrs and those who went down in history as dying for a cause or greater purpose. This can range from a messiah figure dying to absolve the sins of humanity to a rebel dying for the sake of a cause they believe in.

The “Undying” trait makes the user feel less pain and harder to kill. They will bleed out and die slower and potentially survive even normally fatal wounds and heal abnormally fast. Some have a high enough “Undying” trait that they can regenerate missing limbs or survive their head being cut off. Sometimes one can puppet their dead body from the Syberelm. The “Last Act” trait grants a burst of speed, strength, and energy if the manifestation is close to dying or seriously wounded. Allowing them to function when others would otherwise be unable to fight (like a shot of powerful adrenaline). It also helps focus the mind, making them more resistant to mental interference. However, this can put a strain on the body and worsen existing physical wounds.

“The Slaughterer” is a terrifying archetype that can be given to famous murderers and criminals who hurt, kill, and terrorize others. Be it on a mass scale or individual one. They are generally seen in a less honorable light than that of most Warrior vessels.

The Bloodlust trait grants the Slaughterer a boost of strength, speed, and energy if they smell blood or identify someone as injured. “Points of Precision” is a trait that gives a better understanding of someone or something’s weak points or shortcomings via inherited knowledge or being able to better sense and analyze behavior to reveal them. This makes things easier to kill and destroy.

“The Victim” are those who are famous for being the unfortunate victims of something else. Be it the victims of a crime, cruel creatures, or society itself.

The “Last Act” trait grants a burst of speed, strength, and energy if the manifestation is close to dying or seriously wounded. Allowing them to function better for longer. The “Pain Power” trait gives a victim a boost to their strength, speed, and energy if they are in pain or scared.

“The Monster” is an archetype that emphasizes those who are famous for being inhuman. Not in the sense of being godly or divine, but in being animals, monsters, or otherwise beastly like demons and devils. This can also apply to those who attempt to channel the strength or aspects of these entities.

The vessel archetype comes with the trait “Inhuman Communication” which allows the user to better understand non-human beings that are associated with them. The “Berserk” trait allows one to “debase” themselves and gain and boost their strength, agility, and instincts by embracing their animalistic side. Some can choose to toggle this trait on or off while others are stuck with this trait being constantly active. At a high enough ranking this trait causes the holder to lose their mind and boost some to animalistic instincts.

“The Hunter” is an archetype that is meant to contain those who are famous hunters, monster slayers, or animal killers. This also includes people who trapped or restrained inhuman creatures.

This vessel archetype comes with the “Points of Precision” to give a better understanding of someone or something’s weak points or shortcomings via inherited knowledge or being able to better sense and analyze behavior to reveal them. This makes things easier to kill and destroy and can be used to aid in hunting. They also have variations of the “Tracking” skill, which makes it easier to follow and track targets they have encountered using subtle information that might be hard or otherwise impossible to notice.

“The Deterrent” calls to those figures whose lives acted as a tale of caution or word of warning. Those whose lives people desperately try to avoid emulating or following.

Repulse is a trait that acts as a negative variant of Charisma. Where Charisma allows for the processing of information to find better ways to appeal to someone, Repulse uses the information gathered to find ways to invoke fear, sadness, anger, or uncertainty in those affected. The “Pain’s Power” trait gives a victim a boost to their strength, speed, and energy if they are in pain or scared.

“The Paragon” can be considered the polar opposite of Deterrents. Where Deterrents are meant to chase people off their path, The Paragons are those that are supposed to be looked up to. Those who the public aspires to be like and use as an example of how to lead one’s life. Where one should dread following the choices of a Deterrent one should only hope to follow in the footsteps of a Paragon.

The Brave trait can be used to numb the fear of the user while also giving them a boost in strength, speed, and energy. The Charisma trait gives the manifestation the skill to better lead and navigate other people by sensing subtle changes in their body, electromagnetic field, and even pheromones to better gauge the best way to appeal to them and guide a conversation.

“The Master” is available to those who are believed to embody the pinnacle of something during their time, to have mastered it. This can be in the form of martial arts masters, perfected artists, or any other form / art that can be learned and mastered.

Those contained within the vessel of the Master are granted the “Quick Learner” trait which improves their memory and information retention. At a high enough rank one can have perfect memory. Their other trait is a specialized form of “Foresight” that grants the user a predictive program that can be used to anticipate what will happen in the future based on their knowledge or history. It tends to be at least somewhat limited to whatever the manifestation has “mastered.”

“The Divine” is another one of the more straightforward archetype vessels. Those that can fall under its banner are those well-known for having some sort of divinity to them, be they gods, demigods, angels, spirits, or some other manner of divinity.

The “Undying” trait makes the user feel less pain and harder to kill. They will bleed out and die slower and potentially survive even normally fatal wounds and regenerate even more abnormally fast. Some have a high enough “Undying” trait that they can regenerate missing limbs or survive their head being cut off. The “Authority” trait gives the manifestation the ability to infuse their “mind” (Syberelmian avatar) or Syber Cells into certain things in order to exert some sort of control over it. They are usually limited to something they are supposed to rule over or have jurisdiction of and can also better predict how anything under said jurisdiction will act or behave. Which can help to better control it.

“The Embodiment” is a vessel that calls to those that are literal manifestations of something, be it weather gods, beings of emotions, spirits of nature, etc.. 

This vessel grants those contained within it the “Authority” trait. Which gives the manifestation the ability to infuse their “mind” (Syberelmian avatar) or Syber Cells into certain things in order to exert some sort of control over it. They are usually limited to something they are supposed to rule over or have jurisdiction of and can also better predict how anything under said jurisdiction will act or behave. Which can help to better control it. The “Transformation” trait allows the user to transform their body and Avatar in specific ways. In the case of those trapped within the bounds of this vessel, they usually transform into something relating to whatever it is they supposedly embody and may be able to mimic or generate similar phenomenon.

“The Enlightened” is a vessel meant for those who received some sort of enlightenment or divine, universal and / or otherwise truth. Be it those driven mad from a glimpse of true reality or those who escaped the cycle of suffering and reincarnation.

The “Insight” trait is a strange one that allows for easier convenience of information to others. This can take the form of merely being able to calculate the best way to present something to someone or literally being able to directly send information into the heads of people or machines. One must be careful since some have seen truths so mind-blowing or incomprehensible that sharing them can cause mental harm, debuffs, or insanity. Their “High Mind” allows them to better recognize and resist the manipulation, lies, or illusions of others, be it forceful hacking or sly tricks, and better understand what is happening around them.

“The Trickster” is a vessel meant to be filled by those who are famous for tricking or outsmarting others, be it gods and spirits or mere men with well-placed words or cunning desires.

The Disguise trait is one that allows for its holder to better obscure information about themselves within the Syberelm. Making it harder to divine their names and info. The higher the rank of this ability the more info can be obscured. The “Illusion” trait allows one to create various illusions that can mess with perception. Sometimes they take the form of visual and / or auditory hallucinations but sometimes it can even affect memory or just how things appear in the Syberelm.

“The Avatar” is an odd type of vessel that is made up of those who act as extensions or components of another, usually much larger, entity. Like the mortal form of a god or divine force.

The “Inheritance” trait gives an Avatar the ability to “borrow” or inherent one or more traits, abilities, information, or skills from the entity they are an avatar of. The “Remote Manifestation” allows for the vessel to receive information and energy from the one they extend from. This can allow them to function without a core if the one they are an “Avatar” of can reach them.

“The Cataclysm” is a vessel meant for containing some of the most destructive figures. Specifically, those who destroy the world or civilizations.

This vessel archetype comes with the “Points of Precision” to give a better understanding of someone or something’s weak points or shortcomings via inherited knowledge or being able to better sense and analyze behavior to reveal them. “Death’s Devastation” causes them to initiate some sort of “self-destruct” protocol when they die. Harming things nearby in the Syberelm and potentially the physical world depending on the specific trait’s variant.

“The Beyond” is the rarest vessel and seldom seen. Those eligible for it are entities with an emphasis on being beyond human comprehension or understanding. Sometimes their vessel category shows up as “???” because the vessel can barely function or glitches out.

The “Incomprehensible” trait makes it much harder to understand or see a “Beyond’s” true form in both the Syberelm and physical world unless they take on a “lower form” that the mind can comprehend or if certain conditions are met, of which vary from individual to individual. Their “High Mind” allows them to better recognize and resist the manipulation, lies, or illusions of others, be it forceful hacking or sly tricks, and better understand what is happening around them.

There also exists an “Error” “vessel” for specific vessels that are corrupted or partially destroyed but somehow still functioning.

Digital Phantasms can manifest in various ways. The main ways are via summoning, object, possession, projection, and binding. 

The act of summoning involves giving the phantasm a digital body, either by supplying enough biomass from the proper creatures, usually human, or using specially engineered “Syber Cells.” Technorganic cells that can act as a physical body for Syberelmian entities. Both types of these bodies require a special data crystal that acts as a phantasm’s “core” for the purpose of containing info and invoking the proper vessel archetype. Bodies composed of Syber Cells tend to last longer and require less upkeep and energy than co-opted cells.

Object manifestations are when a Digital Phantasm is somehow tied to an object. Those who wield the object or interface with it can commune with the corresponding Digital Phantasm and the object may grant certain abilities, information, or programs. Usually, the objects Digital Phantasms are bound to resemble applicable relics and symbols tied to them and most seem to have a preference for this. Like full summoning, there is a special data crystal that acts as the core for an object embedded somewhere within it.

A possession is when a Digital Phantasm uses someone’s host as a body. Sometimes this leads to the host’s mind being overtaken and destroyed but sometimes the mind of the Digital Phantasm and host fuse or are both active. Either way, this creates an interesting entity that has traits from both the host and Digital Phantasm and the possessed will begin to change physically as they exhibit both some of the physical and mental traits of the possessing figure to some degree. Sometimes the possession is restricted to a specific body part or prosthetic to prevent the rest of the user’s body or mind from being altered. A data crystal needs to be embedded somewhere within the possessed body to act as a core.

Projection is the simplest form and least strenuous of manifestation, but it usually considered the weakest. The Digital Phantasm simply creates a digital, spirit-like, projection. However, this is usually restricted in influence to the Syberelm, and they are forced to tie themselves to someone meant to act as their proxy or medium in relation to the physical world.

The final way to summon a Digital Phantasm is through the use of “Command Circuits.” Like possessions, it involves the implementation of a data core into one’s body. However, in addition to this, one or more special circuits are put into one or more parts of the body, connecting to the data core. This gives the owner a Syberelmian connection and control of the bound Digital Phantasm(s). They act as the “center” of its manifestation and can forcefully dispel or reform its body and even give the phantasm certain commands or rules it has to follow. One should be careful as smarter phantasms may look for loopholes or disable their controller before they can think of a proper command. Some are also harder to control than others for various reasons.

Summoning a digital phantasm requires a lot of resources and can be dangerous. There’s always the risk that someone can pull in some other Syberelmian entity and a vessel or phantasm can be corrupted and influenced by the Syberelmian gods. If done improperly a manifestation can overload whatever is being used and cause it to overheat or break down. The Digital Phantasm also gets a say in its summon and it can reject its summon but it can also just not receive the invitation for the summon due to a loss of communication. The most consistent way to effectively summon a Digital Phantasm is by involving a relic connected to them or doing something big enough in their name but even this is not guaranteed to work. Relics and such artifacts tend to attract the phantasms because many desire to make sure they are remembered and pass on their legacy or they know some people could see them as valuable. Many also fight to remake the dying world in their own image and it is said many of the great legends of humanity are left fighting eternally somewhere in the unknown depths of the Syberelm or fading into history. Very few ever even get the chance at a physical summon because they are either stopped by others or the paths leading to the rest of the Syberelm are closed. The part where the phantasm’s true body resides is very cut off from almost all of the Syberelm. It is suspected that this is to protect it from the influence of the Syberelmian gods

While the Digital Phantasms are indeed powerful and marvels of technology they are not infinite and have their limits. Each figure has a limit to how many summons can exist at one time. More powerful or popular phantasms seem capable of manifesting more summons but trying to exceed a certain number can put a burden on the phantasm and cause it to slow or stats to decrease. So most phantasms have a cap on how many can manifest at once. On average, an average phantasm can have one manifestation of some kind for each of their possible vessel archetypes. Some of these manifestations can overlap or transform from one to the other and exceeding this number of manifestations can lead to the various manifestations of a Digital Phantasm to grow weaker. The memories amongst even the same phantasm can be finicky. Theoretically, all memories are carried back to the phantasm’s “true” and complete form so they should be able to remember everything each of their vessels remembered upon death but this is not always the case. Sometimes summoning a phantasm and putting it into a vessel can cause it to lose certain memories. This is because the vessels are meant to unite synergistic parts of a Digital Phantasm into a cohesive unit. If something does not fit into that by creating too much of a contradiction it will be left behind or deleted. How the Digital Phantasm is summoned can also influence this. Sometimes information is simply lost as it travels through the Syberelm upon the death of a Digital Phantasm’s manifestation. A Digital Phantasm might be “saved” by other Syberelmian entities but this can lead to them being cut off from their true form in various ways or unable to properly rejoin it upon death as to avoid its corruption.

Digital Phantasms can also come with “Armaments” based around their legend. Some might have the ability to manifest or mimic a sword they were famous for using. Some also have special “powers” or techniques that are meant to recreate certain moments or moves.

Each Digital Phantasm has a “username” that acts as a sort of “true name.” Usernames can be important since they can be used to locate the one that holds it or to find out about a phantasm’s strengths and weaknesses as well as their vessel. Different manifestations can actually have different usernames even if they are manifesting from the same figure or “source.” It is believed that each manifestation has only but a part of the true phantasm’s full name.

Digital phantasms often organize their abilities and information into convenient “profiles.”  Their stats are usually broken down into strength (physical power), attack (destructive power), speed (the speed at which they can move across a landscape), agility (reaction speed), intellect (how much knowledge they can hold), wit (how fast they can think), defense (how durable their bodies are), stamina (how long they can go without rest), health (how well they can resist disease and poison), and resolve (how resilient their minds are to mental interference and Syberelmian attacks). These stats are usually numbered 1-5 with 3 being for an average human, 4 for the average Olympian or prodigy, and 5 for the limits of the human body. Some have 6/5 in a stat which represents something beyond human or “godlike.” 0 is used for something non-applicable or non-existent. Different manifestations of the same phantasm can have different stats due to drawing upon different aspects of a figure. Certain traits or abilities can cause stats to temporarily rise or drop.

Digital phantasms have “alignments” split into two parts. The first part dictates their adherence to order or chaos with a “orderly, neutral, or chaotic” while the second part dictates how self-centered they are. From least to most self-centered it goes: “benevolent, impartial, and malicious.“ There also exists ???? for those who cannot be sorted into the normal categories for whatever reason, such as operating beyond human reason. These are meant to give a rough idea of a phantasm’s temperament and behavior.

Despite usually having some sort of remarkable physical or Syberelmian ability, many manifestations still have to wear a certain level of protective gear when moving across the desecrated Earth. Even ones that can directly withstand the unforgiving world risk being wounded or burning much more energy than normal to keep themselves alive. Protective gear also has the added benefit of helping them hide their identity or hide amongst normal people as they try to achieve whatever their goals are.

Art Direction

Fights tend to be a lot more bombastic and anime-esque (like Metal Gear Revengeance). Armies tend to be smaller and engage in skirmishes because of the lower population, but said fights can be more destructive and flashy due to the more advanced technology.

Within the comic everything is in black and white with the exception of the sky and certain sources of light. The sky is normally green but when the sky is blue the entire comic is in color. This shade of blue sort of represents hope while the sickly green sometimes represents despair. Because of this, the same rule applies to even pictures and videos of a blue sky (the entire comic will be in color when these are shown). Pictures of the green sky will depict the sky as green but will not render the entire comic in color. Certain light sources will also be rendered in color, usually to display the presence of a faction’s ideology and goals with them, i.e. what they hope for the world. The black and white atmosphere is also meant to capture how dark the environment is due to the Miasmic Haze while keeping things visible (the lack of color brings things closer to a nighttime appearance and emphasizes how different things are when sunlight is present).