BTScape Wiki - Recent changes [en]

The Shining Empire

Tyg13 — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 00:33:20 GMT

The Church

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:33, 16 September 2026
Line 9:		Line 9:
	== The Church ==		== The Church ==

	The Church of the First Breath was present at the Empire's founding and is its church. ~~Where~~ the Empire's administration has stopped functioning, the Church governs in its place. [[Fablehaven]] is governed by the Church.		The Church of the First Breath was present at the Empire's founding and is its church. In some areas, where the Empire's administration has stopped functioning, the Church governs in its place. [[Fablehaven]] is governed by the Church.

	== Decline ==		== Decline ==

The Union

Tyg13 — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 23:44:25 GMT

Redirect to The Shining Empire, the Empire's everyday name (via create-page on MediaWiki MCP Server)

New page

#REDIRECT [[The Shining Empire]]

Shining Empire

Tyg13 — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 23:44:24 GMT

Redirect to The Shining Empire (via create-page on MediaWiki MCP Server)

New page

#REDIRECT [[The Shining Empire]]

The Shining Empire

Tyg13 — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 23:44:22 GMT

The Shining Empire: a union of States under a Senate and Emperor, with the Church of the First Breath as its church, failing as its eastern sites go spent (via create-page on MediaWiki MCP Server)

New page

'''The Shining Empire''' is the human state that claims the known [[The World|world]]. It is a union of States, one for each region, governed by a Senate and an Emperor. Its people call it '''the Union'''. The [[Church of the First Breath]] is its church. The Empire's authority is failing: its laws still pass and are rarely enforced, and in most States the power that governs is local.

== Government ==

Each region of the world is a '''State''' of the Empire. Each State seats two '''senators''' in the '''Senate''', and the '''Emperor''' stands above the Senate.

The Senate sits and passes law. Enforcement is left to each State. Where a local power governs a State, that power fills the State's two seats with its own people.

== The Church ==

The Church of the First Breath was present at the Empire's founding and is its church. Where the Empire's administration has stopped functioning, the Church governs in its place. [[Fablehaven]] is governed by the Church.

== Decline ==

The Empire was built on the largest [[Pneuma#Sources|elemental sites]] of the eastern States, and on the roads, couriers and garrisons that connected them. Those sites are [[Pneuma#Land|spent]]. The rich sites lie west, in land the Empire never held and beyond the reach of its garrisons.

The Empire once delivered protection, safe roads and the upkeep of its sites. Those benefits are failing, and the loyalty of its people is failing with them. Most people are indifferent to the Empire. Some are for it and some against, and each State has its own attitude.

== Presence ==

In every State the Empire is present as an imperial road, a courier post, an assessor who collects the Empire's tax, and the State's two seats in the Senate. The garrisons have left.

Fablehaven

Bembi — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 16:43:52 GMT

formatting

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:43, 14 September 2026
Line 9:		Line 9:

	[Deserters]		[Deserters]
			== Sub-Zones ==

			=== '''Burbridge''' ===
	== ~~Burbridge~~ ==		A city in Fablehaven ruled by '''Arch Bishop Burble V''' of the Church of the First Breath. It is the church's headquarters and the largest settlement in the region, hosting everything from grand and regal houses of worship to dark and dirty slums.
	'''Burbridge''' ~~is a~~ city in Fablehaven ruled by '''Arch Bishop Burble V''' of the Church of the First Breath. It is the church's headquarters and the largest settlement in the region, hosting everything from grand and regal houses of worship to dark and dirty slums.

	'''Resources:''' Coal, Wool, Cloth, Lamb (Food), Lamb (Livestock), Lumber		'''Resources:''' Coal, Wool, Cloth, Lamb (Food), Lamb (Livestock), Lumber
Line 26:		Line 26:


	== ~~The defector encampment ''(name TBD)'~~' ==
	A small, hidden encampment in the hills, settled by defectors from the divine army. They found a source of iron and are building themselves up as a force to oppose the church, believing the Church of the First Breath is oppressive and cruel and does not faithfully represent [[Bhrenor]]. Many have lost family, friends, or even their homes to what they see as the church's iron fist. They hope to one day build a new, peaceful, and free society away from the church's control.		=== Hope's Rest ===
			A small, hidden encampment in the hills, settled by defectors from the divine army. They found a source of iron and are building themselves up as a force to oppose the church, believing the Church of the First Breath is oppressive and cruel and does not faithfully represent [[Bhrenor]]. Many have lost family, friends, or even their homes to what they see as the church's iron fist. The church has launched a "Crusade" against its enemies and have been slaughtering those who oppose; any who deny the First Breath. They hope to one day build a new, peaceful, and free society away from the church's control and evil.

	* '''Iron Mines''' — they operate an iron mine producing a large amount of iron.		* '''Iron Mines''' — they operate an iron mine producing a large amount of iron.
Line 33:		Line 34:
	* They are beginning to be able to forge steel — a new step forward in power for them.		* They are beginning to be able to forge steel — a new step forward in power for them.

	== The pneuma meadow ''(name TBD)'' ==		=== The pneuma meadow ''(name TBD)'' ===
	An exceptionally large meadow in Fablehaven, surrounded by dense forest, with a large stone monument or magical artifact ''(exact nature TBD)'' at its center. It has become an important religious site for the church: the ancient object emits pneuma in a crawlingly slow but ever-lasting stream. Its nature and source are unknown, and the details of its existence are still being studied — to the people of Fablehaven it is a natural phenomenon. Occasionally a surge of pneuma passes through the object, and ''(an enemy appears, or some manifestation of pneuma/the elements — TBD)''.		An exceptionally large meadow in Fablehaven, surrounded by dense forest, with a large stone monument or magical artifact ''(exact nature TBD)'' at its center. It has become an important religious site for the church: the ancient object emits pneuma in a crawlingly slow but ever-lasting stream. Its nature and source are unknown, and the details of its existence are still being studied — to the people of Fablehaven it is a natural phenomenon. Occasionally a surge of pneuma passes through the object, and ''(an enemy appears, or some manifestation of pneuma/the elements — TBD)''.

			=== [Haunted Woods] ===


			=== [Briarwood] ===

			=== Fisheye Island ===

			=== [Naval Port Shype] ===

			== Inhabitants ==
			Humans

			Cryptid monsters

	== Quests and Storylines ==		== Quests and Storylines ==

The World

Bembi — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 19:37:41 GMT

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:37, 7 September 2026
Line 7:		Line 7:

	* Themes: Religion, Oppression, Classism		* Themes: Religion, Oppression, Classism
			* Subzones: Burbridge, Hope's Rest, Haunted Woods, Briarwood, [Farmland]
	* Descriptors:		* Descriptors:
	* Resources: coal, iron, wool, cloth, lumber, lamb(livestock), venison, deer hides, and salted lamb		* Resources: coal, iron, wool, cloth, lumber, lamb(livestock), venison, deer hides, and salted lamb
Line 17:		Line 18:

	* Themes: Solitude, Finding a way, "In between" times in life, liminal		* Themes: Solitude, Finding a way, "In between" times in life, liminal
			* Subzones:
	* Descriptors:		* Descriptors:
	* Resources: Minerals/Gems		* Resources: Minerals/Gems
Line 26:		Line 28:

	* Themes: Survival, Free-for-all,		* Themes: Survival, Free-for-all,
			* Subzones:
	* Descriptors:		* Descriptors:
	* Resources:		* Resources:
Line 35:		Line 38:

	* Themes: Ancient Civilization, Lost Knowledge, Occupation (Military)		* Themes: Ancient Civilization, Lost Knowledge, Occupation (Military)
			* Subzones: Dunes, Oasis, Badlands,
	* Descriptors:		* Descriptors:
	* Resources: Sandstone, Glass, Quartz		* Resources: Sandstone, Glass, Quartz
	* Fauna: Snakes, Tortoise, Scorpions, Camels, Cats,		* Fauna: Snakes, Tortoise, Scorpions, Camels, Cats,
	* Flora: Cactus, Aloe vera, wildflowers,		* Flora: Cactus, Aloe vera, wildflowers,
	* Locations: Pyramids/Ancient Tombs, Oasis, Merchant Town, Shipping Port, Outlaw/Cowboy Town		* Locations: Pyramids/Ancient Tombs, Oasis, Merchant Town, Shipping Port, Outlaw/Cowboy Town[[File:Image.png\|thumb\|500x500px\|Art Direction - Desert Biome Type]]

	'''[Plains]''' is a region in the central part of the world that is a dry and flat with tornadoes and lightning storms.		'''[Plains]''' is a region in the central part of the world that is a dry and flat with tornadoes and lightning storms.

Line 77:		Line 80:
	'''[Golden Coast]''' is a region		'''[Golden Coast]''' is a region
	* Themes:		* Themes:
			* Subzones: [Pacific Highway],
	* Descriptors:		* Descriptors:
	* Resources:		* Resources: Gold,
	* Fauna:		* Fauna:
	* Flora:		* Flora:
	* Locations:		* Locations:

	'''[Volcano Island]''' is a region		'''[Volcano Island]''' is a region

File:Image.png

Bembi — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 14:57:04 GMT

Bembi uploaded File:Image.png

New page

AI USA glazing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlzFFBJGDCg

Soma

Tyg13 — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 04:54:17 GMT

State rules positively: drop denials of unimplied negatives ("not alive", "never destroyed", "no process loses soma", "not destroyed", "consume no soma", "does not raise", "not dead"); enemies defined by differing in both qualities (via update-page on MediaWiki MCP Server)

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:54, 7 September 2026
Line 1:		Line 1:
	'''Soma''' is the world's matter. Everything is made of it: ground, sea, flame, wind, tools, bodies~~. Soma is not alive~~. [[Pneuma\|Pneuma]] animates it. Pneuma is energy and soma is matter. A creature's pneuma is its power and its soma is its health.		'''Soma''' is the world's matter. Everything is made of it: ground, sea, flame, wind, tools, bodies. [[Pneuma\|Pneuma]] animates it. Pneuma is energy and soma is matter. A creature's pneuma is its power and its soma is its health.

	Soma is a physical quantity. It is gathered, split, recombined, traded and spent.		Soma is a physical quantity. It is gathered, split, recombined, traded and spent.
Line 7:		Line 7:
	Soma comes in four '''elements''': fire, air, water and earth. "Fire soma" is soma of the fire element. Everything in the world is soma of one element or a '''blend''' of several. Soma of each element is a thing that can be held, stacked and traded.		Soma comes in four '''elements''': fire, air, water and earth. "Fire soma" is soma of the fire element. Everything in the world is soma of one element or a '''blend''' of several. Soma of each element is a thing that can be held, stacked and traded.

	[[File:Elemental Square.png\|thumb\|The four elements on a square. Each edge joins two that share a quality: a temperature (hot or cold) or a moisture (wet or dry). ~~The diagonals share none~~.]]		[[File:Elemental Square.png\|thumb\|The four elements on a square. Each edge joins two that share a quality: a temperature (hot or cold) or a moisture (wet or dry). Each diagonal joins two that differ in both.]]
	The four elements are related as follows:		The four elements are related as follows:

	* '''Allies''': two elements that share a quality (adjacent on the square). Every element has two allies.		* '''Allies''': two elements that share a quality (adjacent on the square). Every element has two allies.
	* '''Enemies''': two elements that ~~share no quality~~ (diagonal). Every element has one enemy.		* '''Enemies''': two elements that differ in both temperature and moisture (diagonal). Every element has one enemy.

	Ally and enemy are relations between elements~~. Pneuma bound in soma has no effect on them~~.		Ally and enemy are relations between elements.

	== The Two Laws ==		== The Two Laws ==

	'''Law I — Persistence.''' ~~Soma~~ is ~~never destroyed, only rearranged~~. Every craft ~~changes the arrangement of~~ soma. Compare Attrition on the [[Pneuma#The Three Laws\|Pneuma page]]: every shaping loses pneuma~~, and no process loses soma~~.		'''Law I — Persistence.''' The amount of soma is constant. Every craft rearranges soma. Compare Attrition on the [[Pneuma#The Three Laws\|Pneuma page]]: every shaping loses pneuma.

	'''Law II — Vessel.''' A vessel is an arrangement of soma that can carry circulating pneuma. A vessel with pneuma circulating in it is alive ([[Pneuma#The Three Laws\|Vitality]]). The arrangement determines what the vessel can do; the pneuma is the same in every vessel.		'''Law II — Vessel.''' A vessel is an arrangement of soma that can carry circulating pneuma. A vessel with pneuma circulating in it is alive ([[Pneuma#The Three Laws\|Vitality]]). The arrangement determines what the vessel can do; the pneuma is the same in every vessel.
Line 32:		Line 32:
	\| Share a quality \|\| Allies \|\| '''Synergy''' \|\| Hold together as a hybrid		\| Share a quality \|\| Allies \|\| '''Synergy''' \|\| Hold together as a hybrid
	\|-		\|-
	\| ~~Share none~~ \|\| Enemies \|\| '''Dissonance''' \|\| Separate and release the pneuma bound in both		\| Differ in both \|\| Enemies \|\| '''Dissonance''' \|\| Separate and release the pneuma bound in both
	\|}		\|}

Line 58:		Line 58:
	== Casting ==		== Casting ==

	An elemental spell has a body of soma. The caster supplies the soma and the cast consumes it. The soma becomes part of the effect ~~and is not destroyed~~ (Law I): a fireball is fire soma moved by pneuma. ~~Pure spells and abilities consume no soma~~ (see [[Pneuma#Casting\|Casting]] on the Pneuma page).		An elemental spell has a body of soma. The caster supplies the soma and the cast consumes it. The soma becomes part of the effect (Law I): a fireball is fire soma moved by pneuma. A pure spell or an ability spends pneuma alone (see [[Pneuma#Casting\|Casting]] on the Pneuma page).

	== The body ==		== The body ==
Line 74:		Line 74:
	=== Tempering ===		=== Tempering ===

	~~Density rises with damage~~ taken and recovered from. Density is independent of every value on the [[Pneuma]] page~~: baseline does not raise it, and casting does not lower it~~.		Damage taken and recovered from is the only thing that raises density. Density is independent of every value on the [[Pneuma]] page.

	=== Healing ===		=== Healing ===
Line 82:		Line 82:
	=== Death ===		=== Death ===

	Death is the vessel breaking: the body's soma ~~is no longer arranged to carry~~ a current. ~~Its~~ soma persists (Law I). Its pneuma leaves it as described under [[Pneuma#Death\|Death]] on the Pneuma page. A creature at zero pneuma is exhausted~~, not dead~~.		Death is the vessel breaking: the body's soma has lost the arrangement that carries a current. The soma itself persists (Law I). Its pneuma leaves it as described under [[Pneuma#Death\|Death]] on the Pneuma page. A creature at zero pneuma is exhausted.

	== Open questions ==		== Open questions ==

Pneuma

Tyg13 — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 04:54:00 GMT

State rules positively: drop denials of unimplied negatives ("not destroyed", "not dead", "loses nothing", "no regeneration", "cannot condense", "never decreases", "consumes no soma") (via update-page on MediaWiki MCP Server)

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:54, 7 September 2026
Line 5:		Line 5:
	Pneuma has one form, '''pure'''. An element is a kind of [[Soma\|soma]]. Pneuma bound in fire soma is the same pneuma as pneuma bound in anything else.		Pneuma has one form, '''pure'''. An element is a kind of [[Soma\|soma]]. Pneuma bound in fire soma is the same pneuma as pneuma bound in anything else.

	Pneuma is always held in one of two ways: circulating through a vessel (Law I), or bound in soma. Bound pneuma is inert. It can be carried, stored and traded. Pneuma released ~~with nothing to hold it~~ goes dull where it is (see [[#Land\|Land]]).		Pneuma is always held in one of two ways: circulating through a vessel (Law I), or bound in soma. Bound pneuma is inert. It can be carried, stored and traded. Pneuma released outside any vessel or soma goes dull where it is (see [[#Land\|Land]]).

	A '''phial''' is soma made to hold bound pneuma. It is the only physical form of pneuma (see [[#Physical form\|Physical form]]).		A '''phial''' is soma made to hold bound pneuma. It is the only physical form of pneuma (see [[#Physical form\|Physical form]]).
Line 11:		Line 11:
	== The Three Laws ==		== The Three Laws ==

	'''Law I — Vitality.''' Pneuma circulating through a '''vessel''' — soma arranged to carry it — is alive~~. Pneuma~~ bound in soma is ~~not~~. The structure of a creature's vessel determines what the creature can do~~. More~~ pneuma ~~raises a~~ creature's power~~; it does not change what the creature can do~~. A vessel ~~with no pneuma in it~~ is exhausted~~, not dead~~ (see [[#Death\|Death]]).		'''Law I — Vitality.''' Pneuma circulating through a '''vessel''' — soma arranged to carry it — is alive; pneuma bound in soma is inert. The structure of a creature's vessel determines what the creature can do, and the amount of pneuma in it determines the creature's power. An empty vessel is exhausted (see [[#Death\|Death]]).

	'''Law II — Attrition.''' Every shaping (see [[#Key terms\|Key terms]]) loses part of the pneuma moved. Carrying and storing bound pneuma ~~loses nothing~~.		'''Law II — Attrition.''' Every shaping (see [[#Key terms\|Key terms]]) loses part of the pneuma moved. Carrying and storing bound pneuma are free.

	'''Law III — Affinity.''' Affinity for a soma lowers the Attrition loss of shaping through it. Affinity grows by spending pneuma through that soma.		'''Law III — Affinity.''' Affinity for a soma lowers the Attrition loss of shaping through it. Affinity grows by spending pneuma through that soma.
Line 37:		Line 37:
	=== Land ===		=== Land ===

	Land holds a pool of usable pneuma. Regeneration draws from it (see [[#The pool\|The pool]]). Its level is described as '''rich''', '''spent''' or '''void'''. A void pool is empty, ~~and a creature~~ on void land ~~does not regenerate~~.		Land holds a pool of usable pneuma. Regeneration draws from it (see [[#The pool\|The pool]]). Its level is described as '''rich''', '''spent''' or '''void'''. A void pool is empty, so regeneration on void land is zero.

	The pneuma lost to a shaping ~~is not destroyed. It~~ goes '''dull''' ~~— still present, not usable — and~~ settles into the land where it was spent~~. Dull pneuma is~~ separate from the usable pool. Pneuma released ~~with nothing to hold it~~ — a creature slain with no victor, a [[Soma#Alchemy\|dissonant reaction]] with no vessel in reach — goes dull the same way.		The pneuma lost to a shaping goes '''dull''': it settles into the land where it was spent, separate from the usable pool. Pneuma released outside any vessel or soma — a creature slain with no victor, a [[Soma#Alchemy\|dissonant reaction]] with no vessel in reach — goes dull the same way.

	'''Reclaiming''' converts dull pneuma back into the usable pool. [[Celaborans]] reclaim. Whether anything else can is open.		'''Reclaiming''' converts dull pneuma back into the usable pool. [[Celaborans]] reclaim. Whether anything else can is open.
Line 45:		Line 45:
	== The pool ==		== The pool ==

	Each creature holds a reserve of pure pneuma ~~with no upper limit~~.		Each creature holds an unbounded reserve of pure pneuma.

	The '''baseline''' is the amount of pneuma that circulates in the creature's vessel (Law I). Below baseline the creature is '''depleted''' and draws from the land's usable pool to refill: faster the deeper the deficit, faster where the land is rich, slower where it is spent. ~~At or above~~ baseline ~~there is no regeneration~~. Pneuma above baseline is '''surplus''', and comes only from absorption and trade. The regeneration rate is below the spend rate of combat.		The '''baseline''' is the amount of pneuma that circulates in the creature's vessel (Law I). Below baseline the creature is '''depleted''' and draws from the land's usable pool to refill: faster the deeper the deficit, faster where the land is rich, slower where it is spent. Regeneration stops at baseline. Pneuma above baseline is '''surplus''', and comes only from absorption and trade. The regeneration rate is below the spend rate of combat.

	* Filling: absorption from elemental sites, slain creatures or phials.		* Filling: absorption from elemental sites, slain creatures or phials.
Line 54:		Line 54:
	=== The vessel grows ===		=== The vessel grows ===

	Baseline is a function of lifetime pneuma spent. The function is sublinear; the exact curve is open. Baseline ~~never decreases~~.		Baseline is a function of lifetime pneuma spent. The function is sublinear; the exact curve is open. Baseline only ever rises.

	=== Surplus and condensation ===		=== Surplus and condensation ===

	Condensation uses surplus only~~. A vessel cannot condense its own baseline~~. Spending below baseline is allowed.		Condensation uses surplus only. Spending below baseline is allowed.

	=== Death ===		=== Death ===

	Death is the vessel breaking (see [[Soma#Death\|Soma]]). A creature at zero pneuma is exhausted~~, not dead~~.		Death is the vessel breaking (see [[Soma#Death\|Soma]]). A creature at zero pneuma is exhausted.

	When a creature is slain, its surplus is released. The victor absorbs a fixed share; the rest goes dull into the land where the body fell. The share is open. Baseline, mastery and affinity are unchanged by death. On respawn the pool is set to baseline. Phials are kept on death.		When a creature is slain, its surplus is released. The victor absorbs a fixed share; the rest goes dull into the land where the body fell. The share is open. Baseline, mastery and affinity are unchanged by death. On respawn the pool is set to baseline. Phials are kept on death.
Line 70:		Line 70:
	Every working spends pneuma. An elemental spell spends soma as well:		Every working spends pneuma. An elemental spell spends soma as well:

	* A '''pure''' spell (Blink, for example) spends pneuma ~~with no shaping~~. Its cost is set by pure affinity.		* A '''pure''' spell (Blink, for example) spends pneuma straight from the vessel. Its cost is set by pure affinity.
	* An '''elemental''' spell has a body of soma. The caster supplies the soma and the cast consumes it (see [[Soma#Casting\|Soma]]). The cast binds pneuma into that soma. This is a shaping: it costs less with affinity for the soma (Law III) and always loses something (Law II).		* An '''elemental''' spell has a body of soma. The caster supplies the soma and the cast consumes it (see [[Soma#Casting\|Soma]]). The cast binds pneuma into that soma. This is a shaping: it costs less with affinity for the soma (Law III) and always loses something (Law II).

Line 77:		Line 77:
	== Abilities ==		== Abilities ==

	Abilities spend pure pneuma, and pure affinity sets the cost. An ability's body is the creature's own body and the weapon in hand, so ~~it consumes no~~ soma.		Abilities spend pure pneuma, and pure affinity sets the cost. An ability's body is the creature's own body and the weapon in hand, so its soma cost is zero.

	Every working spends pneuma, gathering and utility actions included. A gathering action spends pneuma and absorbs pneuma from the site in the same action. At a rich site the absorbed amount roughly matches the spent amount; at a spent site it is less. The exact ratio is open. Only the spent amount counts toward mastery and baseline.		Every working spends pneuma, gathering and utility actions included. A gathering action spends pneuma and absorbs pneuma from the site in the same action. At a rich site the absorbed amount roughly matches the spent amount; at a spent site it is less. The exact ratio is open. Only the spent amount counts toward mastery and baseline.

Soma

Tyg13 — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 02:50:17 GMT

Sweep agentive and possessive phrasings ("properties of the soma", "what allied elements make", "takes soma and leaves it", "holds an arrangement") into plain statements (via update-page on MediaWiki MCP Server)

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:50, 7 September 2026
Line 1:		Line 1:
	'''Soma''' is the world's matter. Everything is made of it: ground, sea, flame, wind, tools, bodies. Soma is not alive; [[Pneuma\|~~pneuma~~]] ~~is what~~ animates it. Pneuma is energy and soma is matter. A creature's pneuma is its power and its soma is its health.		'''Soma''' is the world's matter. Everything is made of it: ground, sea, flame, wind, tools, bodies. Soma is not alive. [[Pneuma\|Pneuma]] animates it. Pneuma is energy and soma is matter. A creature's pneuma is its power and its soma is its health.

	Soma is a physical quantity. It is gathered, split, recombined, traded and spent.		Soma is a physical quantity. It is gathered, split, recombined, traded and spent.
Line 8:		Line 8:

	[[File:Elemental Square.png\|thumb\|The four elements on a square. Each edge joins two that share a quality: a temperature (hot or cold) or a moisture (wet or dry). The diagonals share none.]]		[[File:Elemental Square.png\|thumb\|The four elements on a square. Each edge joins two that share a quality: a temperature (hot or cold) or a moisture (wet or dry). The diagonals share none.]]
	The four elements ~~stand in fixed relation~~:		The four elements are related as follows:

	* '''Allies''': two elements that share a quality (adjacent on the square). Every element has two allies.		* '''Allies''': two elements that share a quality (adjacent on the square). Every element has two allies.
	* '''Enemies''': two elements that share no quality (diagonal). Every element has one enemy.		* '''Enemies''': two elements that share no quality (diagonal). Every element has one enemy.

	~~These~~ relations ~~are properties of the soma~~. Pneuma bound in soma ~~does not change~~ them.		Ally and enemy are relations between elements. Pneuma bound in soma has no effect on them.

	== The Two Laws ==		== The Two Laws ==

	'''Law I — Persistence.''' Soma is never destroyed, only rearranged. Every craft ~~takes~~ soma ~~in one arrangement and leaves it in another~~. Compare Attrition on the [[Pneuma#The Three Laws\|Pneuma page]]: ~~pneuma is lost to~~ every shaping; soma ~~is not~~.		'''Law I — Persistence.''' Soma is never destroyed, only rearranged. Every craft changes the arrangement of soma. Compare Attrition on the [[Pneuma#The Three Laws\|Pneuma page]]: every shaping loses pneuma, and no process loses soma.

	'''Law II — Vessel.''' A vessel is an arrangement of soma that can carry circulating pneuma. A vessel with pneuma circulating in it is alive ([[Pneuma#The Three Laws\|Vitality]]). The arrangement ~~decides~~ what the vessel can do; the pneuma is the same in every vessel.		'''Law II — Vessel.''' A vessel is an arrangement of soma that can carry circulating pneuma. A vessel with pneuma circulating in it is alive ([[Pneuma#The Three Laws\|Vitality]]). The arrangement determines what the vessel can do; the pneuma is the same in every vessel.

	== Alchemy ==		== Alchemy ==
Line 25:		Line 25:
	Alchemy is the craft of soma: '''splitting''' a thing into the soma it is made of, and '''recombining''' soma into new things. Any thing can be split, and the yield is the blend the thing was made of. Most soma is obtained by splitting.		Alchemy is the craft of soma: '''splitting''' a thing into the soma it is made of, and '''recombining''' soma into new things. Any thing can be split, and the yield is the blend the thing was made of. Most soma is obtained by splitting.

	~~What~~ two elements ~~do when recombined~~ depends on their relation:		The result of recombining two elements depends on their relation:

	{\| class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable"
Line 35:		Line 35:
	\|}		\|}

	'''~~Hybrids~~''' ~~are what~~ allied elements ~~make together~~. The hybrid is determined by the shared quality and by the ratio of the two elements: different ratios of the same pair give different hybrids.		A '''hybrid''' is the result of combining allied elements. The hybrid is determined by the shared quality and by the ratio of the two elements: different ratios of the same pair give different hybrids.

	{\| class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable"
Line 68:		Line 68:
	=== Health ===		=== Health ===

	A body has a '''volume''', set by its size, and a '''density''': how much soma its volume can hold. Maximum health is volume times density. Current health is the soma the body ~~holds above what~~ its structure needs to carry a current. Damage removes soma from the body. When health reaches zero, the vessel breaks.		A body has a '''volume''', set by its size, and a '''density''': how much soma its volume can hold. Maximum health is volume times density. Current health is the soma in the body beyond the minimum its structure needs to carry a current. Damage removes soma from the body. When health reaches zero, the vessel breaks.

	A giant has a larger volume than a person, so a higher maximum. A veteran and a novice have the same volume; the veteran has the higher density.		A giant has a larger volume than a person, so a higher maximum. A veteran and a novice have the same volume; the veteran has the higher density.
Line 82:		Line 82:
	=== Death ===		=== Death ===

	Death is the vessel breaking: the body no longer ~~holds an arrangement of soma that can~~ carry a current. Its soma persists (Law I). Its pneuma leaves it as described under [[Pneuma#Death\|Death]] on the Pneuma page. A creature at zero pneuma is exhausted, not dead.		Death is the vessel breaking: the body's soma is no longer arranged to carry a current. Its soma persists (Law I). Its pneuma leaves it as described under [[Pneuma#Death\|Death]] on the Pneuma page. A creature at zero pneuma is exhausted, not dead.

	== Open questions ==		== Open questions ==

Pneuma

Tyg13 — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 02:50:00 GMT

Sweep agentive and possessive phrasings ("the elements belong to", "what Attrition takes", "sheds", "gives up", "bears on") into plain statements (via update-page on MediaWiki MCP Server)

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:50, 7 September 2026
Line 3:		Line 3:
	== Form ==		== Form ==

	Pneuma has one form, '''pure'''. ~~The elements belong to~~ [[Soma\|soma]]. Pneuma bound in fire soma is the same pneuma as pneuma bound in anything else.		Pneuma has one form, '''pure'''. An element is a kind of [[Soma\|soma]]. Pneuma bound in fire soma is the same pneuma as pneuma bound in anything else.

	Pneuma is always held in one of two ways: circulating through a vessel (Law I), or bound in soma. Bound pneuma is inert. It can be carried, stored and traded. Pneuma released with nothing to hold it goes dull where it is (see [[#Land\|Land]]).		Pneuma is always held in one of two ways: circulating through a vessel (Law I), or bound in soma. Bound pneuma is inert. It can be carried, stored and traded. Pneuma released with nothing to hold it goes dull where it is (see [[#Land\|Land]]).
Line 11:		Line 11:
	== The Three Laws ==		== The Three Laws ==

	'''Law I — Vitality.''' Pneuma circulating through a '''vessel''' — soma arranged to carry it — is alive. Pneuma bound in soma is not. ~~What~~ a creature can do ~~is decided by the structure of its vessel~~. More pneuma raises a creature's power; it does not change what the creature can do. A vessel with no pneuma in it is exhausted, not dead (see [[#Death\|Death]]).		'''Law I — Vitality.''' Pneuma circulating through a '''vessel''' — soma arranged to carry it — is alive. Pneuma bound in soma is not. The structure of a creature's vessel determines what the creature can do. More pneuma raises a creature's power; it does not change what the creature can do. A vessel with no pneuma in it is exhausted, not dead (see [[#Death\|Death]]).

	'''Law II — Attrition.''' Every shaping (see [[#Key terms\|Key terms]]) loses part of the pneuma moved. Carrying and storing bound pneuma loses nothing.		'''Law II — Attrition.''' Every shaping (see [[#Key terms\|Key terms]]) loses part of the pneuma moved. Carrying and storing bound pneuma loses nothing.
Line 30:		Line 30:
	== Sources ==		== Sources ==

	* '''Elemental sites.''' Wherever an element is concentrated — a river, a fire, a mountain — pneuma is bound in the soma there. ~~Absorbing takes~~ the pneuma ~~and leaves~~ the soma. ~~What~~ a site ~~yields as soma~~ is on the [[Soma#Sources\|Soma page]].		* '''Elemental sites.''' Wherever an element is concentrated — a river, a fire, a mountain — pneuma is bound in the soma there. Absorption removes the pneuma; the soma remains. The soma yield of a site is on the [[Soma#Sources\|Soma page]].
	* '''Creatures.''' A slain creature ~~gives up~~ its pneuma (see [[#Death\|Death]]).		* '''Creatures.''' A slain creature releases its pneuma (see [[#Death\|Death]]).
	* '''Phials.''' Pneuma condensed into a phial can be absorbed back out of it.		* '''Phials.''' Pneuma condensed into a phial can be absorbed back out of it.
	* '''The self.''' A creature below baseline refills from the land (see [[#The pool\|The pool]]).		* '''The self.''' A creature below baseline refills from the land (see [[#The pool\|The pool]]).
Line 39:		Line 39:
	Land holds a pool of usable pneuma. Regeneration draws from it (see [[#The pool\|The pool]]). Its level is described as '''rich''', '''spent''' or '''void'''. A void pool is empty, and a creature on void land does not regenerate.		Land holds a pool of usable pneuma. Regeneration draws from it (see [[#The pool\|The pool]]). Its level is described as '''rich''', '''spent''' or '''void'''. A void pool is empty, and a creature on void land does not regenerate.

	~~What Attrition takes~~ is not destroyed. It goes '''dull''' — still present, not usable — and settles into the land where it was spent. Dull pneuma is separate from the usable pool. Pneuma released with nothing to hold it — a creature slain with no victor, a [[Soma#Alchemy\|dissonant reaction]] with no vessel in reach — goes dull the same way.		The pneuma lost to a shaping is not destroyed. It goes '''dull''' — still present, not usable — and settles into the land where it was spent. Dull pneuma is separate from the usable pool. Pneuma released with nothing to hold it — a creature slain with no victor, a [[Soma#Alchemy\|dissonant reaction]] with no vessel in reach — goes dull the same way.

	'''Reclaiming''' converts dull pneuma back into the usable pool. [[Celaborans]] reclaim. Whether anything else can is open.		'''Reclaiming''' converts dull pneuma back into the usable pool. [[Celaborans]] reclaim. Whether anything else can is open.
Line 47:		Line 47:
	Each creature holds a reserve of pure pneuma with no upper limit.		Each creature holds a reserve of pure pneuma with no upper limit.

	The '''baseline''' is the amount of pneuma the creature's vessel ~~keeps in circulation~~ (Law I). Below baseline the creature is '''depleted''' and draws from the land's usable pool to refill: faster the deeper the deficit, faster where the land is rich, slower where it is spent. At or above baseline there is no regeneration. Pneuma above baseline is '''surplus''', and comes only from absorption and trade. The regeneration rate is below the spend rate of combat.		The '''baseline''' is the amount of pneuma that circulates in the creature's vessel (Law I). Below baseline the creature is '''depleted''' and draws from the land's usable pool to refill: faster the deeper the deficit, faster where the land is rich, slower where it is spent. At or above baseline there is no regeneration. Pneuma above baseline is '''surplus''', and comes only from absorption and trade. The regeneration rate is below the spend rate of combat.

	* Filling: absorption from elemental sites, slain creatures or phials.		* Filling: absorption from elemental sites, slain creatures or phials.
Line 58:		Line 58:
	=== Surplus and condensation ===		=== Surplus and condensation ===

	Condensation ~~draws on~~ surplus only. A vessel cannot condense its own baseline. Spending below baseline is allowed.		Condensation uses surplus only. A vessel cannot condense its own baseline. Spending below baseline is allowed.

	=== Death ===		=== Death ===
Line 64:		Line 64:
	Death is the vessel breaking (see [[Soma#Death\|Soma]]). A creature at zero pneuma is exhausted, not dead.		Death is the vessel breaking (see [[Soma#Death\|Soma]]). A creature at zero pneuma is exhausted, not dead.

	A slain ~~creature sheds~~ its surplus. The victor absorbs a fixed share; the rest goes dull into the land where the body fell. The share is open. Baseline, mastery and affinity are unchanged by death. On respawn the pool is set to baseline. Phials are kept on death.		When a creature is slain, its surplus is released. The victor absorbs a fixed share; the rest goes dull into the land where the body fell. The share is open. Baseline, mastery and affinity are unchanged by death. On respawn the pool is set to baseline. Phials are kept on death.

	== Casting ==		== Casting ==

	Every working spends pneuma. ~~What else it~~ spends ~~is decided by what it is made of~~:		Every working spends pneuma. An elemental spell spends soma as well:

	* A '''pure''' spell (Blink, for example) spends pneuma with no shaping. Its cost is set by pure affinity.		* A '''pure''' spell (Blink, for example) spends pneuma with no shaping. Its cost is set by pure affinity.
Line 85:		Line 85:
	Affinity is tracked per soma, with pure as one more, and equals the sum of mastery across the abilities tagged with that soma (see [[#Key terms\|Key terms]]). It lowers the Attrition loss of shaping through that soma (Law III).		Affinity is tracked per soma, with pure as one more, and equals the sum of mastery across the abilities tagged with that soma (see [[#Key terms\|Key terms]]). It lowers the Attrition loss of shaping through that soma (Law III).

	~~How~~ the [[Soma#Elements\|elemental square]] ~~bears~~ on affinity is open: whether allied affinities help each other ('''synergy''') and enemy affinities hinder each other ('''dissonance'''), and how (see [[#Open questions\|Open questions]]).		The effect of the [[Soma#Elements\|elemental square]] on affinity is open: whether allied affinities help each other ('''synergy''') and enemy affinities hinder each other ('''dissonance'''), and how (see [[#Open questions\|Open questions]]).

	== Physical form ==		== Physical form ==
Line 93:		Line 93:
	== Open questions ==		== Open questions ==

	* ~~How~~ the elemental square ~~bears~~ on affinity: whether and how synergy and dissonance affect affinity growth or shaping cost.		* The effect of the elemental square on affinity: whether and how synergy and dissonance affect affinity growth or shaping cost.
	* Whether affinity also lowers the soma cost of an elemental working.		* Whether affinity also lowers the soma cost of an elemental working.
	* The victor's share of a slain creature's surplus.		* The victor's share of a slain creature's surplus.

Soma

Tyg13 — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 02:46:41 GMT

Prose pass to plain technical English: "element" for the type and "soma" for the substance throughout (Kinds → Elements); epigrams and examples-as-rules removed. Rule fixes from the 2026-09-06 session: health is volume × density with damage removing soma; hybrids depend on ratio; splitting folded into Alchemy; dissonance reach and ratio hybrids listed as open (via update-page on MediaWiki MCP Server)

Show changes

Pneuma

Tyg13 — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 02:46:22 GMT

Prose pass to plain technical English: one vocabulary (shaping/binding/absorption/condensation, creature/working) fixed in Key terms; epigrams, personified laws and rationale-as-rules removed; each rule stated once. Rule fixes from the 2026-09-06 session: Land section defines the usable pool and dull pneuma; affinity is the sum of mastery, square effects moved to Open questions; trace-lodges sentence struck; Death states victor share, respawn to baseline, phials kept; only spent pneuma grows...

Show changes

Soma

Tyg13 — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 02:27:44 GMT

Soma is a physical quantity: kinds as goods, the elemental square and hybrids move here from Pneuma, new Alchemy (split and recombine; enemies react and release bound pneuma), Sources, and Casting (soma is the body of an elemental working and is consumed) (2026-09-06 session, Tyler + Bembi) (via update-page on MediaWiki MCP Server)

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 '''Soma''' is the world's matter. Everything is made of it — ground, sea, flame, wind, tools, bodies. It holds no life of its own; [[Pneuma|pneuma]] is what animates it. The two are the world's dual: pneuma is energy and soma is matter, pneuma is mind and soma is body. A creature's pneuma is its power and its soma is its health.
 == Kinds ==
-Soma comes in four kinds: '''fire''', '''air''', '''water''' and '''earth'''. These are the elements. Everything in the world is one kind of soma or a blend of several.
+Soma comes in four kinds: '''fire''', '''air''', '''water''' and '''earth'''. These are the elements. Everything in the world is one kind of soma or a blend of several, and every kind is stuff in its own right — a handful of fire soma is a thing in a bag.
-The four stand in the fixed relation the [[Pneuma#Forms|elemental square]] describes — allies share a quality, enemies share none — and the [[Pneuma#Reactions|reactions]] between them (synergy, dissonance, hybrids like lightning and magma) are things somas do to each other. Pneuma bound in soma is only along for the ride.
+These relations belong to the soma. Pneuma bound in it is only along for the ride.
 == The Two Laws ==
@@ Line 12: / Line 20: @@
 '''Law II — Vessel.''' A vessel is soma arranged to carry a current of pneuma. Fill it and it lives ([[Pneuma#The Three Laws|Vitality]]). What a vessel can do is decided by its arrangement: the same pneuma glows in a stone and thinks in a person because the stone and the person are different arrangements of soma.
 == The body ==
@@ Line 34: / Line 80: @@
 === Healing ===
-Re-knitting loosened soma takes matter. Food is soma, and eating supplies what the body needs to close its wounds. Healing consumables are soma's counterpart to [[Pneuma#Physical form|condensed pneuma]]: matter to rebuild, where condensed pneuma is energy to spend.
+Re-knitting loosened soma takes matter. Food is soma, and eating supplies what the body needs to close its wounds. Healing consumables are soma's counterpart to a [[Pneuma#Physical form|phial]]: matter to rebuild, where a phial is energy to spend.
 === Death ===
@@ Line 43: / Line 89: @@
 * '''Origin.''' Where the world's soma came from is unsettled.
-* '''Numbers.''' Blend proportions, resistance strength and the density curve are all undecided.
+* '''Numbers.''' Blend proportions, resistance strength, the density curve and the soma cost of a working are all undecided.

Pneuma

Tyg13 — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 02:27:21 GMT

Pass over the page under the soma dual: pneuma has one form and is always held; elements, the square, reactions and hybrids move to Soma; typed pneuma goes, phials are the only physical pneuma; casting is pneuma to activate and soma for the body; Attrition on every move between vessel and soma; Affinity section rewritten as progression rules; open question on affinity and soma cost (2026-09-06 session, Tyler + Bembi) (via update-page on MediaWiki MCP Server)

Show changes

Combat

Tyg13 — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 02:08:19 GMT

Stats: elemental resistance now comes from soma composition; affinity points at the Pneuma page (2026-09-06 session, approved by Tyler) (via update-page on MediaWiki MCP Server)

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:08, 7 September 2026
Line 14:		Line 14:
	Abilities - cast-able actions with different effects. Abilities can deal type or type-less damage or combinations of typed damage.		Abilities - cast-able actions with different effects. Abilities can deal type or type-less damage or combinations of typed damage.

	Affinity - ~~Resistance to~~ element ~~type~~.		Resistance - How much typed damage a body shrugs off. Set by its [[Soma#Composition\|soma composition]].

			Affinity - How cheaply and powerfully a creature casts an element. See [[Pneuma#Affinity\|Pneuma]].

	== Combat Abilities ==		== Combat Abilities ==

Pneuma

Tyg13 — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 02:08:11 GMT

Introduce Soma as the matter dual: media are now soma (sweep medium→soma in Forms, Laws I–III, Casting); lead points at the Soma page; Death names the vessel breaking (2026-09-06 session, approved by Tyler) (via update-page on MediaWiki MCP Server)

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:08, 7 September 2026
Line 1:		Line 1:
	'''Pneuma''' is the world's life-force. Everything alive holds it; anything holding it is alive. It is both a resource you gather and spend and the basis of character progression.		'''Pneuma''' is the world's life-force. Everything alive holds it; anything holding it is alive. It is both a resource you gather and spend and the basis of character progression. Its counterpart is [[Soma\|soma]], the matter it animates: pneuma is energy and soma is matter, and a creature's pneuma is its power where its soma is its health.

	== Forms ==		== Forms ==
Line 5:		Line 5:
	Pneuma has one form: '''pure'''. There is no such thing as elemental pneuma.		Pneuma has one form: '''pure'''. There is no such thing as elemental pneuma.

	What is elemental is matter~~. A '''medium''' is elemental matter~~ — fire, air, water~~, or~~ earth. ~~Media are ordinary stuff. They are~~ not alive and ~~hold~~ no power of ~~their~~ own.		What is elemental is matter: [[Soma\|soma]], which comes in four kinds — fire, air, water and earth. Soma is not alive and holds no power of its own.

	'''Binding''' lodges pneuma into ~~a medium~~. Bound pneuma is what gets gathered, condensed, traded and spent. "Fire pneuma" is everyday shorthand for pneuma bound in a fire ~~medium~~, not a separate kind of pneuma.		'''Binding''' lodges pneuma into soma. Bound pneuma is what gets gathered, condensed, traded and spent. "Fire pneuma" is everyday shorthand for pneuma bound in fire soma, not a separate kind of pneuma.

	[[File:Elemental Square.png\|thumb\|The four ~~media~~ on a square. Each edge joins two that share a quality — a temperature (hot or cold) or a moisture (wet or dry); the diagonals share none.]]		[[File:Elemental Square.png\|thumb\|The four somas on a square. Each edge joins two that share a quality — a temperature (hot or cold) or a moisture (wet or dry); the diagonals share none.]]
	The four ~~media~~ stand in fixed relation to one another:		The four somas stand in fixed relation to one another:

	* '''Allies''' — two ~~media~~ that share a quality (adjacent on the square). Every ~~medium~~ has two allies.		* '''Allies''' — two somas that share a quality (adjacent on the square). Every soma has two allies.
	* '''Enemies''' — ~~the~~ two ~~media~~ that share no quality (diagonal). Every ~~medium~~ has exactly one enemy.		* '''Enemies''' — two somas that share no quality (diagonal). Every soma has exactly one enemy.

	These relations belong to the ~~media~~, not to the pneuma bound in ~~them~~. Synergy and dissonance are things fire and water do to each other; the pneuma is only along for the ride.		These relations belong to the soma, not to the pneuma bound in it. Synergy and dissonance are things fire and water do to each other; the pneuma is only along for the ride.

	== Reactions ==		== Reactions ==
Line 47:		Line 47:
	There are three simple laws which describe the rules of how pneuma works.		There are three simple laws which describe the rules of how pneuma works.

	'''Law I — Vitality.''' Pneuma is life, but only when it moves. Pneuma circulating through a '''vessel''' — ~~a structure able~~ to carry it — is alive. Pneuma merely lodged in matter is ''charged'', not alive: it sits inert, and can be carried, stored and traded safely. Fill a vessel and it wakes; drain it and it goes still.		'''Law I — Vitality.''' Pneuma is life, but only when it moves. Pneuma circulating through a '''vessel''' — soma arranged to carry it — is alive. Pneuma merely lodged in matter is ''charged'', not alive: it sits inert, and can be carried, stored and traded safely. Fill a vessel and it wakes; drain it and it goes still.

	What a living thing can ''do'' is decided by its vessel, not by its pneuma. Pneuma supplies animation; structure decides what that animation amounts to. The same pneuma glows in a stone and thinks in a person. More pneuma in a simple vessel makes it stronger, not cleverer.		What a living thing can ''do'' is decided by its vessel, not by its pneuma. Pneuma supplies animation; structure decides what that animation amounts to. The same pneuma glows in a stone and thinks in a person. More pneuma in a simple vessel makes it stronger, not cleverer.

	'''Law II — Attrition.''' Shaping has a cost. Any time pneuma is bound into ~~a medium~~ or released from ~~one~~, or two enemy ~~media~~ annihilate each other, part of it is spent. Only carrying and storing it are free.		'''Law II — Attrition.''' Shaping has a cost. Any time pneuma is bound into soma or released from it, or two enemy somas annihilate each other, part of it is spent. Only carrying and storing it are free.

	'''Law III — Affinity.''' ~~Media favor~~ those with an affinity for ~~them~~. Affinity grows by spending that ~~medium~~ (casting or exertion). The higher the affinity, the less each binding loses to Attrition.		'''Law III — Affinity.''' Each soma favors those with an affinity for it. Affinity grows by spending that soma (casting or exertion). The higher the affinity, the less each binding loses to Attrition.

	== Key terms ==		== Key terms ==
Line 97:		Line 97:
	=== Death ===		=== Death ===

	Everything alive gives up its pneuma when slain (see [[#Sources\|Sources]]), and players are no exception: death sheds the surplus. Part goes to the victor; the rest goes dull into the ground where the body fell — battlefields are thick with dull pneuma for exactly this reason. What death cannot take is anything lodged in the vessel's structure: baseline, mastery, affinity. The land refills the vessel to baseline, and the practitioner stands back up. Carrying a great surplus into danger is therefore a wager; condensing it first — paying Attrition's fee — is the insurance.		Death is the vessel breaking (see [[Soma#Death\|Soma]]); an empty pool is exhaustion, not death. Everything alive gives up its pneuma when slain (see [[#Sources\|Sources]]), and players are no exception: death sheds the surplus. Part goes to the victor; the rest goes dull into the ground where the body fell — battlefields are thick with dull pneuma for exactly this reason. What death cannot take is anything lodged in the vessel's structure: baseline, mastery, affinity. The land refills the vessel to baseline, and the practitioner stands back up. Carrying a great surplus into danger is therefore a wager; condensing it first — paying Attrition's fee — is the insurance.

	== Casting ==		== Casting ==
Line 105:		Line 105:
	A spell's intrinsic elemental requirement is fixed; affinity shaves only the conversion overhead around it. Cost therefore falls with affinity toward a floor it never reaches (Law II), while mastery keeps raising the effect: investment makes a spell cheaper and stronger, never free.		A spell's intrinsic elemental requirement is fixed; affinity shaves only the conversion overhead around it. Cost therefore falls with affinity toward a floor it never reaches (Law II), while mastery keeps raising the effect: investment makes a spell cheaper and stronger, never free.

	A '''pure''' spell — Blink and its kin — shapes pneuma directly, with no ~~medium~~ involved. It answers to pure affinity, the same affinity physical abilities train. There is no fifth element: pure is the unshaped substance, not another kind of matter.		A '''pure''' spell — Blink and its kin — shapes pneuma directly, with no soma involved. It answers to pure affinity, the same affinity physical abilities train. There is no fifth element: pure is the unshaped substance, not another kind of matter.

	== Abilities ==		== Abilities ==

Soma

Tyg13 — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 02:07:29 GMT

New page: soma as the matter dual of pneuma — four kinds, persistence and vessel laws, body composition, health as amount × density, tempering, healing, death (2026-09-06 session, approved by Tyler) (via create-page on MediaWiki MCP Server)

New page

'''Soma''' is the world's matter. Everything is made of it — ground, sea, flame, wind, tools, bodies. It holds no life of its own; [[Pneuma|pneuma]] is what animates it. The two are the world's dual: pneuma is energy and soma is matter, pneuma is mind and soma is body. A creature's pneuma is its power and its soma is its health.

== Kinds ==

Soma comes in four kinds: '''fire''', '''air''', '''water''' and '''earth'''. These are the elements. Everything in the world is one kind of soma or a blend of several.

The four stand in the fixed relation the [[Pneuma#Forms|elemental square]] describes — allies share a quality, enemies share none — and the [[Pneuma#Reactions|reactions]] between them (synergy, dissonance, hybrids like lightning and magma) are things somas do to each other. Pneuma bound in soma is only along for the ride.

== The Two Laws ==

'''Law I — Persistence.''' Soma is never destroyed, only rearranged. Mining, smithing, cooking, building and every other craft take soma in one arrangement and leave it in another. A ruin is soma that lost its arrangement and kept its substance. Energy dissipates ([[Pneuma#The Three Laws|Attrition]]); matter persists.

'''Law II — Vessel.''' A vessel is soma arranged to carry a current of pneuma. Fill it and it lives ([[Pneuma#The Three Laws|Vitality]]). What a vessel can do is decided by its arrangement: the same pneuma glows in a stone and thinks in a person because the stone and the person are different arrangements of soma.

== The body ==

=== Composition ===

Every body is a blend of the four somas, fixed by its kind. A salamander is mostly fire soma; a fish is mostly water. The blend decides '''resistance''': typed damage lands hard on a body with little of that element in it and lightly on a body with much. A body's blend is set for life.

=== Health ===

A body's health is its soma — how much there is, and how densely it is knit.

* '''Amount''' is set by size. A giant is made of more soma than a person and has more to break.
* '''Density''' is set by a life. Damage loosens the knit. A body whose soma has been loosened all the way can no longer carry a current, and the vessel breaks.

Health is amount times density. Growing tougher means growing denser: a veteran and a novice are the same size, and the veteran's soma is knit far tighter.

=== Tempering ===

Density grows from damage taken and recovered from. It is its own track, answering to nothing on the [[Pneuma]] page: a practitioner with a vast baseline is no tougher for it, and a fighter who has never cast is no less.

=== Healing ===

Re-knitting loosened soma takes matter. Food is soma, and eating supplies what the body needs to close its wounds. Healing consumables are soma's counterpart to [[Pneuma#Physical form|condensed pneuma]]: matter to rebuild, where condensed pneuma is energy to spend.

=== Death ===

Death is the vessel breaking. The body's soma is all still there (Law I), but it no longer holds an arrangement that carries a current, and the pneuma leaves it as the [[Pneuma#Death|Pneuma page]] describes. Running the pneuma pool dry is exhaustion; only a broken vessel kills.

== Open questions ==

* '''Origin.''' Where the world's soma came from is unsettled.
* '''Numbers.''' Blend proportions, resistance strength and the density curve are all undecided.

The World

Bembi — Sun, 06 Sep 2026 16:31:17 GMT

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:31, 6 September 2026
Line 6:		Line 6:
	'''Fablehaven''' is a region of forested and grassy hills and meadows. Its resources are mainly coal, wool, cloth, lumber, gold, and salted lamb. Most of the land is controlled and governed by the [[Church of the First Breath]] (name not yet settled against the [[Church of the Holy Breath]] used elsewhere — see Open questions), though a few "outlaw" encampments oppose the church's rule.		'''Fablehaven''' is a region of forested and grassy hills and meadows. Its resources are mainly coal, wool, cloth, lumber, gold, and salted lamb. Most of the land is controlled and governed by the [[Church of the First Breath]] (name not yet settled against the [[Church of the Holy Breath]] used elsewhere — see Open questions), though a few "outlaw" encampments oppose the church's rule.

	* Themes: Religion, Oppression		* Themes: Religion, Oppression, Classism
			* Descriptors:
	* Resources: coal, iron, wool, cloth, lumber, lamb(livestock), venison, deer hides, and salted lamb		* Resources: coal, iron, wool, cloth, lumber, lamb(livestock), venison, deer hides, and salted lamb
	* Fauna: Lamb, Deer, Squirrel		* Fauna: Lamb, Deer, Squirrel
Line 13:		Line 14:
	*		*

	'''[Snowy Mountains]''' is a region separating Fablehaven from the rest of the world. It contains one of the 3 major lakes, the spring lake.		'''[Snowy Mountains]''' is a region separating Fablehaven and [swamp] from the rest of [the world]. It contains one of the 3 major lakes, the spring lake.

	* Themes:		* Themes: Solitude, Finding a way, "In between" times in life, liminal
			* Descriptors:
	* Resources: Minerals/Gems		* Resources: Minerals/Gems
	* Fauna: Goat, Mountain Lion,		* Fauna: Goat, Mountain Lion,
Line 21:		Line 23:
	* Locations: Solitude Inn, Peak, Cave Systems,		* Locations: Solitude Inn, Peak, Cave Systems,

	'''[Swamp]''' is a region in the south eastern part of the world that is a humid and swampy marshland.		'''[Swamp]''' is a region in the south eastern part of the world that is a humid and hot. It consists of swampy marshland in the north and a dense jungle to the south. The southern tip of the region contains a bustling naval port by the name of Cape [something].

	* Themes:		* Themes: Survival, Free-for-all,
			* Descriptors:
	* Resources:		* Resources:
	* Fauna: Lizard, Crocodile,		* Fauna: Lizard, Crocodile,
Line 32:		Line 35:

	* Themes: Ancient Civilization, Lost Knowledge, Occupation (Military)		* Themes: Ancient Civilization, Lost Knowledge, Occupation (Military)
			* Descriptors:
	* Resources: Sandstone, Glass, Quartz		* Resources: Sandstone, Glass, Quartz
	* Fauna: Snakes, Tortoise, Scorpions, Camels, Cats,		* Fauna: Snakes, Tortoise, Scorpions, Camels, Cats,
Line 40:		Line 44:

	* Themes: Simple Life		* Themes: Simple Life
			* Descriptors:
	* Resources:		* Resources:
	* Fauna: Bison, Elk, Coyotes		* Fauna: Bison, Elk, Coyotes
Line 47:		Line 52:
	'''[Tundra]''' is a region in the north central part of the world that is a extremely cold and snowy/icy.		'''[Tundra]''' is a region in the north central part of the world that is a extremely cold and snowy/icy.

	* Themes: ~~Survival~~		* Themes:
			* Descriptors:
	* Resources:		* Resources:
	* Fauna: Polar Bear, Yak, Walrus, Seals,		* Fauna: Polar Bear, Yak, Walrus, Seals,
Line 55:		Line 61:
	'''[Grand Canyon]''' is a region in the		'''[Grand Canyon]''' is a region in the
	* Themes: Traversal		* Themes: Traversal
			* Descriptors:
	* Resources:		* Resources:
	* Fauna:		* Fauna:
Line 62:		Line 69:
	'''[Rainforest]''' is a region		'''[Rainforest]''' is a region
	* Themes: Discovery,		* Themes: Discovery,
			* Descriptors:
	* Resources:		* Resources:
	* Fauna:		* Fauna:
Line 69:		Line 77:
	'''[Golden Coast]''' is a region		'''[Golden Coast]''' is a region
	* Themes:		* Themes:
			* Descriptors:
	* Resources:		* Resources:
	* Fauna:		* Fauna:
Line 76:		Line 85:
	'''[Volcano Island]''' is a region		'''[Volcano Island]''' is a region
	* Themes: Sacrifice,		* Themes: Sacrifice,
			* Descriptors:
	* Resources:		* Resources:
	* Fauna:		* Fauna:

Fablehaven

Bembi — Sun, 06 Sep 2026 12:10:40 GMT

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:10, 6 September 2026
Line 35:		Line 35:
	== The pneuma meadow ''(name TBD)'' ==		== The pneuma meadow ''(name TBD)'' ==
	An exceptionally large meadow in Fablehaven, surrounded by dense forest, with a large stone monument or magical artifact ''(exact nature TBD)'' at its center. It has become an important religious site for the church: the ancient object emits pneuma in a crawlingly slow but ever-lasting stream. Its nature and source are unknown, and the details of its existence are still being studied — to the people of Fablehaven it is a natural phenomenon. Occasionally a surge of pneuma passes through the object, and ''(an enemy appears, or some manifestation of pneuma/the elements — TBD)''.		An exceptionally large meadow in Fablehaven, surrounded by dense forest, with a large stone monument or magical artifact ''(exact nature TBD)'' at its center. It has become an important religious site for the church: the ancient object emits pneuma in a crawlingly slow but ever-lasting stream. Its nature and source are unknown, and the details of its existence are still being studied — to the people of Fablehaven it is a natural phenomenon. Occasionally a surge of pneuma passes through the object, and ''(an enemy appears, or some manifestation of pneuma/the elements — TBD)''.

			== Quests and Storylines ==

			* (CONCEPT) The coal miners and otherwise poor citizens of Fablehaven band together to revolt against the rule of Burble and storm the castle and take control of Burbridge. Burble and some of his council escape.

	== Open questions ==		== Open questions ==

Facilities

Bembi — Sat, 05 Sep 2026 20:33:20 GMT

Created page with "* Kitchen ** A place where higher level cooking can be done. ** Cooking a piece of meat over the fire would be very basic cooking ** Cooking bread in an oven is more intricate ** Preparing a roast could be higher level ** Certain equipment is needed to perform parts of the process, which the kitchen would contain *** Ovens **** bread, cakes, roasts, etc *** Stoves **** Pancakes, bacon, soups, etc *** Grills **** High quality cooking for meats **** Lower quality cooking..."

New page

* Kitchen
** A place where higher level cooking can be done.
** Cooking a piece of meat over the fire would be very basic cooking
** Cooking bread in an oven is more intricate
** Preparing a roast could be higher level
** Certain equipment is needed to perform parts of the process, which the kitchen would contain
*** Ovens
**** bread, cakes, roasts, etc
*** Stoves
**** Pancakes, bacon, soups, etc
*** Grills
**** High quality cooking for meats
**** Lower quality cooking for other items?
*** Pots (Cauldron) - Slow cooking, community driven
**** Always outputs stew, but effects vary depend on inputs
**** Large amounts of foods are needed, but many people can eat from the pot
**** Any food items could be thrown in, maybe dominant few determine the stew/effects
*** Preparation Stations
**** Cut/chop/dice/slice foods
**** Put ingredients together to create foods
* Forge/Blacksmith
** Repair Armor, weapons, tools
** Has a smelter to turn ore into ingots
** Anvil to craft items with ingots/other items
** Crucible for melting down items into ingots (not 100% return)
* Shops
* Stable
** Switch active mount
** Store mounts
** Mount upgrades/care?
* Tailor
** Weave cloth into items
* Tannery
** Tan hides
** Create leather armor, equipment, items
* Apothecary
** Process items into potions, herbal/medicinal compounds,
* Tavern
** Can pay to leave your character resting in a tavern when logging out?
* Scribe
* Library
* Spa
* Dockyard
*

The First Breath

Tyg13 — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 22:42:07 GMT

peom

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:42, 1 September 2026
(One intermediate revision by the same user not shown)
Line 11:		Line 11:

	Until the day when Bhrenor died.		Until the day when Bhrenor died.



Line 20:		Line 21:

	Without the gift of Bhrenor's breath		Without the gift of Bhrenor's breath



Line 29:		Line 31:

	Calamity was all they knew		Calamity was all they knew



Line 38:		Line 41:

	Spilling all their vital breath		Spilling all their vital breath



Line 47:		Line 51:

	Weaker than the Titans then		Weaker than the Titans then



Line 56:		Line 61:

	And even ancients can be killed.		And even ancients can be killed.



	Now the age of men's begun		Now the age of men's begun

	~~And our~~ Calamity is done		Calamity is done, become

	As brother Bhrenor was~~, become~~		As brother Bhrenor was before

	Humanity, ~~thy time has come~~!</blockquote>		Humanity, Excelsior!</blockquote>

	== See also ==		== See also ==

Visibility

Bembi — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 23:51:18 GMT

Created page with "'''One light level per face''', computed server-side once and read by the renderer — and, once Phase 5 lands, by the rule that decides who can be seen at all. This page summarizes <code>docs/initiatives/light-and-visibility-initiative.md</code>; treat the doc as authoritative if the two ever disagree. == The one idea == Today's baked field is named <code>darkness</code>, but what it actually measures is ''how much sky a face can reach'' — a fact about geometry that..."

New page

'''One light level per face''', computed server-side once and read by the renderer — and, once Phase 5 lands, by the rule that decides who can be seen at all. This page summarizes <code>docs/initiatives/light-and-visibility-initiative.md</code>; treat the doc as authoritative if the two ever disagree.

== The one idea ==
Today's baked field is named <code>darkness</code>, but what it actually measures is ''how much sky a face can reach'' — a fact about geometry that only changes when someone edits terrain. Night is a completely different kind of thing: one global number that changes continuously. Keeping the two separate, and adding light sources as their own terms, is the whole design:<pre>
light(face, t) = sky_access(face) · sky_light(t) static field × global clock
+ placed_light(face) static field
+ carried_light(face, t) dynamic, few sources
+ innate_light(viewer, face) viewer-relative, gating only
</pre>Composed in '''light-space''' — every term adds. The renderer still works in the darkness-space its shaders already multiply by, so the wire format doesn't change: it converts once, <code>1 − light</code>, at the very end.

== What each term is ==
{| class="wikitable"
!Term
!Kind
!What it is
|-
|<code>sky_access(face)</code>
|static · baked · server
|A multi-source BFS seeded at every open-roofed face (nothing above it in its own column), ramping 0→1 over 5 tiles and saturating. A face no wave reaches — a sealed room, a cave whose mouth hasn't loaded — stays fully dark. Rebuilt whenever terrain changes; sent on the wire unchanged as <code>SheetData.darkness_q</code> (the old name — it's really the inverse of this).
|-
|<code>sky_light(t)</code>
|global scalar · both sides
|Day is a flat 1.0, night floors at 0.04 (moonlit, not black), and dawn/evening ramp linearly between. One clock, computed identically client-side (<code>WorldDaylight.cs</code>) and server-side (<code>bts_content::world_clock::sky_light</code>), so nothing ever needs to restream as the sun moves.
|-
|<code>placed_light(face)</code>
|static · baked · server
|A second BFS, seeded at every placed light-source object's footprint, each capped at its own authored radius with a smooth cubic falloff. Multiple lights reaching one face take the brightest, never the sum. Not scaled by the sun — a brazier is as bright at midnight as at noon.
|-
|<code>carried_light(face, t)</code>
|dynamic · client-rendered
|Equipped torches near a face. Genuinely dynamic, so it isn't baked; it rides a 4-slot shader array published fresh every frame, nearest sources winning a slot. An interim measure — a chunk with more than four concurrent lights in view needs a real per-chunk light list (Phase 3, unbuilt).
|-
|<code>innate_light(viewer, face)</code>
|viewer-relative
|Not really summed into the field — a proximity override. Every viewer sees a small radius with nothing equipped, and an equipped light replaces it with a much larger one. Rendered as one more additive glow so moonlight reads as navigable up close, not just as a number the visibility rule checks.
|}

== How a value gets from terrain edit to pixel ==
The static half is computed once and streamed; the dynamic half is republished every frame. Nothing about the sun's position is ever sent over the wire at all.

# '''Bake''' — <code>structure.rs</code> reruns both BFS passes whenever a chunk rebuilds: a terrain edit, a placed light added or removed.
# '''Wire''' — quantised onto <code>SheetData</code> as <code>darkness_q</code> / <code>placed_light_q</code>, sent with the rest of a chunk at load time.
# '''Cache''' — client-side <code>SurfaceComponents</code> holds both fields per face, exposed through <code>FaceLight.TotalLight</code>.
# '''Compose''' — every frame: cached fields × the clock's live <code>sky_light(t)</code>, plus whatever <code>CutawayController</code> is publishing that frame.
# '''Shade''' — <code>Cutaway.hlsl</code> / <code>BtsLighting.hlsl</code> scale scene lighting by darkness and add the lantern, carried and innate terms on top.

== The visibility rule ==
A face's light is also what decides whether an '''NPC, player, or ground item''' can be seen at all — terrain, walls and objects never hide, only shade dark. Two independent routes to visible, whichever is met first:

* '''Proximity''' — distance(viewer, target) ≤ viewerRadius → visible, regardless of light.
* '''Illumination''' — light(face, t) ≥ threshold (0.5) → visible, at any distance.
* '''Hysteresis''' — the threshold shifts ±0.05 toward whatever the viewer already believed, so a value sitting right on the line can't flicker every frame it's re-evaluated.

'''A light gives you away.''' Your own torch lights your own tile, which is exactly the face the illumination route reads — so carrying one lifts you above the threshold for everyone else. Nothing special-cased; it falls straight out of the model, which is what makes carrying a torch a real trade-off instead of a strict upgrade.

'''The one deliberate asymmetry:''' <code>sees_in_dark</code> (an NPC-type flag, off by default) will govern only whether a monster can notice a player in darkness — never the reverse. A player's sight of an NPC is always the same uniform rule. A predator that aggroes you in pitch dark while you can't see it back is the horror beat this buys for free; slipping past a guard without it is the stealth beat, from the same field. The flag exists; nothing reads it yet — see Phase 5 below.

== Where each phase stands ==
{| class="wikitable"
!#
!Phase
!Status
!Notes
|-
|1
|Sky access × clock
|'''Shipped'''
|Ambient light composes the baked field against the shared clock instead of a flat day/night multiplier. A cave is finally dark at noon.
|-
|2
|Placed lights, baked
|'''Shipped'''
|Standing torches and braziers bake into the field and actually light something — rendered through the same 4-slot array carried lights use, as an interim measure ahead of a real per-vertex channel.
|-
|3
|Many lights
|'''Skipped'''
|Uncapping the 4-slot array into a real per-chunk light list. Needs a measurement — a realistic crowd of concurrent carried lights — nobody has taken yet.
|-
|4
|Visibility, client-side
|'''Shipped & kept'''
|NPCs, players and ground items fade below the threshold. Played, felt fun, cleared its own checkpoint. Deliberately cheatable — client-only — until Phase 5.
|-
|5
|Visibility, authoritative
|'''Foundation only'''
|Schema (<code>sees_in_dark</code>), the light math ported to Rust, and the visibility predicate all exist and are unit tested — but nothing yet decides what a viewer is actually ''sent'', or rejects an attack against something unseen. Today's spawn/despawn delivery only reacts to movement; light changes continuously with the clock even when nobody moves, which that system has never had to notice.
|-
|6
|Tuning + editor pass
|'''Not started'''
|Threshold, innate radius, moonlight floor, ramp shape and falloff sharpness all want tuning together, in the editor, rather than as scattered constants.
|}

== Where it lives ==

=== Server ===

* <code>bts-map/src/structure.rs</code> — both BFS bakes: sky access, placed light
* <code>bts-content/src/world_clock.rs</code> — <code>sky_light(t)</code>, ported to Rust
* <code>bts-map/src/query.rs</code> — <code>Map::sky_access_at</code> / <code>placed_light_at</code>
* <code>bts-server/src/world/visibility.rs</code> — <code>is_visible</code>, <code>distance_tiles</code> — Phase 5, unwired
* <code>bts-content/src/schema.rs</code> — <code>is_light_source</code>, <code>light_radius</code>, <code>sees_in_dark</code>

=== Client ===

* <code>Core/World/FaceLight.cs</code> — the composition formula, engine-free
* <code>Core/World/Visibility.cs</code> — <code>IsVisible</code> + the fade state machine
* <code>Core/World/WorldDaylight.cs</code> — <code>sky_light(t)</code> curve, the original
* <code>World/Rendering/CutawayController.cs</code> — shader globals, lantern, flicker
* <code>Shaders/BtsLighting.hlsl</code> — GPU-side composition and falloff

== Decisions worth knowing ==

* '''Full fog of war is the destination, not a client trick.''' Phase 5's whole point is that the server withholds what a viewer can't see — not cheatable by turning your own brightness up. Phase 4, today, still is: a modified client could ignore the fade entirely.
* '''Only living things and loot hide.''' Terrain, walls and placed objects always stream and always draw, shaded dark. Hiding architecture would reproduce the exact "world is missing" failure this system exists to fix.
* '''Losing sight fades, it doesn't pop.''' The client eases an entity out over a third of a second rather than snapping it away — and there's no last-known-position ghost. Nothing false is ever drawn.
* '''Falloff is one shared shape, authored per light.''' The same smoothstep curve is mirrored in C#, HLSL and Rust; an authored <code>light_falloff_sharpness</code> reshapes it per torch type rather than forking the curve itself.

----''Source: <code>docs/initiatives/light-and-visibility-initiative.md</code>''

The World

Bembi — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 20:45:10 GMT

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:45, 24 August 2026
Line 31:		Line 31:
	'''[Desert]''' is a region in the southern part of the world that is a harsh and unforgiving environment steeped in ancient worship and lost civilization. This dangerous area of the world is filled with those trying to seek riches from buried tombs, extract valuable resources, and live freely outside of loosely established government. There are militant groups, thieves, plunderers, caravans of the sorts, archeologists, etc.		'''[Desert]''' is a region in the southern part of the world that is a harsh and unforgiving environment steeped in ancient worship and lost civilization. This dangerous area of the world is filled with those trying to seek riches from buried tombs, extract valuable resources, and live freely outside of loosely established government. There are militant groups, thieves, plunderers, caravans of the sorts, archeologists, etc.

	* Themes: Ancient Civilization, Lost Knowledge		* Themes: Ancient Civilization, Lost Knowledge, Occupation (Military)
	* Resources: Sandstone, Glass, Quartz		* Resources: Sandstone, Glass, Quartz
	* Fauna: Snakes, Tortoise, Scorpions, Camels, Cats,		* Fauna: Snakes, Tortoise, Scorpions, Camels, Cats,

Fablehaven

Bembi — Sun, 23 Aug 2026 20:44:49 GMT

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 '''Fablehaven''' is a region of forested and grassy hills and meadows. Its resources are mainly coal, wool, cloth, lumber, gold, and salted lamb. Most of the land is controlled and governed by the [[Church of the First Breath]] (name not yet settled against the [[Church of the Holy Breath]] used elsewhere — see Open questions), though a few "outlaw" encampments oppose the church's rule.
 == Burbridge ==
@@ Line 10: / Line 20: @@
 * The countryside consists of landowners who run wheat farms and sheep pastures, supplying much of the raw wool to the mill as well as some food.
 * The rich family estates dabble in jewelry, fine clothing, and specialty weapon forging.
-* '''Camp Shypee''' is a military training encampment in Burbridge for the church's divine army, commanded by '''Ser Shypee II''', a master of all combat styles. Recruits can train along several paths: a powerful knight who wields a large [[pneuma]] blade in heavy-armored melee combat; an agile archer whose bow imbues arrows with pneuma; or one of several kinds of [[Pneumanist|Pneumanists]], who use pneuma to wield the natural elemental powers in different ways (offensive spellcasting, defensive spellcasting).
+* '''Camp Shypee''' is a military training encampment in Burbridge for the church's divine army, commanded by '''Ser Shypee II''', a master of all combat styles. Recruits can train along several paths: a powerful knight who wields a large [[pneuma]] blade in heavy-armored melee combat; an agile archer whose bow imbues arrows with pneuma; or one of several kinds of [[Pneumanist|Pneumanists]], who use pneuma to wield the natural elemental powers in different ways (offensive spellcasting, defensive spellcasting)
 == The defector encampment ''(name TBD)'' ==