Overview: Cosmology
Navigation
| Link | Use |
|---|---|
Return to the project hub. |
|
Continue to the powers that preserve, express, and threaten cosmic law. |
|
Enter the three main cosmological tiers. |
The Fundamental Concept
The universe is a finite bubble of Order suspended in an infinite ocean of Nothing. It is not created, but eternal. Within this bubble, reality is structured into three tiers of existence, connected by the Veil. Outside lies the Nothing, and beyond that, other cosmologies.
Reality is structured by the Resonance Principle: existence is defined by frequency and interaction rather than simple location.
The Three Tiers
| Tier | Name | Nature | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
Tier 1 |
Stable, physical realities (Matter) |
Material Plane, The Deficit Planes, The Surplus Planes |
|
Tier 2 |
Abstract realms of pure concept (Force) |
Crucible, Surging Deep, Iron Backbone, etc. |
|
Tier 3 |
Localized anomalies where The Harmonics bleed into The Anchors |
Cinder-Fields, Library, Stopped Clock, etc. |
The Boundary
The entire structure is bounded by The Boundary, which separates the Order of the Cosmos from the Nothing. The Nothing is the state of absolute non-existence. It contains no space, time, matter, energy, or concept. It is infinite. Anything that touches it is not destroyed, but unmade and erased from existence.
Document Index
Core Overview Documents
| Document | Description |
|---|---|
Overview |
This document, the central index and introduction |
Unified metaphysics of personhood through Pattern, Echo, and Record |
|
Canon framework for imposed songline pressure, Material-plane Fate, and agency-safe limits |
|
Tier 1: Stable physical realities |
|
Tier 2: Abstract conceptual realms |
|
Tier 3: Localized anomalies |
|
The non-Euclidean pathway connecting all tiers |
|
The membrane separating Order from Nothing |
Tier 1: The Anchors
The Deficit Planes (Scarcity)
| Document | Missing Element | Inhabitant Trait |
|---|---|---|
Safety |
Ruthless, aggressive, survivalist |
|
Energy |
Desperate, hoarding, preservationist |
|
Sustenance |
Greedy, predatory, transactional |
|
Warmth |
Isolated, stoic, solitary |
|
Meaning |
Nihilistic, hollow, passive |
Tier 2: The Harmonics
Elemental Harmonics
| Document | Core Concept | Associated Prime |
|---|---|---|
Energy, Heat, Transformation |
Ignis Prime |
|
Water, Flow, Life |
Aqua Prime |
|
Earth, Structure, Stability |
Terra Prime |
|
Air, Motion, Freedom |
Zephyr Prime |
Tier 3: Resonant Zones
From The Crucible
| Document | Description |
|---|---|
Fire burns cold and blue, consuming heat |
|
Lightning strikes upward, gravity inverted |
|
Time moves slower, allowing perfect forging |
From The Surging Deep
| Document | Description |
|---|---|
Water heals but drains life force |
|
Plants breathe air, humans breathe water |
|
Water reflects past and future states |
From The Iron Backbone
| Document | Description |
|---|---|
Sound is physical, stored in crystal |
|
Extreme gravitational compression |
|
Maze rearranges itself reactively |
From The Unbound Gale
| Document | Description |
|---|---|
Wind carries voices of the dead |
|
Hurricane force wind with no sound |
|
Islands float on currents of thought |
From The Dreaming Veil
| Document | Description |
|---|---|
Desert where fear shapes the terrain |
|
Collective nightmares become real |
|
Ideas take physical form instantly |
From The Eternal Record
| Document | Description |
|---|---|
Books of what could have been |
|
Personalized mental fortress of memory |
From The Shifting Path
| Document | Description |
|---|---|
Visible branches of simultaneous possibilities |
|
Luck is randomized, anything is possible |
|
Future is fixed and visible |
From The Binding Song
| Document | Description |
|---|---|
Commands become physical law |
|
True Names grant absolute control |
|
Words have literal physical mass |
|
Water physically rejects falsehood |
From The Whispering Trace
| Document | Description |
|---|---|
Walk in footsteps of the dead |
|
Death Echoes pinned into repeating captivity |
|
Shows life you would have lived |
Key Cosmological Laws
-
Eternal Universe: The universe always existed; it was not created.
-
Resonance Principle: Phenomena such as dreams, lightning, or hauntings are Resonances where Harmonics interact with Anchors.
-
Environmental Determinism: The nature of a plane, scarcity versus abundance, dictates the behavior and morality of its inhabitants.
-
Conservation of Existence: The Boundary must remain intact. If it fails, the cosmos is erased by the Nothing.
-
Free Will: Only the Material Plane possesses true free will. All other planes are shaped by their environmental pressures.
The Deficit-Surplus Axis
The Deficit Planes and The Surplus Planes are complementary extremes. Each Deficit Plane has a corresponding Surplus Plane that represents the same concept in its saturated form.
| Deficit Plane | Shared Concept | Surplus Plane |
|---|---|---|
The Scourge (No Safety) |
Survival |
The Gilded Cage (Too Much Order) |
The Ashen Wastes (No Energy) |
Vitality |
The Verdant Expanse (Too Much Growth) |
The Parched (No Sustenance) |
Consumption |
The Apex (Too Much Perfection) |
The Frost-Bound (No Warmth) |
Preservation |
The Radiance (Too Much Truth) |
The Silence (No Meaning) |
Communication |
The Weave (Too Much Connection) |
The Material Plane sits at the center of each axis, balancing the deficit and the surplus.
Travel Between Tiers
Via the Veil
All tier-to-tier travel requires passing through the Veil. The Material Plane is the central hub, making it the easiest point of access to all other tiers.
Direct Connections
Direct travel between two non-Material tiers is rare and dangerous. It requires:
-
a powerful artifact attuned to both tiers,
-
a natural thin spot at the border of the two tiers,
-
or assistance from a being native to the Veil.
The Hub Rule
Because the Material Plane is the hub, most inter-tier travelers must pass through it. This has several consequences:
-
The Material Plane is a crossroads. Beings from all tiers can be found here.
-
The Material Plane is a battleground. Rival factions from different tiers may clash on Material soil.
-
The Material Plane is a sanctuary. Exiles from extreme tiers often flee to the Material Plane for its balance.
Glossary of Terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
Anchor |
Tier 1: Stable, physical reality where matter is dense |
Harmonic |
Tier 2: Abstract realm of pure concept and force |
Resonant Zone |
Tier 3: Localized anomaly where Harmonics bleed into Anchors |
Veil |
The non-Euclidean pathway connecting all tiers |
Boundary |
The membrane separating Order from Nothing |
Nothing |
The state of absolute non-existence outside the cosmos |
Prime |
Conscious manifestation of a Harmonic’s energy |
Resonance |
The interaction between a Harmonic and an Anchor |
Deficit Plane |
Anchor defined by absence of a vital element |
Surplus Plane |
Anchor defined by excess of a vital element |
Equilibrium |
The Material Plane’s state of balance |
Quick Reference: Plane Types
By Category
| Category | Count | Description |
|---|---|---|
Material Plane |
1 |
The Equilibrium, central hub |
5 |
Defined by scarcity |
|
5 |
Defined by abundance |
|
Elemental Harmonics |
4 |
Energy, Water, Earth, Air |
Abstract Harmonics |
6 |
Imagination, Memory, Chance, Language, Death, Time |
30+ |
Localized anomalies (documented) |
By Risk Level
| Risk Level | Examples | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Low |
Material Plane, Gilded Cage |
Stable, predictable |
Medium |
Verdant Expanse, Radiance |
Challenging but survivable |
High |
Scourge, Parched, Nightmare Nexus |
Dangerous, requires preparation |
Extreme |
Silence, Time Lock, Soul Anchor |
Potentially fatal, permanent continuity consequences |
Notes for Writers
Using the Cosmology
-
Start Small: Begin with the Material Plane and expand outward.
-
Use Resonant Zones: They provide localized, manageable manifestations of larger cosmological forces.
-
Balance is Key: The Deficit-Surplus axis provides built-in conflict and contrast.
-
The Veil is Flexible: It can be used for travel, mystery, or horror.
Common Plot Hooks
-
A Resonant Zone is expanding and threatening the Material Plane.
-
A traveler is trapped in a time-dilated zone such as the Time Lock or the Stopped Clock.
-
A character must retrieve an artifact from a dangerous plane.
-
A being from another cosmology, such as the Beyonders, breaches the Boundary.
-
A Prime seeks to alter the balance of the Material Plane.