Rules & FAQ

Context of Paradigm Infinite

Paradigm Infinite (or PaIn) was the predecessor to Prometheus Initiative (many of PaIn's concepts were recycled into PI) and is the successor to the World of Orrison.

It began as a Grem2 AU for junijwi's grems and takes a lot of influence from the Secret World and Nier Automata, but has been restructured to fit practically any character junijwi wants-- human or non-human both. Since Orrison is included in this, the decision has been made to allow others to also delve into PaIn for their own use should they want to!

Rules of Use

The setting and premise of Paradigm Infinite are open to use to any who wish to explore it with their own characters. You are free to do whatever you wish in the world and play with whoever you like. You are able to take the material and change/adjust it, and you are not obligated to acknowledge every other player within it.

In this sense, Paradigm Infinite is like a content module, similar to reference materials used in pre-made tabletop campaigns. junijwi may occasionally host more in depth campaigns using this world and its material, and they may set up prompts or create 'chapter' modules that can be used, but this toyhou.se world itself is not meant to be a rigidly defined group. junijwi is not personally responsible for any other members or non-core content.

Q: How do I add my character?

First, join the group. There are no requirements to joining, though junijwi reserves the right to decline anyone they want.

Second, submit your character. After, be sure to post in Character Requests to ask junijwi to relocate your character into the appropriate folder... or they can hang out in the unsorted limbo if you're still deciding on their canon.

Q: Where can I connect with others?

There is no official discord or community space, but you're free to use the toyhou.se forum to post interest or look for open ads for connections. Note that the forums are only lightly moderated, as in junijwi will check for inappropriate content once in a blue moon.

World

The size of known civilization is extremely small when compared to the vast unknown of Valr and Deep Space. The only 'cities' that exist are Eden (the satellite manned by Ascentsy) and the Outpost (the only surface city on Valr).

Eden

Eden is the satellite station manned by Ascentsy that orbits the planet Valr. It is large enough to be a city in its own right, with space for living, training, and working.

People are grown and built on Eden, and raising the next generation is the job of the administration on the satellite. Eden is also responsible for the protection of the humans who exist in cryosleep in high security storage.

Valr

Valr is the planet that most call home. Once upon a time, it was perhaps called Earth, but the only signs of that past civilization are ruins found in the wilds.

Outpost

The Outpost is the largest (and honestly, the only) city on Valr. Resources are amassed here, and in the Outpost one can find just about anything scavenged from the surface of the planet.

Those who do not wish to return to Eden often call the Outpost their home. But for those who wish to go back to Eden, supply shuttles are built regularly at the Outpost and one can hitch a ride on a supply shuttle back up to the satellite.

These supply shuttles are vital as they are broken apart to create the mechas and ships used to re-enter the atmosphere and fight the Dreamers.

Deep Space

It's said there's nothing but death to be found in deep space. Many find refuge in the other satellites orbiting Valr (moons, asteroids, or otherwise) but some travel into deep space searching for something that calls them.

Roles

Ascendants

Characters who affiliate with Ascentsy, the organization which creates, trains, and deploys grems from the satellite Eden in cooperation with the Outpost. They include supervisors, instructors, researchers, and any others who have positions of any authority. Almost all Ascendants live on Eden 90% of the time.

Edenites

Edenites are characters who spend most of their time living on or deploying from Eden. Those who are deployed are typically 'Shards', or grems which are trained to counter Cypher influence. Most grems begin their life here, as Ascentsy is the only organization that creates grems.

Valorants

Valorants are characters who have chosen to reside on Valr, manning and supplying the Outpost. They may occasionally go to Eden, but many prefer to stay close to the ground. Many of them assume support roles for the shards, running stores, maintaining housing, and producing food. Some are even neutral between Ascentsy and the Prodigals, and will offer aid to either.

Prodigals

Prodigals are characters who have either left The Outpost to lead their own life in the wilds of Valr, or characters who outright oppose Ascentsy. Regardless of their agendas or goals, many of them have banded together to survive on Valr without Ascentsy's aid. They are viewed by Ascentsy as wasting important resources as some Valorants still assist them, but they've taken ownership of their namesake. There are rumors that some are even helped by Cyphers or Cypherus grems.

Novalings

Novalings are characters who inhabit the satellites surrounding Valr that aren't Eden. This can be Valr's moons, any of its asteroids of its outer ring, or even further into deep space. Many novalings are cypherus grems who are unable to hide on Valr itself (or who serve Cyphers that live in deep space). Many others are androids looking for freedom. There are also a handful of grems who are either adapted or adept for surviving in such a harsh environment.

Species

Inhabitants of the World

This world is mostly inhabited by androids and genetically modified organisms. It is extremely rare to find a pure-blooded human, though human DNA can be found nearly everywhere.

Androids

Anyone can make android characters, and they can be humanoid, robotic, beastial, or even monstrous. Some androids are even indiscernable from humans, hybrids, and shards.

Ascentsy's technology is far advanced, and they have the means to create life from scratch out of a genetic blueprint. However, they prefer to focus their resources on creating shards who can actively negate Cryptic influence, so most non-shards that are made are augmented with bionic or mechanical parts to be cheaper and more resilient.

Androids are also be able to be made on Valr in The Outpost or even by Prodigals, though they tend not to be as high tech or may have technical/mechanical glitches and malfunctions.

Humans and Hybrids

Real, pure humans haven't been seen in centuries. It is said that deep within the vaults of Eden, there are hundreds of humans in cryosleep waiting to return to Valr once the Dreamer influence is removed.

Of course, since this is a silly little head world group, it's fine if you want to make a bona fide human character. Just note that they are EXTREMELY rare, and if found they will be treated with extreme prejudice (ranging between worship to vitriol, depending). Any character who is 100% human will also generally suffer chronic health effects and a shortened lifespan, due to the atmosphere of Valr being hostile to them.

There are also hybrids-- these are humans whose genetic code has been altered in an experiment by Ascentsy to make them more hardy. These are not revered or hated quite so much, and they are treated as 'extra fancy' androids. They generally have stranger eye colors, hair colors, or other features that mark them as not being pureblooded humans.

Shards

Shards are unique in that their genetic code is mixed with that of a Cryptic. This allows them to combat the influence of Cryptics, but also opens them to the vulnerability of being influenced in turn.

Nearly every shard begins life on Eden, undergoing training before embarking on deployment. However, there are many who choose to remain in Valr for personal reasons, and others who run away and become prodigals.

Protoshards

Ascentsy first attempted to clone Dreamers by patching the DNA sample and creating an entirely original organism. These were highly unstable due to the purity of their genetic material, as they were high-concentration Dreamer clones. They were prone to rapid destabilization and were known to either die or transform into Dreamer-like beings called Ciphers.

Protoshards all vary wildly in appearance from one another due to being highly experimental. This line was officially discontinued, however protoshards are sometimes still produced when a new Dreamer's DNA is obtained and sometimes even escape.

Variant 1

The current 'standard' model made from the DNA of a Dreamer rumoured to be sealed beneath the Outpost itself. Most characters are Variant 1 shards.

Variant 2 ( juni note: Leyr )

A second Dreamer DNA sample was obtained from the tundra which was found to have transformative properties. Human DNA was introduced to stabilize the individual as is standard for shards, but it was also found that Variant 2 shards can absorb additional sources of genetic material and shapeshift. Variant 2 shards are often mistaken for Hybrids.

Variant 2 shards can transform into either an animal they've been hybridized with or an animal they've been exposed to (usually just one form, as the more one absorbs the more unstable they become). They can even permanently or temporarily change their animal with mutagenic injections, though the results may be... unexpected.

Variant 3

The third Dreamer DNA sample was obtained from the deep ocean, and is shown to have a myriad of mutative properties. Human DNA was introduced to stabilize their form, but has not proven to reduce the ferocity or capabilities of Variant 3 shards. Further testing is required.

Variant 4

The fourth Dreamer DNA sample was found in an intricate and large hive. Its properties remind one of tales of fae, with many similar features-- insectoid, elfish, feline, troll-like, or satyr-like qualities. Human DNA was introduced to stabilize their form, and Variant 4 shards are markedly smaller than others.

Variant 5

The fifth Dreamer DNA sample gave rise to the Variant 5. The variant 5 shard is a class of shard whose memory is encoded in their DNA. If any piece of their body is recovered, they can be regrown and reissued in a new body-- though of course, the more of the original body is lost, the more memory is lost. Spliced shards' bodies tend to grow rapidly- emerging from the lab as a child, they age and die within a few years before being reborn again. They are functionally immortal, however can be destroyed by destroying the DNA (fire, acid, consumption, etc).

Technically, a splice shard can be divided, and cloned into two individuals who each have 1/2 of the memories. The tricky part is that there's no controlling which clone gets what memories.

Variant Pi

Not an official variant, as they are not produced. Shards who have disappeared mysteriously on resupply missions in space off world have reappeared infected with ravenous parasites which cause the traits notable for the Pi mutation. Variant Pi shards can survive the rigors of deep space without a suit (the hard part is exiting and entering the atmosphere of planets).

Symptoms include heightened metabolism and strength, decreased empathy, and sensitivity to the scent of blood as a means of urging the infected to bite others and spread the parasite. The parasite itself manifests as dark tendrils which can emerge from any part of the body, and the host's blood usually turns black and thick. It is not known where this parasite originates, but it is said that something beyond the stars is seeking to spread its influence.

Wearing a suppression device (normally a collar) can help eliminate the parasite's influence, but the parasite cannot be removed without killing the host.

Variant Psi

Not an official variant, as they are not produced. Shards who have disappeared mysteriously on resupply missions on Valr have reappeared infected with intelligent parasites with an unknowable, alien sentience which is difficult to understand even by the host. Psi shards can survive the rigors of deep space without a suit (the hard part is exiting and entering the atmosphere of planets).

The parasite itself makes a home in the chest cavity and is known to vibrate with a buzzing sound when agitated. Individuals often develop a distinct earthy and sweet scent which permeates their blood and flesh in taste. Symptoms of infection include heightened empathy, rapid regeneration, and a resistance to the influence of other Dreamers. Extreme cases sometimes develop nausea related to violence. These are all guessed to be self preservation tactics. It is not known where this parasite originates, but it is said to be deep within the caves of Valr itself, spawning from a Dreamer there.

Wearing a suppression device (normally a collar) can help eliminate the parasite's influence, but the parasite cannot be removed without killing the host.

Ciphers

Ciphers are individuals who have been corrupted by Dreamer influence. Their forms destabilize past the point of return, and their realities are twisted and warped into a mock of their existence. Many Ciphers are highly aggressive and dangerous- do not engage. I̷t̶ ̴i̷s̵ ̸t̶h̶e̷ ̵t̸r̸u̷t̶h̸ ̷t̷h̷a̶t̶ ̶t̶a̸k̴e̵s̸ ̵y̶o̶u̷ ̸a̶n̶d̸ ̴m̸a̵k̴e̴s̴ ̶y̸o̵u̸ ̵o̴u̷r̴s̷.̸

(Any individual has the potential to become a Cipher if they succumb to the influence of Dreamers, regardless of what they began as, as long as they have Dreamer DNA.)