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INTERACTIONS WITH THE OUTER WORLDS
Comfys as a species were created for the purposes of seeking out and supporting those in distress, and that goal has never changed. All Comfys are blessed with the ability to intrinsically connect to others whom they can most effectively assist, and interacting with those who require comfort is a core part of their society. Despite the dangers they may face, many Comfys will learn to adapt and familiarize themselves with the Outer Worlds in order to better help those in need.
PARTNERING
Comfys are able to form special bonds with individuals whom they emotionally connect with or simply wish to help! That individual is called a Comfy's Partner. The partner system originates from their ultimate task as a species, as given to them by their celestial creator the All Mother. When a Comfy is partnered, it simply means that they are bonded with a being from a different world, and as such, are granted the ability to sense any distress their partner may be feeling and travel to them at any time. This is why they seem to simply appear out of nowhere and disappear again at will to us in our world like fairies! A partnered Comfy is deeply emotionally connected to their partner, which means long term negative emotions from a partner will in turn affect the Comfy as well; extreme cases may even lead to Corruption. Luckily, they're pretty well built to prevent that!
Partnering is a two way street, both the Comfy and their desired partner must accept the existence of this bond for it to be established and maintained, though in the case of a partner, this link may form subconsiously at times. This is often more akin to an emotional connection than something formal like a contract. There are a few different variations of how and when partnering occurs, but all will result in a firm emotional link that spiritually and magically ties an individual and a Comfy together.
WISH
One of the main reasons partnering is such an important aspect of Comfy society is due to the fact that plenty of Comfys are actually born from the formation of their bonds! In a rather interesting phenomenon, partnerships can sometimes precede the birth of the Comfy themself.
The most common and one of the strongest forms of bond is a Wish. Wishes are exactly what they sound like: someone makes a wish, and a Comfy is born from said wish! Wishes were the easiest way for the All Mother to find and reach out to those in need back when they first brought their creations to life, and they still are now! Through the power of the stars, blessings and goodwill are laced into the wish, and a core is ignited by a spark from the Flame of Passion. This results in a Comfy who is incredibly personally tailored to that specific individual, be it their likes and aesthetics or their attitudes and beliefs. As such, these Comfys would naturally understand the best ways to go about assisting their partners on a deeply personal level.
Partnerships that stem from wishes tend to be the most long lasting, and most likely to affect the Comfy involved deeply in the event anything goes wrong. Comfys born this way also often spawn in the Outer World their Partner originates from rather than The Astral Pocket, prefering to cohabitate and spend more time with their partners and only visiting their home dimension when they need to.
CONNECTION
The second most common form of bond is your average Connection. This is when a Comfy specifically chooses a partner and offers to become linked with them. This is the default form of bond that every Comfy is able to form with individuals of the Outer Worlds, though it's recommended that each Comfy choose their partners wisely and with careful consideration! Forming partnerships require a significant amount of energy from their cores, and in the case of partnering with incompatible individuals, may lead to damaging consequences.
Remember, Partnering is a two-way street! Both have to work together in order to maintain their bonds and thrive. A beneficial partnership will strengthen a Comfys core, making them better able to resist and fend off dark forces seeking to sabotage and consume them while they're outside the safety of The Astral Pocket, as well as grant the Comfy more power to do whatever they do best! However damaging partnership will drain and weaken a Comfy's core, likely rendering them sick, powerless, and even vulnerable to corruption.
UNITY
An uncommon but not unpopular practice is when two Comfys partner with eachother. This form of bond is called a Unity, and is, in some ways, comparable to a form of matrimony for this species. It's not often done due to the nature of partnerships requiring significant energy from their cores to form, and Comfys who choose to become part of a Unity will likely not be able to partner with anyone else while bonded together. It is something mostly done by Comfys whose primary role no longer concern the Outer Worlds, and hence are able to peacefully bond without worry.
In the rare case that both Comfys in a Unity have significantly powerful cores with energy to spare, the unit may choose to form a Co-Partnership, in which both Comfys share the same Partner. If this can be successfully done, the bond tends to be easier to maintain, as both Comfys share the burden of negative events, though it may garner less benefits.
Unities can be formed of more than two Comfys. This is done by having each Comfy link to one other Comfy in the unit until everyone is accounted for. While not often seen, Comfys with this form of bond tend to be extremely close knit, live more solitary lives, and don't tend to be separate for long.
SEVERANCE & DISMISSAL
If a partnership is ever determined to be either detrimental or no longer necessary, the bond may be broken by either side in the relationship at any time. Ending a partnership doesn't always have to be a bad thing, with many cordially saying their goodbyes once they reach a certain level of growth or recovery, and come to the agreement that moving forwards towards a new stage in their lives was simply the right thing for them.
When it's a Partner breaking off the bond, it is called Dismissal. This action often causes a Comfy to go dormant, as the expended energy from forming the partnership takes a toll on their form, and their cores are returned to the Atral Pocket to be safely kept in the Sanctuary to recuperate. Comfys who go through a period of dormancy often reemerge with a slightly different form and purpose than before, and how much change they go through tends to depend on how much they needed to recover of themselves in the first place.
When a Comfy chooses to break a bond, it is called Severance. This is more often done as a defense mechanism when a partnership turns out exceedingly taxing or harmful, and where severing the link is the most efficient method of preventing further damage. This action will drain a Comfy significantly, but will leave them with enough to remain stable! Some will still opt to go dormant in order to recover, but others will simply try to rest and recuperate on their own terms. Many Comfys dislike the idea of severing their partnerships and may choose to maintain them longer than they should. It's always advised to know your own limits!
Comfys are always free to form new Partnerships and bonds once their cores are strong enough to do so. Seeking to reform a bond with a previous partner, while not impossible, is actually quite difficult due to a Comfy no longer knowing and able to travel to where they are. Within the vast realms of the Outer Worlds, reuniting with a previous partner would take quite the search. This is yet another reason why a Comfy may be hesitant to sever a partnership if they still genuinely wish to care for the individual involved.
DEFENCE AGAINST THREATS (Section might be moved at a later date)
Outside the safety of the Astral Pocket's blessed barriers, Comfys are left to fend for themselves while traversing the Outer Worlds. There are all sorts of dangers crawling about in the darkest depths of the cosmos, and all of them covet any bit of Celestial light that they can get their teeth on. So always remember to keep your cores safe! This is absolutely paramount to a Comfys life and wellbeing, and getting it compromised by malicious forces will likely risk Corruption, and sometimes worse.
Luckily, Comfys are well built to resist and defend against these types of monsters and shadowy creatures out to get them, but it never hurts to be careful!
THE VEIL OF THE COSMOS
A blessing well known to all Comfys. The Veil of the Cosmos is an ancient enchantment granted to their species by the graciousness of the universe in which the Celestials built. Almost every Comfy's mask will possess this enchantment at their moment of creation, and it is something that will stay with them so long as they keep said mask well kept and maintained. The Veil is more than just something that prevents a Comfy's core from being visibly seen, it is able to mask a Comfys presence from forces seeking to do them harm by hiding the energy radiating from them as well. A core's energy, no matter how weak, will always appear to burn unmistakebly brightly to spirits and creatures who have only ever known the dark, so any form of Core Exposure risks attracting the attention of those that dwell in the shadows to come and attempt to snuff them out. So keep those masks secure!
While very powerful, the Veil of the Cosmos is not perfect. It offers no protection from actually being attacked by monsters once seen, so it's recommended to remain hidden whenever possible if safety cannot be guaranteed.
LIGHT OF THE STARS
A Celestial's light in its purest form holds immense power to ward away evil, and most celestial traits that are able to give off light will be granted a fraction of this protection in turn. Sometimes, a Comfy is created with or granted additional blessings by Celestials for a variety of different reasons, be it growth, bravery, destiny, and so on. This occurance is rather rare, but not unheard of, most likely due to the rather elusive and enigmatic nature of Celestials to begin with. Regardless, possessing the added strength of a Celestial blessing grants a Comfy's core both protection and an increased resistance to corruption.
Blessings come in all forms, but those who specifically bear the light of the stars are often assigned important responsibilities in the Outer Worlds. Comfys who possess these traits will often be tasked to scout the Outer Worlds and map out dangerous locations as well as the realms beyond theirs, in addition to investigating corruption heavy locations when necessary, as they are the most capable of doing so in a safe manner. They may also team up to protect others tasked with directly combating monsters in order to rescue Comfys who may be in critical danger. To be blessed is to become a light that others may follow, no matter the direction.
Word of advice for Comfys who often traverse the Outer Worlds: "Prepare, Provide, & Protect"
BATTLE THE SHADOWS
What better way to defend oneself than to simply fight back! Turns out, Comfys aren't entirely powerless in the face of danger! Though of course, not all of them are meant for combat. Plenty of Comfys are content with staying out of sight and retreating back to The Astral Pocket whenever danger rears its head. On the other hand, some Comfys more geared towards combatting the negative and malicious forces of the world will naturally possess the ability to summon tools or wield magic, and while the risks are still there, they are much more capable of standing their ground in the face of danger. All magic stems from a Comfy's core, so it's important to not overexert it while out and about without proper back up. Getting caught out while vulnerable and alone is a recipe for disaster, and exactly what opportunistic creatures will pounce upon given the chance.
There's always more than one way for a Comfy to contribute to their continued efforts to keep malicious foes at bay. Over the years, blacksmiths and craftspeople alike have designed and developed all sorts of tools and weaponry for individuals without abilities they can use to protect themselves while traveling the Outer Worlds. These can range from actual down to earth weaponry, to magical instruments of varying but perhaps limited ability, and who knows what else in the future! Many within the Astral Pocket are always willing to help another Comfy in need, and there's nothing more important to them than making sure their fellow friends remain safe out in the world.
LIFE IN THE ASTRAL POCKET
Just because travelling and helping those in need in the Outer Worlds was their purpose at creation, doesn't mean that a Comfy doesn't have a life outside of it! The Astral Pocket is a realm in which all Comfys possess an innate link to, and where they can live, socialize, and rest alongside their own kind. Many Comfys eventually come to settle down somewhere in its vast realms to live out their own lives once they find a fitting place to live, some opting to live permanently within the pocket once adopting new roles for themselves outside of partnering. It is a bustling world created to adapt and expand based on their needs, though that doesn't stop the pocket dimension from containing a few mysteries of its own.
A PLACE TO CALL HOME
The Astral Pocket was and still is a personalized pocket dimension designed to be a safe and comfortable place for all Comfys to be able to live and rest peacefully! It was once a rather small place (some could argue it still is!) but over time it has expanded to what it is now, but there's always more to discover as their little world continues to thrive and grow along with them~
When a Comfy first appears within the Astral Pocket, be it from creation or later visitation, they will materialize in or around The Sanctuary; the sacred temple in which the Flame of Passion burns forever bright. Sanctuary representatives, workers, or volunteers are always ready to welcome newcomers to the realm by introducing them to the location of their first home, Sanctuary Square! From there, a member of the Welcoming Committee, of which Kit is a proud member of, will be happy to assist! Sanctuary Square is a bustling and important central location within the Astral Pocket, with Comfys new and old always coming and going through its busy streets, which acts as a main plaza of sorts for a variety of different functions. Additionally, due to its close proximity to the Flame of Passion, it is one of the most well protected areas within the entirety of the Astral Pocket against Outer World threats thanks to its ability to ward away corruption and malicious forces.
At its core however, Sanctuary Square is where all Comfys get to acclimate to their new world! Everything within the square was built from the ground up to make everyone in it feel right at home, with everything a new resident might need never being farther than a few streets down the block. New Comfys are first introduced to the residential district of the square where they may move into any available residency that suits their fancy, though more solitary or independent individuals may choose to forgo the offer and simply go along their merry way. This home is often temporary, with many Comfys eventually choosing to settle down in a more suitable region of the Astral Pocket once fully familiarized with life within the realm. Those who choose to make the square their permanent residence however will often partake in helping new folk who come after them feel just as welcome as they were, whether directly or just tangentially. There is never a day that isn't lively in Sanctuary Square, after all~
ROLES
While not technically a formal term, Comfys typically call their main job or function in society their Role. Once upon a time, every Comfy's role was simply the type of comfort they embodied, with Comfys who consider Partnering their primary role still describing it that way today. Over time however, the definition has since shifted to a more general term in order to encompass the new roles individuals have taken on in the wake of major societal development within the Astral Pocket. Nowadays, it's simply a term for what a Comfy considers their current status or place within their society, often denoting some kind of job or niche they fulfill, but it does not have to be.
Partnering and assisting those of the Outer Worlds, while certainly still the ultimate purpose of their species, often times does not remain a Comfy's top priority for the rest of their existance. All Comfys will go through a period of time where partnering is their primary role, often starting at the time of their creation and likely transitioning when their first partnership resolves. Plenty of Comfys will carry on with partnering as their primary role by pursuing new partnerships, while others may choose to take a break or even retire from traversing the Outer Worlds altogether, especially if they find another role that suits them better within the dimension in which they call home.
While it's common knowledge that most Comfys are created with the goal of assisting a partner, there are exceptions and outliers every so often, particularly, but not limited to, when celestial intervention is involved. Perhaps some individuals simply have different destinies written for them in the stars.
Roles can be as simple/broad as "Citizen" to as specific of a job title as any Comfy would like~
TRADE & COMMERCE
No society can exist without an economy! And the Astral Pocket is no different. Bartering is still a relatively common practice in Comfy society, as the general populace tends to be quite amicable when it comes to directly trading goods and services, though the conceptulization of currency eventually came about to simplify major transactions. While various regions within the dimension may opt to have their own regional forms of currency, the universal coins of the Astral Pocket are known as Passion Tokens (PTs). Passion Tokens are a special type of coin cast by the Sancturary using the fires of the Flame of Passion to infuse small amounts of celestial energy into the resulting token; an energy that all Comfys can sense, ensuring that all citizens can tell at a glance whether or not a coin is genuine.
The inclusion of celestial energy isn't just for authentication however! Passion Tokens are also important for specialized services that require celestial blessings or significant energy to do, such as weapon forging and mask repairs. Comfys in specialized roles can extract the energy from the coins to utilize in their specific craft! Most individuals with these abilities are officially sanctioned by The Sanctuary in some way to provide these services, which makes it easier for them to return the tokens back to the temple to be revitalized and recirculated once again. In Sanctuary Square, Passion Tokens are sometimes still used as a general lesser currency when they aren't magic infused, though they're more commonly used as trinkets such as game pieces instead.
Fun Fact: When flipping a coin, Comfys say "Face or Flame" instead of "Heads or Tails"
Refering to the images of the assumed face of the All Mother and a symbol for the Flame of Passion on each side of the token.
DAILY LIFE & ACTIVITIES
You may have noticed, but there are many aspects of Comfy society that parallel those of the Outer Worlds. Seemingly as a way to gain a closer understanding of those they wish to assist, life within the Astral Pocket naturally adopted a variety of customs from worlds like ours over time. Sanctuary Square in particular is known to celebrate many Outer World adjacent holidays as a way to make their consistent population of newly partnered Comfys feel more at home! There are of course, still some key differences that are unique to Comfys themselves, differences which led to the varied and colorful regions throughout the Astral Pocket, but plenty of them are always open to finding new ways to incorporate aspects of life that may foster a closer connection to individuals they seek to partner with. It's a common phenomenon for individual Comfys to pick up Outer World habits and lifestyles from their partners!
FOOD & DRINK
Comfys don't require what the Outer Worlds consider food to live, the energy from their cores is entirely enough to sustain their continued existence. Despite this, dining is still a very popular activity within Comfy society! Food created within the Astral Pocket contains small traces of celestial energy as a result of growing from the soils of a world handcrafted by a Celestial. A Comfy is able to "eat" the same way we do, by putting food into their "mouth" (The Veil of the Cosmos will prevent anything except for what a Comfy personally chooses to pass through their mask). What's actually happening is that their cores break down and absorb the food as a different form of fuel! In a pinch, certain foods can help a Comfy recover the energy to sustain themselves when they otherwise are unable to. While they are still able to eat Outer World food, they do not gain any benefits from doing so (Besides taste, of course). Comfys without mouths/faces are unable to eat without shifting their masks, which risks core exposure, so many of them tend not to do so unless they can guarantee a certain degree of safety.
Cooking is considered common practice, and would not be out of place as a hobby or profession. The Astral Pocket has its own variety of flora and fauna, and citizens have learned to forage, cultivate, and grow quite a number of them for their own use. As their world is an ever expanding and evolving environment, the possibility for new discoveries are assumed to be similarly endless, which individuals have put upon themselves to try and find when given the opportunity. Food items tend to be a little different than Outer World counterparts due to the nature of how and where they are grown, but it appears that Outer World plants can indeed still grow in Astral Pocket soil. Facinating!
AGE
A Comfy's age is often unique and nonlinear, and this is because they are manifestations of ideals! When a core is first ignited, the Comfy either immediately manifests, or takes some time to incubate within the sanctuary before emerging. While all Comfys are born fully formed, that doesn't necessarily mean they're all instantly what we would consider "adult". Plenty of Comfys, especially those with partners of similar ages, will manifest as seemingly younger individuals. However, whether or not they will ever "grow up" depends not on how long they've existed, but rather their own growth and evolution!
For example, a childish Comfy born of a wish to always be a kid at heart would probably always remain childlike, innocent, and free. However they could go through a period of dormancy and reemerge with a different/matured version of that ideal, go through some significant event in their own life that impacts and transforms them greatly, or they could just remain that way forever! Aging in Comfy society is an incredibly personal event that can vary wildly on a case by case basis.
The terms "young" and "old" as a result, have different connotations in Comfy society. Calling a Comfy "young" often refers to how recently they've been born and aren't particularly familiar with what they're doing yet, be it in partnering, adjusting to life in the Astral Pocket, or just with existing in general. The descriptor of "Old" on the other hand typically refers to Comfys who have gone through multiple significant changes in their life, whether it be partners, forms, or roles. Time is not a factor in growth and aging when it comes to Comfys, and Comfys who have manifested for significantly less time can still be considered "older" than those who have existed before them. Age to them is a reflection of their cores and their spirit, where being young at heart can genuinely mean that they are young forever.
THE END
Comfys do not have a definitive lifespan, but they also do not exist for eternity. While a core can be renewed or reincarnated multiple times with periods of dormancy, its flame won't be able to burn on forever. Instead of death, Comfys refer to the end of their time as becoming extinguished. One of the highest forms of honor is to be able to naturally reach their moment of extinguishment. To them, it is often a symbolic end, which signals that they've carried the wish or ideal that they were formed from as far as they could go. It often coincides with some form of enlightenment that results in a deep inner peace, brought about by the knowledge that all of their roles have been fulfilled. Their cores slowly diminish and their forms slowly fade away into wisps of light that are said return their celestial energies back into the universe, and perhaps even back to the grand flame of their origin. Masks are the only thing left behind when a Comfy becomes extinguished; the Veil of the Cosmos no longer enchanting their visage. Sometimes they are kept, sometimes they are buried, and others are mysteriously never seen again.
Extinguishment of course, is also what shadowy creatures seek to force upon them if given the chance. If they are to succeed in snuffing out their cores before their time comes, their flames are stolen from them and they cease to exist without being able to fulfill their roles to the fullest. Creatures of the dark are empty, cold, and bottomless, and any light that they manage to steal will likely simply disappear. The celestial light that they crave often does very little to satiate their endless hunger, but it empowers them to seek out more of it. The Comfys' battle against these dark forces are not only for the protection of themselves and their Outer World partners, but also for the passions, dreams, and wishes of the world that they carry in their hearts.