So I've established the concepts of Edens and Hearts and now come to the idea of ‘Projections’, ‘Hyjinxes’ and ‘Antibodies’….
Projections -
The Projections first originated at the end of the Shadow Sweep where they played an important role in the Great Cleanse, helping to sweep the tides of shadow to eradicate the Hyjinxes. The Projections are unknown in number and are as ethereal as the myths and legends surrounding them. Projections, come in many forms and sizes. Like all living things in Arbvar, they are branded.. but not by a mark but a Heart.
Projections are a physical manifestation of a Magos Heart, when hearts gain sentience and build themselves a body to express themselves and interact with the world around them. They are as their name tells, Projections, a collective conscious of a Magos Heart..their sign of sentience…their bridge to cross into our physical realm. However, not all Projections are manifestations, some are actually voluntary beings who have chosen to bond themselves to a heart, thus becoming a Projection. Projections often boast a significant prowess. They are strong as they are boosted by such a deep connection to the Arbvar and its living networks of connectivity. If voluntary, Projections retain former traits of who they once were such as part of their former physical appearance or roots of their abilities. Projections that are manifestations usually take on traits of the developing personality of the Heart in contrast to the environment around them.
Projections born from the Heart itself, are a vessel or an avatar of a Hearts newly developed mind. Not all Projections are clever or even sentient – with some baring primal or animalistic traits on formation. The development of intelligence amongst Hearts is slow as is the building of a body. Hearts process a lot of information and are the lifeline, the nutrition, the cord to the environment around it and rarely do they intake some of the information and appear to rationalise with it. It breaks the loop – the cycle – and becomes creative until it realises its effect, its purpose and functions and then does it truly become an independent being, a Projection. Voluntary Projections are ordinary people who offered themselves to a Heart, becoming bound to it as their Mark is to them. The process is irreversible. Once a Projection there is no turning back. Projections appear unaffected by the passage of time as there are those that remain alive since days long gone by. They seem to never change in appearance unless the alterations are deliberate. However, like all living things, the closer a Projection comes to reality, the further it must delve into the costs and rules of living. Their bodies require sustenance to sustain them the further they build them closer to interaction. A Projections body is like an external nervous system, they think and ‘feel’ through it to interact with the world around them. It will pain them for it to be hurt – but even if this avatar for the Projection is destroyed, the Projection’s spirit is still anchored at the Heart. The only time a Projection truly dies, is when it Heart does, freeing it from its bound duty only to perish.
Pan of Haven, the benevolent Projection made up of flower petals.
It is to be noticed that most major cities have a heart and guardian Projection. This Projection oversees the residence or land around it, one such example is Pan of Haven. This is because all life stems from Magos Hearts and ends with Hearts, thus the protection of these vital spots is crucial in sustaining life upon Arbvar’s worlds. Hearts are also a source of power and resources just as wood is to a fire. Hearts can provide a yield of fresh crystal and resources generated by naturally stimulated clusters. However, as if instinctive, most Projections do not reveal themselves nor their Heart anchor out of a sense of preservation and fear. Most hearts are undiscovered and are presumed to be secreted in grottos deep beneath the earth. It is a duty to document the locations and findings of these hearts to safeguard them from attack or else face the disastrous consequences of a dying Heart.’
Projections are therefore – essentially guardians of Hearts. They are bound and weighed with a heavier duty. Although apparently free from the passage of time once attached- they can never be free from their duty. What sets Innate Projections apart from Voluntary is the level of control, empathy and experience each user has, with Voluntary enacting more humanly than innate. Already we can see that Projections have their work cut out for them in terms of pressure and role. We can also see that there is a lot of danger here – if things go wrong or a heart is damaged, the impact would be irreversible on the land! We have some problems for in habitants – but who to cause them? Thus here comes in the concept of ‘Hyjinxes’ which have been mentioned previously, but now explained properly.
‘Hyjinx [For one]- Hyjinxes [Plural]
The name of ‘Hyjinx’ is a play on the word ‘Jinx’ which connotates to a type of curse that brings misfortune and bad luck. It can also refer to an object, person or place – making it a perfect indicator and name for these nasty creatures as they bring bad luck where ever they go.
Hyjinxes are of the most feared of the dark denizens that stalk the Arbvar. They are pests, a nuisance, a threat and a danger to all who possess a Magos equivalent…equally everything on Arbvar. Hyjinxes are spiteful as they crave that which they do not have – Magos and especially, anybody’s marks. Magos marks are us, our rational fountain of being, our sense of self, our obtain of emotions, our spirit…Hyjinxes have none of that as they bear no brand and so set us an example as to the fate of people who lose their marks…or what our Magos marks give us. Or perhaps the lingering extent of the Arbvar’s rage in the wrongings of the past.
Hyjinxes are unnatural and simply do not belong. They express many different forms, sometimes in colossal sizes and grotesque shells or as sleek shadows with searing coal-eyes of hatred. During the Shadow Sweep age, they swamped and smothered the Arbvar in a collective flood of hideous bodies,..untill their severe defeat all that time ago, which had thought to have driven them to extinction – when they simply just disappeared. Instantaneously, every Hyjinx off the face of Arbvar, just upped and went, as if they never existed…
But now they germinate once more…’
In short, Hyjinxes are our antagonists, the major threat on Arbvar. They are sleek inky shadows which usually inhibit skeleton forms and structures. This is because Hyjinxes are Animators – they are capable of animating a form. What makes Hyjinxes most formidable is their lack of empathy, allowing them to do the things we wwouldn't– more dangerous in a fight and their amassed swarming strength. One on its own may be a nuisance but anymore and they are quickly a threat.
A basic render of a Hyjinx example. Notice the bone elements and staple appearence.
Hyjinxes are in essence, shadows, their are a turtle without a shell. Hyjinxes take refuge in empty bodies such as skeletons and corpses. They make the body their shell – and animate it with their inky tendrils. It is in these forms that they take on their grotesque appearances. It is also these physical bodies that allow them to interact or worse, hurt, those around them. Almost like a form of moving tar these bodies are the tool of a Hyjixnes choice. Although you may think Graveyards are an immediate perfect environment – they aren’t to a single Hyjinx, due to the location of coffins and their inability to dig efficiently without a body.
Most Hyjinxes will strike in the shadows of the night, on a victim alone, through the act of surprise. They will also strike out blindingly, hitting anything and everywhere on a victim – until they find their Magos Mark. It is clear that Hyjinxes do not have a Magos Mark – and so have no clear vulnerability. Once they find their Preys mark – that will be the blood spot their attacks will be drawn to. When a Hyjinx has subdued a victim – they will consume their mark. The dangerous thing about this is the undesirable effects it will have. Like sharks are drawn to a drop of blood – the Hyjinxes are to these marks. In consuming them, not only do they gain a sense of satisfaction in victory but they also gain additional strength from the mark. In essence, when a Hyjinx consumes a persons mark, it begins to evolve.
As a Hyjinx consumes more and more marks – it gets stronger and stronger, gaining intelligence and power. These hyjinxes begin to shape differently in appearence, as if they are in control, as if they have a personality – its uncanny as its just as a Projection does so. These Hyjinxes find they can rationalise, think strategically, and even gain command over lesser Hyjinxes. Suddenly there is a hierarchy – with the lesser being the workers and the smart ones the commanders. Not only that – but Hyjinxes also gain shreds of their preys power -if they had one that is-. Prey that bears a husk type mark may satisfy them but one with a prowess – is like sweet candy to a sour mouth. Underestimating Hyjixnes therefore is a very bad thing to do. Letting one get stronger and stronger is also a very bad thing to let happen…
So what’s stopping these ‘Hyjinxes’ from running ragged and enacting complete and utter annihilation upon the realms of Arbvar? As we have rules for everything – there are some that act on the Hyjinxes. At the moment, these Hyjinxes have no flaws appart from their slow and primal start in life. And so comes in their two mortal flaws – sunlight and water.
In essence, as i’ve said before – Hyjinxes are quite literally a form of living shadow. But if we think to ourselves – what exactly are shadows? Shadows occur when sunlight hits a physical object and that projecting light can’t reach the area behind it – thus forming a shadow. In contrast – these Hyjinxes are now going to have a weakness to sunlight. Their skin can’t deal with ultra violet rays – if what they are made of can even be considered a ‘skin’ than a ‘tar’ really. It will blister, bubble and burst – killing the Hyjinx – when exposed. Hyjinxes are therefore vampire-esque in a way when i think about it. They consume the lifeforce of another for their survival and their mortal weakness is sunlight.
However – if this was their only weakness, yet again, what would stop them ruining everything? Yes, we know that some beings have brilliant powers – but they’d never have a moment to relax, always alert in fear…
Thus this is where the concept of their weakness of water now comes in. Water – when we think about it, is the source of all life. It really is – just look at deserts or barren planets – they have no water. Hyjinxes are like a plague, thus in a metaphorical way, being weak to water balances this good with evil as well as the shifting balance of power. Also, shadows in water – they don’t really work very well do they? Shadows can’t exist without a form of light – but exposure to direct sunlight kills a Hyjinx – entry into water will split them a part. Hyjinxes dissolve in water. Deep water and especially the sea – is a death trap for them. Rain has a numbing and weakening effect on them but its the immediate plunging of this deep water that kills them.
Visually – we can easilly tell now where the life is. Thriving communities in the worlds of Arbvar will have a large source of water, a healthy heart, and a protecting Projection. Areas most devoid will lack these necessities due to Hyjinx intervention. Hyjinxes are the locusts and their fatal flaws are now Sunlight and Water, the things we need to survive, are the things that end their survival. Colour pallets are already clear for how i’d distinguish areas suffering and areas surviving – which is brilliant!
Antibodies -
Yet there is still another concept i have in mind. Although these things may prevent the Hyjinxes from venturing in the day or diving into the deep – they can still animate bodies – and conceal themselves inside! Also, what about hearts that ly in caves or aren't protected by a source of water? Although a Projection may have a power, what’s gonna protect them? How will they defend? The idea sprang to me when i saw how all these things connected – the idea of Antibodies.
“Antibody/bodies -
Antibodies are the equivalent of white blood cells to the Arbvar. They are the cleaning crew as they fight the infection that is the Hyjinxes. Antibodies are created within Magos hearts and act as bodyguards and fight off invaders that dare come near to Hearts. They are created entirely from Magos, taking on blue, crystal appearances in many forms and shapes. Some can be hulking and intimidating and others small but still pose as a ravenous nuisance for Hyjinxes.
Antibodies are unpredictable in their forms generally but if a Magos Heart has a Projection, you’ll find most forms of Antibodies are deliberate shapes, formed from strategies and ideals the Projections believe. Hearts control Antibodies and generally only kill invading Hyjinxes. Those bearing marks – Magos Marks are left unharmed-usually- unless a heart is terrified and its Projection wants to shut itself off from the world.”
Perhaps you can make the clear link and inspiration just by the title – Antibodies are a direct influence from the whiteblood cells that flow through our veins. The Arbvar is a giant living organism – and in essence the beings are the germs which are microscopic in comparison to the sheer size of the Arbvar. Naturally – it’s gonna have some kind of defence mechanism, and these are the Arbvar’s ‘Antibodies’. Unlike us, they lack empathy. They have a purpose – a programmed purpose which is innately instructed from the Heart they spawn from. Their actions are controlled by their heart’s Projection – but what if a heart has yet to have a Projection? Then these Antibodies relay on instinct, a type of ant colony vibe. If a heart feels threatened then its ‘troops’, the Antibodies, will drive out or even erase the invader.
This makes Antibodies a kind of double edged sword. If under the influence of a Projection, then they are reserved and co-cordinate. However, what if this Projection was terrified or paranoid? It could lash out and even turn this power against the world around it. Problems already…There Is also the concept of a Heart running wild. Rolling on only instinct, this Heart will lash out at any invader, Hyjinx or not! What if a normal person did something by accident – the Heart won’t take it that way – and could consider it a threat… Suddenly the source of life is a source of emanating fear of the locals knowing that the thing that keeps their community alive could quite possibly seek to attack them – and there’s little they can do.
There is wide sense of uncertainty…nothing can be taken for granted. The people of Arbvar except these laws and rules because it is how their world works – yet even these ‘Hearts’ could quite possibly turn against them, a threat even worse than a Hyjinx! Fighting back would be worse! Yet these Hyjinxes pose as a hidden, lurking shape in the dark, the shadow that fleets in the alley – seeking your mark!
Already there is a lot to play with here – a lot of interesting ideas and concepts that I can shape from these world tools! So let’s see where I take it from here…
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