Threads in the Fabric

Through their force of will, Esotericists are able to manipulate the energies of existence, thereby affecting reality. In their natural state, the fabric of reality meshes many different threads, each with their own qualities and aspects.

The Frame (top)

Beneath the fundamental forces of existence lies four conceptual beams, over which the threads are woven. These beams are the frame of existence and lend their shape to the fabric they support, casting the other fundamental forces into four flavors.

Positivity: Positivity represents a trend toward an increase in welfare, beneficence, or sustainable nurturance. This beam shapes the fundamental force toward abundance, definite existence, and the manifestation of the force through its presence, rather than its absence.
Negativity: Negativity defines a force through its absence or the negation of its positive metaphysical attributes. This beams shapes a fundamental force toward malfeasance, uncertainty, and lack. Negativity manifests a force in ways that trend toward self-centered consumption and brutality.
Extropy: Extropy represents a trend toward construction and growth, be it through rigid or organic arrangement. Extropy manifests a force through the coming together of its component pieces to form unified, homogenous structures.
Entropy: Entropy represents a trend toward randomness and plurality, as homogenous structures are broken down to their fundamental natures. Entropy manifests a force through destruction, dissolution, and chaos.

The Warp (top)

Most basic of the threads are the fundamental elements of reality, each of which has both a literal and a metaphysical association. These forces are stretched over the frame of reality, taking shape as the frame distorts them. Given the amoral nature of reality, use of the force in any of its aspects does not apply an adverse effect on the caster or creature. However, cultural bias may taint certain uses of a fundamental force with social stigma.

Stone: The thread of Stone encompasses solid matter, be it rock, metal, or gemstone of all shade and variety. Its associations includes movements and areas of such material, including mountains, caverns, and canyons. Its positive metaphysical resonance represents order, stability, and persistence. Its negative resonance represents rigidity and unyielding behavior, not the inability to change, but the unwillingness to do so. Stone's entropic manifestations can result in erosion, avalanches, even Cataclysms, while its extropic manifestation can be seen in the raising of mountains or the growth of crystals.
Liquid: The thread of Liquid encompasses non-solid matter, most basically water, but also acids and other chemicals. Its association includes movement and flows of such things, including rivers, oceans, and waves. It's positive metaphysical resonance represents awareness and evolution, the combinations of matter to form new and higher substances. Its negative metaphysical resonance represents uncontrolled evolution, mutation, and madness. Liquid's extropic manifestation can be viewed in the rainfall or condensation, while its entropic manifestations appear as dissipation, evaporation, or drought.
Vapor: The thread of Vapor encompasses non-substantial matter, notably air, but including all natural gasses. Its association includes the movement and flows of such things, including the wind and sky. It's positive metaphysical resonance includes flexibility, adaptation, and movement, while it's negative resonance includes vacuousness, indecision, and recklessness. Vapor's extropic manifestations include the formation of cloud and the advance of weather systems, while its entropic nature is expressed in storms and strong winds.
Flame: The thread of Flame encompasses all energetic reactions, including fire, lightning, and motion. Its association includes energetic things, such as storms, lava flows, and fires. Its positive metaphysical resonance includes externally-induced transformations, change, and active decisions, while its negative associations include stagnation, idleness, and mindlessness. Flame's entropic manifestations are almost obvious, given the consumptive nature of fire and energy, while it's entropic manifestation can be seen in the forge and in the weld.
Flesh: The thread of Flesh encompasses all animate organic beings (irregardless of sentience), including all animals, insects, birds, and fish. Included also are the systems and materials that make up such beings, such as blood, bone, and muscle. It's positive metaphysical associations include mortality, survival, and the cycles of life. It's negative associations include diseases, tangible types of undeath, and predation. Flesh's extropic manifestation can be seen in childbirth and in the existence of multi-cellular beings while its entropic nature can be seen in the aging process and in disease.
Wood: The thread of Wood encompasses all inanimate organic beings, including trees and plants of all varieties. It also includes environments such as forests and grassy prairies where such life dominates. Its positive metaphysical resonance includes nourishment and fertility, while its negative resonance includes barrenness and wastelands. Wood's extropic manifestation is similar to Flesh's, in the creation of new plant-life from seeds. Its entropic manifestations occur in rot, the natural death of plant-life, and the action of fungi and mold which break down other matter.

The Weft (top)

The threads of the Warp represent the building blocks of the Mundane layer of reality, while the threads of the Weft are of a higher nature, encompassing other layers of reality. While the elements of the Mundane have defined positive, negative, extropic, and entropic aspects, the threads of the Warp tend toward a more absolute nature.

Dark: Often misunderstood, the Dark carries an undeserved negative connotation for many. In truth, its associations are neutral and reflective only of what the user brings to it. The Dark represents the self, as as such, represents the current incarnation of an individual, his essential soul and spirit. The Dark also represents the assumption of a new incarnation (i.e., the act of birth) and the release of an incarnation (i.e., the metaphysical aspects of the act of dying).
Mythic Force: Somewhere between the Mundane world and the high-reaching Celestial Reaches, the Sacred Lands exist, representing a fusion of the raw matter of the reality married with the pure conception of thought. These energies intermix into something entirely different, the Mythic Force. Representing stories and mythology of every kind, this thread represents any meaning assigned to any person, object, or place by sentient and non-sentient life. By altering or tapping into this energy, an Esotericist can access the context of any situation or being.
Celestia: The Celestia intersects all living minds to one degree or another, and represents a vast field of energy interlinking all minds and representing thought, emotion, and the purity of conception. Because relationships and social interactions take place largely in the minds and emotions of those interacting, the Celestia has come to represent such things. The Celestia's associations with the Celestial Reaches, gives this thread resonacne with such things as the planets, the stars, and the night sky.
Eldritch: The Eldritch permeates all and functions as an underlying force in every other thread, be it of Warp or Weft. It represents raw potential and is the energy that Esotericists manipulate to enforce their will on reality. As such, this thread can be used to manipulate the ebb and flow of such esoteric forces and to alter the nature of magick itself.

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