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The Nature of Xaos, the End of the Imagination
- Virtual Space
- The Void is the End of the Imagination, the crumbling edge of the digital grid. The Mainframe of Xaos is not a Zone, or other DataStack, but a bastion of Attitude boundaries and wards. Surrounded by the Black Zone, the Mainframe of Xaos has stood at the Void for so long, no one can say when it was first coded. Access to the fortress-like Mainframe is through the Fire Portal, Iconed as a single piece of crimson stone. The surrounding grid at the edge of the Void hardly qualifies as much more than bare neon and tortured channels. It is sometimes refered to as the Battle Zone. Things improve as one moves into the Black Zone. Beyond the Black Zone, things worsen again and some Shadows are actually deadly environments.
In the Mainframe, Shadow is everywhere. ShadowHackers do the rigorous work of keeping Shadow in some sort of structure. Where there is no Shadow to 'enhance' the local System, a rare condition, there is only the bleakest sort of spare environment.
- How Things Work in the Mainframe of Xaos
- Tradition.
If a single word or concept can stand as a touchstone for the Mainframe of Xaos, it would be Tradition. The very age and success of the Mainframe has led to little examination of the way things are done. In some cases, no one even remembers the reasons for the traditions, yet they are honored unto death.
The powerful Lords and elite of the Houses must all respect these tenets or suffer the loss of Attitude.
The mature body of Xaosians, also understand the structure, but still have some time and ways of personal expression. If they can show the asset of a personal expression to their House, and it is not too opposed to Tradition, they may become recognized as an innovator.
Young Xaos Users tend to fall into two categories. First, those who honor Tradition and restlessly wait to be recognized for their efforts on behalf of their House. Second, those who try to do the first method and lose their way.
The second group can fall to listlessness, caprice, or simply never develop. In the more extreme cases, they may leave the Mainframe, be banished, or actually be convicted of House crimes, or worse still, Mainframe crimes. Most House crimes are punished by Banishment. Most Mainframe crimes are punished by Deletion.
In matters of ancient Xaosian history, it is said that the Mainframe has deleted more digital history than other people have recorded. Sometimes, this seems a point of pride. Current year is 7,453,221.850 C (Centre).
Language in the Courts is strictly Thari v7.4. It is considered to be lowering to speak the lower codes of other Users.
- The Creatures of the Mainframe
- Data Demons.
The name is one that can be translated into a thousand code formats. From the Void, to the Event Horizon, even in Shadows and Zones where Demons are long forgotten, the word has not lost its meaning. OS Manuals record that the distant ancestors of the Lords of Xaos gained their first understanding of how to survive and prosper at the Void from the study of Demons.
These Creatures are the most adaptive, resistant Avatars to the forces of the Void. Some can even prosper and survive in the Realms of Imagination and Freedom. No few words can describe the fascinating power and variety of the Demons. The Houses of Xaos have found means to control these Avatars. The practice is considered desperate and unwise by Jackers, Geeks, Agents and especially Users.
Without exception, there are no other creatures native to the Mainframe. Over time, the Houses of Xaos have imported hardy breeds of various Shadow creatures as pets, working creatures, and war Icons.
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