DIGIMON DIAL UP: Glossary and Guide! (UPDATED FOR CONNECT)
Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2016 5:48 amTHE BASICS
The Analog World: The "human" world of DIAL UP!, it is deeply similar to the world today...but with certain things accelerated, the future approaching faster on many fronts due to the rapid development of various technologies...
Human: Sometimes called Analogmen by Digimon, they are the lone sapient species of the Analog World, primate creatures of flesh and bone with little knowledge of the potential wrapped up in their messy organic bodies.
The Digital World: The dimension closest to the Analog World, a plane of existence born as a reflection of humanity's networked, electronically connected world...A place of infinite potential, but just as infinite danger.
Digimon: Digital Monsters, the alien inhabitants of the Digital World. Creatures formed out of network data, computer code, and electrical pulses...yet they are living, breathing, thinking creatures...just as humans are. Digimon in the Analog World seem to require to consume electricity and electronics such as mp3 players, computer components, and batteries. A Digimon can only become fully Realized by granting the wish of a Human...
Wishes and the Contract: A Digimon who hears the wish of a human can attempt to fulfill it, and thus link their soul to that of the human, establishing the bond known as the Contract.
Contracted Digimon are able to cross the interdimensional barriers separating the Analog and Digital Worlds and fully Realize without risking the loss of their form's stability (physical, mental, or both). The Wish that forms a Contract must have power behind it-- the wish itself must be immediate or deeply held, or otherwise it must be masking some deeply held desire that the Digimon can detect without demanding explicit knowledge of it. A Contract may be a desire that is fulfilled immediately, or it may be something the Digimon works to fulfill over time until the Contract is considered complete.
A Wish that has no desire behind it, or which is widely dispersed amongst a group of individuals, can result in a fragmented Contract, which will summon a Digimon but will not grant them stability or allow them true Realization; this will likely result in a half-Wild Digimon desperate to keep from being forced back through the dimensional walls, who will usually lash out violently.
Wild Ones: Digimon whose stability has degenerated to the point they are no longer fully sapient, often as the result of trying to force a crossing into the Analog World. Wild Ones have regressed to primitive programming and cannot be reasoned with.
Tamer: A Human partnered with a Digimon--also called Contractors, they and their Digimon compatriots have been granted power greater than their fellows. This power is represented most prominently by their possession of the Digivice, a mysterious creation which allows for humans to interact directly with Digital Code and Signals.
An actively Contracted Digimon's primary Signal and Core are all tied to the life of their Tamer; if their Contract is not considered complete and the human is killed, the Digimon will die with them, their Core data fragmenting and causing them to cease to exist. Because of this, the life of the Tamer is of highest priority to a Digimon, and it will boldly disobey orders and even abandon a battlefield to preserve that life.
* * *
YOUR NEW DIGIVICE: OVERVIEW AND FUNCTIONS
D-Phone: The Digivices for DIAL UP, they are based on cellular phones and smartphones, the objects that humans use to communicate and to connect with one another. They possess all the features of any modern smartphone...and more, including a whole suite of capabilities strictly limited to those touched by the Digital World.
This is the default D-Phone design, which appears upon assumption of a Contract. It can be changed into a different model via membership in one of the four Factions, all of whom have customized and heavily upgraded their D-Phones far beyond the baseline type's capabilities.
D-Phones are much sturdier than the standard phone. It takes intent and power to destroy them; however, if the Digivice is destroyed, it will violently disrupt the Contract, and it will take an exceptional Tamer to re-establish it, as well as a new Wish or a fervent gesture of reaffirmation of the former Wish.
A D-Phone has many capabilities built in, including:
Signals: When a Digimon is deleted, they turn into Digitama, and will be returned to the Digital World to the Primary Village. When this happens, a stream of code called a Signal will form around the egg. At this time, a Tamer can take that Signal into the D-Phone. However, if this is done, the Digitama of the fallen opponent is affected, potentially causing memory gaps and increasing the time until they hatch again exponentially (according to the strength of the Signal and how many have scanned it)--if their Core's Signal becomes scannable, a case indicated by the Digitama becoming transparent and covered in code itself, scanning the Signal will permanently delete them. Signals can upgrade a Digimon's abilities, adding attacks, space for attacks, and other things, however, and are a valuable resource...
E-Signals: When a Digimon opens a non-Armor Evolution Path or Level, they can only maintain the initial Evolution for five posts before devolving. To extend this shortcoming, a Tamer must acquire a specialized type of Signal, E-Signals, which extend the evolution time by another five posts. After three Signals, the fourth fully unlocks that Evolution, allowing it to be used without any time limit. The only way to gain E-Signals seems to be to undertake missions for the DJ or other powerful figures...
Contract Digimon can transition freely between three Evolution paths, as well as the Armor Evolutions granted by Digimentals.
* * *
EVOLUTION AND YOU!!
Evolution: Also called Digivolution, it is the ability of a Digimon to develop into a more powerful creature. While it can occur naturally, Contracted Digimon are able to access it much faster, and have more versatility since they are connected to a Human through the Digivice.
If a Digimon suffers sufficient damage levels, even a Naturally-Evolved Digimon will devolve to a lower form. Depending on the amount of damage taken, they may even revert to a Digitama. Devolution can be forced through the Digivice.
Evolution occurs in Levels, as follows:
Digimentals: The crystallized data of Digimon whose existence has passed on, but whose spirit and Light were strong enough to leave a lasting imprint on the Digital World. By bonding with them, a Tamer pair can access the power they once held and utilize Armor Evolution. Digimentals possess a semi-conscious spirit and can affect their wielder in various ways.
DigiXros: The lower-grade form of DNA-type Evolution, DigiXros allows for a pair or group of Digimon to fuse their bodies with one another for a limited amount of time, gaining the combined qualities and powers of both, though not on the same level as Jogress. DigiXros usually auto-selects one partner as the subordinate partner, transforming them into weaponry or gear to be used by the primary Digimon involved in the DigiXros.
Jogress: The higher grade of DNA-type Evolution, it is extremely dangerous and requires the Digicore of both Digimon involved to resonate on the same wavelength, as well as for their LoE and the LoE of their Tamers to match that resonance--without these factors, the Jogress is likely to malfunction and potentially lead to the death of the Digimon involved. Jogress Evolution is a true fusion of both Digimon into one body, and unlike DigiXros, jumps a rung on the Evolutionary ladder--due to their being a combination of two Digimon, it's not impossible that Jogress-type Perfect might defeat a natural Ultimate.
Jogress can be life-threatening. It requires a large amount of LoE to sustain, and may be fatal to the Tamer or Tamers involved if this LoE cannot be supplied..
Evolution Circuits: Modules like a small memory card which are inserted into the Digivice, which contain the power to stably and safely access the Perfect Level of Evolution; they are the physical "keys" which unlock the potential within a Tamer pair. Circuits are incredibly powerful, and can only be gained in certain circumstances or from patrons of great power.
Galactica System: An unknown set of protocols embedded deep within the D-Phones, only glimpsed briefly. It has to do with star-mapping and is believed to be connected intimately to Ultimate Evolution. All other parameters are a complete mystery.
* * *
UWA!! MY BODY IS CHANGING??
Light of Evolution/LoE: A type of energy emitted by the majority of living things, both Analog and Digital; specifically, it seems to be living things in possession of a nervous system or analogue therefore. It is also called the "Light of the Soul" by many older-model Digimon, by those who are precisely attuned to their own, and those who have glimpsed the Sea of Memories. According to Mishima Dagashin, it could be called "a power representing progress".
Every Light of Evolution wavelength carries a different Hue--this coloration, and any shapes within the color, tend to reflect the user's "soul", and additionally to reflect their emotional and mental state.
Light of Evolution carries memories, emotions, and strong thoughts within it, and is believed to be the basis for the Digivice technology; certainly, Evolution would be impossible without it. Most Digimon only evolve through accumulation and high production of Light, which Digimon tend to produce more rapidly than humans. The reason Contract Digimon are so much stronger than other Digimon is because they process not only their own Light, but the Light of their partner.
(Females of both species seem to produce slightly larger amounts of LoE on the whole; it's theorized this may be due to their role in procreation.)
The Light of most Analog lifeforms, even most humans, isn't visible outside of a cymatic scan, but Contractors are different, again due to the combination of their Light wavelengths, and seem to possess the capacity to not only project their Light out of their bodies, but to use it for a variety of different purposes, from a personal energy shield or "LoE Field" to the mysterious power called FINALIZE. When LoE is actively being produced, the eyes tend to produce a spinning gear in the pupil of a matching Hue to their LoE.
Digital Enhancement: The other result of a Contract, a Digital Enhancement is the result of a psychic awakening in the human brain, and is born from the desires that forged the Contract-- the D-Phone acts as an "ignition key" to the human's natural potential. A DE is, quite simply put, a superpower granted to the Tamer. Examples include such phenomena as telekinesis, telepathy, super-strength, the ability to manipulate natural forces or elements (electromagnetism, fire, air currents, gravity, etc.), or even the power to affect reality's fundamentals such as probability or time.
However, the superpower that is granted is singular in nature (example: a Tamer might gain flight, super-strength, or the ability to project heat from his eyes, but he absolutely could not gain Superman's power suite.), and can carry with it a cost on the body and the Light of the human using this power, which becomes more likely and more severe the more powerful the Enhancement (speed-users find their body's metabolism increases exponentially, pyrokinetics become prone to starting small fires without thinking, etc.). In extreme cases, Enhancement use can threaten the user's life.
DEs have built-in limiters to prevent them straining the body and soul of the user; going past these limiters will cause a state called Enhancement Excess, a debilitating and painful state that can cause nerve damage or be fatal if pushed to a breaking point.
Enhancements have three levels: Initial, where the Enhancement starts out, in which its power's manifestation is limited severely; Advance, the evolution of said power to a more traditional "heroic" level, accessed with Perfect Evolution; and Unrestricted, the final level, which possesses earthshaking force and is connected to Ultimate Evolution.
If the Digivice is destroyed, the Enhancement-activating area of the brain is damaged and ceases to function; it can be healed, but will only fully recover if another Contract can be formed.
FINALIZE: A mysterious power possessed only by an elite few. It is based in their LoE, and it carries reality-changing consequences. The circumstances of its activation are mysterious.
* * *
STRAIGHT SAYING HISTORY FOR THE MON ON THE GO
The First Crash/the Great Crash: A terrible occurrence in Digital World history, which happened approximately eleven years ago. On that day, the thirteen Royal Knights, guardians of order and justice in the Digital World, turned on their master and then on the World in rebellion. After seizing power, they went on a violent rampage, massacring entire species and installing themselves as tyrannical overlords with absolute power until they were checked by the Zone Masters, local governors of various Digital World zones who agreed, after a desperate stalemate, to an uneasy armistice with the Thirteen, a pact that is nominally still in place today.
The Hour of Cain: A disaster that took place in our own, Analog World at the precise same time as the First Crash. Named for the information-technology scientist who predicted it, this crisis involved a complete failure of every electronic or networked device, worldwide. There were no records, no reporting capability, and for a temporary, terrifying period, mankind was plunged into darkness entirely. As systems failed, bad actors such as criminals, terrorists, and the like took advantage of the global chaos, causing deaths and disappearances numbering in the thousands; to make matters worse, when the systems did come back online, the backups weren't up to date, adding to confusion and compounding tragedy. The Mirai Archipelago, home of Cyan City, was hit particularly hard, with over 1,000 dead or missing from the Hour; a pivotal time in Mirai's history, it affected many of those who are Tamers today, and directly inspired the development of the Eden Network infrastructure.
Burning November: The second great tragedy to rock the Mirai Archipelago, this took place six years ago, and involved the wholesale destruction of the seaside town of Magenta, Cyan's sister and rival city. Known worldwide as the greatest nuclear accident in mankind's history and a cautionary tale teaching that even fusion power, the world's energy salvation, came with a cost, the disaster was so named for the fact that for the entire month of November, the city burned, and no effort from any amount of fire departments could quench the destructive flames. It's believed to be the fault of a disastrous meltdown at Kakuhoyuu-Mirai Power Plant #15, and a chain reaction of explosions from the experimental processes they used...processes discontinued in all reactors since.
Amongst Tamers, however, the four factions and even some independent Tamers whisper of a darker legacy. That this so-called nuclear disaster was nothing of the sort...
* * *
IMAGES OF TOMORROW
D-Human: What seems to be the next stage of human evolution, a form of humanity that has integrated capabilities from both the Analog and Digital World into their living body. D-Humans are still made of flesh and blood, but carry Digital code inscribed into their forms, and are capable of transmuting themselves temporarily into data completely. Their LoE production is greatly amplified.
There are two known types of D-Human, Natural and Artificial, though the terms are somewhat misleading. Natural-type D-Humans are simply those D-Humans born through a "normal" evolutionary process, while Artificial-types have had their evolution accelerated by another party. (Agito Soma would be considered a Natural-type D-Human; Morino Alma would be considered an Artificial-type.)
The DJ: A term used to describe what seems to be either a series of individuals or a gestalt, all of whom possess gold-streaked hair and a mysterious visor. They are the human "hosts" and avatars for a power much greater than themselves; though at one time there were very many of them, the amount of DJs seems to be dwindling lately. They are responsible for the development of the Digivices and the Contract System...
The most commonly-encountered DJ in Mirai, these days, is the mysterious man known as "Karl de Saint-Pierre", a handsome fellow with dark gold-streaked hair and a tendency to wear a magnificent white-and-gold ensemble.
Core Intelligences: The term used throughout the Digital World for its gods, a duality of what seem to be emergent A.I. that have existed since the dawn of the Digital World proper. The Core Intelligences once worked together, but time and the stark opposition of their viewpoints drove them to conflict, then to open warfare, until only one remained...
The best-known Core Intelligence is Yggdrasil, the Lifebringer, who is responsible for creating the Digimon and granting them the ability to Digivolve. He is seen commonly as a benevolent but capricious god, who intercedes little in others' affairs and delights in chaos as long as it results in progress and development.
His counterpart is Ragnarok, the God-Machine, who was responsible for creating and maintaining the Digital World itself, but who fell into darkness after going to war with Yggdrasil. He is seen commonly as a bringer of destruction and death, who seeks to create a "perfect" order in which living beings are only cogs in a mechanism, the so-called "Great Design".
Sea of Memories: The realm that exists "between" all other realities; the place "where all information begins, and all ends". A beautiful nether-realm of prismatic wonder, like an endless ocean of potentiality. At the close of their lives, all things are drawn into the Sea. But, it's said, if they believe strongly enough in their own sense of "self", one can be reborn.
The Sea seems to have a representative, a beautiful woman called "the Voice", with long colorless hair, very pale skin, and crimson eyes. Her face is nostalgic and kind...
The Analog World: The "human" world of DIAL UP!, it is deeply similar to the world today...but with certain things accelerated, the future approaching faster on many fronts due to the rapid development of various technologies...
Human: Sometimes called Analogmen by Digimon, they are the lone sapient species of the Analog World, primate creatures of flesh and bone with little knowledge of the potential wrapped up in their messy organic bodies.
The Digital World: The dimension closest to the Analog World, a plane of existence born as a reflection of humanity's networked, electronically connected world...A place of infinite potential, but just as infinite danger.
Digimon: Digital Monsters, the alien inhabitants of the Digital World. Creatures formed out of network data, computer code, and electrical pulses...yet they are living, breathing, thinking creatures...just as humans are. Digimon in the Analog World seem to require to consume electricity and electronics such as mp3 players, computer components, and batteries. A Digimon can only become fully Realized by granting the wish of a Human...
Wishes and the Contract: A Digimon who hears the wish of a human can attempt to fulfill it, and thus link their soul to that of the human, establishing the bond known as the Contract.
Contracted Digimon are able to cross the interdimensional barriers separating the Analog and Digital Worlds and fully Realize without risking the loss of their form's stability (physical, mental, or both). The Wish that forms a Contract must have power behind it-- the wish itself must be immediate or deeply held, or otherwise it must be masking some deeply held desire that the Digimon can detect without demanding explicit knowledge of it. A Contract may be a desire that is fulfilled immediately, or it may be something the Digimon works to fulfill over time until the Contract is considered complete.
A Wish that has no desire behind it, or which is widely dispersed amongst a group of individuals, can result in a fragmented Contract, which will summon a Digimon but will not grant them stability or allow them true Realization; this will likely result in a half-Wild Digimon desperate to keep from being forced back through the dimensional walls, who will usually lash out violently.
Wild Ones: Digimon whose stability has degenerated to the point they are no longer fully sapient, often as the result of trying to force a crossing into the Analog World. Wild Ones have regressed to primitive programming and cannot be reasoned with.
Tamer: A Human partnered with a Digimon--also called Contractors, they and their Digimon compatriots have been granted power greater than their fellows. This power is represented most prominently by their possession of the Digivice, a mysterious creation which allows for humans to interact directly with Digital Code and Signals.
An actively Contracted Digimon's primary Signal and Core are all tied to the life of their Tamer; if their Contract is not considered complete and the human is killed, the Digimon will die with them, their Core data fragmenting and causing them to cease to exist. Because of this, the life of the Tamer is of highest priority to a Digimon, and it will boldly disobey orders and even abandon a battlefield to preserve that life.
* * *
YOUR NEW DIGIVICE: OVERVIEW AND FUNCTIONS
D-Phone: The Digivices for DIAL UP, they are based on cellular phones and smartphones, the objects that humans use to communicate and to connect with one another. They possess all the features of any modern smartphone...and more, including a whole suite of capabilities strictly limited to those touched by the Digital World.
This is the default D-Phone design, which appears upon assumption of a Contract. It can be changed into a different model via membership in one of the four Factions, all of whom have customized and heavily upgraded their D-Phones far beyond the baseline type's capabilities.
D-Phones are much sturdier than the standard phone. It takes intent and power to destroy them; however, if the Digivice is destroyed, it will violently disrupt the Contract, and it will take an exceptional Tamer to re-establish it, as well as a new Wish or a fervent gesture of reaffirmation of the former Wish.
A D-Phone has many capabilities built in, including:
- Summon/Realize Digimon: This fully Realizes the Digimon partner if stored within the D-Phone, or allows them to shed their Live Disguise. In emergencies, the Digimon can break their own Live Disguise, though it takes substantial effort.
Call Digimon: If the Digimon is far from the Tamer, this will call the Digimon to his/her partner.
Dial Evolution/Evolve: Cause the Digimon to undergo Evolution. The D-Phone will announce the Evolution details according to the Tamer's input. To Digivolve you must have gotten the E-Signal for it ahead of time.
Switch Evolution Path: This will switch between the A, B, and C Digivolution paths.
Charge Up: Empowers a Digimon's attack if held for the next post. The Digimon must rely on other techniques while the chosen attack charges up. Charge Up can be used with only one use of Final Charge.
Signal Up: Allows the use of a copied Signal, data obtained from battles and jobs to help a Digimon in battle. Signals can only be used once per thread.
Final Charge: The Digimon's most powerful attack, capable of defeating even Digimon higher in level given the chance. Though it can be used several times per thread, its power drops with each use and/or it is physically draining and debilitating for the Digimon. Final Charges can be a very powerful attack naturally possessed by the Digimon, or linked to the Contract itself. However, only Contracted Digimon can use a Final Charge, even if the attack is natural, and the Contract always empowers the attack. Final Charges usually make an announcement customized to the character.
Digital Gate Protocol: Opens up Digital Gates to enter the Digital World, and closes them after use so no one can follow with that route. Digital Gates can only be opened using network-accessible devices. The standard Digital Gate will manifest within the device and usually appears like a window to a certain area of the Digital World.
Each of the Factions has upgraded their Digital Gate system and enacted security measures to prevent intruders or freelance individuals from using them.
Signals: When a Digimon is deleted, they turn into Digitama, and will be returned to the Digital World to the Primary Village. When this happens, a stream of code called a Signal will form around the egg. At this time, a Tamer can take that Signal into the D-Phone. However, if this is done, the Digitama of the fallen opponent is affected, potentially causing memory gaps and increasing the time until they hatch again exponentially (according to the strength of the Signal and how many have scanned it)--if their Core's Signal becomes scannable, a case indicated by the Digitama becoming transparent and covered in code itself, scanning the Signal will permanently delete them. Signals can upgrade a Digimon's abilities, adding attacks, space for attacks, and other things, however, and are a valuable resource...
E-Signals: When a Digimon opens a non-Armor Evolution Path or Level, they can only maintain the initial Evolution for five posts before devolving. To extend this shortcoming, a Tamer must acquire a specialized type of Signal, E-Signals, which extend the evolution time by another five posts. After three Signals, the fourth fully unlocks that Evolution, allowing it to be used without any time limit. The only way to gain E-Signals seems to be to undertake missions for the DJ or other powerful figures...
Contract Digimon can transition freely between three Evolution paths, as well as the Armor Evolutions granted by Digimentals.
* * *
EVOLUTION AND YOU!!
Evolution: Also called Digivolution, it is the ability of a Digimon to develop into a more powerful creature. While it can occur naturally, Contracted Digimon are able to access it much faster, and have more versatility since they are connected to a Human through the Digivice.
If a Digimon suffers sufficient damage levels, even a Naturally-Evolved Digimon will devolve to a lower form. Depending on the amount of damage taken, they may even revert to a Digitama. Devolution can be forced through the Digivice.
Evolution occurs in Levels, as follows:
- Digitama (Digi-Egg) -- Digitama is the state all Digimon start their lives and evolution in. It is an egg in which their code and core are kept protected. If the Digitama is destroyed, the Digimon cannot be reborn. Scanning the Core Signal of a Digitama, as previously mentioned, will destroy it.
Baby-I (Fresh) -- Once a Digimon has enough energy to emerge from its Digitama, this is the first form it will take. Very much a newborn/baby-like form, it usually has limited if any speech and generally only one, weak attack to defend itself.
Baby-II (In-Training) -- The second form of a Digimon, it remains extremely childish in intellect and capability. The equivalent of Digimon "children", Baby-IIs are not usually allowed outside their home villages; some do not even depart Primary Village until they reach Child Level.
Child (Rookie) -- This is the Level at which the most Digimon are found, and the level at which most Digimon remain the longest; Contract Digimon often use Child as a default evolutionary form, as it lacks the disadvantages of Baby-II, but also lacks the LoE demands of Adult Level. Despite the name, Child-Level Digimon are generally considered late adolescent-to-full adult in Digimon society--in some cases, a Child-level can actually be quite an elderly individual.
Adult (Champion) -- The second most common level, Adult is the level at which most Evolutionary Lines tend to diverge and show the most variation, even in Non-Contracted Digimon. It's considered the "workhorse" Evolutionary Level; it's when a Digimon truly starts to process Light of Evolution and emit it from within their Core. Adults are universally considered just that in Digimon society, and generally are when a Digimon becomes capable of holding their own in battle.
Perfect (Ultimate) -- Somewhat of a transitionary level between the simple combat readiness of Adult and the absolute power of an Ultimate, Perfect Digimon are much rarer, especially when compared to Adult or Child-Levels, and use a large amount of LoE in order to evolve and to maintain their forms. They are all somewhat unique existences, but they lack the sheer power and singular nature of an Ultimate.
Ultimate (Mega) -- The highest natural level of evolution, they are the epitome of their evolutionary lines, often modeled after great exemplars, heroes, and legends. Groups that are all Ultimate Levels include the Zone Masters, the Royal Knights, the Seven Great Demon Lords, and the now-extinct Olympus Twelve. Ultimate Digimon use and emit massive amounts of LoE. The most extreme cases are Ascension Class Ultimates, Digimon of which there can only exist one individual at a time (the best-known examples being found in the Royal Knights or the Zone Masters).
Digimentals: The crystallized data of Digimon whose existence has passed on, but whose spirit and Light were strong enough to leave a lasting imprint on the Digital World. By bonding with them, a Tamer pair can access the power they once held and utilize Armor Evolution. Digimentals possess a semi-conscious spirit and can affect their wielder in various ways.
- Armor Evolution: A form of Evolution that is reliant on a Digimental, an Armor Digimon is slightly weaker than a true Adult, and their Charge Ups and Final Charges are only 60% as powerful as regular ones. However, these forms lie outside of the normal Evolutionary Line and do not have an Evolution Timer to limit their use. They are additionally empowered by certain qualities that a Digimental and its Spirit embody, making them situationally quite powerful...
DigiXros: The lower-grade form of DNA-type Evolution, DigiXros allows for a pair or group of Digimon to fuse their bodies with one another for a limited amount of time, gaining the combined qualities and powers of both, though not on the same level as Jogress. DigiXros usually auto-selects one partner as the subordinate partner, transforming them into weaponry or gear to be used by the primary Digimon involved in the DigiXros.
Jogress: The higher grade of DNA-type Evolution, it is extremely dangerous and requires the Digicore of both Digimon involved to resonate on the same wavelength, as well as for their LoE and the LoE of their Tamers to match that resonance--without these factors, the Jogress is likely to malfunction and potentially lead to the death of the Digimon involved. Jogress Evolution is a true fusion of both Digimon into one body, and unlike DigiXros, jumps a rung on the Evolutionary ladder--due to their being a combination of two Digimon, it's not impossible that Jogress-type Perfect might defeat a natural Ultimate.
Jogress can be life-threatening. It requires a large amount of LoE to sustain, and may be fatal to the Tamer or Tamers involved if this LoE cannot be supplied..
Evolution Circuits: Modules like a small memory card which are inserted into the Digivice, which contain the power to stably and safely access the Perfect Level of Evolution; they are the physical "keys" which unlock the potential within a Tamer pair. Circuits are incredibly powerful, and can only be gained in certain circumstances or from patrons of great power.
Galactica System: An unknown set of protocols embedded deep within the D-Phones, only glimpsed briefly. It has to do with star-mapping and is believed to be connected intimately to Ultimate Evolution. All other parameters are a complete mystery.
* * *
UWA!! MY BODY IS CHANGING??
Light of Evolution/LoE: A type of energy emitted by the majority of living things, both Analog and Digital; specifically, it seems to be living things in possession of a nervous system or analogue therefore. It is also called the "Light of the Soul" by many older-model Digimon, by those who are precisely attuned to their own, and those who have glimpsed the Sea of Memories. According to Mishima Dagashin, it could be called "a power representing progress".
Every Light of Evolution wavelength carries a different Hue--this coloration, and any shapes within the color, tend to reflect the user's "soul", and additionally to reflect their emotional and mental state.
Light of Evolution carries memories, emotions, and strong thoughts within it, and is believed to be the basis for the Digivice technology; certainly, Evolution would be impossible without it. Most Digimon only evolve through accumulation and high production of Light, which Digimon tend to produce more rapidly than humans. The reason Contract Digimon are so much stronger than other Digimon is because they process not only their own Light, but the Light of their partner.
(Females of both species seem to produce slightly larger amounts of LoE on the whole; it's theorized this may be due to their role in procreation.)
The Light of most Analog lifeforms, even most humans, isn't visible outside of a cymatic scan, but Contractors are different, again due to the combination of their Light wavelengths, and seem to possess the capacity to not only project their Light out of their bodies, but to use it for a variety of different purposes, from a personal energy shield or "LoE Field" to the mysterious power called FINALIZE. When LoE is actively being produced, the eyes tend to produce a spinning gear in the pupil of a matching Hue to their LoE.
Digital Enhancement: The other result of a Contract, a Digital Enhancement is the result of a psychic awakening in the human brain, and is born from the desires that forged the Contract-- the D-Phone acts as an "ignition key" to the human's natural potential. A DE is, quite simply put, a superpower granted to the Tamer. Examples include such phenomena as telekinesis, telepathy, super-strength, the ability to manipulate natural forces or elements (electromagnetism, fire, air currents, gravity, etc.), or even the power to affect reality's fundamentals such as probability or time.
However, the superpower that is granted is singular in nature (example: a Tamer might gain flight, super-strength, or the ability to project heat from his eyes, but he absolutely could not gain Superman's power suite.), and can carry with it a cost on the body and the Light of the human using this power, which becomes more likely and more severe the more powerful the Enhancement (speed-users find their body's metabolism increases exponentially, pyrokinetics become prone to starting small fires without thinking, etc.). In extreme cases, Enhancement use can threaten the user's life.
DEs have built-in limiters to prevent them straining the body and soul of the user; going past these limiters will cause a state called Enhancement Excess, a debilitating and painful state that can cause nerve damage or be fatal if pushed to a breaking point.
Enhancements have three levels: Initial, where the Enhancement starts out, in which its power's manifestation is limited severely; Advance, the evolution of said power to a more traditional "heroic" level, accessed with Perfect Evolution; and Unrestricted, the final level, which possesses earthshaking force and is connected to Ultimate Evolution.
If the Digivice is destroyed, the Enhancement-activating area of the brain is damaged and ceases to function; it can be healed, but will only fully recover if another Contract can be formed.
FINALIZE: A mysterious power possessed only by an elite few. It is based in their LoE, and it carries reality-changing consequences. The circumstances of its activation are mysterious.
* * *
STRAIGHT SAYING HISTORY FOR THE MON ON THE GO
The First Crash/the Great Crash: A terrible occurrence in Digital World history, which happened approximately eleven years ago. On that day, the thirteen Royal Knights, guardians of order and justice in the Digital World, turned on their master and then on the World in rebellion. After seizing power, they went on a violent rampage, massacring entire species and installing themselves as tyrannical overlords with absolute power until they were checked by the Zone Masters, local governors of various Digital World zones who agreed, after a desperate stalemate, to an uneasy armistice with the Thirteen, a pact that is nominally still in place today.
The Hour of Cain: A disaster that took place in our own, Analog World at the precise same time as the First Crash. Named for the information-technology scientist who predicted it, this crisis involved a complete failure of every electronic or networked device, worldwide. There were no records, no reporting capability, and for a temporary, terrifying period, mankind was plunged into darkness entirely. As systems failed, bad actors such as criminals, terrorists, and the like took advantage of the global chaos, causing deaths and disappearances numbering in the thousands; to make matters worse, when the systems did come back online, the backups weren't up to date, adding to confusion and compounding tragedy. The Mirai Archipelago, home of Cyan City, was hit particularly hard, with over 1,000 dead or missing from the Hour; a pivotal time in Mirai's history, it affected many of those who are Tamers today, and directly inspired the development of the Eden Network infrastructure.
Burning November: The second great tragedy to rock the Mirai Archipelago, this took place six years ago, and involved the wholesale destruction of the seaside town of Magenta, Cyan's sister and rival city. Known worldwide as the greatest nuclear accident in mankind's history and a cautionary tale teaching that even fusion power, the world's energy salvation, came with a cost, the disaster was so named for the fact that for the entire month of November, the city burned, and no effort from any amount of fire departments could quench the destructive flames. It's believed to be the fault of a disastrous meltdown at Kakuhoyuu-Mirai Power Plant #15, and a chain reaction of explosions from the experimental processes they used...processes discontinued in all reactors since.
Amongst Tamers, however, the four factions and even some independent Tamers whisper of a darker legacy. That this so-called nuclear disaster was nothing of the sort...
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IMAGES OF TOMORROW
D-Human: What seems to be the next stage of human evolution, a form of humanity that has integrated capabilities from both the Analog and Digital World into their living body. D-Humans are still made of flesh and blood, but carry Digital code inscribed into their forms, and are capable of transmuting themselves temporarily into data completely. Their LoE production is greatly amplified.
There are two known types of D-Human, Natural and Artificial, though the terms are somewhat misleading. Natural-type D-Humans are simply those D-Humans born through a "normal" evolutionary process, while Artificial-types have had their evolution accelerated by another party. (Agito Soma would be considered a Natural-type D-Human; Morino Alma would be considered an Artificial-type.)
The DJ: A term used to describe what seems to be either a series of individuals or a gestalt, all of whom possess gold-streaked hair and a mysterious visor. They are the human "hosts" and avatars for a power much greater than themselves; though at one time there were very many of them, the amount of DJs seems to be dwindling lately. They are responsible for the development of the Digivices and the Contract System...
The most commonly-encountered DJ in Mirai, these days, is the mysterious man known as "Karl de Saint-Pierre", a handsome fellow with dark gold-streaked hair and a tendency to wear a magnificent white-and-gold ensemble.
- THE DJ'S SECRET IDENTITY! DO NOT OPEN IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO KNOW (BUT MOST FOLKS DO) | +
Core Intelligences: The term used throughout the Digital World for its gods, a duality of what seem to be emergent A.I. that have existed since the dawn of the Digital World proper. The Core Intelligences once worked together, but time and the stark opposition of their viewpoints drove them to conflict, then to open warfare, until only one remained...
The best-known Core Intelligence is Yggdrasil, the Lifebringer, who is responsible for creating the Digimon and granting them the ability to Digivolve. He is seen commonly as a benevolent but capricious god, who intercedes little in others' affairs and delights in chaos as long as it results in progress and development.
His counterpart is Ragnarok, the God-Machine, who was responsible for creating and maintaining the Digital World itself, but who fell into darkness after going to war with Yggdrasil. He is seen commonly as a bringer of destruction and death, who seeks to create a "perfect" order in which living beings are only cogs in a mechanism, the so-called "Great Design".
Sea of Memories: The realm that exists "between" all other realities; the place "where all information begins, and all ends". A beautiful nether-realm of prismatic wonder, like an endless ocean of potentiality. At the close of their lives, all things are drawn into the Sea. But, it's said, if they believe strongly enough in their own sense of "self", one can be reborn.
The Sea seems to have a representative, a beautiful woman called "the Voice", with long colorless hair, very pale skin, and crimson eyes. Her face is nostalgic and kind...