World-Strider Manual (Transcription)

(Transcribed by JiYun)

(Notes: These pages are pieces to a World-Strider Manual. They are incomplete.)

…without their tools. A proper survey of an Unquantified World requires hightly spepcialized devices, most of which you will be familiar with by the end of this course.

Before entering a world, even if its Transjectory has been divined, you will need to consult your Stability Analyzer. It is a good habit to check it every time before entering a world, even if it is Prime, to ensure that conditions beyond the Gate are not immediately fatal or immediately dangerous. This is especially important when exploring worlds that have not been properly Quantified. many worlds, while interesting from an academic perspective, are instantly or near-instantly deadly to anyone not wearing the proper protective gear. Remember well that even a momentary lapse would spell ultimate destruction without a means of Recoperation. Councilor Alistera Turt, whose work with traveling to the Unquantified World we not know as the Tears of Annihilating Regret. The simple act of Stability Analyzation could have prevented such tragedy.

Similarly, World Striders should always wear Essence Collection Systems in Unquantified Worlds and those worlds who lack the proper infrastructure to Recorperate human beings. As efficient as the Department of Thanatology and Free Essences are, it is far too much to ask that they have Soul-Anchoring Stones in Unelevated Worlds (let alone the myriad of Unquantified Worlds that are discovered daily!). Because we cannot rely on their services in the case of a lethal emergency, you are required to carry your Essence Collection System with you when leaving Oun. If a lethal emergency does arise, your team mates or superior will seek out your Essence Collection System and return it to the Department of Thanatology and Free Essences for a prompt Recoperation.

The most important task in the process of Quantifying an Unquantified Worlds is your All-Incarnations-Perceiving-Eye. The data it collects for you will begin the groundwork necessary to create a Map. While your All-Incarnations-Perceiving-Eye will be able to tell you things such as the average temperature of the world, the ratio of land to sea, dominant Themes, the number of Free Essences, and the presence of Powers, it is not sophisticated enough to explain everything. It does not, for instance, detail the relationships of any located Powers to one another. It cannot tell you where to locate food or how Downward Momentum might be altered. Nor is the information it provides infallible, much to the chargrin of many of our compatriots. Consider these early readings as a guide that will give you details in very dull relief. And while your All-Incarnations-Perceiving-Eye will be extremely useful, it is no substitute for jurisprudence and vigorous exploration.

The ultimate goal of the entire Quantification process is the production of a reliable Map. While the skill of Map-Making is far beyond the scope of this course, it is essential that you understand how to use the Omniscient-Sky-Observer-Technique to read the Themes and Powers of any world you might encounter. Even having limited ourselve within this course to the skills of Map-Reading, you will find that a mastery of this skill requires dozens of increasingly specialized Techniques that you are unlikely to master even after years of work Elevating worlds. This is a challenge you will be most eager to engage, however, because of the rewards it offers. Remember well the famous words of Manu Frostlimb when he exclaimed “Where it not for my Map…”

…may at first seem intractable, but should be approached as a challenge. The World Strider who Elevates a world whose dominant Theme is Agriculture scarcely deserves a word of praise, whereas an up-and-coming World Strider who Elevates a world whose dominant theme is Loss would be highly praised. Consider as well that despite the difficulty that Negative Themes present that many worlds whose Themes are, at first glance, perverse, might perhaps be Elevated without altering the dominant Themes. Many a World Strider has found good use for worlds thought too sad or too dark by their compatriots. Such Worlds, even the more disturbing ones, can often be found to have such a purpose. Even the Plains of Endless Conflict, one of the great Prime worlds, was written off as an impossible case for many generations before an earnest attempt was created at Elevating it. despite its overwhelmingly hostile Themes (Brutality, Conflict, Bloodshed among the most Influential) it has since been Elevated to provide consequence-free first-hand combat experience to World Striders and select members of the Grey Watch.

It can be difficult to determine whether or not a world can be Elevated when it has powerful Negative Themes. At first glance, worlds with Pestilence, Heartbreak, Injury, Suffering, or Stillness as Themes might seem as if they are a complete loss. However consider those Themes’ level of Influence (if properly Quantified). While it is unlikely that you will detect any Theme lover than Influence Rank 4 with a simple survey, Influence Rank 4 Themes are malleable enough to be altered. This is especially true if there are Influential Rank 5 or 6 Themes of a Positive nature that counter the lower Influence Negative Themes. For instance, the Elevation of the Hundred Houses of Nobility was briefly stymied by an Influence Rank 4 Negative Theme of Assassination. This particular Theme manifested in the creation of an “Assassin Caste” in their society, which caused considerable harm to the local people as well as more than a few World Striders. however, the Influence Rank 5 Positive Theme of Justice existed there as well, manifesting as a worldwide cultural belief that crime was abhorrent and should be punished. The Hundred Houses of Nobility was successfully Elevated through suppressing the “Assassin Caste” by forcefully appealing to the better nature of the inhabitants.

It is unfortunate, but one is often called to abandon a proposed Elevation because of the presence of Negative Themes. It is as the proverb says, “A wise man walks…”. Most World Striders would call any world with Influence Rank 5 or Rand 6 Negative Theme a lost cause. Influence that powerful is often too costly to rewrite without massive justification. Councils do occasionally authorize such Elevations, but not without good cause. The Pit of Ruby Knives, despite the presence of Influence Rank 6 Negative Theme of Gouging, was recently authorized for Elevation by the First Western Council because of the worlds natural stores of Razor Crystal. However, multiple Negative Themes tend to reinforce once another against manipulation, especially when present at high levels of Influence. The Despairing Fen, for instance, possessed the Influence Rank 4 Negative Themes of Regret, Shame, and Sloth. The Elevation of that world had to be called off when the Influence Rank 6 Negative Theme of Sadness could not be overpowered or reduced in any way.

In instances where a world is clearly incapable of being Elevated, the only remaining option is Blanching. if it is to be of any use. Blanching is a less demanding process than Elevation in the presence of Influential Negative Themes, but it completely annihilates the complexity of geography of the world. Because of this, only your Council will be able to authorize Blanching Techniques. Blanching is often described as a “hallowing” process. In essence, it strips away every Theme that the world possesses until it reaches enough to be reformed. However, the process is far from perfect. even with multiple and efficacious uses of Blanching upon a world, powerful Themes have a tendency to return given enough time. This is often referred to as Theme Resurgence, a topic which is discussed at length elsewhere. However, for the time being, it is sufficient to say that Theme Resurgence occurs over the course of multiple lifetimes. It is unlikely that tis effects would be seen earlier than…

…opted to make destroy several local Powers in order to rewrite Neutral Themes that hampered the spread of infrastructure. The eager young World Striders had, however neglected to learn anything about these Powers before removing them. Unfortunately for them, the first two Powers they encountered were blind, worm-like creatures who put up little fight. However, they had neglected to research their mother, the Cthonic Dowager. Enraged by the slaying of her young, she assumed a battle form that incorporated elements of a termite queen and a bull elephant. Needless to say, our unlucky young World Striders met an unfortunate demise. Luckily for them, their…