Pylons (Cosmoria)

For thousands of years, philosophers have argued about whether or not the Mind was a distinct entity in the universe or simply an illusion created by a purely physical brain. With time, a single answer emerged, there was a distinct "substance" that made up the mind, called Meta-Potential, which gave rise to abstract thought and imagination broadly. While these things could be emulated physically, without this Meta-Potential, there was no mind.

The mind, as it were, has a set of properties that cause it to be very important when it comes to non-physical forces, in particular Thaumaturgy. This force, a collection of related non-physical forces capable of interacting with the physical universe, is influenced directly by the mind. The Pylon is the manifestation of the mind in the Lux Aeterna, another name for the center of Cosmoria. Similar concepts to the pylon appear in Thaumaturgy related to the Dark Core as well.

Aeternal Pylons

"For every mind that exists, there exists a corresponding pylon in the Lux Aeterna," is an unbreakable law. Any being with a mind has the ability to interface with its pylon, which can be thought of as simply a part of the broader mind. The strength of the mind corresponds roughly with the "weight" of the pylon, how "real" the pylon is within the Lux Aeterna. To an observer in the Lux Aeterna, the gaining of weight appears as if the Pylon's area is physically growing. In other words, pylons can vary in how much they can interact with the Lux Aeterna, just like how different particles interact with forces at different strengths. A greater weight allows for the mind to more easily interact with the Lux Aeterna and vice versa.

Energy from the Lux Aeterna can be channeled through a pylon just as naturally as any mind could sustain a thought. The amount of energy that can be channeled is directly proportional to the weight of the pylon; however, the weight of the pylon will increase as energy is channeled through it. While normally harmless, rapid increases in weight can cause incurable damage to the pylon. Much like growing pains, the pylon becomes aggravated with too much weight, causing it to "stretch" or otherwise receive damage. This is a common cause of death among new Magi, users of Thaumaturgy.

The death of a Magi from this overexertion manifests in the physical universe as what is known as "shattering," or the explosive release of radiation from the brain. A dangerous phenomenon, shattering usually results in great damage to the pylon, sometimes to the point of removing most if not all thaumic abilities.

In the event of shattering, there is a chance that a portion of the pylon gains an independent consciousness, the creation of a new mind. This parasitic mind, existing directly within the Lux Aeterna, is thus usually capable of more effectively using Thaumaturgy. This parasite, called a Corrupted Pylon, can only interact with the physical universe through its host and has only minimal influence unless its weight is larger than that of its host's pylon. Most corrupted pylons are locked away in the Lux Aeterna as their host dies from the shattering, but can escape in rare circumstances.

Invocative Pylons

Another form of pylon is that which is used in Invocative Thaumaturgy by individuals known as Paladins. Invocative Pylons are portions of the mind that can be sectioned off from the rest via intense mental restructuring. This can be done multiple times, creating more than one Pylon. Invocative Pylons function by "coaxing" or attracting the energy around it, utilizing all of its area to harmlessly and efficiently pull what it can.

The devotion to certain ideas can create this severed portion that is, in theory, similar to a corrupted pylon. This section, however, exists solely for the good of one particular ideal, the ideal that the Paladin seeks to embody. As such, Invocative Pylons occasionally rebel against their hosts if they are abused or remain neglected. Becoming a paladin can weaken an unwanted corrupted pylon as the Invocative Pylon and the Corrupted Pylon compete for space.

The most useful of differences between an Invocative and Aeternal Pylon is their limit. Like a dam, Aeternal Pylons hold back a great deal of energy and mistakes can result in a catastrophic failure. However, Invocative Pylons are more similar to a sinkhole, absorbing as much energy as they can from outside sources until it fills up. This energy reservoir allows the user to increase their own durability, heal, and even release it in small quantities.

Pylon-free Thaumaturgy

Esoteric Thaumaturgy is most commonly described as Thaumaturgy that utilizes energy not derived from the Lux Aeterna. This is an incomplete description. While use of the innumerable planes beyond the physical universe is an almost universal practice among Esoteric Magi, the actual separation from the other clades comes from the distinct non-use of Pylons. Esoteric Magi prove that Pylons are not the absolute arbiter of power, and can be bypassed.

Magi may choose to directly connect their consciousness with any plane or even the Lux Aeterna. This allows circumvention of the typical Pylon "limit" entirely, though such freedom comes with multiple costs. The planar energy intersecting the Magi's mind directly causes gradual influence from the plane's base concept on the individual. This slowly but surely whittles away at the individuality of any Esoteric Magi who utilizes one of the planes. The other difficulty presented is the lack of a starting position. Pylons are like a third eye for thaumic energy, but feeling out "where" the other planes are is an entire journey unto itself, let alone mastering their use.

The main solution to this, which has been increasingly popular among Magi posing as Classical experts and Esoteric Magi too lazy to actually find a plane that suits their needs, is to use the Pylon's natural sense of where the Aeterna lies to directly connect themselves directly to it in the most unholy fusion of Classical and Esoteric Thaumaturgies ever seen, Gestalt Thaumaturgy.