Difference between revisions of "Shadows"

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<Center>''"Everyone has a shadow."''</center><br>
 
<Center>''"Everyone has a shadow."''</center><br>
 
 
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Shadows are complex entities on PersonaMUSH. While all of them draw from aspects of the collective consciousness of mankind, they manifest themselves in various ways. Ranging from lesser beings that reside in certain supernaturally-charged areas, to manifestations of the repressed side of a person's psyche, to twisted doppelgangers born from the power of rumors, their nature, abilities and additional considerations will be explored in this newsfile.
+
There are three types of Shadow on PersonaMUSH. They are:
  
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[[Shadows#Wandering Shadows|Wandering Shadows]] discusses the nonsapient Shadows found roaming in certain locations.<br>
+
* Wandering non-sapient Shadows.
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[[Shadows#Personal Shadows|Personal Shadows]] discusses the Shadows of the self and their considerations within the Midnight Channel.<br>
+
* the Personal Shadows born from a specific person's psyche.
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[[Shadows#Rumor Shadows|Rumor Shadows]] discusses Rumor Shadows, created by conflicting rumors in Sumaru City.
+
* Rumor Shadows, which are generated by conflicting rumors.
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+
−
Information about Shadow-Possessed can be found in [[Shadow Possession]].
+
  
 
==Wandering Shadows==
 
==Wandering Shadows==
  
−
Most commonly found during the Dark Hour and within the Midnight Channel, Shadows of this broad type encompass numerous forms, as strange as they are varied, taking their cues from humanity's unconsciousness. One Shadow might take the form of a dark lion, while another might look like a blob with wriggling limbs, while yet another might look like an orb with a too-large mouth and dangling tongue.
+
===What are Wandering Shadows?===
  
−
They are hostile to humans found in their world and attack them. What happens to their victims ranges from what the world calls the Apathy Syndrome, as the Shadow consumes the mind of their target (see [[Apathy Syndrome]] for details) to even death as the victim is entirely devoured.
+
Effectively, they are bits and pieces of people's psyches, drawn from the Collective Unconsciousness. As such, they possess great power, akin to that expressed by a Persona-user or Shadow-Possession. They take many shapes and forms, all of which wear masks.
  
−
While not truly sapient in a way that humans would find familiar, they aren't stupid. They still possess a certain level of animal intelligence, capable of pack hunting tactics to chase down their prey. For those unfortunate enough to encounter them, prey often means 'humans'. Shadows will also prey upon other (usually weaker) Shadows and can grow larger by engulfing them. Shadow-Possessed may also devour weaker Shadows to gain power; please see [[Shadow_Possession#Being_Possessed|Being Possessed]] for information on this and its implications.
+
They are non-sapient, but hardly stupid. Like animals, they are capable of hunting effectively and often in packs, and their prey of choice are humans. Should they devour only the mind of their target, their target will succumb to [[Apathy Syndrome]], while if they entirely devour their target, the person will die.
  
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Unlike demons, Shadows cannot be talked to and will never back down from a fight; they are relentless in their pursuit of a meal and can consider nothing else. While this means that a Shadow will not attempt any trickery, it also means that the only way to deal with a Shadow is to either fight it or run away.
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Larger Wandering Shadows tend to prey on weaker Wandering Shadows, which allows them to grow in power.
  
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All Shadows of this sort bear masks, and can be further subdivided into various types depending on the mask and where they hail from. For example, those in SEES may know that there are twelve types of Shadows seen within the Dark Hour, which are described according to the numbers on their mask and the respective tarot cards associated to that number (Magician through Hanged Man). The same is not the case within the Midnight Channel.
+
===Where can I find Wandering Shadows?===
  
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Shadows possess strange powers of such a nature that they can only be called 'magical', and are similar to demons in this respect. They possess various abilities, depending on what sort of Shadow they are. Like demons, specific types of Shadows will share the same basic abilities. Some might be able to manipulate earth effortlessly, others display mastery over ice. Still others might command powers that affect the mind, terrifying or confusing their opponents. It's been rumored by some researchers that particularly powerful Shadows might possess the ability to manipulate time itself.
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Wandering Shadows are creatures most commonly found within the confines of the [[Dark Hour]] (wherever it may be) and the [[Midnight Channel]]. Please see those news files for more information.
  
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Attempts to photograph Shadows will always fail. Something about their nature prevents them from being captured as an image. All photographs end up as dark blurs, like someone tried to photograph something in motion while in a poorly lit area.
+
Note that the masks of Shadows in the Dark Hour reflect the tarot: Magician through Hanged Man only.
  
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Due to the locations where Shadows are naturally found, most humans who aren't Persona-users or Shadow-Possessed won't have a reason to encounter them. Those that do, however, are typically in grave danger as they lack the means to harm or otherwise defend themselves against Shadows. The only time when it is safe to be near Shadows without a Shadow or Persona of one's own is within the Midnight Channel when there is much fog. Please see [[Midnight Channel]] for more information.
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===Can my character talk to Wandering Shadows? Can they chase Wandering Shadows off?===
  
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While most Shadows of this type are dangerous, there exist among them ones with greater power still. This type of Shadow is incredibly rare, with frightful powers far beyond their mundane brethren. For example, a Shadow of this type might possess the power to take the forms of their targets' greatest and most hidden fears. Port Island in particular has seen a few of them recently, dating back to the spring of 2009. What these strong Shadows might foretell is, for now, a mystery.
+
Unlike demons, Shadows cannot be talked to and will not back down from a fight once engaged, though they will flee from stronger opponents.
 +
 
 +
===What about more powerful Wandering Shadows? Do the things above apply to them?===
 +
 
 +
Exceptions to the above may exist for more powerful Shadows. Often, these are plot elements or other singularly powerful entities, and thus the scope of their powers fall outside normal concerns.
 +
 
 +
===Is there anything else I should know about Wandering Shadows?===
 +
 
 +
Shadow-Possessed may control normal (not the more powerful ones touched on above) Wandering Shadows.
  
 
==Personal Shadows==
 
==Personal Shadows==
  
−
Everyone has a part of their personality that is unacceptable to them, whether they've rejected it because they've found it personally repellent, or because of their role in society, or because it's a part of themselves that simply runs counter to what society says is acceptable. Cast aside and buried deep, most people remain unaware of what they've rejected in their daily lives.
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===What are Personal Shadows?===
  
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These Shadows can't be ignored forever. They may come to possess a character should they be placed under great stress and experience significant psychic trauma. For more information on Shadow-Possession and the nature of the Shadow-Possessed, please see [[Shadow Possession]].
+
Personal Shadows are similar to Wandering Shadows, save that rather than being collective pieces of an unknown number of people, a Personal Shadow derives from just one person.
  
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Within Midnight Channel (for more information on this location, see [[Midnight Channel]]) accessible through the televisions in Inaba, this Shadow within is set loose. Appearing as a duplicate of the original self, usually only their abnormal behavior and eerie golden irises give away the fact they are the Shadow. They are a manifestation of discarded urges and instincts desiring to be acknowledged.  
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Personal Shadows reflect the part of the self that is unacceptable to a person. They have rejected it because it's repellent, or counter to their role, or otherwise something they cannot and will not integrate into their psyche. They are not evil in and of themselves.
  
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Continued failure to acknowledge what they have to say--and indeed, most people /will/ fail to acknowledge what they have to say because it is so anathema to who they are as people--gives the Shadow power, culminating in the absolute rejection of the Shadow: "You're not me!"
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This is the Shadow that possesses a person during [[Shadow-Possession]]. Though it is not commonly known, this Personal Shadow is akin to the reverse side of the same coin as a Persona. A controlled and accepted Personal Shadow becomes a Persona, while an uncontrolled Persona invariably slides into Shadow-Possession.
  
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At that point, the Shadow sheds its humanoid appearance, dragging lesser Shadows to them, and engages in combat with those gathered, generally resulting in the collapse or incapacitation of the original. The forms they assume are typically strange, reflecting the mind of the person they sprang from and what problems plague them.
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===Where can a Personal Shadow be found?===
  
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Their powers are great, and it's for this reason, as well as the typical collapse of the person producing the Shadow, that a group is needed to perform a successful Midnight Channel rescue, the victim's prior possession of a Persona or lack thereof notwithstanding. Once defeated and weakened, the Shadow must be accepted as a part--and not the whole--of a person's psyche. Once integrated in this fashion, the Shadow can transform into a Persona, if the person in question was lacking in this area. Please see [[Persona Gaining#The Midnight Channel|Midnight Channel]] for more information about this method.
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They are almost always found within the [[Midnight Channel]], after someone has been cast into there.
  
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But what happens if the Shadow is not rejected? Or what happens if the Shadow continues to be rejected once it has been weakened?
+
The only exception to this includes the Personal Shadow which may also be encountered if they are produced by the psyche-splitting function of the [[SHU]] as one of the archetypes. These appear in a somewhat different capacity and will not be discussed further here, so please see the file for more information on archetypes.
  
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Accepting a previously rejected aspect of one's psyche wholly and without reservation is dangerous: in short, it allows the Shadow the pathway it needs to take over entirely, resulting in a Shadow-Possessed individual. A Shadow is comparable to the Id, after all, and can easily spin out of control if left unchecked; repression is a bad thing, but complete lack of inhibition is no better. They aren't evil and have an important message to convey to their original, but they are meant to be a part of the whole rather than all of it.
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===Can someone who already has a Persona produce a Personal Shadow?===
  
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Continued rejection after the Shadow has been defeated meanwhile only reinforces the prior repression. Instead of integrating, this part of the mind is cast aside once more. No Persona is gained if the Shadow continues to be rejected, and it sets the stage for /eventual/ Shadow-Possession if the repression of these aspects proceeds, as the mind is left in an incomplete state.
+
Absolutely! Such victims will realize that their Persona has vanished as they wander the Midnight Channel. They will regain it once they successfully handle their Shadow.
 +
 
 +
===What happens when a person confronts their Personal Shadow in the Midnight Channel?===
 +
 
 +
A confrontation takes place where the Shadow airs out the character's dirty laundry and secrets, and typically this results in the character completely rejecting the Shadow as a part of themself.
 +
 
 +
At this point, the character tends to collapse while the Shadow, gaining power from its rejection, goes wild and draws Wandering Shadows to it. A group is needed to defeat the Shadow so that the character can then conditionally accept the Shadow as a part of themself.
 +
 
 +
If they didn't already have a Persona, at this point they will gain one.
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 +
===What happens if a character doesn't reject their Shadow? What if they keep rejecting it after it's defeated?===
 +
 
 +
A character who doesn't reject their Shadow becomes Shadow-Possessed, as they have unconditionally accepted their repressed self which promptly takes over. Shadows are not evil, but their drives need to be kept in check without being completely smothered.
 +
 
 +
A character who continues to fail to accept the Shadow and what it has to say after it has defeated, they will not gain a Persona if they didn't already have one, and their continued repression of their inner drives may set the stage for eventual Shadow-Possession if it is not addressed.
  
 
==Rumor Shadows==
 
==Rumor Shadows==
  
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Occasionally, two opposing stories about a person spread wildly within Sumaru City. In most places, this would hardly be cause for concern, but through the power of rumors and the nature of that city (see [[Rumors]] for more information), both stories becoming true creates a contradiction which in turn produces an actual entity known as a 'Rumor Shadow'. A good example of a contradictory pair of rumors might be one where a person is described as being a hero and a friend to all children in one, while the other rumor insists that they're actually a card-carrying member of some nefarious organization.
+
===What's a Rumor Shadow?===
 +
 
 +
When conflicting [[rumors]] spread about a person (or a group of people), both come true. This forms a contradiction, which in turn produces the Rumor Shadow. This Shadow is a perfect replica of the person the rumor was about, right down to possessing a dark mirror of the persona's Persona.
 +
 
 +
In may respects, they are akin to a Personal Shadow, as they know what makes their original tick and what they hate about themselves. The difference is that Rumor Shadows are unambiguously evil, reflecting the evil potential in all people, and want nothing more to destroy the original and take their place.
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 +
It's best to think of Rumor Shadows as evil doppelgangers.
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 +
===Can a Rumor Shadow be distinguished from the original?===
 +
 
 +
Not easily. The only difference is that they possess red or yellow eyes, both of which may be suppressed at their will. Their resonance is also the same. They appear and function as human in every respect that matters.
 +
 
 +
Typically, someone can only tell if their act slips for whatever reason, or if the Shadow wants to be detected.
  
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A perfect duplicate, it's not possible to reliably tell a Rumor Shadow from the original against the Shadow's will. Even ostensibly obvious physical tells such as the strange eye color they natively possess (often a red or too-bright gold) can be suppressed or hidden, and resonance marks no change. Unlike other Shadows, they can be photographed normally: in short, they appear and function as human in every outward respect.
+
===What if the original gets killed by a Rumor Shadow?===
  
−
A Rumor Shadow retains all that the original knew but not their personality. A Rumor Shadow's personality may simply be a reversal or distortion of the original, or it may be something else entirely, often relating to the rumors that spawned them. Since a Rumor Shadow knows everything their original knew, they will know all about the dirty secrets the original might have kept to themselves, and may go so far as to air dirty laundry if it's sufficient to cause the original to suffer. Of course, they're also fully capable of lying if it suits their needs, but usually it's the truth that hurts more.
+
They die. The Rumor Shadow takes over their life, and the character can no longer be played, removed to NPC status.
  
−
In some respects, they possess a similarity to the Shadow self that dwells within all people. However, while inner Shadows likely consist of negative thoughts and repressed impulses, they are not inherently evil. A Rumor Shadow unambiguously /is/. Wholly malicious and filled with absolute loathing for their original, they seek to do nothing else but to erase them and take over their life. If they should succeed in this goal, the original will obviously cease to exist.
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===How do I create a Rumor Shadow for my character, and what does this entail?===
  
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If the original is a Persona-user, the Rumor Shadow will fight similarly to the person they mirror, even going so far as to possess an apparent warped version of their Persona. However, they are unable to change Personas at all or undergo the physical transformation other Shadows might perform. What a Rumor Shadow of someone who was Shadow-Possessed or who didn't possess a Persona in the first place might be capable is, for now, unknown.
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First two conflicting rumors need to be spread. This can be handled however you like, but please +request to let staff know that you are planning to produce a Rumor Shadow.
  
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As with normal Persona-users, their Persona cannot be photographed.
+
You will also need to +request staff to receive your Rumor Shadow. This is reflected by a separate character object from your character. It does not count against your alt character limits.
  
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After that, have fun!
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</div>
 
[[Category: Newsfiles]]
 
[[Category: Newsfiles]]
 
[[Category: IC]]
 
[[Category: IC]]

Latest revision as of 15:08, 20 January 2014

Contents

"Everyone has a shadow."

There are three types of Shadow on PersonaMUSH. They are:

  • Wandering non-sapient Shadows.
  • the Personal Shadows born from a specific person's psyche.
  • Rumor Shadows, which are generated by conflicting rumors.

[edit] Wandering Shadows

[edit] What are Wandering Shadows?

Effectively, they are bits and pieces of people's psyches, drawn from the Collective Unconsciousness. As such, they possess great power, akin to that expressed by a Persona-user or Shadow-Possession. They take many shapes and forms, all of which wear masks.

They are non-sapient, but hardly stupid. Like animals, they are capable of hunting effectively and often in packs, and their prey of choice are humans. Should they devour only the mind of their target, their target will succumb to Apathy Syndrome, while if they entirely devour their target, the person will die.

Larger Wandering Shadows tend to prey on weaker Wandering Shadows, which allows them to grow in power.

[edit] Where can I find Wandering Shadows?

Wandering Shadows are creatures most commonly found within the confines of the Dark Hour (wherever it may be) and the Midnight Channel. Please see those news files for more information.

Note that the masks of Shadows in the Dark Hour reflect the tarot: Magician through Hanged Man only.

[edit] Can my character talk to Wandering Shadows? Can they chase Wandering Shadows off?

Unlike demons, Shadows cannot be talked to and will not back down from a fight once engaged, though they will flee from stronger opponents.

[edit] What about more powerful Wandering Shadows? Do the things above apply to them?

Exceptions to the above may exist for more powerful Shadows. Often, these are plot elements or other singularly powerful entities, and thus the scope of their powers fall outside normal concerns.

[edit] Is there anything else I should know about Wandering Shadows?

Shadow-Possessed may control normal (not the more powerful ones touched on above) Wandering Shadows.

[edit] Personal Shadows

[edit] What are Personal Shadows?

Personal Shadows are similar to Wandering Shadows, save that rather than being collective pieces of an unknown number of people, a Personal Shadow derives from just one person.

Personal Shadows reflect the part of the self that is unacceptable to a person. They have rejected it because it's repellent, or counter to their role, or otherwise something they cannot and will not integrate into their psyche. They are not evil in and of themselves.

This is the Shadow that possesses a person during Shadow-Possession. Though it is not commonly known, this Personal Shadow is akin to the reverse side of the same coin as a Persona. A controlled and accepted Personal Shadow becomes a Persona, while an uncontrolled Persona invariably slides into Shadow-Possession.

[edit] Where can a Personal Shadow be found?

They are almost always found within the Midnight Channel, after someone has been cast into there.

The only exception to this includes the Personal Shadow which may also be encountered if they are produced by the psyche-splitting function of the SHU as one of the archetypes. These appear in a somewhat different capacity and will not be discussed further here, so please see the file for more information on archetypes.

[edit] Can someone who already has a Persona produce a Personal Shadow?

Absolutely! Such victims will realize that their Persona has vanished as they wander the Midnight Channel. They will regain it once they successfully handle their Shadow.

[edit] What happens when a person confronts their Personal Shadow in the Midnight Channel?

A confrontation takes place where the Shadow airs out the character's dirty laundry and secrets, and typically this results in the character completely rejecting the Shadow as a part of themself.

At this point, the character tends to collapse while the Shadow, gaining power from its rejection, goes wild and draws Wandering Shadows to it. A group is needed to defeat the Shadow so that the character can then conditionally accept the Shadow as a part of themself.

If they didn't already have a Persona, at this point they will gain one.

[edit] What happens if a character doesn't reject their Shadow? What if they keep rejecting it after it's defeated?

A character who doesn't reject their Shadow becomes Shadow-Possessed, as they have unconditionally accepted their repressed self which promptly takes over. Shadows are not evil, but their drives need to be kept in check without being completely smothered.

A character who continues to fail to accept the Shadow and what it has to say after it has defeated, they will not gain a Persona if they didn't already have one, and their continued repression of their inner drives may set the stage for eventual Shadow-Possession if it is not addressed.

[edit] Rumor Shadows

[edit] What's a Rumor Shadow?

When conflicting rumors spread about a person (or a group of people), both come true. This forms a contradiction, which in turn produces the Rumor Shadow. This Shadow is a perfect replica of the person the rumor was about, right down to possessing a dark mirror of the persona's Persona.

In may respects, they are akin to a Personal Shadow, as they know what makes their original tick and what they hate about themselves. The difference is that Rumor Shadows are unambiguously evil, reflecting the evil potential in all people, and want nothing more to destroy the original and take their place.

It's best to think of Rumor Shadows as evil doppelgangers.

[edit] Can a Rumor Shadow be distinguished from the original?

Not easily. The only difference is that they possess red or yellow eyes, both of which may be suppressed at their will. Their resonance is also the same. They appear and function as human in every respect that matters.

Typically, someone can only tell if their act slips for whatever reason, or if the Shadow wants to be detected.

[edit] What if the original gets killed by a Rumor Shadow?

They die. The Rumor Shadow takes over their life, and the character can no longer be played, removed to NPC status.

[edit] How do I create a Rumor Shadow for my character, and what does this entail?

First two conflicting rumors need to be spread. This can be handled however you like, but please +request to let staff know that you are planning to produce a Rumor Shadow.

You will also need to +request staff to receive your Rumor Shadow. This is reflected by a separate character object from your character. It does not count against your alt character limits.

After that, have fun!

Retrieved from "http://www.mysterymeep.net/mw/index.php?title=Shadows&oldid=12074"
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