#Worldless AU: Duality

[octahedral-chaos]

Okay so heres the Nicknames!

Puppet Dance (Mine)

Aven - Benjamin

Edda - Darsyu

Duality (@mystic-menagerie)

Aven - Umbro

Edda - Akari (Occasionally Lux)

Tarnished Stars (@mystic-menagerie)

Aven - Cú

Edda - Liun

Eclipsed (@spectralgecko)

Aven - Scout (Occasionally Ember)

Edda - Warrior

Grace and Fury (@indiestsnake)

Aven - Fury

Edda - Grace

Waffle* (@starwaffle345)

Aven - Flicker

Edda - Sparks (Also Frosty)

Starcore duo (@themissinglynx)

Aven - Coal

Edda - Wisp

Bnuu* (@bnuuwitch)

Aven - Shuck

Edda - Willow

*No offical name as yet

[octastims]

Duality! Edda with stained glass, Lightning, archery and sword stims in blue and white for me and @mystic-131! I hope you like it!

💙 💙 💙

🤍 🤍 🤍

💙 💙 💙

[occasionalflicker]

*to delve into the language, culture, geography, traditions, cuisine, architecture, chronology, calendar, writing system, flora and fauna, names, and naming conventions for AU*

Me: *three pages explaining why battlefield flirting exists*

Reultuath - from Gaelic reul (star) and tuath (folk) (Yes, I’ve been thinking about this for a very long time...)

Mo soillse - Gaelic "my light"

(The whole post was originally supposed to be an explanation of why the absorption meter percentages increase, or why it fills up in some cases and not in others, at least on the Lightfolk's side, but now I'm starting to doubt this idea and, in general, I should stop searching for meanings and explanations for game mechanics, especially for an AU…)

Let's start with the nature of absorption in the AU. First of all, when Starfolks switch polarities, they become an entirely new personality and retain no memories from their previous state. However, these memories do not disappear completely. If Starfolks switch polarities again, they regain their old personality but forget their second personality (meaning they once again do not remember what it's like to be of the opposite polarity). Regardless of who and how they changed, they remain fully developed adult beings with the primary instinct to protect/absorb - but not entirely. In their new form, they know basic things like how to speak, use elements, and perform other everyday activities. The problem is that their skills are not honed

In the AU, there is no randomness regarding what they will transform into after changing polarity. Regardless of the opponent's type, Starfolks always change into their counterpart and into themselves in any case and with any opponent. Therefore, it is not necessary to hunt down the same thief to regain one's old personality, nor is there a fear of turning into someone else and ending up with three personalities

Now about how both factions view their transformed comrades. Lightfolks are not very happy to welcome such individuals. For them, it is the loss of a long-known sister, but they have no choice and are forced to accept the newcomer. Another reason for their reluctance toward their newly acquired sister is that she is completely unprepared, and her training takes a lot of time - time that is scarce during a war

On the Darkfolks' side, it's different. They gladly accept a new brother, but they are also not too eager to train him. Firstly laziness, Secondly - someone has appeared who was once a Lightfolk and will later want to regain their polarity, whereas it would be better if instead of him, Darkfolks who have never had this chance could transform. Nevertheless, they are more tolerant of the poor soul, feeling joy (and a bit of envy) for the brother who managed to undergo transformation

And now, the main question: how can you tell that someone new has appeared, that someone has been lost, and most importantly - who exactly? Oh, and how do Lightfolks know that their sister has encountered and successfully repelled an opponent's attack, while Darkfolks understand that their brother has suffered a crushing blow?

The Gift

The primary meaning of this ritual was lost; there is only a record from one of the past eras (about 27 eras before the present one), which states that it was implemented specifically to keep track of ranks. However, before this, the ritual was purely instinctive, without any particular meaning in society, although some believe it was once a distraction maneuver

Where does it all begin? With young Darkfolks. Upon reaching a certain age, they are given the opportunity to choose their first personal item. After that, a personal number and initials as requested by the Darkfolk are engraved on it, and the item and owner are recorded in the registry. They can have many such items, but they need to earn them

What are they for? Now, about how this happens. A Darkfolk must carry this item with them because when they encounter a Lightfolk, they must throw it to them before the confrontation begins

And now, why. The Darkfolk parts with their item because it will be useless to them if they successfully absorb and become a Lightfolk. However, if their attack is repelled, they return home empty-handed, showing that they have failed. This results in a drop in their ranking. Additionally, after this, they will not receive a new item for a long time unless they had a stock of such gifts in advance - but only a small portion of the population has this privilege

A Lightfolk who transforms into a Darkfolk keeps the gifted item, and upon entering the Darkfolk kingdom, it is registered that the item exists, but the owner is new, which confirms a successful absorption. The rank of this Darkfolk is then frozen, remaining in place until they return (if they ever return). In rare cases, the longer a Darkfolk remains absent in their new nature, the higher their rank may rise over time. If he does return, he will not get his item back; instead, he will simply be given a new one. The newly transformed Lightfolk-turned-Darkfolk, however, must climb the ranks from the very bottom

If a Lightfolk repels a Darkfolk's attack, they have proof in the form of the gifted item, which they then register with the Lightfolk registry. This confirms their victory and ranking increase - the more such achievements, the faster they rise in rank. If a Lightfolk disappears, it means they have lost, and the longer they remain absent, the faster their ranking will drop

However, this system is not perfect. There are several reasons for this

Darkfolks must carry their gift at all times because they never know when a confrontation will occur. There are frequent cases where they lose them, and new ones are not issued quickly. There are also thefts, when another Darkfolk takes a liking to someone else's item more than their own and also forgeries that Darkfolks use to hide their failures when the original is lost or to do the opposite - use a fake in battle instead of the original

Or confusion arises when a Darkfolk changes into a Lightfolk, but the newly transformed Lightfolk-turned-Darkfolk loses the gift. Now, it becomes a mess to figure out what to do because the new Darkfolk claims they remember nothing and must be a newly transformed Lightfolk. Or maybe they are an exile from another fief who decided to try their luck in a new place where no one knows them, hoping that here they will be believed when they say they had no gift but are definitely a new Darkfolk

On the Lightfolks' side, this also causes problems. Sometimes Darkfolks make mistakes or deliberately throw an unmarked gift (they often carry other small trinkets in their pockets). A Lightfolk repels an attack and proudly registers the item, hoping for a promotion, but it is rejected because there is no number or initials, making it impossible to prove victory. Losing the item immediately after battle is also common. There are also fakes that look like real marked gifts, which some Lightfolks use to climb the ranks without ever encountering an opponent

But the main problem lies in their very nature. For Darkfolks who missed their first chance and now have nothing for the next confrontation, absorption and instincts will not wait for bureaucratic procedures of Starfolks, and they will not be given time to deal with them. They will seize any opportunity without a gift, and if they succeed this time, it will cause an even bigger mess

Firstly, a Darkfolk showing up to a fight without a gift puts their defeated opponent in an awkward position, as they will have nothing to present upon arriving at their new home. Secondly, it will be unclear where they disappeared to, and worse - if their home acknowledges that an absorption occurred without a gift at the battle site, the Darkfolk will simply be removed from the ranking and will never return to it. So, if they ever regain their original state, an unpleasant surprise will be waiting for them at home

As for Lightfolks, their problem can be as simple as periodic re-evaluations in their fiefs, where many interesting and unpleasant truths may come to light. Items earned through honest effort may be stolen or replaced with fakes, which also results in being removed from the ranking

The system has a lot of blind spots because the gift ritual was never originally intended for this purpose. However, it still excellently regulates the population's ranking, and no better alternative has been devised yet. But the very existence of this phenomenon is further explained by another interesting fact about the behavior of Starfolks

To start, a bit of classification and the phenomenon of absorption. Darkfolks have a natural radar that covers a fairly wide range of territory and allows them to detect whether there are any Lightfolks nearby that they can absorb. Lightfolks have nothing of the sort; they cannot determine whether there are Darkfolks nearby until they see them up close. However, they are still unconsciously drawn toward them when they enter their radius—though they are unaware of this and do not question why their feet sometimes carry them in that direction. Darkfolks use this radar to determine the location, position, and type of opponent

Regarding the type, some Darkfolks do not care about the size or strength of their opponent - if there is a chance to absorb someone, they will take it. Others, however, are more selective, carefully studying their opponent from a distance to assess whether the fight is within their capability. As a result, they usually choose to fight Lightfolks who are their counterpart or close in strength, as this balances the odds. But this does not always happen, as most encounters occur between individuals who are not exact opposites. In such encounters, the battle outcome can be anything, depending on the determination, skills, and strength of each side. Simply put, their fights are nothing special - it’s just a brawl

As for those who encounter their counterpart… Well, for them, battlefield flirting is standard practice in the AU. Both sides try to eliminate this behavior because it is inefficient and distracts from the main task, considering it an unnecessary and meaningless action. They also do not understand the nature of this phenomenon, believing it to be some kind of side effect of stress triggered at the moment of confrontation

As long as Starfolks do not see the opposing side, they behave normally and rationally. But on the battlefield, one could say they become… well, I don’t even know how to explain it without sounding offensive, but in some ways, they lose their minds (especially when they find that one Starfolk). They struggle to control their movements and the words they say. A well-practiced attack pattern that was automatic at home becomes less useful in battle because both sides are now focused on something else. One could say they are no longer fighting but engaging in a sort of dance, where each side tries to gain the upper hand

Darkfolks tend to take the initiative in this by starting with a gift, followed by compliments. Sometimes, individuals wear colorful outfits or simply attach patches of bright fabric here and there to make a better impression. Others polish shiny materials (including armor), which they then wear, moving between strikes and pauses in a way that catches the light and makes the material gleam in a certain rhythm

Lightfolks also have a practice of enhancing their appearance, though it is less common, as it is generally undesirable for them to further encourage Darkfolks to absorb them

And now, the main point - something that sounds almost impossible: in most cases, a successful absorption depends on the decision of the Lightfolk. If the Darkfolk impresses or appeals to her enough, at some level, the thought might cross her mind: "He is trying hard enough that I might as well give in." However, they can also easily resist if the Darkfolk does not try hard enough, in which case the latter will accept a painful but voluntary defeat and allow themselves to be finished off

Lightfolks also flirt back, dancing to confuse the Darkfolks. But sometimes, this turns into a paired dance that leads to nothing, as neither side knows what to do, and in silent agreement, they simply part ways - or one of them decides to finish the encounter

The funniest part? They do all of this instinctively, without thinking about their actions. But once the battle is over, common sense returns, and both sides begin processing what just happened, with only one thought in their heads: "I'm an idiot"

[indiestsnake]

okay I know that switching hands has been silent for months but.

I’m thinking of another Worldless work.

I’ve had a few thoughts about if the other transcendent entities weren’t aggressive, like some other aus. specifically I had this big great dramatic idea for yin-yang when originally writing Grace and Fury… that wouldn’t work, cuz the other two were already dead and a few other things.

But what if the Grace and Fury duo, in hopes to avoid absorbing Summum, tried to pacify them? Because they are all sentient, just flawed and very aggressive. Duality is incredibly misled and egotistical. Yin-Yang hates their dark form so much they have actually convinced themself it is a separate entity. And adaptation… uh. I’ll be honest adaptation’s just a complete wimp-

So. Find the bosses. Try to convince them. Fail and be forced to fight until something does convince them.

I have such a good idea for duality. The reason they’re aggressive is because they perceive the duo as non-transcendent, because they don’t have a concept of union. But if the duo, say, showed some massive display of transcendent power… maybe they’d be convinced.

Idk. Still busy with life and To Find Warmth. But maybe you’ll see it at some point :)

[octahedral-chaos]

Angeltober Day 2: Shapeshift

@worldless-duality’s Adaptation! I just had to draw the little guy for today!!!

Prompt list: @ultrainfinitepit

[octastims]

Duality! Angel (Worldless AU: Duality) stimboard with seraphim, seraphim pigeons, light particles, white feathers, spears and supercell thunderstorms for @mystic-131!

This was an absolute BLAST to make!

🔵 ⚪️ ⚪️

⚪️ 💙 ⚪️

⚪️ ⚪️ 🔵

[miracleofdatabase]

Code Lyoko AUs decribed for my Non Code Lyoko followers, part 2, feat Friend's AUs

(AUs below by @the-writing-artist)

The Boy in the Computer: With Worldless terminology, imagine Edda and Aven role swapped

Sapphire and Emerald: With Worldless terminology, imagine Aven as a girl

The Missing Piece: With Worldless terminology, Imagine you start as not-Edda traversing the world and then Edda came along to help you and Aven

Duality: With Worldless terminology, Aven and Edda are darkfolks and you start as 2 different lightfolks

(AU below by @ani-action)

Gone Wrong: Something bad happens, you are determined to fix it only to find out it was a trap by an enemy

Most of their AUs are roleswaps of Code Lyoko character or one with true understanding of Code Lyoko lingos and i can't describe it any other way

[empyrean-demise]

Hey guys,

I am currently questioning if I'm a canine nonhuman of some kind, especially wolf. Anyone has any advice?

It's oddly funny because I'm ALREADY a nonhuman headmate (Specifically Hunter/ Dark starfolk from Worldless' Duality AU)-

~ 💫 [Umbro]

[occasionalflicker]

Now, I present to you the names for Duality in AU. The black half is Sian, and the white half is Meveya

Sian is a modified word derived from the Irish name for the sun, 'grian', where the 'S' represents the fact that the word for sun starts with this letter (yes, I know, very original...)

Meveya. I may be unsure about this information because i heard this long time ago and it might no longer be true, but the name is also similar to the name of a folklore figure in Celtic mythology Mebd who might have been associated with the night and and thus have a relation to the moon

The associations with celestial bodies arose due to their damaged cores, where the white half appeared like a crescent moon, and later, the analogy for the black half as the sun emerged on its own

[octahedral-chaos]

Worldless as vines 3 is here! Featuring:

My Puppet Dance AU

@mystic-131's Duality and Tarnished Stars AUs

@indiestsnake's Grace and Fury AU

@spectralgecko's Eclipsed AU

@k9mackenzie's Stars of the Midnight Range AU

[octastims]

Eldin/ Duality! Old One (Worldless: Duality AU) Stimboard with Ash clouds, silver, herbs and cows for @mystic-131! I hope you like it!

🪴 🌸 🪴

🌸 🕊 🌸

🪴 🌸 🪴

[sqarletsworldlesswandering]

@indiestsnake Themb :3

the art was being stubborn today, so these are not quite what I'd like, but also,

It they :D

Infern and Solcita- SHOOT I FORGOT HER WING IN THE FIRST ONE-

[many-faced]

Just finished reading chapter 16 of Duality... then thought of Just Take My Wallet... I may have to make a quick animatic about Duality Angel and some of my speculations about APLS,,,

Duality AU by @mystic-131,, sorry for two tags back to back '._.

[octahedral-chaos]

Angeltober Day 4: Hunter

Of course, I just HAD TO draw @mystic-131’s little lad, Duality! Aven for this prompt! It’s mildly medieval manuscript-themed!

Prompt list: @ultrainfinitepit