Oni2 talk:Truth Number Zero: Difference between revisions

[[Image:Duality concept art - BioCorp VR avatar.jpg|thumb]]

Fundamentally Oni has a generic sci-fi inventory (force fields, energy beams, invisibility, teleportation and -- less prominently -- telekinesis) that was added to increase its cool factor, and to distinguish it from mainstream cyberpunk.<ref group=Iritscen>I think the purpose in adding these items was purely gameplay-oriented, though the phase cloak is unquestionably based on the thermoptic camouflage from GitS.</ref><ref group=geyser>Oni's phase cloaking has an important difference to [[Ghost in the Shell]]'s thermoptics in that it's not a piece of camouflaged cloth wrapped around the body; instead it's the body itself that becomes invisible through "phase shifting" on a molecular level. The in-universe justification of the 30-second time-limit on cloaking is that prolonged cloaking could cause permanent damage to the operator's cells (possibly for a Daodan symbiote the risks of phase cloak abuse are reduced).</ref><ref group=geyser>Besides the anecdotal spawning of ammo clips in the training level, teleportation is prominently featured in the boss fight with [[Mukade]], in combination with phase cloaking. Mukade is also the only enemy who phase-cloaks in Vanilla Oni (the ninjas and "ghosts" in the dream level don't count). The in-universe interpretation seems to be that only a Daodan symbiote (or someone with similar regenerative powers) can indulge in teleportation and phase cloak abuse. Mukade's summoning of "Devilstars" can also be regarded as teleportation, although it's more like a change of phase than a change of place.</ref><ref group=geyser>Apart from Mutant Muro's powers -- not clearly real or a fruit of Konoko's imagination -- telekinesis can be observed in Konoko's final ecstasy (if there are AI standing next to her, they will be knocked down) and, arguably, for Barabas's Earthquaker.</ref> Later on, it was complemented by the [[Screaming Cell]]<ref>'''[[Quotes/Weapons#scream|Quote]]:''' [...] a mysterious entity known as a Screaming Cell. These creatures seem to exist out of Earth phase, but feed on human lifeforce and are drawn to it when freed.</ref> and [[Daodan]]<ref>'''[[Quotes/Consoles#Chrysalis_Removal|Quote]]:''' [...] the organism possesses an unearthly ability to adapt to adverse stimuli [...] If we can communicate with the Chrysalis directly it may be possible to directly influence its physical development.</ref> concepts, leading to the notion that the paranormal phenomena occurring in Oni originate (at least partly) from parallel worlds. The current in-universe interpretation is that Oni's civilization has somehow harnessed sci-fi energy (c.f. generators in the ACC chapters) and also benefits from various phenomena/entities of transdimensional origin, under the collective concept of "phase technology" (some weaponized, some implemented as more or less commonplace commodities, and some experimental/hazardous - like the Daodan).

<ref group=Iritscen>I find geyser's suggested terminology confusing: the lowercased "phase" is a measure of closeness to our Earth, and the uppercased "Phase" would designate both the tangible barrier ("veil") and the places (parallel worlds) that lie beyond?</ref>

An alternative/complementary interpretation (of Phase presence in general and Daodan symbiosis more specifically) is that perhaps this is not the first time that Earth (or sentient life) was "graced"<ref group=geyser>The terms "grace", "exaltation" etc are deliberate. They tie in with the notion that Daodan entities are like "phase gods", and their respective human hosts are like proxies/avatars. This mystical interpretation is complementary to the scientific one. The motives of the Daodan/Chrysalis are unfathomable, so from a scientific point of view the human proxy/avatar is not being controlled or "used" for any clear purpose.</ref> with Phase contact. In this theory, the Phase was naturally more active when the Earth was younger, allowing Daodan entities to "exalt" marine creatures as early as the Devonian or even [[wp:Hallucigenia|Cambrian]]/[[wp:Ediacaran_biota|Ediacaran]]. These creatures ("Diluvians") grew so large as to allow their respective Daodan entities to completely migrate from the Phase into their hosts' bodies, and may even have formed a planet-sized hivemind which (among other things) influences Earth's openness to phase phenomena. The Diluvians mostly remain in a meditative stasis on the ocean floor, but will periodically "stir in their sleep" or even "sleepwalk" (either in response to changes in their marine environment or to avoid subduction by tectonic plates). During these rare periods of activity, the Diluvian hivemind causes a wordwide emergence of Phase phenomena, usually accompanied by explosive evolutionary events (or mass extinctions due to phase hazards). In Oni's timeline, it has caused the human discovery/development of Phase Tech (and, ultimately, human-Daodan symbiosis). It may also be responsible (more or less directly) for the "alienated" lifeforms developing in the Wilderness Preserves (which may serve a regulatory purpose to suit the Diluvians' needs, but also contribute to the BioCrisis through their toxic emanations).<ref group=geyser>My suggestion is that either the toxic/virulent mutations in the Wilderness Preserves are not deliberate at all (merely a "phase hazard" or a side effect of the Diluvians' heightened activity, e.g., while "sleepcrawling" to avoid tectonic subduction) -- or they are merely part of an effort to regulate the aquasphere (e.g., reduce ocean acidity by lowering atmospheric CO2 levels through super-plants) --, either way, I wouldn't present the Diluvians as working towards the dreaded "environmental collapse" that will kill us all. The Diluvians may have been the primary source of contamination in the Contaminated Zones (and phase-related anomalies in general), but perhaps human contribution is how the flora's "alienation" has taken a bad turn (biowarfare, rogue science, waste disposal gone wrong). Thus I am not convinced that the Diluvian hivemind should display some active control over the "xenoforming", or that it should react to human activity in some rational way -- it will be enough if the Diluvians are more and more disturbed/awake, causing a surge in phase anomalies/hazards (e.g., the Screamer invasion originally planned by Hardy/Bungie). Ultimately, though, it is human nature that will populate this strange new world with factions and plot-driving events. Confrontation with the Diluvians, or a rationalization of their nature and motives, doesn't need to occur.</ref>