Glitches are a parthenogenetic life form, emergent from the Base Code that governs the functioning of the Spheres. They are parthinogenetic in that, like Sentar itself, they are not a part of the Architects' original design. Self-Aware Glitches realize this. Glitches were unintended consequences when Architect technology interacted with the singularity collapse
Glitches are affiliated with the Spheres' Divinity Engines. They draw from divine pools of energy, but they are not themselves gods. The
The Psulron are gathering Glitches. Hunting them.
Unaware Glitches are confused when confronted with the full scope of their own power.
They are incredibly dangerous. Being unaware of their true nature, they have no restraint when confronted with less powerful beings. As such, they may react upon survival instincts as though they were more fragile beings. After committing an atrocity, they may revert back to a narrative delusion or an almost childlike state.
Preston Watamaniuk22:26:25
Can I… can I ask a question, Chris? When you're a glitch.
Do you jump around between stories like Quantum Leap, and some people are aware Quantum Leap style, and others are just.
I'm just jumping between realities, living out the life that I've landed in, like, what's the deal there?
Chris Riedmueller22:26:50
That's a cool way of thinking about it.
The glitches are most, Like, they're not… they're not… they're like these… they're like power surges.and when they find a place where they can… they can become narrative.They are… they stop going insane.
Preston Watamaniuk22:27:21
Do they stop moving?
Chris Riedmueller22:27:22
And then they… and then they, they settle into the narrative. The, the, the conscious glitches.
have been able to not be broken by this. So conscious glitches have that, but then they're not, like… they can step out of the narrative and be Ishmael or the Thin Man.
Preston Watamaniuk22:27:42
So, more like Quantum Leap.
Chris Riedmueller22:27:44
So, and basically, they're not just then… they don't just have this sort of mythic level power, not just within the nodes, but in the spheres themselves.
Chris Riedmueller22:27:54
Khalid22:28:35
Chris, so these, unconscious glitches that move from story to story, so there must be points where they… they just simply, like, they get put into memory or whatever, and they actually have a point of non-existence, right? Like, they are…
They're acting their way through a scene, and then the scene ends, and then they're not needed for the next scene.
for a palpable piece of time, so they have moments… they have episodic moments of non-existence. Is that right?
Because you guys are approaching Mythic level yourselves, I'm introducing the elements of the Spheres that are next level. The Glitches are an element of that. - DM to the Players, UDS46
In D&D Terms: they are "mythic" level creatures, beyond 20th level. Different rules apply to their life and death.
- "He steps out of the narrative. And because the story's not done, he shouldn't be allowed to do that." - DM
- "Right. And that others me." - Fortuna, UDS46
Glitches run on Narrative. They draw from the same source of magic as Istorimancers, like Jennifer of the Unspoken.
"I can smell Ishmael on you. Smells like seafood. So tiresome." - To Shroktath, UDS46
First Encounter: UDS46
Description: The Thin Man is a self-aware Glitch. He generally dresses in a motley cloak and cap, whose patchwork always appears to be changing and shifting. When encountered, he is always wearing some motley element.
He is at times charismatic and terrifying.
Motivations: He hunts and devours Glitches, and sees all other life forms as tools too this end.
Associations:
He and Ishmael have apparently known one another for a long time.
He's working with the Psulron to help them track and capture other Glitches.
Ishmael (the Sailor) is a self-aware Glitch. He first appeared in UDS45.
ISHMAEL'S INJURIES (UDS45)
Ishmael, it looks as though he's on death's door. No amount of healing seems to help him. Attempting healing on Ishmael inside the Node Simulation has not helped him. He thinks the Psulron are messing with the Base Code here to disallow it. The damage done to him inside the Node Simulation was done to him outside of it as well. To his "Glitch" self. He thinks the Psulron are trying to capture him outside this Node Simulation narrative. The somewhat self-aware NPCs torturing him were a delivery method for delivering the necessary changes into him. He looks at Hazel's incredulous expression - "That's how they cursed me." He cannot risk losing his life, or he will be captured by the Sauron, and that is something he's avoided for.
centuries.
The Diva is a non-self aware Glitch. She first appeared in UDS46.
And she sort of breaks that, like, almost like a lost little girl and she falls into your arms.And she looks up, it's like, and she says, and she's like, oh, my camera.