#crystalpunk

🌊 LORE 🌊

This AU is a mostly visual overhaul that leaves the baseline narrative of Deltarune basically the same Totally not an excuse for me to be able to share more of my Deltarune fanart to my Main/Aesthetic account no siree (whistles innocently) That being said, I DID come up with a story to justify my slate of extremely-self-indulgent scifi fantasy redesigns:

In this alternate world, society of 201X has faced a technological and ecological revolution after the development of the renewable energy resource called Mana Crystals. The world is a near-utopia where futuristic technology and nature live together in harmony.

The same magitech that allows the formation of mana crystals has also lead to the invention of fully immersive Virtual Reality headsets. The Virtual World is as common as the internet-- people jack into it to work, go to school, hang out, and entertain themselves.

All Humans and Monsters are taught basic witchcraft because it is a necessary skill for recharging mana crystals and troubleshooting technology that utilizes them. It's generally accepted that there is a 'spirit' to all things that must be manipulated for them to work with you.

Hometown is a small village suspended high in a redwood forest. The residents use hover-packs and flying cars to navigate their arboreal town. The houses themselves are round and space-pod-like-- covered in vines, mushrooms, and hanging gardens of sustainable food.

Unfortunately, Hometown's connection to the Virtual World has been on the fritz for some reason, so residents must commute to the town's Central Hub Pod (a multi-level structure that combines the Library, School, and Town Hall) in order to get work/school done and see each other.

One fateful day, Kris and Susie are sent by Alphys to get supplies, when they stumble into a strange portal. A glitch not in the virtual world-- but in actual reality. They unwittingly enter into a realm darker than dark deeper than deep... the ocean of magic that connects all spirits and flows into all things. The collective subconscious made manifest. The strings beyond reality from which the entire Virtual World was weaved. The Dark World Wave World.

Once here, they befriend Ralsei-- Prince of the Dark Deep. Who informs them of their prophesied destiny: sealing the dark Mana Fountains that threaten to flood the Light Surface World, thus thwarting the apocalypse.

In the Wave World(s), the Lighteners Surfers come across a colorful cast of Darkeners Waveforms-- the consciousness of everyday objects given form by mana.

The first Wave World is Card Kingdom. A mysterious forest of kelp, coral, and old cables paved with ouija boards and CDs. At its center is a grand castle made of amethyst and charoite. Here the Surfers befriend Lancer (the Page of Swords), first encounter the Pippins (runestones), and fight against the ruthless King (of Swords).

The second Wave World is Cyber World. A grand metropolis constructed on the back of a cosmic turtle whale. It floats through a vast bathypalegic zone, with a nebula of neuron-like data strings sparkling around it. Floating panes of fluorite and tourmaline are stitched together by fiber-optic strands to create every structure in the city. Here the surfers must face down the megalomaniac Queen (a VR headset) and foil her plans of world domination.

The third Wave World is TV World. A spectacular concert theater lit by blacklights, with a never ending rave partying on. The peridot and carnelian structure is nestled amongst deep sea vents on the freezing seafloor. The pixelated flesh of cosmic whale carcasses falls down into the surrounding abyss like snow. Here the surfers are accosted by Tenna (the Dreemur family's neglected Home Entertainment Center) in his attempt to keep them distracted. That is, until The Roaring Knight appears...!

After their fated encounter with the Roaring Knight, the Surfers pursue them into a sacred grotto in the forest, where Kris' mother Toriel was supposed to be holding spell practice-!

Instead, the grotto has been replaced by the fourth Wave World-- Sanctuary. An organic library of spellbooks inside the roots of a giant mangrove tree. Hallways, bookshelves, stairs, and ladders are carved into the wood, encrusted with filligris of apatite and lapis. The murky waters leave large pockets of this realm dark... and dangerous... Here the Surfers befriend the digital spirit of old man Gerson, and challenge a terrifying Titan! They also learn the hidden extent of The Prophesy... and a terrible fate that may befall them some day...

☔ FAQ ☔

"Can I draw these characters/make fanart/fanfic of this AU?" Heck yes! Please @ me if you do draw/make anything for this AU! <3 I'd love to see it! You can also use the tag '#cyberwaverune'!

"Are you going to draw (this) character?" The characters I have come up with designs for are: Kris, Susie, Ralsei, Noelle, Berdly, King, Lancer, Pippins, Queen, Spamton, Spamton Neo, Tenna, Elnina & Lanino, Roaring Knight and Gerson. I probably won't be designing any more anytime soon, so if a character you really want to see isn't listed, feel free to come up with your own!

"How would I redesign a character/design an OC for this AU?" Essentially the main rules are as follows: 1: Limit the color palettes. No warm colors (red/orange/yellow). Waveforms (Darkeners) should have little to no white in their design. Surfers (Lighteners) should have little to no black. 2: Waveforms have the elements of at least one sea creature and at least one form of futuristic aesthetic/alternative fashion incorporated into their design. (i.e. Clownfish + Cybergoth, Kelp + Atompunk, or Sea Slug + Cyber Lolita) 3: Surfers need some sort of hovering/flight transportation. They should also have some sort of living plant bits on them. 4: As a baseline, Surfers are generally inspired by a pastel Vaporwave aesthetic while Waveforms are more of a dark neon Cyberpunk aesthetic. Don't forget crystals and cool glowy bits!

"I have another question..." If you want to know more about this AU, feel free to leave an Ask! :D I'd be happy to yap about it!

🎶 PLAYLIST 🎶

These songs really put me in the mood for this AU! ^_^

Abyss by she (Lain Trzaska) [and pretty much all their other songs]

WAVE by niki & Lily

Paradigm by Bad Computer & Karra

Aural Psynapse by Deadmau5

Extreme Violet by Gavriel (Windows96)