(When I arrived, actor Seafeld Kid had just finished his performance. Actor Dovebrook Kid was still getting his makeup done, with half an hour until his stage time.)
Interviewer:Ā Gentlemen, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules for this interview...
Seafeld Kid:Ā No need to thank me, it's all arranged by the TV station... Another day of not having control over my life. Not only do I have to be the butt of everyone's jokes on stage, but my personal time gets forcefully taken away too. How pathetic. Boo-hoo boo-hoo...
Dovebrook Kid:Ā Look on the bright side, we're becoming a public laughingstock in a whole new way now. ByĀ The LaughterĀ above, this is just too ridiculous, Hahaha!
Interviewer:Ā ...No offense, but for two hosts who've been relatively low-profile until now, your recent two shows:Ā The Historical Supplicant Mask ShowcaseĀ andĀ Don't Look at the Moon!Ā have both broken the station's decade-long ratings records. How do you feel about this?
Seafeld Kid:Ā I'd rather not think about it.
Dovebrook Kid:Ā Oh, that? I heard the higher-ups made quite a profit. They even toyed with the idea of giving each of us our own solo show. But hey, we've been partners for fifteen years. Split us up, and you'd be cutting the fun in half!
Interviewer:Ā Oh... So the rumors are true? You two draw inspiration from each other?
Seafeld Kid:Ā Do you need to know where air comes from when you breathe?
Dovebrook Kid:Ā We don't seek inspiration. Fun just leaks out of us whenever we move! Besides, the world is so absurd that just retelling it makes people burst out laughing... Oh, of course, there's an art to the retelling.
Interviewer:Ā Alright... ahem, many viewers are hoping you two could collaborate on a new show. Is that something you'd consider...?
Seafeld Kid:Ā That's for the TV station to worry about. What's the point in asking us? Do you ask your pet fish which tank they'd prefer to live in tomorrow?
Dovebrook Kid:Ā Hahaha! Alright little furbo, I've got a show to get to. I'm sure you have more questions, but hey, the essence of serialized comics is the cliffhanger. We'll chat again when fate allows!
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Regulations on Ghostly Activities, issued by theĀ Department of Aberration DefenseĀ to regulate the daily conduct of the ghost species. Located on top of powerbox, next to crossing which leads toĀ MD-78-8.
Chapter 1: Principles
Article 1Ā These measures are hereby established in accordance with theĀ Faekind Protection Act (Fifth Edition)Ā to promote social harmony and stability, regulate the daily conduct of the ghost species, and safeguard citizens' legitimate rights and public safety.
Article 2Ā These regulations apply exclusively to all ghost entities residing or operating within the administrative domain of this city.
Article 3Ā As members of society, ghosts shall enjoy all rights prescribed by law while being obligated to comply with laws and regulations, respect social ethics, and refrain from harming public interests and legitimate personal rights.
Chapter 2: Code of Conduct
Article 4Ā Traffic Regulations
When traversing through cities, ghosts should prioritize using public passages (such as doors and corridors). It is strictly forbidden to phase through walls or other solid obstacles in the following circumstances:
1. When there is potential to startle pedestrians, especially children, elderly, and those with heart conditions;
2. When potentially passing through private residences, changing rooms, bathrooms, and other areas involving personal privacy;
3. When potentially interfering with sensitive areas such as hospital ICUs, financial system vaults, and data centers;
4. When passing through moving vehicles, which may startle drivers or the vehicles themselves, potentially causing traffic accidents.
Article 5Ā Public Order Guidelines
In public spaces (such as shopping malls, libraries, public transportation, etc.), ghosts should maintain a stable and visible form, avoiding random flickering, floating too high, or making strange noises to prevent disruption of public order.
It is forbidden to exploit one's physical traits for peeping, eavesdropping, pranks (such as suddenly emerging from screens, walls, or floors, or passing through other beings' bodies without permission), and any other behaviors that violate the rights of humans and imagenae, or disrupt social order.
Article 6Ā Public Environment Guidelines
When entering crowded indoor public spaces, ghosts should regulate their temperature or keep a reasonable distance to prevent physical discomfort to nearby humans and imagenaes.
Chapter 3: Management and Duties
Article 7Ā Identity Registration
All resident ghosts must report to theĀ Department of Aberration DefenseĀ for registration and to obtain their identifier codes for management and social identification purposes.
Article 8Ā Special Permission
Ghosts who need to frequently phase through walls or perform other privileged actions for official duties (such as assault inspections, etc.) must apply for a special behavior permit from the administrative department.
Article 9Ā Civic Duties
Ghosts are encouraged to utilize their traits to assist society, such as participating in search and rescue operations for missing personnel and helping inspect internal malfunctions in public facilities, provided that their own safety is ensured, and these regulations are not violated.
Chapter 4: Penalties
Article 10Ā For ghosts who violate these regulations, the Department of Aberration Defense shall, depending on the severity of the circumstances, impose penalties such as warnings, mandatory civic virtue training sessions, or community service. Those who cause personal injury or property damage shall bear the corresponding legal responsibilities according to law.
Chapter 4: Supplementary Provisions
Article 11Ā The Department of Aberration Defense of Planarcadia shall be responsible for the interpretation of these measures.
Article 12Ā These measures shall take effect from the date of publication.
A public service announcement calling on everyone to protect and care for the wispae. Found on the yellow seats close to the elevator in Perdido Station Railway Platform.
They are tiny lives born from condensed Wishpower. They are another form of continuation for the fallen imagenae in this world.
As you hurry through the streets and alleys, have you ever noticed those little wanderers, the wispae?
These adorable and harmless little fellows, just like red blood cells, carry the city's "oxygen," wishes.
It is these seemingly insignificant "wishes" coming together that have forged the prosperous cityscape of Planarcadia.
Can you imagine what a city without wispae would look like?
Without the wispae, how can artists rebuild and repair the city, or breathe new life into the imagenae?
Without the wispae, how would the bank manage currency and turn Wishpower into circulating assets?
The wispae is not just a cultural icon unique to Planarcadia, but also indispensable partners in our daily life and work.
Lecture Notes: Hypothesis on Imagenae Evolution (Excerpt)
Lecture notes from a scholar's presentation. Found on top of a cabinet in front of Froggy Whiteboard.
You ask why I got into studying imagenae? It all started when I cursed out generations of my ploo deskmate's ancestors.
ā Dr. Soda
On the Formation and Evolution Hypothesis of Imagenae, this was the first lecture topic that came to mind when I was invited back to Graphia Academy. It was my third-grade summer essay, and since then, I've formed an inseparable bond with science. Due to the turmoil of the Cindearth Age and the Canvas Age, the evolutionary history of imagenae has been lost to time, but based on mythology and the physiological structure of imagenae, we can still glimpse into their ancient secrets.
The Cellular Automaton Hypothesis
Within the Intelligentsia Guild, cellular automaton is the mainstream hypothesis. In the era before Graphia created imagenae, everything in Planarcadia would gain life whenever the Phantasmoon was full, joining the revelry during the Phantasmoon Games.
During this period, Phantasmoon will trigger humanity's "Wishpower," which, strictly speaking, is the energy driven by the Path of Elation. This energy permeates into surrounding substance. The inherent primary drive within Wishpower then supplies behavioral templates to this substance, whether discrete or aggregated. Here, from the triad of energy, substance, and behavioral patterns, regulated living machines thus emerge, known as "strangelings."
From plants to appliances, any substance infused with Wishpower can come alive. Lacking sufficient intelligence, they gather by instinct and disperse once reaching a threshold, much like modern wispae. Therefore, they tend to remain in primitive life phases, cycling from simplicity to complexity before collapsing back into elementary patterns.
It is not until Graphia invents imagenetic technology that the conundrum of forming complex structures in natural imagenae is overcome. By artificially designing their forms and imbuing them with narrative pulse, these imagenae are given a robust skeleton capable of supporting vast amounts of substance and energy. These complex behavioral patterns and skeletons, in turn, create the necessary conditions for intelligence to emerge, ultimately giving birth to the imagenae as we know them today.
Spirit-Bone-Flesh Hypothesis
The Spirit-Bone-Flesh Hypothesis offers a distinctly Mourning Actor perspective. While it shares many commonalities with the previous theory, the chaos effect of nature plays a much more significant role in it.
This hypothesis posits that all sentient life is composed of three components: spirit, bone, and flesh. The spirit is consciousness, energy, the Wishpower that permeates Planarcadia. Bone is the framework, the essence of all things, the concept of existence itself. Flesh is blood and tissue, the outline, the physical vessel and outer appearance that carries life. These three parts can arise and persist independently within the natural world.
The ancient Planarcadia was like a massive primordial soup. Human arrival and the rise of Phantasmoon combined as ample stimulation, along with various spurs, causing substances to evolve from the unconscious to consciousness, with stable forms eventually settling out through natural selection. For the imagenae to gain intelligence was all but inevitable, so all Graphia did was uncover the means to replicate their formation process.
The Cake of God Hypothesis
The Structuralist Baking School claims that, based on fragments of the lost The Ultra-Cosmic Baking Compendium, the prototype of imagenae originated from a cake baked by Aha when THEY were starving while being hunted by other Aeons during the Swarm Disaster.
THEY used debris from a divine battle (presumably biomatter left behind when the Propagation and another Aeon pulled each other's hair) as eggs, sugar stolen from the "World's End" as seasoning, and finally plucked a leaf from Yaoshi to replace flour, creating the perfect Cake of God. (Note: Some scholars see this as proof of Yaoshi's existence during the Swarm Disaster, but the Baking School generally maintains this is a textual error and is dedicated to restoring the true "flour.")
For many years after, Aha missed that flavor dearly. THEY sought various ingredients to recreate the universe's best cake. These materials piled up like construction materials beside Qlipoth, eventually forming Planarcadia. THEY built a giant oven to heat the cake, a tool later known as the Phantasmoon. It is said that Aha's tears of joy fell when THEY successfully remade the Cake of God using a cup of gasoline, two races, and three limericks.
In time, countless chefs gathered here to learn from Aha. Millennia later, a master baker finally recreated the Cake of God using soil, ink, and stories based on the Miracle. Thus did she name them "imagenae." And her name was Graphia.
A popular science book about imagenae suitable for young readers. Found at BOOK-ON!
If you're anĀ imagenaeĀ who often hosts off-world tourists, you've definitely been there. A curious visitor looks you in the eye and asks, "What exactly is an imagenae?" and you just turn bright red and try every trick in the book to dodge the question. Not every ghost is a star graduate fromĀ Graphia Academy, after all. According to theĀ Intelligentsia Guild, 95% of intelligent life in the cosmos knows next to nothing about their own species' science.
Even so, since we're still here breathing on the soil of Planarcadia, "understanding ourselves" remains a worthy pursuit.
Imagenae are intelligent life forms driven by an internal core, fueled by the Wishpower of theĀ PhantasmoonĀ and human hearts, with bodies composed of discrete matter. Their appearance and "lore" are decided by the artist who drew them and the trends of the era. Putting aside the complexity of Wishpower as an energy source, I'll give you a brief look at what these creatures under the Phantasmoon are really like.
The Core as Primary Drive
The core is the most vital part of an imagenae. In a way, researching the "core" is even more daunting than studying Wishpower. The consensus is that it functions like a massive engine, proving crucial for every action the imagenae takes. It also doubles as a skeleton. Without it, the imagenae's body simply cannot hold its shape.
Looking at the oldest records of imagenae and observations of aberrations (the local term for uncontrollable, degenerated imagenae), it's clear that cores can form naturally. In environments rich with energy or Wishpower, stray matter can aggregate into core-like objects. These exhibit traits similar to aĀ Pathstrider, incorporating surrounding matter to build a body and take action. (Some scholars argue this matter alone isn't enough to account for their mass, but we'll touch on that debate later.)
In the Cindearth Age,Ā GraphiaĀ invented and shared the art of imagenesis, which eventually became the process we know today. Since it takes massive amounts of Wishpower to drive an imagenae, creating a core for a new one usually requires official permission. Once the artwork is done and injected with enough Wishpower, a core forms the very instant before the creature comes to life.
The core itself is essentially a cluster of condensed matter, similar to the internal structure of imagenae. What draws it together and empowers it is its primary drive, fueled by the powers of theĀ PathĀ of the Phantasmoon. In other words, from the moment they are born, imagenae are creatures that walk the Paths.
As for how theĀ IPC's recent imagenae production lines manage to bypass the stringent requirements for core generation, that's a trade secret covered by patents. Therefore, they cannot be disclosed here.
Body and Internal Structure
Biologically, all imagenae are the same species, masses of matter held by a core and driven by Wishpower, with no real internal organs. However, depending on the artist's mindset or the public's perception, things can change. For example, under X-rays, orchs appear to have skeletons. The newer mechatrons even have internal systems that match their blueprints. But keep in mind, these are just mimicry. Whether it's orchs or mechatrons, those "bones" don't actually provide physical support or movement. They're no different from any other part of an imagenae's body.
While it's hard to categorize any creation of theĀ Elation, physically speaking, they're not really "humanoid." It's more accurate to think of them as cousins to the jelly-likeĀ BaviruĀ or the Shapeless.
Because an imagenae's matter dissipates so fast after death, studying their structure is a bit of a mystery. But don't go getting any ideas about vivisection! Aside from being a massive violation of ethics and Planarcadia's human rights laws, it's a waste of time. Criminals who've tried it found nothing but ordinary particles, no different from a lump of carbon or a glass of water. It's only when they're part of a whole that they become "imagenated matter."
Speaking of "matter," after an artist completes their work, where does it all come from the moment an imagenae is born? This question has stumped experts for years. The two main theories are the "Path Space Theory" and the "Discrete Matter Theory." The first suggests imagenae pull mass fromĀ Aha'sĀ Path SpaceĀ at birth and return it when they die. The second argues the core just sucks up stray matter from the surroundings. Some radical thinkers even claim Wishpower converts energy directly into mass.
Ever since Planarcadia returned to the real world, scholars have been at each other's throats over this. Lately, some have even made the wild claim that both theories are right. If you want to know the real secret, you'll have to ask that enigmatic Laughter.
Lore and Design
Folks outside Planarcadia often have the wrong idea. They think giving an imagenae a mighty "lore" or making it huge makes it powerful. But can their bodies even handle that much energy? The thundercoils powering Planarcadia are already at the absolute limit of what a core can sustain. As Planarcadia loses its imagination for grand things and moves toward realism, creating large imagenae has become even harder. Besides, any "lore" you give them needs the right amount of Wishpower to actually work.
For example, if an artist tries to make an imagenae that's invincible and has rocket punches using only their own Wishpower, the core probably won't form at all. At best, you'd get an incomplete creature. The sanitarium in Duomension City is full of these "defective" beings born from selfish whims. It's now a serious crime under theĀ Faekind Protection Act, right up there with trying to create a human imagenae.
On a small scale, a new imagenae looks just like what the artist drew. But on a larger scale, certain forms are just "better" at holding Wishpower. Artists draw what people love, and those popular designs soak up Wishpower more easily. When buff cats are in, the Wishpower follows. But now that everyone wants "tiny kittens," those muscular lightpaws are left out in the cold, starving for Wishpower.
There's a lot of debate on how the moonlulls evolved from rabbits into humanoids. But for most folks, "changing trends" or "shifting art styles" is all the explanation they need for how imagenae change over time.
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For schools that train Imagenists, this is undoubtedly the most crucial set of decrees. Found on a table south of the Main Building Corridor.
General Provisions
Decree Promulgated on November 12, Arcadian Calendar 1953
Second Revision on January 31, Arcadian Calendar 1986
Article I
These administrative regulations are hereby established in accordance with the legislative spirit of theĀ Faekind Protection Act, to strengthen the management of imagenetic activities and fully protect the rights ofĀ imagenae.
Article II
Those who engage in imagenetic activities shall be known as Imagenists. Under theĀ IPC, Imagenists must conduct their imagenetic activities in accordance with these management regulations.
Article III
The term "imagenetic activities" in these regulations includes the creation, replication, splitting, and merging of imagenae by manual or mechanical means, as well as the creation of new natural persons recognized by the Interastral Peace Corporation. Under the IPC, any imagenae produced through imagenetic activities automatically acquires the status of a natural person recognized by the IPC.
Article IV
Imagenists must prioritize the well-being of imagenae and conduct imagenetic activities in compliance with theĀ Faekind Protection Act. Imagenists must register with theĀ Department of Aberration DefenseĀ before engaging in any profit-oriented commercial activities.
Article V
Citizens of Planarcadia have the freedom to engage in imagenetic activities. Individuals who are not registered Imagenists may freely conduct imagenetic activities, provided they do not violate theĀ Faekind Protection ActĀ or the provisions of Article IV of these regulations.
Article VI
The Department of Aberration Defense is responsible for supervising and managing all activities of Imagenists. For collective imagenesis, specific self-regulatory management rules shall be established under the guidance of the Department of Aberration Defense. Upon registration, those who conduct activities in accordance with these regulations and self-regulatory rules shall be regarded as collective Imagenists.
Article VII
If a registered Imagenist violates these regulations, the Department of Aberration Defense must revoke their registration, and they may not reapply for three years. Unregistered Imagenists who violate these regulations shall be handled according to the "Malicious Imagenesis" provisions in theĀ Faekind Protection Act. Other illegal acts during imagenesis shall be handled according to relevant laws and regulations.
Chapter I
Article VIII
Registered Imagenists may apply for patents for their unique imagenetic activities. For any imagenae patented by registered Imagenists, unless the registered Imagenist waives their rights, non-registered Imagenists shall not engage in patent-infringing imagenetic activities. This does not apply to imagenetic activities beyond the Imagenist's control, or those performed in emergency situations or due to force majeure...
Important legal documents serving as the legislative foundation for all civil laws in Planarcadia. Can be found at BOOK-ON!
General Provisions
General Rules on the Promulgation, Effect and Application of Laws
Decree Promulgated on January 1, Arcadian Calendar 1855
5th Revision on December 1, Arcadian Calendar 1993
Article I
This decree shall be enforced throughout the territory of Planarcadia.
Article II
This decree shall be enforced throughout Planarcadia from the date of its promulgation.
Article III
This decree shall only apply to future cases and has no retroactive effect, except for matters concerning Article VI of the General Provisions.
Article IV
This decree applies to all residents within Planarcadia's jurisdiction, including: humans, Intellitrons, imagenae, and other residents who may be considered natural persons under various conventions.
Article V
Laws concerning personal identity and rights shall apply to all IPC entities and personnel, even those residing outside Planarcadia.
Article VI
All private agreements must not violate this law, nor contradict the public order and morals of the cosmos.
Article VII
In all legal proceedings involving the rights of Planarcadia residents, judgments must not contradict the provisions of this decree; regarding matters of public order and morality, the consensus of the trial jury shall prevail.
Chapter I
On Resident Rights.
Article VIII
All residents mentioned in Article IV of this decree, including humans, Intellitrons, and imagenae, are equal and enjoy all rights guaranteed by the Interastral Peace Corporation, except for those restricted by criminal penalties.
The Great Crisis of Phantasmoon's Changing Expression at the End of the Century
An anonymous research report on "Phantasmoon." While the first section is thorough and detailed, the latter part seems hastily concluded. It can be found at BOOK-ON!
Investigative Report (I)
A moon hangs high in the sky of Planarcadia. The people here call it the Moon ofĀ Elation, also known as "Phantasmoon."
Day and night, all of Planarcadia bathes in the Radiance of this lunar phase.
People turn a blind eye to the existence of "Phantasmoon," but before our ship even landed, just looking through the porthole, I immediately noticed how different it was from our common understanding. This is a moon that'sĀ showing a smile.
Note: Any celestial body with an "expression" cannot be classified as a real satellite in astronomical terms.
Indeed, despite the crowds of people walking under the moon and its apparent waxing and waning phases, from a visitor's point of view, I don't believe this is a real moon at all.
Investigative Report (III)
...With permission fromĀ Pearluxe Corp, during the intervals of ship maintenance, I was granted access to Planarcadia's archives of sealed scrolls and ancient texts to research the history of this place during the period known as "Benzaitengoku," and of course, what intrigued me most was "Phantasmoon" itself.
Records show that the smile of Phantasmoon wasn't eternally unchanging, yet it had displayed various expressions from sadness to mockery to anxiety, as vivid as a living being.
Whenever the expression of Phantasmoon changed, it signaled that a major event with significant social impact would occur in Planarcadia. However, throughout my dozens of days investigating here, no anomalies have been observed.
ā Note: While the collective unconscious theory might explain Phantasmoon's expressions as a manifestation of group consciousness, the people of Planarcadia have a different take: they're the multiple phases of Aha, the Aeon of Elation.
...The imagenae of the arcadia survive on Wishpower. While the strength of Wishpower is related to the waxing and waning of the "Phantasmoon," it can't be simplified to popular notions like "full moons cause werewolves to transform." I am contemplating a more appropriate and well-researched way to describe this phenomenon...
Investigative Report (VI)
...Since I came here by spaceship, why not try approaching and landing on "Phantasmoon" by it?
Ever since this idea took root, I began preparing for my expedition to the Phantasmoon. Surprisingly, there was hardly any need for paperwork or approval processes, and with no official resistance whatsoever, my spacecraft launched without a hitch.
Gazing at the moon in the azure sky, as I drew closer and closer, I felt my emotions were pulled by its gravity, surging uncontrollably. Almost there, almost there...
But just as I was about to touch down on the surface, I made a shocking discovery: "Phantasmoon" couldn't be landed on at all! It was as if it were merely a thin sheet of oil-soaked paper, and the spacecraft passed right through it...
Wrong, wrong, it's all wrong. How could this be?
I woke up in a cold sweat! Suddenly realizing everything just now was merely a dream. "Phantasmoon" still hangs high in the sky, and though wearing a smile, remains far beyond my reach.
My spaceship still isn't fixed.
With a bitter smile, I pondered in my disappointment: People must be prevented from ascending to the Phantasmoon for some reason, right? Otherwise, wouldn't the people of Planarcadia have done it already? Why did it have to fall to me to investigate?
Investigative Report (VII)
...Time quickly advanced to 1999, the end of the century. The lunar phases changed, and people spoke of how the Phantasmoon was about to become full.
Ever since I had that dream, whenever I gaze at the Phantasmoon, an unsettling feeling slowly wells up inside me. Perhaps it's an aftereffect of the nightmare, or maybe I've developed some kind of mental condition called "lunaphobia"?
Or could it be that the deeper I investigate and the more information I uncover, the more subconscious anxiety is being implanted in my mind?
The ship repairs are complete. I've decided to conclude my investigation and leave Planarcadia before the next Phantasmoon Games.
This time, my ship will once again pass by the Phantasmoon, perhaps the closest I'll ever get to it. But I've abandoned any thoughts of getting closer.
As I started up the ship, I thought I saw a look of compassion in the nearly-full moon's face. But in the blink of an eye, Phantasmoon returned to its usual smile, just as it always does.
