Ocean of Notions

The Ocean of Notions is a sort of pocket realm within Duskscape that can have otherwise wide-ranging effects on the already-surreal ecology of the Umbral Realms. In the demonic word-language of Epitaph it is known as Hivis-Húm ("The Distant Voices"), and to the dwarven Wanderers of Nod it is called Talagh-Lurr ("The Sea of Stories"). It is thought to be the root source of a milder, more common Near Umbral phenomenon known as moodstorms.

If the climate of Waking Materia is made of materials and elements, the Duskscape is made of concepts and other more basal things. The Ocean is, in essence, a roiling, billowing accumulation of uncontrolled cognition: extreme feelings, spasms of emotion you never thought existed, thoughts or memories that aren't yours, even ghostly sights and smells are all experienced under its influence. The phenomenon is highly dangerous and only the most experienced, mentally fortified of demonic scholars have been observed studying it without losing their minds to the conceptual beating. Even the most powerful Waking scholars, like the Knight-Sages of Tallarax or elite Dreamshepherds of Auron Surai, appear to take little interest in it.

Effects

Results of excessive exposure include catatonia, glossolalia, uncontrollable precognition, uncontrollable metacognition, vertigo, nausea, multiple personality syndrome, cardiac arrest and eventually death.

Moodstorms

A milder, more common phenomenon known as moodstorms, wherein a "weather front" of certain emotions or impulses will pass over an area, are thought to be sourced from the Ocean of Notions, like meandering streams flowing from a great lake. Coping with or avoiding these emotional fronts makes up a unique aspect of most demonic cultures, in the same way avoiding extreme storms or tidal waves will occupy coastal cultures on the Waking side of the Veil. Higher classes of demons often cope by taking drugs meant to inspire opposing or balancing emotions; lower classes unable to afford such luxuries are forced to do without.

Banner (Left to Right): 1. The demonic city of Kloster Storkenfels under a moodstorm of dread. 2. A sort of river or estuary of the Ocean of Notions passes over the Vestige Materietúm. 3. An isolated part of the Far Umbra under the influence of a nostalgic moodstorm.

Type

Magical Realm