This introduction to the Turn Cycle marks the launch of Project: Spin-up. Project: Spin-up is a schedule of a series of contributions to the Wakeling Knowledge Base that culminates in the next roleplaying game session of the WIZARDscape metacampaign.
We can sense it from here. Here, in the blue-green paradise we know as Earth, our species has derived from observation theories that imply its existence, and we have developed science and technology that detects its effects. Most auspiciously, though, homo sapiens, indeed any sapient creature, may also experience it indirectly through a social form of entertainment called the roleplaying game.
Taking each in turn, I'll begin with a brief discourse on its existence, follow with its effects, and end with its experience. This collection of existential clues is known as the Turn Cycle, for each subsequent clue is an advancement over the previous, and the beginning starts again at the end.
Artist's rendition of dark matter -- image by Stephen
According to one of the pair of theories attributed to Albert Einstein, space is curved. You will understand why that's true sometime in the near or far future. For now, it's worth noting that it is this curvature of space that makes possible time travel. You may or may not understand why that is theoretically correct sometime later. For now, note it only as a point of interest for further reflection.
A starry messenger named Galileo Galilei made improvements to the perspicillum. With larger and larger perspicil, astronomers of the common era have discovered a nearly inexplicable phenomenon that is completely invisible to even the most sophisticated of those far-looking instruments. This phenomenon is called dark matter, and it is detected only by the gravitational pull it exerts on nearby celestial objects. You will eventually understand that dark matter does not exist, and that the unknown force acting on observable heavenly bodies is the centrifugal force of our known universe. Though perhaps your own sanity will prevent your understanding it, I forewarn you that this phenomenon occurs in response to a similar force that is sourced in the next higher existence.
Cosmological thinkery and astrophysics may or may not be your forte, but you might be a roleplaying gamer. And in that case, you may experience the metaverse through game play in a projection of it. One of those projections is called WIZARDscape. Through your own experience in WIZARDscape you may become more familiar with the Turn Cycle. You may also come to understand that the Turn Cycle does not so much repeat itself as it builds upon itself in an ever-mounting spiral.
Project: Spin-up
This introduction to the Turn Cycle marks the launch of Project: Spin-up. Project: Spin-up is a schedule of a series of contributions to the Wakeling Knowledge Base that culminates in the next roleplaying game session of the WIZARDscape metacampaign.
During two weeks beginning in the first week of January 2010, daily articles will describe and discuss various aspects of the metacampaign. Initial topics cover the esoterics, such as cosmology, history, and the keeping of time. These lead to more immediately practical topics, like races and classes in WIZARDscape, dream signs, the wakerent, and others.
Finally, the next game session is scheduled for Monday, 18 January. In this session, wakelings will create the player party and consider its background.
The first quotidien article discusses the theme of the metacampaign. It will be posted Monday, 4 January.
THE PARADIGM
