Overview
The Meridian are interdimensional wanderers who have crossed into Vale from distant planes of existence. To the inhabitants of Vale, they are known by many names—Watchers, The Lost, Drifters, or simply "them"—but their true designation remains unknown to any resident of this realm.
Lore & Background
Origin & Purpose
The Meridian are beings cast into random corners of the multiverse as part of a rite of passage. Flung blind through portals, they must prove themselves by mastering the art of dimensional cartography. While some have arrived in Vale purely by chance, all share the same fundamental goal: to map and understand their host world completely.
The Great Work
To return home, a Meridian must dissect the very essence of their assigned realm. They map its secrets, name its hidden foundations, and study its fundamental nature until they can weave a new portal from Vale's own metaphysical fabric back to their origin world. Each successful mapping adds another realm to their people's ever-expanding atlas of existence.
The Masked Faces
The Meridian wear masks not for cultural reasons, but out of cosmic necessity. Their faces are not merely visages—they are apertures to the void between worlds. Should a Meridian bare their face before fully mastering the dimensional signature of their host realm, reality itself risks being drawn into them, consumed entirely, leaving both the world and the Meridian orphaned between dimensions.
Appearance & Behavior
Physical Characteristics
- Always masked with coverings that obscure their faces completely
- Otherworldly bearing that sets them apart from Vale's inhabitants
- Possess an aura of detached observation
Behavioral Patterns
The Meridian can be encountered throughout Vale engaged in various scholarly pursuits:
- Studying ancient ruins - Examining architectural secrets and historical resonances
- Cataloging flora and fauna - Understanding the biological tapestry of the realm
- Astronomical observation - Perched on elevated positions, studying celestial movements and transitions
- Documentation - Rarely observed making notes or sketches in personal journals
Interaction Patterns
- Complete indifference to inhabitants - Players are beneath their notice
- Minimal acknowledgment - At most, brief head tracking as players pass by (rare occurrence)
- Scholarly focus - Entirely absorbed in their cartographic mission
Gameplay Implementation
Neutral Entity Status
- Non-aggressive - Will never initiate combat
- Enemy avoidance - All hostile creatures give Meridian a wide berth
- Interaction immunity - Cannot be engaged through normal social mechanics
- Ambient presence - Serve as atmospheric elements that enhance world mystery
Combat Mechanics
Defensive Response: "Dismissive Wave"
- Trigger: Any attack directed at a Meridian
- Effect: Instant ejection of player's soul from their body
- Visual: Reality-bending particle effects and dimensional distortion
- Consequence: Player awakes in an abyss. Pure blackness stretches in every direction. HP slowly drains until the player dies, resulting in a game over (unless a certain item is in possession...)
- Narrative Context: Not malicious—simply the casual dismissal of an insignificant annoyance
Encounter Design
- Environmental storytelling - Their presence hints at deeper world mysteries
- Player speculation catalyst - Encourage theorizing and observation
- Atmospheric enhancement - Reinforce the otherworldly nature of Vale
- Behavioral consistency - All interactions reflect their cosmic indifference
Design Philosophy
Core Themes
- Cosmic Scale - Beings operating on a level beyond mortal comprehension
- Academic Detachment - Scholarly observers rather than participants
- Dimensional Horror - The terror of beings whose very existence threatens reality
- Unknowable Purpose - Motivations that dwarf local concerns
Player Experience Goals
- Cultivate Mystery - Maintain questions rather than providing answers
- Encourage Observation - Reward players who watch and theorize
- Reinforce Scale - Emphasize the vastness of the multiverse
- Atmospheric Immersion - Enhance the mystical quality of Vale
Narrative Function
The Meridian serve as living reminders that Vale exists within a larger cosmic framework. Their presence suggests that the world players inhabit is merely one thread in an infinite tapestry of realities, observed and catalogued by beings whose concerns transcend mortal understanding.
Implementation Notes
Technical Considerations
- Meridian should be flagged as non-targetable by enemy AI
- Player attack inputs should immediately trigger the dismissive wave sequence
- Rare head-tracking behavior should be subtle and infrequent
- Environmental placement should feel natural rather than scripted
Consistency Requirements
- All Meridian behavior must reflect their cosmic indifference
- Visual design should emphasize their otherworldly nature
- Encounters should feel mysterious rather than mechanical
- Lore integration should enhance rather than explain their mystery
World Integration
- Placement in locations that support their scholarly activities
- Environmental details that suggest their presence without exposition
- Consistent behavior across all encounters
- Integration with broader world mythology without breaking their enigmatic nature