Five Afflictions: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 21:12, 6 July 2024

Spoiler warning!
This article contains major spoilers for PALISADE 13: Worth the Trouble Pt. 2. Tread carefully!

The Five Afflictions are strange, amoral beings — kaiju — that cause destruction on Palisade without regard for factional allegiance. Each has pawns or minions of its own, and generates a unique negative effect.

Their current auto-antonym names appear to come from the Afflictions themselves. Cleave, for example, "has called itself, or people have dreamt the name" Cleave.^[1]

History[edit | edit source]

The Afflictions were once the Divine Palisade's "greatest collaborators": the Divines Reflection, Antiquity, Logic, Decisiveness, and Affection. Prior to the events of Twilight Mirage, they and their Excerpts left the Fleet alongside Palisade. They have resided on the planet for thousands of years, long enough to have interacted with the New Earth Hegemony and, later, the Divine Free States and Principality of Kesh.

They are no longer in the social category of Divine,^[2] and the label "Affliction" was applied to them by the Fabreal Duchy^[3] after being traumatized by Palisade's violent history.

This section contains spoilers for the PALISADE finale.
Click here to reveal.

After Palisade becomes part of the Mirage, Cori creates sanctified areas protected by Perennial's power for the Affliction to retreat to. Thisbe kickstarts negotiations between the Chimeric Cadent and the Afflictions held in one such area. Eventually, the Chimeric Cadent, Chimera's Lantern and the Afflictions disappear from Palisade, interrupting the healing and integration of the Afflictions with the Cause and Palisade society. No one knows where they have gone, but more creatures similar to the Afflictions begin to appear across the galaxy.

Afflictions[edit | edit source]

Dust[edit | edit source]

Main page: Dust

Also known as Pride's Mirror (by the NEH) or the Looking Glass (by the ancestors of the Divine Principality), Dust was once the Divine Reflection. As Reflection, it could provide self-insight to its followers.^[4] Dust is a large mummy-mech with power over a sort of dust that can transform into dopplegangers of anyone who gets too close. It is mostly confined to the Diadem.

Refrain[edit | edit source]

Main page: Refrain

Also known as Yesterday's Reprise (by the NEH) or the Ghastly Chorus (by the ancestors of the Divine Principality), Refrain was once the Divine Antiquity. As Antiquity, it allowed people to leave parts of themselves, or their memory, with it.^[5] It is now a hungry undead archive which takes the form of a spectral theater.

Ravel[edit | edit source]

Also known as Labyrinth's Thread (by the NEH) or the Hedge Maze (by the ancestors of the Divine Principality), Ravel was once the Divine Logic, who embodied a logic that was many-valued and not based on a true/false binary. The non-binary nature of this logic is reflected in the three horns of Ravel's pawns,^[4] which are 12-foot-tall, invisible minotaur-like beings, or "tricerataurs".^[6]

Ravel "looks like a massive, loose brain neuron prowling the hills and valleys".^[1] It can reroute roads and pathways or build walls to disorient and defamiliarize.

Cleave[edit | edit source]

Also known as Whetstone's Opposite (by the NEH) or the Sanguine Hatchet (by the ancestors of the Divine Principality), Cleave was once the Divine Decisiveness.^[4] Its pawns look like "if a dragon was made of knives",^[7] and they share Cleave's power to impede communication using voiced, signed or written language.

Oversight[edit | edit source]

Also known as Hell's Facade (by the NEH) or the Empty Garden (by the ancestors of the Divine Principality), Oversight was once the Divine Affection.^[4] It looks like "a slowly moving statue whose features are always fluctuating under a stone shroud."^[1]

References[edit | edit source]

[pal03-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 PALISADE 03: Today Is a Monday

[pal32-2] PALISADE 32: Seize the Chance Pt. 3

[pal47-3] PALISADE 47: A Palette of Colors Pt. 2

[pal27-4] 4.0 ^4.1 ^4.2 ^4.3 PALISADE 27: Resentment and Frustration Pt. 2

[5] PALISADE 13: Worth the Trouble Pt. 2

[6] PALISADE 10: The Wheels Turning Pt. 1

[7] PALISADE 01: Into the World Pt. 1

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Spoiler header|spoiling=[[PALISADE 13: Worth the Trouble Pt. 2]]|theme=pal}}
-{{Infobox group|color_theme=pal|members=Dust<br />Refrain<br />Ravel<br />Cleave<br />Oversight|area_of_operation=[[Palisade (planet)|Palisade]]|season=''[[PALISADE]]''}}
+{{Infobox group|color_theme=pal|members=Dust<br />Refrain<br />Ravel<br />Cleave<br />Oversight|area_of_operation=[[Palisade (planet)|Palisade]]|season=''[[PALISADE]]''|affiliations=[[Divine Fleet]] (formerly)<br />[[Partial Palisade|Palisade]]}}
-'''The Five Afflictions''' are strange, amoral beings which cause destruction on [[Palisade (planet)|Palisade]]. Each has pawns (minions) of its own, and has a unique negative effect.
+'''The Five Afflictions''' are strange, amoral beings — kaiju — that cause destruction on [[Palisade (planet)|Palisade]] without regard for factional allegiance. Each has pawns or minions of its own, and generates a unique negative effect.
 Their current auto-antonym names appear to come from the Afflictions themselves. Cleave, for example, "has called itself, or people have dreamt the name" Cleave.<ref name="pal03">[[PALISADE 03: Today Is a Monday]]</ref>
 ==History ==
+The Afflictions were once the [[Divine]] [[Partial Palisade|Palisade]]'s "greatest collaborators": the Divines Reflection, Antiquity, Logic, Decisiveness, and Affection. Prior to the events of ''[[Twilight Mirage]]'', they and their [[Excerpts]] left the Fleet alongside Palisade. They have resided on the planet for thousands of years, long enough to have interacted with the [[New Earth Hegemony]] and, later, the [[Divine Free States]] and [[Principality of Kesh]].
-The Afflictions are known to have resided on the planet for thousands of years, long enough to have interacted with the [[New Earth Hegemony]], and later the [[Divine Free States]] and [[Principality of Kesh]].
+They are no longer in the social category of Divine,<ref name="pal32">[[PALISADE 32: Seize the Chance Pt. 3]]</ref> and the label "Affliction" was applied to them by the [[Fabreal Duchy]]<ref name="pal47">[[PALISADE 47: A Palette of Colors Pt. 2]]</ref> after being traumatized by Palisade's violent history.
-The Afflictions were once the [[Divine]] [[Partial Palisade|Palisade]]'s "greatest collaborators", who left the Fleet alongside him with their [[Excerpt|Excerpts]]: the Divines Reflection, Antiquity, Logic, Decisiveness, and Affection. It is currently unknown how they came to be considered Afflictions by the residents of the planet.
+{{Spoiler block|spoiling=[[A Palette of Colors|the PALISADE finale]]|text=After Palisade becomes part of the Mirage,  Cori creates sanctified areas protected by Perennial's power for the Affliction to retreat to. Thisbe kickstarts negotiations between the [[Chimeric Cadent]] and the Afflictions held in one such area. Eventually, the Chimeric Cadent, [[Chimera's Lantern]] and the Afflictions disappear from Palisade, interrupting the healing and integration of the Afflictions with the Cause and Palisade society. No one knows where they have gone, but more creatures similar to the Afflictions begin to appear across the galaxy.|theme=pal}}
 ==Afflictions==
 ===Dust===
-Also known as '''Pride's Mirror''' (by the NEH) or the '''Looking Glass''' (by the ancestors of the Divine Principality). Dust was once the Divine '''Reflection'''.<ref name="pal27">[[PALISADE 27: Resentment and Frustration Pt. 2]]</ref>
+{{Main|Dust}}
+Also known as '''Pride's Mirror''' (by the NEH) or the '''Looking Glass''' (by the ancestors of the Divine Principality), Dust was once the Divine '''Reflection'''. As Reflection, it could provide self-insight to its followers.<ref name="pal27">[[PALISADE 27: Resentment and Frustration Pt. 2]]</ref> Dust is a large mummy-mech with power over a sort of dust that can transform into dopplegangers of anyone who gets too close. It is mostly confined to the Diadem.
-Dust looks like "if a mummy could be a mech, shawled and wrapped and deteroriating."<ref name="pal03" /> Its pawns are "beings made of compacted dust that ruins electronics and suffocates people if they touch them." This dust, which also muffles sound (save for the gentle rustling of the Affliction itself) and limits sight when it settles over a region, can only be escaped by confronting oneself and one's feelings. The followers of Reflection who came to the system with their Divine originally used this dust to talk through their own feelings, sort of like therapy.<ref name="pal27" />
-There [[Lucent Reflection|exist]] [[Delegates]] of Reflection; it is currently unknown whether this has anything to do with its formation as an Affliction.
 ===Refrain===
+{{Main|Refrain}}
-Also known as '''Yesterday's Reprise''' (by the NEH) or the '''Ghastly Chorus''' (by the ancestors of the Divine Principality). Refrain was once the Divine '''Antiquity''', who allowed people to leave parts of themselves, or their memory, with it.<ref>[[PALISADE 13: Worth the Trouble Pt. 2]]</ref>
+Also known as '''Yesterday's Reprise''' (by the NEH) or the '''Ghastly Chorus''' (by the ancestors of the Divine Principality), Refrain was once the Divine '''Antiquity'''. As Antiquity, it allowed people to leave parts of themselves, or their memory, with it.<ref>[[PALISADE 13: Worth the Trouble Pt. 2]]</ref> It is now a hungry undead archive which takes the form of a spectral theater.
-Refrain is an undead archive of snapshots of the consciousnesses of members of the Divine Fleet from thousands of years ago, prior to the Fleet's collapse. It takes the form of "an abandoned theater which appears as if from nowhere. Upon the stage, a spectral projection of a person that no one knows."<ref>[[PALISADE 07: The Canvas of Dreams Pt. 2]], dossier</ref> Inside the theater, electronic ghosts wearing garments from the Divine Fleet mill about. Its effect causes electronics to break and rust over, although Refrain seems to have some control over whether this happens. The spokesperson changes each time, but is never someone that the viewer could have known. In "[[PALISADE 07: The Canvas of Dreams Pt. 2|The Canvas of Dreams Pt. 2]]", the speaker was [[Lattice]].
-Refrain opposes the Principality and the other forces that have tried to conquer Palisade over the millennia, but has not been convinced to support the [[Cause (PALISADE)|Cause]], because they don't think it will succeed.<ref>[[PALISADE 07: The Canvas of Dreams Pt. 2]]</ref>
 ===Ravel===
-Also known as '''Labyrinth's Thread''' (by the NEH) or the '''Hedge Maze''' (by the ancestors of the Divine Principality). Ravel was once the Divine '''Logic''', who embodied a logic that was [[wikipedia:many-valued logic|many-valued]], not based on a true/false binary. The non-binary nature of this logic is reflected in the three horns of Ravel's pawns,<ref name="pal27" /> which are 12-foot-tall but invisible minotaur-like beings, or 'tricerataurs'.<ref>[[PALISADE 10: The Wheels Turning Pt. 1]]</ref>
+Also known as '''Labyrinth's Thread''' (by the NEH) or the '''Hedge Maze''' (by the ancestors of the Divine Principality), Ravel was once the Divine '''Logic''', who embodied a logic that was [[wikipedia:many-valued logic|many-valued]] and not based on a true/false binary. The non-binary nature of this logic is reflected in the three horns of Ravel's pawns,<ref name="pal27" /> which are 12-foot-tall, invisible minotaur-like beings, or "tricerataurs".<ref>[[PALISADE 10: The Wheels Turning Pt. 1]]</ref>
 Ravel "looks like a massive, loose brain neuron prowling the hills and valleys".<ref name="pal03" /> It can reroute roads and pathways or build walls to disorient and defamiliarize.
 ===Cleave===
-Also known as '''Whetstone's Opposite''' (by the NEH) or the '''Sanguine Hatchet''' (by the ancestors of the Divine Principality). Cleave was once the Divine '''Decisiveness'''.<ref name="pal27" />
+Also known as '''Whetstone's Opposite''' (by the NEH) or the '''Sanguine Hatchet''' (by the ancestors of the Divine Principality), Cleave was once the Divine '''Decisiveness'''.<ref name="pal27" /> Its pawns look like "if a dragon was made of knives",<ref>[[PALISADE 01: Into the World Pt. 1]]</ref> and they share Cleave's power to impede communication using voiced, signed or written language.
-Cleave will strike at anyone, regardless of their factional allegiance, and doesn't care much about collateral damage. It is a kaiju, not a savior or heroic figure, though it sometimes interferes with the Principality's aims. Its pawns look like "if a dragon was made of knives",<ref>[[PALISADE 01: Into the World Pt. 1]]</ref> and they share Cleave's power to impede communication using voiced, signed or written language.
-===Oversight===
+=== Oversight===
-Also known as '''Hell's Facade''' (by the NEH) or the '''Empty Garden''' (by the ancestors of the Divine Principality). Oversight was once the Divine '''Affection'''.<ref name="pal27" /> It looks like "a slowly moving statue whose features are always fluctuating under a stone shroud."<ref name="pal03" />
+Also known as '''Hell's Facade''' (by the NEH) or the '''Empty Garden''' (by the ancestors of the Divine Principality), Oversight was once the Divine '''Affection'''.<ref name="pal27" /> It looks like "a slowly moving statue whose features are always fluctuating under a stone shroud."<ref name="pal03" />
 ==References==
@@ Line 48: / Line 40: @@
 [[Category:PALISADE lore]]
 [[Category:Wayward factions]]
+[[Category:Divine Fleet]]
+[[Category:A Palette of Colors arc]]