Core Concept
The world is built on an invisible metaphysical network called The Lattice, which contains the true names of all living and once-living things. A true name carries the essence of its owner — their memories, skills, habits, and "Weight" (the strength of their presence in the Lattice).
1. Names & Weight
True Name — The complete record of a person or thing in the Lattice.
Weight — How strong and influential a name is; determined by the person's achievements, mastery of skills, emotional impact, and history.
Low Weight → small influence, basic skills.
High Weight → greater skills, stronger presence, more dangerous fragments.
2. Tokens
A Token is a physical vessel that anchors a name to the material world.
Common forms: copper bands, ribbons, carved wood, parchment, bone charms.
Uses:
Lending a name — passing on a skill temporarily.
Protection — hiding a name so it can't be stolen or damaged.
Binding — letting someone weave the name into themselves for power.
3. Frays
Frays are shards of a true name, usually left behind when:
The owner dies.
The token is damaged.
The name is forcibly severed.
A fray carries partial memories or skills, not the full essence.
Example: A swordmaster's fray might give the stance and muscle memory, but not their strategic genius.
4. Resonance
Resonance is the harmony between your soul and the Lattice.
High Resonance — Can bind full names safely, but too many cause Weave Rot (mental collapse from conflicting identities).
Low Resonance — Can't hold full names… except in rare cases like Hollows.
5. Hollows
Rare individuals with low resonance that acts like an empty space.
Can't bind full names, but can stack many frays without immediate rejection.
Can combine frays from different sources into hybrid abilities that normal weavers can't create.
Risk: Without stabilizing them, too many frays cause Fragment Bleed (personality distortion from absorbed memories).
6. Anchors & Ink of Intent
Anchors: Items or mental techniques used to stabilize a bound name or fray inside the user.
Ink of Intent: A mix of the user's blood and special pigment used to inscribe a glyph of purpose on a token, locking the name to a specific function.
7. Paths of Name Weaving
Namekeepers — Law enforcers who protect registered names and punish theft.
Loom-Keepers — Healers and archivists who restore or repair damaged names.
Fray-Binders — Scavengers who hunt battlefields for unclaimed fragments.
Hollows — Wildcards who combine fragments creatively but dangerously.
8. Progression
Users grow stronger by:
Increasing Weight — Acquiring more powerful names/frays.
Lattice Attunement — Deepening connection to the Lattice for faster, more complex weaves.
Intent Refinement — Defining clearer purposes for each bound name, improving reliability and potency.