Datascape Walkthrough

[Game Master]

Datascape Information Directory
[ Data and Commands | Identity Disks and Permissions ]
[ Memory and RAM | Glitches and Bug Blox ]

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The Datascape is one of the five realms that exists within the Mirage Hearts Universe. It functions in a much different manner than either the Realm of Light or the Realm of Darkness, both of which are material plans. It stands as a unique place, essentially being the imaginings and dreams of a computer Network not entirely unlike the Realm of Sleep. The Datascape is a world of Information, not material or metaphysical existence. As such, the most effective abilities here are those that interact with and act directly upon that information- something Magic and Supernatural Abilities are incapable of. While Magic and Supernatural abilities can be used to great effect within this world, neither thing is native to it.

The Datascape is hosted through two servers, with both being located in Radiant Garden as a part of the Master Terminal. These two servers manifest as Space Paranoids and The Grid within the Datascape. Other worlds within the Datascape are connected and supported through these servers, and make up the rest of the Datascape. The Datascape is overseen by one of the Denizens of it, called the Master Control Program, or MCP. The MCP is responsible for system upkeep, while the rest of the standard residents- Programs- contribute to a diverse but ordered system.

The Datascape can be accessed primarily through the terminals that interface to it. The Master Terminal is located in Radiant Garden, while a secret terminal is located in the main ship of the Deep Space Fleet. Twilight Town also has a Terminal, although it was majorly damaged during a battle and has not yet been repaired to a functional state. Disney Town too had a Terminal, although it was claimed by Darkness and absorbed into the End of the World. Its Terminal has been disconnected from the Datascape, though there is one more secret Terminal on the End of the World hidden within the World Terminus, which has not.

Beings utilizing power from the Realm of Sleep and the Realm of Nothing can also enter the Datascape by their own power through portals. However, this can create certain complications. Additionally, it is possible to hack into the Datascape from another location, though to physical enter it would require the appropriate technology.

[Game Master]

Datascape Information Directory
[ The Datascape | Identity Disks and Permissions ]
[ Memory and RAM | Glitches and Bug Blox ]

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As a world comprised of Information, the Datascape's denizens are not capable of using Magic or Supernatural abilities- both of these things would suggest the information in the world account for them, which it does not. While both types of abilities can be used in the Datascape, because of their metaphysical nature they are just anomalies within the code. But, the residents of the Datascape have a specialized manner in which they can interact with the world. This is a Datascape Exclusive, non-magical, non-supernatural Element known as Data.

Data is the element that allows residents of the Datascape to affect the information that makes up their world, themselves, and each other. These are known as Commands. A Command is a direct and simple ability that varies in scope and power. It makes a change in the coding of an object within the Datascape and the individual's AOR, or authorized operational range. A rock may become bigger or smaller, heavier or lighter, it may catch on fire, it may explode, and all variety of other things due to simple change of information.

There are failsafes in order to ensure Commands aren't misused. Commands can affect others in the datascape directly, and as such anything with an Identity Disk can be targeted by a Command despite whatever immunities to targeted abilities may be present in its skill tree. This is because Commands act upon an Identity Disk, either directly or through the physical shape of the Program or User. However, another Identity Disk can not be accessed unless physical contact with that Disk is made by the person attempting to hack or change it. Because of the nature of the Datascape, this can even be done to remove immunities from a person with the right Command.

Other fail safes prevent commands from being over complex so that they can not do lasting damage to the Datascape, and the aforementioned AOR which prevents anything without the proper permissions from using commands outside a given zone of space. In some cases, the MCP may completely revoke access to commands. One thing that does occur despite these, though irregularly, are Glitches. When two Commands of equal permissions act upon the same object or individual, it then becomes Glitched.

Programs and ISOs can use Data naturally, and even if stripped of their Identity Disks can do so as long as the Disc itself remains unaltered. Users can not use Data as fluidly, and can not use any Commands if they lose their Identity Disc. While Programs get more Commands from their Permissions, Users must borrow Commands from Programs and ISOs.

[Game Master]

Datascape Information Directory
[ The Datascape | Data and Commands ]
[ Memory and RAM | Glitches and Bug Blox ]

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When the MCP of the Datascape means to recognize, assign, and process commands and permissions, it does so through Identity Discs. All entities that reside in the Datascape legally are equipped with these by default, and are unable to remove or destroy them through normally available methods. The Identity Discs contain the source code for the entities that wear them, and getting access to another person's Identity Disc can enable all kinds havoc upon that individual. Commands that can be used directly upon the Identity Disc can steal or revoke permissions, alter the bearer's appearance, and even hack that individual. While Programs can be hacked and their behaviors changed, Users that experience this are capable of shaking it off faster and sooner due to the more complex nature of their minds. These Identity Discs, while obvious vulnerabilities are also powerful weapons, and can be utilized to great effect in combat.

Permissions are assigned based on the MCP's assessment. There are four pre-existing named permissions below the MCP, and while the MCP is capable of creating special permissions, even those special permissions are just subsets of the four that are already present. The permissions, and their benefits, are as follows:

1. Guest/Non-essential- Users who have just entered the Datascape or Programs of no note or consequence to the MCP are in this category. This makes up the largest collection of individuals in the Datascape. These programs are allotted a maximum of 200 RAM and 400 Memory. Their AoR is only a fifty-foot radius around their place in the Datascape.
   
   
2. Sentry- Those with Sentry-level permissions usually have orange outlines. They function as the Police and Military of the Datascape, assessing and dealing with threats as well as protecting Guests and Non-essentials. These programs have 300 RAM and 600 Memory. Their AoR is increased further to a one-hundred feet radius around them within the Datascape.
   
   
3. MOD- MODs, short for Moderators, those with these permissions are in-charge of large swaths of the people at Sentry-level . They function as the civic servants and overseers, essentially running and up-keeping different areas of the Data Worlds and watching for anomalies, command conflicts, and glitches that the Sentries may miss. They have 400 RAM and 800 Memory. They also have an AoR of the entirety of whatever zone of a Data World they are in.
   
   
4. ADMIN- ADMINs, short for Administrators, have the highest permissions next to the MCP itself. These are usually in charge of maintaining the servers and overseeing the the complete well-being of individual Data Worlds. They have 500 RAM and 1000 Memory, with an AoR that covers the entirety of the Data World they are present within.
   

The MCP can change and assign who has this permissions at will. At the highest-ranked program, the only way to usurp the MCP is to delete it and take its place. There can only be one MCP at a time, and without an MCP the Datascape will fall into disarray and chaos as its ordered system breaks down. While this may not be readily apparent within the outlying Data Worlds for months, it will be readily visible within both Space Paranoids and The Grid in the span of a few hours. This is because while the MCP does not directly control the Datascape, its presence is constantly required so that everything stays synchronized and orderly.

The MCP is in charge of overseeing the entire Datascape, and processes immense amounts of information at once. It is Networked into every single program with an Identity Disc that exists in the Datascape, but this does not make it Omnipotent or Omniscient. The MCP does however have access to all existing commands in the Datascape, but due to the immense amount of strain from processing so much information at once nearly all of the time, it only has 2000 RAM and 4000 Memory to use at any given moment to utilize for itself.

[Game Master]

Datascape Information Directory
[ The Datascape | Data and Commands ]
[ Identity Disks and Permissions | Glitches and Bug Blox ]

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Since the Datascape is a rather unique world situated inside a computer, it has two resources exclusive to itself that can not be found outside of the Datascape: these resources are Memory, and RAM.

Memory functions as an on-the-fly-variant of Megabytes from RE:Coded. While programs and ISOs may slot as many Commands as they have the slots for, the Commands they use are determined by Memory. Each Command costs a specific amount of Memory based on scope and power when first used and when the Memory runs out, no new Commands can be used. Instead, only Commands that have been utilized in the topic before Memory ran out can be used from that point forward.

RAM is a resource similar to MP. However, unlike Memory is it not spent but invested. Each time a Command is used, a certain amount of RAM is dedicated to that Command for its duration, whatever that may be. When that Command is terminated, the RAM is returned to the individual using it, which frees up RAM to use other Commands.

While it is possible to extend RAM and Memory through skills, this is not recommended. The MCP would be justified in taking your hijacking of resources as an illegal action, and is fully capable of revoking your permissions entirely without making physical contact with you. This would place you lower than Guest/Non-essential, and trigger Sentries and the like to pursue and apprehend you for deresolution, deletion, or most usually in the case of Users a ban.

[Game Master]

Datascape Information Directory
[ The Datascape | Data and Commands ]
[ Identity Disks and Permissions | Memory and RAM ]

---

It was briefly mentioned above that when two Commands of equivalent permissions conflict, they not only will destabilize their target but eventually cause it to Glitch. In this specific manner of causing a Glitch, the two equivalent Commands must target and act on the object in question at the same time. The result is that the information gets muddled because it doesn't know what change to apply, and so it tries to apply both of them. Common to this are strange changes in visuals reflecting both commands being executed but not completed. However, if one Command affects and object, and then another Command affects that same object, the newest Command is the one that is applied.

This is not the only way to Glitch something out, however. Since the Datascape is founded on information, a Glitch can be provoked through only one Command that confuses that Information. While it is more common for objects to become glitched Programs, Users, and ISOs all are susceptible to being glitched as well. A standard way to do this is by simultaneously issuing two Commands against them at once, though most other ways involve making physical contact with their Identity Disc.

When anything exceeds its allotted Memory by utilizing too many different Commands within a topic, or when they exceed their RAM by overusing their Commands, they Glitch. All currently active Commands are terminated, though the utilized Command would still go through. It simply wouldn't last after use. While Glitched, the afflicted individual is rendered immobile for a post while they Reboot. A person can also be Glitched through Commands that Glitch, but only if they are used while making physical contact with that Identity Disc.

Anything without an Identity Disc that is glitched remains glitched for longer than a post. They remain glitched as long as whatever conflict in information is creating the Glitch is rectified. However, if they stay glitched for over one minute (ten posts) they will become Bug Blox. Objects in the environment and even Viruses that get glitched out turn into Bug Blox, which are black cubes of corrupted and unreadable information. When Bug Blox are destroyed, their information is sent to the MCP to sort and resolve. However, it is ill-advised to reinsert that information until all Bug Blox are cleared, that way all missing and corrupted information in the area can be properly assessed.

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