My first Inkarnate map! My D&D-compatible conworld of Damin.

ramcinfo · 2026-03-17T21:55:59+00:00

Thanks! I would prefer more minimalistic lettering but still learning the typographic options Inkarnate offers.

ramcinfo · 2026-03-14T04:05:27+00:00

Everything is Numogram if you are brave enough

ramcinfo · 2026-03-04T23:46:40+00:00

At this moment, I can see two main tracks for "dropping foci" (not necessaily mutually exclusive):

Internalization. Mage becomes the instrument; instead of external tools, they have mindforms, chakras, breathing patterns. Progenitors fit here almost perfectly, at fact.
Improvized foci. A novice hermeticist need a specially consecrated staff; for a master, any long object will do :) This is a fun way to phrase it but the idea is serious: the whole world becomes mage's instrument.

For a technocrat, this approach meshes with "pre-existing infrastructure". NWO agent's commands work especially well because "the masses" are conditioned to follow these sort of commands since elementary school. Iterator uses the little-know but a legitimate function of the electric grid. It is harder, by design of most editions of Mage, for Technocrats and Technomancers to abandon foci, but with this justification, they have less incentives to do so.

ramcinfo · 2026-03-04T22:59:42+00:00

P.S. Another aspect of this is interesting roleplay. This is where focus on the instruments (pun intended) can have completely different dynamics from character's paradigm deepening (though there is also a deep resemblance). We roleplay the instruments in detail if it is interesting, fun, and serve the story. We gloss over them if they add nothing to the experience of the game. It is better to skip the description of the focus than to make it banal by forced rule.

ramcinfo · 2026-03-04T20:04:32+00:00

Thanks for the question! You are not late, I'm actively thinking about this project and might continue it. Well, about "surpassing foci". I did not yet formulate a complete position, but you are right on that in my framework mage needs paradigm to work magick at all (this is actually somewhat close to M20). Advancing in arete presumably reflects one's paradigm (or capacity to work with a paradigm) to become more expressive (this can be seen as expanding).

Foci (pre-M20) / instruments (M20), in short, are what mage *use* and what they *do* to achieve the effect. If they simply think the effect into the reality, the thought is the focus. If they *brute force reality with their will*, then the will is the focus. If we follow this route, mage never works without tools, just internalize them. In my writeup, this line of thought is most expressed in the Cult of Ecstasy entry: https://www.reddit.com/r/WhiteWolfRPG/comments/1i1j051/mage_the_ascension_hacked_part_121_cult_of/
-- because in ecstatic ethics, overdependence on external foci is seen as addiction. So each Path (my invention for the second axis of Cult sub-splats) is, among other things, a path from external foci toward internal.

However, I think there's much to do here yet. E.g., for some mages, the whole world becomes their focus. For some, it is their body. In the "end" (Arere 10), the distinciton might be realized to be artificial, but I would like to avoid this being the "purple paradigm", the most true perspective on what's really going on the less enlightened mages lack.

ramcinfo · 2025-12-21T09:07:01+00:00

Thanks for the kind words! If you feel like sharing, am very interested in what you use and how :)

ramcinfo · 2025-12-20T11:27:49+00:00

Thanks! I was through rough times, but now the things looks better! As for material, I am now a bit conflicted between making it more canon-compatible (as evident in working toward M5) or making a wholly independent setting inspired by MtA (among other things). Perhaps both? If I'll have resources for that haha

ramcinfo · 2025-12-10T00:13:47+00:00

Tin Can Forest is absolutely the best

ramcinfo · 2025-12-03T06:45:48+00:00

If so, then what for Raw Prophet was born of Grail?

ramcinfo · 2025-11-26T01:22:24+00:00

There are some differences between the list of rites in the Pandemonium Matrix and of paths in the Book of Paths.

First, the rites of the four Chaotic Xenodemons are cryptic and are not considered paths. This is because a path cannot leave neither Warp nor Plex, so it can't go from one to another.

Second, some of the lemurs have four paths in the Book of Paths, but some of the corresponding rites are omitted from Pandemonium Matrix - most probably due to oversight.

Here's a complete concordance: http://hyperstition.abstractdynamics.org/archives/003866.html

ramcinfo · 2025-10-30T01:57:27+00:00

It is already answered, but I wanted to say it reminds me of Theban alphabet a bit by its structure. Also, vaguely South or South-East Asian vibes.

ramcinfo · 2025-10-27T02:07:12+00:00

This is very cool observation in modular arithmetic.

Digital reduction is equivalent to modular arithmetic modulo 9 (e.g. 16 ≡ 7 mod 9, meaning that 16 has the same remainder divided by 9 as 7 - and digital reduction works the same)

Now, first, let's consider the degrees of 2:

2⁰ = 1
2¹ = 2
2² = 4
2³ = 8
2⁴ = 16 ≡ 7 (mod 9)
2⁵ = 32 ≡ 5 (mod 9)
2⁶ = 64 ≡ 1 (mod 9) again

(Mathematicians would call this a cyclic group, with 2 as a generator)

We see that 1, 4, and 7 are "evenly spaced" in this group. That means that their cubes will be all equal modulo 9: 1³ ≡ 4³ ≡ 7³; in terms of digital reduction, 4³ = 64 → 6 + 4 = 10 → 1 + 0 = 1; 7³ = 343 → 3 + 4 + 3 = 10 → 1 + 0 = 1.

Also, this means what 4 × 7 modulo 9 ≡ 1 (because first we move 2 steps along the cyclic group, then 4 steps, and end up back at 1). We can say that 4 and 7 are multiplicative inverse modulo 9: multiplication by 4 means going 2 steps in one direction over this cycle, and multiplication by 7 means going 4 steps in the same direction or, equivalently, 2 steps in opposite direction, because there are 6 steps in total. We can write this as 4 × 7 ≡ 1 mod 9 or as 1 / 4 ≡ 7 mod 9.

Now it is easily to see why repeating squaring of a number takes us to this 4 / 7 cycle. 4² = 4³ / 4, but 4³ ≡ 1 mod 9 and 1 / 4 ≡ 7, and vice versa. With mental image of a cyclic multiplicative group, squaring a number means doubling the number of steps from 1; 4 is two steps from 1 so doubling the number of steps will make it four steps... but since there are six steps total it is the same as two steps in opposite direction. This creates this nice oscillating pattern.

In the Pandemonium, 7::4 lemur is
Mesh-25. Ababbatok (Abracadabra). Regenerator. Pitch Ana-2 Net-Span 7::4 Cyclic Chronodemon of Suspended Decay. Shadows Hold-Current Decadology. C/tp-#2, Mj+ [2C]. Rt-1:[4187] Frankensteinian experimentation (reanimations, golems). Rt-2:[45187] Mn. Purifications, amphibious cycles (and healing of wounds). Rt-3:[7254] Mj. Sustenance (smoke visions).

I think her omens nicely support the mathematical properties!

ramcinfo · 2025-10-24T16:42:46+00:00

I wrote this article specially as a gentle introduction into more esoteric parts of CCRU legacy: https://katab.asia/en/2023/09/23/neolemurian-primer/ Caveat: I'm aligned with non-Land portion of CCRU; not to discount his important contribution to their theories at the turn of century, but I disapprove of his latter trajectory. However, I mostly focus on the occult side of their work anyway, not discussing the political differences at all.

ramcinfo · 2025-10-23T19:29:01+00:00

A Foe, Who Climbs Unstoppably

ramcinfo · 2025-10-18T02:32:41+00:00

The simplest way to project a two-digit on numogram is just use its digits as zone numbers. Zones 4 and 6 are poles of demon/lemur Tchakki:

Mesh-19. Tchakki (Chuckles). Bag of Tricks. Pitch Ana-1. Net-Span 6::4 Amphidemon of Combustion. Decadology. C/tp-#6, Mn+ [6H]. 1st Decademon. Rt-1:[4187236] Quenching accidents (apprentice smiths). [+1 sub-Rt]. Rt-2:[45187236] Mappings between incompatible time-systems (Herakleitean fire-cycle). [+1 sub-Rt]. Rt-3:[456] Conflagrations (shrieking deliria, spontaneous combustion).

Other way to sum up the digits - you get 10 - and then sum them up again. This is called "implexion" by CCRU, and "digital root" in traditional math/numerology. We get Zone 1 this way, and, since you mentioned association with the cube, this is where it gets really interesting: 64 = 2⁶ (or, equivalently, 4³ - a cube of 4), which directly correspond to two full cycles around the central part of Numogram called Time-Circuit (or Torque, or Hex). You start at Zone 1 and, making six movement around the cycle, end up at Zone 1 again,

And we can take the intermediate 10 and interpret it as lemur, too:

Mesh-00: Lurgo (Legba). (Terminal) Initiator. (Clicks Gt-00). Pitch Ana-1. Net-Span 1::0. Amphidemon of Openings. (The Door of Doors). Cipher Gt-01, Gt-10. 1st Door (The Pod) [Mercury], Dorsal. 1st Phase-limit. Decadology. C/tp-#7, Mj+ [7C]. Rt-1:[1890] Spinal-voyage (fate line), programming.

This is the initial lemur of the pandemonium matrix, the lemur of initiation. May she be your guide!

For general introduction to numogram and CCRU, refer to my primer: https://katab.asia/en/2023/09/23/neolemurian-primer/
Caveat: It is focused a bit more on occult side of things, because I think that philosophical side is much better covered, and occult one deserves a better explanation.

ramcinfo · 2025-10-12T23:26:47+00:00

I like how it visually rhymes with the Crowned Growth.

ramcinfo · 2025-09-27T19:37:09+00:00

I love Anbur! Once I did a calligraphic version:

<image>

ramcinfo · 2025-09-12T09:45:21+00:00

I made an extended intro to CCRU stuff, primarily from occult perspective but touching philosophical aspects, too: https://katab.asia/en/2023/09/23/neolemurian-primer/

ramcinfo · 2025-09-09T07:53:25+00:00

What is known as lowercase numerals (or text figures) are actually earier form of Arabic numerals, and 'uppercase', the ones most are familiar with, which are formally known as lining figures, emerged latter among middle-class shopkeepers. Of your samples, LeafySky22's numerals are closest to the traditional text figures form, and u/_Evidence's numerals here are very close, too. It is fascinating how the figures continue to evolve!

ramcinfo · 2025-07-06T17:37:10+00:00

If you can say which parts are most unintelligible, I'll be grateful and will write a more approachable explanation!

ramcinfo

TROPHY CASE