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This is stated much more strongly than it is written in Starsight. I think we need to hedge a lot more bets than this currently says.
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LadyLameness (talk | contribs) (This is stated much more strongly than it is written in Starsight. I think we need to hedge a lot more bets than this currently says.) |
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The '''delvers''', sometimes called the '''eyes''', are ancient, extra-dimensional beings that live in the [[nowhere]], the space beyond the world utilized by numerous [[cytonics|cytonic]] abilities.{{book ref|sky1|54}}{{wob ref|12913}}{{book ref|sky2|4}} They can occasionally emerge into the physical space, where they pose major threat to all living beings.{{book ref|sky2|4}}
== Appearance ==
Delvers can be seen by cytonics who attempt to use their powers. Initially, they appear as hundreds of pinpricks of light across a vast blackness, which open to reveal small, white eyes that watch the cytonic.{{book ref|sky1|43}} The effect is often compared the the attention of the entire universe suddenly focusing on the cytonic.{{book ref|sky1|40}} The longer one observes the eyes, the larger they seem to appear.{{book ref|sky1|52}} Perceiving them leaves a person with a sense of cold that persists for hours afterwards.{{book ref|sky1|epilogue}}
The appearance of delver eyes is preceded and accompanied by a pleasant sound, akin to a thousand musical notes playing together in harmony; similar to the sound of FTL communications to cytonics. It grows louder the closer one is to seeing them.{{book ref|sky1|1}}{{book ref|sky1|43}}
=== In physical space ===
The inside of a delver is extremely chaotic, with the particulate cloud in a state of perpetual storm, crippling both vision and communications. Any person that enters the maze will start to hallucinate, seeing passages and objects that aren't there. The hallucinations are different for every person -- as such, they are generally ineffective against groups capable of coordination, or [[dione]] drafts.{{book ref|sky2|43}}
At the center of the maze lies the heart, protected by an illusory membrane. Unlike the rest of the delver, the area immediately surrounding it has atmosphere breathable to air-using species, like humans or diones. A hole leads into the heart proper, which is black on the outside, and utterly white on the inside.{{book ref|sky2|43}} The heart is a place of perfect serenity, free of any disturbance, although cytonic and radio activity forms small holes in its walls, which when seen by cytonics outside the delver form the eyes. The holes are inherently unpleasant to all who perceive them and make distressing sounds.{{book ref|sky2|44}}
The delver mind resides within the heart; while its true shape is uncertain, it seems to take the form of the person who interacts with it.{{book ref|sky2|44}}
The one cytonic technology still widely in use is FTL travel; to maintain it without delvers coming through, Superiority uses [[taynix]], a non-sapient species of cytonic slugs, as a distraction.{{book ref|sky2|34}} However, in the years since the last delver had vanished, places such as Starsight have come to once more rely on wireless communications, posing a major risk when one reemerges and targets them.{{book ref|sky2|42}}
It is unclear how effective many of the safeguards are against delvers. FTL travel and reckless use of AI are known to ''summon'' a delver; however, cytonic and wireless communication may only attract a delvers presence once it has entered the physical universe.
== History ==
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