Payback

In Flux Destiny, using karmastry to mess with the universe isn't without risks; it comes with literal payback, the universe's way of hitting back, hard, at those who mess with the cosmic order. 
Governed by the Great Machine, which links everything in existence, this concept is simple yet deep: every action has its reaction, or as karma puts it, "what goes around, comes around."  
Payback varies in intensity, from minor tweaks that the universe makes to set things right, to creating dangerous "phantoms" if you've really pushed the limits. These are the universe's checks and balances, ensuring no one can mess with the natural order too much without facing consequences.  
This balancing act, enforced by the Great Machine, is crucial in keeping everything in check and maintaining the universe's integrity. The threat of severe payback keeps karmastry users — called Escape Artists for their skill in evading payback— in line, making them think twice before using their powers, blending the thrill of power with the fear of its consequences. This tension is a key theme in Flux Destiny, shaping the story and its characters as they navigate the delicate art of karma manipulation.
== Types of Payback ==
Dabble in karmastry, and you’ll likely face three flavors of payback: malfunctions, for when things just stop working right; payback phantoms, mischievous critters and monsters that love to cause chaos; and environmental payback, when nature itself seems to turn against you. Each ups the ante on the cosmic slap for messing with destiny.
=== The Payback Undertow ===
Subtle consequences that occur when karmastry slightly disrupts the natural order. These are non-physical effects that typically manifest as environmental changes or technical malfunctions.    
Manifestations may include anomalies like flickering lights, unexplained sounds, or minor gear malfunctions, often proportional to the scale and intensity of the karmastry performed. These are seen as gentle reminders from the Great Machine of the consequences of altering destiny. The payback undertow restores any creations or changes to the real world as its primary effect.       
=== Payback Phantoms ===
More substantial and aggressive responses from the Great Machine to significant karmastry manipulations. These are physical entities that directly confront the source of imbalance.   
==== Minor Payback Phantoms     ====
* Blobbies: Amorphous, blob-like creatures that might cause small malfunctions or minor environmental disturbances.  
* Sprites: Small, swift, and mischievous entities that cause minor annoyances or distractions.
* Imps: Slightly more troublesome than Sprites, capable of causing minor but more direct interference. 
* Pucks: Tricky and elusive, they represent a slightly higher level of payback, creating more persistent annoyances.  
==== Moderate Payback Phantoms     ====
* Gremlins: Larger and more capable of causing significant malfunctions or disruptions, Gremlins represent a noticeable step up in the payback scale.
* Goblins: Stronger and more aggressive than Gremlins, they can lead to more substantial environmental effects or direct hindrances.  
==== Severe Payback Phantoms ====
* Golems: Large and formidable, Golems pose a serious threat, capable of causing major disturbances, significant environmental changes, or direct physical challenges.
==== Catastrophic Payback Phantoms   ====
* Titans: The most massive and powerful of the Payback Phantoms, representing the most extreme level of payback. Titans are capable of causing catastrophic consequences, potentially threatening large areas or large groups of people. They represent the fury of the Great Machine and can't be stopped with any conventional ways except to wait for payback cooldown.
== Understanding Payback in Flux Destiny ==
Payback is an intrinsic mechanism within the Flux Destiny universe, designed to uphold the balance enforced by the Great Machine. It responds to karmastry actions based on their scale, complexity, and potential impact on the cosmic equilibrium. Below are guidelines on how payback functions:
# Determining Payback and the Payback Undertow: Payback intensity is directly linked to the karmastry action's nature and scale. For minor actions, such as creating small objects or using karmastry for personal convenience, the universe often employs the Payback Undertow. This subtle form of payback gradually resets minor alterations, ensuring that simple creations or changes do not have lasting impacts outside flux destinies. Such actions typically do not provoke severe consequences, allowing for everyday utility of karmastry within reasonable bounds.
# Impact on Regular Karmastry Use: Routine applications of karmastry, like generating tools for mobility (e.g., conjuring chains for a grappling hook, creating light), usually fall into the low-risk category, triggering minimal to no payback when performed with moderation. The Payback Undertow might simply dissolve these conjurations over time, or require a slight increase in karma for their creation, but won't significantly hinder their use. This demonstrates that while the universe gently corrects these minor imbalances, the use of karmastry in perspective to the size of the whole universe permits a degree of freedom for personal enhancement and creativity within the realm of karmastry.
# Accumulation of Payback: Engaging in extensive or aggressive karmastry actions without mindfulness can lead to an accumulation of payback. The universe's response grows progressively harsher with the frequency and magnitude of such actions, underscoring the necessity for responsible karma manipulation.
== Dealing with Payback in Flux Destiny ==
=== Mastering the Art ===
Escape Artists, undergo rigorous training to navigate payback. Central to their training is understanding and managing the many different forms and patterns of payback. Mastery over karmastry is less about wielding vast power and more about the nuanced control and strategic use of this power to mitigate adverse reactions. Training encompasses respect for the Great Machine's rules, recognizing payback's various forms, and adopting controlled karmastry practices. Escape Artists learn early on that recovery and adaptation are key, viewing each encounter with payback as a learning opportunity to refine their skills.  
=== Strategic Preparedness   ===
Anticipation and preparation are crucial for Escape Artists facing potential payback. By predicting the consequences of their actions, they can implement defenses or countermeasures, especially when engaging in high-risk karmastry. This foresight allows for a proactive stance against the universe's checks and balances, minimizing the impact and ensuring their endeavors remain within the cosmic order.  
=== Engagement Tactics   ===
When payback materializes, some Escape Artists might choose direct confrontation, using physical attacks, relying on the support of allies, or even deploying combat karmastry. Understanding payback manifestations' weaknesses or leveraging the environment for mitigation are part of their tactical arsenal. Additionally, advanced practitioners can ingeniously incorporate payback into their combat strategies, using it as a distraction or obstacle against opponents or even synchronizing their actions with its emergence to gain an upper hand.  
=== Evasion and Containment   ===
In situations where direct confrontation with payback is too dangerous, containment or evasion becomes necessary. Escape Artists may deploy karmastry to suppress or contain payback, buying time for escape or for the payback to dissipate. Sometimes, the only option is to retreat, particularly when confronted with overwhelming payback that defies direct confrontation or containment, adhering to the strategy of living to fight another day under the universe's ever-watchful eye.
== Payback Cool-Down ==
Payback Cool-Down in Flux Destiny refers to a critical recovery period that follows the manifestation of payback, specifically after engaging in intense karmastry. This is a time when the karmic balance is being restored, and the universe's equilibrium is realigning itself after being disrupted by significant karma manipulation.
* Function: During the cool-down, the universe gradually neutralizes the effects of payback. For Escape Artists, this means a temporary pause in using their karmastry powers, allowing the consequences of their actions to fully dissipate. This period is essential for preventing a continuous loop of karma manipulation and escalating payback, which could otherwise spiral out of control.
*Importance in Narrative: The cool-down phase serves as a natural check on the characters' powers, ensuring that they use their abilities responsibly and with awareness of their limitations. It adds a strategic element to the narrative, as characters must plan their actions considering the cool-down's timing and duration. It also provides moments for characters to reflect on their actions, the consequences they've faced, and the lessons learned from their encounters with payback.
*Duration and Variation: The length of the Payback Cool-Down varies depending on the intensity of the karmastry used and the scale of the payback incurred. More significant or reckless uses of karmastry result in longer cool-down periods, during which the Escape Artist must refrain from further karma manipulation until the balance is restored.
== Karmastry Performed in the Real World vs. Flux Destinies ==
It's crucial to note in Flux Destiny that the concept of payback is exclusive to the real world; within the self-contained realms of flux destinies, the rules are different. These pocket worlds, crafted on canvases and contained within fishbowls, operate independently of the Great Machine's direct influence. Because they are not integrated into the Great Machine's karmic rotation, they do not provoke payback. This allows Escape Artists to fully explore the breadth of their karmastry without the looming threat of cosmic repercussions.  
However, the freedom found within flux destinies comes with a caveat: these worlds require a constant infusion of good karma to sustain them. Absent this vital energy, a flux destiny is at risk of collapse, as it lacks the self-sustaining balance of the Great Machine.
==Intentional Payback==
(TBA)
Category:Karmastry