Karmastry

Note: This page is for Karmastry in general. For the variations, please visit their pages.
The ancient art of karmastry bends the laws of the universe, granting people superhuman abilities and the power to perform incredible feats.
==Overview==
Karmastry is the name given to the various methods of researching and interacting with the Great Machine and the Gears of Destiny it is comprised of. These techniques can range from researching how the Great Machine works and developing sciences to creating pocket dimensions and warping reality.
However, such power comes with serious risk of "payback," the Great Machine's way of counteracting the actions of karmastry usage. Evading payback is the goal of karmastry users, and earned them the name, "Escape Artists."
Escape Artists channel karma through their torus. Without these golden rings, karmastry is impossible to perform.
== How Does Karmastry Work? ==
Centuries before the narrative of Flux Destiny unfolds, an ancient philosopher proposed that the world and its inhabitants were interconnected by an invisible, divine mechanism designed to hold all accountable for their actions. Initially dismissed as fantasy, this theory now underpins the universe of Flux Destiny, where the Great Machine, a cosmic network of Gears of Destiny, orchestrates cause and effect, shaping reality itself.
This network, powered by the karma generated by human activities, drives the physical changes known as "destiny." Karmastry emerges as the art of harnessing this system, granting individuals the power to perform wonders that defy the natural order, from controlling weather to creating new life forms and altering the laws of physics. It grants human society with what appears to be supernatural abilities, offering limitless possibilities to those skilled in its use.
==History==
===Origins===
The art of karmastry originated from the lost civilization of the Mu Empire. Once a titan of power and culture, Mu's empire spanned a vast continent and its surrounding archipelagos. It was here, nearly two millennia ago, that the art of karmastry was first mastered, setting the foundation for the world's technological and magical advancements that are enjoyed in the present day 1990's.
For centuries, under what's known as the "Great Mu Stasis," Mu wielded exclusive control over karmastry, guarding its secrets zealously to prevent misuse. However, the isolationist empire faced a formidable challenge with the rise of the nation of Fortuna in 1727 A.C. In Fortuna, defectors from Mu and dissidents from various nations unraveled the mysteries of karmastry. This breakthrough allowed Fortuna to democratize karmastry for the entire world, marking the dawn of a new era and the beginning of modern technological civilization.
=== The Great Mu Cataclysm ===
The Mu Empire met its sudden demise in 1799 A.C. during the Great Mu Cataclysm, an event of unimaginable devastation that claimed millions of lives and radically shifted the balance of political power on Earth. Mu, once a global superpower and the cradle of karmastry, was lost to the depths of the Astral Ocean when the entire continent violently broke apart, leaving only its scattered descendants across the globe. In modern day Fortuna, large communities of descendants of Mu's survivors strive to preserve their heritage, even as the world moves towards an era where the mastery of karmastry has become big business.
The legacy of Mu (referred to in contemporary times as The Sunken Empire), shrouded in mystery and loss, continues to echo through the ages, its unraveling deeply intertwined with Hugo, Marco, and Lucky's journey in the Flux Destiny mainline series. This quest not only seeks to shed light on the cataclysmic events that led to Mu's downfall but also explores the impact of its loss on the world and the true nature of karmastry.
===Modern Day===
The art of karmastry has evolved into a cornerstone of modern society, permeating every facet of life around the globe. Today, it powers technologies, heals the sick, and even shapes the entertainment industry, transforming the once mystical practice into an integral part of daily existence. Governed by strict regulations to prevent misuse, karmastry's boundless potential continues to inspire innovation and wonder, making the impossible commonplace in a world where imagination and reality converge.
Today, karmastry is not only widely recognized but has elevated Escape Artists to celebrity status worldwide. These talented individuals wield karmastry with such flair and skill that they've captured the public's imagination, turning them into revered icons. Their ability to bend reality and create awe-inspiring feats has made them household names, celebrated for their contributions to society and culture. In this era, being an Escape Artist is synonymous with being a star, as their exploits and achievements are followed and admired by fans across the globe.
==Training==
Training in karmastry typically requires enrollment in specialized academies, such as the renowned Wolfgang Academy in Andromeda, Fortuna's capital. These institutions are dedicated to refining the skills of aspiring Escape Artists, offering comprehensive programs that cover the theoretical and practical aspects of karma manipulation. Students are immersed in a rigorous curriculum that spans from basic karma control to advanced techniques, preparing them for the challenges of wielding such power. These schools, ranging from public to prestigious private institutions, play a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of Escape Artists, ensuring they're equipped to harness karmastry responsibly and creatively.
==Subclasses==
There are five unique areas of karmastry specialization, each with their own set of specializations and skills, not counting the unique form of Ink Fighting. Click the links below to learn more.
*Creative Karmastry: Used by truly creative Escape Artists to make wonderful miniature worlds within flux destinies.
*Clockwork Karmastry: Manipulates fundamental forces, engineering the impossible by bending the rules of physics and reality.
*Bio Karmastry: Used by Escape Artists who specialize in healing living things, as well as creating new, fantastical ones.
*Machine Karmastry: Designs and animates advanced machinery, intertwining mechanics with karma for innovations beyond conventional tech, including Clockrobotics.
*Quantum Karmastry: Arguably the most dangerous form of karmastry, the few Escape Artists who focus on it are to be carefully watched.
*Ink Fighting: Unique among the types of karmastry, Ink fighting is a popular martial art that employs karma-infused tattoos called “sigils” to grant the fighter extraordinary abilities in combat.
== The 3 Rules of Karmastry ==
The 3 Rules of Karmastry, as established by The Great Escape Artist Society (GEARS) and enforced by law throughout Fortuna through the National Karmastry Authority (NKA), serve as the cornerstone of ethical and responsible karmastry practice. Given Fortuna's role as the contemporary leader in the field of karmastry, these guidelines have been adopted, in various forms, by many other nations. They aim to ensure that the immense power of karmastry is used wisely, balancing innovation with the imperative to avoid adverse consequences. These rules not only govern the use of karmastry within Fortuna but also set a global standard for its practice.
=== 1. What goes around, comes around. ===
As a karmastry student, you're taught early on that every action has a reaction. This rule is drilled into us as a practical guideline: the more you push the limits with your karmastry, the more intense the payback will be. It’s not about morality; it’s about understanding the balance of power and consequence.
=== 2. Outsmart, Don't Outfight ===
Dealing with payback demands cunning over brute force. Karmastry academies advocate for clever evasion of the universe's reprisals, promoting the conservation of energy and the art of strategic avoidance over direct confrontation. It's about being smart and staying one step ahead of the consequences.
=== 3. Break Limits, Not Laws ===
Fortuna champions the pursuit of innovation within karmastry, yet always within the framework of national karmastry laws. This guideline encourages pushing the envelope of what karmastry can achieve while remaining mindful of legal constraints. It underscores the importance of creativity that adheres to the law, blending ambition with respect for societal rules.
== Can You Do Anything with Karmastry? ==
While karmastry provides its users with extraordinary abilities to manipulate karma and influence reality, it is not without significant limitations. Theoretically, karmastry could allow an Escape Artist to accomplish nearly anything—within reason. However, two critical factors prevent it from being overpowered: payback and the vast amount of karma required for large-scale manipulations. 
=== The Role of Payback   ===
Payback serves as a built-in check on karmastry. As an Escape Artist channels larger amounts of karma or attempts to create significant alterations to the universe (for example, creating a star), the risk of payback increases exponentially. This cosmic countermeasure ensures that extreme acts of karmastry are either heavily restricted or outright impossible due to the devastating consequences that come with triggering payback. The more an artist tries to bend or break the natural order, the more they risk suffering catastrophic payback long before their goal is achieved.
=== Karma Requirements   ===
Additionally, the amount of karma needed for grand manipulations is often more than any single person or even group can safely siphon. For example, creating a star or altering entire planetary systems would require so much karma that the process would dry up vast resources—likely triggering payback well before the energy could be gathered. Theoretically, if an an Escape Artist could amass that much karma, they might still be undone by the universe's natural defenses.
=== Ongoing Research and Theories ===
The limits of karmastry are still being studied and theorized by scholars, scientists, and practitioners. As karmastry is continually evolving, new methods and breakthroughs could reveal ways to push the boundaries further. However, as it stands, the balance between power and consequence ensures that karmastry is constrained by the natural order of the universe, and payback serves as a necessary safeguard against reckless manipulation.
== Limitations of Karmastry ==
Karmastry, while a powerful tool for shaping reality, operates within strict boundaries to maintain the universe's balance. This section explores the limitations on food, money, biological manipulations, and the creation of life, providing a comprehensive understanding of karmastry's ethical and practical constraints.
=== Impermanence Outside Flux Destinies ===
Objects or elements shaped by karmastry outside flux destinies face the universe's correcting force—payback undertow. This invisible hand undoes creations, ensuring they fade away, upholding the universe's balance by enforcing natural laws and preserving the continuity of cause and effect.
=== Food and Nutrition ===
Food created with karmastry, especially within flux destinies, replicates the sensory experience—taste, smell, texture—but lacks nutritional value. Consuming a sandwich or drinking water conjured within a flux destiny satisfies the senses but not the body's nutritional needs. Moreover, anything consumed within a flux destiny that doesn't exist in the physical universe cannot sustain or nourish the body. Such creations are akin to mirages: present in appearance and sensation but devoid of substance.
=== Monetary Items and Valuables ===
The creation of money, gold, precious gems, and metals through karmastry faces strict practical and legal limitations. Inside flux destinies, these treasures can seem real and lasting, but they can't hold their form or value in the real world, wiped away by the universe's payback undertow. It's a natural check against economic chaos, ensuring these creations don't disrupt the broader economy. 
Creating such items, real or within flux destinies, isn't just impractical; it's illegal. Countries across Earth, including Fortuna, have laws against using karmastry for counterfeit, with the National Karmastry Authority taking a hard stance on anyone caught in the act. It's a serious misuse of a powerful art, treated with the gravity it deserves.
=== Medical and Biological Limitations ===
Karmastry has its place in the medical world, aiding in healing wounds and fixing bones, but it hits a limit with serious, terminal illnesses like cancer. Attempting such a cure risks severe payback, a stark reminder of karmastry's limitations. It's a tool that supports traditional medicine, not a miraculous cure-all. While it can enhance medical devices, the creation of artificial organs or the resurrection of the dead is firmly out of reach, ensuring karmastry complements rather than replaces medical science.
=== Cosplay Karmastry ===
Cosplay Karmastry (a subset of Bio Karmastry) lets people transform their appearance into other animals, mythical beings, or even other people. It's a power that sparks debate across the world. In many places, including Fortuna, it's outright banned because of the risk it poses, like impersonation or escaping justice. On the flip side, the entire nation of Paragon Supremacy doesn't just allow it; they celebrate it as a deep part of their culture. How they avoid payback's harsh backlash remains their secret, shrouded in mystery. This sharp divide shows how differently societies view the ethical lines of using karmastry.
=== The Limits of Creating Life ===
Karmastry can't create actual life. Sure, it might help plants grow faster or heal animals, but don't expect it to conjure up a new pet or bring people into existence. What it can do, especially inside flux destinies, is make life-like forms that seem real but aren't. They're more like sophisticated holograms—impressive, but not alive. This is why, no matter how advanced, these creations can't leave their flux destiny or become truly sentient.
=== On Resurrection and the Finality of Death ===
In the world of Flux Destiny, death is final. No karmastry magic can change that. Once someone's time is up, their connection to the universe's gears is too delicate to mess with. This rule keeps the story real and grounded, making sure that every character's life (and death) counts. Trying to cheat death with karmastry? Forget about it. It's off-limits, maintaining a clear line between the living world and whatever comes next.
=== Time Travel ===
In the universe of Flux Destiny, backward time travel is impossible. The rules of karmastry strictly forbid any attempt to reverse time, as such actions would undermine one of the core principles of the world—consequences. The importance of character decisions and the permanence of those decisions form the backbone of the universe’s moral structure. Allowing time travel would erase the impact of choices, turning the narrative into a series of "what ifs" that would ultimately feel meaningless.
That being said, limited temporal effects are achievable through karmastry. Escape Artists can manipulate time in small, fleeting ways, such as slowing it down or speeding it up—though not by years, only by relative moments, like seconds or minutes. However, even these small manipulations come with significant risks of karmic payback.
This concept of consequence means that resurrection and time travel are non-existent in the Flux Destiny universe. There are no easy ways to undo major life events. Decisions carry weight, and once something happens—whether it’s a death, a failure, or a hard choice—it cannot be simply reversed.
==Known Users==
* Hugo Wandschneider
* Marco Mendoza
* Lucky
* Kazuo Kazuhara
* Quentin Questly, GEARS (a.k.a. One-Hit-Wonder)
* Rafael Mendoza (Ink Fighter and Ink Artist)
* Felix Wandschneider (Ink Fighter)
==Trivia==
* Karmastry is the unique magic system created and developed by creator Chris Moujaes specifically for the Flux Destiny universe.
==Gallery==
Category:Karmastry