Monument Universe

The Monument Universe is the Universe or Reality in which the Monument series of stories take place.

## The Universe

The Monument Universe mostly consists of Earth and follows a history close to reality's with slight alterations. Other planets and Galaxies exist though the narrative rarely mentions them as all planets mentioned so far are barren of life and uncolonized by humanity.

Unlike Shingle Springs, the Monument universe has no known gods nor powers acquired in a way similar to Demis. In the Monument universe, powers are achieved by contracts and symbiosis of creatures known as 'Void Kin'. People who form these bonds in order to gain supernatural powers are known as "Contractors" with their partner referred to as a 'Contract', 'Patron', 'Void Kin' or in some instances just 'Power'. These powers are, in some instances given by other means such as the meteorite in later stories but follow basic rules.

### Contractor Powers

Contractors gain their powers through a symbiosis of themselves and a Void Kin, however, the means through which the contract is sealed is highly variable. Though there are outliers these are the primary ways in which a power is acquired;

1. The 'traditional' method involves the contractor or the Void Kin seeking out the other party and forming a consensual contract with them. The Void Kin maintains personality and can be manifested by the Contractor physically.
2. Some Void Kin or powers are so innately drawn to a person that they forcibly bond with them. For being so willingly vulnerable to them, the Void Kin renders all autonomy to the contractor meaning they likely have no personality and cannot act themselves.

In instances of a contractor acquiring the power through method **1,** there can be a **control ratio**; a way of measuring how much control either party have in the contract. A Control Ratio is always written as **Contractor : Void Kin.** The ratio is determined by the mental prowess of the Contractor against the power of the Void Kin.

* If the **Contractor** has a **low** control ratio then it is likely that the **Void Kin** is planning to use them as a vessel to return to the real world, killing them at 0:100 control. They can do so by ordering the Contractor to act on their behalf or by mentally witling away their remaining resolve. The **Void Kin** is likely to have a very strong personality, a lot of autonomy and may manifest itself often.
* If the **Contractor** and the **Void Kin** have an equal control ratio, it is likely that the **Contractor** and the **Void Kin** fundamentally agree or are likeminded enough that neither party feel the need to exert control over the other. The Void Kin likely has a personality but might might not manifest itself often.
* If the **Contractor** has a **high** control ratio over the **Void Kin** then the Void Kin will likely have little to no personality and will be extremely subservient to its **Contractor**. This is common in weaker **Void Kin**, they likely can only manifest themselves physically and are not able to communicate or fight beyond allowing their contractor to use their power.

Due to the **Control Ratio**, Contractors cannot have more than **one** contract at a time. Most **Void Kin** don't like to have to compete for a vessel with other **Void Kin** but even if they did, they usually team up and kill the **Contractor** once they are able to reach the physical world.