Conceptual Embodiment

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Conceptual Embodiment
A mass of Void energy, shaped to resemble the form of a human body

Aren't you a fascinating anomaly. Anomalies? Right! Explanations. When consciousness and Void come together, it makes a thing. For example, me! Not nearly as fascinating as you, though.

—Archimedean Yonta

Yeah, we covered Conceptual Embodiment in T.A. [Temporal Axioms]

—Operator

Overview

Conceptual Embodiment is a term used to describe interactions between the Void and a physical, conscious being. When enough Void energy is exposed to strong enough thoughts, emotion, or even memories, it produces a unique reaction. This strange phenomenon breaks the very laws of physics and nature, allowing these exposed thoughts and emotions to take on a physical form within reality itself. Although in a way, due to the fact that every possibility and reality exists within the void, one can see the idea of conceptual embodiment to be a way of having laws in the first place - a way for the unique phenomenon of consciousness to "narrow down" on a subset of concepts to distinguish them from "every other possibility," thereby giving them substance and meaning.

Conceptual Embodiment also allows for a certain degree of resurrection to exist. Through the power of the Void, a being's own thoughts and consciousness can reform into a semi-exact replica of the original being. Not every thought or memory the original host had needs to be used to successfully resurrect them. Only enough to recreate their personality is needed, while the rest is presumably hidden away in the Void, or used to create other Void manifestations. Additionally, it is possible for a being's memories and emotions to split off, essentially creating two differing copies of the original being. One unique case is Archimedean Yonta and Skittergirl, who are two distinct entities formed from the thoughts and emotions of a singular person.

The Holdfasts syndicate is one notable example of resurrection through the Void: They were originally the human crew of the Zariman Ten Zero, and all perished when it was stuck within the Void. Brought back in their old human forms, most of them have succumbed to the Void and transformed into Void Angels, leaving only four of them left. When first encountered, their faces can be seen covered in a metal-like substance, presumably caused by the corrupting influence of the Void.

The idea of distinct realities being separated by alternate choices made by a person can also be thought about as conceptual embodiment. The Strands of Khra, (literally translating to threads of time/timelines) are structures within the greater void that form a chain of cause-and-effect. The direction of cause-and-effect is essentially the direction of flow of time, which suggests that the void between timelines need not be sensible as expected from causality or reality. Thus, the Strands of Khra are structures that are embodied and embedded within the void by the embodiment of the collective choices made by all beings that have consciousness, structures that may not exist without consciousness to choose them. As such, the space between the strands may be the "Misfit Realities" mentioned by Archimedean Yonta. However, the directness of this link between timelines and conceptual embodiment may not be exactly true but rather may stem from the oversimplified explanation by Void in "childish terms."

Known Manifestations & Embodiments

• Void Angels: The final transformation of those who were resurrected from the Zariman accident. When not feeding off of Void energy, they can be found cocooned around the Zariman.
  • Voidplumes: The feathers of Void Angels, Voidplumes, are used by Archimedean Yonta to restore the memories of the Holdfasts.
• Skittergirl: Similar to Lost Spirits, she is conjured from the repressed teenage fears of Archimedean Yonta. Skittergirl can often be encountered during Void Flood missions running around the level and stealing Vitoplast and energy from nearby players.
• Lost Spirits: Spirits of lost children aboard the Zariman. Can be summoned by interacting with glowing Globe Lights aboard the environment. They run around the ship, leading players to the nearest item of interest.
• Thrax Centurions/Thrax Legates: Semi-formed manifestations of Orokin-era  Grineer soldiers. Unlike other Void manifestations, they appear to be skeletal and phase in and out of reality.
• Duviri: A strange kingdom within the Void, manifested by the Drifter from the "Tales of Duviri" storybook by Euleria Entrati, as an escape from the traumatic Zariman accident. Its inhabitants, such as Dominus Thrax, were also manifested by the Drifter.

Examples And Speculation

It is implied that the  Tenno's Void powers are a form of Conceptual Embodiment, although it is only an educated guess by the characters. This may also apply to Warframe powers, since some Warframe abilities are known to have been fueled by the Void, but not necessarily. Further, given the use of abilities by the "beast" in the  Rhino Prime's Codex entry, this likely does not apply to the abilities of Warframes that were designed before transference technology.

One of the most notable examples was documented in  Voruna's Leverian, during the first Void Conjunction on Lua. It is mentioned that during that event, "thoughts took horrifying physical forms" usually from childhood nightmares or adult anxiety. The site was later turned into the Circulus, the holiest Yuvan Temple. It was Voruna's duty to patrol the temple to fight off these manifestations during Continuity rituals. During the beginning of the last Continuity ritual conducted by Executor Tuvul, a horde of manifestations started to gather from the Void, speculated by Drusus to be drawing their power from Tuvul's emotions.

In addition, there is the Void tunnel in the Mirror Defense mission created by the bond of Belric and Rania after they were crystallized by  Citrine's powers. It is theorized that their love for each other creates a temporal tunnel that connects both of their crystals together whenever they are separated. There are also Citrine's Remnants, small crystals that were created by the Void to help fulfill Citrine's last wish of protecting the crystallized lovers.

Within the Void itself, Duviri was inadvertently created by a younger Drifter as a result of their emotions and traumas following the Zariman Ten Zero's Void jump accident. Currently, it is influenced by the ever-changing moods of Dominus Thrax, whose emotions alter the reality of Duviri itself. In reality, Duviri (and by extension its characters, including the ruler Dominus Thrax), was the setting used in an emotional regulation storybook written by Euleria Entrati.

An inbox message by Cavalero regarding Incarnon Genesis implies that the Genesis adapters were formed as a result of his ideas on how to further invigorate weapons.

Gallery

Quinn - A member of The Holdfasts

Thrax Centurion

Void Angel

The Void tunnel in Mirror Defense

Duviri - An entire realm where reality is altered by the emotions of its King

See Also

• Theories of Time