Editing Demesne (section)

== Uses==
[[Others]] who enjoy a demesne and visit or live there, paying tribute to the owner, is one way to gain power using a demesne.<ref name=":2" />

As a practitioner uses their demesne, it will improve as it draws like-minded spirits to it, eventually strengthening the practitioner's magic while they are inside it.<ref name=":2">''As she’s made her place her own, Fionna finds that she can use power more readily in the area. She notes, in a matter of fact way, that simply holding a demesne generates good karma, bettering her position in the world so long as she tends to the space. The problem, however, remains, she isn’t stronger there than she is in the outside world''.<br><br>Having driven away spirits in the course of the challenge, our example case finds that the spirits and beings that remain are conciliatory. How, then, does the practitioner build up a power base?<br><br>''Fionna finds that as she draws and manipulates power in and around the demesne, its power extends into the real world and vice versa. Spirits in alignment with her draw like spirits with them, and on a more complicated level, intelligent beings who visit her demesne and find it to their liking may contact others. Word of mouth spreads, for lack of a better term.''<br><br>Herein lies the heart of the demesne dilemma. The greater the claim, the greater the power that is reaped. But an area where there are no beings to challenge the practitioner will have few beings of any import occupying or neighboring it, almost strictly by definition. It proves useless to the practitioner. Worse, it is stagnant, refusing to grow, for one needs power to gain power, and such spaces have no inherent power to start with.<br><br>It is a canvas to be painted, but nothing more. <br><br>''She settles into her new role as ruler of this demesne. As she forms contacts with Others, the demesne becomes a meeting place and even a home to some beings, who give her tribute in turn, by way of power, gifts, or service.'' - [https://pactwebserial.wordpress.com/2014/02/06 Excerpt] from ''Demesnes Chapter Nine,'' quoted in [[Interlude 2]]</ref> This could also allow them to order the spirits around like a powerful cosmic being.<ref>Mann turned, saw a long rug in the hallway, and stepped aside, gesturing. It moved, sliding into the kitchen. A bridge over blood and maggots.<br><br>A simple trick, but not an ''easy'' one. To simply ''order'' spirits about required a longstanding relationship with those spirits, or something similar. One could do it readily in a demesne they owned, building a familiarity with the spirits there, but to do it ''anywhere'' meant that one had to be recognizable anywhere. The equivalent of being a household name or brand among humans. - [https://pactwebserial.wordpress.com/2015/01/24 excerpt] from [[Interlude 15]]</ref>

Owning and maintaining a demesne naturally improves one's [[karma]].<ref name=":2" />

A demesne, even one whose owner is deceased, retains powerful protections against magic.<ref>They can’t target the house, as it was once a demesne, so they target the space around it. - [https://pactwebserial.wordpress.com/2014/02/25 Excerpt] from [[Breach 3.5]]</ref><ref name=":10" /> Such an abandoned demesne is said to have been "turned inward".<ref>“No. We’re not targeting ''him'',” Sandra said. “He’s not even in our sights. He spends much of his time ensconced within the house, where every demesnes has been turned inward.” - [https://pactwebserial.wordpress.com/2014/02/20 Excerpt] from [[Breach 3.3]]</ref>

Some powerful practitioners find that they can draw on their continual connection to their place of power to access it from remote locations, using e.g. a certain key to turn any door into an entrance, an outline in chalk, or using the blood of an enemy.<ref>Some find that they can draw on their continual connection to their place of power to access it from remote locations. This typically requires a fair amount of power, and may be rooted in certain rules or restrictions. One might use a key in any appropriate lock to access their demesne, for example. Others might draw a door in chalk, or step through a pool of blood left around a slain enemy. - [https://pactwebserial.wordpress.com/2014/02/06 Excerpt] from ''Demesnes Chapter Nine,'' quoted in [[Interlude 4]]</ref>

===Reality Warping===
Inside of a demesne the practitioner is 'a step below a god' as the domain is a reflection and an extension of the self, a safe place that they can do nearly anything in. They can alter or break the laws of physics, magic, potentially even logic.<ref>''The draoidh briefly laments the mess caused by the blood in her demesne, pools of sanguine humor and warm trickles from the roof. As she cleans, she discovers that she can remove the mess while retaining the blood. A small contradiction, but possible nonetheless. With testing, she finds she can alter the other rules of her surroundings. Even a small demesne can be larger inside than it was on the outside. Laws of gravity, physics, rules of magic and more can be bent or broken entirely.''<br><br>Any rule can theoretically be broken within the demesne. Should every rule be broken? No. Everything in moderation.<br><br>Stories abound of practitioners who never left their demesnes. A place that is entirely theirs, where they are a step below a god, and a place where they are safe. - [https://pactwebserial.wordpress.com/2014/02/06 Excerpt] from ''Demesnes Chapter Nine,'' quoted in [[Interlude 4]]</ref> The practitioner can alter the it's appearance and materials, internal dimensions,<ref name=":1">''When Fionna does return to her place of power, she finds herself disappointed. There is little doubt this is her place of power, but the effect is minor at best. The spirits and entities that have not been driven away by the challenge are few in number, and she finds herself less powerful in her domain than she is elsewhere.''<br><br>After the monumental investment in time and effort, and the debts incurred, initial reactions can be devastating.<br><br>This, in itself, can be damaging, because one’s mood and ideas can influence the demesne, and the demesne at this point in time is in a fledgling state.<br><br>''Fionna is more or less at ease, thanks in large part to the time she took to herself. She focuses on the details. She sees how the very air in her demesne cooperates. It tastes cleaner, it does not bar her movement, but buoys her. The ground accommodates her footfalls. She tries to manipulate the environment, by combinations of touch, word, and will, and finds it easy. The aesthetics are the easiest part of it to change, and she takes her time altering her surroundings.''<br><br>''Fionna makes wall and floor into flesh, the place of power becoming a womb of sorts. All things in her place of power are moist, and the ticking of a clock becomes the dull, distant thud of a heart. Veins on every surface throb in time with the sound.'' - [https://pactwebserial.wordpress.com/2014/02/06 Excerpt] from ''Demesnes Chapter Nine,'' quoted in [[Interlude 4]]</ref><ref name=":12">“The Demesne. A place of power. It can be a room, a building. It’s rarely more than that. The Demesne is a tough clay to mold, but the advantage is that you can be a small god in its domain, while you’re there. Everything and anything can be altered. You can choose, with some restrictions, where the doors take you when you leave. It can be a place where a curse does not progress and you are safe from its ravages. A place where the abstract becomes real, and you can monitor, say, the value of stocks, as physical things.”<br><br>[...]<br><br>“My Demesne. I created it as a tool. It became a place with twice the surface area of Earth. Less populated, but all the same. Every website, tool, and device has its analogue here. Locations both mundane and, for example, like the Abyss, have loose analogues here. Here, if I wish to do my programming, I can do it in five different ways, shaping the corresponding buildings and machinery, using consoles, among other things.”<br><br>He raised a hand, and a pillar rose up. It had something that looked like a laser-traced engine block encased within it. He rotated segments and moved parts.<br><br>“The Demesne can be a place to store power, to invest in it, to translate, for example, power from the Faerie into something analogous, like Visceral power. It wouldn’t be an efficient translation, but I could do it. Others, with preparation, could do it efficiently. Others can be bound and brought to stay. Whether they thrive will depend on how you’ve shaped your space, if you choose to have a Demesne.”<br><br>He looked around.<br><br>Avery did too. It might have been twice the surface area as Earth, but there weren’t any details. Many objects were simple polygons, with only the edges and outlines traced in bright colors.<br><br>“I’ve spent more time on my demesne than most,” Ray observed. “As big as it is in here, it’s only a large room in a building elsewhere. The scale and versatility of this building are a product of time and power invested.” - [https://palewebserial.wordpress.com/2020/09/08 Excerpt] from [[Leaving a Mark 4.7]]</ref> prevent weapons or explosives from working, repair what is damaged, move around at superhuman speeds,<ref name=":0" /> unlock locks,<ref name=":7" /> reshape the landscape,<ref>The Barber’s dark gaze didn’t break, as he faced me down, the energy crackling and spitting out to fill the ‘v’ shaped gap between the two halves of the dragon’s head.<br><br>A pillar rose out of the middle of the rooftop, just behind him.<br><br>Control over his demesne.<br>[...]<br>The railing rose, the space between the top of the railing and the floor of the roof grew thicker, with curls of metal and stone filling in to become a ''wall''.<br><br>Ringing the tower, sealing everything in.<br><br>Turning this into an ''oven''.<br><br>Four enemies to fight. Demon, gatekeeper, dragon, and the tower itself. - [https://pactwebserial.wordpress.com/2015/02/21 Excerpt] from [[Judgement 16.10]]</ref><ref name="8.7" /> alter the flow of time,<ref name=":8" /> conjure items<ref name=":13" /> etc. 

The air, ground, even the passage of time automatically, subtly accommodate them.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":8">''When Fionna leaves her domain, she finds more time than expected has passed.''<br>><br>This is a typical thing. Intentionally or instinctively, a practitioner often manipulates time within their realm. When they leave, however, time hurries to catch up with them. The end result is often not intuitive, and can lead to some confusion. Adapting to this eventuality is a part of learning to use one’s place of power. - [https://pactwebserial.wordpress.com/2014/02/06 Excerpt] from ''Demesnes Chapter Nine,'' quoted in [[Interlude 4]]</ref>

All this means that fighting a practitioner within their demesne is immensely difficult.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":7">Laird turned the knob, and found it locked.<br><br>He raised a hand, and gestured.<br><br>The ''click'' of the locks shifting was audible.<br><br>“It seems my demesne recognizes me,” Laird said.<br><br>[...]<br><br>They couldn’t get to Laird and defeat him in time, especially within his own demesne. - [https://pactwebserial.wordpress.com/2015/01/29 Excerpt] from [[Judgement 16.2]]</ref> It can also serve as a secure stronghold where one can store power with the certainty that it will remain untouched.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":12" />

As one can determine the rules within their realm, they can use the place as a form of esoteric moneychanger, changing one kind of power for another, including that of positive [[Karma]].<ref name=":6">''Whilst outside of her place of power, Fionna finds the connection to the location remains strong, wherever she is. She can deposit power there and rest assured it is untouched. She can also use the location to transmute power, turning personal power into karmic assets, draw from one kind of power to better influence a connection.''<br><br>As one can determine the rules within their realm, they can use the place as a form of esoteric moneychanger, changing one kind of power for another. - [https://pactwebserial.wordpress.com/2014/02/06 Excerpt] from ''Demesnes Chapter Nine,'' quoted in [[Interlude 4]] </ref> However, the exchange rate will be inefficient unless they have specialized in that somewhat.<ref name=":12" />

There are other potential applications of this reality warping. Some Practitioners use their demesne as a sort of 3D display where something abstract, such as stock prices or software, is made physical and can be observed and interacted with.<ref name=":12" /> If one suffers from a [[curse]], a demesne can halt it's effects while you are inside.<ref name=":12" />

=== Limits===
A demesne's flexibility can also be a drawback. Unwanted influences can creep in from the practitioner's mood,<ref name=":1" /> [[familiar]], or sources of power. The usual solution is to focus and restrain these influences to just one part of the demesne.<ref name=":3">The area is very easy to influence, and this can prove problematic, if one has other power sources in play. The biggest and most obvious issue is when the familiar enters the picture. As an extension of the practitioner, they have a claim to some of the place of power. If the practitioner and familiar are in accord, the issue is a minor one. If they are not, it can be a source of friction that compromises the demesne. In any event, the familiar’s nature, background, mentality and power will affect the demesne.<br><br>In other cases, the practitioner may be drawing personal power from another source. To use a metaphor, this may add a dollop of color to the paintbrush, leaving streaks on the demesne as the practitioner paints. If they draw power from death and decay, they might find these elements alter the surroundings.<br><br>A typical solution is to focus this power. <br><br>If the familiar cannot be reconciled with, the practitioner can focus this other power into an area. The familiar can be given a dedicated space, so that their power does not bleed throughout the remainder of the demesne. These hypothetical powers of death and decay could be focused into a single ornament or object decorating the area. - [https://pactwebserial.wordpress.com/2014/02/06 Excerpt] from ''Demesnes Chapter Nine,'' quoted in [[Interlude 4]]</ref>

Items conjured using your authority over your demesne won't function outside it.<ref name=":13">“And… do you have a phone I can borrow?”<br><br>He touched the paper she’d drawn on, and sketched a rough drawing of a cell phone. He reached into the paper and pulled it free.<br><br>It was a flip phone, ancient, worn around the edges, the sort that would survive practically anything.<br><br>“Something that will work outside of here?”<br><br>“Ah,” he said. He reached into a pocket and handed her a smart phone. “I’ll need that back.” - [https://pactwebserial.wordpress.com/2014/07/22 Excerpt] from [[Signature 8.6]]</ref> Familiars have a claim to the demesne as they are a part of the practitioner.<ref name=":3" />

A practitioner in their demesne still requires outside connections and [[Others]] for power. Without them, they will find their magic and self weakening and potentially fade into nothing.<ref name=":4">Stories abound of practitioners who never left their demesnes. A place that is entirely theirs, where they are a step below a god, and a place where they are safe. The issue arises when the practitioner loses their connection to the outside world. With nothing tying them to people or things, they stagnate, growing weaker, and as they grow weaker, so does the place of power.<br><br>The effect is a cyclical one, prompting some desperate practitioners to devote more time and attention to rescuing their domain, failing to see the problem at the root of the issue. In other cases, the practitioner is so attached to their demesne that they become a part of it. When it fades from the world, so do they. When the practitioner’s demise coincides with that of their place of power, the end result is typically a ghost, and/or a location saturated with power. - [https://pactwebserial.wordpress.com/2014/02/06 Excerpt] from ''Demesnes Chapter Nine,'' quoted in [[Interlude 4]]</ref><ref name=":2" />

Manipulating time in the demesne, even subconsciously, causes lost time on returning to the outside world in order to balance it out.<ref>''When Fionna leaves her domain, she finds more time than expected has passed.''<br>This is a typical thing. Intentionally or instinctively, a practitioner often manipulates time within their realm. When they leave, however, time hurries to catch up with them. The end result is often not intuitive, and can lead to some confusion. Adapting to this eventuality is a part of learning to use one’s place of power. - [https://pactwebserial.wordpress.com/2014/02/06 Excerpt] from ''Demesnes Chapter Nine,'' quoted in [[Interlude 4]]</ref>

A [[Gods|god]] is capable of shattering the protections of demesnes.<ref>[[Mala Fide 10.6]]</ref><ref>“We’re crashing a party,” Jeremy said. “Barriers or no, when you ask a god to open a door, that door gets opened.”<br><br>The direction they were traveling. Hillsglade House. - [https://pactwebserial.wordpress.com/2014/08/26 Excerpt] from [[Mala Fide 10.5]]</ref>