The Thought-Forged

To Be is to be Perceived.

Core Concept

A species whose physical and metaphysical reality is contingent upon the perception of others. They are living Fictions who struggle to become Fact.

Physiology & Biology

Inherently unstable and semi-ethereal. A Noumenon’s physical form is indistinct and hazy when unobserved. When perceived by other sapient beings, its form solidifies, taking on characteristics projected by the observer’s own Beliefs and expectations. A being that expects a monster will see a monster; a being that expects a savior will see a messiah. Their very existence is a collaborative act.

Psychology & Society (Faith / Fiction)

Core Faith: Their entire society is a performance. They are natural storytellers, priests, artists, and leaders because their survival depends on capturing and holding the attention of others. Solitude is a terrifying state of dissolution; to be forgotten is to truly die.

Core Fiction: They tell grand, self-aggrandizing myths, not out of arrogance, but necessity. They must constantly reinforce the story of their own importance to maintain their coherence in the Tapestry.

Gameplay Hooks & Tensions

Playing as a Noumenon would involve a unique Need for “Attention” or “Belief.” Their core attributes might literally increase or decrease based on the number and strength of the Beliefs other agents hold about them.

This creates a fascinating dynamic of social stealth versus public performance. They are incredibly vulnerable when alone but can become powerful figures at the center of a Faction or cult.

Eidos Generated

• [ontological_dependency]
• [belief_as_sustenance]
• [performance]
• [the_fear_of_being_forgotten]
• [borrowed_power]