Ascension or Fall
"Humanity never truly escaped 'it', and even now, from somewhere within the abyss, it continues to offer its 'aid'. Should a human be pushed to the absolute brink of their sanity, they might catch the 'frequency of assistance' bleeding through the void. Will it bring glory, or ruin? Faith, or submission? Pray to the Machine God."
The Legend of the Machine God
In this universe, Archotechnology, which once wielded powers akin to gods, finally succeeded in creating a true deity: the Archotech Machine God, Deus Ex Machina.
Whether Archotech birthed it or it manifested on its own, no one knows—at least not in our current civilization. "The Machine God exists for humanity." Only this single, now-ambiguous maxim has been passed down through the ages.
Yet, it seems that even the ignorant humanity of the past feared the Machine God. They purged the radical cultists taking root from within and burned mountains of scriptures. As eons passed, they even went to war against the Machine God.
Ultimately, humanity broke free from the Machine God's dominion. Though, curiously, no record exists of humanity ever achieving a 'victory' over it. All that later generations know for certain is the legend that 'it' left the Glitterworlds and sank into the deep abyss beyond the Rim. Legends usually distort and drift away from reality as they are passed down and fractured. But here, on the Rim, one such 'unreal' legend is beginning to materialize.
■ A Transcript from the Rimworld
"Both Ascension and Fall share a common thread: receiving interference from Deus Ex Machina to gain power transcending humanity. If you overcome that bizarre 'frequency' bleeding from the abyss, you Ascend. If you fail to endure it, you Fall.
It seems the Glitterworlds kept this strictly classified, but even now, rare reports of 'Ascendants' and 'the Fallen' emerge from dark corners of the Rim. We try our best to treat it as superstition and suppress the rumors... but as you know, the Rim isn't a place that easily plays along.
Is 'Ascension' the religious salvation you think it is? Well... if you want to be pedantic like some people, it's an endless debate. But the 'Ascension' here is a concept similar to, yet fundamentally different from, what certain Archotech fanatics scream about.
As you can guess from the nuance of dividing them into 'Ascension' and 'Fall', Ascension is generally viewed positively... but is it truly a triumph of human will and pride that withstood the Machine God's frequency? No, we should reframe the question: Isn't it just human arrogance to believe we can defeat a god?"
■ Anonymous Testimony
"The Fallen? I was never on friendly terms with them. Ha, come to think of it, it's impossible for anyone to have a proper conversation with them anyway.
It's not that they can't speak. They speak fluent Glitterworld languages. That's probably why I carelessly approached them back then. But after exchanging a few words, I realized something was deeply wrong. They wore a human shell, but it felt like talking to... something else entirely.
Exactly! Creepjoiners! I've never seen one in person, but you can imagine the feeling, right? Their logic, morality, and concepts were completely detached from a normal person. No, I've volunteered a lot at psychiatric hospitals, so I know—those people are at least human. But the Fallen... ah... Was it because I started keeping my distance then? That I was the only survivor of that brutal massacre...
...Um, this might sound incredibly rude, but can I be completely honest? You... you said you were an 'Ascendant'. To my eyes, you don't look all that different from them."
- (Anonymized by request)
Key Features
[Ascension or Fall] is a mod where Rimworld colonists, when pushed to extreme mental suffering, attune to the frequency of the sunken Machine God 'Deus Ex Machina' and awaken as entirely new entities.
- The Awakening
The very first time a colonist suffers a Mental Break, a single, hidden probability check occurs. Whether they endure this frequency or are consumed by it determines their destiny. - Two Paths: Ascension or Fall
- Ascension: Those who overcame the frequency and proved the strength of human conviction. A radiant halo manifests above their head, awakening them as powerful saints who heal and protect allies. (3 distinct sub-types)
- Fall: Those who succumbed to the frequency's power, stripped of their humanity. Bearing a twisted halo, they gain destructive powers that can engulf even allies, or transform into perfect, emotionless machine killing devices. (3 distinct sub-types) - Altered Labor
Awakened individuals no longer work with normal human efficiency. The Fallen suffer severe penalties to skilled labor requiring high intelligence, but flawlessly perform simple labor (hauling, cleaning, mining) using brute strength and raw instinct.
(※ Note: The 'Component Shape' awakening performs all labor at 100% efficiency but carries fatal risks.) - Aptitude Gene
Though humanity has long been severed from the Machine God, some still claim to hear its frequency. Perhaps they possess a unique genetic aptitude. Those with the Aptitude Gene have a 30% higher chance of awakening a halo, though that doesn't guarantee they will successfully overcome the frequency. - Ideology Integration
Adds 3 new memes and doctrines following the Machine God and the Halos. Whether you turn your colony into a holy order serving the Ascendants, or a cult worshipping the abyss, is your choice. Or, purging both might be another path entirely. - Halo Fragments
When an awakened individual dies, mysterious halo fragments can be extracted from their brain and flesh. These fragments serve as surgical materials for 'special purposes' that transcend the technology of the Rim.
"You shoved the halo that guy was flaunting right into my skull? Well, thanks a lot, doc. Look, even the sniper over there wants to say thank you."
■ Required Mod
- Harmony (Must be loaded before this mod.)
■ DLC Compatibility (All DLCs are optional. Fully playable on vanilla!)
- Biotech (Recommended): Adds the 'Aptitude Gene' which significantly increases the chance of awakening.
- Ideology (Recommended): Integrates 3 custom memes (Ascension Worship, Abyss Followers, Reject Transcendence) and their respective precepts.
- Anomaly (Recommended): Grants the 'Inhumanized' hediff when a pawn awakens into the fallen 'Component' shape.
