THE CHAOS FORCE AND RELICS
THE CHAOS FORCE
The Chaos Force is an esoteric field of energy that connects all life of Mobius. All living beings of Mobius are connected through it and hold a spark. Most don't due anything with this connection or cannot access it. Others can tap into it enhancing themselves or even developing an Aptitude.
It was often confused with magic, despite not being the same thing. Though the confusion is understandable since Chaos Energy, the energy deriving form it, can have effects that defy the normal law of physics.
Those whom have their connection on the Chaos Force can tap into the field, though rarely directly as it needs a lot of training. So most obtain an object with Chaos Energy like Rings or Chaos Emeralds to enhance them. Enough Chaos Energy allows one to access multiple alternate forms, the strongest according to legend to bend reality.
The name Chaos Energy was picked due to the varying effects it has depending whom taps into it. Either because of their powerset, status or whatever mindset one has when using these sources of Chaos Energy make extraordinary things happen. In wars past and legends those whom achieved greater power either saved the world or caused destruction. Chaos seemed an appropriate term for something that is unpredictable and can be used in so man ways. Or maybe people thought it would sound cool. Or both.
While chaos Energy and Magic are two different things, they can do work with each other as Chaos Energy-related objects can enhance magic, or magic spells can be cast upon objects of Chaos. Though one whom has a perfect affinity for both is rare.
Chaos Energy is ambivalent in every day life but while only a handful have a direct connection, byproducts of this Chaos Force have been used in everyday life by being able to power machinery with energy cleaner then any fossil fuel. In fact fossil fuels are nowadays only used as emergency fuel due to the Chaos Energy making most things a lot easier to use.
Depending on whom using is Chaos energy, and how, and how much, basically nothing is out of the realm of possibility when using it.
RELICS AND OBJECTS RELYING ON CHAOS ENERGY
Several notable objects exist on Mobius exist that either hold a certain notable amount of Chaos Energy naturally, are automatically connected to Chaos Force, or embody them. Some have helped shape the folklore, legends and culture of Mobian civilizations over the years, and like aforementioned have been a source of clean energy for Mobius for years.
Power Rings
The most common Chaos-themed relic on Mobius. Often also called Golden Rings, but that is mostly only because of their coloring as they are actually not made of any mineral. It is an unknown substance that by a lack of a better term is referred to as 'Chaos Energy made solid'. The rings are a very byproduct of the Chaos Energy of Mobius and can spam about everywhere at random on Mobius at irregular intervals.
There is a more consistent form of Power Rings, which are sported daily from a Ring Lake, a body of water whom either lies on a Chaos ley line or has an object of great Chaos power nearby. These lakes are also important for a series of species that also rely on Chaos Energy for their development like the chao, and often these sites are protected areas.
Research into creating artificial lakes have been researched but none were successful until the Mobian scientist Charles Hedgehog came around. Only one artificial lake has been created and it is hidden somewhere in Knothole, in the Wood Zone on the Acorn Achipelago. While Sir Charles had confirmed captured and roboticized, the Robotnik Regime had been unable to recreate it, either because they lack a crucial ingredient or the roboticized Sir Charles has managed to find a way to not reveal that knowledge despite his state.
Power Rings are a popular means of providing clean energy. While aside from Ring lakes their spawn rate is irregular, they are common enough. Power Rings normally burn out really quickly so they are either often used in machinery that need short but strong bursts or power, or used for healing where no other methods exist. There are types of machinery that can tap into Ring energy without burning out too quick but they require heavy modification.
Power Rings can heal a lot of damage but it has its limit. It cannot cure genetic diseases as they are part of a person's DNA and Power Rings cannot rewrite that. While they can extend life or jump start after one's heart gives out, too much damage to a body cannot be healed by a power ring and neither can it revive the dead.
For extreme wounds multiple power rings have to be used, but most cannot use multiple rings at once since the average Mobian could be hurt badly due to overload and only select fews like Adepts can safely use the burst of power of multiple rings at once.
In fact, if an Adept can collect enough Rings they can access a Super Form or at least a semi-super form. The problem with this sort of form is that the burn out quickly just like the Ring and so they have to act fast. They can extend the form with the use of more Rings, but in case of long fights they would have to constantly use rings and are hence not reliable for that kind of scenario. For a short burst of power or a quick heal, they are great to use though.
A stronger version of the Power Ring exists, the Red Power Ring. They are bigger are notable for having a star-like symbol in the center. And of course like the name suggests they are red. They come from Ring Lakes that are either purer or have bigger output of Chaos Energy. A normal lake once temporarily turned into a Red Ring Lake when a Chaos Emerald fell into it, reverting back to the standard Ring lake upon its removal.
Red Power Rings have a bigger output of energy then normal Power Rings and the boost lasts longer then that of a normal Power Ring, but it is still quicker to burn out then other energy sources only making them slightly more reliable. It can still heal but it has a bigger chance of hurting or overloading a person without a good chaos connection and are hence more reliable for powering machinery or short powerups.
The Power Ring has been such a part of Mobian history the currency the Mobium coin, is even shaped like mini-power Rings, and various historical sites centered around Ring Lakes have been depicted in artworks, and even money bills. An Acornian 100 Mobium Bill displays the former Royal Castle, the surrounding Great Forest and the Ring Lake for example.
Chaos Shards
Small gemstones filled with Chaos Energy, either remains of a Power Gem or Chaos Emerald that couldn't keep itself together or was unable to fully form into one. The shards have a lower energy output then Power Rings, but they have the advantage of not burning out as quickly, making them more reliable.
Automatons and machinery that need to be running long term often use Chaos Drives more, which is the term for a battery with a Chaos Shard inside. Several vehicles and even GUN security robots are powered by these Drives.
Chaos Shards can and has been used for decoration, embroiled into jewelry. Aside from looking pretty, Chaos Shard-made jewelry has been used by Adepts or sorcerers in the past in case of emergency, drawing the little power of the gems for a quick boost.
While the boost the Chaos Shards give isn't as strong as a Power ring, it lasts longer. But a Super form accessed through just Chaos Shards is not as strong as it should, just giving an edge.
Despite this, Chaos Shards form an important industry, either in the mining, machinery or jewelry sectors and a common power source for every day objects.
POWER GEMS
Power Gems are gemstones with Chaos Energy that are bigger and more powerful then Chaos Shards, but less powerful then a Chaos Emerald. They give more energy output then Chaos Shards and the energy output lasts longer, and hence a Power Gem is useful for big and heavy machinery that normal Chaos Drives cannot reliably power.
While a lot bigger then Shards, the smaller Power Gems have still been able to be used to be incorporated in jewelry. The Crown of Acorns, the very crown passed down for generations to be worn by the Acorn Royal Family, has Power Gems encrusted into them. It is a sign of prestige and power, and for the family members whom had an aptitude with Chaos power, were able to draw upon it in an emergency
The Deep Power Stone created by Sir Charles to create the artificial Ring Lake in the Great Forest was essentially an oversized and imperfect Power Gem. It not only reliably helped in Ring production but is a clean and undetectable source of energy for the community of Knothole, without having to be connected to a Power Grid.
Power Gems are strong and reliable, and one or two can give a significant power up that is halfway a super form, and enough power gems (a dozen to twenty or more depending on the power of an individual) can access a full on Super Form. The Super Form isn't as optimal as with a Chaos Emerald but still impressive enough.
Chaos Emeralds
The Chaos Emeralds are seven gemstones of Great Power, along with the Master Emerald are depicted in legends as sources of power that have helped civilizations rise and thrive…or fall and be destroyed. One Emerald is enough to power an entire space station.
The seven of them put together give one the power to change the world. Robotnik attempted to roboticize the entire world using the seven Emerald outputs, and the Eclipse Cannon, whom was made to be powered by these Emeralds, had the power to destroy the world if needed.
It is also the most reliable way to access a Super Form. Despite the energy output being temporary, the time it uses to maintain a form is decent and provides the best and most stable enhancements. It has given the likes of Sonic, Tails, Knuckles and others the power to avert world ending or altering crisis, allowed eldricht beings of old to be restored to their true power, and even gives one the power to challenge the Gods.
While the power can run out, extra rings can be absorbed to maintain the transformation and in combination with the Emeralds' energies can prevent the additional Ring energy form burning out too quickly, provided one does not overuse Rings to maintain the transformation.
While called Emeralds, only one of them is green. Despite the fact that they are all multiple colors, their physical makeup is similar to that of a normal emerald, and it is unclear how the color scheme for the other Emeralds came to be.
Only seven of these are in existence and no one knows their origin and why no other then these seven have formed. Some say they fell from the skies in ancient times. Some say that they were created by Chaos, a deity whom is named or associated with the Chaos Force in legends of old. Some say they are the hearts of the Chaos Titans. Neither has been confirmed.
Mostly they remain inside a pocket dimension that is called the Special Zone. It is a Zone where the laws of physics are non-existence and more of a guideline then a law. It is maintained by the deity Omni the Viewer. It allows those whom enter it to go through a trial to earn one of the Emerald.
Once the Emeralds are used, they return to the Special Zone, waiting until they can be won through challenges yet again. When Naugus tried to increase his power by merging the Void in the Special Zone, it was devastated and the Chaos Emeralds hence remained on the surface of Mobius, ready to be collected manually until Omni was able to repair the Special Zone.
The Chaos Emeralds, in presence of the Master Emerald can evolve into Super Emeralds. A single Super Emerald is about as strong as seven ordinary Chaos Emeralds and allows one to access a Super Form. Once one has all Seven Super Emeralds can access their Hyper form. Whenever the heroes upgrade a Chaos Emerald though, they are automatically drawn into the Special Zone for a trial as a Chaos Emerald has to be earned but a Super Emerald must be earned harder.
It is to note that all Emeralds need to be either in the Chaos Emerald or Super Emerald state, if not all Emeralds are in the same state (for example four Chaos Emeralds but three Super Emeralds), the fluctuating energy can either destroy or do permanent damage, or cause horrific mutations or other nasty side effects.
Master Emerald
The Master Emerald is like the name suggests, the 'Master' to the Chaos Emeralds. It is so far the only known means to upgrade the Chaos Emeralds into Super Emeralds, and is even able to neutralize them. The Master Emerald, instead of merely containing a huge amount of Chaos Energy is a direct link to the Chaos Force. While the Chaos Emeralds have near-infinite power, the Master Emerald is infinite power.
On its power alone it can keep Angel Island afloat when merely put on its altar. Those whom have a good enough connection to Chaos Energy can tap directly in the Master Emerald power and access the Super form. If one can establish a particular strong bond with the Master Emerald, one can even access Hyper form without the Super Emeralds but that takes time, dedication and power.
There is no machine existence that it cannot power. Even when shattered, its power is noticeable, and depending on the size of the shard, each Shard is equal to a Chaos Emerald or even Super Emerald.
It is said that inside the Emerald itself is a pocket zone of its own right. No one has been able to verify if it is a pocket zone which is directly inside the Chaos Force, maybe it is a corner of the afterlife, no one is for sure.
The Master Emerald, while its power is about infinite, one cannot freely access that power if he is not strong-willed, has a good connection to the Chaos Force, or know the prayer (it is said that the words are not an exact mantra but a focusing tool for opening the mind, as someone like Finitevus was able to get power using a corrupted mantra).
The Master Emerald has ever since its reveal to not merely be stuff of legends, gained some attention. When the Albion community was founded on Angel Island and, they displayed the Master Emerald on their version of the Mobium bill currency.
