[Worm x Fate] Journeywoman & Apprentice

fallacies · Apr 7, 2021

Use of Reinforcement in FSN:

This is a non-exhaustive but mostly comprehensive survey of the descriptions of Reinforcement in FSN. Items excluded primarily fall in the category one-line mentions that don't really go into detail, or repeats of the same information.

FATE - Day 01 - 15 said:
「――――基本骨子、解明」

あとはただ、自然に魔力を流すだけの作業となる。
衛宮士郎は魔術師じゃない。
こうやって体内で魔力を生成できて、それをモノに流す事だけしかできない魔術使いだ。

だからその魔術もたった一つの事しかできない。
それが――――

「――――構成材質、解明」

物体の強化。
対象となるモノの構造を把握し、魔力を通す事で一時的に能力を補強する『強化』の魔術だけである。

「――――、基本骨子、変更」

目前にあるのは折れた鉄パイプ。
これに魔力を通し、もっとも単純な硬度強化の魔術を成し得る。

そもそも、自分以外のモノに自分の魔力を通す、という事は毒物を混入させるに等しい。
衛宮士郎の血は、鉄パイプにとって血ではないのと同じ事。
異なる血を通せば強化どころか崩壊を早めるだけだろう。
それを防ぎ、毒物を薬物とする為には対象の構造を正確に把握し、『空いている透き間』に魔力を通さなければならない。

「――、――っ、構成材質、補強」

「— Fundamental Essence (基本骨子, kihon kosshi; 骨子, kosshi, lit. "marrow," in the sense of "gist"), Elucidate (解明, kaimei).」

After that, the operation becomes as merely a matter of permitting mana to naturally flow forth.
Emiya Shirou is not a magus.
He's a spellcaster incapable of anything aside from so generating mana within his flesh, and letting that it flows forth.

Therefore, he's likewise incapable of anything beyond a single magecraft.
That would be —

「— Compositional Material (構成材質, kousei zaishitsu), Elucidate.」

The Reinforcement of objects.
Nothing more than a magecraft of 『Reinforcement』, as to grasp the structure of a target, and to temporarily strengthen its capabilities by way of the permeation (通す, tohsu) of mana.

「— Fundamental Essence, Alter (変更, henkou).」

Before my eyes is a broken steel pipe.
[By way of] permeating it with mana, an extremely straightforward magecraft as to Reinforce its hardness should be rendered.

Fundamentally, permeating something aside from oneself with mana was approximate to the infusion of a toxin.
It would be alike to the matter that the blood of Emiya Shirou was to a steel pipe not as blood.
If a different blood were let to permeate, far from rendering Reinforcement, it would perhaps only hasten annihilation (崩壊, houkai).
So as to avoid this; as to make use of the toxin as a remedy, it was necessary that the structure of the target was correctly grasped, such that 『the unoccupied interstices』 (空いている透き間, suiteiru sukima) could be permeated with mana.

「—, — h, Compositional Material, Strengthen (補強, houkyou).」

MirrorMoon said:
"―――Basic structure, analyze."

After that, it becomes a process of naturally flowing magical energy.
Emiya Shirou is no magus.
He is only a magic user, who can create magical energy within his body and channel it into objects.

So there's only one magic possible.
Which is...

"―――Composition, analyze."

Strengthening objects.
It is a magic of "strengthening" that reinforces the object's abilities by understanding the object's structure and channeling magical energy into it.

"―――Basic structure, alter."

Before me is a metal pipe.
I will channel magical energy into it, perform the simplest magic, and reinforce its durability.

Basically, channeling your magical energy into something other than yourself is like pouring poison into that object.
It is just as the blood of Emiya Shirou is not the blood of the metal pipe.
Pumping different blood only accelerates its breakdown, it certainly wouldn't strengthen it.
To prevent that and to turn the poison into a tonic, one must completely understand the structure of the target and channel the magical energy into small open spaces.

"...Composition, reinforce."

Reinforcement is rendered by way of permeating (通す, tohsu) a target with mana.
As of FATE - Day 01, Shirou believes that rendering mana permeation without proper structural grasp would only hasten the target's annihilation. Ergo, he seeks only to permeate "the unoccupied interstices" (空いている透き間, suiteiru sukima) of the object.

FATE - Day 01 - 15 said:
鉄パイプに変化はない。
通した魔力は外に霧散してしまったようだ。

「……元からカタチが有る物に手を加えるのは、きつい」

俺がやっている事は、完成した芸術品に筆を加える事に似ている。

完成している物に手を加える、という事は完成度をおとしめる、という危険性をも孕んでいる。
補強する筈の筆が、芸術品そのものの価値を下げる事もある、という事だ。
だから『強化』の魔術というのは単純でありながら難易度が高く、好んで使用する魔術師は少ないらしい。

There wasn't any change in the steel pipe.
It seemed that the mana that had permeated was dissipated without.

「... seems like the processing of objects originally borne of Form (カタチ, katachi) is difficult.」

What I was doing was akin to adding a brushstroke to a work of art already completed.

The processing of a completed existence carried the risk of diminishing its degree of completeness.
It was a matter that a brushstroke intended as to enhance could likewise reduce the value of the work of art itself.
Therefore, though that what was called as the magecraft of 『Reinforcement』 was straightforward, its difficulty was high, and it seemed that the magi who favored its use were few in number.

MirrorMoon said:
There's no change in the metal pipe. It seems that the magical energy I poured into it has evaporated into the air.

"...It's hard to improve something that already has form."

The thing I'm attempting is like adding something to an already complete work of art.

Adding to a complete object risks making it less perfect.
Adding unnecessary things will actually decrease the value.
That is why the magic of "strengthening" is simple yet difficult, and only a few magi use it willingly.

Objects originally borne of Form (カタチ, katachi) are difficult to Reinforce.
Relatedly, Shirou compares Reinforcement to the act of adding brushstrokes to a completed artwork, giving that doing so runs the risk of reducing the completeness of the object being processed. He gives that this is the reason that Reinforcement is difficult despite being straightforward — maybe linking it to its lack of popularity amongst magi.

FATE - Day 07 - 01 said:
「自分以外の物に魔力を貯めるっていうのは特殊なのよ。
士郎の強化だって、物に魔力を込めているってコトでしょ？
通常ね、魔力の通った物は何らかの変化をして、その魔力を使い切ってしまうものなの。
魔術の効果は瞬間であって永続じゃないでしょ」

「で、うちの家系はそうならないように、うまく宝石に魔力を流動させて永続的な物にしているんだけど……
他の魔術師だって、自分の体になら同じような事はできるわ。
それが魔術刻印―――
あらゆる魔術師が持ってる、魔術のバックアップじゃない」

「Stockpiling mana in objects aside from one's [own body] is uncommon.
Even Shirou's Reinforcement is a matter of instilling mana into an object, no?
Normally, an object permeated with mana undergoes some manner of change, exhausting the mana used.
The effect of a magecraft is momentary, and not in perpetuity, no?」

MirrorMoon said:
"The ability to store magical energy in something outside yourself is unique.
Even your strengthening is putting magical energy into something, right?
Normally, whatever you put magical energy into changes in some way and uses up that magical energy.
The effect of magic is instantaneous and not permanent, right?"

According to Rin, capacity to stockpile mana in objects aside from one's own body is uncommon.
Objects permeated with mana undergo some manner of change — rendering the consumption of the mana used. This is part of the reason thaumaturgical phenomena are short-lived, and don't persist in perpetuity.

FATE - Day 07 - 27 said:
「それじゃもう一度『強化』をしてみて。
今の貴方じゃ魔力のコントロールもできないだろうけど、その状態に慣れてもらわないと戦力にならないわ。
大丈夫、ランプは山ほど持ってきたし。
何十回失敗するか判らないけど、強化が成功するまで休ませてなんてあげないから」

「That being the case, try to once again 『Reinforce』.
The you at present should likewise be incapable of controlling your mana; but if I can't get you to acclimate to such a state, you won't be able to [contribute to our] combat potential.
Don't worry. I've brought a mountain's worth of lamps.
I'm not certain how many tens of times you'll fail, but I won't let you rest until you succeed at Reinforcement.」

MirrorMoon said:
"So, try your 'strengthening' again.
You shouldn't be able to control your magical energy right now, but you'll be of no use if you don't get used to that condition.
"It's all right. I brought lots of lamps. I don't know how many times you'll screw up, but I won't let you rest until you succeed in strengthening."

On FATE - Day 07, Rin approaches the task of training Shirou in Reinforcement with a presumption that he should be able to master it by the end of the day.

FATE - Day 07 - 27 said:
「………………いや。面目ない」

「わたしの見通しが甘かった。
まさか三十個全部壊されるなんて思いもしなかったから。
……悪いけど、今日の鍛錬はこれでおしまいよ。
士郎の強化を計れる道具がないから」

「... no. I'm ashamed of myself.」

「My predictions were overly naive.
Because, I didn't imagine that you'd end up breaking all thirty of them.
... I apologize, but today's training does here come to a close.
Since, there are no longer any implements as to give the measure of Shirou's Reinforcement.」

MirrorMoon said:
"...I'm sorry."
"My predictions were too optimistic.
I never thought you would break all thirty.
...Sorry, but that's it for today's training. There's nothing to use to measure your strengthening any more."

Shirou ends up breaking all 30 of the lamps that Rin prepared. At this, Rin gives that her presumption was overly naive.

FATE - Day 07 - 27 said:
……それなら、少しはある。
強化とは文字通り、物を強化することだ。
強化はおもに物を硬くする事と思われがちだが、実際は物の効果を強化させる。
刃物ならより切れやすく、ランプならより明るく、という風に。

変化もそう説明するまでもないだろう。
たとえば、刃物で火を起こす事はできない。
そういった本来の効果以外の能力を付属させるのが変化だという。

... in that case, a little bit.
Reinforcement was as the word implied the Reinforcement of objects.
It was easy to think that Reinforcement referred primarily to the hardening of objects, but it was in actuality the Reinforcement of an object's effects.
It was along the lines that blades would more easily cut, and lamps would grow brighter.

Alteration (変化, henka) was likewise not of such a point as to require explanation.
For example, a fire can't be lit by the use of a blade.
The affixation of capabilities so without [an object's] native effects was called as Alteration.

MirrorMoon said:
...A little.
Strengthening is used to strengthen something, as the word suggests.
People tend to think of strengthening as hardening something, but it actually strengthens the object's effect.
For example, swords will become sharper and lamps will become brighter.

I don't think I need to explain too much for transformation, either.
For example, you can't create a fire with an edged weapon.
That which attaches abilities beyond the normal effects is called transformation.

Reinforcement applies to an object's effects / capabilities.
Alteration entails affixing capabilities without an object's native features.

FATE - Day 07 - 27 said:
「……しかし。スイッチとやらが本当に使いこなせるようになったら、あとは手順の問題だ。
一番簡単な強化をあんなに失敗するようじゃ、先が思いやられるな……」

「... but. Once I truly get a grip of this 'switch' or so forth, all that follows is the problem of procedure.
If I'm failing to such an extent at Reinforcement — the easiest [magecraft] — I worry about the future ...」

MirrorMoon said:
"...But once I'm really able to use this switch thing, then the problem is only the procedure.
I'm worried about the future if I'm failing so much at the easiest magic of strengthening..."

Shirou refers to Reinforcement as "the easiest of all" magecraft.

FATE - Day 07 - 27 said:
「……中の構造まで見えてるのに。
どうして、こう魔力の制御ができないんだろう」

遠坂は力みすぎている、と言っていた。
もっと小さな魔力でいいから、物の弱い箇所を補強する事だけを考えろとも。
……ようするに、今よりもっと手を抜け、という事だろうか。

「... though I can even see the structure within.
Why is it that I can't get my mana under control like this?」

Tohsaka said that I was being too forceful.
That it was fine to use less mana; that I should only think to strength the object's points of weakness.
... in essence, versus [what I was doing] at present, that I should cut corners, perhaps?

MirrorMoon said:
"...I can even see the structure inside of it, so why can't I control my magical energy?"

Tohsaka said I'm straining too much.
She also said it's fine with just a small amount of magical energy, so I should just think about enforcing the weak spots in the object.
...In short, does she mean I should ease up a bit?

In Shirou's opinion, his incapacity to perform Reinforcement comes of an inability to properly control his mana.
This came as a response to an assessment by Rin that he was being overly forceful; that he was using too much mana; that he wasn't strictly acting to Reinforce the target's weaknesses.
Shirou takes Rin's critique to imply that he should be cutting corners.

FATE (Realta Nua) - Day 11 - 18 said:
「…………あれ？」

……なんというか。
なんとなく魔術回路全般の動きは重くなっているのだが、目に見える部分での損傷はなかった。
あれだけかみ砕かれたというのに、俺の魔術回路はまったく健在。
とりあえず、『強化』を使う程度なら何のマイナスもなさそうだ。

「……そうか、これって」

恐らくだが、普段使わない[ruby text=もの o2o=1]回路からごっそりなくなったのではないか。
俺が強化の為に起動させる回路は一から四つ程度。
もともと大がかりな魔術を使えない俺は、回路をフル稼働させた事はない。
今回セイバーに移植した回路は、その滅多に使わない回路であったらしい。

「... huh?」

... How should I put it.
Somehow, the movement of my Circuits as a whole is heavier, but the parts I can observe with my eyes are undamaged.
Even though they were shattered to such a degree, my Circuits yet persist.
In any case, if it's to the point of using 『Reinforcement』, there doesn't seem to be any minus [applicable].

「... I see. This would be-」

Probably, it was the [RUBY=things]Circuits[/RUBY] that normally went without use that were entirely missing?
For the purpose of Reinforcement, the Circuits that I activate are to the level of one through four.
Being that to begin with, I don't make use of large-scale magecraft, I've never run my Circuits at full utilization.
It appears that the Circuits transplanted to Saber this time around were those Circuits that I seldom used.

In the loredump that replaces the FATE - Day 11 sex scene in Realta Nua, it's revealed that in Shirou's opinion, his use of Reinforcement comes with Circuit activation to the level of "one through four." The phrasing makes it sound like he's numbered his commonly-used Circuits in his head or something ...

FATE - Day 15 - 09 said:
「あ……いや、よく判らない。
強化って言っても、結局試してみるまでは判らないから。
魔力が通ったところで、あとは強化したモノで結果を出すしかないっていうか」

「Ah ... no, I can't really tell.
Because, even that I call it Reinforcement, in the end, I won't know [how it is] until I give it a try.
Or, perhaps I should say, as of permeating it with mana, all that remains is to produce an outcome with the object Reinforced.」

MirrorMoon said:
"Um... no, I can't really tell.
I can't tell if things are stronger or not until I test them out.
I have to see the results, even if the magic is successful."

As of FATE - Day 15, Shirou is actually still incapable of determining whether or not he's successfully Reinforced an object after doing so.

Moving on, from Nasu's official tweets during the launch of UBW (2014):

http://[URL]https://twitter.com/Fate_SN_Anime/status/518437346291634176

[/URL]

Official FSN Anime Twitter said:
ここで凛は地上のアヤツを視認しているが、魔力による視力強化によるもの。
五感、身体の強化は魔術師にとって初歩の初歩だってばよ。

Here, Rin's [capacity] to visually confirm the people upon the ground comes of a Reinforcement of vision rendered by way of mana.
The Reinforcement of the flesh and the five senses is to a magus a fundamental amongst fundamentals.

http://[URL]https://twitter.com/Fate_SN_Anime/status/520971314492764161

[/URL]

Official FSN Anime Twitter said:
凛でもあったけど、自分の身体に魔力を通して一時的に身体強化するのは簡単。
血液に魔力をまぜる程度のニュアンス。
しかし器物に魔力を通すのは難しい。
ので、普通は魔力を通しての強化ではなく、魔術でまるっと外面に一枚装甲を被せる、のが安価で速くて強い。

This was also Rin, but temporary Reinforcement of the flesh by way of permeating one's [own] body with mana is simple.
It's a nuance of the level of infusing the blood with mana.
However, it's difficult to permeate an implement with mana.
Consequently, under normal circumstances, the Reinforcement [of such] is rendered not by the permeation of mana, but by encompassing the exterior with a single layer of armor — cheap, quick, and strong.

Beasts' Lair said:
"It's easy to reinforce your own body with magical energy; Rin has done this. It's basically as simple as infusing your own blood with energy. But, running energy through a container is difficult. So, one normally reinforces an object not by running energy through it, but by using magic to cover it in a protective outer shell. It's faster, stronger, and less costly."

Ergo, per WoG, Reinforcement of the body and the 5 senses is "a fundamental amongst fundamentals."
Temporary Reinforcement of the flesh is rendered by permeating one's own body with mana; by infusing one's own blood with mana. Nasu gives that this is a simple feat.
On account that it's difficult to permeate non-self objects / implements with mana, the Reinforcement of such is typically rendered by way of encompassing the exterior with "a single layer of armor." Nasu gives that this is cheap, quick, and strong.

The glossary entry on Reinforcement from Side Material:

Side Material said:
強化【魔術】

初歩にして極めるのは至難とされる魔術。
魔力を通し、対象の存在を高める全ての魔術の基本なのだが、その自由度の高さからか明確な実行形式が定まっておらず、オールマイティーな『強化』使いは少なし。
士郎は当然、武器に関してのみ強化を成せる半人前。
存在意義を特化させるので、ナイフなら切れ味が増し、食材なら栄養度、メイドなら萌度が増す。
あまり唆昧なモノを、暖昧に強化する事はできない。
また、生物には自分の魔力を通しにくい為、他人を『強化』する事は最高難易度とされる。

Reinforcement 【magecraft】

An elementary magecraft — the mastery of which is considered to be next to impossible.
Whereas permeation of mana [to the] enhancement of a target's existence is as the basis of all magecraft, perhaps on account of high degree of freedom [that it offers], it isn't affixed a clear format of execution, and almighty users of 『Reinforcement』 are [therefore] few.
Shirou is of course an amatuer (半人前, hannin-mae, lit. "half a man"; generally, "an individual not fully qualified") capable only of achieving Reinforcement with respect to weapon.
Being specialized [in its attendance] to existential meaning (存在意義, sonzai igi, "raison d'être"), [Reinforcement] would in the circumstance of a knife improve its sharpness; in an ingredient, its nutritional value; and in a maid, her moe.
In an excessively ambiguous existence, Reinforcement of ambiguity isn't possible.
Further, being as it's difficult to permeate one's own mana through a living organism, the 『Reinforcement』 of others is held to be of the highest difficulty.

TMDict said:
Reinforcement [magecraft]

An elementary magecraft, but one that's considered virtually impossible to master.
Though passing magical energy through an object to enhance its existence is the basis of all magecraft, perhaps because of the high degree of freedom and lack of clear executable forms, there are not very many almighty 『strengthening』 specialists.
Naturally, Shirou is a dropout who is only capable of succeeding at strengthening that involves weapons.
Since what's being enhanced is the meaning of an object's existence, using it on a knife will increase its sharpness, using it on food will increase its nutrition, and using it on a maid will increase her cuteness.
Of course, if an object's purpose is too vague, it will be impossible to strengthen it.
Also, because it's hard to pass your own magical energy through a living being, the 『strengthening』 of other people is considered to be a feat of the greatest difficulty.

And from CM3:

Complete Material III said:
魔術基盤

魔術を使用可能にするため、あらかじめ世界に刻まれているシステム。
学問や宗教の形をとる。

強化

魔力を通し、対象の『存在を高める』魔術。
存在を高めるということは、刄物なら切れ味を増し、食材なら栄養価を高めることを意味する。

Thaumaturgical Foundation

For the purpose of the implementation of magecraft, systems engraved in precedence unto the World.
Their forms are drawn of academic discourse and religion.

Reinforcement

A magecraft that by the permeation of mana 『enhances the existence』 of a target.
Enhancement of existence would in the circumstance of a blade improve its sharpness; and elevate the nutritional value of an ingredient.

Unfortunately, the Theory of Magic Google Doc doesn't allow me to copypaste.

On an unrelated note, the glossary entry on Thaumaturgical Foundations in Case File Material:

Lord El-Melloi II Case Files Material said:
魔術基盤【魔術・その他】

世界に刻みつけられた魔術理論。
人々の信仰や無意識によって、この効果は大きく強化される。
神秘は広まれば広まるほど力を失う。
しかし、知名度が高いほど安定するという、一見矛盾した事柄が成立するのは、この魔術基盤というシステムのため。
現行世界において最も広大かつ強大な魔術基盤は、聖堂教会による『神の教え』そのものである。
もっとも、家伝の魔術はこうした魔術基盤を利用せず、個人の魔術式だけで成立するし、フラットのように「毎回魔術式を新しく構築する」などという変態も存在する。

Thaumaturgical Foundation 【magecraft ・ other】

Thaumaturgical Principles (魔術理論, majutsu riron; sometimes "thaumaturgical theories") engraved unto the World.
Per the faith and the unconscious of the people, the effect of such is vast reinforced.
If a Mystery comes to propagate, its strength declines to the extent of its propagation.
It is however by this system of Thaumaturgical Foundations that the seemingly paradoxical circumstance wherein [Mysteries] stabilize to the extent of their prevalence is engendered.
As of the World presently proceeding, the most potent and widespread of the Thaumaturgical Foundations would be 『the teachings of God』 itself, come of the Holy Church.
Though in the first place, magecraft passed down as of a familial lineage does not in such a manner make use of Thaumaturgical Foundations — instead established solely upon personal spell protocols — there likewise exist deviants of the manner of Flat, who 「formulates a new spell protocol in every instance」 or so forth.

TMDict said:
Magical Foundation [magecraft · other]

A magical theory engraved into the world. It's strength is greatly influenced by the faith and the collective unconscious of the people.
As a Mystery propagates, it loses power. However, the reason they become more stable as knowledge about them spreads, though it may seem contradictory at first glance, is because of this system of Magical Foundations.
In the present day, the most widespread and most powerful Magical Foundation is the 『Teachings of God,』 used by the Holy Church.
Of course, there also exist families who develop magical formulas entirely independent of such Foundations, and weirdos like Flat who 『build an entirely new formula from scratch every time.』

Faith and the unconscious of the people reinforces the strength of a Mystery.
However, propagation (広まる, hiromaru) weakens the strength of a Mystery.
Thaumaturgical Foundations are Thaumaturgical Principles / Theories (魔術理論, majutsu riron) engraved upon the World, and render the paradoxical effect of stabilizing Mysteries to the extent of their prevalence / popularity (知名度, chimeido, lit. "degree of being well-known"). Note that Case Files Material also states that the qualification of the Cause Rank is "the establishment and stabilization of a Foundation."
The TMDict translation doesn't really properly render the bit about "families." The nuance is actually that (all?) magecraft (strictly?) passed down as of a single family would be unreliant upon Foundations, and are instead established upon personal / personalized spell protocols / formulas. That is, this may be a common occurrence without the purview of the Association.

fallacies · Apr 7, 2021

The map of Brockton Bay for use in this fic:

Portsmouth, Newington, and Stratham don't exist.
Hampton, Exeter, Newmarket, and several other townships in Rockingham County, NH are incorporated as parts of Brockton Bay.
In particular, Exeter approximately becomes the Downtown, whereas Hampton and North Hampton are the Downtown Coast.
The township of Newmarket roughly occupies the location of Brockton Bay's Lord Street Market.
Dame Forest occupies the location of the Boat Graveyard.
The southwest state line of Maine is opposite the Bay, northeast of the PHQ.

Note that the University of New Hampshire occupies the west of the township of Durham, to the north of the map. In this fic, the UNH is replaced by the University of Brockton Bay — or Brockton U for short. To get there from the Hebert residence, Annette would've had to drive northwest past the Trainyard, and cross eastward over the train route north of the city.

This map was created mostly by eyeballing the New Hampshire coastline, and doesn't necessarily represent a "realistic" depiction of Brockton Bay as it would exist per the canon, in terms of scale.

In terms of original landmarks, New Hampshire Route 101 occupies the approximate position of Canal Street within the limits of Brockton Bay.

Note that the above route begins at North Hampton, and not from Taylor's house.
The home of the Whateleys occupies the center of the empty field at 59 Andover Street — at the end of Andover Drive, in Peabody, MA. A close-up of the location is depicted below:

It's a couple of minutes away from Northshore Mall, which would presumably be visited on a regular basis by Lavinia and her son.
The specific location of the house is based on the placement of the Whateley Residence in Subspecies Singularity Salem. It's marked in red on the map below:

The waterway to the north is the Waters River, and to the northwest, there's a slight bend in the shoreline. This very approximately matches up to the rough position of 59 Andover Street per the general lay of the land in satellite images:

Meanwhile, Taylor's neighborhood also occupies a largely empty area of the countryside:

According to Google Maps, Taylor's house is approximately 10.9 miles / 17.5 km from the northeast corner of the Boat Graveyard, and 5.9 miles / 9.5 km from Lord Street Market.

In this fic, it's presumed that south of the state line into Massachusetts, the geography and the names of locations are substituted for those in Lovecraft Country:

As a point of interest, the location of Dunwich, MA in Lovecraft Country — the home of the Whateleys in The Dunwich Horror — is situated as relative to a town called Aylesbury. Clearly, this has nothing to do with the Aylesbury of Nasu fame.

fallacies · Apr 7, 2021

The Abenaki — "the People of the Land of Dawn" — are a Native American people who originally inhabited parts of New England and eastern Canada. In their mythology, the creator of the world is referred to as Tabaldak — "the Owner" — an androgynous figure attributed with the creation of everything in the world except the giant Odziozo.

Taylor is incorrectly remembering Tabaldak as a "hermaphroditic" figure; and Rin classifies them as an Earth Mother Goddess mostly on account of the anthropological interpretations of the Clock Tower.

As an aside, in the area of southeastern New Hampshire that Brockton Bay would occupy, the local Abenaki would belong of the Squamscott tribe — "of the Place of the Salmons."

As a secondary aside — entirely irrelevant to this story — the name "Japan" is etymologically descended from Dutch or Portuguese corruptions of the Sinitic 日本 ("nippon" in modern Japanese; "rìběn" in modern Mandarin) — meaning "(the place of) the Sun's origination."

Owing to the popularity of Japanese or East Asian lacquerware amongst European Orientalists, the word japan came to refer both to black enamel varnish and the process of applying such to wood. In the 17th century, Aphra Behn — sometimes hailed as the first professional female writer — in her novel, Oroonoko: or, The Royal Slave — one of the first novels in the English language — described the titular African prince as having skin "the color of japan."

fallacies · Apr 7, 2021

1680

July 12

- birth of Abigail Williams

November 14

- discovery of Newton's Comet

1692

February 9

- inception of the Salem Witch Trials

1807

- in New Hampshire, the industrialist Samuel Blodgett begins the construction of a series of canals that extend seawards from the Merrimack River to Lord's Port

1838

- Manchester, NH is founded as a company town by the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company

1842

January 1

- Boston & Maine Railroad established a line between Manchester and Lord's Port

1846

October 1

- Manchester, NH is incorporated as a city

1850

July 1

- Lord's Port, NH is renamed as Brockton Bay, and incorporated as a city

1878

July 29

- total solar eclipsein North America

- Birth of Lavinia Whateley

1913

February 2

- Birth of Wilbur Whateley

1982

May 20

- Scion is first sighted above the Atlantic Ocean

1983

- the Chinese Union-Imperial is formed, resulting in the 1st Asian Diaspora

1984

- the first superheroes emerge

- Amoskeag Manufacturing Company is acquired by a Japanese company, and closes sites in New Hampshire

- Stevedores Union riot in Brockton Bay, New Hampshire

- in an effort to preempt the imminent downturn of the economy, the State Legislature of New Hampshire passes Sanctuary Laws -- bringing in a flow of Asian immigrants

1987

- superheroes unveil themselves to the public

- Slaughterhouse Nine is founded; the founder, King, is killed later in the year, and Jack Slash becomes his successor

February 3

- Rin Zenjou is born to Aoi Zenjou

1988

- the Empire Eighty-Eight forms

May 1

- Alexandria, Legend, Eidolon, and Hero become the founding members of the initial Protectorate

1992

- Japanese asset price bubble collapses, resulting in the inception of the Lost Decade

December 13

- Behemoth appears in Marun Field, Iran

1993

January18

- the PRT is founded

1995

June 18

- Taylor Anne Hebert is born

1996

June 9

- Leviathan appears in Oslo, Norway

1997

- the oil platform Seraphics, originally situated near Newfoundland, Canada, is sold into the ownership of the PRT, and relocated off the coast of Brockton Bay, New Hampshire

1998

- NEPEA-5 is signed into law, vastly curtailing parahuman involvement in business

1999

- Scion dons white body suit

November 2

- Leviathan destroys Kyushu, Japan

2000

- Lung relocates from Japan to Anhui Province, China, and is subsequently captured by the Yangban

- in Brockton Bay, Fleur is killed

September 15

- Hero is killed in an engagement between the Protectorate and the Slaughterhouse Nine

- Alexandria engages and is injured by the Siberian

- the surviving members of the original Protectorate are redesignated as the Triumvirate

2001

February 2

- Nilbog appears in Ellisburg, NY, prompting the establishment of a quarantine by the PRT

2002

- Lung escapes from the Yangban

December 31

- Simurgh appears in Lausanne, Switzerland

2003

- Lung arrives in Brockton Bay, and greatly expands the former street gang known as the Azn Bad Boys

August 12

- Simurgh attacks London, England

2005

May 9

- Leviathan destroys Newfoundland, Canada

2008

- Sophia Hess triggers

August

- Annette Hebert dies

2009

June 28

- Taylor Hebert goes to summer camp

August

- Emma Barnes is attacked by the Azn Bad Boys

September

- Emma and Sophia begin to bully Taylor

December

- Simurgh attacks Madison, WI

2010

December

- Dinah Alcott triggers

2011

January 3

- Taylor Hebert triggers

- Rin Zenjou begins renovations on 24 Arbor St., Brockton Bay

January 29

- Taylor returns home from the hospital

February 4

- Chapter 011

[Worm x Fate] Journeywoman & Apprentice

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