homebrew-magic-rpg/_plans/lore-update-2026-05-06.md

Plan: HbM RPG v3 - Comprehensive Lore Buildout

TL;DR

Phased, multi-batch buildout to bring the vault to player- and GM-ready status. We migrate canon from _books/ into the vault (which becomes the new source of truth), make concepts/ the canonical short-form definitions while lore/ essays become longform narrative, fill empty stubs (races, organizations, disciplines), and introduce missing structural elements (in-world calendar, magical education, religion frameworks, tech-level table, gazetteer). Each phase is a reviewable batch; you approve before the next starts. A final pass audits all wikilinks/backlinks vault-wide.

---

Canon Decisions (locked in this plan)

These are now canon and must be reflected wherever relevant:

• The Abyss / Otchłań - both a cosmic force AND a fundamental law of reality. Originally a single being named Abyss; she split into Abyss + Mundus, then Tempus split off. The remaining part of Abyss became known as Nil - therefore Nil is the eldest of the three. Nil/Mundus/Tempus are not avatars - they are the consciousness of the Abyss itself.
• Posłańcy (Harbingers) - mortal vessels chosen by the Personifikacje. Once chosen, a Posłaniec is transformed and quasi-immortal; the slot only frees if the Personifikacja wills it. Each Personifikacja has exactly 2 Posłańców, so 6 slots total, each tied to a distinct domain:
  • Nil (Przeszłość i Przyszłość):
    • Posłaniec Przeszłości = Diana Koniecpolska
    • Posłaniec Przyszłości = open hook
  • Mundus (Życie i Teraźniejszość):
    • Posłaniec Życia = Szaarael (sukkubica; also the demonic VP controlling the USA; Harbinger of Love)
    • Posłaniec Mutacji = open hook (hinted form: naga/lamia)
  • Tempus (Czas - kierunek biegu):
    • Posłaniec Cofnięcia = Yssariel (elfka; Harbinger of Pain)
    • Posłaniec Postępu = open hook (hinted form: elf) Polish term throughout: Posłaniec / Posłańcy. English (internal/notes only): Harbinger.
• USA Blackout - officially unknown. Truth: the demonic VP is Szaarael, Posłaniec Życia Mundusa (Harbinger of Love). A sukkubica who assumed the VP role to extend Mundus's influence over the USA's magical and social development. "Harbinger of Love" reflects her domain over human connection, desire, and societal bonds.
• Diana Koniecpolska - ambition + research-induced madness; Nil began teaching her in dreams; she has now become Posłaniec Nil (Posłaniec Przeszłości).
• Robert Zaryn - technically the only mage truly worthy of "Blood God"; his body was destroyed and mind shattered centuries ago. Other powerful blood mages have since adopted the title. His sole living enemy is Xillith / First Patriarch / Bezimienny. Current goal: regain power and manipulate Federation Sol-3 into cleansing Xivell.
• Xillith / First Patriarch / Bezimienny (the elder) - Nadworny Taumaturg of Królestwo Xivell. Created the parasite that caused the Upadek. Struck down by Nil; only partially erased from reality - thanks to his artifacts he persists as a voice in his Avatars' minds and can take physical control of their bodies. After his death, taumaturgia splintered into the modern magic schools; his students founded the Szkarłatny Kult. Current goal: seize control of the Szkarłatny Kult. Disambiguation: do not confuse with the modern student-NPC of the same name.
• Xillith (the student) - separate, modern character. Member of the Szkarłatny Kult and student at Wschodnioeuropejska Szkoła Magii. Distinct file from the elder Xillith. Both pages must cross-link with a clear "Nie mylić z…" disambiguation note.
• Xivell parasite - magical bioweapon engineered by the elder Xillith to destroy Królestwo Zaryn during the inter-Xivell war; spiraled out of control and consumed the entire planet (the Upadek). Lore inspiration: Blightfall (Minecraft modpack).
• Karolina Fey - philosophical schism with her mother (unnamed). Mother harmonized (stabilize reality by appeasing the Abyss). Karolina commands (bends the Abyss to the mage's will). Karolina destroyed her mother body and soul. Abyss Sabat now follows her out of fear - you don't disobey someone proven capable of destroying planets.
• Inkwizycja - historically affiliated with the Church; separated thanks to a cardinal (canonical event documented in books). Now operates as a largely secular world-wide magic police, retaining religious aesthetics and some institutional ties.
• Zakon Taumaturgów - not a serious order. Full name: Koło Wzajemnej Pomocy dla Uczniów Słabiej Utalentowanych Magicznie. A student club at Wschodnioeuropejska Szkoła Magii for magically weak students whose discipline is treated as a sub-branch of taumaturgia. Tone: comedic / mundane. Not a power-broker faction - earlier assumptions were wrong.
• Bill Cipher and Co. - explicit Gravity Falls reference; tone is light/parodic relative to the rest of the lore.
• Wielka Trzynastka - the 13 founding magic schools. The core book specifies their physical locations but not in-universe names. Wschodnioeuropejska Szkoła Magii is one of them, anchored in a sub-dimension moored south of Kraków on the city's edge; divided into language-based sections. Other 12 schools' names = open hooks (location-only canon).
• First War with Malferian Consortium (2022–2023) - Federation Sol-3 actually struck first; official narrative blames Malferian aggression. Real motive: prevent anyone from slowing Sol-3 expansion.
• Xivell colonization - true reasons: secret magical knowledge buried on the planet + strategic position. The parasite plague is acceptable cost.
• Calendar: Era Przebudzenia (EP), EP 0 = 2023 (16.IV.2023 Awakening). Current = EP 3 (2026). Convention: Polish "Era Przebudzenia" / abbrev "EP".
• Federation Sol-3 / Malferian War truth visibility: known to (a) top Federation leadership and Malferian Houses, and (b) leaked into conspiracy circles as deniable rumor. Plant subtle hints in conspiracy-adjacent NPC/org notes; keep mainstream lore on the official narrative.
• Race source policy: for races without rich vault content (Demon, Anioł, Feles, Lamia, Malferianin), synthesize from _books/ during Phase 3 - no freestyle invention.
• Named NPC canonicity: Syllia Orirel, Serioża Żukow, Pelagius Caudex, Aurora Nylabelle, Thingrim Magnarson, Princess Zayis, Prince Arkthar, and the four Malferian Houses (Tyrris, Veyran, Kael, Serath) are all canonical names - keep verbatim.
• Robert Zaryn alias - "Ten, Który jest Mroczny" is an alias/title, same NPC. Canonical file: npcs/Magowie Krwi/Ten, Który jest Mroczny.md (aliases: Robert Zaryn, Bóg Krwi, Król Królestwa Zaryn). Do not create a separate file - the existing NPC file already uses the Zaryn aliases.
• Aurora Nylabelle - full canonical name. NPC file npcs/Uczniowie/Aurora.md carries aliases: [Aurora Nylabelle, Księżniczka Aurora]. The surname is canon and must be used in all cross-references.
• Szaarael - Posłaniec Życia (Mundus), sukkubica, demonic VP of USA. NPC file: npcs/Kult Otchłani/Szaarael.md.
• Yssariel - Posłaniec Cofnięcia (Tempus), elfka, Harbinger of Pain. NPC file: npcs/Kult Otchłani/Yssariel.md.
• Plan file canonical location - .github/plans/lore-update-2026-05-06.md (working copy may also exist at _plans/ during editing).

---

Structural Decisions (locked)

• concepts/ = canonical short definitions. In-world encyclopedia voice. Each concept page = crisp definition + summary + links to longform.
• lore/ = longform narrative essays. Mixed voice (in-world body + GM callouts). Numbered files are author/GM-facing deep dives.
• Voice: mixed - in-world body text with > [!gm] (or equivalent) callouts for spoilers, secret truths, and Harbinger reveals.
• Books → vault migration: lift-and-restructure. Copy from _books/, rewrite for vault structure, stay close to source.
• Wikilinks: fix-as-you-go is allowed but a dedicated final phase does the vault-wide audit.
• New structures to introduce: in-world calendar, magical education system, per-race religion/spirituality, tech-level comparison table, city/geography gazetteer.

---

Phases

Each phase ends with a review checkpoint. You approve before the next starts.

Phase 0 - Templates & Conventions (foundation, 1 batch)

Establish the patterns everything else uses.

• Create _templates/Rasa.template.md (race) - sections: krótki opis, biologia/morfologia, kultura, religia/duchowość, język, historia, relacje z innymi rasami, magia/wrażliwość na Otchłań, znani przedstawiciele, hooks dla MG.
• Create _templates/Dyscyplina.template.md (magic discipline) - sections: definicja (in-world), historia szkoły, filozofia/założenia, poddyscypliny, znani praktycy, status prawny (Inkwizycja), mechanika (krótko + link), GM callout.
• Create _templates/Koncept.template.md (concept) - sections: definicja, etymologia/pochodzenie nazwy, znaczenie w grze, powiązania, dalsze lektury (linki do lore/).
• Define the GM callout convention (Obsidian admonition / > [!gm] block). Document in README.md or a small _templates/_styleguide.md.
• Define the in-world calendar: e.g. Era Przebudzenia (EP) - Year 0 = 16.IV.2023; current = EP 3 (2026). Document conversion in calendar concept page.

Verification: templates exist; styleguide exists; calendar concept page exists; one example race file (e.g. Człowiek) drafted using the new template as proof.

Phase 1 - Concepts (the canonical layer)

Make concepts/ the source of truth that wikilinks resolve to.

• Fill concepts/Otchłań.md with the new canon (Abyss-as-being → split into Nil/Mundus/Tempus; cosmic force + fundamental law). Link to lore/02. Otchłań i Magia.md for the longform.
• Fill concepts/Szkoły Magii.md as an index of all 13+ disciplines with one-line summaries and links.
• Fill concepts/Teoria Jednego Wszechświata.md - extract from lore/10., summarize, link.
• New concepts to create:
  • concepts/Posłańcy.md (the six Posłańcy - 2 per Personifikacja; Past, Życie, Tempus pairs; what they are; named slots vs open hooks)
  • concepts/Personifikacje Otchłani.md (Nil, Mundus, Tempus as consciousness fragments)
  • concepts/Era Przebudzenia.md (calendar)
  • concepts/Magiczna Edukacja.md (Wielka Trzynastka academies, durations, certification, Inquisition licensing)
  • concepts/Równowaga.md (Equilibrium - what breaks it, consequences)
• Refactor lore/02. and lore/10. to link to the concept pages rather than re-defining inline.

Verification: every empty concept file now has content; [[Otchłań]] and [[Teoria Jednego Wszechświata]] resolve to real definitions; new concept files exist; longform lore/ essays still read coherently after links inserted.

Phase 2 - Disciplines (parity pass)

Bring all magic schools to comparable depth using the discipline template + _books/Księga Magii.md as source.

• Empty → fill: Nekromancja, Magia Runiczna, Taumaturgia, Golemancja, Magia Szkarłatu, Magia Otchłani.
• Thin → expand: Botanika, Alchemia, Magia Iluzji, Magia Żywiołów, Magia Sakralna.
• Already strong (use as templates): Dzika Wiedźmia Magia, Wiedźmia Magia, Magia Krwi, Rzemiosło Artefaktów. Light pass to add GM callouts and align format.
• For each: history, philosophy, famous practitioners (link to NPC file even if NPC stub), legal status (Inkwizycja stance), mechanics summary + cross-link to book.
• Special canon insertions:
  • Magia Krwi: encode Zaryn canon (body destroyed, mind shattered, "Blood God" title diluted, enemy = First Patriarch).
  • Magia Otchłani: encode the harmonize-vs-command schism; reference Karolina Fey vs her mother as case study.
  • Rzemiosło Artefaktów: Diana subplot - her temple-generator tech, her descent, her becoming Harbinger of Past (GM callout).

Verification: every discipline page has the same section skeleton; word-count variance reduced (target: 600–1500 words each); every discipline references at least one named practitioner; GM callouts present where canon reveals exist.

Phase 3 - Races (player-facing essentials)

Use _templates/Rasa.template.md and source from lore/10. Przewodnik Ludzkości… plus _books/.

• Fill: Człowiek, Elf (split notes for Wysokie/Leśne in subsections), Krasnolud, Demon, Anioł, Feles, Lamia, Malferianin.
• For each: biology, culture, religion (per phase decision), language notes, history with the Federation, magical affinities, notable NPCs, GM hooks.
• Cross-link from race pages to relevant locations (Elves ↔ Hiondirs-4, Lamiae ↔ Eldrakar, Malferianie ↔ Konsorcjum) and disciplines (Krasnoludy ↔ Magia Runiczna).

Verification: all 8 race files have full template completion; each links to its home location, primary discipline, and at least one organization.

Phase 4 - Organizations (faction depth)

Fill the four critical stubs and lightly polish the strong ones.

• Szkarłatny Kult - full structure (13 Pretorów, Knights/Priests duality, Obsidian Obelisks, Crimson Domain). Origin canon: founded by Xillith's surviving students after the Upadek to preserve taumaturgical knowledge, though the cult has since lost most of its original purpose. Current threat: Xillith himself is trying to seize control via his Avatars. First Matriarch ambiguity preserved. Source: lore/05. + _books/Chwała Szkarłatnemu Kultowi.md.
• Kult Otchłani (Zakon Otwartego Oka) - theology of Personifikacje, Diana as Posłaniec Przeszłości (GM callout), Nil/Mundus/Tempus worship distinctions, Diana subplot.
• Inkwizycja - historical Church affiliation, cardinal-led separation, current role as world-wide magic police; selective enforcement doctrine; relationship to all magic schools; jurisdictional limits. Lift the Church-separation event from _books/.
• Zakon Taumaturgów - recategorize as a minor / comedic entity, not a major faction. Document as the school club at Wschodnioeuropejska Szkoła Magii ("Koło Wzajemnej Pomocy…"). Move the file to a more appropriate location if needed (e.g. as a sub-page of the school) - flag this for review during the phase.
• Federacja Sol-3 - append GM callout encoding the truth about who started the Malferian War + Xivell's true purpose.
• Konsorcjum Gwiezdne Malferian - append the "they didn't start it" reveal as GM callout; document remaining 5 systems, House dynamics, war-II potential as in-world tension.
• Bill Cipher and Co. - light expansion; document imprisonment & residual threat.

Verification: every organization file has stat-block + body + GM callout; all reference their key NPCs; the Malferian War narrative is coherent across Federacja, Konsorcjum, and conflicts/Pierwsza Wojna… pages.

Phase 5 - NPCs, Locations, Gazetteer

Connect the world.

• Named NPCs to create or expand: Diana Koniecpolska (Posłaniec Przeszłości reveal), Karolina Fey (command/harmonize doctrine), Robert Zaryn, Xillith the Elder / First Patriarch / Bezimienny (with Avatar control mechanic), Xillith the Student (separate file, Szkarłatny Kult member, Wschodnioeuropejska Szkoła Magii student - must include disambiguation note), Syllia Orirel, Serioża Żukow, Pelagius Caudex, Aurora Nylabelle, Thingrim Magnarson, the demonic VP / Posłaniec Życia (unnamed), Princess Zayis, Prince Arkthar.
• Locations to add: Eldrakar (mentioned but no file), Khazad-Morul (dwarven homeworld), Kraków (gateway to Hiondirs), Zürich (magical stock exchange), the Wielka Trzynastka academies as a gazetteer page or per-school stubs.
• Tech-level comparison table - single page comparing Earth / Federation / Krasnoludy / Elfy / Malferianie across categories (energy, transport, weapons, communication, magic-tech fusion).
• Sub-conflicts - short pages or sections for Kashmir / Nile / Taiwan crises mentioned in lore/03..

Verification: every NPC referenced in disciplines/organizations resolves to a file; new locations exist with infobox + body; tech table exists and is referenced from at least 3 race/org pages.

Phase 6 - Wikilink & Backlink Audit

Vault-wide cleanup.

• Scan all [[wikilinks]] for unresolved targets; create stubs or fix targets.
• Verify each major concept has reasonable backlinks (Dataview-style or manual).
• Verify Obsidian aliases are set where folder-paths might create ambiguity.
• Update HBM_BOOKS_REFERENCE.md and the root index files (classes.md, concepts.md, disciplines.md, etc.) to reflect new content.

Verification: zero red wikilinks vault-wide; root index files list everything; spot-check 10 random pages - all internal links work and lead to relevant content.

---

Relevant files (high-traffic)

• _templates/ - new templates land here (Rasa, Dyscyplina, Koncept) plus styleguide.
• concepts/ - becomes the canonical layer; all 3 existing files filled, 5 new ones added.
• lore/02. and lore/10. - refactored to link to concepts instead of duplicating definitions.
• disciplines/ - 6 empty files filled, 5 thin files expanded, 4 strong files polished.
• races/ - all 8 files written from scratch using the template.
• organizations/Szkarłatny Kult.md, organizations/Kult Otchłani.md, organizations/Inkwizycja.md, organizations/Zakon Taumaturgów.md - full rewrites.
• organizations/Federacja Sol-3.md, organizations/Konsorcjum Gwiezdne Malferian.md - append GM-callout reveals.
• npcs/ - multiple new NPC files; Diana, Karolina, Zaryn, First Patriarch are highest priority.
• locations/ - Eldrakar, Khazad-Morul, Kraków, Zürich added.
• Root index files (concepts.md, disciplines.md, races.md, organizations.md, locations.md, npcs.md, classes.md) - refreshed in Phase 6.
• _books/ - read-only reference; content lifted-and-restructured into vault.

---

Scope boundaries

In scope: lore content, in-world voice, GM callouts, structural pages (calendar, education, gazetteer), wikilink hygiene, templates.

Out of scope (separate plans if you want them):

• Mechanics/crunch rewriting (the rules/ and Foundry system in .src/foundry-system/).
• Adventure module writing (adventures/).
• Tabletop card layouts (tabletop-cards/).
• Translation of any content to English.
• Re-canonizing material against the books beyond what's needed to fill stubs (no second-guessing existing canon unless you flag it).

---

Further considerations (resolved)

1. Open Posłaniec slots - 3 slots remain unfilled: Posłaniec Przyszłości (Nil), Posłaniec Mutacji (Mundus), Posłaniec Postępu (Tempus). Szaarael (Życia) and Yssariel (Cofnięcia) are now named canon alongside Diana (Przeszłości). Left as adventure hooks; the 2-per-Personifikacja rule is canon. Documented in concepts/Posłańcy.md.
2. Calendar adoption depth - keep Gregorian dates, append EP in parentheses (e.g. "16.IV.2023 (EP 0)"). Backwards-compatible.
3. GM callout syntax - > [!gm]+ Tylko dla MG (collapsible Obsidian callout).
4. Tempus Posłańcy names - Posłaniec Cofnięcia / Posłaniec Postępu.
5. Templates - include YAML frontmatter (tags, aliases, status) matching existing strong pages.

---

Task Checklist

• Krok 1 - Uzgodnienie planu - plan skonsolidowany, decyzje kanoniczne zatwierdzone, lista zadań ustalona.
• Krok 2 - Głęboki pass dyscyplin - Magia Krwi, Magia Otchłani, Taumaturgia, Rzemiosło Artefaktów zaktualizowane zgodnie z kanonem.
• Krok 3 - Organizacje - Federacja Sol-3, Konsorcjum, Inkwizycja, Szkarłatny Kult, Kult Otchłani, Bill Cipher and Co. zaktualizowane.
• Krok 4 - Głęboki pass ras - Krasnolud, Lamia, Malferianin rozbudowane; błąd Feles Aurora naprawiony.
• Krok 5 - Zaległości NPC - Diana Koniecpolska, Ten Który jest Mroczny, Karolina Fey, Bezimienny Pierwszy Patriarcha, Xillith Isherwood, Szaarael, Yssariel, Thingrim Magnarson, Princess Zayis, Prince Arkthar ukończone.
• Krok 6 - Odniesienia do tabeli tech - dodane do Krasnolud, Malferianin, Konsorcjum.
• Krok 7 - Audyt Fazy 6 - odświeżenie indeksu, poprawki YAML frontmatter, audyt wikilinków.

---

Stan na 2026-05-22

Sesja zakończyła się sukcesem. Ukończono kroki 1–6:

• Plan (krok 1) uzgodniony i skonsolidowany na początku sesji.
• Dyscypliny (krok 2): Magia Krwi, Magia Otchłani, Taumaturgia i Rzemiosło Artefaktów wzbogacone o sekcje historii, filozofii, znanych praktyków oraz callout-y GM z kanonem (Zaryn, Karolina Fey, Diana).
• Organizacje (krok 3): Federacja Sol-3 i Konsorcjum Gwiezdne Malferian uzupełnione o GM-callout z prawdą o wojnie; Inkwizycja, Szkarłatny Kult i Kult Otchłani przebudowane strukturalnie; Bill Cipher and Co. rozbudowane o kontekst więzienia i szczątkowego zagrożenia.
• Rasy (krok 4): Krasnolud i Malferianin mocno rozbudowane (biologia, kultura, historia, linki do lokacji i dyscyplin); Lamia uzupełniona; błąd Aurora Nylabelle w pliku Feles naprawiony.
• NPC (krok 5): stworzone lub zaktualizowane pliki dla wszystkich 10 priorytetowych postaci (Diana Koniecpolska, Ten Który jest Mroczny/Robert Zaryn, Karolina Fey, Bezimienny Pierwszy Patriarcha, Xillith Isherwood, Szaarael, Yssariel, Thingrim Magnarson, Princess Zayis, Prince Arkthar).
• Cross-referencje do tabeli tech (krok 6): wstawione do plików Krasnolud, Malferianin i Konsorcjum.

Pozostałe: krok 7 - vault-wide audyt wikilinków, poprawki YAML frontmatter, odświeżenie plików indeksowych (disciplines.md, races.md, organizations.md, npcs.md itp.).