The chaos theory known as the butterfly effect indicates that very small variations may seem insignificant, but will generate enormous changes over time, causing a feeling of chaos.
On the opposite extreme.
The Elephant Effect Theory*: When Stability Goes Down the Drain exactly like when an elephant falls into a kiddie pool.
Imagine a world in balance, like a calm lake. The waters, although in constant movement, maintain a gentle rhythm, without large waves. But suddenly, an elephant jumps into the lake. The lake becomes agitated, and gigantic, relentless waves rise, destroying everything in their path. This is the essence of the Elephant Effect Theory.
The Elephant Effect is a sudden and powerful force that breaks with the established order, causing drastic and irreversible changes in a short space of time. It is like a thunder that breaks the silence, a volcano that erupts, an earthquake that tears the earth apart.
The pillars of the Elephant Effect Theory
Stability is an illusion. The world, although it seems stable, can change quickly with the use of extreme force.
The Breaking Point. When variations exceed a critical limit, stability suddenly breaks down.
The Cascade of Changes. The breakdown of equilibrium triggers a series of chain events, each one amplifying chaos and destruction. It is like a domino, where the fall of one piece causes all the others to fall.
The New Equilibrium. After the storm, the world reorganizes itself, with a new order, different from the previous one. The lake, after the fury of the waves, calms down, but its landscape will be forever changed.
Examples of the Elephant Effect Theory
The extinction of the dinosaurs. A giant asteroid collided with the Earth, causing a global catastrophe that extinguished most species, paving the way for the dominance of mammals.
The collapse of ancient civilizations, wars and social crises can lead to the collapse of empires, transforming prosperous societies into ruins.
The beginning and end of ice ages, where rapid changes (a few decades) of up to +10C°/-10C° caused mass extinctions.
The entry of a reality into the system. Which always happens suddenly as in the case of Dhah'ar.
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In a tavern of fishermen, adventurers and exiles, a paladin drowns her sorrows in drink.
The waitress with a jug fills the empty mug. Antinua takes a good sip, placing the mug with some force on the table, splashes flying.
“This is the first time I have failed a mission, there will be no second!”
The air in the tavern, thick with smoke and murmurs, became heavy as lead. Antinua, the paladin with shining armor and a stern look, stood up, drawing everyone’s attention. The noise of conversations ceased, the glasses of beer stopped in the air, and all eyes turned to him.
“I, Antinua, daughter of Aethel, servant of Cystemis, the Father of the Gods, solemnly swear!” His voice, normally deep and firm, trembled slightly, charged with an emotion that few had seen before. "If I fail again in the mission entrusted to me, if my blade fails to do the will of the God, then may my voice be forever silent! May my lips be sealed, and may my words be but whispers in prayers to the Father of the Gods, or in incantations to cast magic!" She raised her right hand, palm open, toward the ceiling of the tavern. The light from the fish-oil lamps danced across her armor, casting strange shadows on the walls. "May my silence be a testament to my failure, and may my fate be sealed by this oath!" A deathly silence fell over the tavern. The faces, once curious, now reflected admiration, fear, and even compassion. Antinua, with her head bowed, let out a deep sigh. "May the gods help me fulfill my mission, and may this oath be but a distant echo, a reminder that failure is not an option!" She sat down, her posture slumped, but her gaze, now fixed on the ground, held an unshakable determination. The murmur returned to the tavern, but the air, even with the smoke and noise, still carried the aura of the solemn oath, forever engraved in the minds of those who witnessed Antinua's promise.
“Impressive. Then let's start acting without delay.” Filiz says in a neutral tone of voice.
“Wow, five days to get here, on a journey that should have taken at most three. My insides are grateful to be back on solid ground.” Antinua says in a sip and a forkful.
“Teleportation magic has a habit of not working in half the cases, and the networks only work a little better. The southern sea is dominated by Krakens, pirates, the people of the sea and leviathans. And we saw firsthand how quickly the weather changes, if we didn't have to flee from storms and hurricanes for three days.
In three days we will return to the expedition, after repairs, resupply of supplies and hire guides, woodsmen, some porters and pack animals.” He calls the waitress to collect their plates. He stands up and takes a brass tube hanging from his chair and opens it, taking out a rare and very valuable fairy map. A magical map that shows everything that is known by explorers who used the map on previous expeditions. Even so, eighty percent of the continent is unknown and on the map it appears as an area with a mist that moves slowly, like oil on a puddle of water.
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“We are here.” And he points with his finger at a pulsing red icon. “Come closer.” And when commanded, the map shows a top view of Porto das Pedras, with the icon marking the tavern. “The expeditions have reached 100km away from Porto das Pedras, going up the Marrom River, and a few kilometres along the river banks, up to the limit of the last expedition, 4 villages of native dark elves were found, we will go straight to the furthest village and from there continue on, my idea is to have one of the natives take us to a place called, Obsidium Tower.”
“Any special reason for choosing this place?” Antinua looks inquisitively at Filiz as she continues to eat and drink.
“Because this place fits all the points of the quest:
◦ Cursed forests
◦ Haunted ruins
◦ Ancestral temples
◦ Lost and wild continents
At each point Filiz raises her finger to mark.
“Right.” Antinua thinks "that in a desert, any direction is as good as any other". Cystemis gave no sign other than that Evil would be in Xok'al, and that he should gather his companions and leave as quickly as possible.
“I have never heard of this Tower.” Antinua
"The majestic and imposing Obsidium Tower, a construction from the age of the Giants, rises from the depths of the jungles of Xok'al, where the dense vegetation seems to envelop the world in a suffocating embrace. Its black, polished surface reflects the light filtered through the treetops, creating an almost supernatural glow that deceives the eyes. Three kilometers high and two hundred meters in diameter, the tower is a work of natural and magical art, a scar on the wild landscape.It is only when we are a few hundred meters away that the Obsidium Tower reveals itself, which is why we need a native guide. The accounts collected by explorers speak of a structure composed of black obsidian, with veins of colored rocks that snake through the material, giving it an almost living appearance. At night, the tower glows with an ethereal glow, as if it were breathing, pulsating with a magical energy that echoes through the trees. It is said that the obsidian absorbs the moonlight, creating a spectacle of mesmerizing colors. Local legends speak of an immeasurable power that resides within. All have tried to climb the tower, but have been repelled by an invisible force; it also has no visible opening.
The natives of Xok'al revere the tower as a sanctuary. They believe that its magic radiates, affecting the flora and fauna around it, creating a balance that keeps the jungle alive and vibrant. To the natives, the Obsidium Tower is a symbol of wisdom, power, and mystery, a monument that defies time and comprehension."
"That seems like a good place to start." Antinua slams her empty beer mug on the table and raises it high again. "MORE!"
By the Gods, does this paladin have no bottom? Filiz thinks.
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Hethress and Meikosil sat on a stone bench in the garden of the Great House, under the shade of a tree with amethyst-colored flowers. The gentle breeze carried the scent of pine and damp earth, but the air was filled with sadness.
"I still can't believe Hiutotiaco did this," Hethress said, her voice low and hoarse from crying. "She always seemed so loyal, so... devoted."
Meikosil nodded, her eyes fixed on the ground. "She was. But we never know when a poison can corrupt even the noblest souls."
"And now, what do we do?" Meikosil asked. "The blue screen... it's still affecting everyone, and the kingdom is in chaos. The people are afraid and being driven crazy. Stranger still, neither I, nor you, nor Akaos or the D.K.s will see this blue screen."
"That just shows how powerful our husband is, and his influence protected us from this evil." Heathers said with a sigh and hugging herself in a protective reflex.
"We can't give up," Hethress replied, lifting her chin. "We need to find a solution. I know our husband is devastated by Hiutotiaco's betrayal, and the situation is getting worse every day."
"What do you suggest?" Meikosil asked, a glint in her eyes, your mind wandering through some very naughty ideas, husband seems to be more relaxed after "night exercises"..
"We will form a barrier, we will prevent anyone who is not one of his children or his wives from being part of his husband's closest circle," Hethress said. "We also need to form a powerful army that can help us. We need to search every corner of the kingdom for resources to face our enemies."
"To be clear, by 'enemies', you mean everyone who was not created or reborn by your husband. Right?"
"Correct, none who has been purified by her husband, it has already become clear that weakness and corruption can affect anyone whose husband has not touched. The lack of trust he has was only confirmed by the betrayal of that false snake."
"But how to find these 'resources'?" Meikosil asked ironically.
Hethress either didn't notice the irony or didn't care. “The easiest and most obvious source is the ruins beneath the Aunnas Ziggurat. Let’s present a rebirth schedule to the husband. My idea is to start with; Cōpa..”
“Cōpa? Why?” Meikosil genuinely surprised.
“Do you want to take care of the day to day running of the house, the city, dealing with employees, servants and slaves?” Hethress narrowed her eyes at Meikosil.
“Continue.” He would never admit that Hethress was right, not out loud.
“...the King and Queen of the Giants, then the 4 champions of the giants, followed by the dragons after that we take our forces and take the capital. With that we will make the Valley of Shadows our base of operations, and when the enemies come, they will have a great reception.” She finished by clapping her hands on her knees.
Meikosil took a deep breath. "So much ambition, I didn't expect it from you, but I really like this side of you. It's a good plan, but we need to work a little more on the details. Together, we will present a ready and perfect plan and with it we will bring peace back to our husband. We have time, the husband is in the river, I feel that he is slowly calming down."
“In a month or so we will control the entire Vale region, then we will subjugate the elves, the bee people, the mantis and the giants. Yes, it is a good basis for a secure future."
"I hate to see him suffering!" says Hethress with tears in her eyes.
"Me too!" Condorda Meikosil.