~The Theatre~

The Theatre

Quick Summary
Located in the woods to the east of Bedlam, the theatre is the natural home of ‘Other’ Aspects. It is a break in the constructed world of Eidolon City. Whilst there, any Aspects who have their origins in anything other than fairytale and mythology will 'become' that. Also whilst there, any Wakings will be able to access their real world personas more easily.

The theatre has no altering effect on other Aspect types, though they will treat the Other Aspects as their character, rather than their city persona.

Location
The theatre is located deep in the woods to the east of Bedlam Insane Asylum. There are no roads leading to it, no access for cars or vehicles of any type. You could get there on a motorcycle, but nobody ever has the urge to do that.

Access to the theatre is down a path that starts a little way into the woods. It's not hard to find, but it does start off narrow. The deeper you get into the woods, the wider the path becomes, and, as you approach the theatre, it becomes cobbled.

Appearance and Population
The theatre is very clearly from an era well before the one experienced in Eidolon City. Although referred to as ‘the theatre’, that is only due to the dominance of that building over the area. In actual fact, it is surrounded by a handful of other buildings, none of which approach the size or grandosity of the theatre itself, which appears to be of Elizabethan-style construction, not unlike Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.

Inside the theatre, it’s very relaxed. There is no fixed seating in the areas in front of the stage, but instead tables and chairs are scattered about. A balcony runs along the inside of the building, about half way up the wall, and the balcony area has fixed benches. Behind the stage itself is a large and rambling backstage area, all corridors and rooms - it is very easy to get lost (unless you are an Aspect whose origin in here, in which case you always seem to be able to find your way).

It's inhabitants look like they're from there. From that time period, wearing clothing that's appropriate for the era. The inhabitants who live there on a permanent basis are all Other Aspects. They do have the ability to leave the theatre and enter the city, but many of them don't.

Effect on Other Aspects
The Other Aspects who live in the city do not 'know' that the theatre is their place of origin. When these Aspects are in the city, they won't have the knowledge that, for example, they were born in some theatre - that isn't how it works. Just like the Wakings in the city believe that they've always been there, and have no knowledge that they're actually some person in a coma in another world, Other Aspects believe that they have always been who their city persona is. However, any Other Aspect who enters the theatre will immediately feel at home there. They will also behave and be treated by everyone else (Aspects and Wakings alike) as the Aspect they embody (so, for example, the aspect of nightmares would be feared as such, even if usually he lives out in the city and is something else). People will understand who they are, and treat them accordingly. Outside of the theatre and an Other Aspect will start reverting to whoever they are set up to be in the city.

Aspects of the same ‘story’ will recognize one another. They'll have a stronger bond to one another than other Aspects. Upon returning to the city, they will recognize one another--even if they aren't sure why they recognize them. It'll be a 'this person looks really familiar' sort of situation, and they might be more inclined to go speak with them, etc. or, run like hell, if it's an antagonistic persona from their ‘story’. still, they'll recognize them in some form!

Effect on Wakings
The effect of the theatre on Wakings differs somewhat depending on the Wakings type. For all Wakings, however, they will start to act more like their real world personalities (though they retain their City memories and identities). So, for example, if a Waking in the city was a nice guy with a good sense of humour and who worked as a butcher - but in the real world, he was a recluse with no sense of humour at all who was a software programmer - on entering the theatre, he would start acting more reclusive and have a tendency to find less things funny - but he would still be a butcher.

The differences come, however, as Wakings begin to be able to access memories from their real world selves. The ability to access memories does not come immediately upon a first visit to the theatre, but repeat visits would open up access to memories slowly. The more a Waking visits the theatre, the more they would find themselves experiencing memories from the real world.

For Wakings, the effects are gradual and cummulative. The more a Waking visits the theatre, the more that they will take on the personality traits and experience the memories of their real-world selves. This happens more quickly in some than others. Also, the effects are smooth - so, for example, they wouldn't get specific and jarring flashbacks to who they had been, but they may find that they remember something that feels like they've always known it.

Commons
Of all the Wakings types, Commons Wakings have the strongest connection to their former selves and often experience a sense of 'duality' when entering the theatre. Commons Wakings often cannot separate out memories from their City selves and their real world selves. The real world memories come as something which they have personally experienced, rather than any kind of fantasy or illusion.

Different Commons Wakings deal with this in different ways. Some Commons Wakings may feel they are experiencing a 'past life', whilst others may try to rationalize matters and explain why they feel like two people at once! Some may fear they are losing their minds.

Spires
Spire Wakings remember real world places they've been and greater moments in the real world more easily. That said, however, these memories are not accompanied by a knowledge that this happened in another world and they may rationalize these as 'dreams' as the history would conflict with the established history of the shared illusion.

Tides
Tides experience memories in a random way, that can be confusing. Not only do they experience their own memories, but they may also experience the real world memories of other Wakings close to them in the theatre, and also of people who may be close to their real world self (for example doctors, nurses, family members or other carers).

Returning to the City
When heading back to the city, just like when approaching it, the transition in mentality is fluid, and not at all jarring. The farther from the city people get, the more their Eidolon City persona will slide right back into place.

While they will remember what happened in the theatre, it will become hazier, like a dream, the closer they get to the city, and won't get any clearer. Neither Wakings nor Aspects find the experience strange, either. And the further they get from the theatre, the less relevant the experience seems to them.

Cumulative Effect

The effects of the theatre on both Other Aspects and on Wakings are cumulative. Wakings can access their real world personas the more they visit the theatre when they're in the theatre, where as Aspects can access their theatre personas in the city the more they visit the theatre.