Cataegis
Cataegis is a term, primarily used within specific fictional settings (most notably within the SCP Foundation collaborative fiction project), to describe a type of powerful, often reality-altering, entity or phenomenon. The exact nature of a Cataegis-level entity varies depending on the specific narrative in which it appears. However, consistent themes include:
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Existential Threat: Cataegis entities typically pose a threat to the fundamental nature of reality, humanity's understanding of the universe, or even the survival of consciousness itself. The danger transcends conventional physical or biological threats.
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Incomprehensibility: The true nature, motivations, and origins of Cataegis entities are often beyond human comprehension. Attempts to fully understand them can lead to madness, despair, or further instability.
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Uncontainability (Often Conceptual): Traditional containment methods, such as physical barriers or direct force, are generally ineffective against Cataegis entities. The challenge lies in understanding, mitigating, or neutralizing their influence on reality itself. Containment, if possible, often involves indirect strategies, complex rituals, or manipulations of underlying narrative structures.
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Narrative Significance: Cataegis entities often serve as focal points for overarching storylines or explorations of philosophical concepts such as existentialism, nihilism, and the limits of human perception. They represent the unknown and unknowable aspects of the universe.
The term "Cataegis" itself suggests a shield (aegis) against catastrophic events, though in practice, Cataegis entities are often the catastrophic events themselves, or are so powerful that any aegis would be strained to its breaking point. It implies a struggle against overwhelming forces that challenge the very fabric of existence. While most prominently featured within the SCP Foundation, the term might be adapted for use in other speculative fiction projects dealing with similarly potent and reality-bending threats.