The Event Artifact is a phenomenon, occurrence, or specific moment that, by its nature, causes a significant disruption in the universe or in the course of the characters' lives. Unlike other artifacts that are physical objects, an event is a process or situation that transforms the environment, relationships, or societies. It can be natural, cultural, social, or political, and its impact can be immediate, short-term, or long-lasting.

 

Nature of the Event

The Event Artifact can take various forms, directly or indirectly influencing the world in which it occurs:

• Natural disaster:
  A devastating solar explosion, a galactic flood, or a gravitational storm that disrupts interplanetary communications.
• Political or military event:
  A peace treaty, an all-out war, a revolution that overthrows a government or galactic organization.
• Cultural event:
  A festival that marks the beginning of a new era, a symbolic performance that embodies a change of mentality or an eruption of creativity that transforms a civilization.
• Technology event:
  The discovery of a new technology, an inventory of new resources, or an accident that radically changes the structure of society.
• Social event:
  An upheaval in human or inter-species relations, a popular revolt, or a new way of life that emerges in a society.
• Mystical Event:
  An inexplicable phenomenon, a self-fulfilling prophecy, or contact with an entity from another plane of existence.

 

Impact on the universe

The Event Artifact is not just a simple highlight. It disrupts the course of history and modifies the surrounding reality in a tangible or intangible way:

• Impact scale:
  Does the event affect a planet, a civilization, or the entire universe? For example, a galactic war that upends interstellar alliances or an interdimensional storm that wipes out entire worlds.
• Sustainability :
  Does the event leave a lasting mark on collective memory, or is it an isolated incident? Some natural disasters can leave land barren for centuries, while a political victory can transform societies for generations.
• Transformation of companies:
  Do civilizations have to adapt to new realities? For example, after a catastrophe, a society may reorganize or migrate to new territories, or a culture may be reborn after a significant event.

 

Origins and causes

An Event Artifact can arise from various elements:

• Natural causes:
  Is the event triggered by natural phenomena (comets, black holes, climate variations)? For example, the alignment of planets could create disturbances in space-time.
• Human or inter-species actions:
  Could a human (or interplanetary) invention or policy bring about this event? An interplanetary war triggered by scarce resources or an act of rebellion in an imperialist society.
• External forces:
  Is the event caused by mystical entities, an artificial intelligence in crisis, or even uncontrollable cosmic forces?

 

Immediate and secondary consequences

Each event generates repercussions that extend over multiple levels:

• Immediate consequences:
  What are the immediate effects of the event on the population and characters? An invasion could cause immediate destruction and massive human losses, a revolution could offer new political power but cause short-term suffering.
• Long term consequences:
  What lasting changes does the event bring? A natural disaster could redefine the geopolitics of several solar systems, or a cultural event could change the fundamental values of society.
• Tensions and conflicts:
  Do events generate tensions, power struggles, or social conflicts? For example, a political event might divide factions, while a mystical phenomenon might sow confusion and distrust among people.

 

Symbolism and perception

An Event Artifact is often loaded with symbolism, depending on how it is perceived by individuals and groups:

• Symbolic interpretation:
  Is this event seen as a divine sign, a return to natural balance, or as the catalyst for an era of chaos?
• Psychological impact:
  Does the event affect the mentality of the population? A significant event can lead to an era of pessimism, fear, or on the contrary, to an era of revolt and renewal.
• Beliefs and myths:
  Does the event become a myth or legend in the history of civilization? A past cataclysm might be celebrated as a "purification" or a future event might be seen as a fulfilled prophecy.