Rising Shards

RETENTION SPRITES

Retention sprites are a form of void-based vision (VBV) that affects some Cani. Similar to a memory trial/jump fifteen (MTJF), a retention sprite generates a near physical being that can find its way to its target (intended or otherwise), adapt to their surroundings, hold conversations, and more. The appearance of retention sprites is common among Cani with void born parents, especially those whose parents reside in the void while the Cani in question lives in the stable home dimension.

REASONS FOR APPEARANCE

There are many reasons retention sprites could appear before someone. The most common are retention sprites that are created from memory trials; a longing feeling to see someone locked away deep in memories can unmoor the “character” of the memory trial’s “play” and cause them to follow their target outside of it (see “ADAPTABILITY” for more information on how retention sprites blend in with their surroundings). When generating the components needed for a memory trial, a retention sprite could be born from the early scan of a Cani’s mind. It is also possible that retention sprites are sent by another user, but this is more unlikely given the specific method of their creation; only high level Cani skilled in eternity weaving are capable of creating realistic retention sprites without them being bred from the subconscious.

ADAPTABILITY

Retention sprites are highly adaptable. Their traversal from the void to our stable home dimension is similar to the effect of void monsters that seep through, though the latter’s presence is much more obvious when it arrives home. Retention sprites gather information like a chameleon understanding its surroundings to blend in. Retention sprites are capable of holding a conversation, especially with their target. Given their near physical status, interacting with them can feel like interacting with a physical being (this is the same for interactions within memory trials, or even when events or objects feel physical in a dream). Retention sprites tend to repeat actions that the past self lived out, most typically when in a familiar area. For example, a retention sprite returning to the site of a battle will re-enact that battle in a sense, whether their original opponent is there or not.

WHAT TO DO

Retention sprites are generally not cause for alarm. As their potential origins have many possibilities, it is best to treat them like the memory trial itself; a dreamlike scenario that one could learn from and find self-reflection within, but not something to dramatically overthink. Given the dangerous nature of void traversal, Cani are advised not to follow their retention sprites to their source, as their dreamlike nature could send Cani to uninhabitable areas of the void. Even ones that were sent by a specific person aren’t to be followed either, as it can never be 100% determined who truly sent them.