History WebOriginal / CorruDotObserver

* BizarreAlienBiology: The obesk. We have yet to be presented with clear images or exact descriptions of their appearance, but it can be inferred that they are humanoids with some roughly insectoid traits such as chitinous plating, and their original form bears an uncanny resemblance to humanity. Of those encountered thusfar, most have been Qou-form obesk (see BrainUploading below) and have been represented by their 'signatures' they chose to represent themselves to one another on their version of the internet, lending them all stylized and wildly varying images; those that aren't are corrupted or silhouettes that leave details unclear, usually obscured by high-collared coats and wide-brimmed hats, or just rendered indistinct by incoherence/corruption.

* DrivingQuestion: While there are multiple mysteries in this story, one stands above the others, especially since it's the one driving the actions of the main characters in the cyst's memories: who or what is sending the Call, the mysterious Earth-originated signal that led the obesk to Earth (and which can only be transmitted by obesk technology), and why?

* UnexpectedGameplayChange: At points, the gameplay format shifts into a grid-based exploration mode. [[spoiler:This later comes with the addition of EasternRPG elements when playing as Akizetesche thanks to moth's handiwork]], and [[spoiler:with PuzzleGame elements when trying to oust [=GOD=] from the uncosm.]] [[spoiler:And then the two get combined during the Movefoe and Hardmode bossfights.]]

* HyperspaceIsAScaryPlace: The Obesk use wormholes through the 'dull', some kind of extradimensional space where living, biological matter cannot survive. On top of that, a 'tithe' is needed to pass through safely; some kind of keepsake or object connected to the mind passing through in order to make it through safely, which stays behind in the dull afterwards.

It can be experienced [[https://corru.observer/ here]]. Note that it is a fairly early work in progress at this stage; only the first two 'episodes' have been released.

* UnexpectedGameplayChange: At points, the gameplay format shifts into a grid-based exploration mode. [[spoiler:This later comes with the addition of EasternRPG elements when playing as Akizetesche thanks to moth's handiwork]], and [[spoiler:with PuzzleGame elements when trying to oust [=GOD=] from the uncosm.]] [[spoiler:And then the two get combined during the Movefoe and Hardmode bossfights.]]
* UniversalUniverseTime: Very pointedly not the case. The obesk homeworld is a gas giant's tidally locked moon, and is bathed in darkness most of the time. Their timekeeping and other terminology is thus based off the regular movements of a massive storm they call ''Velzie's Eye''. A fair amount of the uncertainty around times and dates is due to translating back and forth between obesk "eyes" and human years.

* BizarreAlienBiology: The obesk. We have yet to be presented with clear images or exact descriptions of their appearance, but it can be inferred that they are humanoids with some roughly insectoid traits, and have a 'larval' phase which supposedly bears an uncanny resemblance to humanity. Most images we do see are based on their 'signatures' they chose (or made) to represent themselves to one another, lending them all stylized and wildly varying images; those that aren't are corrupted or silhouettes that leave details unclear.

* OurWormholesAreDifferent: The obesk created a "Dull Contrivance", which allows them to travel the vast interstellar distances between their world and ours with relative ease. In the mindspace, it resembles a massive distorted rip in space, and reportedly still exists - though no obesk have travelled through it in a long time. According to Moth the obesk claim that organic matter cannot be safely transported through the Contrivance, though this claim apparently hasn't been tested very thoroughly. Travel within the mindspace itself is also achieved via several portal-like gates.

* BizarreAlienBiology: The obesk. We are never presented with images or exact descriptions of their appearance, but it can be inferred that they are humanoids with some roughly insectoid traits, and have a 'larval' phase which supposedly bears an uncanny resemblance to humanity. What images we do see are based on their 'signatures' they chose (or made) to represent themselves to one another, lending them all stylized and wildly varying images.
* BrainUploading: At a certain point in their lifespan, 'larval' obesk can transfer themselves into an armoured 'mind-core', after which they shape metallic Qou bodies around themselves out of their biomechanical 'corru' technology. They keep simulacras of various pre-transfer things around for when they crave various sensations that their Qou bodies can no longer naturally experience.
* ExistentialHorror: At one point you can attempt to interact with a simulated memory, provoking the thoughtforms within them ti possess limited self-awareness and knowledge that their original self had, sort of like a limited [=AI=] copy of the original. [[spoiler:The interviewer thoughtform disintegrates into incoherence when she tries to leave the interview room in her panic after the Akizetesche thoughtform's questioning, and the Akizetesche thoughtform reflects on this briefly before everything goes very wrong as the presence that allowed you into the corrucyst abruptly intervenes.]]

* UnexpectedGameplayChange: At points, the gameplay format shifts into a grid-based exploration mode. [[spoiler:This later comes with the addition of EasternRPG elements when playing as Akizetesche thanks to moth's handiwork]], and [[spoiler:with PuzzleGame elements when trying to oust [=GOD=] from the uncosm.]] [[spoiler:And then the two get combined during the Doorfoe and Hardmode bossfights.]]

* AIIsACrapshoot: The obesk seem to use AI-like entities as part of their organic technology, such as Funfriend and Doorfriend. Akizet's ship has a 'pilot cyst' which has been refusing to rest as well. [[spoiler:Then there's Door''foe'', and whatever the hell is going on during the Embassy Collapse. Tozik and Gakvu both are fairly stumped, as it can't be that the Groundsmind is doing it or else surely the ''building itself'' would be trying to murder them, rather than just ''some'' of the furniture suddenly being animate and psychotic.]]

* BizarreAlienBiology: The obesk. We are never presented with images or exact descriptions of their appearance, but it can be inferred that they have some roughly insectoid traits, and have a humanoid 'larval' phase which supposedly bears an uncanny resemblance to humanity. What images we do see are based on their 'signatures' they chose (or made) to represent themselves to one another, lending them all stylized and wildly varying images.

* AIIsACrapshoot: The Obesk seem to use AI-like entities as part of their organic technology, such as Funfriend and Doorfriend. Akizet's ship has a 'pilot cyst' which has been refusing to rest as well. [[spoiler:Then there's Door''foe'', and whatever the hell is going on during the Embassy Collapse. Tozik and Gakvu both are fairly stumped, as it can't be that the Groundsmind has been subverted or else surely ''everything'' would be trying to murder them, not just ''some'' of the furniture being psychotic.]]
* BizarreAlienBiology: The Obesk. We are never presented with images or exact descriptions of their appearance, but it can be inferred that they have some roughly insectoid traits, and have a humanoid 'larval' phase which supposedly bears an uncanny resemblance to humanity. What images we do see are based on their 'signatures' they chose (or made) to represent themselves to one another, lending them all stylized and wildly varying images.
* BrainUploading: At a certain point in their lifespan, 'larval' obesk can transfer themselves into an armoured 'mind-core', after which they shape metallic "Qou" bodies around themselves out of their 'corru' biomechanical technology. They keep simulacras of various pre-transfer things around for when they crave various sensations that their Qou bodies can no longer naturally experience.

* UnexpectedGameplayChange: At points, the gameplay format shifts into a grid-based exploration mode. [[spoiler:This later comes with the addition of EasternRPG elements when playing as Akizetesche thanks to moth's handiwork]], and [[spoiler:with PuzzleGame elements when trying to oust [=GOD=] from the uncosm.]] [[spoiler:And then the two get combined during the Doorfoe and Hardmode bossfights.]]

* NonStandardCharacterDesign: Whether due to corruption or because the obesk have difficulty with human faces, humans tend to be rendered as their outfits with just a pair of floating eyes hovering over where the head and face should be. This is despite appearing in otherwise fairly photo-realistic sequences. Obesk meanwhile get very stylized appearances which vary quite significantly, reflecting their personalities and aesthetic preferences.

* UnexpectedGameplayChange: At points, the gameplay format shifts into a grid-based exploration mode. [[spoiler:This later comes with the addition of EasternRPG elements when playing as Akizetesche thanks to moth's handiwork]], and [[spoiler:with PuzzleGame elements when trying to oust [=GOD=] from the uncosm.]]

* LostInTranslation: Translation from an alien language is hard enough, but the mindspike is also having to translate ''experiential'' information and a great deal of all of it comes without context.
* PaintingTheMedium: Extensively, due to the nature of the way the data you're working with is interpreted and the fact the it's suffering varying degrees of incoherence/degradation.