When you flip a coin, it creates a completely different universe, as strange as that may sound. For every action that may have different outcomes, every single outcome is written into being in a different universe. But some changes are… different. They don't have anything to do with a conscious choice, but with the general way the world works. Some might have different physics, others might have evolution take a different path. Anomaly Earth is one of these worlds.

Section 1: Overview

Anomaly Earth’s geography and climate are quite similar to our normal planet’s - a giant ball of rock and water careening through space at Mach 87 around a giant glowing mass of hydrogen and helium. However, Anomaly Earth does have a single geographical difference to our own - a web of lines that circle the globe, unseen by the human eye. This web is called the ley line network, and near spots where these ley lines intersect (“hotspots”), there’s a stronger connection to the powers that bind the universe together. As these powers can be used to bypass the normal laws of physics, the scientific field focusing on them is called “metaphysics,” though the common term is “magic.”

In the time period when humans began to develop full sapience, so did many animal species. (Other changes came into effect, but those will be detailed in Section 3.) At the same time, near ley line hotspots in Europe and Asia, a lizard species known as dragons was fundamentally altered by the magical energies being radiated - they would end up growing horns, more mammalian traits such as naturally growing hair, and more. Over time, more dragon species would pop up - the most unique being the Dragonkin, who could take on a human form in order to live in human colonies without suspicion, and the Mentali, who had been formed from dragon-cheetah hybrids interbreeding, the two species’ traits blending together and drawing in traits from other feline and dragon species to create an entirely new one. Outside of this, though, history largely continued the same - the only difference being that in the Middle Ages a kingdom of dragons had been formed somewhere in what is now Austria, and was sieged in the middle of the Crusades out of fear that the dragons were demonic in nature.

Fast-forward to the year 2022, and society has progressed the same as on our own Earth in most respects. However, the various species on Earth have led to more diverse ways people go about life, and unfortunately, more levels of discrimination towards both race and species. Magic is also a key player in the differences that Anomaly Earth shows - metaphysics is a valid branch of science, as mentioned before, and magic is a common ability many can use, though some lack the requirements one must have to learn. Despite the common use of magic, technology has progressed just as quickly, and the people of Anomaly Earth still commonly use devices from companies such as Apple, Google, Microsoft, Samsung, Nintendo, etc. However, a company named Aspentech has been making the rounds recently.

Section 2: Metaphysics

As mentioned in the overview, circuits of magical energy called “ley lines” run across Anomaly Earth - if one were to draw these lines onto a globe, they would form a network that spans the whole thing, like a wildly inconsistent wireframe model of a sphere. These lines are not unique to this world - a ley line network will form on any heavenly body approximately 1,500 miles in diameter or more. There is a small margin of error, though - Pluto is just 27 miles short of that threshold, and yet has its own ley line network. (1.5K is just a nice, round number.) When a pair of ley lines intersect, they create a “hotspot,” a position where magical energy is at its strongest due to being linked to an alternate plane of existence - the metaphysical realm.

The metaphysical realm is not an alternate universe or another planet. Instead, the physical realm is like an overlay of sorts, like linework and color layers drawn over a sketch layer in an art program. Most residents of the metaphysical world have almost no substance - they’re just shells, controlled by the mind of their equivalent in the physical realm. One cannot exist without the other, and there’s evidence to suggest that metaphysical bodies can store the thoughts, memories and personality of the people they’re tied to - in essence, souls. The soul is also a “container” of sorts, being able to collect and store a form of semi-sentient energy that only exists in the plane it exists in. This energy is formally known as metaphysical energy, naturally, but commonly, it’s just called mana. There are also two kinds of entities that are made of pure mana, angels and elementals (more on them in section 3). Angels stay in the metaphysical realm, but elementals are physical.

Both planes of existence can affect one another - as the physical body can make the soul move, the soul can manipulate the universe in ways that may break the laws of physics. This is what’s commonly known as magic. Most magic typically consumes mana, but the soul will slowly refill its reserves over time. Elementals, however, are gifted with the power to cast magic of a specific kind without spending any mana.

There is very little record of a physical person entering the metaphysical plane, but all known accounts agree that it appears similar to the physical plane with a blue tint. Mana, however, can be drawn from the metaphysical plane quite easily, and often manifests in the form of a blue liquid commonly known as mana potion, or potion base. It can refill the drinker’s mana reserves, but it can also be combined with other ingredients to create potions.

A rare condition also exists called hypermagia. Originally thought to be an overabundance of mana, studies have found that it happens when the body condenses mana, up to five times its original concentration. This allows a hypermagus, as they're commonly called, to bend the laws of physics in certain ways without even trying. These ways are largely unknown, though one common trait of hypermagia is a high level of perception, far beyond a normal person's.

Section 3: The Species

There are many different sapient species on Anomaly Earth. As mentioned in Section 1, a majority of animal species aside from humans developed sapience in the evolutionary process, but non-sapient animals do still exist. The evolutionary process, nudged by angels in the hopes of creating more who can use the gift of magic, also somewhat normalized their heights. While there are still notable extremes in height difference, such as mice being 3 feet tall on average, the average height is similar to that of humans. This means that, while accessibility is important for a lot of things, from minimal changes like different headphone types to large ones like flight roads for birds and bats, height doesn’t need to be factored into the equation.

Height is a very small change compared to how evolution treated the dragon species - causing the lizard-like species to develop horns, wings, traditionally mammalian features such as fur, and a genetic breeding compatibility with any species. There are four types of dragons - komodos, wyrms, dragonkin, and mentali. Komodos are the very first species of dragons, untouched by the evolutionary process, and are basically anthropomorphic versions of Earth’s komodo dragons. Wyrms are the traditional sort of dragon, and are considered to be in different breeds - water dragons with fins and gills, flower dragons with plants growing on their bodies, luck dragons whose tall stature once commanded respect, and more. Dragonkin and mentali, though, are a very different sort that split off from wyrms, and require a bit more time to explain.

Wyrms haven’t always lived in harmony with other species - many wyrms were once feared for their close connection to the metaphysical world. A small group of flower dragons wished to live among people in greater villages, but were chased out quite quickly. They eventually came to realize their issue, and used magic to transform themselves into humans. They spent their lives in a small village, slowly changing the perception of wyrms so that when they eventually revealed themselves, the villagers wouldn’t fear them, and it worked. Eventually they had kids, and these kids were able to shift between human and dragon form - these were the first dragonkin.

Dragonkin can take on a human form, or a dragon-like form. However, there are a couple of tells that give away their species. Dragon forms have flowers permanently attached to their bodies, a holdover from the flower dragons they’ve evolved from, and long, pointy ears. Human forms have a flower birthmark in the same spot their dragon form’s flower is attached to, and their ears have points, similar to an elf’s. Each form also has its own unique strengths - since their souls in the metaphysical realm don’t change shape, they’re stronger with magic in dragon form, but in human form, they have much higher physical strength and endurance.

Some time after the creation of the dragonkin, a wandering, hunting tribe of cheetahs had become aware that there were friendly wyrms living in the world, and vowed never to attack them. This decision bore fruit when, one day, they came across a village of wyrms, all of different breeds, who opened up trade with them - the meat the cheetahs had gotten from hunting were traded for the crops the wyrms had grown. This led to the cheetah tribe coming back more and more often, with some members of both groups trading places, and eventually, a hybrid child was born to a water dragon and a wind elemental in the form of a cheetah. As the two species continued to intermix and interbreed, hybrids became more common, and eventually they had their own kids. As this continued, angels intervened again, giving them traits from other feline species and wyrm breeds, creating a species of their own called Mentali.

The word “Mentali” comes from “element” - their bodies grow and develop according to either one or two elemental affinities that develop based on their personality at 5 years old. This is believed to be connected to how metaphysical energy pulled their evolution over time, as they can cast spells connected to their affinities without a significant mana drain. However, it can also work in reverse - one of their elemental affinities may be significantly crippled, leaving them unable to cast magic of that type, though they can gain a very unique power. Their minds will be strong enough to affect the physical world; in other words, they can develop psychic abilities - this type of element is called a Cerebra-type, or just a C-type. The Mentali elements are Aqua, Blazing, Blitz, Eco, Aether, Terra, Frost, Lux, Veno, and Shade. Mentali hybrids are another interesting topic - they may take on any number of traits from either parent, or none at all - the one thing that will always be inherited is the fact that they’ll have a Mentali-like element.

Finally, let's discuss elementals and angels. Both are an odd sort; they're beings made of pure sentient mana, classified as "metaphysical entities." Elementals wish to join humans in the physical realm, and to this end, take on physical appearances based on living or fictional things. Their state depends on what they decide is perfect for them upon materialization, but in rare cases, they may have another form. Children of elementals don't have a way to decide what they look like, but can take on traits from either parent, similar to Mentali. Angels, on the other hand, do not materialize in the real world, instead choosing to guide it from the metaphysical realm.

Section 4: The Setting and Key Characters

While Anomaly Earth’s culture and organizations are largely the same, there’s one major thing that the setting revolves around. I am, of course, talking about the Aspen Institute, a research institution that studies a number of different topics, from metaphysics to theoretical physics to advanced technology. The Institute was created a few hundred years ago, and the current head of the company is a jackal named Taren Aspen. The projects they’re focusing on are nanobot technology, traveling between alternate universes, and most recently, consumer electronics under the company name Aspentech. Most of this section will focus on character information.

Taren Aspen - He/Him - The head of the Aspen Institute. While he has a love of science, he has an even greater love for his family. 

Abha Aspen - She/Her - A C-Lux/Aether Mentali. An archaeologist married to Taren, who has a vested interest in fortune telling.

Alyssa Aspen - She/They - A 24-year-old Lux/C-Blazing Mentali, and Taren’s heiress. A very curious woman who loves exploring and making friends. She’s the current Head of Multiverse Research, and she studies a lot of different subjects, from potion making to engineering to audio equipment.

Alex Aspen - He/Him - A Blitz/Aqua Mentali, twin brother of Alyssa. He doesn’t work for the Institute, instead doing his own thing. He’s a vehicle enthusiast, and takes part in stock car races regularly.

Aerie Parker - She/Her - A 21-year-old Aether/Blazing Mentali, and youngest of the Aspen siblings. (Her last name is different due to marriage.) She acts as a security guard for a highly advanced Aspen project, and is considered the protagonist of the setting.

Shay Hunter - She/Her - A 25-year-old Lux/Blitz Mentali, and a genius scientist. Studied under Taren for ten years and trusts the Aspens more than anyone else. She now works directly at the Aspen Institute as the Head of Advanced Technologies, though she recently split it off to start the consumer technology division, Aspentech. (Their current project, Aspentech Rhythm, is a line of audio equipment for music enthusiasts of all levels, headed by Alyssa.)

Cindra Nicol - She/Her - A 24-year-old dragonkin who lives with Alyssa. She’s a punk girl who once went through a JRPG-like story, and has since settled down, started streaming, and is planning to start a band.

Morgan Parker - He/Him - A 23-year-old Eco Mentali created by my girlfriend June. He’s a bit of a nerd like his wife Aerie, though not as athletic.

Alexandria Hodder - She/Her - A 24-year-old human who’s an expert in healing magic, created by my girlfriend June. Once went on adventures with Cindra, later met Alyssa through an MMO, now they’re all dating.

Blaire Howard - She/Her - A 22-year-old Floatzel (or at least, a water elemental in the form of a Floatzel who's unaware she's an elemental), who studies software bugs and glitches. She is in a relationship with both Aerie and Morgan.



Section 5: The Liteverse, the Trueverse, and the Alterverse

Anomaly Earth is divided into three alternate universes. The Liteverse encompasses nearly everything mentioned in this document (though Blaire in this universe is instead a water elemental taking the form of an otter), and has nothing that could constitute trademark infringement. This universe is saved for the off chance Anomaly Earth media is produced. In the Trueverse, a number of angels wished to become elementals, but couldn't build the energy to enter the physical plane. One of the most powerful angels gave them all physical bodies to reside in - this angel came to be known as Arceus, and his creations, Pokemon. (Now do you see why the Liteverse is required?)

The third alternate universe is called the Alterverse, and while it contains everything in the Trueverse, it also has a lot more to explain. In the Alterverse, hypermagia is quite different than in the other two. Hypermagi are inclined to have larger physical… assets, the ability to stretch their bodies to fantastical proportions, a permanently inflating body that does that for them, and more. "Hypermagi" in this universe often gets shortened to "hypers."

Most characters described in this document are the same in the Alterverse, except for three. The Alterverse equivalent of Shay is a hyper herself, and she not only runs the Aspentech subsidiary of the Aspen Institute, but also Conceal, a company that makes clothes to hide hyper properties. Alterverse Blaire is classified as a hyper due to hyper-level milk production, as well as inflation abilities. Finally, Alterverse Alyssa makes clothes for Conceal, and while her body may look normal, she's classified as a hyper.