Karma. In life, we use it to say that when you do something, something of equal positivity or negativity will happen to you. But this isn't the real world we are talking about. This is the subnet. In here, karma is a form of energy. We don't realize it when we play through the main storyline in order, but we interact with karmic energy from beginning to end.
In Submachine 1, we have the option to pick up a wisdom gem, which is an object that holds karmic energy. We don't know if the amount of karmic energy it can hold and emit is infinite or finite, but we do know we use these wisdom gems in many ways. In sub 2, we use it to operate a ladder to explore outside of the lighthouse dungeon. In sub 5, we use them to power up a mover which we use in the beginning of sub 6. In sub 7, we use it to operate a portal that takes us from the gardens to the winter palace. In sub 9, we use the wisdom gems from sub 5 to reveal a turquoise button that is part of the navigator. Wisdom gems aren't the only source of karma in the subnet. There are also karma portals in subs 7, 9, and 10. These come in a small and basic variety of colors: Red, green, cyan, and white (see
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFIhv1k9bPs for the red karma portal). In fact, those colors represent the color of all karma in the subnet. We assume that the red karma portals have the exact same mechanics as the cyan karma portals (I will be posting a theory on this later. I just need more time to think). The green karma portals, although they still have a sense of instability, are portals that can transport you not just from place to place, but from layer to layer. More specifically, all of the stable layers (which are layers 1-7). This is why all of the karma portals in the knot are green. Cyan karma portals are also unstable, but unlike the green karma portals, can only transport you if you are in a specific layer. This is why all of the karma portals in sub 7, excluding the big one at Liz's ship, are Cyan. Not only that, but the gateway between the gardens and the winter palace is also Cyan. The white karma portals are probably only usable in the 8th layer, seeing that the only one we ever use is in the 8th layer. It is known that white karma portals are stronger than green karma portals, but apart from that, everything else is just theory. Another source of karma is the karma stabilizer. Throughout the main storyline, karma seems like a force of destruction. Especially with karma portals. The karma stabilizer uses karma to fix the effects of karma portals.
There are a bunch more example of karma in the subnet but either way, I bring all these examples up because of a question me and the other members of the forum tried to answer: How do you interpret karmic energy? The simple answer is this: there is no specific quantitative way to analyze it. The closest we can get is an infinite or finite amount of energy, which isn't that specific. Instead, it is measured in a qualitative way. Karma isn't necessarily a good thing or a bad thing in the subnet. It is simply there because it is. Karma, in reality, is described as the balance of the universe, and it is said that it is present in many realms. Those realms being physical, mental, emotional, astral, and beyond. Notice that there are five realms listed. Each realm plays a role in the subnet, but note that a real isn't a layer. It is
physically existent because of the fact that if it wasn't, we as the player (see
http://pastelland.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=795) wouldn't be able to explore it. The submachine also takes a
mental toll on those who explore it because of amnesia. Evidence for this is a note in Submachine 4 that states that the explorers forgot things, such as the coordinates to the basement section and Murtaugh's name. In another note in submachine 10, it sort of states that people enter the subnet to change for the better or worse. "I think you are ready to enter the Submachine. . .Remember, this can destroy or transform you. But you will not return the same man. . ." This transformation/destruction is more than likely
emotional. The subnet in it's entirety has an
astral feel to it. It can be sort of compared to the universe. Especially in the sense that we have many locations in submachine universe and we haven't even scratched the surface of the subnet because it is always evolving, expanding, and healing itself with karmic veins. The only problThe subnet goes
beyond the capabilities of the normal observable universe. Some examples of this are how gravity in location 411 can vary depending on where you are at and how the universe is in a four dimensional reality and the subnet is a 5 dimensional reality.
To summarize, karma isn't just in the items in your inventory or the portals you travel through. Karma is a force that exists throughout the subnet, and although it can be quantitatively described as infinite, just as the subnet can be described the exact same way, it is easier to be described qualitatively. Now although karmic energy exists, it can be tampered with. Murtaugh is a prime example of this. Through his experiments with karma, he destroyed an entire layer of reality to the point where it wasn't fixable. Not only that, but in his experiments just before his death, he tampered with karmic energy and made it so it fixes the effects of karma that he made before. Even with these experiments, the effects of his experiments still linger. And, as stated before, the karma is just there because it is.
