Paradox
Overview
Paradox is the unseen force that enforces the Consensus—the collective, unconscious beliefs of humanity—against willworkers who challenge it. In Madtown by Night, Paradox manifests not merely as damage or backlash but as reality glitches, memory loops, and identity shifts, reflecting the deeper metaphysical collapse in Madison, 1985.
It is a manifestation of the Nameless' influence, the breakdown of the Capitol Node, and the destabilization of New Avalon. While Paradox has long been part of Mage society, in Madison, it is intensifying—a warning that something fundamental is breaking.
Paradox in the Madtown Setting
| Cause | Manifestation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Vulgar Magick | Traditional backlash: paradox flaws, injuries, scars | A mage’s hands turn to glass when using Prime 5 |
| Consensus Collapse (Echoes) | Memory shifts, reality loops, ghost reflections | A mage sees themselves in a mirror before they act |
| The Nameless’ Influence | Whispered numbers, repeated symbols, erasure effects | 1.36791013192342 appears in neon signs, files, etc. |
| Overuse of Quintessence | Feedback loops, static glitches in magickal effects | Spells misfire, effects become unreliable |
| Proximity to Nodes/Glitches | Temporal stutters, visual artifacts | A sign reads "YOU HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE" |
Paradox Mechanics (Mage 20th Edition)
- Accumulation: Paradox builds up based on the vulgarity of a mage's act against Consensus and local resonance. In Madison, even coincidental magick may trigger Paradox when the Consensus is unstable.
- Release: Paradox can discharge as:
- Quiets: The mage suffers psychological effects.
- Anomalies: The environment glitches or warps.
- Backlash: The mage is physically or spiritually harmed.
- Manifestations: The Nameless whispers through reality.
Paradox and the Echoes
In Madtown by Night, Paradox is not static—it evolves as the story progresses:
- Act I (1985 - The Council of the Erased): Subtle glitches, memory echoes, numbers in the background.
- Act II (The Kronovore Stirs): Players encounter their own past or future selves through Paradox.
- Act III (The Nameless Breathes): Paradox collapses into full recursion—causing major reality fractures, identity swaps, and potential existential erasure.
The Magick Number: 1.36791013192342
This number appears in Paradox events as a signature of recursion. Its meaning is unknown, but it repeats across different media—graffiti, computer code, whispered on the wind. It may be a seed, a trap, or the heartbeat of the Nameless.
Examples of Paradox Glitches in Play
- A character hears their own voice in the future: "Don’t trust him."
- An action repeats in a loop until a different choice is made.
- A static-filled broadcast of Digi-8 whispers fragments of code.
- A reflection in a mirror moves before the character does.
- A player finds a note in their own handwriting—dated tomorrow.