Administrator (no ontology)
From Mazeworld
This article is about the in-game term. For the real-life game master, i.e. the real life person who has written and runs MazeWorld, see Tempest.
A Game Master, in-universe (Also referred to as a GM) is the common name given to supernatural and deity-like beings that rules and administrates Mazeworld. The GMs are sometimes also called euphemistically the administration or the admins.
Naming
The name "Game Master" is colloquial, and is part of their intention to give the contestant the reinforced sentiment that he/she evolves in a realm that is considered and managed just like a game where they are the gods (or simply 'play god'). In reality, the actual designation given to those beings is "GM", with no official or actual meaning as to what these letters mean. Several names have been proposed in the past:
- Grand Master, referring to their status as grand masters of the Mazes and the Interloper in general. This term is still somewhat used by local inhabitants.
- God Master, a less-used and archaic term, when the GMs were revealed to be above gods themselves, and in particular, the Cardinal Gods.
- The Admins/The Administration, an euphemistic term typically used by MazeWorld inhabitants - particularly the personnel, when addressing or mentioning them as hierarchic superiors.
The term "Game Master" is perceived by the Mazes' inhabitants as how the realm is their creation, their 'game', so to speak, and as their creator and overseers, they are the realm's master.
Origins and abilities
An immortal and immaterial concentration of sentient energy, referred to as the Entity, forms what is essentially the GMs' "soul". The Entity has the power to inhabit one or many "shells", which is nothing more than a host body. While this body they inhabit needs not to be originally that of a living creature, the Entity prefers to inhabit the bodies of living creatures and seem to be attracted by beings of peculiar, unique character and personality. They are also known to have no need to eat, drink, sleep, or reproduce, though can choose to do so as they please and if they so wish. Any shell the Entity chooses to inhabit, automatically reaches the status of Game Master, as well as the above described traits (immortality, inediate, etc). The Entity does not overtake or alter their shells' personality, but does ensure they are self-aware and conscious of their newfound capabilities.
The GMs' immense power and near complete control of Mazeworld is explained by the fact the Entity inhabiting them has created the entire realm, and maintains its existence as long as the Entity can inhabit a shell - in order for the realm to remain stable and keep its coherence, the source of this realm must also preserve its stability and coherence. It is unknown why or how Mazeworld was created at all, and the GMs themselves have never given any insight or explanation, despite there being no evidence that any beings have been inhabited by the Entity before themselves.
The Entity, when threatened by a being sufficiently strong to challenge its shells (the GMs), seems to "disable" those shells' immortality (though they remain extremely resistant to damage); it seems capable of recognizing worthy potential challengers and will encourage the current GMs to fight whomever is contending to "succeed" to them. As such, the Entity seems to have a mind on its own in the sense that it will choose, as its new shells, the bodies of whoever defeated the current ones. Depending on the situation, the Entity can simply inhabit the new bodies and also remain in the current ones' (addition process), or leave altogether the old ones and elevate the new ones to the GM status (replacement process). Should it fail to find new and suitable shells, the Entity's stability will be compromised, and it will lose its coherence - no stable host body, no stability on its own. This threatens the entire realm, which can be potentially completely erased from existence (termination process) as a result. It must be noted that there are limits on how many beings the Entity can inhabit at once - it cannot inhabit less than two shells, or else it wouldn't be able to remain stable enough ; even if the Entity can find one suitable shell, if there is only one, the realm will still slowly sink into non-existence. There is no known upper limit, however.
The term "Game Master", among certain other terms referring to beings in the Mazes, references the way the GMs view themselves as, as well as the job and tasks associated to this status.
Identity and purpose
There are three Game Masters in Mazeworld. Despite the fact they are their own kind of being, the GMs take up recognizable appearances for their own convenience. They have separate given names, but they prefer being called "Game Master", "GM", or simply "Admin".
Hebizuka Jinkou
- Assumed form: Youkai female (nure-onna)
- Role: Interior and personnel overwatch
- Motto: "She who controls who the world is populated with"
Hebizuka Jinkou, sometimes referred to as "Lady Hebizuka" by members of the personnel, is the most well-known and the most prominent of the GMs. Her role is to watch over the Mazes from the interior, as well as acting as the hierarchic superior to the chiefs and leaders of each line of work. In a sense, she embodies the archetypal "all-seeing eye", being aware of any and every event occurring in the world. Though in theory, the overwatch role supposes she is supposed to merely observe and record the events ongoing, Hebizuka has been seen in person on rare occasions before, which implies she may actually take direct action and influence, for whatever reason it may be, the way things are done in the Mazes. It is even said that she'd like the Contestant to "bump into her" one day, though what such a meeting would result into is unknown.
Sergey Kovrov
- Assumed form: Human male
- Role: Logistics and xeno overwatch
- Motto: "He who controls what the world is filled with"
Sergey Kovrov is one of the lesser-known GMs, as he is one of the least-often seen or heard of. However, his role is actually extremely important; as the one in charge of logistics and xeno administration, he has the power to decide and approve two of the most important aspects of the Mazes: the list of creatures and the population meters of each species, and the list of equipment approved for manufacture, sale and overall usage - of every single type of object, item, or equipment in existence. In other words, he has an eye on everything that exists inside of the Mazes. Sergey has also the ability to decide which items or species should be added or removed, and he is allowed to venture into other worlds to search for creatures or technologies that he deems useful or interesting enough. Coincidentally, he has also developed the principle of 'soul interception', which is the name given to the methods used for bringing the Contestant in the Mazes.
Elias Keiban
- Assumed form: Cyborg, genderless
- Role: Structural overwatch
- Motto: "He who controls what the world is made of"
Elias Keiban (designated "EK-223", but extremely rarely referred to as such), is an artificial intelligence first, and a cyborg embodiment second. Though genderless, Elias is commonly referred to as male, and speaks with a masculine voice. While Sergey's role is overseeing WHAT is inside the Mazes, Elias's is to oversee the Mazes themselves. He is the one who conceives, develops and oversees rooms, sectors, room features, areas, the power and water grids, and everything which composes the environment itself. Though he has much more of a passive role on a day-to-day basis, depending on the needs and requirements of the population and with the approval of the other two GMs, he may make the decision to create, modify, or remove Mazes sectors, essentially adapting the world to the world's needs. In a way, he controls what the Mazes are made of.
