𝐈𝐌𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐔𝐌: WE ARE THE NEW WORLD

𝐂𝐎𝐆𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍: TERMINOLOGY AND BREAKDOWN

COGNITIVE DISTORTION: HABITUAL WAYS OF THINKING THAT ARE INNACURATE OR NEGATIVELY BIASED. COGNITIVE DISTORTIONS ARE THOUGHTS THAT CAUSE INDIVIDUALS TO PERCIEVE REALITY INACCURATELY.

• BRIEF OVERVIEW: THE INFORMATION BELOW WILL INCLUDE IMPORTANT TERMINOLOGY THAT IS USED IN IMPERIUM RELATED CONTENT AS WELL AS A BRIEF BREAKDOWN OF CERTAIN TERMS.

THE NEW WORLD: THE NEW WORLD IS A COMMON NAME THAT IS USED TO DESCRIBE IMPERIUM AS A WHOLE; THIS ACCOUNTS FOR BOTH THEIR IDEALS AND MENTALITY. IT PORTRAYS IMPERIUM IN A POSITIVE AND EQUALLY INACCURATE LIGHT.

• "WE ARE THE NEW WORLD" — TRANSLATES TO "WE ARE IMPERIUM". WE HAVE EVOLVED SO FAR PAST THE OLD WORLD THAT WE CAN NO LONGER BE ASSOCIATED WITH IT. THIS IS THE NEW WORLD, WHERE YOU CAN BE THE BEST YOU, THE NEW YOU. THE NEW WORLD DISTORTS YOUR BELIEFS IN THEIR ENTIRETY. IT MAKES YOU BELIEVE THAT THIS ALTERED VERSION OF YOURSELF IS WHAT YOU'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE WHEN IN REALITY, IT IS THE YOU THAT THEY NEED YOU TO BE.

THE TERM IS USED BY THE ORGANIZATION AND ITS CHAIN LEADERS / PROMINENT MEMBERS IN ORDER TO POSSESS A GREATER APPEAL TO THE UPCOMING MEMBERS OR POTENTIAL OLD WORLD RECRUITS, WHO ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO CORRUPT INFLUENCE. THE NEW WORLD IS MEANT TO BE PROGRESSIVE AND OFFERS THE INDIVIDUAL AN ILLUSION OF A CLEAN SLATE. FOR THOSE BORN INTO THE SYSTEM OR RAISED UNDERGROUND AT A YOUNG AGE, THE ONLY VERSION OF THE WORLD THEY ARE MOST FAMILAR WITH IS THE NEW WORLD. THEREFORE, THEIR VIEW IS DISTORTED, BUT TO THEM IT IS A NATURAL STATE OF MIND BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING ELSE TO COMPARE IT WITH.

THE UNDERGROUND: THE UNDERGROUND IS A TERM USED TO DESCRIBE IMPERIUM BASED ON ITS  SETTING ALONE. THE ENTIRE SYSTEM OPERATES DIRECTLY BENEATH THE OLD WORLD'S SURFACE. CONSIDER IMPERIUM A WORLD BENEATH A WORLD. BY LOCATING ITSELF UNDERGROUND WHICH IS COMPLETELY UNABLE TO BE SEEN BY OUTSIDERS, IT HAS MORE OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO ESTABLISH CONTROL. IT ALLOWS MEMBERS NOT ONLY TO REMAIN BELOW BUT TO ALSO INFILTRATE OLD WORLD TERRITORY IN MEANS OF LURING IN MEMEBERS.

MAN-EATING MACHINE: THE MAN-EATING MACHINE IS A NAME DESIGNED FOR A VIEWER'S PERSPECTIVE. THE IMPERIUM ORGANIZATION IS A MAN-EATING MACHINE BECAUSE IT "CONSUMES" THE MIND, BODY, AND SOUL.

BREAKDOWN— IF IMPERIUM IS COMPOSED OF HUMANS AND IS KNOWN TO "CONSUME" OTHER HUMANS, THIS MAKES IT A MAN-EATING MACHINE. HENCE, THE MAIN PHRASE: MAN EATS MAN. IT HIGHLIGHTS THE SELF DESTRUCTIVE TENDENCY OF IMPERIUM AS AN ORGANIZATION / MASS CULT WHICH GIVES INSIGHT ABOUT HUMAN NATURE AND HUMAN BEHAVIOR.

THE WORLD'S TUMOR: THE WORLD'S TUMOR IS A NAME COINED BY REAGAN DELACROIX HERSELF DURING HER DIRECT ADDRESS TO IMPERIUM AND THEIR LEADERS VIA SECURITY FOOTAGE (POST THE ERADICATION). AMONGST CHAIN LEADERS, THIS IS REGARDED AS THE HIGHEST OFFENSE.

BREAKDOWN— A TUMOR IS AN ABNORMAL MASS OF TISSUE THAT FORMS WHEN CELLS GROW AND DIVIDE MORE THAN THEY SHOULD OR DO NOT DIE WHEN THEY SHOULD. IMPERIUM IS AN ABNORMAL CANCER TO A HUMAN BEING THAT OVERTAKES ALL SYSTEMS. TAKE THE "NEW WORLD" AND COMPARE IT TO "THE WORLD'S TUMOR". BOTH ARE DESIGNED FOR THE OPPOSITE INTENTION: ONE FOR DECEPTION, ONE FOR TRUTH.

THE OLD WORLD: THE OLD WORLD REFERS TO THE WORLD EXISTING ABOVE GROUND (THE WORLD A VIEWER CONSIDERS THEIR OWN). THE OLD WORLD IS PRESENTED AS THE ONE THAT IS INFERIOR IN BOTH IDEALS AND COMPOSITION, THEREFORE BEING OUTDATED. ACCORDING TO IMPERIUM, THE OLD WORLD IS A WORLD WHERE NOBODY THRIVES AND WHERE NOBODY IS GRANTED TRUE FREEDOM. THE NEW WORLD IS SAID TO PROVIDE MEMBERS WITH LIBERTIES THAT THE OLD WORLD FAILED TO GRANT THEM.

CHAIN: A CHAIN IS ESSENTIALLY A CULT GROUP. THE MAIN CHAINS ARE REVELATION, ARCANUM, EL DORADO, VENERATION AND LES MARIONNETTES. ALL OF THEM ARE CULT GROUPS WHO HAVE CULT PRACTICES DISGUISED AS PREPARATION OR TRAINING. WITH THIS BEING SAID, THEY ARE NEVER REFFERED TO AS CULTS WHEN BEING DISCUSSED IN THE UNIVERSE BECAUSE IT WILL MORE THAN LIKELY HINDER COOPERATION. IN ORDER TO EXCEL AS A CHAIN, MEMBERS MUST BE FULLY INDOCTRINATED AND LOYAL TO THE CAUSE.

BREAKDOWN— A CHAIN IS A CONNECTED SERIES OF METAL LINKS USED FOR FASTENING OR SECURING OBJECTS AND PULLING OR SUPPORTING LOADS. TAKE THIS AND APPLY IT TO THE IMPERIUM ORGANIZATION. THESE CULTS, WHICH ARE CALLED CHAINS CONNECT TOGETHER IN ORDER TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION - TO CREATE IT. THE METAL LINKS ARE THE MEMBERS AND LEADERS WHO BIND TOGETHER TO MAKE A CHAIN.

RECRUITS: INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE CAPTURED THE EYE OF AN IMPERIUM ELITE OR CHAIN LEADER ARE KNOWN AS RECRUITS. RECRUITS LIVE IN THE OLD WORLD AND HAVE NO PREVIOUS AFFILIATION WITH THE ORGANIZATION NOR DO THEY HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF ITS EXISTENCE. THEY ALSO HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF BEING RECRUITED BY AN OUTSIDE PARTY AT ALL.

THE RECRUITER'S INFILTRATION— MEMBERS ARE RECRUITED IN DIFFERENT WAYS. THE NATURE OF THE PROCESS AND APPROACH IS DEPENDENT ON THE VALUES OF THE CHAIN AND ITS LEADER. THOUGH, IT IS A CONSTANT AMONG ALL CHAINS THAT THE LIVES OF THESE RECRUITS ARE INFILTRATED. THIS MEANS THAT SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAPPEN TO ENTER THEIR LIVES AT A CONVINIENT TIME ARE RECRUITERS IN DISGUISE. 

INVOLUNTARY MEMBER: INVOLUNTARY MEMBERS ARE MEMBERS WHO WERE BORN INTO THE SYSTEM OR WERE BROUGHT UP IN IT DURING INFANT YEARS. OFTENTIMES THESE MEMBERS HAVE FAMILIAL TIES TO OTHERS (EX. REAGAN DELACROIX, AISA ASAKURA)

"VOLUNTARY" MEMBER: THOSE WHO "MADE A DECISION" TO JOIN THE SYSTEM ARE VOLUNTARY MEMBERS. CHILDREN / ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS CAN ALL FALL UNDER THIS CATEGORY. OFTENTIMES, THESE MEMBERS ARE FROM THE OLD WORLD AND HAVE PRE EXISTING TRAUMA ASSOCIATED WITH THE PLACE WHERE THEY GREW UP. A MAJORITY, IF NOT ALL, OF THESE MEMBERS WERE DECIEVED OR PERSUADED INTO JOINING DURING A LOW PART OF THEIR LIVES. (EX. MAXWELL CHAMBERS, MIGUEL SERRANO)

THE ERADICATION: THE ERADICATION REFERS TO REAGAN DELACROIX BREAKING THE ENTIRE REVELATION CHAIN. BREAKING A CHAIN WITH HUNDREDS OF MEMBERS (POTENTIALLY MORE) NOT ONLY REQUIRES AN IMMENSE AMOUNT POWER BUT ALSO AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF DRIVE AND DETERMINATION. WITH THIS, DELACROIX DID WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY THOUGHT OF TO BE IMPOSSIBLE.

IMPACT OF ERADICATION: THE ERADICATION BROUGHT BOTH FEAR AND PARANOIA TO CORRUPT CHAIN LEADERS AND ALSO MARKED A POINT OF HEIGHTENED CONSCIOUSNESS WITHIN FUTURE ALLIES WHO WITNESSED HER DIRECT ADDRESS VIA SECURITY FOOTAGE (AISA ASAKURA, MIGUEL SERRANO, DESIRÉE LEBLANC).

CHAINBREAKER: A CHAINBREAKER IS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO MANAGES TO ERADICATE A CHAIN IN ITS ENTIRETY. THE ONLY CHAINBREAKER TO EVER EXIST AND COMPLETELY ESCAPE THE CONFINES OF IMPERIUM IS REAGAN DELACROIX.

WEED: A WEED IS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS THE POTENTIAL TO PROPOSE A THREAT TO IMPERIUM OR THE CHAINS THAT CREATE IT. IT IS OFTEN USED AS A DEROGATORY NAME BY SOMEONE IN POWER WHO IS SUSPICIOUS OF ONE'S INTENTIONS.

BREAKDOWN — A WEED IS A WILD PLANT THAT GROWS WHERE IT IS NOT WANTED IN HUMAN CONTROLLED SETTINGS AND IN COMPETITION WITH OTHER CULTIVATED PLANTS. RAFAEL CORTEZ REFERS TO REAGAN AS A WEED BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER THE ERADICATION. BY SPREADING THIS RHETORIC DURING A TIME OF MASS HYSTERIA, HE WAS ABLE TO SOLIDIFY HIS PORTRAYAL OF REAGAN AS THE TRUE THREAT TO THEIR ORGANIZATION (BUT MORE SO TO HIS POWER).

TRAITOR: COMMONLY DEFINED AS A PERSON WHO DESSERTS / BETRAYS AN ORGANIZATION OR A SET OF PRINCIPLES. BEING A TRAITOR TO IMPERIUM IS MOST ACCURATELY COMPARED TO AN IMMEDIATE DEATH SENTENCE. A TRAITOR IS THE LOWEST OF THE LOW AND WILL THE FACE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR BETRAYAL.

THE PIT: THE PIT IS AN EXTREMLY LARGE GAPING HOLE IN THE CENTER OF THE GROUND WHOSE DEPTH IS UNKNOWN TO THE COMMON IMPERIUM MEMBER.

THE TRAITOR IS THROWN IN THE PIT: THE PIT IS EITHER USED IN CASES OF A TRAITOR'S PUBLIC CAPTURE OR IN CASES OF A CONSPIRACY AGAINST THE ORGANIZATION. ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CHAINS WILL FORM INTO A MOB AND THROW THE TRAITOR INTO THE PIT. FROM THERE, THE TRAITOR THEY WILL BE LEFT AT THE BOTTOM UNTIL THEY DIE OF STARVATION, DEHYDRATION, OR SUICIDE.

THE DISORDER: THE DISORDER IS A RESISTANCE GROUP THAT IS LED BY REAGAN DELACROIX AND FORMED LATER IN THE IMPERIUM STORYLINE. MAXWELL CHAMBERS, AISA ASAKURA, MIGUEL SERRANO AND JEANETTE FINLEY WILL ALL BE A PART OF THIS GROUP AT DIFFERENT TIMES.

BREAKDOWN— A DISORDER IS DEFINED AS A DISRUPTION OF SYSTEMATIC FUNCTIONING OR A STATE OF CONFUSION. THE GROUP CREATED THIS NAME TO TAKE A DIRECT JAB AT IMPERIUM AND THEIR PORTRAYAL OF THEM. BY NAMING THEMSELVES THE DISORDER THEY ARE TAKING A NEGATIVE AND TURNING IT INTO THEIR POSITIVE. THE DISORDER SEEKS TO DISRUPT IMPERIUM AND KEEP THEM IN A STATE OF CONFUSION.