Ditto History Logs

Ditto History Logs are found throughout Ditto as Dittopedias. There are 52 total which are saved at the Hall of Swords throughout runs. These Logs expand on the lore of the game and once all 52 are found, they will no longer be found in future playthroughs.

Dittopedias can be found in numerous ways:

• Chests in dungeons
• Quest rewards
• Crates opened by Arfur

Play and Arcadia

(from A Reulian in Arcadia, published CY 152)

As the first year of my travels across this most alien of countries nears its end, I find myself searching for some kind of lesson: some kind of distillation of the experience thus far.

The biggest culture shock to a Reulian worldview, of course, is the Arcadian preoccupation with play and competition. We all expect children to play as their means of discovering the world, but Arcadians never lose this spirit, even as they become adults. They play every day: be it sports, family games, intellectual sparring in forensics, or the communal, interactive experiences they call theatre. All of it could be said to have little consequence, and yet it occupies so much of their lives.

Play and Arcadia II

(from a Reulian in Arcadia, published CY 152)

One thing that has become clearer as my travels continue is that, despite the Arcadian obsession with play, competitiveness remains extremely low. Cooperative games are of course popular, but even when sparring competitively, one gets the sense that all rivalries dissolve the second the game finishes.

Competitiveness is something to be felt in the heat of the moment -- a force to propel oneself forward towards victory -- but isn't allowed to spill over into resentment, anger, or any long-term emotions that persist beyond the current encounter. Despite the popularity of sports in Arcadia, there are no league competitions -- in many cases there aren't even any fixed teams. A die-hard Reulia Championship fan such as myself could never understand this wrinkle.

Arcadian Imperialism

(from a Reulian in Arcadia, published CY 152)

One thing I have often found hard to reconcile is how a society so preoccupied with fun and play can also be so aggressively imperialist.

Arcadians are taught not to let resentment and frustration fester after their games; that all competitive feelings should end when the match does. And yet they hold an intense nationalistic pride -- one which led to their subjugation of Tritya at the turn of the century, and is fuelling the current dispute on the Celaran border.

And yet I wonder -- could the nationalism stem from play somehow? Although the suppression of resentment might seem noble, human beings cannot simply be conditioned not to feel things. Thus, if that competitive spirit cannot be directed at their brethren, perhaps it finds an acceptable home in feelings towards those OUTSIDE Arcadian society?

The Toys of Legend

Originally a custom in old Arcadia, the idea of the Toys of Legend has now spread across the glove in step with their Empire. It is believed that their utilization in education had multiple objectives: to encourage children to problem solve in creative ways, to increase their hand-eye coordination, to develop physical strength, and -- perhaps most importantly -- to embed the Arcadian ethos of socialization through play.

There are four Toys of Legend that are considered the 'Core' Toys of Legend: the Laser Ring, the Frisbee, the Golf Club, and the Drone. There are numerous other Toys that are sometimes considered Toys of Legend, which tend to vary from territory to territory, but only the aforementioned four are consistent across the empire.

The Origin of the Trials

The first recorded reference to 'trials' (as an activity, at least) can be found in an ancient text dating back to CY 22. It was a custom amongst many communities in Tritya that, when a person came of age, they would undergo an informal trial -- usually involving hunting or tests of physical strength -- to officially mark their passage into adulthood.

After Tritya was invaded by Arcadia in CY 104, the Arcadians took the custom on board for themselves, but adapted them to fit their more playful style by utilizing the Toys of Legend. While they officially marked a coming of age, there was little pressure involved with them -- no real consequence would come of failing, and anyone could retry as many times as they wished.

Of Gods and Goddesses: Fate

Sometimes called a weaver of threads, Fate is a deity linked to the most elusive and frustrating concept for any mortal: destiny.

Originally one of the major deities of the Dittoan native culture, Fate became integrated into the wider Arcadian Circle of Gods when the territory joined the Arcadian Empire in the 10th Century. Fate was one of the more visible gods in the Circle, often appearing and interacting directly with people in the form of a fox-human male hybrid. Indeed, it might not be unfair to say that They rather appreciated the celebrity, often posing for famous sculptors and reveling in the attention.

Since integration with the Arcadian Circle, however, appearances have become less frequent and have seen Fate with a more dour demeanor. What happened to cause this shift -- if anything -- remains unclear.

Philosophy of Fate

Indeed, perhaps the most difficult of all deities to reconcile is Fate.

Fate's very existence raises more questions than it answers: if all is predestined, is there any meaning even to Fate's actions? Are They simply carrying out their pre-written script? Can any ad-hoc interaction with Them have any effect? Or do They determine our destiny on the fly, Their hands on the loom of creation at all times?

All attempts to ask Them this question directly has always been met with a sly wink and a not. Apparently, it is not for us mortals to know.

Of Gods and Goddesses: Serendipity

The counterpart to Fate, Serendipity is the Dittoan goddess of good -- and often unexpected -- fortune. They are described in the older fables as taking the form of a whale. Although this appears odd now, in ancient Dittoan fishing communities whales were seen as creatures that brought great luck; to see one was a portent of good fortune to come.

Serendipity was not granted passage into the Arcadian Circle when Ditto joined the Empire, perhaps due to Them being a more elusive presence than Fate. As such, They are not an official deity within the Arcadian faith.

Very few verifiable eyewitness accounts exist. Indeed, most references are to be found in older texts that prioritized fantasy over mundane reality -- but many still nonetheless believe in Their existence. Modern sightings of Serendipity usually reference a female with long, wavy blonde hair, usually glimpsed in the periphery of a catastrophe or incident that -- almost miraculously -- resolves with no loss of life.

Of Gods and Goddesses: Serendipity (Addendum)

Addendum for the 18th Edition:

Since the ascension of Fate to the Seat of the Empire, there has not been a single reported sighting of Serendipity -- or indeed the rest of the circle.

Origins of Ether

The first reference to the term 'Ether' can be found in Eremicus Edict, the famous Reulian text written by Eremicus in Common Year 14. However, experts suspect that Etherweavers themselves have existed since the dawn of humanity.

Cave paintings in the Dorsun Pass region of Stalaco, dated to CY -42, show what some experts believe to be individuals manipulating Ether to uproot trees and swell a river -- although others believe this to be a depiction of a natural disaster said to have struck the region some years prior.

Ether, Force of Life

Though Etherweavers are feared and shunned in modern society, some ancient texts refer to Etherweavers as having healing powers. We all know that blood flows through our veins, but what if blood is not the only thing? what if Ether also flows within us, invisible to the naked eye; as a spiritual parallel to our mortal blood? Perhaps as blood flows to nourish our muscles, so too does Ether flow to nourish our spiritual self?

Ether, Force of Life (II)

...there is some evidence that using these 'spells' may actually diminish the body's Ether reserves. Although most Etherweavers on record have died early due to accidents, or been hunted by outside forces, there is one account of a note found in the Stalacan Scrolls.

A villager writes of an encounter with an Etherweaver who had been known to the locals since her birth 20 years previously. However, she is described as having the appearance of an old hag, withered and hunched. Is this an exaggeration? An example of early misogyny towards a woman with power? Or could it be that extended use of Ether exhausted her internal supply and led to premature aging?

Be Vigilant: Ether Syndrome

The period following the birth of a child is a testing, taxing, but rewarding time, as you begin to bond with the new addition to your family.

However, as you interact with your child, there are things to watch out for that could indicate that your child has been born with Ether Syndrome. Ether Syndrome affects roughly 1 in 300,000 births. That means it's rare -- but given the danger it could pose to both the child and your family, it's imperative that you keep on your guard.

Be Vigilant: Ether Syndrome (II)

Symptoms of Ether Syndrome include: abnormally fast speech development, burn marks on bedding (especially after the child is agitated), birthmarks on the collar bone, and general ultra-sensitivity to stimulae.

Every year, numerous people are hurt or injured by spontaneous Ether outbursts from untreated Ether Syndrome sufferers. In the interest of their safety -- and yours -- it is vital that you report any suspicions to your health practitioner so that the appropriate tests and treatment can be offered.

Only with your support can we minimize Ether Syndrome fatalities.

EXPOSE: Inside Ether Containment (Part 1)

When was it we forgot about Etherweavers?

When the High Bureau issued the Ether Containment Act of CY 955, the national conversation could not have been more dominated by talk of Etherweavers. After the Insugan Mall disaster resulted in the death of hundreds of innocent civilians, the voice of the general public was united calling for the rounding up of Etherweaers.

Under the Ether Containment Act, it became illegal to knowingly house a Etherweaver, and all Etherweavers had to be handed over to the Government for registration and containment. Despite the cries of families forced to hand over their children -- even those who had no issues containing their powers -- the overwhelming tide of public opinion saw the Act enforced to full effect.

EXPOSE: Inside Ether Containment (Part 2)

And so Etherweavers -- now isolated from the public -- faded from our everyday lives, and we began to forget. What about all the babies that continued to be born with Ether Syndrome? We spoke to one parent under condition of anonymity, who revealed they were encouraged not to speak up about their 'stolen' children -- initially with money, and later with threats of violence.

Ether Containment

The footage -- smuggled to families of Ether by an anonymous source -- shows that the Etherweavers are kept in solitary confinement for most of the day, but are allowed to socialize at meal times. They regularly undergo tests and experiments to measure their powers -- and given that the Ether Containment Facilities are under control of the Imperial Special Projects Division, to no doubt contribute towards research.

Indeed, it's no secret that the rapid developments in battery capacity over the past decade have been thanks to utilizing a much-diluted form of Ether -- a breakthrough that likely originated from these very facilities.

Ditto and the Arcadians

Ditto was the last territory to be acquired by the Arcadians, largely due to its isolated location off the western coast of the Great Continent.

In the late CY 990s, the Arcadian Empire started sniffing around the island of Ditto, sending a few scouting groups -- all of which were quickly defeated by the islanders, who were -- given their location -- keen sailors. With all previous wars being fought on solid ground, Arcadia had little in terms of a naval fleet, but began assembling one in secret. By the end of the CY 990s, it had amassed a fleet in the West Coast port of Knopemouth, and war seemed inevitable.

But it was not to be. In CY 1001, an envoy was dispatched from Ditto to the Arcadian capital with an offer of a peaceful surrender of the territory. In return for their integration into the Empire, Ditto sought resources as it struggled to maintain its growing population. Arcadia agreed, further extending an olive branch by allowing Ditto's chief deity, Fate, integration into the Arcadian Circle.