Canon Structure - Revision history

Duelaadm at 16:30, 26 May 2026

2026-05-26T16:30:41Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:30, 26 May 2026
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	Duela has no single official storyline.		Duela has no single official storyline.

	What it has instead is a structure: a permanent foundation, a recommended continuity, a default home for stories, and the lineages that grow between them. Nothing in this structure forces a writer onto a single path. It exists to let the world hold together without flattening it.		What it has instead is a structure: a permanent cosmological foundation, a recommended continuity, a default home for stories, and the lineages that grow between them. Nothing in this structure forces a writer onto a single path. It exists to let the world hold together without flattening it.

	== ~~Trunk~~ ==		== The cosmology ==
	The ~~trunk~~ is the permanent foundation of the setting. It cannot be rewritten by stories.		The cosmology is the permanent foundation of the setting. It cannot be rewritten by stories.

	~~Trunk~~ includes:		It includes:

	* The existence of Duela		* The existence of Duela
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	* [[The System]]		* [[The System]]
	* The Old God		* The Old God
	* The ~~basic~~ structure of gods		* The three-tier structure of gods (Original, Precursor, New / Ascended)
	* Bubble Theory		* [[Bubble Theory]]
			* The [[Stranger]] as a source of personal unexplainable events

	~~Trunk~~ is what makes a story recognizably a Duela story. A story that contradicts ~~trunk~~ is writing in a different world.		The cosmology is what makes a story recognizably a Duela story. A story that contradicts the cosmology is writing in a different world.

			Certain named figures and nations are also load-bearing across the shared world - Hauru, King Midas IV, Emperor Sumeragi, the Holy Order, and others established in writing. These are not cosmology, but they are treated similarly: do not casually rewrite them, because other stories depend on them being as they are.

	== General Collection ==		== General Collection ==
	The general collection is where stories live.		The general collection is where stories live.

	Every story written in Duela belongs here. This is not a holding area or a rejection category — it is the default home, and the largest body of work in the setting will always be here.		Every story written in Duela belongs here. This is not a holding area or a rejection category - it is the default home, and the largest body of work in the setting will always be here.

	A story in the general collection is fully a Duela story. It is not waiting for promotion.		A story in the general collection is fully a Duela story. It is not waiting for promotion.

	== Living Canon ==		== Living Canon ==
	Living canon is a selection drawn from the general collection: the entries the ~~committee~~ recognizes as the current spine of shared continuity.		Living canon is a selection drawn from the general collection: the entries the [[Committee]] recognizes as the current spine of shared continuity.

			It is a recommendation, not a restriction. Writers may build on Living canon if they want to share characters and events with the largest pool of other writers. Writers may also ignore it entirely and build on anything else in the general collection. Both are legitimately Duela.

	~~It is~~ a ~~recommendation~~, ~~not~~ a ~~restriction. Writers may build on Living canon if they want to share~~ characters ~~and events with the largest pool of~~ other writers~~. Writers may also ignore it entirely and build~~ on ~~anything else in the general collection. Both are legitimate Duela~~.		Living canon can be granular. A whole story can become Living. So can a single character, a single scene, or a relationship between two characters - any unit other writers have meaningfully built on.

	=== How entries enter and leave ===		=== How entries enter and leave ===
	Living canon is maintained by a ~~committee~~ of five~~: one permanent seat and four rotating seats held by heavy contributors~~.		Living canon is maintained by the [[Committee]], a five-member body of contributors whose work has shaped what others build on.

			* '''Promotion''' to Living requires three votes of five.
			* '''Pruning''' from Living requires all five votes. Pruning returns the entry to the general collection. It does not delete the story.

	* '''Promotion''' to Living requires a majority vote (three of five).		When uncertain, the Committee leans toward keeping entries in canon. The unanimous threshold for pruning is intentional.
	* '''Pruning''' from Living requires a unanimous ~~vote (five of five). Pruning returns an entry to the general collection. It does not delete the story~~.

	An entry that other stories have built on cannot be pruned if pruning would break those branches. Once enough work depends on an entry, the entry stays — regardless of ~~committee~~ preference. Recognition can be withdrawn; structural use cannot.		An entry that other stories have built on cannot be pruned if pruning would break those branches. Once enough work depends on an entry, the entry stays - regardless of Committee preference. Recognition can be withdrawn; structural use cannot.

	This means Living canon is unstable in its early life and stabilizes through use. Entries that get built on settle into permanence. Entries that don't remain available for replacement.		This means Living canon is unstable in its early life and stabilizes through use. Entries that get built on settle into permanence. Entries that don't remain available for replacement.

			Full procedural rules are on the [[Committee]] page.

	== Branches ==		== Branches ==
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	Branches credit the story they grow from. They are not required to remain consistent with later branches of the same source, with Living canon, or with each other. A branch may continue, reinterpret, contradict, or diverge from its source. A branch of a branch is also a branch. Branches may extend indefinitely.		Branches credit the story they grow from. They are not required to remain consistent with later branches of the same source, with Living canon, or with each other. A branch may continue, reinterpret, contradict, or diverge from its source. A branch of a branch is also a branch. Branches may extend indefinitely.

	Branches outside Living canon are as legitimate as any other story in Duela. A long lineage of branches ~~that~~ the ~~committee~~ never recognized is not lesser work. It is simply a different lineage.		Branches outside Living canon are as legitimate as any other story in Duela. A long lineage of branches the Committee never recognized is not lesser work. It is simply a different lineage.

	== Principle ==		== Principle ==

Duelaadm: rewrite due to canon being a nono word

2026-05-26T16:06:50Z

rewrite due to canon being a nono word

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:06, 26 May 2026
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	= Canon Structure =		= Canon Structure =
			Duela has no single official storyline.

	~~Duela uses~~ a ~~tree-like canon~~ structure.		What it has instead is a structure: a permanent foundation, a recommended continuity, a default home for stories, and the lineages that grow between them. Nothing in this structure forces a writer onto a single path. It exists to let the world hold together without flattening it.

	The ~~purpose~~ of ~~this structure is to let~~ the ~~world grow through~~ stories ~~without making every story equally load-bearing~~.		== Trunk ==
			The trunk is the permanent foundation of the setting. It cannot be rewritten by stories.

	== Trunk ~~Canon ==~~		Trunk includes:

	~~The trunk is the permanent foundation of the setting.~~

	~~This~~ includes:

	* The existence of Duela		* The existence of Duela
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	* Bubble Theory		* Bubble Theory

	Trunk ~~canon should almost never change~~.		Trunk is what makes a story recognizably a Duela story. A story that contradicts trunk is writing in a different world.

			== General Collection ==
			The general collection is where stories live.

			Every story written in Duela belongs here. This is not a holding area or a rejection category — it is the default home, and the largest body of work in the setting will always be here.

			A story in the general collection is fully a Duela story. It is not waiting for promotion.

	== Living Canon ==		== Living Canon ==
			Living canon is a selection drawn from the general collection: the entries the committee recognizes as the current spine of shared continuity.

	Living canon ~~contains exemplary stories~~ and ~~setting material recognized as important to~~ the ~~shared world~~.		It is a recommendation, not a restriction. Writers may build on Living canon if they want to share characters and events with the largest pool of other writers. Writers may also ignore it entirely and build on anything else in the general collection. Both are legitimate Duela.

	Living canon ~~can grow, be revised, or be pruned over time~~.		=== How entries enter and leave ===
			Living canon is maintained by a committee of five: one permanent seat and four rotating seats held by heavy contributors.

	~~== General Collection ==~~		* '''Promotion''' to Living requires a majority vote (three of five).
			* '''Pruning''' from Living requires a unanimous vote (five of five). Pruning returns an entry to the general collection. It does not delete the story.

	~~The general collection is~~ the ~~default home for stories~~.		An entry that other stories have built on cannot be pruned if pruning would break those branches. Once enough work depends on an entry, the entry stays — regardless of committee preference. Recognition can be withdrawn; structural use cannot.

	This is ~~not a rejection category~~. ~~Most stories belong here~~.		This means Living canon is unstable in its early life and stabilizes through use. Entries that get built on settle into permanence. Entries that don't remain available for replacement.

	== Branches ==		== Branches ==
			A branch is a story that grows from another story.

	Branches are ~~stories~~ or ~~sub-canons that grow~~ from ~~existing stories~~.		Branches credit the story they grow from. They are not required to remain consistent with later branches of the same source, with Living canon, or with each other. A branch may continue, reinterpret, contradict, or diverge from its source. A branch of a branch is also a branch. Branches may extend indefinitely.

	A branch ~~must credit the story it grows from~~.

	Branches ~~allow writers to continue, reinterpret, or expand existing stories without forcing every continuation into one single official path~~.		Branches outside Living canon are as legitimate as any other story in Duela. A long lineage of branches that the committee never recognized is not lesser work. It is simply a different lineage.

	== Principle ==		== Principle ==
			Canon is not a cage. It is what enough writers have agreed to build on.

	~~Canon is not a cage. It is a growing tree~~.		The world settles into shape through what gets used.

	[[Category:Core Concepts]]		[[Category:Core Concepts]]
	[[Category:Project Structure]]		[[Category:Project Structure]]

Duelaadm: Created page with "= Canon Structure = Duela uses a tree-like canon structure. The purpose of this structure is to let the world grow through stories without making every story equally load-bearing. == Trunk Canon == The trunk is the permanent foundation of the setting. This includes: * The existence of Duela * The Essence * The System * The Old God * The basic structure of gods * Bubble Theory Trunk canon should almost never change. == Living Canon == Living canon contain..."

2026-05-26T11:49:59Z

Created page with "= Canon Structure = Duela uses a tree-like canon structure. The purpose of this structure is to let the world grow through stories without making every story equally load-bearing. == Trunk Canon == The trunk is the permanent foundation of the setting. This includes: * The existence of Duela * The Essence * The System * The Old God * The basic structure of gods * Bubble Theory Trunk canon should almost never change. == Living Canon == Living canon contain..."

New page

= Canon Structure =

Duela uses a tree-like canon structure.

The purpose of this structure is to let the world grow through stories without making every story equally load-bearing.

== Trunk Canon ==

The trunk is the permanent foundation of the setting.

This includes:

* The existence of Duela
* [[The Essence]]
* [[The System]]
* The Old God
* The basic structure of gods
* Bubble Theory

Trunk canon should almost never change.

== Living Canon ==

Living canon contains exemplary stories and setting material recognized as important to the shared world.

Living canon can grow, be revised, or be pruned over time.

== General Collection ==

The general collection is the default home for stories.

This is not a rejection category. Most stories belong here.

== Branches ==

Branches are stories or sub-canons that grow from existing stories.

A branch must credit the story it grows from.

Branches allow writers to continue, reinterpret, or expand existing stories without forcing every continuation into one single official path.

== Principle ==

Canon is not a cage. It is a growing tree.

[[Category:Core Concepts]]
[[Category:Project Structure]]