Monoliths are metaphysical constructs that function as primary conduits between REALSPACE and BLACKSPACE, exhibiting pronounced dimensional, spatial, and ontological anomalies.
Structure
Monoliths consistently manifest as colossal, rectangular quadrilaterals, with smooth, featureless surfaces composed entirely of Blackstone. Despite their uniformity in material and form, no two Monoliths are identical in spatial footprint or placement.
Each Monolith extends approximately 60 metre in vertical height above its lowest REALSPACE-accessible point, though this measurement is complicated by non-Euclidean overlap: the lower portions of Monoliths exist either partially or wholly within BLACKSPACE. As a result, their true base remains inaccessible and immeasurable via conventional REALSPACE geometry. Monoliths are typically deeply embedded within terrestrial strata, often anchoring below the crust and into indeterminate dimensional depth.
Effects
The presence of a Monolith alters the surrounding REALSPACE environment in several measurable ways:
- The immediate vicinity of a Monolith is typically barren, with plant life failing to thrive and microbial processes severely inhibited.
- Localized dimensional interference: Proximity to a Monolith increases the intensity of dimensional overlap with BLACKSPACE. These areas may exhibit warped spatial logic or minor Coherence effects.
Function
Monoliths act as active transition nodes between REALSPACE and BLACKSPACE. Direct physical contact with the surface of a Monolith enables immediate traversal across the dimensional threshold, either partially or completely, depending on the parameters of the contact and the structural stability of the node at the time.
Placement Rules
Monolith manifestation within REALSPACE is governed by a set of placement heuristics, collectively referred to as the Monolith Placement Rules. These include:
- Monoliths in REALSPACE must be separated by no less than 1,000 km, a value that scales proportionally with the Monolith’s vertical height.
- Interdimensional disparity: Monoliths that are adjacent in REALSPACE may be separated by thousands or millions of km within BLACKSPACE, due to non-linear spatial congruence.
Based on dimensional modelling, an estimated 35 Monoliths exist across REALSPACE, excluding the Citadel.