CORE PREMISE
In a relativistic casino orbiting a black hole, time is currency and identity is collateral. Sahir gambles to restore his sister's erased existence while an unstable rewind chip tempts fate. The House always has an edge—and every win has a cost.
MAIN CAST
Sahir — Protagonist. A debtor with a Temporal Gambler's Chip, risking memory and self to reclaim his sister.
Laleh — Sahir's sister. Deferred into a shard; her existence destabilizes the House's probabilistic order.
Kian — Sahir's ally and connector. Moves in the shadows of Copper and Silver.
Iri — Drift‑room insider. Helps Sahir survive audits and learn the tables.
Veyra — Silver broker. Offers provisional sponsorship with a price.
Nael — Gold‑tier patron. Demands high‑risk performance for access.
Sela — Repeater who remembers altered timelines. A guide and warning.
Jax — Copper predator. Rival who hunts weak debtors.
Brev — Outer Syndicate contact. Offers dangerous protection outside House control.
The House Observer — The House's interface and enforcer. Tracks anomalies and enforces stability.
The Council (Singularity Council) — A tier above the House that curates time beyond gambling.
TIERS & FACTIONS
Copper Tier — Survival tables, high variance, harsh House Edge.
Silver Tier — Controlled volatility, sponsor politics, arbitration access.
Gold Tier — Patronage, public scrutiny, influence games.
Platinum Tier — Institutional leverage, asset status, absolute monitoring.
The House — Casino authority; protects system stability and its Edge.
Outer Chrono Syndicates — Rival faction outside House control; trade in hidden time routes.
Singularity Council — Meta‑tier curators of time; protect the board, not the table.
CORE MECHANICS
Time = Currency — Lifespan, memory, and senses are traded as stakes.
House Edge — Drift calibration and market delays favor the House.
Temporal Gambler's Chip — Rewinds Sahir's personal timeline 30–60 seconds.
Rewind Costs — Randomly consumes lifespan, memory, senses, emotional bonds, or neural stability.
Residue — Each rewind leaves a trace the House can detect.
Paradox Count — Rewinds and contradictions raise audit risk.
KEY GAMES
Dilation Ante — Navigate time‑drift rings to hit a target offset.
Echo Table — Maintain consistent decision patterns under scrutiny.
Chrono Pot — Trade memories and time in a volatile market.
Paradox Duel — Head‑to‑head time vector combat; contradictions lose.
Blind Horizon — Predict card sequence without the deck; mind‑rhythm vs House lag.
Time Distortion — Survive waves of drift without losing coherence.
Horizon Vault — Wager future time; high variance, high surveillance.
Singularity Loop — Extreme drift folding; stability test for anomalies.
READING NOTES
Every chapter ends with a hook.
Costs of rewinds escalate as use increases.
Higher tiers mean stronger protection and heavier leashes.
Mysteries unfold slowly; the House's true purpose is revealed over time.
HOW TO READ
1. Start with the Prologue, then follow Chapters 1–100 in order.
2. Use the Recap + Speakers lines for quick orientation.
TIER TIMELINE
- Copper: Survival, debt, and first exposure to residue.
- Silver: Sponsorships, arbitration access, and tighter surveillance.
- Gold: Patronage politics, public scrutiny, and influence games.
- Platinum: Institutional leverage and absolute monitoring.
- Council/Outers: Meta‑tier forces beyond the House.
RELATIONSHIP MAP
Sahir ↔ Laleh: Core anchor; her deferral drives the entire arc.
Sahir ↔ Kian: Ally/connector; tactical support and access to routes.
Sahir ↔ Iri: Drift‑room contact; survival knowledge and cover.
Sahir ↔ Veyra: Silver sponsorship; favors owed.
Sahir ↔ Nael: Gold patronage gatekeeper; conditional leverage.
Sahir ↔ Sela: Repeater; warns about higher tiers and the fork.
Sahir ↔ Jax: Copper rival; predator and persistent threat.
Sahir ↔ Brev/Outers: Dangerous protection outside House control.
Sahir ↔ House Observer: Primary institutional antagonist.
Sahir ↔ Council: Meta‑tier testers; reluctant leverage.