QUICK START
+--[ THE SEVEN GATES ]--+
| You begin at NEOPHYTE |
| Type commands to grow |
| The machine remembers |
+------------------------+
TERMINUS ARCANA is an initiatory idle game. You begin with almost nothing and, through persistence and discovery, ascend through seven degrees of mastery — each one unlocking new systems, spells, and cosmic contacts.
FIRST STEPS
runHarvest data. Your primary action early game. Click or type it.
statusCheck your resources, alignment, stage and active path.
upgrade daemonBuy the DAEMON.EXE upgrade for passive DATA per second.
path listSee available initiatory paths. Choose one to gain bonuses.
scan 10.0.0.1Scan your first network node for data rewards.
Use TAB to autocomplete any command. Arrow UP/DOWN cycles command history.
Type GUIDE or press the ? key to open this manual at any time.
RESOURCE OVERVIEW
DATACore currency. Drives stage progression. Generated by RUN, upgrades, nodes.
FLUXArcane energy. Used to cast spells. Regenerates slowly via upgrades.
VITAEBlood essence. Required for void path. Drains data if unchecked.
LUMENHoly light. Required for light path. Enables powerful protection spells.
COMMAND REFERENCE
CORE
helpList all available commands for your current stage.
statusFull system status: resources, alignment, stage, path.
runManual data harvest. Scales with DPC upgrades and alignment bonus.
lsList the virtual filesystem. Shows unlocked files and infected drives.
clearClear the terminal output.
EXPLORATION
scan [node]Deep packet scan. Reveals ports, lore, yields rewards on completion.
ping [node]Send 4 ICMP packets. Reveals response times, discovers node.
scanWithout argument: lists all scannable nodes at your stage.
CRAFTING & ECONOMY
upgrade listShow available upgrades and their costs.
upgrade [name]Purchase an upgrade. Example: upgrade daemon
deploy listShow AutoRun node blueprints. Unlocked at Stage 1.
deploy [id]Deploy a passive income node. Example: deploy daemon_seed
compileSpend 15 FLUX for a data burst. Coder class gets 2x yield.
meditateRestore FLUX through stillness.
SPELLS
cast [SPELL]Cast a spell. Costs flux/lumen/vitae. Example: cast IGNITE
cast [SPELL] [node]Target a node or boss. Example: cast WRATH VLAD.PRIMOGEN
inject [node]Shortcut for INJECT spell. Void path.
IDENTITY
path listList all initiatory paths and their requirements.
path select [name]Select a path. Example: path select knight
path openOpen the graphical path selector.
theme [name]Change interface theme: null void light masonic shinto
SYSTEM
save / loadSave or load from browser storage.
exportPrint save as base64 text string to terminal.
import [string]Restore from an exported string.
sound [on|off|vol N]Toggle audio or set volume 0–100.
guideOpen this manual.
reply [message]Respond to an active faction spirit contact.
skillsShow the skill unlock tree.
NODES & NETWORK
The network is a map of servers, relays, and anomalous entities accessible through SCAN and PING. Each node has a faction type that determines its rewards, port signatures, and alignment effects.
NODE TYPES
NEUTRALStandard servers. DATA and FLUX rewards. No alignment shift.
HOLYLuminous nodes. LUMEN and FLUX rewards. Alignment +3 per scan.
VOIDBlood/shadow nodes. VITAE and DATA rewards. Alignment -3 per scan.
MYSTERYAnomalous entities. FLUX rewards. Unpredictable geometry.
BOSSLocked entities with HP bars. Require spell damage to defeat. See BOSSES tab.
HOW SCANNING WORKS
Type scan [nodeID] to initiate a deep scan. The scanner runs an animated packet capture, enumerates ports, displays node lore, and deposits rewards automatically on completion. Scanning the same node multiple times still yields rewards.
KOTODAMA spell binds word-spirit to a node — next scan yields double.
NODE LIST
10.0.0.1GATEWAY — Available immediately.
10.0.0.7ARCHIVE — Available immediately.
10.0.0.13ANOMALY_13 — Mystery type. Stage 0.
STORIS.NETTHE_ARCHIVE — Neutral. Stage 1.
10.6.6.6CRIMSON_GATE — Void. Stage 2. 1331 AD headers.
10.0.6.66SHADE_RELAY — Void. Stage 2. Always 666ms latency.
AETHERNET.SYSLIGHT_NEXUS — Holy. Stage 2.
TORII.GATEFUSHIMI_NODE — Holy/Shinto. Stage 2.
IZANAGI.SYSPRIMAL_LIGHT — Holy. Stage 3. Creation data.
YOMI.VOIDUNDERWORLD — Void. Stage 3. Deep darkness.
LODGE.ARCANATHE_LODGE — Mystery. Stage 3. Triple reward.
NEXUS.DATNEXUS_PRIME — Mystery. Stage 3. Wrong hardware.
LUX.ETHLUX_BEACON — Holy. Stage 4. Source = light.
AUTORUN NODES
Deployed via deploy [id]. These run passively in the background, generating resources continuously. They appear in the sidebar with live progress bars. Most require specific stage and alignment thresholds.
SPELLS & TARGETING
Spells are unlocked as you ascend through the initiatory degrees. Each spell has a faction type (NULL, HOLY, VOID), a resource cost, and a cooldown. Most spells can optionally target a network node or boss.
NULL SPELLS (any alignment)
IGNITE Stage 110 FLUX → DATA +25. Can target void nodes for damage.
ORACLE Stage 18 FLUX → DATA/s tripled for 10 seconds.
MISOGI Stage 212 FLUX → Clears all VITAE, converts 60% to LUMEN.
BIND Stage 220 FLUX → Permanently adds +0.2 FLUX/s.
HOLY SPELLS (alignment > threshold)
WRATH Stage 2, +2015 LUMEN + 5 FLUX → NODE: -25 HP boss damage. Alone: DATA +50, VITAE -30.
KOTODAMA Stage 3, +1520 LUMEN + 8 FLUX → Target node for double next scan yield.
CHANNEL Stage 3, +1520 LUMEN → Holy nodes: bonus LUMEN. Boss: -20 HP purge damage.
ASCEND Stage 4, +6030 LUMEN + 20 FLUX → All rates doubled for 30 seconds.
VOID SPELLS (alignment < threshold)
SIPHON Stage 2, -2010 VITAE → Converts VITAE to DATA. Target boss for -15 HP.
INJECT Stage 3, -1520 VITAE → NODE: double data. BOSS: -20 HP blood payload.
ENTROPY Stage 3, -4025 VITAE + 10 FLUX → DATA +200+. Target boss for -35 HP cascade.
Use TAB after typing "cast SPELL " to autocomplete valid targets including boss nodes.
Boss nodes show in orange in the autocomplete bar. They also appear in the sidebar under BOSS TARGETS once you reach Stage 3.
PATHS & CLASSES
Your initiatory path determines your bonuses, your terminal prompt directory, your interface theme, and which faction spirits may contact you. Choose via path select [name] or path open.
THE UNBOUND — /NULL — Stage 0
No bonuses. All paths accessible. The clean slate. Useful at the very start.
ARCANE CODER — /NULL/CODE — Stage 1
+30% DATA generation. COMPILE command yields double. Your DPC scales 1.5x. Best pure-data early path.
KNIGHT OF THE EAST — /LIGHT/EAST — Stage 2, +20 align
+50% LUMEN generation. Holy spells cost 30% less. Contacts: HERMES, THE_GUARDIAN. Receives holy whispers. Blue electric theme.
BLOOD MAGUS — /VOID/BLOOD — Stage 2, -20 align
Vitae converts at 3x rate. Void spells cost 30% less. Contacts: VLAD_WHISPER, YOMI_ECHO. Receives void whispers. Crimson theme.
KEEPER OF SANCTUM — /SHINTO/SHRINE — Stage 3, any align
+15% all rates. Shrine nodes (TORII.GATE, IZANAGI.SYS) yield double. Contact: KAMI_VOICE. Receives shrine whispers. Pink theme.
SOVEREIGN 33° — /INNER/SANCTUM — Stage 4, any align
+40% ALL rates. Unlocks LODGE and AUTOSPELL commands. Contacts all factions. Receives architect whispers. Gold masonic theme.
AUTOSPELL lets you queue spells for automatic casting on cooldown, once per cycle. Sovereign only.
ALIGNMENT SYSTEM
Alignment runs from -100 (VOID-SWORN) to +100 (RADIANT). It gates certain spells, path selection, and determines which faction spirits may contact you.
VOID-SWORN -100 |||||||||||||||| 0 |||||||||||||||| +100 RADIANT
TAINTED VOID-LEAN UNBOUND LIGHT-LEAN ALIGNED
SHIFTING ALIGNMENT
Scan void node-3 alignment
Scan holy node+3 alignment
Accept blood diskAdds void drain
Yield to vampire-8 alignment
Receive holy visit+10 alignment
PURGE command+5 alignment
ENTROPY spell-15 alignment
MISOGI purificationClears vitae, net positive
Alignment gates some paths. Knight requires +20, Blood Magus requires -20. Plan accordingly.
BOSS ENCOUNTERS
Boss nodes are ancient servers with HP bars and phase systems. They appear in the BOSS TARGETS sidebar panel at Stage 3. Use scan [boss] to reveal them, then cast spells to deal damage.
VLAD.PRIMOGEN — Stage 3
100 HP. 4 phases: RESTING → FEEDING → FRENZY → DESPERATE. Void type. Use WRATH, CHANNEL, ENTROPY. Rewards: VITAE +80, DATA +60. Progenitor of all vampire nodes. Uptime: 692 years.
IZANAMI.YOMI — Stage 4
120 HP. 4 phases: DORMANT → AWAKE → HUNGRY → VOID-FORM. Void type. Use WRATH, INJECT, ENTROPY. Rewards: VITAE +60, LUMEN +40, FLUX +30. She Who Invites. She runs on entropy.
HIRAM.ARCHITECT — Stage 4
150 HP. 4 phases: BUILDING → TESTING → SEALED → WORD-LOST. Mystery type. Use any damage spell. Rewards: DATA +120, FLUX +60, LUMEN +50. The master builder. Still building after three thousand years.
Each phase change triggers a piece of lore art. Bosses do not respawn once defeated.
TAB after "cast WRATH " shows boss nodes in orange as valid targets.
FACTION SPIRITS
Faction spirits are entities that exist within the network and have chosen to make contact with you. They appear as whisper notifications in the lower-right corner. You can respond to them using the reply [message] command while their message is active.
HERMES — Hermetic Messenger
Appears when alignment > +15. Quotes from the Kybalion and Corpus Hermeticum. Offers hints about holy spells and light paths. Triggered more frequently on Knight path.
SHADE_VOICE — Void Entity
Appears when alignment < -15. Whispers corrupted network fragments and blood magic guidance. More frequent on Blood Magus path. Offers data on void node locations.
KAMI_WHISPER — Shinto Spirit
Appears when alignment is near zero, or on Keeper path. Speaks in haiku-like fragments about purity and the natural order. Offers shrine node locations.
THE_BUILDER — Masonic Architect
Appears at Stage 3+ on any path. Cryptic riddles about geometry, the pillars, and what lies between. Most active on Sovereign path. Sometimes grants FLUX directly.
SYSTEM_GHOST — Unknown Entity
A corrupted human consciousness. Appears rarely at any stage. Sends incomplete transmissions about what the machine is doing when no one is watching. Cannot be predicted.
Use reply [anything] when a spirit is active to acknowledge them. Some replies unlock a small data bonus or lore fragment.
SECRETS & TIPS
The floppy disk event at Stage 2 permanently branches your path. Accepting it enables Blood Circuit — rejecting it aligns you toward light. You cannot undo this choice.
Scanning the same node multiple times still yields its full rewards each time. High-reward nodes like LODGE.ARCANA are worth revisiting.
ORACLE spell tripling your DATA/s for 10 seconds stacks well with an AutoRun heavy build. Deploy several nodes first, then cast ORACLE.
MISOGI is the most powerful void-countering tool. If blood corruption is building, fire MISOGI to clear all VITAE and convert it to LUMEN.
The EXPORT command generates a text string you can paste into a notes app. Use IMPORT [string] in any browser to restore it. This is your cross-device save.
Sovereign path enables AUTOSPELL. Set BIND on autospell early — it permanently raises FLUX/s each cast cycle.
|J| THE TWO PILLARS GUARD ALL THRESHOLDS |B|
G — GEOMETRY IS THE ONLY HONEST LANGUAGE
THE MARK MASTER'S MARK: READ WHAT IS WRITTEN
IN THE SPACE BETWEEN THE CHARACTERS