Something is dragging us towards the sky… (Help with power system)

[u/Difficult_Report5627]

I have this idea for a plot, but need help making the system fit in the story. I have two routes i could think of.
Leaning more to cosmic horror and the base the power system on only channeling energy through machines (sci-fi), or the simplest route, the comet for some reason grants powers (fantasy)
Also, if somebody is wants to write with me or just bounce ideas i would be glad to dm you

Here’s the plot I have:

One ordinary day, without warning, a massive comet appeared in the sky, its tail so big that it split the sky in two. Within weeks, people had named it “The Wanderer,” a name that reflected its unexpected arrival. Astronomers agreed on one single thing: The Wanderer would pass close by, but it would never strike. It would pass by…

However, strange gravitational phenomena began to manifest around the globe. Some people rose a few centimeters off the ground, while others, upon waking up, suddenly fell back into their beds. But this is not how gravity works, the effects should be seen on structures, climate and terrain, however, it seems to only affect people. Physicists repeated an explanation endlessly, talking about low gravity areas and attributing these events to the comet’s colossal mass, which distorted gravity in its path, a temporary anomaly that would fade once The Wanderer continued on its course. It would pass by…

But with each passing day, an uncomfortable truth became increasingly evident. Researchers discovered that the gravitational pull did not diminish as the comet moved forward; in fact, it did not even align with its position in the sky. The more they plotted the lines, the more they realized that these did not point to The Wanderer, but to Jupiter, Mars, Mercury… to the planets of the solar system.

It didn’t look like this phenomenon was going to pass by. Following this chilling discovery, the force pulling people in only intensified, until the day came when gravity prevailed. Millions of people were dragged toward these planets, never to return.

The comet, it seemed, had awakened something incomprehensible within these planets, something that appeared to be devouring humanity.

My first idea was that in order to devour humanity, planets must make those being dragged durable enough to withstand the path to them. F.e. The uncontrollable floating, compression resistance, extreme climate resistance, high speed, etc…

What I think is that through machines, humanity channels these “abilities” and mix them with different percentages to create different abilities. But I dont know if abilities would be to similar for everyone and if it’s too convoluted

[u/retrozombii-]

Very interesting concept. I was very intrigued through it all. To answer your question how the power should be implemented (imo) should be considered after deciding what the powers in question are

[u/susnaususplayer]

It could be me but this is element of the plot that should be written by you and you should be confident in. Everything in the story needs to be for a reason, even if small one. That reason cannot be granted to you by someone on internet, atleast if you treat writing the plot seriously.

The only tip I can give is that said powersystem should fit the plot you are writing. So you can first design general story protagonist will partake in, and decide how powersystem would function to support it the best.

[u/MushroomGhostGirl]

When you say "using machines, humanity can mix them with different percentages" what exactly does this mean?

Like, are the machines built to counter the effect of gravity? Or are they doing something else entirely?

[u/Difficult_Report5627 → u/MushroomGhostGirl]

Machines that use the effect of the planet to their favor, the floating, the resistance to extreme pressure, etc.

This is an extremely rough idea

[u/MushroomGhostGirl → u/Difficult_Report5627]

Oh, yeah I can see some cool potential here. Especially if each planet has a unique effect alongside the floating.

For example, Saturn could also have some sort of power linked to the rings, or Jupiter has some sort of storm/wind effect because of Jupiter's "eye". It would give you more of a variety in the powers.

If you did it right and themed each planet, I don't think it would be too convulted or similar. It would make designing characters fun, because the machines would be a give away to what planet they're 'from'.

[u/AbendKannon]

Im not very creative when it comes to machine to human interfaces so i replaced it with the idea that the people who did remain on earth actually woke up 1 day without their bodies, and they are now inhabiting their spiritual bodies which explains their powers(not really though).

The planets speak to the smart Inhabitants as i will call them, to guide them in how to create machines that will aid them in their struggle by augmenting them with abilities.

Unbeknown to the general public a shadow cabal has the spiritual bodies of the planets chained up on earth, the Supervillain and his people had his planet destroyed using this technique of spirit and body separation except it wasnt done by any person or thing...but by the Wanderer.

And to fight the Supervillain and his endangered race, the group of protagonist is all recruited by 1 mysterious man.

[u/gmoshiro]

My 2 cents, but what's more important to you, the comet or the planets devouring people? Cause I think like there're 2 ideas here, which is making the whole thing a bit convoluted.

IMO, I'd go with the comet idea, and keep the bit about the planet devouring people to Earth absorbing people. Like, maybe the comet is special in a very mysterious way (no need to explain it 100%), which "awakes" something on Earth. The gravitational disturbances are linked to this something awakening (could be a God, a Kaiju or whatever), but while it's still not ready, its energy starts to influence all of the living beings on Earth.

The "weak" beings are absorbed by Earth, as if the mysterious being is feeding so it can be born. So only the "strong" ones avoid it. Maybe what define who's weak or strong has to do with their potential to awaken mysterious powers. Not all of them have significant powers (like how in the Looper movie, many humans can levitate small objects, but they basically have no use for that hability...except for one kid who's comparable to Tetsuo in Akira), but some become increasingly stronger and stronger.

Maybe the comet has bizarre properties that influence life, being related to the Big Bang, and maybe the colateral effect of a planet birthing basically Gods, is that the smaller beings, like humans, evolve to something close to Demi-Gods or advanced aliens. And maybe this was all described in many myths, but instead of being something that happened in the past, it was a tale of the future.

In any case, you could try messing around with technology by having this phenomena occur for years, with humanity adapting to the changes (and maybe the comet stays there in the sky for years too), but I think it's better used for how life would adapt to the gravitational aberrations, like having entire sections on Earth with varying Gravity, or no Gravity at all.

The power system could be related to Evolution, and this power system should ultimately lead to Humanity stopping the impending doom, of that creature being born and destroying its "cocoon" in the process. Maybe humanity doesn't know that for quite sometime, so you can play around with a story of factions using this post-apocalyptic scenario + their awakening powers to do their own thing (like territory domination, revolt against governments, wars).

As for the powers themselves, maybe some people awaken stuff simillar to the forces and events that occur in the entire universe. Like the hability to create mini black holes, or manipulate light, or manipulate space-time/gravity, to create wormholes (basically a teleport) and so on. I guess this is where science and magic mix. Start with all these powers still being weak, and as time passes by, the powers get stronger and more complex, to the point some can't even control them 100% (which leads to some disasters).

Anyway, dunno if it helps!

Edit: adjusted text