Definition
Closed temporal sequences that restart on trigger or failure, preserving some state while resetting other variables. A subset of anomalies; see Time Anomalies for taxonomy.
Loop Anatomy
- Anchor: the condition that fixes the loop start (location, actor, artifact, or memory state).
- Boundary: what resets (spacetime, weather, actors) and what persists (injuries, memory traces, artifacts).
- Exit condition: action or state required to break the loop; absence keeps recurrence.
Known Cases
- Hitomi’s Temporal Loop (Varthum) — Flame projections only when the memory being replayed contains fire.
- Mirror Spire Residual Loops — Micro-singularity echoes during Kiputer collapse.
- Chronobonsai Checkpoints — Intentional, controllable micro-loops bound to anchors.
Risk & Intervention
- External forcing often worsens entropy and memory corruption.
- Use anchors (Chronobonsai/Orb/Gong) to stabilize exits; avoid brute-force continuity breaks.
- Loop-aware entities may exploit persistence (smuggling, reconnaissance), but risk desync or erasure.
Media placeholder: time_loop diagram.