Sphere

The sphere is a personal item carried by some Avout inside a Math. It behaves like a resilient ball whose size can be adjusted by touch; at least one example shrinks when counterclockwise circles are traced on its surface. Avout use spheres as portable stools, for balance practice, and to carry when reduced to hand size.

First Appearance and Context

Early observations show everyday use inside the math: an avout shrinks his sphere to palm size by tracing counterclockwise circles; another balances on a head‑sized sphere. When tossed, the sphere bounces and is easily caught, indicating a springy, durable construction.

Roles/Actions and Affiliations

  • Part of the simple personal kit often recited as “the bolt, the chord, and the sphere,” used for seating, balance, and as a hand‑held item when reduced.
  • Historically, this trio defines the traditional personal‑property limit for avout; accumulation beyond it was associated with Lineages, which were abolished after reforms following the Third Sack.
  • During a live‑fire test outside the walls, Fraa Lio fired bullets at his sphere. The bullets poked it nearly inside‑out and knocked it back like a batted balloon. He judged that a sphere could help against gunfire by trailing a long, stretchy finger of material behind a penetrating bullet, reducing tumbling or fragmentation and aiding in pulling the bullet back out.

Relationships (as relevant)

  • Commonly grouped with the bolt and the chord as one of the three standard personal items carried by avout.

Descriptions/Characteristics (as relevant)

  • Composed of Newmatter produced in small quantities within the mathic world for bolts, chords, and spheres.
  • Size adjustable by fingertip motion (explicitly: shrinking via counterclockwise circles traced on its surface).
  • Resilient bounce when thrown or dropped; under concentrated pressure (e.g., a bullet), the sphere distorts and stretches markedly, trailing a narrow “finger” of material behind the projectile.

Guidance and Restrictions

  • During a Voco in which avout were preparing to travel extramuros, a hierarch instructed that spheres are to be kept fist‑sized or smaller and not used to make light when under the open sky.

Current Status/Location

In active, practical use within the mathic community as observed to date; Evoked avout may carry spheres outside the walls subject to the above restrictions. Limited newmatter production continues for spheres (and related items) under longstanding constraints.

Summary:

A personal, size‑adjustable ball used by avout within a math as part of a minimal kit; made of newmatter and known to stretch and absorb impacts. It can be shrunk to palm size by tracing counterclockwise circles on its surface.

Known as:
SphereSpheres