Pattern (MTAs)

Patterns are metaphorical vessels of Quintessence, and as such, constitute all known reality, acting as "lego bricks" to Prime's "building blocks".

Werewolves have a similar concept evidenced in the Weaver, who shapes the formlessness of the Wyld into form.

Overview
A Pattern, according to common knowledge within the Traditions, is formed when threads of the Tapestry interject, bringing context into possibility and acting as variables, functions and instances. Patterns are usually composed of numerous smaller Patterns, for example, the Pattern of a human body contains individual Patterns for its internal organs, limbs and overall appearence. As a result, every Pattern is unique, and because they are constantly in flux through the eternal stream of Quintessence, they are not static.

Avatars are Patterns that have maintained a connection to the Tellurian. They tie to human Patterns and usually remain dormant (because of this, an unawakened is called a Sleeper). Their dreams are what the human Pattern tied to it experiences, believes and hopes, and the Avatar's dreams likewise join with several other Avatar dreams to form the Consensus, the current greater Pattern of reality. If an Avatar Awakens, the resulting mage can perceive the Tapestry as well as the Tellurian through his connection to the Avatar. He has, however, only a limited way to perceive it, referred to a paradigm. Only by Ascending can he perceive the whole Pattern of both the Tellurian and the Tapestry.

The common world is comprised of Patterns made out of Matter, Forces and Life; along with Spirit comprising the ephemeral parts that are unperceivable by Sleeping humans, and Mind constituting thought-forms. Each Pattern contains a spark of Prime, the original Quintessence that animates the whole Pattern. Other strands of the Tapestry, manifested as the other three Spheres of Time, Correspondence and Entropy, govern how and in what relation these Patterns interact.