A variety of worlds different from our own, but with common denominators
“The Toyverse is a whimsical and imaginative realm where plastic toy soldiers, action figures, and other miniature playthings come to life. Within this tiny universe, epic battles unfold in unexpected places: giant backyard flowerbeds, Real World kitchen counters, ancient medieval castles, and even the folds of immense couch cushions. These plastic warriors, once confined to toy boxes, now march forth with purpose, defending their territories and seeking legendary artifacts like the fabled Lost Marble. In the Toyverse, creativity knows no bounds, and the tiniest heroes shape grand tales that resonate far beyond their miniature scale.”
Everything take place in a universe we called “Toyverse”, also called “Microverse” by other toy cultures, that has clearly existed for a long time, with past events, old places, etc. The main universe, as a fact, it’s the Real World (Big World) and you can travel to all these types of worlds via Portals.
For this reason, the Army Men study these strange and new worlds, collecting data and trying to solve the mysteries of the existence, since the Plastic World already suspects that their world of origin is the Other World, the Giant World, which is now called “Real World” because it’s the origin world Army Men & Toys come from (all clues point to it). Who created the Army Men? Who put those mysterious Portals?, with what intention?. That’s what science and the Army Men Expeditionary Force (AMEF) are exploring.
But at the same time, it’s been a while since the Army Men plastic soldiers are studying these other worlds, and they have already made the mistake of interfering and changing them. We can quote Plastro and all the chaos that broke out when he arrived in the Real World. The same with Brigitte Bleu, who conquered and commanded with her fatal charm several other worlds (or at least they both tried).
But beyond these 2 known examples, in the time between that and now, other events happened, which, like the Plastro and Bleu examples, always brought Plastic World to the brink of extinction. Therefore, in addition to studying the Real World, the Army Men alliance has created rules to not interfere and do not change these worlds, as much as possible, and even restore the natural order in them. For this reason, some missions will range from preserving a Real World’s giant tree intact from destruction, to rescuing and healing an injured animal (even defending it to the death).
Gathering the information humans left behind, theories suggest that they self-destructed. That is why the alliance of nations created the rules that apply to the exploration and respect for the preservation of other worlds, as well as their own. Balance will make natural harmony reign. The imbalance will cause some worlds to disappear, including the Plastic World.
There are other theories, based on the ideas left by humans, that say that everything is a computer simulation or that it is a parallel world. But these are not taken into consideration by the Alliance’s science division.
The Imagination Nexus
It is said that the Toyverse thrives on the dreams of the lost human children, their whispered stories, their laughter, and their unwavering belief in magic. There exists, in the childhood superposition between reality and fantasy, where a cardboard box becomes a castle and a fallen leaf becomes the scale of a dragon, the so-called “spark of imagination” which, it is said, is what It gives life and purpose to toys. It is also said that this magical energy field gives certain identity to each of the environments on the different worlds.
Traveling to other worlds
The other worlds or dimensions are different places from our own, only accessible (by now) via special Inter Dimensional Portals. But other worlds, like the digital worlds, are theoretically accessible via other means.
The “Toyverse” is an easy meaning or classification to identify what we are talking about as a whole, even if they are usually just toys. All the known universes around us are a collection of toy worlds, the type of life form that we, the Army Men, are.
The worlds in the Toyverse are usually toy themed worlds. But the Real World, although full of plastic toys, is much more complex for multiple reasons and seems to be the place of origin of all the toys from the different worlds of the Toyverse. In fact, it is considered the primordial world in some way, and humans are considered the probable manufacturers, even though they are already extinct. That is why their world is now called “The Real World”, because it seems that the toys for them were mere unreal representations of fantasy, which turns the rest of the worlds into “fantasy or unreal worlds”, with only the Big World being the “real world”.
Differences with the Real World
So far there are 2 classifications of worlds: The Toyverse worlds, which are different worlds but all with themed toys, such as Prehistoric World, Medieval World, Space World, Plastic World (aka Army Men World), Western World, Brick World and Robochangers World. On the other hand, so far with only one known world, it’s the Real World (previously called Big World or Parallel Universe).
The Real World is something totally different not only because each of the Toyverse worlds come from it, but because of its complexity. While the Toyverse is mostly composed of different types of plastic, the Real World contains an unimaginable amount of different materials, making plastic pale in comparison. And that’s without having into consideration the size of the Real World compared to the other worlds…
Disadvantages of staying in other worlds
Plastrification (also known as being Plastered) is a devastating, debilitating affliction of the plastic beings of the Plastic World. If one spends too much time in any other world, different from one’s own, you gradually turn into an inanimate toy. The movement becomes severely limited, up to total freezing. Plastic beings can only emit grunts after the last phase of Plastrification. But this already old affliction becomes extinct after the invention of the vaccines, allowing Plastic beings remain much longer, if not forever. The only way to reverse the effects of the vaccine is using Plastrification serum.
Toyverse Artifacts
The artifacts are always wrapped in mystery and great power
The Toyverse is a delightful amalgamation of diverse toy worlds, each with its own whimsical flavor and miniature inhabitants. The “artifacts” are technological special objects for the Army Men and other toys. Ancient, of unknown origin that always end up being the center of conflicts. Artifacts are usually dangerous objects in the wrong hands, considered potentially weapons.
Hidden throughout the Microverse are legendary artifacts:
- The Magnifying Glass of Clarity: When held up to the sun, it reveals hidden paths and secret places.
- The Key: Was an artifact that could open the first Portal, one of the oldest and most enigmatic in history. It was the center of a couple of conflicts where the Greens fought to prevent Plastro from using these unknown artifacts against the Plastic World. It was divided into 3 parts, which when put together in the shape of a triangle and used in the pyramid next to the Portal, it was activated. This artifact was lost, but experts have theorized that there could be more keys and that by forming different geometric shapes they could fulfill other functions.
- The Sticky Tape Shield: Made from some kind of adhesive tape, it can deflect laser beams and glue enemies in place.
- The Rubik’s Cube of Power: It is said that some of these cube-shaped puzzles, impossible to decipher, hold immeasurable power for whoever deciphers them.
- The Marble of Time: One of the Marbles of Apocalipse, When rolled, it slows down time, allowing the Army Men to strategize mid-battle.
- The Lost Marble: Smooth and iridescent, embodies the essence of the Toyverse. It bounces perpetually, defying gravity and time. Its bounces are said to echo across dimensions. Some say it grants wishes: one bounce for a forgotten toy, two for a lost sock, and three for a human childhood memory.
- The Whispering Marble: Unlike the perpetually bouncing Lost Marble, the Whispering Marble remains still. Its surface is etched with ancient symbols, and when held to the ear, it murmurs forgotten lullabies and human childhood secrets. Some say it connects the Toyverse to distant lands beyond imagination.
- The Imagination Forge: At the heart of a lost city lies the Imagination Forge, a celestial anvil where dreams take shape. Here, in the past, Human children’s whispered wishes and late-night musings coalesced. When a young human mind imagined a superhero, the Forge sparks to life. It hammers and molds plastic, fusing elements from disparate franchises. The result? A hero like no other. But as soon as humans disappeared, there was no one to remember this city, losing itself in the confines of oblivion.
- The Broken Crayon Sword: Forged from a snapped crayon, this blade glows with rainbow hues. It symbolizes resilience and the ability to create beauty, even when fractured. Imagine a tiny plastic o lead warrior wielding this colorful sword, defending the Medival Realm against an army with each stroke.
- The Map of Hidden Nooks: Unfurling the crumpled paper reveals secret passages: behind the bookshelf, under the bed, and within the folds of Grandma’s quilt. The X marks the spot where the Lost Marble rests. Adventurers pore over this map, seeking hidden corners and forgotten nooks where magical stickers await discovery.
- The infinite battery: It is said that there exists, somewhere in the Toyverse, a nuclear battery the size of an alkaline. But in order to use it, a structure or material is needed that can withstand its power.
- The Button-Eye Monocle: Captain Button-Eyes fashioned this monocle from a discarded shirt button. When worn, it reveals hidden messages written in microscopic ink. These cryptic clues lead adventurers to rare sticker caches and unlock forgotten memories.
- The Sock Puppet Scepter: Crafted from mismatched socks, this whimsical scepter grants its bearer the power of laughter. With a
wave, it animates sock puppets, turning them into loyal companions. Their jokes and puns echo through the Toyverse, lifting spirits and dispelling gloom. - The Puzzle Piece Amulet: This translucent amulet holds a single puzzle piece: a missing fragment from a long-forgotten jigsaw.
When worn, it grants glimpses into parallel dimensions. Adventurers peer through its crystal surface, catching glimpses of alternate Toyverses where different choices were made. - The Miniature Time Capsule: Buried beneath a bonsai tree, this tiny capsule contains handwritten notes from past explorers. Each note captures a moment of wonder or a secret shared between friends. The capsule itself is indestructible, preserving these memories for eternity.