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Post by Evainmoire on Oct 1, 2019 10:04:24 GMT -6
“Day 1
The orb feels different when held than from afar. There is a distinct presence of energies pertaining to the contents of the orb, even within its weakened form. I have attempted a little practise with it, but the energies seem reticent to come to call. Further research on the matter has made it evident the basic forms of the orbs are limited to very simple and lowly spells.”
The writing in the journal was aged several months, the ink dried from solid black to a duller ochre. It was by no means a heavy tome nor lavishly ornamented. The cover was simple leather, still supple to make for comfortable page turning. The pages were quality paper, no mark or bend made in them. There was a bookmark, much further into the pages, but the ordeal of arcane learning started upon page one.
“Yesterday I attempted the summoning of a small light, which appeared as anticipated and remained stationary upon the general region of one’s shoulder, casting light the equivalent of a strong candle flame yet without the flicker of one. It would not cease for several hours and only upon retiring to sleep did I finally dismiss it by hand.”
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Post by Evainmoire on Oct 1, 2019 10:05:20 GMT -6
“Day 2
Upon awakening in the morn I resumed the experimentation. The light was summoned again, set to hover upon the shoulder as I went about my morning duties. Nothing of particular note to make about the light for that day, except the reactions of the beasts, who found it to be a curious attraction for their attention. It should be noted the seeker and plant were not affected by its presence. The mounts, bird and stone beast each wished to capture the small glowing object to no effect.
Here upon I should note an observation of the light - although appearing as though coming off of a physical manifestation, there is no physical form to touch, grab or affect. The light is purely arcane in nature and though it may be covered up by objects to dull its effect, such as the placement of a bowl over it, it does nothing to extinguish the light itself. It can simply phase through the bowl if inaccurately covered.”
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Post by Evainmoire on Oct 1, 2019 10:06:43 GMT -6
“Day 4
It has been two days of experimentations with a focus upon the light. Nothing new has been observed and the beasts themselves have grown accustomed to its presence. In so far I am confident in my assessment to state its purpose has a wide range of utility use during the darker hours of the day, but has little to no use at daytime.
It is now my goal to move onto another spell for experimentations and observation.”
Here the pristine white pages take a turn, as directly beneath the writing and for several pages after there are yellowed splotches occasionally bordering on brown on the edges. The lines skip most of the page, to begin again further below the worst of the stains.
“The use of a spell to move objects should here on out be reserved for testing upon subjects that do not contain liquid. Of the casualties of the experiment I can recount one excellent cup of tea, a few pages of this very journal and a tailored jacket. Thankfully the service itself is unharmed.”
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Post by Evainmoire on Oct 1, 2019 10:07:38 GMT -6
The stained pages continue for a few turns, the marks growing fainter yet not completely yet gone. After the first two pages the writing resumes its normal line spacing, to no longer avoid the stains and instead begin writing over the stains themselves.
“Day 9
Of the spell which allows one to manipulate objects without touching I can now summarize, through practise and extended use, that it is a far more utilitarian use comparative to the light spell. There is a limit of weight, size and dimensions which narrows the field of use considerably, but I am content to say it is not crippling. One is able to move small, everyday objects from one room to another; move tools from the yard to the shed; even change the position and angle of smaller rocks upon the workbench. For the purposes of training creatures it can also be used to carry a leading object in front of the beast for the purposes to exercising the creature, without having to set one’s self in harm’s way.
The only discomfort in using the spell is the orb’s limitations in holding arcane power. It appears only a single movement spell or three light may be summoned within a day before the orb considerably dims and becomes unusable until the morn of the next day.”
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Post by Evainmoire on Oct 1, 2019 10:08:44 GMT -6
“Day 15
I have now been attempting to force myself into a habit of using the spells as a means of adjusting to their summoning process, but with so little energy at my disposal for the full length of a day, I admit it has become increasingly frustrating. I shall have to do further research upon the subject of the orbs.”
The rest of the page is blank. The writing continues on the next page, on the other side, in fresher ink to suggest a stage of entries from a more recent time.
“Day 35
My obligations to the cemetary has kept me from attenting the library of the City, impeding research until further notice. I have learned from a few acquaintances of a selection of places with potential answers, most of which are private collections of arcane lore, history and other related research. I’m hopeful to find out more about these orbs with their assistance.”
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Post by Evainmoire on Oct 1, 2019 10:10:07 GMT -6
“Day 40
It is with great disappointment I report the lack of any real finds among the private collections. What topics upon arcane knowledge they had were based upon legend and myth rather than scientific research. More about the promise of power rather than the study of it. Others with storied tales most obviously altered from truth for the betterment of image. It appears I am left with no other hope but to visit the City library proper.”
“Day 45
A chance encounter with a bookshop keeper has given me hope in my quest. Of small stature, the bookkeeper offered to scour their tomes with any relevant information. He also informed me the library would most assuredly have the information on the orbs, such as it has been collected by expeditions in the beyond-the-borders and study of the temple within the City grounds itself. Although I would be loathe to revisit the temple itself, in so far it is the strongest connection to any information on the orb.”
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Post by Evainmoire on Oct 1, 2019 10:11:24 GMT -6
“Day 57
Today I had the final opportunity to visit the library and procure reading material on the orbs as the bookkeeper had assured me. Of the immediate impressions on the material it struck me how the orbs were often referred to as found in nature, making them more likely to be a natural occurrence rather than man-made invention. Their rarity in nature suggests the process may be slow and arduous, or completely at whim of a set of conditions for one to come to being. It is my own thesis that with the presence of magical crystals within nature, for it is indeed their source, there may yet be a secondary process unknown to us which formulates them.
Of the process known to us, there were less details. It is assumed to be a petition to the Old Gods by which the sacrificial process gives them a tithe and in return they grant the power to an orb equivalent to the tithe. The greater the power, the greater the sacrifice. I admit the thought of having to return to that wretched place fills me with disgust.”
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Post by Evainmoire on Oct 1, 2019 10:14:09 GMT -6
“Day 58
Further reading has brought to light another option. A passing mention of a manuscript described the nature of beings titled ‘elementals’. In this it should be said the description did not pertain to the Laboratory-made golem species, but to full humanoid beings. I was able to follow the mention through to another tome with a description of the process, which some scholars have believed to be an old method of arcane infusion. In a factual sense it is not entirely dissimilar to the sacrificial process performed to formulate an orb - according to the scholars one need only ‘consume’ it by which point it becomes fused within the person. The orb then acts as an anchor for its respective element and the person becomes a conduit.
I found the passage quite intriguing.”
“Day 59
I have been able to collaborate the scholar’s writings with several other sources within the library. An attendant was kind enough to translate an older dialect version of a scroll. Off-handed they mentioned the City had a few such elementals living within it as we speak. If that is true then I would hope to meet one such.”
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Post by Evainmoire on Oct 1, 2019 10:15:03 GMT -6
“Day 63
In spite of my asking around it appears few enough people know or are aware of these ‘elementals’ within our society. A few rumours have persisted, from dock workers whom secretly had the blessings of water to jewelers who control fire as though born to it. I have in so far been unable to provide validity to such claims. It appears my search may not yield as many prepared answers as I would have hoped. Experimentation may be in order.”
The rest of the page is, once again, empty. The writing resumes on the page after, with fresher ink and firmer handwriting.
“Day 75
I chanced to visit the bookkeeper today. He did not have the answers for the elemental questions, at the least, no more answers than the library itself. I assured him to not worry and approached him with another concern entirely. I asked him what he knew about plagues.”
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Post by Evainmoire on Oct 1, 2019 10:16:33 GMT -6
“Day 78
I have been back to the bookkeeper’s shop thrice now, and thrice have we tried to find answers within their tomes. History is filled to the brim with stories and records of sickness and disease and yet none seem to match the scale and scope of what I saw transpire. If indeed this plague had been but a singular occurrence I should count myself and the world blessed. However, doubt gnaws at me, for how could something so voracious simply appear and disappear at mere whim?
The orb has been in my pocket for the better part of two months now. Whereas the search for information of elementals appears to yield very little, I have looked into the nature of the light that the orb contains. Old spell books, old scriptures, rituals and miracle cures. It appears light can do a great deal of good. But I still wonder, even as I sit here, orb rolled under thumb and finger..
Would it still be enough?”
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Post by Evainmoire on Mar 2, 2022 1:57:05 GMT -6
There is no writing for the rest of the page, but it resumes on the opposite side in new, darker ink and handwriting that feels slightly unsteady.
“Day 90
After much consideration and contemplation, I decided to proceed with with the idea of an elemental - The orb is now a part of myself. The decision was not reached lightly, nor without reservations. Scarce few details appeared available in regards to the negative side-effects of this fusion process, though it should be stated the benefits appeared well-noted and highly praised.
It is.. an unusual sensation to be fused. I feel the presence of the orb within, but cannot place it's location nor feel confident it continues to exist within a physical manifestation. The energy it contained feels as though it permeates throughout the body in even distribution. Indeed, a scholar could not be faulted for going so far as to presume the body itself could have become the new form for the energy, replacing its previous glass shell.”
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Post by Evainmoire on Mar 2, 2022 4:11:13 GMT -6
“Day 91
It is the second day after the event, and I've resolved to document the process, as to better provide an accurate account of the experience. It is my hope this could, in future, add to the scholarly pursuits of others looking to walk down this path, far better equipped for the journey than many accounts within the libraries were able to do for myself. While it can be difficult to offer an objective observation as I myself am the subject, I shall strive to write of the experience as impartially and within the detail available to me.
To begin with, the changes were not merely limited to the arcane capabilities of the subject. There have also been physiological alterations that accompanied the process, though they are gradual to emerge. Prior research had indicated the possibility, but there was no one common denominator among prior research to specify a type of change. It appeared as though the alteration is, indeed, quite individual.”
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Post by Evainmoire on Mar 2, 2022 4:17:37 GMT -6
The lengthy passage continues along the opposite page.
"The variance could well be affected by the difference in elemental alignment. Prior research has suggested the changes to be minute and generally difficult to observe. I would have to admit the degree is quite different in my own. Within a single day, the radiance of my skin and hair has appeared to increase, and currently rests as a soft, pale glow. A change which would befit the elemental alignment of light which the orb possessed. In similar manner, there is an alteration in the appearance of the eyes, as if the luminance exists within as well.
It should be noted the alteration does not extend evenly. Though difficult to ascertain through a mirror, the tone of the iris remains the same, as does patches of skin and hair that were dark to begin with. It appears as though only the pale show signs of illumination. I shall record further changed in the coming days.”
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Post by Evainmoire on Mar 2, 2022 12:39:44 GMT -6
“Day 93
There has been no further evidence to suggest the physiological changes are continuing. For the past few days the observations have remained largely the same as they had been within the last entry. The only change of note is a certain reaction the radiance has upon using the arcane energy during spell casting. A pulse among the glow is visible, appearing to be in tune to the strength of the spell itself, thus minor upon a lesser cast, and stronger with a spell of a higher degree.
A similar change corresponds within the eyes, though my observations are difficult to discern as I myself am also the subject. As such one's focus upon the mirror and the spell can feel split at times. However, I feel confident in the assessment, enough to document it within this journal.
I am sad to say the fusion, while remarkable, none the less appears not quite enough to mend the wound..”
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Post by Evainmoire on Mar 2, 2022 12:45:32 GMT -6
A brief space follows the two paragraphs, as if pausing for a thought and continuing after.
"During my research, the element of light is one of the few which has been described as having the capability of healing. To be sure, certain elements of water, earth and even a more robust application of fire could serve within similar capacity, but the strongest of them was described to be light. Even so, it appears even light was not enough to enact a healing effect over the leg wound, appearing instead to be repelled by the area - The radiance of the skin stops just short of it.
Within the last few days I have begun to experiment with the extent of the spells which the fusion has allowed access to. However, I fear my attempts come close to a toddler's endeavours in understanding this.. The simple spells of light and unseen hand feel mere afterthoughts, compared to the focus they required before. I shall have to research further.”
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