RESEARCH FILES DAY 1
I have come to this strange land, it has no rhyme or reason to it. It makes very little sense. Such senseless disorder will not be tolerated, whatsoever.
My master has sent me here for one reason. Master, yes. You may think it foolish to serve a master, even one like him, full of power and strength, but I do not care. His offers, his desires, I do not care. We share a common goal, and I am happy to oblige, as long as we both achieve the same results.
I have come across one that calls itself something foreign to this language. I cannot pronounce it, not with this twisted tongue of mine. The words refuse to speak, and my responding hisses have only frightened the creature beyond any chance of communication. No matter, it was a delightful feast.
I shall find of their culture some other day, but the portal has severely weakened me. I do not know why, but I feel out of energy, and certain artifacts here resonate strongly with me.
RESEARCH FILES DAY 2
This land is broken. It refuses to accept my call to its magic, and only by being near such pillars can I manipulate objects, and when I can, it is of a specific nature. So far I have come across 3 pillars, each of individual power. There is an 4th a much weaker pillar, but I can summon any magic if I stay beside it long enough.
Below are my results;
Brown and stone - these pillars control the earth, predictably. I can increase my defense rather powerfully if I remain with it long enough, though the feeling is unpleasant, as if my skin was turning to rock.
Glassy – these control the skies, for lack of better term. The electric air, each ion that dances individually, they are charged and discharged by this anomaly, one that feels foreign even to this world. Perhaps it is a parasite.
Black and domesticated – They look like the towers of a fort, square rather than round, and emanating a cowardly malice. Being near them sapped my strength, though these resonated strongest with me. Perhaps in this land this tower is my allegiance, so to speak.
Old ridged marble – This one has no particular allegiance, if the others have a specific one. It is able to easily call the weather, and many creatures flocked around it of different types.
Based on this, I would presume that there are at least an even number of specific pillars, each dealing with a different attribute, plus the ridged marble one.
RESEARCH FILES DAY 3
I tested my comparative strength against the denizens of this place. Apparently they fear me and not just for my superior knowledge. Their strikes miss when they attempt to hit me, and their magic is severely limited, especially compared to mine.
I did run into trouble with the Bright Ones, however. They were rather peaceful, and when my claws and teeth attacked them, they burnt. I was able to siphon the life of one, but I have learned my lesson. My affinity to the Dark Towers leave me to burn in the light.
I was assaulted by a Frost Maker and a Storm Caller. The Storm Caller did not respond to the Glass, but instead invisible eddies of wind that only appeared when debris danced through the air. The two seemed confident that I would be bested, but when the Frost Maker had tried to frost my fur, it had missed. The Storm Caller went first, feathers flying as I ripped its throat out, and the Frost Maker followed soon after.
After this, none dared touch me. I wonder what power the Frost Maker and Storm Caller possessed together that could have given them such confidence.
Tomorrow I will rest and compile a dictionary for you, confused reader.
RESEARCH FILES DAY 4
You must be wondering how I write, if I am snouted and four legged. The answer, of course, is magic. You may be a bit disappointed at that answer, expecting something else; let me explain. I shift into a winged form, and the talons write neatly.
Of course, now that brings up the question of how I have intelligence beyond typical creatures, magical or not. It is a trait of my race; we have a long history. Ask the Ravens, they know, for they are our chroniclers.
This entry is half the dictionary, for further reference.
FRAGMENTS - the power sources of this land.
The Glass - An alien parasite, it slowly spreads, and is nearly completely invulnerable to everything. It grows into tall shards, translucent, and draws power from beyond the stars.
The Dark Towers - Strange ornaments left behind by an ancient kingdom, they draw and grant the powers of night, lies, deceit, and trickery. Perhaps that says much about my character.
The Carrion Heaps - Grisly edifices of death, creatures and beings that have died are laid here to rest. The toxic plague that visits this place is enough to push all but the attuned away.
The Eddies - Nearly invisible, they are self-sustaining miniature cyclones of wind that lend their power to the sky. They are what the Storm Callers use.
The Torches - The resulting effect of destruction of a fragment, when the magic grows out of control. They consume everything, and in return grant powerful explosive magic that is easily destabilized, but not without great cost. The Glass does not return this when destroyed.
The Stars - I cannot touch these, so I do not know their true nature, but from afar, they look like fallen stars. They radiate poison to my skin, but to others, they heal.
The Jade - Similar to the Glass, but the natural form. It would not surprise me if the Glass was left to wage war on the Jade, given both their propensities to quickly strike with immense power and replication. Regardless, the Jade is friendlier than the Stars, but both are linked intrinsically.
The Cages - They look like Torches, but are a striking violent violet, trapped in weaving vines of rock. They are simply cages, and the magic that escapes lends itself to eternal destruction, not unlike the burning of the Torches. This magic, however, is far more powerful as it also lends itself to rebirth.
The Sands - For lack of better words, these are large hourglasses. They are not natural, like the others, but do generate a natural power. Perhaps not all the creatures of this realm are clueless about magic.
The Pillars - Stone pillars that have been generated by the weaving of wind and water, they grant protection similar to the Stars effects on others, but are less picky of their protection.
The Geysers - Predictably, their name gives it away. They are simply geysers, brought about by the flow of magic through water. They seldom appear over land, but desiccate the nearby life when they do.
The Weights - One of the strangest fragments, the Weights stand on tiny stilts, but float in air of their own accord. They tug at you, and unfortunate beings who have gotten too close to the Weights themselves are sucked in and simply vanish.
The Undivided - The marble pillars that grant equally and to all, these are pillars that generate when new magic is used, and eventually convert to a different fragment when the magic is used for a certain affinity, so to say.
In an effort to space these out, I will not write the names of the denizens of this realm. Perhaps I shouldn’t say names, but classifications, as they all have different powers.
RESEARCH FILES DAY 5
Classifications;
Storm Callers - These use the Eddies to manipulate their magic, and are most proficient at controlling the sky. All that I have seen are winged. They have a closer secondary affinity to the Jade and to the Torches. I did find their confident power with a Frost Maker; when they unite, they can instantly shatter a creature.
Frost Makers - These use the Geysers, and control the pressure of water. They remove and add it, and are mostly known for their ability to instantly turn an entire battlefield into frost and ice. Their secondary affinity are weaker, though I noticed one with the Torches and with the Carrion Heaps.
Carrion Eaters - Carrion Eaters are vile creatures that survive on the Carrion Heaps, and spread its plague to all they touch. Their secondary affinity are the Dark Towers.
Shades - Like Carrion Eaters, Shades are lesser respected creatures, often feared for their affinity to drain strength and life the way that toxin simply erodes. Their secondary affinity are the Carrion Heaps, and both Carrion Eaters and Shades are refreshed by nightfall.
Bright Ones - These originate from the Stars and are deadly to Shades and Carrion Eaters. Unfortunately I am included in this group, but I luckily can resist to a point. Pacifists by nature, they prefer to let others do their work, which is why it is surprising that their secondary attunement is to the Torches. They also have a secondary affinity to the Jade, which is more expected.
The Arrogant - Travellers, the Arrogant do not much care for the world, and prefer to stay in secluded locations with their Glass. They have no affinity, being not from this land.
The Enduring - From the Jade, these can withstand harsh punishment. Individually, they are weak and easily defeated, but together, they replicate at impossible rates and can easily overtake all. Their secondary affinities are the Geysers and the Stars.
Pharaohs - One of the Frost Makers was able to understand me somehow, through a mental connection. I promised him his life if he told me information, and I was told that the Pharaohs had built the Sands, and used the Sands to reign in eternal kingdoms. Their secondary affinity was to the Dark Towers and to the Glass, having used the Sands to evolve alongside.
Cheshires - Trickster beings, they often duplicate themselves with the illusion of death. They draw power from the Cages, though strangely rely on their luck rather than pure magic itself. They have no secondary affinity, their magic unstable and constantly cycling through all types.
The Armoured - Heavy beings that use the earth as protection, the Weighted are powerful and often strike unexpectedly from under the earth. Their secondary affinities are to the Sands and to the Weights.
The Indomitable – Creatures that effectively rule the land, the Indomitable cannot be moved unless it is their choice to do so. Their secondary affinity is to the Cages and the Torches.
Sparks – Short lived beings, Sparks are the ones that align with the Torches. They have an incredible fighting prowess, but are delicate beyond imagining. Their secondary affinity is to the Stars and to the Pillars.
RESEARCH FILES DAY 6
Today, I was woken up by a Frost Maker, one that could speak with me. I sat patiently as she explained what she had been sent to do. She was sent as a peace envoy, to talk or perhaps to sate me... Unfortunately that was not what I had in mind.
Hunger does not come to this land, so I do not think I will have to eat more. I had only needed to eat in the first place for wounds that I had apparently received when I had gone through the portal. It is for that reason the Frost Maker is alive.
I commanded her to speak to me of the culture, and why they did not know magic well. She did not tell much that I did not already know, and nothing of significance to be recorded.
I sent her away and slept again. Tomorrow I will put the plan in action.
RESEARCH FILES DAY 7
My master had told me to take over this land however I could. With these beings’ lack of ability, it was easy.
They trembled as I made the air explode, as I destroyed parts of the Glass and the Jade, as I undid the flooding, took back my power, and consequently destroyed theirs.
They now lavish me as a God, though I am not one. I have a feeling that is what they call me, a False God. Perhaps they will attempt to send ones to defeat me, but I am invincible. Or perhaps, almost, but Bright Ones are afraid of me, and do not try.
I did not feast, as there was no need or desire. This land defiles what we should be, what we are. I am a predator, but I no longer hunt. My claws and my teeth are unused, and will continue to be unused if I do not bring my master here.
I did mention I wanted something from this land. I wanted escape, but there is none here, none that I want. It is hell of waiting and praying. These beings do not understand me, and the Frost Makers that could do not get near me. That suits me fine, though their confusion of not being able to satisfy my desires makes them do unpleasant panicked actions. Can’t have everything I suppose.
RESEARCH FILES DAY 8
It turned out that the Glass was most conducive to the portal. Its ability to draw from beyond the stars must have also been an ability to open a gate to wherever that was.
I called that magic after forcibly evicting the Arrogant that had chosen to live at that Glass, and I had opened a portal to my master.
I had padded to him rather than he through, and I left that ravaged world. It could do whatever it liked; I suspected other False Gods would rise and fall, but that world was not for me.
He looked at me in confusion, and pointed to the portal, where a shadow of me still existed. The magic of the world had been so deeply affected by me that it even left copies. One left behind powerful blasts through the air, another using the replicative properties of the Glass to sap strength from all that faced it. Perhaps those would be a start of the new False Gods. Not all of them became the Gods, however; some remained simple creatures content to tug at the night and the shadows.
For good measure, I pulled, will pull, these files through, held in my jaw, and the magic kept it there, and either the copy or the original came. I could never really decide. Either way, if you find this in that wretched land, you have already defeated one of my copies. Enjoy learning about where your rulers come from.
- The Displacer
