i'Xiia Declassified Experiment Log 54.21

Preface: Much is known about the proposed experimental fluid hereafter known as "The Draught of Power", though most of what is documented is mainly from theoretical chemistry. As of this writing, there are only sporadic attempts at formulating a substance that grants an infusion of power reserves that mimics a full dose of Nexus-linked power. Naturally, the advantages of portable 'power boosts' can be immediately seen from a military and practical viewpoint. These series of record crystals document what may be the first official Draught experiment.

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Record crystal 1-A Transcript:
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-aether static-

Voice: This thing on? Good. Good day, gentlemen and ladies. Apologies for my sudden disappearance. I was following up a lead on our research here. If you'll remember Incident B1, the reagents that we've used to form the base of "The Draught" were highly reactive and tended to cause a destructive chain reaction once exposed to air. Now, consider that from numerous tests, distilled mugwump flesh is the only known material that allows for stable power extraction, no doubt owing to their innate magical control permeating their very body. We, however, need some sort of dissipatory solvent to raise the reactive threshold while maintaining the ability to retain and release energies safely into the imbiber.

-crystal viewer shows a viscanti scientist, located in what seems to be the interior of a living fish-

Voice: Well, I've visited the Astral Plane and found the very thing we were looking for!

-view shifts to a wriggling creature on the viscanti's hands-

Voice: These...parasites...Their distilled bodily fluids are able to stabilize the Draught sample without loss of output power! Moreover, their simplistic biology allows us to...

-aether static, split-second image of Kethuru-

Voice: ...more copies of these creatures from the safety of our labs! I'll meet with you in a few days, once I've gathered enough parasite samples. See you soon, research team!

-aether static, end-

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Record crystal 1-B Transcript:
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Recording date difference from 1-A: 14 days

-aether static, before showing the previous scientist, now located in a brightly-lit laboratory and addressing his peers-

Voice; We've received approval from the Board to increase our supply of mugwump body parts. We've finalized the process to clone the Astral-born parasites. Somewhat.
Voice 2: Somewhat? I thought you said everything was done perfectly!
Voice: It was the best we could do! Those damn Hallifaxians won't lend us their biological laboratories, so we had to 'improvise'!
Voice 2: Improvise? You're not talking about Ceria, are you?
Voice: Well...ah...DESPERATE TIMES CALL FOR DESPERATE SOLU...
Female Voice: I'm a desperate solution now, eh?
Voice: A-ah! Miss Ceria Inalai. M-my apologies for not noticing you.
Ceria: Well, it doesn't matter if I'm the 'desperate solution'. Do you have the samples ready?
Voice: Yes...let me retrieve them.

-scientist waves a hand at a nearby wall, the illusion dissolving to reveal several tanks filled with parasites hidden in an alcove-

Ceria: Excellent. I need a fresh sample. Now, if you please.

-commotion as a raving mugwump inmate is dragged into the laboratory-

Mugwump: NOOOOOAAARGH! GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME! RYAARGRFUUGH!
Ceria: We can't work with such an uncooperative sample. Saw off his arms and legs.
Mugwump: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO...

-aether static, black tendrils snaking in and out of view-

-blood is spattered all around the laboratory. Several burnt corpses of scientists lie on the floor. A large bucket is seen next to a bloodstained table, contents unknown-

Ceria: -breathing heavily- My, that was a nice workout. Time to begin distillation.

-aether static, end-

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Record crystal 1-X Transcript:
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-aether static, before showing a dilapidated cell, containing an insane mugwump patient-

-senseless gibbering fills the air, clearly from the red-eyed mugwump-

-cell door opens, several burly wardens drag the mugwump outside-

-view point changes to a surgical ampitheatre, a small phial on the table that is surrounded by a ring of Geomancers-

-wardens bring in the patient, who stops gibbering as the Geomancers point their staffs at him-

Ceria: After several months of experimentation, I am happy to announce that the Draught of Power prototype has reached a stable-enough concentration that we can begin product testing in earnest! We will be using Patient Aleph-Signum as our testbed for this experiment.

-Ceria nods to the wardens, who restrain Aleph-Signum bodily-

Ceria: I bet this'll be the most delicious drink you've ever tasted in your sorry life, patient.

-Ceria forces the lip of the Draught into Aleph-Signum's lips, who then drinks the contents obediently-

-Ceria steps back with a satisfied smirk-

Ceria: So, patient. How do you feel?

-Aleph-Signum totters to one side, before lowering his head-

Ceria: -irritated- Well?

Aleph-Signum: Huuurrrrgh...ugggghhh

Aleph-Signum: Hnnnyyyy....It's...It's...

Ceria: "It's..."?

Aleph-Signum: -raising his head, eyes glowing- ...Delicious.

-suddenly, one of the Geomancer's arms is ripped from its socket, launching itself into Aleph-Signum's mouth, who devours it eagerly-

Aleph-Signum: DELICOUS DELICIOUS DELICIOUUUUUS!!!

-fire pours out of Aleph-Signum's hands, swiftly burning nearby Geomancers to death-

Ceria: Call an emergency!

-Ceria runs to the elevator and slams the elevator doors closed, ignoring the pleas of the scientists who are trapped with the inmate-

-looking at the scientists, the grin on the face of Aleph-Signum widens, before he rushes forward-

-abrupt end of recording-

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Record crystal ??? Transcript:
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-no visual on crystal, all is black-

Voice(?): The experiment was a success. Biological bodily fluids from the Astral parasites provided a sheath of compount-stabilization, allowing the specially-treated base fluid to be drunk without overwhelming the body with an explosive surge of power. Unfortunately, the insane nature of Astral means that, unknown to the scientists, the parasite was, in a way, saturated with insanity as well, which seems to have transferred its properties to the drink, and by extension, the drinker. This much can be said, however. The Draught...

-image slowly flickers into view-

Voice(?): ...was certainly...

-image begins to resolve, as the outline of a person can be seen-

Aleph-Signum: ...Delicious.

-the image comes into focus, as Aleph-Signum stares at the viewer, utter madness depicted on his face-

-suddenly, an image of Kethuru momentarily replaces Aleph-Signum's face, as the display on the recording crystal turns black once more-