Okay then...
"Guide, define properties of Miasma and search for any notes about 'Vision', 'Recursive' and 'Steampunk'."
The head of the Guide phases through the ceiling, and starts by speaking in a plain and unexpressive tone:
"Accessing Medical Department's notes:"Then you begin hearing a different voice. A female one:
"...This is a purple substance, normally in gaseous state, called "Miasma" for its association with corpses, which acts as a pathogen capable of disrupting the normal activities of organic bodies. It is powerful enough to end the life of a person in a much shorter period of time than any normal virus, causing effects since the subject in question has been exposed to it. Yet, its potential as a biological weapon is reduced by the fact that the pathogen doesn't multiply on its own. Instead, it is necessary a high exposure to it to become lethal. Tests indicate that the immune system can and does fight back this Miasma, so for it to have lethal effects not only high amounts of exposure are needed, but also in quick succession. Before arriving to the lethal stage, it seems to transition through two less dangerous and fairly simple stages; on the first one, the subject has frequent cough, as the body tries to expel the Miasma from the lungs, and a second stage in which the concentration of this substance in the gastric system creates a sensation of nausea and occasional vomits. The final and lethal stage, whose symptoms are a general feel of illness and increasing numbness, is in which the substance reveals its true potential and causes quick necrosis when it reaches its peak of infection."After a brief pause, you hear the voice of the Guide again:
"Accessing Lead Researcher's notes:"And now you hear a clearly male voice:
"...they are normally manifested on its own as visions about a particular subject which seem to derive from both natural and fictional elements. Judging by how these words can manifest things like what would be considered "Demonic" in the Christian religions, or our own pop culture estimations for what is the future, it seems that these words were even tailored for us. It goes way beyond both my area of expertise and my job, but it makes one wonder if these words can be crafted, if the ability to metaphysically alter the world is just a product of a forgotten science... but I digress. Going back to the topic, these "Thematic" words, as I have decided to label them, seem to just cause superficial and mostly unnecessary modifications to shape words, with the occasional practical benefits if one happens to find a lucky combination. I'm classifying them in the Appendix for a lack of a better way to assimilate them to our own code structure."
The voice ends, and after a brief instant, the immaterial head of the Guide starts to move its lips again, and its voice is heard inside your mind:
"The serach for "Recursive" didn't bring any relevant results. Searching database for "Steampunk"...""Accessing Lead Researcher's notes:"
"Another thematic word. This one seems to derive from what in pop culture is known as "Steampunk". I won't waste research time describing its effects with a high degree of precision, and so I will limit myself to say that this word modifies shapes to add various gears, cranks, and occasionally non-functioning steam pipes. The utility of the word is limited to these simple mechanisms, and as such I won't dedicate more time on it."
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Topic: Tribulations in Magic: The cavalry is... still preparing. (Read 334419 times)