Seeker's Gift

As explained in her journals, the contents of this document raised a number of questions throughout the Empire and beyond as to the nature of the Ougham and the information gathered over the course of the experience. Airtam's own views greatly impacted the Empire's outlook on the Ougham, removing a great deal of apprehension concerning their existence and nature, causing people to realize that they were not a threat, but rather a potential ally instead.

24th of Senectus. 148 PR

Today was a day unlike any other I've experienced. I was in my office, preparing for a meeting, when I suddenly felt a presence in my mind. At first, I thought it was just my imagination, but as the sensation grew stronger, I knew that something was happening. I closed my eyes, and that's when I saw it in my mind’s eye. I was flooded with images and sounds and sensations that nearly overwhelmed me, but with some effort, I was able to weed through the confusion and find the message I was being sent, a communication unlike I had ever experienced before. The sender was an Ougham who described itself as Seeker, an infected appendage of its species. The images that coursed through my mind were confusing and chaotic, but I could sense the creature's pain and desperation.
I did my best to focus on the images, attempting to piece together what was happening to the Ougham as I realized finally that it was standing in the room with me, nearly invisible in the dim light of my office. Its normally translucent form was now a sickly yellowish-brown color, and it was evident that the creature was suffering from the Void Blight that occasionally plagues its kind. I had read about this during my time as a student. It seemed to be cut off from its hive mind consciousness, which was causing it immense distress.
As the creature continued to flood my mind with images, I tried to calm it and reassure it that I would help in any way I could, however, without a face or mouth to communicate with, it was challenging to know if it was receiving my message.
The experience left me shaken and humbled. The Ougham, a new form of sentient life, had reached out to me for help, and I could feel its fear and hopelessness. I knew that I had to do everything in my power to assist the creature, even if it meant facing criticism and backlash from the community for working with this new species without oversight.
As I leave my office today, I cannot help but feel a powerful sense of responsibility and urgency to aid Seeker. I will do everything in my power to learn about its physiology and find a way to alleviate its pain and suffering.

Purpose

This documentation follows Airtam's attempts to save an infected Ougham from a disease that was ravaging its body and had caused it to be removed from their collective awareness.

Document Structure

Publication Status

As part of the leaked Morenthall publications following her death, these writings are generally easy to find.

Historical Details

Public Reaction

unintentionally, the release of this document painted the largely unknown species of the Ougham in a much kinder light, and shed a great deal of detail onto both who and what they are, moving public opinion into a more accepting view of them both in the Empire and beyond.

Read the Document

Seeker's Gift

31st of Senectus, 148 PR
It has been several days since Seeker, the Ougham appendage infected with Void Blight, reached out to me telepathically for help. Since that day, my team of Benevolent Order physicians and I have been working tirelessly to find a way to save the creature, but we have been met with frustration and disappointment at every turn.
As Seeker's condition continued to deteriorate, we knew that time was of the essence. We attempted to remove the infected tissue, but the damage was too severe, and we were unable to reverse the effects of the Void Blight.
It was a heartbreaking moment for all of us. We had worked tirelessly, putting in long hours and sacrificing our own needs, but we were unable to save Seeker. The creature had reached out to us in its time of need, and we were unable to deliver the help it so desperately required. I am remiss and broken by this, and I feel as though I have failed in something truly paramount in importance. As I reflect on the experience, I can't help but feel a sense of frustration that the medical knowledge we have is limited, and the lack of understanding of the Ougham's physiology only compounded our struggles. We tried everything we could think of, but ultimately, it was not enough. It is moments like these that make me question the limitations of our knowledge and the need for continued research and exploration. We cannot let our lack of understanding limit our ability to help those in need.
Despite our failure to save Seeker, I will continue to work diligently to learn more about the Ougham and their physiology. Perhaps with time, we will find a way to combat the Void Blight and save those who contract it. Until then, we must not give up hope and continue to strive for greater understanding and knowledge.
For now, I have moved the Ougham to a quiet room to rest and reflect for the evening. I will sit with it tonight and make sure that the poor creature is not alone in its final moments. More than any other species, this one feels solitude in a visceral and painful sense.

32nd of Senectus, 148 PR
I sit here now, heartbroken, having just experienced the final moments of Seeker's life. It was a heart-wrenching and emotional experience, one that I will never forget. In its final moments, the creature and I had a telepathic conversation that was both profound and deeply saddening.
As I held the creature's three-fingered hand in my own, I could feel its pain and fear, and I did my best to comfort it. I shared words of kindness and reassurance, trying to ease the creature's suffering as it slowly began to shut down, the Void Blight finally corrupting its systems to the point where it could no longer fight. The creature's panic and grief escalated as it questioned what would become of it in death. It was a difficult conversation, as the Ougham apparently do not believe they have souls, and so there was a deep sense of uncertainty and fear about what would happen to Seeker after death and whether or not it would remain isolated and lonely hereafter, or if it would perhaps return to the ground from which they all grew.
Despite my own sadness and desperation, I did my best to offer comfort and some sense of hope that things would not be as scary as the creature feared, but as I discovered, lying while using telepathy is a far greater challenge that one might think, and I fear that my attempts may have seemed thin. In a lucid moment, Seeker's mind became quiet and calm, and it sent a final message to me that was both profound and enlightening. The creature spoke of the nature of life and the importance of kindness, and I was moved by its words. Seeker's final message was a reminder that, no matter what form life takes, kindness and compassion are essential. It was a profound moment, and I felt deeply moved by the creature's words:
"Life is a precious and fleeting gift, and all beings deserve to be treated with kindness and compassion. The beauty of life lies in its diversity, and every life form, no matter how different or unique, holds a special place in the universe. We must cherish and protect all life forms, for they are all connected, and together they create the tapestry of existence. The sanctity of life lies in our ability to recognize and celebrate this diversity, and to honor and respect each life form for the special qualities it brings to the world. May you always remember the importance of kindness, and may it guide you in your interactions with all life forms, great and small. Thank you, Airtam Morenthall. This one would have liked to have had more time to share with you."
As Seeker passed away, I wept, holding its lifeless hand and mourning the loss of such a unique and beautiful life form. Still connected I could feel its awareness fade like the setting of a sun, and with it, so went a piece of my own heart. It was a moment that will stay with me for all my days, a reminder of the fragility and preciousness of life, and the importance of kindness and compassion in all things.

Medical Transcript of Ougham Necropsy:

38th of Senectus, 148 PR
The necropsy of the Ougham called Seeker has begun, and we have gathered a team of our top physicians and scholars to conduct the examination. I, Airtam Morenthall, the Headmaster of the University, am present to oversee the process. As we begin, I cannot help but feel nervous and no small amount of guilt about the implications of performing this necropsy in our University. The public opinion could be dire if word ever got out about it happening and my own feelings concerning Seeker are no less troubling, however, the potential knowledge we could gain from this event is invaluable and could result in our ability to save the lives of his people should the need ever arise in the future, and we have taken every possible precaution to maintain secrecy.

Necropsy Begins: 15:57
We began by examining the exterior of the Ougham, which is now a sickly yellowish-brown color due to the Void Blight. Its skin has become hard and brittle, and it is evident that the disease has caused immense pain and suffering by the hardening of the exterior limbs and appendages. While the creature has no face or visible sensory organs, we have discovered what appears to be some kind of tympanic membrane on the sides of its head, most likely used to interpret vibrations in the air as sound. The creature has three fingers on each hand, and its legs terminate in flat, circular stumps rather than feet in the classical humanoid manner. The exposed flesh that remains undamaged still retains its soft, almost rubbery consistency, and while very tough, has a remarkable elasticity on the surface. Closer examination reveals a number of old scars where the celluloid nature of the creature's body has built up as a result of damage. Most of this appears to have been caused by weapons or tools of some kind based on the shape and directions of the scars. I cannot help but wonder what caused them. It is late and we will conclude for the day, as I am still emotionally drained from the experience of losing Seeker. We will continue promptly in the morning with the internal examination.
39th of Senectus, 148 PR
Necropsy Continues: 9:14
Today, we have focused on the Ougham's internal anatomy. We have discovered that their organs are completely different from those of any other known species. The creature seems to have a highly efficient and intricate circulatory system, or a xylem perhaps would be more accurate, which allows it to exchange nutrients and water within its translucent form. This xylem contained mostly water and broken down minerals which are heavily concentrated in the feet and terminate in the hands and head of the creature, which magnified examinations of the tissue found there have revealed are covered in tiny stomata allowing for the release of waste vapor into the air.
We have also discovered that the creature has an advanced nervous system that is highly interconnected, with tendrils reaching throughout its body. Unlike other plant based life, the Ougham seems to have developed this independent of its core origin into something resembling animal physiology. I suspect it is this network that allows the Ougham to be part of a hive mind consciousness, though there remains a degree of functionality that is far beyond anything we have seen prior to now. There is no central nervous organ in the body, though there is a large mass of the tissue in the head. It would seem that the Ougham nervous system functions as an autonomous whole rather than individual parts, meaning the entire system is likely the equivalent of what we would consider a brain. As much as I would like to delve deeper into this, the damage caused by the fungal infection has withered the majority of the system to the point of making it impossible to fully determine the full scope of its integration into the body.
40th of Senectus, 148 PR
Necropsy Continues: 9:12
As we delve further into the necropsy, we have discovered that the Void Blight has affected the Ougham's ability to exchange nutrients and water through its xylem. It seems that the disease has caused the organism's internal organelles to become weak and brittle, leading to a complete breakdown of its internal systems.
We spent the better part of the day attempting to separate and remove the remaining differential portions of the creature's internal workings, but aside from the nervous tissue and the xylem, we found very little of note that could be considered an independent organ of any type.
The remains at this point have either been damaged or begun to deteriorate to the point where further findings will be too corrupted to lend any usable results.
41st of Senectus, 148 PR
Necropsy Concludes:13:50
As we conclude the necropsy and prepare Seeker’s remains to be destroyed in order to contain the fungal infection, just in case any of the spores remain, I cannot help but feel saddened by the creature's fate. It has suffered so much, and we were unable to save it. However, the knowledge we have gained from this event could be vital in the development of new medical techniques for this species in the future. I was not sure how to honor their dead in accordance with any traditions they may have, and due to the fact that it was cut off from the rest of their kind, I was unsure about attempting to reach out or send word. I opted to reflect on Seeker’s final words instead, and have hired a local artisan to engrave them on a plaque for my office. Seeker’s words and memory are important to me…very.
No one should be cast off and forgotten.
Conclusion:
The necropsy of the Ougham, Seeker, has been a harrowing experience for all involved. It has been an intense and humbling reminder of how little we understand about the complexities of this new form of sentient life. I hope that our findings can be used to further our understanding of this species and assist in finding a cure for the Void Blight should it plague them again in the future, however, the memory of Seeker and its suffering will stay with me forever, and I hope that we can learn to approach these events with even greater sensitivity and compassion in the future.

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Type

Leaked Original

Medium

Vellum / Skin

Authoring Date

24th of Senectus 148 PR to 40th of Senectus 148 PR

Location

The University of the Lighted Way

Authors

• Airtam Morenthall