Sample Of Alazar's Astral Articles

The following is a sample of Alazar's Astral Articles: A Collection Of The Unique And Bizzare Happenings Of The Astral Sea and its chapter on the general descriptions of some of the few entities worshiped in the The Astral Sea.

Chrono-Phantasm

Figures of steampunk clocks and cogs occasionally appear as apparitions throughout the Astral Sea. It is theorized that these entities are time travelers who can't control when and where they'll appear. Spotting one is rare, and talking to one is simply unbelievable; yet I have done both. The encounter was brief and wholly unnerving, it told me to hide. Hide from what you're wondering? I don't know, it disappeared before I could get in a word, though assuming from the sound of fear in its clicky artificial voice- whatever it is it's why these creatures are running. Though now that I think of it, how could we possibly know that there's more than one?

The Eight Echos

A silence constantly veils the Astral Sea. Some find it calming and allows them to collect themselves in peace, others find it maddening and invite musicians aboard their vessels just to keep what remains of their sanity. There are occasions when a sound appears from nowhere to whisper into the ears of travelers, *telling them the secrets of the universe and its workings. Most can't understand what it's trying to say, but none the less fuels them with drive, inspiration, and hope. Those who wish to learn more about the secret they've heard, search relentlessly for these echoes. No matter the case, the eighth echo will fully reveal the secret being whispered but also kill the searcher in the process. The people most dedicated to learning about every inch of the universe seek out these echoes while knowing of the consequences. They're commonly called fanatics, madmen, and daredevils, but I like to call them brave. These brave explorers claim that the echoes originate from a goddess of knowledge and lore who's been around since the beginning of the **Barren's 1st instance.

The Living Script

In ***recent years a cult has been spreading its reach across the explored regions of the Astral Sea. Reports say that this cult was created after its founder obtained a book that was "floating in the middle of nowhere." This book contained what was described as a gibberish language- one that didn't exist, and never has. The special few who had the ability to read any writing and observed the script had gone mad, yelling about how soon everyone would be able to read it, and that it was alive and in their heads. Some rumor that the heads of the cult (including the founder) also had the ability to read the script, but that it wrapped itself around their minds and took over their bodies to teach the Barren to worship it. Some who were allowed to view the text said that it would move and shift, and scribes who would make duplicates of it said the same.

Star Of Empty Souls

Legend tells of a star filled exclusively with the souls of those who never developed a personality- empty husks that are highly malleable and are bent to the will of those with the most emotional of personalities. It is this star that has created the myth of shooting stars; something that'll make the deepest of wishes come true. Artists find themselves the usual suspects of empty worshiping, their creativity being the perfect ingredient for making wishes, if they can find this illusive star of course. As a member of the literary arts, I've been wishing on many stars in case one of them turns out to be this fabled beauty, but since I have yet to get my functional airship made entirely of gold it should be safe to say that I've yet to find it.

Solar Swarm

Every few months the realms shoot out a field of light called a solar flare. After one of these flares found itself within a surge of wild magic, the light transformed into a living swarm of fireflies that now forever glide across the sea of stars. Upon capturing two of these fireflies in separate jars, I was able to learn that, even when separated from the rest of the swarm, the flies still attempt to move in the same formation as the rest of their family. My conclusion is that these swarms act as a hive mind and that those here who worship these creatures as a deity of travelers and journeys may have told the truth about establishing a psychic connection with them.

Vestige Of The Viper

In times of old, it was said that a forgotten god took the form of a gigantic viper so that it may explore the reaches of the Astral Sea. It found alien civilizations that it quickly swallowed and destroyed. When it grew tired of its rampage, it left the body to decay and fall apart, its remains spreading wide across the Astral Sea. A group of this god's worshipers found its persevered venom gland- which they of course drank (you know, as you do). Those who have survived the venom graduate to higher worshipping, as well as gaining great power. Worshipers (also called the Vestige) search the universe for more of their god's body in hopes of obtaining more power.

About The Author

An explorer and researcher of the Astral Sea, Alazar is known to be quite a handful to those who've met him. He's quite enthusiastic about what he does and refuses to apologize for anything. A love for myth and legend had encouraged a young Alazar to escape the Mortal Realm to explore the stars; he refuses to explain exactly how he managed to leave the Mortal Realm, and has yet to apologize for it.

*Alazar has gone on record stating that he's heard one of these echoes himself, though he absolutely refuses to share what he heard saying "It's a secret, and you will all have to wait until it also whispers in your ear for you to learn it."
**The '1st Instance' of the Barren is a myth bordering conspiracy. It revolves around the idea that the Barren was destroyed and rebuilt by the gods, and now we all live in the '2nd Instance.'
***Alazar's Astral Articles began to be published in 109 AG. Alazar told fellow explorers and researchers that this particular chapter was written in around 102 AG.