Summary: Over the past few months, spectral apparitions have been spotted across Terra. They cannot be considered corporeal, as they lack bodies. They cannot, however, be considered incorporeal, as they are able to affect the surrounding environment. I propose that the apparitions are a form of elemental construct that have been generated as a result of cyclical energy production.
Introduction: Seven months ago, a glowing humanoid figure appeared outside a fishing village on the Scyllan Coast. Locals described it as "ghostlike" and "see-through," but noted it resembled a robed woman carrying a staff. The apparition ignored any attempts at communication, instead wandering through the village and nearby fields. It reappeared and disappeared repeatedly, with the phenomena witness by both locals and visiting students from Rocktower College.
Soon reports of apparitions began flooding in from across Terra, including our own Kingsfield University. Though the specifics varied, apparitions were all described as transparent humanoid figures. Some apparitions were even described as wielding elemental energy, such as the apparition outside Otteg that set fire to a bandit caravan. Other reports include manipulation of physical objects. The shopkeep at Kingsfield Apothecary, for instance, has frequently had gold appear and items disappear as apparitions pass through the shop.
The apparitions do not appear to be any known type of creature. Their lack of either ability or interest to communicate seems to rule out undeadth. Meanwhile the neutral to positive results of their presence seems to rule out darklings. Furthermore, their presence does not attract darklings, suggesting that no magic was involved in their creation. On the contrary, the appearance of apparitions heavily correlates with spikes in elemental energy. No one, however, has plausibly taken credit for the creation of these apparitions, and attempts to create elemental constructs that have the same properties as these apparitions have been met with limited success.
Explanation: I propose that apparitions are a form of elemental construct generated by a cyclical increase in Terra's elemental energy. While conventional thought (e.g. Falcon) suggests that elemental energy has steadily declined since the creation of the world, recent research indicates that elemental energy is replenished both by the sun and by elemental reactions deep below the surface (e.g. Fireflower, Starson). Under this model, the total amount of elemental energy fluctuates over time, with predictable highs and lows. Historical records indicate events consistent with high elemental energy at roughly five hundred year intervals: large storms, mountains appearing practically overnight, and spontaneous wildfires. It has been five hundred years since the last interval, indicating we may be facing one now.
Elemental constructs involve imbuing elemental matter with elemental energy. If natural elemental energies are at peak activity, it may be possible for constructs to be generated incidentally. Certainly their are cases of objects being incidentally imbued, as anyone who has listened to a wild musicstone can attest. Thus, the apparitions may simply be constructs generated during elemental energy flares, thus starting rumors that they wield elemental energy. The fact that they appear to flicker in and out of existence could reflect unstable animation that will become more pronounced as their animating energy fades.
I propose two courses of action to test this explanation. First, a team of elemental specialists will attempt to capture one of these apparitions using elementally neutral glass cases. Failing this, the specialists will follow one or more of the apparitions that frequent Kingsfield. They will expose the apparitions to different types and amounts of elemental energy to test for reactivity. If the apparitions are elemental constructs, exposure to an element that is the opposite of their animating energy should have a negative effect.
Second, I propose the setting of a watch to observe known areas of high elemental activity. These areas are more likely to generate incidental constructs, and therefore should host high numbers of apparitions. The watch will record how many apparitions appear in the area and any abilities or peculiarities in appearance they exhibit. These observations will be coupled with those currently being made in cities.
Observing and testing elemental reactivities of apparitions will allow insight into their elemental composition. This, in turn, is important for both theoretical understanding of apparitions and assessment of their potential effects on towns and cities.
With respect,
Grimalken
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