A Collection of Popular Entries from Mourningfaun's Scientific Journals
[Journals by Professor Mourningfaun]
Professor Mourningfaun was a believer in the power of science; he had such a curious mind, that he started to travel by himself at such a young age, and document everything he saw, that pretty soon he would begin to make connections with other professors and scholars and get invited to talk about the things he experienced and the place he had visited. It didn't take long after he first published his journals that the whole world grew more interested and some places would even commission him to visit them and what about the culture and people.
Professor's Mourningfaun's Journals
Notes on Hollow Bloods
I've never been one to believe in superstitions, especially ones with no tangible 'evidence' that it could be based on, but in my many years in this career there is something I've noticed to be mentioned far too often, and it has me mortified.
— First Entry, Journal #11
In their natural state Hollow Bloods are tall, lanky, pure black creatures that appear to be hunched over, only ever straightening up as a warning to other predators. Their bodies don't seem to be able to hold their natural state very well as observing it too long gives off the impression that it is more fluid than solid, like that of jello trying to stay together when being moved, and appears to be oozing off the very black its body holds. Typically quadrupedal will often walk on hind two in a bipedal position, large muscular limbs and a jagged skeletal structure that protrudes through some of the joints.
The original mother-location for Hollow Bloods has not been confirmed, but it is suggested to be the unexplored islands just west of the country of Auch which is said to be largely uninhabitable due to the harsh conditions. This is also coincidentally the cause of why the Hollow Bloods moved outward to new environments, all encounters of stories involving Hollow Bloods originate from coastal settlements.
Hollow Bloods are carnivorous and, after studying how a host species acts, will mimic their hunting and eating habits until they change back to their natural state. One thing seems to stand out though, no matter what species they mimic, Hollow Bloods cannot ingest any sort of vegetation, or else they risk getting severely sick and die. Depending on if the pack is migrating or not, they will store and carry along excess food, which will be held by the centermost individuals in the pack; following this, any caught food sources like livestock will be dragged along with and protected until it was time to feast.
Cathemeral, active at both day and night times, very social creatures who prefer to hunt in small packs rather than alone. Extremely hostile on all grounds, violent and malicious to the point of acting cruel to their own members, no matter their placements. Supernatural sight, including the ability to see in the dark, and fairly good hearing like that of a wolf or fox. Shapeshifters that can alter their appearance and genetic code to mimic that of a chosen 'host' species, typically a major predator in the area.
Highly intelligent by default, however, the ability to think and comprehend can be hindered on what species they mimic at the time.
Notes on Fuleni's Curse
Fuleni's Curse is brought on by unpredictable factors and a general case of bad luck, there seems to be no correlation as to how documented cases of the disease find its targets. It was once a wide-spread belief when the disease had first surfaced, that those who betrayed some kind of divine trust, was fated to suffer. The first sign of the 'Curse' is that those affected rapidly age physically, making them look older than they really are, while still maintaining the mental and social immaturity that they had originally.
the first 'sign' of the disease is that of rapid growth, this is of the general physical level, but height and agility are stunted to their current age forever. This disease also reverse conditions of the senses, perfect hearing and seeing people are now completely blind and deaf, well-bodied individuals are weak and fragile, geniuses can now barely comprehend what is happening around them.
There are several different methods of subduing the symptoms for a period of time, and often these methods have to be repeated regularly which will take a different kind of health toll on those who do so. There are cultural rituals that can also take place depending on the victim's age, ethnicity, stage of the disease, symptoms shown, and general health levels.
Fuleni was a gifted neurologist and micro-scientist who's true goal in life was to find sure-fire cures to neurodegenerative and psychosocial diseases and conditions. Perhaps there was an incident involving Fuleni that caused him to change so rapidly so fast? I don't believe he could create such a destructive biological weapon over some small matter, he's not a bad person.
Notes on Flora's Perish
Flora's Perish is a common funeral rite in the country of Vorsk, which is located in Northern Meta. While Vorsk didn't always conduct their funerals like this, it has been around for a good portion of their history, and it all started because of an excessive trade with their ally country Anthos, whose main trading good was a variety of different kind of flowers. As part of renewing their treaties with each other, Vorsk and Anthos would ship an abundance of their biggest trading goods as gifts of friendship, though the exact reasoning for this has been lost to time. The excessive amount of flowers in Vorsk became so much, that burning specific types of flowers because not only a means of eliminating extra flowers but also a way to symbolize what kind of person the funeral was for. This practice rapidly grew popular throughout Vorsk that it essentially is a tradition now for people to grow or frequently buy their favorite kinds of flowers to that others will know what to burn at their funeral. The most common place this the funerals to happen is in a large empty field, as Vorsk is heavily occupied with farms and large flat buildings.
Throughout the day of the to-be funeral, members of the family and close friends will gather at the departed's home to sit and let loose any stray feelings, they also spend the day preparing for the rite ahead, making extravagant dishes and drinks to bring to the burning fields. Shortly before dusk, attendees of the funeral will gather at the burning fields, with whatever they chose to bring for the festivities that are held afterward, as well as flowers for the Perish. Upon the arrival of the Departed, the Ceremony Leader will begin with an opening speech about the Departed's life and how it ended, they can also choose to share personal memories and bring out other members of the funeral to share their stories
The most important components for a Flora's Perish is a variety of flowers, an open field, and your generic materials needed to start a fire. Optional items included food and beverages for a later feast, torch stands, fire dust, and some form of music/instruments.
Flora's Perish takes place anywhere from the day after up to a month after a citizen of Vorsk dies, and is preferred to take place at night so that the view of the flames could be better appreciated.
I've had the privilege of knowing a biology professor from Vorsk, she was a wonderful woman who left this word too soon. So her family, much to my surprise, invited me to her very closed off funeral and even encouraged me to document as much as I could about the spectacular beauty and grace of the rite. Her body, motionless and dressed in the clothes she loved most, laid in a field of a colorful variety of flowers, and when dusk came, they lit it all up like a pyre and the flames danced and changed colors in such as way that I had never seen before, by the end of it all I was a broken and emotional mess.
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