Loose Leaf Thesis Submissions
Measuring the Adverse Effects of Ley-Travel - Cont.
Hidden Portals:
Known as Shadow Doors, these portals only appear at the correct time of night, and as such are difficult to spot. They have a strong connection to the plane of shadow, granting travel between our plane and the shadow plane.
(Portals: A Brief Introduction Master Elanor Shortwick)
This study will focus on the use of Variable Portals, specifically in this case the one located within the Arcane Tower.
I took several volunteers from several age groups and had them travel between the Arcane Tower, to the Ley not far from Windershyn Edge.
Once there, I asked them a series of memory based questions, spanning from short term to long term, as well as did a full examination of their being to determine if there was any noticeable changes.
NOTE:
All volunteers were human.
*Several copies of surveys are attached below, as well as diagrams and tables collating and displaying the data collected.*
Based on the above data, I can conclude that there are several, as of yet little document side effects that can arise from Ley-travel. The chance of such is slim, however it seems to increase as ones being ages.
The ailments seem to vary person to person, however short term memory loss, as well as a general feeling of unwellness seem to be the most common among them.
*The document bares the signature of Zacriel Thorne.*
Day 10, Month 8 (Elasias (Highsun)), 169 AR
Zacriel Thorne
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Measuring the Adverse Effects of Ley-Travel - Introduction
Study on the potential negative effects of Ley-Travel is scarcely documented. Obvious examples include things such as loss of concentration while traveling, resulting in an unintended destination. Via rigorous trial and testing, I recorded several interesting results from repeated exposure to the ley, my findings showing that bodily deterioration, illness, and ailments such as memory loss were all slim, but quantifiable risks to repeated Ley-travel. I can conclude that such ailments seem to be more prevalent the older one gets, and that even though this is the case, Ley-Travel can still be considered as "safe" in the grand scheme of things.
The purpose of this investigation is to understand any and all adverse effects on the body that repeated Ley-Travel might have. My hypothesis at the time of writing is that given the complex nature of breaking down ones being into raw magic to be sent instantaneously via the Ley and reformed, the process is likely to have some form of toll on the body if it is performed repeatedly.
There are several types of ley present in Arelith:
Location Portal:
Is a destination within the Ley, but cannot facilitate travel outwards. Attunement to the portal is required, in order to facilitate familiarity with the location in which the portal resides.
One-way Portal:
Usually located within caves or ancient ruins, these are short ranged portals that connect have both an entryway and an exit, though the exit is invisible to the naked eye. Such portals work differently in that a user does not need to attune to either portal; instead, any matter passing through it will travel to the end point. This means that beasts, and even inanimate objects can make use of said portal.
Variable Portal:
A portal type that allows entry to the Ley. An example of such a Ley is the one located within the arcane tower. In some cases, there exist Variable Portals that also act as Location Portals, as is the case for the portal present within Nexus Falls.
Day 10, Month 8 (Elasias (Highsun)), 169 AR
Zacriel Thorne
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Recurrent Balance Theory Part 2
I cannot say that feeling these emotions puts positive or negative energy in the world, but it most certainly has an impact akin to the event of exposure to positive or negative energy on the persons whom experience it. It is, however, purely mental in nature, not like the physical impact of positive and negative energy wielded as a tool.
Referring back to the basic ideals of druidic balance, the common extremist viewpoint is that all cities are a threat to the balance of nature. The moderate says that cities are apart of the balance maintained between nature and society, and is just as natural as the fact that grass needs water. People need society.
The liberal druid would say that there is balance to be maintained between all the planes, Hell, Celestia, The Abyss, the elemental planes, ect. Furthermore, that normally they operate without issue or need for interference. In-fact, those who fight back society, and those who wipe out entire forests serve the same role.
Their behaviors will naturally occur because of one another. People are not animals, but the expected course of events between these kinds of groups is an aspect of the natural way of the world. Even the most gruesome of wars between the Zhentarium and Corymr have a place in the world. They belong, because they naturally control the populations.
To recall the intended point of this thesis, negative and positive energy are intrinsic parts of the balance, as are all things. People of the Prime Material Plane service the grand balancing scale just as the other planes do so to. In that sense, we serve the same purpose as elementals and even vampires by merely existing and conflicting.
Day 9, Month 8 (Elasias (Highsun)), 169 AR
Whisper
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Recurrent Balance Theory
It is a given that a druid would say negative energy is bad for the land, and therefore affects the balance of the world negatively. It can be agreed upon that negative energy is bad for the land, yes.
However, this author supposes that the corruption of land via negative energy is just an aspect of the natural ebb and flow. If the ideal of prevention towards negative energy were taken to extremes, we would instead be faced with an entirely contrary problem.
Positive energy does not confine itself to the simplistic name it subscribes to. Negative energy can be used to heal, positive energy can be used to destroy. In its rawest form, positive energy will make mortals sicked, and can even cause death.
Such as it is, it could be said neither are good for the prime material plane. However, negative and positive energy, as well as those elemental energies corresponding with earth, wind, air, and fire are merely an aspect of our full universal balance.
Destruction and creation have always gone hand-in-hand. Positive and negative energy find representation for this in different forms, negative energy making horrid imitations of life, and positive energy bringing life back.
Negative and positive energy find themselves equally expressive in their many manifestations or rawest forms. Negative energy aligns with negative emotions, which does not inherently suggest the nature of such emotions to be evil.
Negative energy also represents itself as dark grays and bleak settings. The Shadow Plane is a perfect example of a land aligned with negative energy. Its appearances mires in aspects of dullnesss and sorrow. Its beings often seem to be broken remnants of a consciousness.
Positive energy, of course, mirrors this as its opposite. It encourages white light filled, vibrant lands full of floura, such as that which the Elves find their souls. The emotions it aligns with are those suggestive of a raw, jovial nature.
Day 6, Month 8 (Elasias (Highsun)), 169 AR
Whisper