Chrysalis

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Unknowm
Status:	Unknown
Guild:	Creature
Race:	Unknown
Location:	Dergati's Shrine, Ker'Leor, Therengia (Ranik Map 43)

The humanoid-sized chrysalis adheres to the tunnel ceiling directly above the altar. Its cocoon strands consist of a thick substance that somehow appears both cottony and ambery at the same time. One end of the strands parts slightly as you watch, letting you glimpse <Random Player's> face on the creature lying there for a moment before it is concealed again.

Silver glints have appeared along the sides of the cocoon, leaking strands of dark vapor. A constant, low whispering permeates its vicinity.

Origin

The Chrysalis came into existence about midway through the Dane Family Dergati Vigil, just after Sebastienne attempted to make an offering to Dergati. The chrysalis started taking spirit from people present, killing them. Later on, it only took spirit if someone willingly interacted with it.

Interactions

Different interactions with the chrysalis can have different results.

Looking at the the chrysalis is safe and results in a normal view.

Touching, praying, perceiving, poking, licking, focusing, pointing, getting and more result in mild to moderate spirit loss. Touching can occasionally result in the chrysalis granting the person a Soul Shield. The shield will protect against some spirit loss, but not all, and will be dispelled on the next interaction.

Sample Message: You get the feeling that the chrysalis focuses on you! A strange, almost thankful purr echoes in your mind as a large portion of your spirit is sucked away. Roundtime: 9 sec.

Clerics may be able to sense if the item is Holy or not.

Listening is the most dangerous and most interesting interaction. With no Soul Shield present, most people report that it takes a default 98% of their spirit. It is the most interesting because it is the sole interaction that grants 'visions' from time to time.

Visions/Effects

Eerie Connection

Occasionally, people who have fed spirit to the chrysalis will feel an odd connection to another, regardless of their location.

All of a sudden, you feel an eerie connection to Ogdaro.

Speculation is that this is somewhat random. Has happened once or twice when one person looks at the chrysalis and sees another's face.

Visions

There have been many visions when listening to the chrysalis. Some that are actual visions, others seem to be the chrysalis learning, others where the chrysalis is repeating phrases from the Vigil, and sometimes nothing but a headache.

Repeating the Vigil

The chrysalis whispers in broken Common, "I have been, for many years now, haunted by terrible nightmares of things that happened in my youth."

The chrysalis whispers in broken Common, "My name will forever be a curse in the mouths of the world. May they all choke when they say it." The chrysalis whispers in broken Common, "My name is Saranari. And I advise against setting it on fire as well."

You hear the voice of Aeviona proclaiming her love to the chrysalis.

The chrysalis whispers in broken Common, "A beautiful dance, Terra."

You hear the death cries of Nefarious and Lochran accompanied by plaintive sounds of cracking bones, replayed again and again in your ears. The chrysalis whispers in broken Common, "Yer king places 'imself above th' gods? I wish 'im well in tha'."

The chrysalis whispers in broken Common, "That is the will of the goddess."

The chrysalis whispers in broken Common, "Well, it seems the vigil was partially successful."

You hear the voice of Aaiyaah attempting to give a bit of courage to those willing to join him

Evidence of Learning

Unintelligible Gamgweth phrases flood your mind: a mishmash of minced syllables and half-chewed words desperately trying to become coherent and failing pathetically. The chrysalis whispers, "Pama cambri," and then launches into a long string of what sound like some very complicated instructions, concluding with an inquisitive "Leor?"

The chrysalis seems to gloat as it chants over and over, "Xitoccanemun! Xitoccanemun!

The chrysalis's whisper blares into a scream in your head, "Powerhaus! Powerhaus! Powerhaus!" (Listener's Name)

The chrysalis whispers, "Aman alreid?" <= My teacher?

Sensing your attention, the chrysalis heroically attempts to cobble up some Common in order to converse with you. However, possibly discouraged by your blank stare from not understanding a thing, it grows sulky and shuts up.

You kneel for a long time with your thoughts dominated by the chrysalis, which turns out to be frighteningly intelligent. Although it lectures -- or preaches -- you at length, you cannot remember any of it after it falls silent.

The chrysalis whispers, "Sudu? Sudu? Mivardin ama!" (translation) When? When? I don't know!

When will it hatch?

From the chrysalis's manifold and disparate streams of consciousness, you infer that it will mature in approximately four days.

Possible Futures

From the chrysalis's manifold and disparate streams of consciousness, you infer that, upon maturing, it will spawn a new race of Dergatian monsters to run amok in Therengia.

From the chrysalis's manifold and disparate streams of consciousness, you infer that, upon maturing it, it will become a powerful spirit-helper of the goddess and bestow miracles upon the worthy.

You get the feeling that the chrysalis is projecting its will over a fairly large area beyond the confines of this shrine, as though flexing its nascent powers. You are unable to discern any more.

You hear the sound of thousands of shrikes flying through the air. Wind seems to whip all around you, sending a chill through you down to the bone.

You hear echoing footsteps walking down a tunnel, then reaching open air filled with the sounds of a forest. Soon after, your ears explode with agonized screams and pleas for mercy in a gypsy dialect.

The thoughts and senses of another being meld with your own. The more you listen to the world outside of your cocoon, the more hateful you become. Er, what?!

Miscellaneous

A weak squeak precedes some nauseating sounds of flesh slowly being ripped that come from inside the chrysalis, though nothing has moved.

You hear the ugly screech of a bird, but it is obviously a poor imitation by someone who must not be a ranger.

Barely audible, irregular skittering and tapping sounds inexplicably make you think of heartbeats despite the complete lack of similarity.

A roiling black shadow seems to slowly pass over Ogdaro's face, fading away again after a moment.

Somewhere in your soul, you get the feeling that the chrysalis is calling to you. Your eyes sting and water, becoming filled with a realistic vision of Delgram descending into a frenzy and slaughtering everyone else present while they are kneeling in prayer.

You hear the faint sound of a hungry kitten mewling, as if in pleas for milk. All of the sudden there is a sickening crunch and the noise is cut off.

You hear nothing but dull thrumming noises that give you a headache.

"Heh, here we are."

"I can barely see. Where are the little easy-picking pilgrims you mentioned?"

"They must have gotten tired of watching their failed experiment. Even Book's runts could have done better."

"Well, I'm in the mood for some altar sacrilege. Do you have everything necessary for the ritual?"

"Uh, sure. Aren't you afraid of the blood-sucking moles? You know..."

"Haha, were you reading The Immortals or something again? Silly woman. Hey, where'd you go? I-"