Xanthir Vang's Notes

Note · 0 gp · Weight 1

A hefty notebook in a thick leather cover, every inch of which has been nibbled on by insects. There are dark streaks of dried blood on the binding. Documented inside, in small, precise handwriting, are the experiments of Xanthir Vang. The records mostly describe complex magical processes, the deciphering of which would take several days at least, but there are scattered passages written in less esoteric language: "...telepathy — a dead end. I need a way to control the insects directly, with my will alone, bypassing conscious thought entirely." "Parasitism/symbiosis? Test subjects' skin is gradually ingested, replaced by the swarm. Result: failure. How do I stop them from eating through tissue?" "What is flesh? What is a body part? Planting larvae in the fatty tissues under the effect of (indecipherable). The test subjects report pain when the hatching insects pierce through. The next step is to test it on myself." "Gradual amputation of the left hand, phalanx by phalanx. Focus on phantom pains! Success: the locusts take the form of fingers (only half of the fourth and all of the fifth finger, for now)." "The locusts are still not completely responsive to my will — but enough to be able to write this with my new hands. The next problem: the brain. Dispersed cognition? Removing consciousness to the astral plane?" "The test subject retains awareness when locusts replace up to 2/3 of the brain." "Trepanation... Success... Vision... Unusual effect..." "Extremely itchy scalp."