"There was a darkness outside reality, they say - a darkness full of things. Hungry, nasty things with no shape or form, not as long as they are out there."
Day 2
This expedition is shaping up to be a serious risk to my life. There is just... So much ruin everywhere I walk... So much mana... This might truly be a doomed plane, all thanks to those black creatures I bet.
I am getting ahead of myself. Allow me to retrace my steps this morning.
I woke up refreshed, and the control of my mana had returned to its ideal state, thus I was able to finally conduct true and necessary research over this plane's mana.
These first impressions are worrying, to say the least.
This forest produces Green mana, which is not unexpected, however, it also produces colorless mana, which I am bewildered by.
No, this is incorrect. This forest produces Green mana and also holds it in, never letting it go to waste, however, this place also holds Colorless mana despite not producing it. This is very odd. Very interesting.
I've only seen this phenomenon occurring back in my home plane of Zendikar... Artificially, that is. But never have I seen it happen naturally.
Now, there are a few things I must point out about this area I've explored thus far.
The mana here is accumulated... Somewhat. Mana floats here naturally, yet it does not go away. The Mana Well located in this forest, is not restricted to a singular point, instead, it's spread equally on the entirety of the forest.
This could be the reason why those black creatures do not seem to eat or drink anything, and also the reason why the trees here as in a 'Forever Fall' state.
The air is so thick with mana, that the plant life adopted to forfeit the need for nutrients and instead opt for the consumption of mana of that very same Mana Well. Those creatures could very well live the same way as those trees. I have this theory because I do the same.
This theory would also explain why they are in a 'Forever Fall' state, as they consume both Green and Colorless mana, uncaring for the side effects. Green makes them bloom at an enormously rapid rate, and Colorless forces those leaves to shrivel and fall without the necessary identity.
Considering how much there is accumulated already, it is safe to assume that this forest produces more Mana than it can consume, or at least, just as much as it consumes.
To think this is all-natural...
However, this also implies that there is no sapient being on the plane that can harvest that Mana.
No mage worth their salt would allow such a mana-rich plane alone. This Mana Spring would have been easily consumed by them.
There is one other ramification, a possibility of horrifying proportions. However, I shan't write it down without proper proof or reason to.
Alas, I am not such a power-hungry individual. I won't destroy such a beautiful place for my own sake.
My purpose is to document, after all.
Moving on from that.
The ruins of this religious temple lead to nowhere.
I've found a small patch of brickwork on the forest floor, almost imperceptible, but I've followed it. The path stops at the foot of the mountain looming above, the same one I've previously mentioned.
My theory is that, at some point, that path used to lead towards a cavern or an underground place of sorts. Erosion settled, and now the path has caved in.
I could mold the earth and search for anything else inside there, but I chose against it. There is a chance to find something that might lead me to that caved-in section on the other side of the mountain range.
If there isn't, then I shall return and further investigate
That was what I thought at the time.
My hike towards the top of the mountain range was greatly rewarding.
I did not find any more of the creatures. Both a curse and a blessing.
I am still curious about them, their physiology, and their ways of life. And well, I don't like being hunted.
Upon reaching the top, I finally came across something that was not red and or falling. A landscape of gray and green. Finally, normal vegetation and sapient life, I thought.
I was incorrect.
I reached the city, walking as I did. A plaque welcomed me.
'Welcome to the City of Mount Glemm! The first major city of Vale's expansion program.'
Only ruins lay before my eyes.
At the very least, this proved that I spoke the same language as this city's.
Strolling through the city proved difficult. Too many of those black creatures.
This time, I spotted variants of them. Small but armored ones, with a bone-like carapace that covered their back and heads, shaped like a boar. Large ones, furry, and intimidating moved in packs like wolves.
I did not engage in combat. I simply choose to run and hide. Now that I have full control over my mana again, I can simply fly above them and take my notes from a safe distance.
Do note, that I have not found a flying variant of those creatures yet. I mustn't rule out the possibility of one existing, as there are no facts disproving that idea. It'd be foolish to assume the air is safe before I confirm their inexistence.
As I floated smoothly through the air, I took some time to learn a bit about the city's layout and architecture.
The layouts of the streets look to have been planned. Gazing at it from above proves so, as the empty streets if you interpret them as lines on a canvas end up like a great circle made up of small squares, with points of interest taking up more than a single block.
Usually, cities grow in size according to the necessities of the populous, spiraling out of control and out of the original plan in a labyrinthine collection of streets and housing of lower quality, that improves with time as more people move in. This city was planned, thus is a complete antithesis to the usual.
How did it turn out like this? It has no natural borders to defend against those creatures, aside from a singular wall of mountain ranges, that at the end of the day, more or less serves as a wall to the fleeing people, disallowing their escape.
The ruined buildings remind me a lot of the architecture of New Capenna. Modern structures are made of bricks and steel beans. Poles to transmit electricity, though destroyed, still dot the landscape. Destroyed vehicles on the streets, the less damaged ones look like a combination of the Kaladeshian design philosophy and the sleekness of New Capenna.
This was all fascinating, but it still did not top the most important discovery I made that day.
Humans. They too inhabit this plane.
I spotted a group of five Human warriors battling through the city a few blocks away from where I stopped to gather my surroundings and better analyze the brickwork.
The group consists of four young women and one older man. Curiously, this older man did not seem to assist in their fighting and instead restrained himself to lecturing them as they went.
They fought with weapons of curious design, displaying strength and skill I've witnessed in veterans and heroes of wars of the past. I must document their weapons at a later time, should fate allow it.
During their fights, they seem to yield the powers of nature to aid them fight back against the creatures. It was not magic, I made sure of it. No mana from around them was used, nor was their mana used for such displays. So, is that something else entirely?
Opting to not interfere, I quietly observed them from a distance. I wish I didn't. There is so much I desire to ask them, so much I must know.
That older man in particular interests me.
The way he carried himself, and the fact that he refused to step in, he seemed to act like a tutor figure to the young warriors. Maybe a teacher? What does he teach, I wonder?
They have set up a camp inside a building nearby, readying themselves for the next day.
Tomorrow, I plan to approach them. Ask for directions, so to speak.
With the control of mana back, I can safely stay awake for long periods of time, so I shall do them a small favor and keep watch for any of these black creatures in their stead. Yes, I will also take my time to further inspect the plant life that has also taken place here.
So it is, that I currently stand atop a crumbling building, watching and waiting for-
One of them left to watch a dog, I believe. Curious how I always find humans fraternizing with the canines more often than not. Culture doesn't feel that different when it comes to the little things in life, it seems.
As I write this, the girl using a gigantic scythe is quietly sneaking around, or pretending to do so, almost like a child, with the dog in her hands. I wonder why.
Should one of those black creatures attack her, should I interfere? No, she's proven to be more than a capable warrior.
There is also an interesting-looking dent in the street she's in right now, maybe a place where an explosion happened long ago. Or perhaps a simple f-
Nothing but an ink stain is what remains on the page.
A/N: With this, we now have where in the timeline this takes place. Thank you for reading this far.
Avakai: I think I handled the lands pretty well. What's your opinion on it?
