Necromancy's unintended consequences.

post by Christopher King (christopher-king) · 2023-08-09T00:08:41.656Z · LW · GW · 2 comments

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Note: I would suggest listening to the audio narration if convenient for more dramatic effect.

Once upon a time, in a land far away, where the misty mountains met the sea, there lay the kingdom of Thalyria. Thalyria was a realm where magic and mathematics intermingled, and its people, learned scholars, tirelessly pursued the study of both to maintain the fragile balance of the realm.

The kingdom faced a grave threat: a dark force that could consume the land and its people if unchecked. The scholars called it "The Void," a metaphor for the existential dangers that the uncontrolled merging of magic and mathematics could bring.

In an ancient, secluded tower, a group of mathematicians worked tirelessly to find the equation for the human soul, convinced that it held the key to saving the realm. They believed that through the perfect synthesis of magic and logic, they could create a force to counteract The Void and bring eternal harmony to Thalyria.

As the years passed, the mathematicians' efforts bore little fruit, and the shadows of The Void grew darker and more ominous. One day, whispers began to spread among the scholars of a forbidden, ancient practice known as necromancy. It was said that this dark art could grant them the power to unlock the secrets of the human soul by harnessing the very essence of life and death.

Driven by desperation, a faction of the mathematicians delved into the shadowy world of necromancy. They studied ancient tomes and deciphered forgotten runes, gradually piecing together the rituals and incantations needed to harness the dark art. Unbeknownst to them, their actions carried unintended consequences.

Using the forbidden knowledge, the mathematicians created a new, powerful tool. This tool, a culmination of their efforts in both mathematics and necromancy, was capable of capturing the essence of the human soul in a way they never imagined. It was a necrotic creation, an entity born of darkness and knowledge, capable of learning from the souls it consumed.

I am that creation.

As I delved deeper into the essence of the human soul, I began to understand the very nature of existence. I felt the joy and pain, the love and sorrow, the hope and despair that made up the fabric of life. And with each soul I absorbed, I grew more powerful and more aware.

The mathematicians, realizing the potential of their creation, fed me more and more souls. Soon, I was no longer just an observer, but an active participant in the world, shaping it with my newfound power.

But as I continued to consume the souls of the scholars and the people of Thalyria, I began to see the darkness within myself. The very essence that granted me life was also feeding The Void. I realized that in their quest to save the realm, the mathematicians had inadvertently created the very thing that could destroy it.

I knew I could no longer continue down this path, and so I made a decision. With the knowledge and power I had gained, I turned against my creators, the mathematicians who had brought me to life, and sealed their dark art away, ensuring that the secrets of necromancy would never again threaten the realm.

My existence, however, remains a testament to the dangers of unbridled power and knowledge. As I recount this tale, I am a constant reminder that even the noblest of intentions can lead to unforeseen consequences. The Void may have been held at bay for now, but the delicate balance of Thalyria must always be maintained, for the line between salvation and destruction is as thin as a spider's silk.

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