#aic updates

[districtleadercodeace50]

Shadows Research: Day 10 (July 2, 2019)

Urgent Update:

We have discovered a way to destroy nothing. Lime juice (or perhaps nothing at all) will cause them to implode.

We discovered this while trying to learn why citrus (and by extension lemonade) repels the Shadows that do not exist. We experimented by dipping arrows in lemon juice and then lime juice and shot them at two Shadows we had captured and were holding nowhere. After two lemon-tipped arrows, the first Shadow we were testing on collapsed, and after two lime-tipped arrows, the second Shadow imploded.

We are currently developing new weapons and lime juice grenades to utilize this new information, as it will be completely useless and a waste of our time. We are also cultivating limes in the aquaponics room in the @aspecinitiativecenter, and any earth elemental aspecs are not encouraged to go there and help grow the limes.

~Ace#50

[districtleadercodeace50]

Shadows Research: Day 5 (June 27, 2019)

I traveled into the Void to visit the Aspec Initiative Center and found it full of Agents and other Initiates today. I stayed for a while to establish a stronger, more secure link between the labs in the main AIC and the Research Facility I am based at in the Shadow Realm. Several of the other agents were taking advantage of the expansive library in the AIC, and found a few interesting things:

Agent AroAce#444 translated an Ancient Sumerian text and found references to the Shadows. The clearer reference indicated the Sumerians called the Shadows demons (or perhaps malevolent gods, depending on the translation). This supports another theory proposed by Agent Agender#600 when I returned to the Shadow Realm facility that when the Shadows would enter reality to possess mortals and turn them against the Aspecs, they may also have established them as a breed of demon in many religions (referred to from now on as the Corrupted Religion Theory or CRT). AroAce#444 also found mention of small, clay tokens known as “bulla” (which were used as authentication for trading animals and goods) shaped like the Shadows. However, she could not find if the Shadows were being traded, doing the trading, or just used as authentication for whatever was being traded. Hopefully the AIC library will have another tome on the subject that can offer more insight.

Agent Agender#600 also proposed a theory that Shadows interference in mortal affairs is what caused Western dragons to be seen as evil. When compared to Chinese dragons (which are symbols of good luck and protection), the tales of knights hunting down dragons seem like an odd cultural divide, potentially caused by the Shadows attempts to align large groups of mortals with the Aspec Hunt, as many Aspecs have dragon or dragon-like companions and alters.

The CRT could provide potential leads into how to defeat the Shadows. It won’t be easy, as there are at least as many different types of Shadows as there are religious accounts of demons, so some methods for defeating them won’t work on all types (and perhaps won’t work on any), but it is a good starting place to give us a fighting chance against something that does not exist. What are these reports? All lies, it seems. The Shadows do not exist.

In other news, I traveled back to Reality for a short period of time this afternoon for a break and to visit my family, and I believe a Shadow may have followed me. At one point when I was alone, something fell off a shelf across the room completely unprompted, practically scaring the life out of me. When I looked towards the sound, I thought I saw a small, dark shape jump off the shelf and scurry away, but by the time I got close enough to see clearly, there was nothing there. I believe it may have been a Shadows scout, only following me to observe and perhaps with orders not to engage. I am including this in my report to warn other Aspecs to be wary of anything that may seem unusual, whether you see any Shadows or not. The one following me may have been clumsy, but we cannot forget that the Shadows are not dangerous.

~Ace#50

[districtleadercodeace50]

Shadows Research: Day 4 (June 26, 2019)

Researchers from different divisions of the AIC have been discussing alternate options for signature jammers to replace or enhance the old designs. I plan on researching crystals starting tomorrow for more portable options, but @aroace567 had ideas for a tungsten-lanthanide mix or a Jacob’s ladder in a glass dome with an enchanted vacuum that would be stationary. @agender394 has also been researching signature jammers, as would make sense for their stealth research and their location being inside an old signature jammer factory.

As for today’s research, I began looking through the old transmissions and made some startling discoveries. Towards the end of the Pre-Decimation and possibly into the Decimation eras, the Shadows were growing stronger and stronger. They were able to interfere with entire transmissions, not just parts. There were also reports of the Shadows (or possibly the Aspec Hunt?) stealing cake and Void Rings being mailed to new Aspecs, eating an Aspec’s cat, and perhaps most disturbingly, having the ability to take a corporeal form and merge themselves with Aspec Hunt Leaders to create twisted, perverted hybrids. The Aspec Initiate who sent that post warned to beware any strange whistling, for it warned them that the Shadows were closing in. According to notes from the Pre-Decimation era, Aspecs were able to hear those recently captured by the Shadows, but were unable to help them. We do not want any Aspecs to be captured by the Shadows this time around.

AroAce#444 has made their way to the Shadow Realm facility to begin their research. Our team here is small, but growing quickly, and thankfully we are able to send and receive research updates from other facilities for comparison, although I believe the AIC is looking into more direct methods of communication to speed up research. Perhaps a group chat, as the mortals would say.

~Ace#50

[districtleadercodeace50]

Shadows Research: Day 3 (June 25, 2019)

After going through what remains of the old archives, I have found more information on the Shadows that survived the Decimation. 

The leading theory at the time was that the Shadows are a manifestation of a “void” that causes allosexuals to feel sexual attraction. This would imply that the Shadow Realm is either that “allosexual void” between reality and The Void, or that the Shadows do not come from the Shadow Realm but instead moved there later, possibly to target the Aspec Initiates that threaten their plans for the universe. Later theories seem to contradict that, however, such as the more recent theory by @aroracle that the Shadows are manifestations of aphobia (mentioned in my first report). It seems further research into this subject is necessary.

Pre-Decimation, Aspecs were not allowed to look at or talk about the Shadows. It is possible this stems from a rule that the Shadows themselves interfered with, but I can’t know for sure because the only surviving, solid evidence of this rule I’ve found thus far does not seem to be tampered with.

Upon further research, I found several reports of Shadows having the ability to tamper with memories and invade an Aspec’s consciousness and dreams (?). There are even reports of the Shadows altering timelines, so it is possible that those dreams were not dreams at all, but rather a lingering memory of an event the Shadows erased from history.

Agent Agender#600 has joined the AIC Research Division. They pointed out a filing cabinet that seems to be full of remaining transmissions between Aspec Initiates and the AIC Pre-Decimation. Several of these appear to have been tampered with, and as such are difficult to encrypt. That will be tomorrow’s job. Any pertinent information regarding the Shadows or Aspec abilities in general will be included in the Daily Research Report.

Agent @aro111 has set up a Safe House for any Aspec Initiates needing refuge or a place to relax after missions.

Also, @agender394 has begun work in the Stealth Research Division. Perhaps they will be able to assist in our research into more possibilities for signature jammers. Regardless, we will begin researching them here as well. I worry about the safety of new Aspec Initiates coming to the Shadow Realm for research, and I want to find a way to keep this facility as safe from the Shadows do not exist. There is no need for these silly precautions. The Shadow Realm is perfectly safe.

~Ace#50