Glamr, Gravecaller [Revamp]
Mar 22, 2020 6:23:11 GMT -7
Post by Shinzy of the Mists on Mar 22, 2020 6:23:11 GMT -7
Requesting Kirigakure, Entry #56478.
Scanning...
Entry Located....
Level 5/5008 Clearance Verified. Welcome, Researcher.
Page 1.
Subject Name: Alrik Adigard.Known Alias(s): Glamr, of the Volkihar. The All-Kin. The Dark-Kin.
Bloodlimit: Similarities to Protean DNA observed. Further analysis required.
Height: 8 ft.
Weight: 320 pounds.
Age: Unknown.
Time Spent Detained: 32 years.
Gender: Male.
Alignment: Evil, Lawful
Birth Country: Unknown. Pollen and trace bacterial samples found in the subject's intestines suggest origins tied to the Land of Myth.
Village: Subject has sworn allegiance to Kirigakure, in exchange for his forced detainment ending. Follow up psychological evaluations suggest that the subject should not be trusted.
1.A. Initial Psychological Evaluation
Subject #56478 uniquely displays individuality amongst other 'Undead'. Personality even. The subject, however, maintains that he is of Draugr descent, and not one of the Undead. Follow up research suggests that the Draugr are indeed classified as Undead, and subject #56478 enjoys wasting people’s precious time. We have refrained from torturing the subject any further, as this has led to no end to his antics, despite the rapid deterioration to his body.
Analysis of recent events suggests that the subject believes himself to be immortal, with no real ties to his 'fleshy prison'. Psychological torture has proven to be far more effective in yielding the subject’s cooperation. Where body mutilation has failed, simple methods such as isolating the subject and imposing prolonged periods of forced boredom have proven highly compelling. We believe the subject craves attention as much as it craves blood, though it seems capable of resisting the latter.
Evidence that the subject, Alrik, is required to engage in blood feeding is inconclusive. The subject has displayed inconsistent behaviour, sometimes requiring feeding daily, other times months, or even years apart with no signs of thirst-induced deterioration. It is likely that the subject does not bear Vampiric thirst, or perhaps possesses the ability to suppress it. Equally likely, the subject is playing a game with the researchers. Feeding us false information about himself, or his species, to test our mental capabilities.
Should this theory be proven true, it would mean that the subject possesses frightening levels of intelligence. Should these 'lies' and/or 'tricks' be considered mind games, then it would suggest that the subject possesses the aptitude to enjoy such mind games. This would suggest sentience. That Alrik is capable of thinking, planning, and executing such thoughts with the utmost of patience. If this is true, and the subject isn’t simply reacting to everything around him robotically, like most Undead, then… Then this would also suggest that subject #56478 would be capable of holding… grudges and other negative human emotion.
Little else has been discovered over the last thirty years. One researcher has theorised that the subject is incapable of lying. Recordings of conversations between researchers and the subject suggests that this is true. Any findings proven to be false have always been due to ambiguous wording utilised by the subject, or careful sentences crafted to force individuals to come to certain conclusions. However, we will warn that should the subject possess sentient human intelligence, there is nothing to suggest that this fact isn’t another carefully crafted ruse. Further analysis required.
1.B. Initial Physiological Evaluation
Notably, it has been observed that subject #56478 possesses eyes with a strange hue somewhere between a shade of blue and purple. The closest colour in our visible spectrum to this would be ‘lavender blue’. During the first encounter, each pupil was noted to radiate with a strong blue light. Pumping the subject with anaesthesia has been observed to weaken and dull this light into nothing more than a weak glow. Periods of prolonged stress have even been known to render it completely non-existent. We believe this to be an indicator of the subject’s mental and/or physical state.
Beyond this minor oddity, the subject appears to bear strikingly similar traits to Hominis Nocturnae – Vampires. From the first encounter onwards, every hair on Alrik’s body has shown to be virtually void of pigment cells, leading to a characteristic snow-white colour. Sharing this trait, the subject’s skin also lacks pigmentation, which appears to be a key attributor in his lifeless pale flesh. Notably, despite the subject’s brain activity and even heartbeat suggesting that he is ‘alive’ in every sense of the word, the subject’s skin has been known to bear an icy blue hue under certain lightning conditions, and radiates little to no body heat.
Beyond this, the subject appears to be in peak physical condition. Years after the first encounter, the subject has been kept restrained within cryostasis and heavy anaesthesia. Despite this, there has been no signs of muscle deterioration. As if sculpted from cold white marble, the subject bears a slim and slender frame that is defined with little else aside from thick muscle. There appears to be no signs of blemishes on the subject’s skin. Moles, scarring, and other defects appear to be virtually non-existent.
Results of dental analysis has shown that like most Vampiric creatures, subject #56478’s lower and up canine teeth are elongated and exaggeratedly sharpened. Interestingly, while the premolars and molars appear ‘human’, the lower and upper incisors – the four front teeth on either row – also appear relatively sharpened. Years of induced coma have not changed the state of the subject’s teeth, which suggest that this is their natural form and they have not been artificially sharpened. However, they do not appear to be required for feeding. The subject has described these teeth as an ‘evolutionary leftover’.
Overall, the subject informally known as Alrik appears to be hiding several genetic truths from us. Despite appearing to be a vampire in almost every way, the subject appears capable of releasing strange marble-like biomass from his pores. We have only seen this occurring once, when a layer appeared to prevent a panicked researcher from stabbing through the subject’s chest with a pen. We believe the subject’s body reacted involuntarily to protect its heart. As this ability was triggered unconsciously while the subject was in a medically induced coma, we cannot confirm for sure, but we believe the subject may be capable of shifting into another form. We are uncertain whether this humanesque ‘Alrik’ form is his default state, or some manner of biological disguise. The prompt disposure of said researcher has lead to delays in investigating this detail. Further analysis required.
1.C. Overall Findings
Subject #56478 was discovered during an accidental expedition to Niflheim. The subject’s body was mistakenly found within a frozen metallic object wreathed in a pillar of coldfire. What we assumed to be an artefact of great importance and power, later revealed itself to be a coffin that held Alrik’s slumbering body. To this day, we are uncertain whether the subject was in a state of rest, meditation, atonement, or banishment. However, theory or not, the expedition crew did suggest that they were drawn to the coffin. Possibly even to the pathway between realms that lead to Niflheim. Naturally, the crew were swiftly terminated in case their minds were left permanently compromised by the discovery.
Little else is known of the subject’s origins. Knowledge we have gained, whether freely or via pressure, is speculative and vague at best. It appears that the subject believes himself to be a Draugr – a Revenant. Old texts speculate that the Draugr were the first of the Undead and the progenitors of the curse. The first to die, only to come back. The first, to not simply remain dead. These Draugr were likely known as the All-Kin, if the subject's words are to be believed. As Alrik puts it, “for traces of their blood can be found within the genetic makeup of all that walk the earth for a second time”. If true, it is only natural then that due to their very twisted nature, all mutterings of the All-Kin would slowly cease, only for them to slowly become known as the ‘Dark-Kin’ over time.
Of these various branching Dark-Kin clans and factions to form, the Volkihar are described by the subject to be amongst the first to appear and settle within the realm of Niflheim. Their emblem, which was emblazoned on the surface of the subject’s coffin, appears to be a great tree, adorned with a crown and strange lettering along the bottom. This almost runic lettering appears to be a strange bastardisation of Abyssal, Infernal, and some other ancient and/or dead language. Translation attempts have proven impossible, as this third language has not been found referenced in any other known text. We speculate that the tree may represent Yggdrasil, as evident by the three roots protruding in different directions. While this would make sense, especially considering the subject's origins, we are uncertain to what exact connections the subject has to the great world tree, other than the obvious affiliation to Niflheim and its various denizens.
It is largely unknown what the Volkihar were exactly. References within texts are scarce, and the subject has proven to be highly uncooperative. Speculation has led us to believe that the subject did not hold a particularly high rank within the Clan. We believe that over the generations, random genetic mutations occurred within the Dark-Kin. A random set of gifts and traits, perhaps even curses, which most likely led to branching offspring such as the Vampires, Ghouls, and other Undead menace that plague us in modern day. One must ask themselves then. Why did these genetic children thrive, whereas the Dark-Kin faded from history? It is difficult to say without the subject’s cooperation. However, we believe that while the Draugr possess powerful abilities to infect one’s sanity and consciousness, they lacked the ability to reliably produce their own kind. Despite contradicting other theories, it would make sense then, that far more rudimentary and parasitic methods such as transmitting Vampirism like a virus would prove far more effective in ensuring the survival of the species. Of course, it is still largely unknown whether or not subject #56478 is capable of transmitting his curse, let alone how.
What is certain, is the resiliency and patience of the Draugr. Week by week, month by month. Even year by year, the subject has never struggled or attempted a daring escape. No… He just, waits. Watching. Studying. At first, we believed to have contained the subject within cryostasis. However, we later learned that the subject was simply feigning unconsciousness for… Quite some time. High doses of powerful anaesthesia have proven legitimately effective. However, the subject has shown a frighteningly high tolerance for drugs. Most terrifying of all, the subject’s body appears to be constantly adapting to changes. Although it has been observed to take months, the subject has steadily built up tolerances to most of our common forms of anaesthesia. Although introducing new and rarer concoctions into Alrik’s bloodstream has pacified him, we have been steadily running out of viable options over the last few years. We estimate that within months, the subject will have grown absurdly high levels of tolerance to every form of anaesthesia we have readily available. Other possibilities must be explored then, such as total elimination of the subject before he can awaken. We have deemed any risks of release far too dangerous to the world, in comparison to what can be learned from studying such a magnificent and rare creature. Yes, truly... He must be destroyed immediately.
...Further analysis deemed impossible.