Re. further research into unusual, iridiscent Gibbai-made necklaces. A list of failed attempts.
Abstract: Scientific research into the Gibbai necklaces and the efforts to recreate the effects.
So far, none of the institutions working on the Sap collected by the earlier expedition from the so-called Majestic Salina has been able to find an explanation or any practical use for it. However, the Royal Academy of Yrkanis identified the Sap as different from that obtained from a regular Salina.
In the Witherings, the Temple of Knowledge believed that power-giving necklaces could be created by dipping it into the purified Sap of the Majestic Salina; by that they created sticky jewellery instead of iridescent, and they were also unable to re-create the desired effect yet.
In the Fyrosian Desert, the Imperial Academy made tests by having probands drinking the Sap – either pure, warmed up, or dissolved in alcohol - instead of working it into a necklace. It led to no fatalities, but all probands suffered unwelcome side effects, none of them even remotely similar to the effects actually desired.*
In the Lakelands, FISHES is working on a way to apply the Sap through alchemistic means into jewellery in an effort to create the same effects as those the Gibbai necklaces have. For that, they try to find a working recipe. So far the only result of this is what FISHES scientists are supposed to strive for in everything they try and which I don't have to explicitly explain.
All of these studies so far have led to nothing. It seems that the best way to continue the work is through extensive field studies of the Gibbai. Ideally, given the circumstances, it would be best to win their trust.
Since the Tryker alchemist O'Banon Emmen in the FISHES laboratory used up all of his sap samples (in one known way or another) and badly needed more, this was a pretty good reason for a new expedition towards the Majestic Salina. Coincidentally, Ser O'Banon Emmen had recently rescued a baby Gibbai of the Nexus tribe from certain death and kept it near his laboratory to be returned to the Gibbai at a later date. From a scientist's point of view, and even more so from a former diplomat's, this seemed a very promising situation as the expedition would accompany both O'Banon Emmen and the Gibbai baby to Hammer Hills and ideally win the trust of the Gibbai tribe that way.
Unfortunately, not all expeditioneers turned out to be scientifically or diplomatically educated, or in any other way provident or bright. So when the expedition reached the vantage point over the chasm where the Majestic Salina is rooted, some began almost immediately to attack the harvesters using magic, and this, as expected, provoked a clash with the Gibbai tribe in which the expedition members were overpowered more than once. The baby Gibbai released by O'Banon Emmen quickly returned to its tribe, but after most of said tribe was slaughtered, it was also killed, making the whole expedition a more than just unfortunate failure. It is with a heavy heart that I have to say that not all of those who immediately went into battle with the Gibbai were barbarians from other countries, but also included followers of Jena and citizens of Matia.
To make sure not everything is lost, the expeditioneers – some of them rightfully enraged about their uncivilised, blood-thirsty company – made their way to the Majestic Salina to collect more Sap samples, which then were handed to a grieving O'Banon Emmen.
The expedition then returned to the Kami camp in Nexus for a report about this disastrous excursion, which destroyed nearly all hopes of obtaining the knowledge we are searching for both quickly and elegantly. The probably last chance will be to beg the Gibads for help and their ability to mediate between the Gibbai and us.
*There are aplenty of fairly amusing, but not exactly scientific theories about the side effects which I’ll spare you here.
Abstract: Scientific research into the Gibbai necklaces and the efforts to recreate the effects.
So far, none of the institutions working on the Sap collected by the earlier expedition from the so-called Majestic Salina has been able to find an explanation or any practical use for it. However, the Royal Academy of Yrkanis identified the Sap as different from that obtained from a regular Salina.
In the Witherings, the Temple of Knowledge believed that power-giving necklaces could be created by dipping it into the purified Sap of the Majestic Salina; by that they created sticky jewellery instead of iridescent, and they were also unable to re-create the desired effect yet.
In the Fyrosian Desert, the Imperial Academy made tests by having probands drinking the Sap – either pure, warmed up, or dissolved in alcohol - instead of working it into a necklace. It led to no fatalities, but all probands suffered unwelcome side effects, none of them even remotely similar to the effects actually desired.*
In the Lakelands, FISHES is working on a way to apply the Sap through alchemistic means into jewellery in an effort to create the same effects as those the Gibbai necklaces have. For that, they try to find a working recipe. So far the only result of this is what FISHES scientists are supposed to strive for in everything they try and which I don't have to explicitly explain.
All of these studies so far have led to nothing. It seems that the best way to continue the work is through extensive field studies of the Gibbai. Ideally, given the circumstances, it would be best to win their trust.
Since the Tryker alchemist O'Banon Emmen in the FISHES laboratory used up all of his sap samples (in one known way or another) and badly needed more, this was a pretty good reason for a new expedition towards the Majestic Salina. Coincidentally, Ser O'Banon Emmen had recently rescued a baby Gibbai of the Nexus tribe from certain death and kept it near his laboratory to be returned to the Gibbai at a later date. From a scientist's point of view, and even more so from a former diplomat's, this seemed a very promising situation as the expedition would accompany both O'Banon Emmen and the Gibbai baby to Hammer Hills and ideally win the trust of the Gibbai tribe that way.
Unfortunately, not all expeditioneers turned out to be scientifically or diplomatically educated, or in any other way provident or bright. So when the expedition reached the vantage point over the chasm where the Majestic Salina is rooted, some began almost immediately to attack the harvesters using magic, and this, as expected, provoked a clash with the Gibbai tribe in which the expedition members were overpowered more than once. The baby Gibbai released by O'Banon Emmen quickly returned to its tribe, but after most of said tribe was slaughtered, it was also killed, making the whole expedition a more than just unfortunate failure. It is with a heavy heart that I have to say that not all of those who immediately went into battle with the Gibbai were barbarians from other countries, but also included followers of Jena and citizens of Matia.
To make sure not everything is lost, the expeditioneers – some of them rightfully enraged about their uncivilised, blood-thirsty company – made their way to the Majestic Salina to collect more Sap samples, which then were handed to a grieving O'Banon Emmen.
The expedition then returned to the Kami camp in Nexus for a report about this disastrous excursion, which destroyed nearly all hopes of obtaining the knowledge we are searching for both quickly and elegantly. The probably last chance will be to beg the Gibads for help and their ability to mediate between the Gibbai and us.
*There are aplenty of fairly amusing, but not exactly scientific theories about the side effects which I’ll spare you here.
---
Salazar CaradiniFilira Matia
Royal Historian
Member of the Royal Academy of Yrkanis
First Seraph of the Order of the Argo Navis