Before I begin, I must attribute some of the base work to Sir Luke Melior, esteemed scientist and chemist. His theories have really laid the groundwork for this work and the information held within. Of course, if it was not for his theories, I would not have been able to compile a working proof of concept. By using his calculations and examining some of his notes as I studied under him (for wanting to keep things secret, he was horribly open about his accomplishments) I was able to break through his created window into the world of Alium.
It was no small task and I will outline (albeit secretly) how I was able to accomplish such a task, but suffice it to say that the steps laid out in his poem were just a few rungs away from the top of the ladder. If he had not have died, I am certain he would have been the first human to step foot in another realm of existence, but alas, here we are.
As a student of Melior, I was able to discover that these realms do exist and saw first-hand what they looked like. Some were dreadful, others were warped, and still others were strange versions of our own reality, seemingly mirrored. The presentation of these worlds was never done outdoors despite Melior’s rules because the windows were already created. Apparently, they will stay open even after being moved though the shifting of the liquid may distort the image and the effect is ruined if the flame underneath were to go out.
Surprisingly, I found that Melior’s work corresponded with the work of older alchemists who also created their own portals, albeit in a much different way and to a different realm. As many other scientists and chemists may already know, these alchemists created parchment traps that held creatures inside. These creatures were known to jump from the parchment and attack anyone who might try to steal the alchemist’s secrets.
These creatures are outlined by Thoma Rattius. I was able to create one of these parchment traps by way of Rattius’ instructions, but when I accidentally tore the parchment, the trap worked no more.
It seems, then, that these portals are especially lent to failure or destruction. Still, these parchment traps (Ratenzo, we will call them, from Rattius’s name and the shape they often take)* exist in a realm unlike our own. By using Melior’s examinations, I was able to deduce that these creatures live in Caeterus, one of the Deest, as Melior calls them. Caeterus is difficult to visit, as far as I have found, as the world is much more removed than Alium.
Alium, on the other hand, is extremely accessible for a capable alchemist able to deduce the recipe and directions. Thus, already I have found my students there after realizing my work. Already, the land has undergone renovation and has begun to resemble something akin to an alternate Earth.
Overall, the land is easy on the body to visit, though it does leave one feeling muted while one is there. If you can create the portal as outlined, I expect to see you there.
563, 478, 332, 534, 719, 210, 1008, 942, 324, 776, 33, 841, 407, 482, 314, 146, 696, 487, 690, 208, Q, 29, 506, 671, 93, 1028, 917, 754, 672, 481, 640, 127, Q, 38, 453, 794, 388, 26, 658, 572, 928, 879, 688, 799, 536, 780, 469, 210, 270, 409
*Ratenzo, despite Erikson's wishes, has been replaced with the popularized term "Aniform" in most texts, though "Chimera" is used in many others.