It was thought that the return of Halley's Comet in 2061 would be a great event. So many groups planned to have watch parties and generally celebrate with a good time. Everyone loves an excuse to celebrate. However, with the Awakening and return of magic in 2011 only a handful planned for a catastrophic event. It was thought by some that the return of magic might in some unknown way affect Halley's Comet. Sadly the comet's return was a terrible thing. Twice our home Earth passed through the comet's tail, first in 2061 which caused the greatest effects, then again in 2062 as the comet returned to deep orbit with lesser effects. These effects include SURGE, the appearance of Shedim, the occurance of natural orichalcum veins and the arrival of the great dragon Ghostwalker.
Surge, the Sudden Unexplained Recessive Genetic Expression was viewed as being another wave of UGE, the Unexplained Genetic Expression that caused elven and dwarven children to be born and Goblinization which caused random segments of the population to shift and change their appearance into Orks and Trolls. Yet, unlike UGE and Goblinization which were somewhat predictable, SURGE was random, without order and produced wild, varied and radical changes to people throughout the world as they became physically ill and debilitated as part of the transformation process. Most changes were of those affected gaining animal features, with some changing into full anthropomorphic beings.
There are three widely recognized categories of SURGE.
- Minor Changes: These changes involve the person gaining a single animal like feature or a minor cosmetic change. Often a person would gain a tail, cat ears, have their hair change to an odd color or develop patterns on their skin such as leopard rosettes.
- Moderate Changes: These changes were brought by having two or more very noticeable features. Persons would gain full body fur, fish scales replacing their skin, changes to the eyes which affect vision or gaining prehensible tails.
- Severe Changes: These poor unfortunate persons were the most drastically affected. The changes they suffered from included changes to their bone structure and development of fully functioning organs from other species. Victims gained frog like tongues, had their cranial bones transform into cephalopod heads, grew gills or functioning wings.
Many of these persons were victims of physical violence and since the comet's fly by have been actively discriminated against. Certain animals and para-animals also underwent SURGE, similiarly several plant species were affected. Research continues in the more wild regions of the world to observe and document any changes found there.
Shedim arrived with Halley's Comet and were documented entering our world through the Watergate Astral Rift in Washington DC. Tehran is another known place where Shedim appeared and now the Shedim rule that lost city. Shedim are a type of body snatching spirits from a far distant metaplane known to only a handful of magicians. They manifest into the world by anchoring themselves to the bodies of the dead, which they can animate for locomotion. The most horrible aspect is that regardless of how long dead the body has been it will regenerate to the appearance it had just before death and the Shedim more often than not have partial if not the full memories of the deceased. Shedim will also take over the bodies of persons who are unconscious, especially those of astrally projecting magicians who do not properly ward themselves with protections. Since the arrival of the Shedim governments throughout the world have instituted policies that the recently deceased be placed within wards and the remains cremated. Shedim seem to have an inate hatred of all living things and seek to destroy life.
Natural Orichalcum is the arcane metal that is golden like the sun. Magicians prize it above almost anything else you might desire. Orichalcum is a metallurgical nightmare that can only exist in the presence of magic. It is a prime ingredient for the production of arcane foci and talesma. When Halley's Comet passed by natural deposits appeared throughout the world, sparking a new Gold Rush. Some regions and countries even went to war over it. Natural orichalcum is not as pure as orichalcum created with alchemy and requires refinement for arcane use. Some corporations have taken to looking for natural orichalcum on the moon, Mars and other assessible inner solar system bodies.
The Great Dragon Ghostwalker first appeared in astral form leaving the Watergate Astral Rift in Washington DC. Ghostwalker fly straight towards Denver, rejoining with his flesh body which was hidden somewhere along the way. Ghostwalker then waged a war with an army of spirits at his side and took control of Denver making it his personal domain. It is speculated that Ghostwalker had somehow become trapped in Astral space in ages past and was unable to reintegrate with his body. There is on going research to determine if other dragons might also be trapped in a similar manner. Ghostwalker has as all dragons do when asked a question remained silent or have spoken in metaphors no one can comprehend.
On the mundane side, several corporations have sent a series of ion drive space craft to follow Halley's Comet. In part to investigate if SURGE will return when the comet nears Earth again in 2137 and to investigate how SURGE effects other solar system bodies as the comet flies by. Research is being conducted to determine the extent of the mana field and what is necessary to create an artificial field. Some dark rumors tell of prisoners being taken to the comet to see if they will undergo SURGE or not.
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