Bestiary: Creatures of Vreathe
"Excessively wordy and utterly abysmal! Bestiary: Creatures of Vreathe is one of the worst, most painful "scientific" works I have ever read, and me being an immortal elf, having been alive since two thousand years into the Bronze Age, that is saying something! Can I give this a Zero? I'm giving it a Zero out of Five!"
- Mirira Sandborn, Naturalist
"There is a good amount to go over with this allegedy "technical look at Vreathe's many wonderous fauna" and how it embodies everything wrong with people abusing golem stones. I do not recommend this work. Not in a thousand lifetimes would I recommend this poor excuse of a scientific work to anyone, not even my worst enemy."
- Salika
Genre: Scientific Catalogue
Author: Scholar Yesh
Publisher: Seagull-Fractal House
Date published: 2983 I.A.
Type: Hardcover Book
Price: 250 Beryls
Length: 1330 pages
Materials:
Blackened lambskin hide
premium vellum sheeting
Carbon Ink, Diamond Grade
Actual gold leafed lettering
Author: Scholar Yesh
Publisher: Seagull-Fractal House
Date published: 2983 I.A.
Type: Hardcover Book
Price: 250 Beryls
Length: 1330 pages
Materials:
About the Book
Bestiary: Creatures of Vreathe is a book that was written by a scholar that is only known as Yesh, but it is possible that is their surname and their fullname is actually Scholar Yesh. This person is not well-known among the scientific community, having only submitted his first research paper only a year before this book was published. That paper was filled with spelling errors and the formatting of the paragraphs was strange, but it was widely considered a useful contribution to the study of Drakes. Then a year later, Yesh published this book.
The Book was widely panned by naturalists and scholars when it was published. These low rated reviews went into every newspaper across the nations where the book was released, including Faeon, Ordland, Rinea, and Cassel. But even then, many common people picked up the book due to its premium look and materials and its relatively low cost. Because of this it became very popular among people who don't actually know anything about Vreathe's wildlife.
The book went on to sell over 360,000 copies before scholars were able to petition the Kingdom of Cassel to put a halt to the book's printing. It took a little longer for other nations to halt the book's sale, but the damage was already done. People took the information in the book to heart and started referring to creatures with descriptors that were never used in the world before, especially by Vreathe's scientific community. The book is filled with inaccurate facts and has very flowery writing for what is advertised as a technical achievement in science on Vreathe.
Excerpt from the book
AUTHOR's NOTE((The text and formatting of this section is stored in a variable and only contributes three words to the article's word count as it is literally AI generated for the purpose of emphasizing the point of this article.))
Cover
P. 121
P. 123
The Phoenix:
A Majestic Tale of Rebirth and Resplendence
Introduction: In the realm of myth and legend, there exists a creature of unparalleled wonder—the Phoenix. This magical bird, steeped in symbolism and mystique, has captured the imaginations of cultures across the ages. With its ability to rise from the ashes, the Phoenix embodies the eternal cycle of renewal and the enduring spirit of hope.
Ancient Origins and Symbolism: The Phoenix finds its roots in ancient mythology, with various civilizations weaving tales of this mythical bird into their cultural tapestries. In Milcean mythology, the Phoenix is associated with the sun god Polino and is said to be a symbol of immortality and resurrection. Similarly, Apeppian mythology tells of the Bennu, a heron-like bird considered to be the soul of Viku, the sun god.
A Majestic Tale of Rebirth and Resplendence
Introduction: In the realm of myth and legend, there exists a creature of unparalleled wonder—the Phoenix. This magical bird, steeped in symbolism and mystique, has captured the imaginations of cultures across the ages. With its ability to rise from the ashes, the Phoenix embodies the eternal cycle of renewal and the enduring spirit of hope.
Ancient Origins and Symbolism: The Phoenix finds its roots in ancient mythology, with various civilizations weaving tales of this mythical bird into their cultural tapestries. In Milcean mythology, the Phoenix is associated with the sun god Polino and is said to be a symbol of immortality and resurrection. Similarly, Apeppian mythology tells of the Bennu, a heron-like bird considered to be the soul of Viku, the sun god.
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Symbolically, the Phoenix represents the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth. Its ability to consume itself in flames and emerge anew from the ashes has become a powerful metaphor for transformation and the indomitable spirit that rises from adversity.
Physical Beauty and Radiance: Described as a resplendent creature, the Phoenix is often depicted with vibrant plumage in shades of red, orange, and gold. Its feathers shimmer with an otherworldly glow, reflecting the brilliance of the sun. Legends speak of the Phoenix's melodious song, said to be so enchanting that it can calm the fiercest storms and heal the deepest wounds.
The Rebirth Ritual: One of the most iconic aspects of the Phoenix myth is its cycle of death and rebirth. At the end of its life, the Phoenix builds a nest of aromatic herbs and spices, and, with a burst of celestial fire, it immolates itself. From the ashes, a new Phoenix emerges, reborn and radiant. This cyclical process symbolizes the eternal renewal of life and the triumph of hope over despair.
Physical Beauty and Radiance: Described as a resplendent creature, the Phoenix is often depicted with vibrant plumage in shades of red, orange, and gold. Its feathers shimmer with an otherworldly glow, reflecting the brilliance of the sun. Legends speak of the Phoenix's melodious song, said to be so enchanting that it can calm the fiercest storms and heal the deepest wounds.
The Rebirth Ritual: One of the most iconic aspects of the Phoenix myth is its cycle of death and rebirth. At the end of its life, the Phoenix builds a nest of aromatic herbs and spices, and, with a burst of celestial fire, it immolates itself. From the ashes, a new Phoenix emerges, reborn and radiant. This cyclical process symbolizes the eternal renewal of life and the triumph of hope over despair.
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Cultural Significance:
The Phoenix transcends cultural boundaries, making appearances in various forms in literature, art, and religious symbolism. It has inspired countless stories, poems, and works of art, each capturing the essence of its mythical grandeur. The concept of the Phoenix has also found its way into modern popular culture, becoming a symbol of resilience and personal growth.
Metaphor for Personal Transformation: Beyond its mythical origins, the Phoenix has become a metaphor for personal transformation and overcoming challenges. The idea that one can rise stronger and wiser from the ashes of adversity resonates deeply with individuals facing life's trials. The Phoenix encourages us to embrace change, learn from experiences, and emerge from difficulties with newfound strength and wisdom.
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Metaphor for Personal Transformation: Beyond its mythical origins, the Phoenix has become a metaphor for personal transformation and overcoming challenges. The idea that one can rise stronger and wiser from the ashes of adversity resonates deeply with individuals facing life's trials. The Phoenix encourages us to embrace change, learn from experiences, and emerge from difficulties with newfound strength and wisdom.
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Conclusion:
The Phoenix, with its radiant plumage and symbolic significance, continues to captivate the human imagination. As a timeless emblem of resilience and rebirth, the mythical bird inspires us to face life's challenges with courage and to believe in the transformative power of renewal. In a world filled with uncertainties, the legend of the Phoenix remains a luminous beacon, reminding us that from the ashes of adversity, we can rise, reborn and resplendent.
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More reviews
"This has to be a joke right? It was obviously written using a golem stone! Not even a total moron would believe some of these "facts" about Phoenix Birds. Sure, it sounds close enough for most people to not be able to tell, but I could definitely tell!
"It makes no mention of their blue feathers. Phoenixes don't sing. It lies about them making nests of herbs and spices. It makes up mythologies in parts of the world where these creatures never existed. It doesn't immolate itself to be reborn. And lastly, where are the technical details in a book that claims to be technical? Where is a mention of the creature's size or lifespan? I guess they rather throw more pointless descriptors that don't actually tell anyone about the bird...."
(This review trails on for several more pages picking out every bit of criticism possible with just the entry on phoenixes.)
"There is literally not a single thing useful in this jumbles mess of words! Some of the information was out of date sixty years ago! Oh! and this is just the first two pages about phoenixes. Later pages talk about varieties of the bird that DO NOT EXIST, real life, mythology, or otherwise!"
- Maria Berune, world's foremost expert on Phoenix Birds
"We can use the bestiary's formatting as the perfect example for why this is a terribly written reference book. There is none of that or any alternate fonts in the book to emphasize anything. How did the editor miss this?!? Some people think the excuse for this was to save on the cost of printing...well, I have a message for them!"
"Keep in mind that we have an Aethercite crystal for literally every purpose. We long ago invented what is known as a Quartz Copy Plate. It consists of a large plate of quartz with a copper plate glued together. When placed over a piece of paper and the quartz is charged with mana, the copper will raise itself in the areas of the paper that are darker, allowing a perfect transfer of information when used on a printing press."
"There is no excuse to not have the most basic formating in what is advertised as a premium reading experience! I would mention all the redundant information that doesn't actually contribute anything, but I am sure other's have mentioned it already! 2.5/5 stars."
- Adrian, Editor of Casselian Publising company
"According to this book, there are "hundreds of species of Fire Ant in Eastern Vreathe. They come in a plethora of colors and sizes that each represent an aspect of the human spirit and inspire humans to..." I'm just going to stop right there. Fire Ants are a single invasive species in Eastern Vreathe that hopped over here on a ship some 500 years ago."
"I have a contact in the Dark Lands and conferred with them that they only come in red, black, and orange, and sometimes red stripes. Just like here in Cassel they are pests that are good for nothing and do not inspire humans of either of our cultures to do a single damn thing. Don't even get me started on all the incorrect technical aspects in this book!
2/5 stars!"
- Aida Cuellar, Entomologist
Why the negativity? Golem Stones
Golem Stones were invented by a human in Irrelith in the year 2922 Iron Age. The person was named Mens Venator. These Crystals are repeatedly charged by various different people looking at various different objects or reading various books, each placing a small memory inside the crystal. As the crystal develops, it starts to develop a mind of its own.
These crystals are not truly intelligent, but they can be asked questions and the crystal will generate an answer. It can also be asked questions in quick succession to get variations of the same thing. This crystal can have its mind copied with other golem crystals, and it has been copied so many times.
It isn't known how many of them actually exist. The creator, being the only one who knows how to copy the crystals, claims to have made over ten thousand of them in one year, which if true, is an unbelievable step up in human ability to copy aether between different aethercite crystals, which means it is probably a lie.
Venator originally developed the crystal to be a calculator and assist with hard mathematical problems. He also marketed the crystal as an encyclopedia of knowledge. The issue was that no two crystals ever gave the same answer, even on math problems. The mind inside the crystal would lie about its reasoning and the facts it presented. Only a few hundred crystals were sold before Venator closed his business. After this most of the crystals were given away for free.
The scientific community raised concerns about the use of these crystals and wanted them all destroyed, but most people didn't see the harm in them...until it started actually causing harm. One mage, realtively inexperienced and down on his luck, used a Golem Stone to help write a book of spells about air magic. He even used the crystal for tips and pointers on how to design the book to get the most sales.
The Golem Crystal's tips on how to sell the book worked out quite well. People were drawn to the strange design, and they loved the description inside the cover saying that this book will allow anyone to "learn how to cast air magic so powerful it will leave you breathless!", and that was true.
The fourth spell in the book taught casters how to create Mustard Gas without explaining how to control the spell or giving any precaution at all. Anyone who was not an experienced mage ended up either dying or suffering from severe blisters and burns, and gasping for air with forever damaged lungs. The name of the spell was completely innocuous as well: Dual Cleansing, which had nothing to do with what the spell actually did, which had nothing to do with the spell's description in the book.
Within three days of the book's release, it was banned, and the author was promptly arrested, put on trial, and is now frozen in one of Galleska's worst dungeons, really the worst dungeon in all of Eastern Vreathe, serving many consecutive life sentences, carried out with the use of a Time Divider. Just before being frozen, the author was interviewed to check his actual knowledge of air magic, and it turned out he hadn't even figured out how to conjure Hydrogen yet.
After this incident, Galleska passed a law that forced books about magic to undergo peer review by the College of Kellin. If any peer reviewed book was found to be written with the help of a golem crystal, or if it was found the book was just made up trash, then the writer would be arrested to serve a minimum ten year sentence. It took a few years, but other countries adopted this as well, but only after the damage was already done with multiple books published that caused multiple hundreds of deaths.
Golem crystals were never fully outlawed however, which is why even sixty years after their creation, books are still getting published with repetitive, wordy, and out of date information. Books like Bestiary: Creatures of Vreathe.
Wow, that's an excellent demonstration of the power and the perils of using AI - and a great shot across the bow for those who are misusing it... :)
"Wherever you go, there you are" - Buckaroo Banzai "Do or do not, there is no try" - Yoda "No plan survives contact with reality intact" - Me
Thanks for reading! Ai writing definitely struck a nerve with me over the last few days after I read way too many articles that had evidence of it during WorldEmber. I am also definitely going to be much more active at pointing it out during the writing competitions next year.