¶ Folded Documents On Snow's Body
Several pieces of paper folded cleanly in half.
Unfurled, they read:
¶ CONTRACT FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
This Agreement is made and entered into as of 7 Kuthona 4719 AR by and between the Court of the Black Paper, a legal entity duly organized and existing under the laws of Absalom (hereinafter referred to as "Court"), and Dr. Thaddeus Snow, residing at Mertlinger Sanitarium (hereinafter referred to as "Contractor").
WHEREAS, the Court desires to retain the Contractor to provide certain research and development services (the "Services") as set forth in the attached Exhibit A (the "Specifications"); and
WHEREAS, the Contractor desires to provide the Services to the Court on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth, the parties agree as follows
¶ 1. Services
The Contractor agrees to provide the Services in accordance with the Specifications. The Specifications shall detail the research areas, methodologies, deliverables, and timelines. The Specifications may be amended by written agreement of both parties.
¶ 2. Confidentiality
The Contractor agrees to hold in confidence all information relating to the Court's business, including but not limited to the Services, research results, and any information designated as confidential by the Court (collectively, "Confidential Information"). The Contractor shall not disclose any Confidential Information to any third party without the prior written consent of the Court.
¶ 3. Intellectual Property
The ownership of any intellectual property developed in connection with the Services (the "Intellectual Property") shall be governed by a separate agreement between the parties. In the absence of such an agreement, the Intellectual Property shall be owned by the Court.
¶ 4. Governing Law
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Kortos Isle.
¶ 5. Scheduling
The Services will be performed in accordance with the schedule set forth in a separate exhibit, Exhibit B (the "Schedule"). The Schedule may be adjusted by mutual written agreement of the parties.
¶ 6. Term and Termination
This Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and shall continue for a period of one (1) year (the "Term"). This Agreement may be terminated by either party upon written notice to the other party.
¶ 7. Independent Contractor
The Contractor is an independent contractor and shall not be considered an employee or agent of the Court for any purpose. The Contractor shall be responsible for all taxes, withholdings, and other charges associated with its services hereunder.
¶ 8. Entire Agreement
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous communications, representations, or agreements, whether oral or written.
¶ 9. Severability
If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be struck and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
¶ 10. Notices
All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered in person, sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service to the addresses set forth below:
If to the Court:
Court of the Black Paper
1585 Kortos Ave
Petal District, Absalom
20252
If to the Contractor:
Dr. Thaddeus Snow, PhD
Mertlinger Sanitarium
Westgate District, Absalom
98042
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
COURT OF THE BLACK PAPER
Theatan Viatoth
Theatan Viatoth, Esq
CONTRACTOR
Thaddeus Snow
Dr. Thaddeus Snow, PhD
¶ Exhibit A: Specifications
Research Areas:
This section shall explicitly delineate the scientific or technological disciplines targeted by Dr. Snow's investigations. With utmost precision, detail whether the research concentrates on advancements in alchemy, the creation of novel magical implements, or the examination of planar energies.
Methodologies:
A comprehensive outline of the research methodologies Dr. Snow will employ to fulfill the Court's objectives must be delineated in this section. This may involve detailing the following:
- The specific types of experiments to be conducted (e.g., creation of potions, application of magical energies to designated materials)
- Data collection methodologies (e.g., recording observations, gathering material samples, employing scrying techniques)
- Analytical approaches for interpreting the amassed data (e.g., magical assessments, scientific analysis)
Deliverables:
The anticipated tangible outputs of Dr. Snow's research endeavors must be explicitly identified in this section. Examples may include:
- Research reports detailing the methodology, findings, and conclusions reached
- Functional prototypes of magical devices or alchemical concoctions
- Compiled datasets derived from experimentation and analysis
- Informative presentations summarizing research progress for the Court
Timeline:
A definitive schedule for the research project, outlining key milestones and deadlines for deliverables, must be established in this section. This timeline should encompass:
- The overall project duration
- Target completion dates for each research phase
- Due dates for the aforementioned deliverables
¶ Exhibit B: Schedule
Project Start and End Date:
The commencement and conclusion dates for the entirety of the research undertaking must be clearly defined in this section.
Milestone Dates:
Specific dates for the successful culmination of critical project milestones outlined in Exhibit A must be established. These milestones may correspond to:
- The delivery of specific research reports or prototypes
- The accomplishment of defined research phases (e.g., completion of the experimental phase, analysis of collected data)
Meeting Schedule:
The frequency and format of meetings between the Court and Dr. Snow must be outlined in this section. This could include:
- Regular progress meetings to discuss research advancements and address any challenges encountered
- Check-in calls to maintain open communication channels
- Presentations on research findings, allowing the Court to remain informed about the project's progress
¶ Experimental Notes
¶ Project Lazarus:
Administered Alchemical Elixirs of Extended Vitality (see recipe pg. 112). Recently uninterred subject displayed extended life signs for 72 hours before succumbing to cellular degeneration and exanguishment. Further alchemical refinement required. Consider inducing longer rotovaping time and temperatures for extract purity. Artokus Kirran: Citadel of the Alchemist; Merab, Thuvia.
¶ Project Umbra:
Project shows promise. Subject X-23 (Osirian dissident) exhibited invisibility for 30 minutes following ingestion of Nightshade Essence (see recipe pg. 98). Further testing needed to achieve permanent effect. Side effects involve short term blindness. Recommend procuring Midnight Tears from the Darklands (risks outlined in report, pg. 101).
¶ Project Chimera:
Successful integration of intellect devourer DNA with humanoid test subject (BF-V109). Subject displayed enhanced sensory development and ferocity but uncontrollable aggression. Test subject terminated after devouring lab assistant cranium pan. Further refinement of genetic splicing technique required.
¶ Dr. Snow Correspondence
¶ From the Sub-Catacombs of Mertlinger
Dr. Snow, Keeper of the Murmuring Jar
To: the Fifth Fold of the Black Paper
Most Venerated Fold,
The Lazarene has exhaled a name. It was not his own. This is promising.
The Rite of Recollection has entered its second veil—he now responds to incantations drawn from the Pre-Cataclysm Lexicon. The Voice of the Black Margins was recited over him during the third waning, and he convulsed in perfect rhythm with the glyph of obfuscation.
He no longer dreams. He remembers.
And the memory is not his.The runes buried in his spine bloom when the incumbent speaks on the aetheric current.
With proximity, I believe the Lazarene will respond ritually. His pulse mirrors the cadence of the Spell Lord’s public communiqués. We are close to resonance. Yet, I remain without the Lake’s Edict.
I dare not guide him to speech without knowing the Fold’s intent: Shall he be vessel or verdict?
May the Ink Drip from Unseen Wells,
Dr. Snow
¶ From the Scriptorium Below
Beneath the Folded Glyph To the Pale Lexicant of Whispered Remnants,
The Lazarene breathes, but he is not yet bound.
That he echoes a name not his own pleases the Fold, but the name must be followed by purpose.The Second Seat is stable, yet the parchment it rests upon is brittle.
We observe fractures.
One false verse in the right tongue could dissolve the scribing that holds him in place. However, the Lake remains clouded. The Hand of Redirection has not surfaced.
Until the Mirror Ink settles, you are instructed to prepare the Lazarene for witness but not recital. He shall hear, remember, and wait.Let him be the Black Quill’s vessel—empty, uncapped, poised.
We expect next confirmation at the Ink-Sanctioned hour of Umbralflux.
In the Service of the Hollow Draft,
The Fifth Fold