Research: Examining Emil

Exposure Symptoms: Accompanied Dr. Ritalsin during his examination of Emil, who has been exposed to the black sand. Emil exhibits black stains on his palms in the shape of small squares (possibly caused by dice), hollowed eyes, and signs of delirium. His gossamer, which should remain hidden beyond the first gate of slumber, is instead visible around him, flickering chaotically.

Physical Condition: Emil’s face bears a disturbing network of scars, etched deeply into his skin as if dark tendrils had once burrowed beneath, converging at the now vacant hollows where his eyes used to be. The empty sockets, instead of appearing charred, resemble deep, shadowy caverns that give the impression of something sinister having rooted itself within, then withdrawn, leaving only an unsettling void behind. The flesh around these hollows is twisted and taut, almost as if it was sculpted by unseen hands, adding to the eerie sense that his eyes were not simply lost, but consumed by some malevolent force.

Impact on Gossamer: The loss of his eyes and the trauma surrounding it seems to have further unmoored Emil from reality. His gossamer, which should remain hidden beyond the first gate of slumber, is instead visible around him although it is abnormally thin and wispy. What is there surrounds him is a chaotic swirl of energy, more erratic than what I have seen around other people since I have gained this ability to see gossamer, this emanation of people’s dreams. It, pulsing as if in response to some unseen force is acting upon it. It’s as though his gossamer is trying to anchor him to a world he can no longer perceive, flailing helplessly against … the black sand’s influence?

Behavioral Changes: Emil is increasingly disoriented and paranoid, his remaining senses heightened to the point of agony. He mutters constantly about “the eyes”—eyes that he still perceives even in darkness, eyes that he believes continue to watch him, even without his own to see them. The black sand has done more than take his dreams; it has stolen his reality, leaving him in a perpetual state of horror and confusion.

Observational Concerns: Emil’s condition has deteriorated significantly, not just physically, but spiritually. The absence of sleep, the constant visions, and the physical mutilation have left him unmoored, disconnected from both the waking world and the Dreamlands. It seems that the black sand’s corruption runs deeper than I initially thought, capable of shattering both body and mind. If this is the fate of those exposed to it, we are facing a threat that could unravel the very essence of what makes us human

Conclusion – Ongoing Thoughts: Emil’s case underscores the dire consequences of black sand exposure. The substance’s influence stretches far beyond mere dreams, affecting both physical and metaphysical realms. Emil’s inability to dream, combined with the horrific visions that drove him to self-mutilation, suggests that the black sand disrupts the most fundamental aspects of human existence. It is a corrosive force that not only bridges the waking world and the Dreamlands but taints the connection, inflicting the bedlam of the dreamlands to those who interact with it making the agents of chaos.

However, it is most puzzling that the only affect that exposure to it for myself and my companions is the mysterious appearance of more black ink tattoos on our flesh.