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Cosmunculus — Description

Experimentation is key when it comes to the Academy's methods. You never know if something is going to work or not unless you dare to try it. No Alchemist worth their salt would ever give up on the first failed try or refuse to attempt the impossible. There are always new formulas to try, different methods, improved timings and what-not that can change the outcome. For making homunculi, there is the attempt to perfect the old formula, on top of testing out new fluids to see how they affect the final product. Making an artificial human is certainly a wonderful goal, but what if you could birth a dragon? Or perhaps something else entirely?
As the Alchemists threw in new fluids and different combinations to make homunculi, it could already be seen that they would eventually try out the most mysterious ingredient of all: Pwdre Ser. That strange purple goo that has started falling from the heavens, the one that has been dubbed the "Rot of Stars." Once a thing of myth, chalked up to over-imaginative minds and cheeky hoaxes, but now coming to this world in rare starfalls. The few patches of land it has fallen upon are now avoided by many, some towns even evacuated when the purple wept upon their homes. As these instances have slowly grown, the Academy turned to their Astrologers to research and master this new fluid. Though the Astrologers are indeed now the inarguable experts of Pwdre Ser, it should be noted that that title comes mainly from the fact that no one else knows a lick of it. And one would say that the Astrologers are far from experts on this strange new fluid. Listen to them speak of Pwdre Ser, and you will hear wonder, curiosity and fear in their voice...
Though the Astrologers and the Academy still struggle to understand the Rot of Stars, that only means that more research must be done, more experiments must be performed. The Alchemists figured that the homunculus process was a good way to test some of Pwdre Ser's capabilities, and they brought in the Astrologers to collaborate on a new formula. Getting it all to work was quite difficult, and the recipe took dozens of tries to even show the slightest signs of life. But eventually, a new kind of homunculus was born from these experiments and the Academy was astounded at what emerged.
The first entity, dubbed the "cosmunculus," that was born from this infusion of Pwdre Ser was a small misshapen thing. It bore some resemblance to the original homunculi, diminutive in size with large heads and long tails. But this being was more formed, its skin not wet and sagging, and clear organs seen through its hide. The crude precursors to a skeleton could be seen, and it appeared more aware and intelligent than the other little ones. The main thing that threw the Alchemists for a loop was the fact it floated. Obviously born from its ties to Pwdre Ser, the cosmunculus didn't walk or skitter, but floated through the air as if it was a fish in water. Not only that, but it seemed to be able to move things with its mind, as objects of interest floated into its tendrils and tail, and it would slowly accumulate a hanging halo of knickknacks around its body. The Alchemists were quick to test its capabilities and mind, running it through a bunch of simple tests to gauge its potential. When the cosmunculus passed these trials well above the standard of even the refined homunculi, the Academy celebrated. At last, progress!
With the cosmunculus showing the capacity to learn and its strange mental abilities, the Alchemists were quick to whip up some more of them. A dozen or so of them were born in preparation of more tests and research, but by the time they emerged, the original suddenly changed. One day, it ignored its commands and sealed itself in its cage. The Alchemists only observed in curiosity as it altered its body into a cocoon, and suddenly went still. Sensing that something was growing within, they left it be with constant surveillance to see what came from it. After only a few days, the cocoon rapidly swelled in size, eventually ripping open to reveal a larger, more humanoid cosmunculus. It was another breakthrough, as this entity had even more of a skeleton and refined organs. Its long tentacle arms were quite dexterous and good at manipulating objects. Once again, it faced tests that were meant for refined homunculi and passed with flying colors. It was a genius compared to those dimwitted meat bags. The Academy was certain that they had at last discovered the secret of perfect homunculi, proven even more right when the other cosmunculi underwent a similar metamorphosis. Talk was underway about how to move forward, countless ideas spilling out as they tried to fathom the potential at hand. And then... it was over.
One day, the Academy was practically hollering from the spineridges about their breakthrough, but the next day there was only silence. Outsiders who inquired about progress were simply told that it was a failure, a freak fluke that had offered false hope. The cosmunculi were not viable and the old formula was worthless. When one pressed about what the next step was, vague excuses were given. Not enough resources, Pwdre Ser is too rare to waste like this, we don't have the right equipment. Odd words coming from the Academy, who stops at nothing to get answers and results. Eventually, tongues would loosen and stolen records would be deciphered. And folks would learn that the cosmunculi project came to an end when the Academy rounded up every single one of these promising entities and promptly executed them. Cut down in a single strike and their melting bodies carted off to secret labs unknown. From then on, Pwdre Ser was never added to the homunculi formula.
Notes from this brief window of time would emerge at some point, and folks would get a glimpse at what went down within that Academy lab. For a while, it was only positive. Scribbles of excitement at the potential of these cosmunculi, words of praise as they passed tests and showed off their abilities. But then it would slowly turn, and the notes would take a different tone. The cosmunculi would not stay in their cells, they would wind up where they weren't allowed. Equipment would go missing, fluids would be tainted with violet clots. Experiments started going wrong, and sabotage was suspected. One cosmunculi walked right into a lab where test animals were kept and promptly killed every one of them. It was caught trying to drag the corpses back to its cell. From that point, all the cosmunculi were locked up in their cages until more research could be done. But it didn't work. They kept getting out. No matter how many locks, bars or walls they put up, the entities would simply vanish from their rooms and appear in restricted areas of the Academy. Commands stopped working, and strange phenomenon started occur around the labs. Details from that point to their execution have still not been revealed, but something went down one day that had one of the top Academy leaders call for the immediate culling of these entities.
To this day, it is said that not a single cosmunculus has been born since that incident. The Academy continues to avoid that type of creation in their quest for perfect artificial life. Research into Pwdre Ser still goes on, and the Astrologers are driven more and more to figure out what lies within this goo. It is not like the Academy to give up on a project, but something about those entities has stayed their hand. The Alchemists will say that they are sticking to the theoretical until better equipment and Pwdre Ser research is available, but there is something else beneath it all. They would say that they are not ready yet to work with such a subject, not until there is better understanding. It may seem laughable, a failure to tease the Academy with, but as people look up to the heavens to see that purple rain fall upon the world, some may wonder if any of us are ready....