Ink Machine

## Description

### Appearance

The Ink Machine is an enormous contraption, large enough for multiple people to comfortably stand inside of it (Ch 216). It is unknown the exact height of the machine but it is less than nine feet tall (Ch 289). The machine is a mass of metal, plates, tubes, runes from all races, pipes cylinders, glass and cogs. On one side of the Ink Machine is a large pipe that is bent down toward the ground. This pipe is large enough that even an elephant would have no issue fitting inside of it. The inside of the pipe is dark and one is unable to make out anything inside of it. Above this pipe is the Ink Machine rune (Ch 289).

Within the machine are multiple different rooms such as one where the individual Parts are held (Ch 212) and another where the patients are actually brought in to be healed which is full of glass tubes, The machine was originally located in a doomed room made of intertwined branches (Ch 216). At some point afterwards, presumably following "The Devil's" attempt to steal it, it was moved into a room of cut stone (Ch 199).

The machine has also been shown located on a raised round platform about the size of a baseball stadium within a circle of trees, held up by four enormous statues of members of each of the four races involved in it's creation (Micco, Dishes, Angels, and Demons) Overhanging this platform were a number of tubes and chains. Lines, circles and runes also covered this area below the platform. On the floor there was a booth with a stone table and a lever which, when pulled, lit up the runes starting from the stone table and traveling up around the four statues. The statues eyes then glow green as the four of them physically move to bring the platform with the Ink Machine on it to the floor. It is unknown when exactly the Ink Machine was located to this spot or how long it stayed there for (Ch 212)

When a part was added to the machine it was shown that the runes located on it glowed orange to blood red. This magical light seeped out of the machine itself and into the entire rest of the room from the floor up to the ceiling. This also created an overwhelming force of some kind in the room that would last for a few moments until the machine once again darkened (Ch 216)

### Powers and Abilities

The Ink Machine is a very powerful magical tool and the only known cure for Ink Illness.

In Chapter 216, thanks to the power of The Instrument, we get to witness the Ink Machine during it's first test run back over 4000 years ago. The patient first entered one of the glass tubes within the machine, which was then magically resealed to fully enclose the individual. Once the patient was situated within their tube the machine started up, both the physical gears, the Parts and the magical runes starting their work. Following this, the top of the tube which had the patient within it began to pour an ink-like substance into the tube until it eventually completely filled the space and obstructed the view of the patient. Once this ink-like substance made contact with the patient they began to darken until their whole body was virtually indistinguishable from the inky substance flowing around them. After awhile where the only noticeable difference outside the tube is the occasional changing of the runes the inky substance eventually began to drain from the tube. Immediately after/during the draining the patient appeared to be completely made of ink, however after a few moments the ink either solidified back into the patient's normal physical form or dripped away. Following this process, the individual is incredibly tired due to the physical and magical strain put on their body but they are successfully cured of Ink Illness (Ch 216)

However, the machine is not just a simple lifeless tool. In another memory, it is described that while attempting to dismantle the machine enough to move it a Micco named Lukahd was almost forcefully dragged into a giant pipe by the machine itself. Luckily, a powerful Demon was nearby and was able to fight the machine enough to pull her free. Once free she did have some lasting effects as her body was covered in what appeared to be a second layer of inky, dripping skin. Later on, when Lukahd attempted to use some of her magic her body became unstable and twisted, like she was made of soft clay. While this was highly disturbing to view she didn't appear to be in any pain during this time and she was able to be carried away later by her allies. It is unknown why the machine attempted to drag her in or what exactly it did to her body (Ch 289).

It has also been mentioned that the machine does have a strange aura of sentience around it. Boris claims it feels like it's watching him and likens it to a wary animal or even a predator in waiting (Ch 289).

## From Wilson's Journal

*Holly's Translation, Inky Extra's on the Ink Machine:*

*'The machine itself has been carefully crafted to balance out the unique qualities of each of the parts to create a cure for the illness. It not only removes the illness but causes the instant and painless recovery of the ill. To date, three hundred and sixty-three souls have been saved. The specific placement of each of the items and application of the proper runes has proven essential to controlling the artifacts quirks and dangers and helping the machine run smoothly as a whole. Because of this the parts don’t overwhelm or cancel each other out entirely, though they do affect each other.'*

*'The proper application of runes is also important because runes are the best protection against the negative effects of the parts and help balance the machine. Using the wrong runes with the machine could bring about the worst case effects of each of these items.'*

*'Any mishandling of the parts or misplacement of the runes could, in the best case, kill the patient. At worst, the machine could distort and corrupt the landscape into a scene of untold desolation. Any person within range of this would be lost, beyond powers of saving. For this reason, the assembly of the machine must be done very--'*

## History

### Early History

#### Origin

After Ink Illness began causing havoc and death across all races the Micco people, whose effort was seemingly headed by General Vicerion, send out a call to the Dishes, Demons and Angels to come together to find a solution to the plague. Each of these races were chosen for a specific reason- The Dishes for their unique connection with the soul, as well as life and death itself. The Demons for their mastery of soul magic and soul healing knowledge. The Angels for their unique skill with healing and creation magic. Finally the Micco had a special way of building and blending of magic, as well as a few unique magic specialists, that were necessary to bring all the other races magic together. Despite some tension between the races in the beginning, particularly the Dishes, all the races did eventually come together to create the Ink Machine (Ch 216)

What followed this agreement was months of work by all four of the races (Ch 216) While each of the four races were involved in creating the Parts of the Ink Machine it should be noted that the creation of the machine itself is credited to the Micco (Ch 186) Specifically, the Micco artisan Amish seemed to be the main builder of the actual machine. Once all the pieces were put together the first test of the Ink Machine was performed on a Demon called Grandidier, which was successful even if some adjustments still had to be made to the machine following this test. In fact most of the early tests of the Ink Machine were performed on Demon's given that they were the most resilient to the extreme magical changes caused by the Ink Machine curing process (Ch 216) Upon it's full completion the Machine was able to cure not only Ink Illness but supposedly also most other ailments (Ch 186) Any changes that were to be added to the Ink Machine also had to be approved by "the council", although the exact members of this council is currently unknown (Ch 217)

#### Angel-Demon War

The Ink Machine was one of the reasons that the War began, as the Demons betrayal regarding the machine was the beginning of the rift between them and the other races (Ch 186) One night General Vicerion walked in on what appeared to be the Devil (though the actual identity of this individual is up for debate) attempting to take the Ink Machine for himself. General Vicerion fought to protect the machine and, while he died in this fight, he managed to curse his opponent as his final act to prevent them from ever being able to use the Ink Machine themselves. His death was the inciting incident for the Angel-Demon War. In fact a large portion of the War was other three races trying to keep the Ink Machine out of the Demon's hands (Ch 217)

#### After the War

Following the War the Ink Machine apparently found it's way to the greatest Micco city to survive the war. While there some type of accident occurred, later referred to as "The Micco Tragedy", which not only destroyed the city but also pushed the Micco to the brink of extinction. To this day the spot where the city once stood is still a barren desert, now known as the Seven Sands Desert (Ch 186)

After this tragedy the machine was deemed too dangerous a tool for any one race to posses, but it was quickly discovered that the Ink Machine was to powerful to be destroyed. Five hundred years after the War a representative from the Dishes (Chalice), the Micco (Yen Sid) and the Angels (unknown) each came to take responsibility for hiding some of the Ink Machine parts. The Angels took possession of The Cup, which they would guard, and The Instrument, which they would seal away. The Micco took The Doll and The Cog as their unique magical abilities apparently required specialized handling. Finally the Dishes, specifically the Calix Animi, handled The Brush and the machine itself as well as "all that goes with it". This plan to lock away the various parts was kept mostly secret, especially from the Demons, in order to prevent anyone from trying to stop the plan (Ch 199) After helping to hide them the knights of the Calix Animi continued to check up on the parts every few generations as guards all the way up until the modern day (Ch 186)

## Trivia and Notes

### Trivia

* Of all the races involved in the Ink Machine's creation the Dishes were the ones most hesitant to work with the other races (Ch 216)

### Notes

* Chaos here. You know, for it being the whole goal of the quest it’s rather funny how little information there actually is on this. Makes you think doesn’t it?

...It's the whole goal of the quest

...There's little information about it