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-====== ALTERs ======
+~~REDIRECT>alter~~
-**ALTERs** are malevolent entities formed from corrupted **[[trace-magick|TRACE]] energy**, posing a significant and ever-present threat to humanity and the natural balance of the universe. Known as “**Anomalous and Lethal Threat of Energy-based Revenants**,” ALTERs are dark, twisted beings that feed on the life force of others, often leaving destruction in their wake. These creatures emerge in times of emotional turmoil, tragic events, or reckless misuse of TRACE magick, feeding off the negative energy that lingers in such moments.
-ALTERs vary in appearance, power, and behavior, but all share a common purpose: to consume and corrupt. They are driven by an insatiable hunger, both for TRACE energy and the souls of the living, making them the primary adversaries of [[Tracers]].
-===== Origins and Manifestation =====
-The exact origins of ALTERs remain shrouded in mystery, but most theories suggest they are the result of TRACE energy becoming twisted by dark emotions, tragedies, or unrestrained magick. When TRACE is corrupted, it can spawn these monstrous beings, manifesting as nightmarish creatures that are as varied as they are horrific.
-ALTERs are most commonly birthed during **[[ALTER-EVENTS]]** — moments of intense TRACE energy release — which may occur accidentally due to inexperienced TRACE users or during times of great sorrow and loss. Mass casualty incidents, disasters, or even personal tragedies create a vortex of dark emotions, amplifying any nearby TRACE energy. This convergence often results in an ALTER forming from the negative energies, twisted by pain, fear, and rage.
-Once formed, an ALTER grows stronger by consuming the TRACE energy and life force of its victims, creating an endless cycle of destruction.
-===== Levels and Evolution =====
-ALTERs are categorized by levels, which indicate their stage of development, power, and threat to humanity:
-  * **Level 1** - At this initial stage, ALTERs are mindless beasts driven purely by instinct. They are highly aggressive and easier to detect but lack any ability to conceal themselves. This is the stage at which they are most vulnerable to Tracers.
-  * **Level 2** - ALTERs at this stage gain sentience and the ability to mask their presence. They are capable of shapeshifting and often disguise themselves as humans to move undetected among the population, posing a far greater threat.
-  * **Level 3** - These ALTERs wield **ALTER-Weapons**, grotesque manifestations of corrupted TRACE energy, capable of harming souls directly. They are powerful and dangerous, often capable of complex strategies and manipulation.
-  * **Level 4 and Beyond** - High-level ALTERs have vast power, often bending reality around them. These beings can summon other creatures, manipulate elements, and withstand intense TRACE attacks. Few Tracers have the strength to confront a Level 4 ALTER directly.
-ALTERs continue to evolve through each level as they consume more energy, becoming progressively harder to defeat and more cunning in their tactics.
-===== ALTER-Weapons =====
-**ALTER-Weapons** are twisted counterparts to TRACE-Weapons, created from corrupted TRACE energy. They are wielded by higher-level ALTERs, usually starting at Level 3, and can bypass physical defenses, attacking a target’s very soul.
-The effects of an ALTER-Weapon are devastating: wounds inflicted cannot heal naturally, and the soul of the victim is drawn into the ALTER, further amplifying its power. These weapons take on eerie, distorted forms that often resemble the personal fears or traumas of the ALTER’s victims. In some cases, a human struck by an ALTER-Weapon may fall into a deep madness, haunted by the residual energy imprinted on their soul.
-While TRACE-Weapons can damage and even destroy ALTERs, ALTER-Weapons represent the terrifying reality that ALTERs wield powers capable of permanently altering the souls of the living.
-===== The Void =====
-ALTERs are believed to originate from or reside in a dark, chaotic realm known as **The Void**. This dimension is a place of eternal night, a desolate and fluctuating landscape steeped in raw, malevolent energy. The Void is home not only to ALTERs but also to the souls they have consumed, trapped in a state of unending torment.
-The Tracer Order warns all TRACE-sensitives of the dangers of The Void, as it is a place where even the most experienced Tracers risk madness, spiritual corruption, or death. The Void can sometimes be glimpsed during extreme ALTER-EVENTS or by powerful Seers, but to fully enter the Void requires ancient, forbidden rituals and is perilous in the extreme. Those who venture into The Void are seldom heard from again.
-Rumors persist of certain artifacts or arcane practices that may create portals to The Void, though these methods are highly dangerous and are usually avoided by all but the most desperate or reckless TRACE users.
-===== Shadows and Husks =====
-ALTERs often create lesser, corrupted creatures as a byproduct of their presence. Two common manifestations are **Shadows** and **Husks**:
-  * **Shadows** - Shadows are the twisted, nightmarish remnants of souls devoured by ALTERs. Vaguely humanoid, they serve as soldiers or drones, acting as the lower ranks of the dark forces that accompany ALTERs. Shadows are often encountered near ALTER-EVENTS and pose a threat due to their unpredictable aggression and numbers.
-  * **Husks** - Husks are former TRACE-sensitive humans who have been entirely drained of TRACE energy, often due to excessive or irresponsible magick use. Now lifeless, these beings wander aimlessly, acting on instinct alone. They are gaunt and corpse-like, haunted by a hunger for TRACE energy that they can never satisfy.
-Both Shadows and Husks serve as haunting reminders of the dangers associated with TRACE corruption and the tragic fates that befall those who are drawn into an ALTER’s influence.
-===== ALTER Shards =====
-When an ALTER is defeated, it occasionally leaves behind a dark crystal known as an **ALTER Shard**. These shards contain traces of the ALTER’s essence and the souls it consumed. Though dangerous to handle, some Tracers are drawn to these shards, believing they may be used to enhance their own TRACE abilities.
-ALTER Shards are powerful but perilous artifacts. The energy within them has a corrupting influence, and using these shards carries the risk of psychological and spiritual damage. Some individuals attempt to harness the power within ALTER Shards for dark rituals or forbidden spells, despite the Order’s warnings.
-The appearance of ALTER Shards is unmistakable: deep black and cold to the touch, with an unsettling aura that seems to drain light from its surroundings. These shards are forbidden to most Tracers, but rogue factions such as **The Nameless** are known to covet them for their own purposes.
-===== The Cycle of Corruption =====
-ALTERs perpetuate a vicious cycle of corruption wherever they go. By feeding on negative emotions, tragedies, and misuse of TRACE, they corrupt surrounding TRACE energy, making it easier for more ALTERs to emerge in those areas. In this way, they act as catalysts for further chaos, creating "hotspots" where TRACE-sensitive individuals are at higher risk of experiencing ALTER-EVENTS.
-The Tracer Order works relentlessly to identify and cleanse these areas, preventing ALTERs from taking root and restoring balance to the natural flow of TRACE energy. However, the battle is ongoing, as new ALTERs continue to emerge with alarming frequency.
-===== The ALTER Threat =====
-The existence of ALTERs is a dark and often hidden reality in the world of TRACE. Though their nature is poorly understood by the general populace, they represent a constant threat to humanity. Only through the efforts of Tracers, who risk their lives to contain and destroy ALTERs, does the world remain largely unaware of the terrors lurking in the shadows.
-To the Tracer Order, the battle against ALTERs is an unending struggle, with each victory tempered by the knowledge that the threat is ever-present. ALTERs embody the darkest aspects of TRACE energy, serving as a stark reminder of the dangers that TRACE magick holds if left unchecked.
-For further information on how Tracers combat ALTERs, see [[the-tracer-order|The Tracer Order]] and [[trace-magick|TRACE Magick]].