The Ambient

A unique and alien monster spawned by the Mists, the ambient is an amorphous being composed of force, light, and energy. It is neither living nor deceased, that is to say it is an incorporeal undead, though its shapechanging powers can make it seem like a number of weather phenomena like glistening clouds or precipitation, though most often appearing as a clump of light. The ambient exists in the Well of Life, feeding upon the Waters of Eternity but also mystical nourishment from magic and [life]]. Essentially immortal thanks to its connection to the Mists, seeming destruction only causes it to disperse for a number of hours.

Although intelligent, the Ambient possesses an entirely inhuman psychology with entirely unpredictable whims. It uses its shapechanging powers and special abilities to masquerade as a feature of its strange environment rather than a conscious being. Save for the Darque beings it drives away with its light, the ambient deliberately provokes intruders of the Well of Life to observe their reactions against a number of challenging situations it creates through its reality warping powers. If is it attack or turns hostile, it can attack through draining Constitution from the living and magic from magic items. The ambient can also defend itself by reflecting attacks, turning invisible, casting arcane spells, or emitting blinding light.

Despite the danger of interacting with the ambient and the difficulty of finding the ambient, a number of mortals throughout the ages have sought it out for its ability to grant the foremost desires of those who somehow please it. Possible boons can even include true immortality. However, the ambient's alien mindset cannot comprehend the way humanoids think, so any wish it grants will inevitably come with ineffable and permanent effects that are horrendous by human standards. For example, the sage Kiethos aux Brugemont sought it out to become an immortal- the Ambient granted his wish by transforming into a cancerous mound of ever-growing aberrant flesh. The sage subsequently abandoned his mortal life and became an eternal guardian of the ambient, determined to make sure he was the Last abomination created by the ambient..

The ambient is also the source of immortality for the One, whom was fortunate to keep his human form. However, his life has been a torturous existence of misery, misfortune, and betrayal. Despite this, the One's lonely nature has compelled him to seek out and test candidates for immortality with the Game. He cannot tell the potentially worthy of the location for the Well of Life, for it forever now eludes him.