Disclaimer: The following document fragment is presented from an in-character perspective, it should not be taken as the truth of the setting.
Context: The Elb are the most ubiquitous Other humanity interacts with. A strange trans-chiralic form of life more similar to the plants of Earth than to animals. Just as humans can be fascinated by these alien entities, so do they take interest in humans, including passing for one. And what better way there could be to build a realistic human puppet than to use a human body as the base? Then again, they aren’t the only ones interested in human corpses…
The Elb insisted we refer to him as Artiste. It had a humanoid doll. Really, it was human apart from the head. It didn’t have a face — just a blank, pale plate of its wooden flesh. A crown of small branches surrounded it, each blooming with multiple eye-flowers. Though of course its true form and real size were hidden from our view, as it was an old Elb.
The creature reminded us of the deal.
One head of hair in exchange for one small object of art, unless the hair is of exceptional quality.
One full set of white teeth for one small object of art.
One skull for one large object of art.
Assorted bones for one large object of art.
A full skeleton for a small trove of art.
A whole body for a medium trove of art.
A fresh body in good condition for a large trove of art.
We’ve made these deals with Artiste often. It was always polite and professional with us. It never asked for live humans either, only for bodies and body parts.
Many creatures desire human flesh. The ones we most commonly deal with are the Elb. Among them, human-like bodies crafted with human bones, teeth and hair are considered luxury items. However, it’s not just about being made from human parts. The quality of those parts and the artistry with which they are interwoven with Elb flesh matter as well. As morbid as it might seem, it’s important to remember the Elb fashion object of arts from the corpses of other Elb as well and have no reservations of trading them with us. It is, in essence, a matter of cultural differences.
The Elb are, however, not the only Other interested in human bodies. Though various creatures will, given the opportunity, hunt and consume humans, this books serves to discuss those who go about it in a more civilised manner. Before I let my colleagues recount the many incidents they are aware of, allow me to preface this book with a bit of old man rambling. At my age of one hundred twenty-seven, I am both obliged and entitled to wasting your time like this, dear reader.
Perhaps the most well-known story of trade for human flesh is the incident described in the Cathasach Journals. It recounts an encounter with a creature the writer refers to as Oilliphéist, that saves the author and several more people from a sinking ship, in exchange for the flesh of those who were already dead. The being, endowed in the text with the features of a dragon. It appears to be acting under a geas, that forces it to ask for permission to consume human flesh, or perhaps to take anything from humans.
As the Cathasach Journals are literature suggested for most young mages, the particular part featuring the Oilliphéist is also well known. Though of course, the veracity of the record is often, and justifiably so, disputed.
Regardless of its truthfulness, the story serves as a vital allegory. The context of the story presents the choice made by Cathasach in a judgemental light. Did he have the right to barter the flesh of other humans for his own safety? Steeped in the morality of its times, it presents the body as deserving of proper burial and respect. The writer denies this to those who shared his situation to save his own life. The allegorical angle is, of course, one of the reasons why the story is rarely treated as a recounting of an actual event.
But it does present the usually young reader with a fundamental question: the morality of trafficking human bodies with the Other. Entities exist that offer us knowledge and treasure in exchange for the flesh of our own kind. What are the ethical considerations for sourcing corpses for such trades?
My own department, when dealing with the Elb, limits trade to corpses sourced from the United States Government, or more specifically the Hart Island Potter’s Field. From an ethical standpoint, those are bodies that would be simply abandoned on the island regardless, which minimises the impact of depriving a grieving family of a corpse of a loved one, or more despicable acts, such as kidnapping and murder.
It’s important to remember, however, that not all mages share our ethical sensibilities and that there are those among us that will gladly pay the price of another person’s life to further their goals. Knowledge is power, and power corrupts. Both can be purchased from entities lingering on the fringe of our known world. For some, the temptation may lead them to see the sacrifice of human life as inconsequential to their own goals and great works.
We must be ever-vigilant of such people — not those entities interested in obtaining human flesh, but those willing to supply this demand.
Esoteric Musings... 