Peek: A Strange Mystery

Experiment log 1: Securing funding is proving... difficult.  When I explain the parameters of my proposed experiment, potential patrons back out, citing a lack of profit potential.  Fah, profit?!  What is the point of money if not to delve the odd mysteries of the world?!

Experiment log 2: A hesitant backer has been secured.  The poultry farmer more wishes for a hand than to support an experiment, but has accepted my proposal to pay me in the resources required, rather than coin.  The pace of experimentation will be slower than preferred, but slow progress is better than none.

Experiment log 3: First subject secured.  Will be treating the rest of the poultry as the control, so this subject can be used to establish a baseline.

Experiment log 4: First subject, upon reflection, could be considered a different sort of control.  Local butcher consulted for proper methods of preparation, and even expressed interest in the results of the experiment.  I should have sought out investors from them rather than in academia.  Ah well, hindsight.  Poultry was prepared according to instructions, and I have gained a better appreciation for the skill that goes into butchery, as well as a hearty dinner.

Experiment log 9: With baselines established, the new subject can finally be used to actually perform the true experiment.  All my wards are in place, every knowledge spell I can perform is pointed at the experiment.  Nothing to do but proceed.

Experiment log 10: Experiment itself was performed as flawlessly as can be expected with a live poultry.  Scratches and feathers aside, that part went without a hitch.  Unfortunately, all attempts to discern what actually happens came up empty, and now I only have the feathers.  Perhaps I should have also tried seeking funding from mattress or pillow makers?  I seem to have enough feathers now to at least make a pillow.

Experiment log 14: Second experiment met with similar failure.  I was hoping I had simply done the spells poorly.  While it was certainly more likely they couldn't capture any information, it is best to ensure the simple solution is truly ruled out before moving on to more complex ones.

Experiment log 19: Employer has given me confused looks over the states of my latest subjects, but is still, thankfully, willing to continue to provide them as my payment.  Poultry are in various states of... dress?  I'm uncertain as to the specific term for how many feathers they have left.  I have plucked one from the head to approximately the waist, one from the feet up to the waist, one plucked on the left, one on the right, and the latest has only the head feathers remaining.  Subjects have been huddling together for warmth, especially at night, but nothing else unusual observed.

Experiment log 27: Latest subject has vanished, and at least proves part of what is required for the phenomenon to occur.  Unfortunately, still no insight gained on why.  A properly butchered and plucked chicken behaves as anything dead should: staying that way, unless a necromancer gets involved.  But if one plucks a living chicken of all feathers, it immediately vanishes, with the pile of feathers being the only proof it ever existed!  What is it about these... these featherless bipeds that causes this?!

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A bit of a joke, inspired by silliness in the discord.  No, this is not cannon.  If you don't get the joke, look up Diogenes and Plato, and the definition of a man.  I hope you enjoyed the obtuse silliness,

Khenal