Allright folks, you're clearly having some questions over the weird things in this story- so let's just summarize a few things the audience should get to know, or know before the story actually starts. One of those main ''things'' are called Artefacts, usually under the shapes of crystals, and are semi-sentient lifeforms that adapt to their users. Usually, when picked up, they tend to attach themselves near the brain, and synch with the user's nervous system, and creating a 'realm'- a virtual reprensation of a user's spiritual soul, allowing them to walk around their own head, and get to understand the core of their psyche and the history of their souls. Also, they usually give you a neat hud to understand your body's needs better, manage the distribution of enzymes and chemicals in your brain and bloodflow, strenghten your body and act as nanomachines, repairing and maintaining your body (you still need to take care of your hygiene manually, sadly) for you. Usually, they also strenghten the neck of the user, allowing them to use the horn as a gore weapon too.
Most horns (scratch that, all horns) give the user a special ability and form, which can be used in combat or in free mode, and allow them to reach the astral plane, separate their souls and bodies at will (with a few exceptions, Apokryphes being one)

Now, another thing you might want to know- the finite amount of magic in this world was a problem, until the breach was made- ever since then, an apparently infinite amount of magic is leaking into the world... But it's soured. Corrupted. The Magic has infested the world all around- not unlike strands of webbing, many territories are now defined by theses Aether-burned wastelands. One could cross them by flying over, running through as quickly as possible- although it posed risks. Mutations, all manners of enervartion and foul radiations, those fields of wonky magic can mess with reality itself. Nothing, well almost nothing, can set hoof in there and brag about making it back safely. Most end up abominations, ghoulish entities, or revenge-seeking spirits and specters, a testament to the awful death resulting from prolonged exposure to the wild magics.

Luckily, Apokryphes has spent his six earliest lives trying to create a cure for this magic affliction- a talent that could purify and alter the wicked magics into safe, sustainable kinds. But, he's only one pony. And the world is a pretty big place, last i checked.

That seems to sum it up quite quickly, i think. Next is, characters-
The most important one would be the creator of theses artefacts, Orpheus Apokryfes. This old duche somehow made those things for the betterment of his own race, let's call them Eternals (for those who played Divinity), but sadly had his creation backfired by none other than humans, seeking power and tech for their own evil stuff they have planned. Here comes Ashes Grey, first human to stand up to his kind, make a sacrifice and become and immortal swirly patch of ashes, seeking vengeance against some evil overlord, whose name is still unknown, but who somehow ended up a friend of Grogar and The pony of Shadows back in the day. Most call him the Sallow Pony, by the way, even though we have no knowledge of what a Sallow is.
There's also Lux Lucet, former human, who stumbled on a crystal when all hope had been lost in his life, and he ended his life with the crystal- enfusing it with his memories, as he died, and sent the horn in another dimension, where ''he'' could have a life in a world free of humans. Sadly, the breach has been made, and his last wish might not come true. Anyways, we needed to know about his horn a bit- The power of Space Manipulation. By creating ''Rooms'', he could manipulate whatever was inside, including life, death, innanimate objects, and whatever in between. His lens, another piece of crystal tech, allowed him to see across dimensions and realities, if harnesses properly. Mostly, he used it to see from ana to kata, just look it up if you're not a math junkie.
Next, we have a few narrators! One of them is in the Story, Watcher- just a douche with an attitude problem, siding with humanity but against corruption- a hard side to side with. (God, that sounds weird.)
There's also the Silence, a girl who used to be human, turned banshee, and found a way to haunt creatures across universes and realities. She's looking for Saul, a soul that has the potential to save the universe from some whacky evil she ran away from. Nice little backstory there, some lore, but i'm not sure i'll ever write it down.

Next, we've got some dude, the first Alchemist who learnt from and about the Horns of Crystal, he called them. He was one of the only guys ever to get his hooves over more than one Artefact, and that speaks volumes of how dangerous and messed up theses things are. Most hosts live less than a year after merging with an Artefact- either their powers overpowers them, or some badasses take them down. Only a handfull were able to get their hands on two or three- Even Orpheus didn't hold on more than one at a time, and his power, ''Overseer'', has been put in lockdown in his lybrary. In today's age, it cannot be used without ''Room'', or else... Well, you might see it one day.

Now, let's explain characters. This story takes place in a distant, weedverse-friendly future where Technology is slightly more advanced than Human's today, thanks to magic covering the gaps where human ingenuity isn't enough- though there aren't smartphones and Internet yet. Who needs them in a world of Colorful Equines?

The main Character, now bear with me, is actually a reincarnation of Orpheus Apokryphes. Through a complex yet easy process, one can "reincarnate" without loosing too many memories, retain some skills, and even make changes to it's psyche and personality between reincarnations. Basically, it involves creating a Tulpa, and making it merge with the newly created soul of an infant- in some cases where the merge fails, like here in this story, they get to share a soul and body until Pale claims them.
Now this guy, he's not so bright. The more you reincarnate, the less gets transfered into your new body- and the less your skills are translated into instinct.
And in this seventh life, Orpheus became Lazy. He might have some understanding of the complex physics involved in high-tier magic, and he might have a carefully breeded, genetically perfect unicorn body, but the fact that he spent his last life far from the struggles he faced in the firsts, makes him less suited for battle and adventuring.
He is a glass cannon, and his only edge is his knowledge of the things he barely remembers building and the magic he barely remembers weaving. Half OP, half weakling, I think it's gonna make for some interesting battle scenes. His brittle ego, his fear of getting hurt will easily overcome him in moments of stress, and the passing if time has taken a toil on his mind. Unlike Alicorns, and other immortals, his mind wasn't made to hold that many memories, that much information, and it had turned him slightly insane.
Usually sports a leather duster filled with miscellaneous items that one wouldnt usually carry, but could always have a use for- and drugs. Always.
Hes grown quite the beard- a rare feat for ponies, an elongated neck and slender legs. His delicate, yet slighlty bulky frame has a little extra patches of hair around the usual patches you'd expect a northern tribe pony to have, but he's from a deadbeat, backwater farmland, was a studious sort that enjoyed psychology, Philosophy and the arts, along with magic- something he might retain from his parents, somewhat- and has a kind of Charismatic silver tongue, and an almost manipulative vibe, but always has the greater good of everyone in mind. He is from a very specific heritage that can access an ancestry bloodline power- which lets him spiritually sense around him, not unlike a unicorn can magicaly sense- but with an extra kick to it. He can manipulate wild magic, and attune himself to any magic he can sense and get a good feel on. That can give him insight as to how to use certain magics in any given situation, though he himself is about as talentless and clueless as can be, even with his arcane knowledge.

Now, he isnt much of to look at either. His pelt full of patches of longuer, groggy hair, and of a dull beige color at rest. When harnessing magic, it will change slightly to match what he's doing- going from a bleached straw-blonde, to a dark terra cota kind of greyish tint. His eyes will follow the same pattern- they can show a lot, so keep your attention up when you see me describe them. They have two variables- the outer rim, and the inner rim, around the iris. The outer edge is usually a dark blue, slate-dark-grey color, and can take on greenish hues, and dip into paler colors, up to a seagreen shade of cyan. The Inner rim, ranges from pale yellow/white, to a golden yellow, then orange, burnt orange, and finally red- and if he ever hits a dark red, for the love of anything that's holy, run.
His mane is of a weathered, ashen blonde color- with graying tips, even in his young age, styled pretty long for a Stallion, and a tail to match. Unkempt and shaggy, always in a tangled mess, since he's an earth pony and is used to be fused with a crystal horn taking care of his needs- and telekinesis to comb his mane.

He's got a party, of course- but it's one hell of a confusing party. A barely equine timber-bug-pony, former science project, having extremely sensitive and adaptable DNA, able to display a wide range of abilities suitable for any occasion- but with a language barrier and an almost bipolar behavior to nerf her down. Dark hues of purples and blues make up her shifting pelt, mane of decaying leaves in autumn, and leaves sprouting out of her fetlocks, withers, neck, you get the idea. Wings made out of timber and leaves.

Another member of the squad is a sentient goose named Erika, another immortal who's made deals with Eldritch Abominations beyond the rift leading to other worlds. Basically, she summons Cthulhu and various horrors. Don't get her mad!

I had another idea for a character that could fit with theses errors of nature, a concept brought from another story i haven't had the courage to write. He might find his way here, but I'll keep the surprise. When he appears in the story, i'll update the Reference here. A little spoiler, though- he is another immortal, made out of ashes.

Author's Note

Character sheet!

Stats?
Level 10
Strenght. (PHY) 6
Perception. (WIS) 7
Endurance. (CON) 5
Charisma. (SAN) 6
Intelligence. (MAG) 7
Agility. (DEX) 5
Luck. (S/QI) 8/∆

-*-Feats/Perks-*-
Chosen Few - makes him one of the few essential characters in the story. Cant really die but can be extremely injured, permanently crippled or worse.

Psychopump - his old soul carries the mantle of a half-deity with ties to the underworld, leaving to a few advantages over mortal races but also great responsibilities and flaws he has to deal with.

Ancestral Ascension (locked) - he has an ascended soul due to an ancestral ritual he underwent, binding his soul to his body- meaning he can only partially connect with the spiritual plane, and cannot move his soul apart from his body... But it leads to weird glitches one might exploit. Also, he gains an awareness of his surroundings because of that. (Cant get sneaked on)

Nephilim Heritage - his weird rebirth thing made him one quite acquainted with the angels and the demons alike- but it also made him have both friends and foes in low and high places. He can't really call on those friends, but he doesnt really have to run away from those enemies either... Unless? Gives access to undeath and rebirth powers, amongst other abilites according to level.

Intro-Survivo-path - living through horrible lives and deaths has made you somehow more able to undertake any given kind of task or undergo any given trial without much penalty- however, others might find you a bit cold or unrelatable. Gives you access to unique dialogue that somehow bluffs people, for some reason- more like Intimidate them.

Nature anti-opath - you can't stand nature, and it can't stand you. You get bonuses in cities, but maluses in any wilderness. When under these bonuses, you do reduced damage but have higher defenses and reflexes. When under those maluses, you suffer from damage more and specific damage types you get weak to affect you a bit more- but they push you over the edge, and let you hit back with surprising strength.

Wonderland - you have a wonderland in your mind that lets you control your subconscious and inner self when things get rough. Also get access to a few features and perks according to level.

Erika's Character Sheet! (The Goose) level ???
Strenght/Physical Might - 4
Perception/Wisdom - 5
Endurance/Constitution - 4
Charisma/Sanity - 7
Intelligence/Magical Might - 9
Agility/Dexterity - 8
Luck/Special or Qi - 9

Perks (¶) and spells (∆)

¶ Eldritch Race - you come from another plane beyond the veil, and as such have eldritch abilities and feats according to level.

∆ Eldritch form - gain access to a set of shapes you can switch between. Theses shapes are only illusions- you retain your abilities and abilities, whatever shape you might be in.
Peaceful/town shape - Goose, Goose simulator skin
Transport shape - a large fuckin Goose
Fighting shape - Goose mk2, 'metallic' augmentations (which are actually Qi, somehow)
Fighting shape, bosses - Goose Pony, this shape gives the advantages and appearance of a pony, but you retain a goosey face and wings, along with your talons and palmed feet instead of hooves. Honk!
Extra Shape - Goosabus, you become an hybrid of the Tentabus, huge nightmarish horror in the vague shape of a Goose

¶ Sweet Boredom - Anything is better than starring at that wall! You can never be bored, and volunteer for any watch turns happily! Not like you need sleep anyways. You're also somehow resistant to mind control and effects, and have strong willpower.

¶∆ Undeath - you are an outsider of this realm. Death and life means nothing to you- as such you can travel between realms without any problems. You don't need two bits to cross the Styx! This gives you access to unique dialogue options and bonuses on speech checks of all kinds.