Graded [Frontier][Ciu'nan]Chapter 1: A distant grotto

[Clyvelle]

Ciu'nan
|Fae|​

Ciu'nan slowly sank to her knees after the visitor had left. She listened to his departure, hoping that his steps didn't suddenly double back to return. Still reeling from the encounter, she did not even question the beating wings that caused him to depart. The many footfalls that had approached now resumed their rain-soaked with beating wings accompanying their departure.

A hand absently covered Ciu'nan's face. First gently touching her cheek, then covering her eyes, then flipping and pressing the back of the hand to her forehead, wiping sweat that had collected on her brow. Her chest heaved as she attempted to regulate her breathing. Fear was so foreign to her that she never developed a coping mechanism for it.

She looked to Fei, who had turned to her. Tears began rolling down her cheeks as she attempted to make sense of her feelings.

"I...I'm sorry." she said, wiping her eyes as she laid the spear next to her. "I...don't know what's happening to me."

 

[Sisyphus Happy]

Liu shook his head, curious as to her reaction, and his ignorance, but first reassured her, "no, not at all... we had no defined objective here. You did not fail. We are alive and well, which is the directive in absence of all others," he offered to her grief. After a lingering gaze, unseen in his heavy cloak, he turned his attention back to the fire and stoked it higher for her benefit, reaching out to his side and beckoning her closer to it, "here, come be warm, it will help the shivering," he offered. As he stared into the fire, memories began returning to him. Nighttime next to a fire, the sound of shells exploding far in the distance, sitting on an empty ammo crate while he warmed his hands, loose straps of a helmet dangling by his cheeks, soot and mud camoflauging his skin against the already weak light. Toward his right but a few meters away from he fire, a young man, more a boy shivered, stark white bandages lumping around his neck, congregating around his ear stained red and covering his eye shone in the night around his body, and a thick bundle of bandages around his left arm rested on his knees. His entire body was shaking, his lips were slack and his eyes were dull. Something exploded on his left side and he has not spoken yet, nor acknowledged anyone.

The next day he went back to the front and never saw the kid again afterward. Some time later he heard rumors about people that were done in by shellshock being killed as a mercy rather than sent home, but he never got around to confirming it, and a couple people he knew of came back to their senses after a while, at least mostly. He wondered faintly if that kid ever made it back. Maybe he came here. He wondered further which was the greater mercy, between releasing him and giving him back to his family without his soul.

 

[Clyvelle]

Ciu'nan
|Fae|​

In an attempt to regain herself, Ciu'nan buried her face in her hands, her elbows resting on her legs. She remained like this until Fei beckoned her closer to the fire. Peeking out from behind her hands, the fae offered him a weak smile. Giving her eyes another wipe, she crawled over to join him at the fire.

The rain overhead continued to pour and dripped through to the basement in places, especially around the stairs. They weren't in danger of being flooded, but finding an elevated place to sleep might be wise. The cadence of the rain lulled Ciu'nan into a trance as she stared into the fire.

She was back in her den in the forest outside of Ryken, though the den had not become hers quite yet. It was occupied by four wolves. Ciu'nan was dripping wet and only entered to seek shelter from the rain that day. The parents growled their displeasure at her presence. The fae had been confused. Was she not also of the forest? Could these animals not sense her kinship with them? Ciu'nan still had much to learn back then...and that day would be a very important lesson.

She came back to the fire in the basement of the ruins not feeling particularly better for having relived that particular memory. Her downcast eyes would not raise as she spoke suddenly.

"Why do you make maps, Fei?" she asked, her voice cracking slightly.

The question came not out of a dire need to know, or even just mere curiosity, but it was a desperate, albeit unconscious, attempt to redirect her thoughts. Say something, anything, keep the conversation flowing, if at all it might distract her for a moment from her thoughts.

 

[Sisyphus Happy]

Fei peered at the fire for a few awkward moments, as though he hadn't heard her question, before turning his head toward her form and making a noise at the back of his throat -- or, at least mimicking the noise he would have made. He reached for the map canister theatrically while he brought himself to the present, answering coherently, "convenience; we all must make money. I have many skills but no taste for violence any longer, since all of my enemies are dead or terribly dishonored," he explained with an even tone, thinly masked pride lurking in his inflection. By that time the canister was resting in his hands, palms up. Turning to look down at it, he continued, "beside... perhaps I am not a mapmaker, not yet. I can navigate, I can draw, but I have not been making maps for very long. I haven't sold any so far, I have had difficulty holding onto my things in my travel... they keep getting destroyed," he sighed, placing the canister on his knees and opening it up.

"Well, this trip has gone far better than the others so far," he commented, trailing off a little after peering at her condition, "well, for my possessions anyway," he added, producing the map. He checked the edges, commenting, "you see, there was not even any dampness in the canister," while sliding the tube of vellum back into its place. He shoved it back into the bag and placed his hands in his lap, resuming his fire-staring.

 

[Clyvelle]

Ciu'nan
|Fae|​

Ciu'nan sniffled, her eyes never leaving the fire as Fei answered. A halfhearted smile attempted to lodge in her face as Fei spoke of his pacifistic nature.

"The peaceful mapmaker...." Ciu'nan mumbled softly. "Somehow those ideas feel right together."

The smile had found its place as the idea seemed to please Ciu'nan, while she reflected on her companion's choice of lifestyle. By his own admission, Fei was once steeped in a less wholesome business, but now he had made the choice to pursue a different path. That was somehow exceptionally beautiful to the fae.

Only now did she look at Fei as he mentioned his misfortune on the road regarding his supplies. Ciu'nan looked from his canister to the rain leaking in from various places. Clearing her throat, she began looking around.

"Then we should find you a good place to store your things so they don't get wet tonight. Perhaps on one of the shelves? That satchel should be hung up as well perhaps?" Ciu'nan said indicating the bulging sack Fei had received from Masaruma.

Seemingly coming back to herself, or simply maximizing on the distraction of finding a dry place for Fei's things, Ciu'nan rose and began examining the shelves. Rain was leaking around a few of them, which probably contributed to the paper materials on them being more mildewy. Pacing around a few times, she found a shelf in a corner that appeared to have the least amount of mildew on the paper goods thereon. She also found an empty sconce that had presumably once held a torch.

"It seems the shelf back there would be good to hold your canister away from the water, and this sconce could hang up the satchel." Ciu'nan said in a pleased tone, having done what she could to help.

 

[Sisyphus Happy]

"Yes indeed, that is a fine idea," he responded, then Liu rose quietly, a gentle creaking noise emanating from his form. Thin shadows swept across the back of the room when his legs eclipsed the fire. In a moment, the satchel was hanging from a sconce and then made his way to the corner where this shelf rested. He placed his hand down on it and pressed hard a few times to make sure the thing was not so rotted that it would collapse with his things. It whined and a squishy piece came off of the edge but the center of the shelf was still strong and he figured that it would be enough. Leaving the bag, he returned to the fire and stood for a little while, peering toward the stairs with his arms crossed. The lightning lit them up periodically, thunder followed obediently, the ambiance beckoned his mind far away and he had some trouble staying in the moment as evinced by the way he fell still standing near the fire, staring at the opening. After a few moments he came to his senses, looked around and sat down.

 

[Clyvelle]

Ciu'nan
|Fae|​

Ciu'nan was pleased that she could assist Fei. Her former concerns seemed much less now after that brief distraction. All she could feel was an all-consuming fatigue. It occurred to her that with all the excitement they had thus far, this particular job was without a doubt her most taxing one yet. There was a satisfaction that came with it even if tonight had been rather unpleasant for a moment or two. Ciu'nan smiled sleepily as she returned to the fire with Fei.

Though her companion remained standing, Ciu'nan eased herself down on a pile of rubble mixed with miscellaneous fragments from the books and shelving. She was soon out, lulled to sleep by falling rain. In her helpless state, she would toss and turn as bird-faced individuals chased her through the night.

By morning the thunder and lightning had passed, but the rain would linger for awhile yet. There was no driving wind, allowing the rain to sprinkle down where it would. In the basement where the pair stayed, water did indeed collect in puddles here and there, but Fei's items that had been hung up were perfectly dry.

Ciu'nan would awake with a jolt, the only release from the pursuer in her dreams. She rubbed her face as she looked around. The fire had been nearly smothered unless Fei had tended to it and kept it from the puddling at the base of the stairs. A glance to the stairs would show that it's still dark. Though it was indeed morning, daylight would not find purchase through the clouds that brought the rain.

"Did anyone else stop by?" Ciu'nan asked Fei, then, "I probably should go check on the herd real quick."

Grabbing her spear and bag, Ciu'nan shuffled up the stairs, hoping the rain would help wake her up. She shivered slightly as the first several drops touched her. Rising above the ground floor of the ruins, Ciu'nan saw no trace of their visitor the previous evening or the group that had been with him. Neither did she see any great winged creature like the one she had heard after the strangers departure. These were unimportant matters though. Her gaze shifted to the trees where she saw the herd take shelter the previous evening.

Taking a direct path to the trees, Ciu'nan turned as she slunk closer to where the deer had been. Once she was close enough, she started making out their huddled forms on the ground. The bucks were pacing as usual. It seemed like the herd had not even woken yet, but it would surely be just a matter of time. Content with her reconnaissance, Ciu'nan returned to the basement, squelching down the stairs dripping wet.

"They haven't left yet, so I'll have breakfast real quick. If you hurry up and eat, perhaps you could make your delivery and get back before they leave. If we're gone when you get back, I can mark the trees along the way so you can find us again. Unless you'd rather just head to the nearby towns at this point?" Ciu'nan said as she began stuffing handfuls of mushroom into her mouth gathered from the spectral deer that led them out of Masaruma's territory.

 

[Sisyphus Happy]

Liu shook his head to her initial question. The night passed swiftly for him, rain and memories seemed to lubricate the passage of time. If it were possible morning would have snuck up on him. It seemed that the passage of time opened enough gaps in the stones below them and the near-enough trees' roots warped the foundation enough that the water drained out only a little bit slower than it ran in, and the probing puddles seeped into the cracks but diverted mostly to the back corner, following a track along the wall. The inside was damp but their fire was not in trouble. Every once in a while, Liu would stoke it and add some fuel but by the time morning came, the fire died, between the damp and his reduced sensitivity to the dark, his sleepless dreaming had allowed the fire to sneak away finally just a few hours before morning. He may have offered a cloak of his own but it was room temperature at best, and her sleep was restless enough that she seemed to be exercising to keep warm anyway.

"I will eat on the way," he reassured her, fetching his things while adding, "do make a few very discreet marks for me. I can be speedy when I wish to be. I have a feeling that this delivery will be exceedingly simple and I have a striking feeling that this little expedition will be a fine addition to this map."

It was as the old one said, there was nobody present in the cabin. It was an odd shape and to his mind just a tad lopsided and looking through the curtained windows he could only see silhouettes of arcane and obscure objects with unknown purposes. An eyefull of weird knicknacks was enough to sate his curiosity and the sack of mushrooms was sitting before the doorstep. He looked over his shoulder briefly and considered leaving some kind of clue but in his imagination this forest steward had a way to surveil his movements. He left his package there and wished the alchemist good fortune before turning to rejoin his own group. Through a combination of otherworldly swiftness and geographical intuition he returned to the trek without much delay.

Spoiler: Abilities Used

Navigation E
Fast F

 

[Clyvelle]

Ciu'nan
|Fae|​

As it turned out, Fei would return as Ciu'nan was heading into the forest to follow the herd as it finally moved out. Ciu'nan would remark that it seemed like the herd was sluggish today for some reason. The herd had been travelling hard for three days now, so perhaps they had finally hit their natural limit. The sudden change in energy might also indicate that the herd was nearing the end of its journey--however that might look or whatever it might mean.

The rain would continue all that day. As they travelled north, the rain's intensity would decline slightly, but it continued nonetheless. They were nearing the foot of the mountain at this point. The rolling, tree-covered hills they had known would gradually become rocky as the trees would become less and less.

It was sometime in the late morning that the mountain's foot suddenly rose up in front of them as the first of many tiers of sheer cliff faces prevented forward travel. The herd followed the cliff face around to the south and east until a pass was found. The innumerable deer flooded into the wide pass easily enough, but as they continued along its path, the way became narrower and narrower.

At about noon, they hit the gate. It was a standard sized stone brick wall with a small gatehouse over top of the gateway, which was barred with an iron portcullis. Apparently, this pass had once been fortified for one reason or another. The cliffs on either side prevented circumnavigation, and the portcullis was down. The bucks in front aggressively butted the iron gate, some pieces of their antlers snapping off in the process.

Out of concern for the deer, Ciu'nan set out to see if she could open the gate. Finding a narrow ledge that rose up close to the top of the gate, the agile fae leapt across to the top of the wall. The gatehouse was just big enough to house the crank to lift the gate with some extra space perhaps for a weapons cache at one time.

Ciu'nan grabbed the crank and began to turn it, but found it stuck fast, presumably from untold years of stagnation. She called to Fei and asked for his assistance with the crank. Helping him up the ledge and across to the gatehouse if necessary, they both would push against the crank. In this instance, the rain was fortuitous as the soft ground relinquished the bottom of the portcullis a bit easier than it would have when dried, or especially frozen.

The catch that would have otherwise held the crank had at some point gone missing, so the pair manning the gatehouse would have to hold the crank until the herd had passed through. The deer appeared to have no concept of the potential danger as they crawled under the jagged portcullis as it raised high enough for them to do so. Several tense minutes passed as the herd bottlenecked through the gate. Finally, the last of them had passed without incident, and the pair could release their grasp on the crank. It whirled wildly as the portcullis sank into the mud once more. Taking a moment to relish being released from the crank's burden, Ciu'nan wearily gestured onward while panting as she hopped down on the far side of the wall.

Beyond the gate was the vaguest remnants of a small, fort-like structure. Aside from the floor and a brick or two still left in a corner beyond the gate, the rest of building had inexplicably vanished. There were strange gouges and tracks in the floor and lower walls of the ravine. Nothing of note was left in the vague remnants of the fort, making it easy to move on with the deer without much pause except to rest weary arms.

The ravine was quiet compared to the forests they had traversed up til now. One might briefly see a bird flying far overhead before being obscured by the cliffs, but nothing moved along the walls or the floor. The narrow path was too rocky to host much plantlife.

It wasn't long after leaving the gate behind that the walls of the ravine widened into a comfortably roomy yet small, lush dead end. Like a natural garden here at the ravine's end, the space was sprinkled with trees and bushes, some of which bore fruit, however, there at the far end was a massive, tangled briar bush that seemed to sprout out of the wall.

The deer had no interest in any of the foliage around them and instead went straight for the briars. Packing themselves around the bush, the deer began to hungrily chomp at the green delicacy. At first there was nothing out of the ordinary: just a bunch of deer ganging up to eat a briar bush.

Then the green garden began to stain red....

As the deer munched on their mouthfuls of briar, blood began to seep out of their mouths. Trickles at first, then free-flowing streams of crimson mingled with their saliva and dribbled down their muzzles. The bush had in part animated, it seemed, causing the barbs to project at the deer as they approached for a bite and continued to poke and sting as they chewed on it. Despite what must be incredible pain, the deer gnashed their teeth all the more vigorously at the bush.

Once the bush had begun to noticeably diminish from the sadistic appetites of the deer, its assault grew more violent. The vines of briar lashed out at the deer, lacerating throats, gouging eyes, impaling hearts. Now the deer began to fall, while those who were first began to succumb to the blood loss they had been experiencing. Even so, the remainder of the herd mindlessly marched forth to fill in where the ones ahead had fallen. Thus this went on for some time, Ciu'nan and Fei being powerless to stop the grotesque feast.

Eventually, the bush had been ate away enough to reveal that there was a passage in the cliff behind it. With the lively nature of the briars, however, venturing near the passage while any part of the bush remained would not be wise. Of course, the herd was numerous, and the bush could not regenerate itself. With the deer pushing beyond their natural limits to gorge on the briars, it was only a matter of time before the last of the bush was ripped from the ground it had sprang from. In the end, only six deer would remain as the would-be seventh and eighth succumbed to the vines they were eating.

Ciu'nan would openly weep as she stared in horror and heartbreak at the scene unfolding before her eyes. There was no reason, no logic, that could justify what she had just witnessed, and she sank to her knees in the middle of the garden staring at the eviscerated and bloody carcasses around her. The remaining deer would stand at the cave entrance revealed by their kin, bewitched into a trance-like state by some unknown power.

 

[Sisyphus Happy]

Fei stared intently at the gore, curiosity piqued. He had some vague impression of them being possessed when they butted against the gate so vigorously. Many ideas ran through his mind. A settlement with shamanic magics which draw deer to their gates to feast or tend them, or perhaps it's intended to keep the deer out. It seemed more likely to be the latter once they found this red garden. He kicked himself for not scouting ahead, he might have been able to save this poor woman some grief. There was an uncharacteristic excitement in him at nearing the end of this journey, he reasoned, which distracted him from thinking tactically. Never mind that, he mulled over the implications of this creature the deer impaled themselves on. He could not tell whether this thing was summoned, created, or perfectly natural. The passage behind it gave him some doubts about the first two, but he took a step forward curiously, then stopped, peering back at her. Given his... condition, he had few worries about how the remaining plant would affect him. But his companion, he did not want to see any harm befall her. In bold face, his desires came out. At the back of his mind, his desire to find a place that would not bother him for his issue, hidden, fortified, safe, a place of community, that is what he was looking for. That is what this could be, and the herd of beasts that would otherwise lead travellers to this place are now fertilizer. What could be more perfect?

He stepped back and neared himself to Ciu'nan. He did not touch her for fear that she would discover his condition, she did not need to see such a thing yet while being so affected by this development. Usually he would have something reassuring to say but truly, after such a spectacle he was speechless and, perhaps shamefully, excited at the prospect of such a defensible place to claim for his own. His eyes roamed over the ground slicked with blood and gore and fixed on the passage. He merely stood unspeaking near her, allowing her to express her anguish. A strange apathy settled in him at the scene itself, then empathy for her, then jealousy of her. Perhaps it's because he has already gone through this. The body piles from the war were high, smelled terrible, buried in the earth without ceremony, sometimes were not soldiers, and were far larger than this herd. This scene rolled off of him, but her anguish reminded him of what he had at some point. As the desire to explore ebbed a little, in the space a tenuous mixture of jealousy and empathy filled in and drove him to a hint of distaste for himself. He stared down at her for a moment and then his gaze arced down toward the dirt and then up toward the entrance again, patient for now.

 

[Clyvelle]

Ciu'nan
|Fae|​

It rained. A cooling, all-encompassing shower borne by the gray clouds above that was sufficient to begin the process of cleaning the slate. Water color pastels became vibrant once more through the rain's purification, but the filth and refuse ran a muddy sanguine on the floor below.

Ciu'nan had half-heartedly approached before falling to her knees, but she was still a safe distance away from the muck. Even so, she stood as her tears became camouflaged by the rainwater. Her fists clenched at her sides as a new emotion began to pollute her sadness.

"Why...?" She said aloud as her cheeks tensed. "What was so important that all these deer had to die?"

Ciu'nan drew her spear as she approached the cave. She seemed to ignore her feet splashing through the red water. The deer lingering at the mouth of the cave didn't seem to mind as she moved between them to the entrance.

It was dark inside. The overcast sky offered little assistance in illuminating the passage. Even so, Ciu'nan could see a faint glow at the end of the tunnel.

She cautiously stepped inside, spear raised, as she stalked into the darkness towards that distant glow. The noise of the outside became muted betwixt the stone, a faint hissing all that hinted at the rain outside. Despite the external conditions, the inside of the cave was markedly dry, which was all the more curious given its gradual descending grade.

The shaft she occupied did not wander for too long before reaching its raison d'être: a small chamber containing a lone fountain--the source of the glow. Its design was largely plain save for symbols etched into its rim. Even a layman could guess its magic nature, but Ciu'nan glared in disbelief.

"This is it...?" Ciu'nan said finally. "All of that blood and sacrifice for this?!"

In her frustration, she swatted the surface of the water irreverently. While the glowing water still hung in the air, a cloud suddenly issued from the fountain, filling and obscuring the chamber.

 

[Sisyphus Happy]

Liu leaned away from her a little at her outburst. Perhaps this is the kind of instinct that makes pets a popular choice for people; the ability to form attachment to this random herd of deer after merely following behind them and stepping in their dung for a week was enough for her to be angry at their being preyed upon. He himself was never so fond of animals. He was not quick to correct her either, she was holding a spear and willing to slap such a compelling structure over her attachment. Liu would have looked disappointed, though not so incensed, that this cavern was occupied by something probably not unknown but recondite considering the giant gate they encountered on their way there. Lost in thought considering his options for establishing some kind of secret town in this little cave high in the mountains, guarded by a gate and evil plants, he hardly noticed her actions until there was a thick cloud obscuring his vision in the chamber. Immediately he clamored forward, trying to place a hand on Ciu'nan's nearest shoulder before he lost sight of her completely.

"Oh dear," he expressed neutrally. Names rose in his mind to call her but perhaps now is not the time. Silently, he cast his eyes around and strained his ears... so to speak. Looking out for any danger approaching and anything he would need to respond to. Immediately, the mist did not strike him as harmful but he certainly expected something on its heels to address them.

 

[Clyvelle]

As the mist enveloped Ciu'nan and Fei, the ground beneath them would fall away to nothing. The physical sensations of their very forms would become void as they would be reduced to separate consciousness floating in the mist.

The light from the fountain would carry on in the gray haze as the pair, unaware of each other in their present state, would stare as one trying to see through the fog. Though the fog itself was luminous, a light brighter still began to permeate through the veil as the mist parted to reveal a forest. A yellow tint stained the image like aged parchment.

From their fixed perspective, Ciu'nan and Fei would behold a path leading up to a stone staircase, at the top of which stood a fae of immense stature. Horns like twisted branches sprouted from its head. Flowing robes draped its frame as it stood patiently awaiting those at the foot of the stairs.

The scene played over and over with the fae waiting at the top of the stairs to receive gifts brought by many different creatures who humbly climbed the steps beneath it. Humans. Beastkin. Elves. Other fae. Each gift graciously received into the massive hands of the esteemed fae. As these scenes played out endlessly, a disembodied voice narrated the scenes with apparent longing.

"I was a god to them. Revered by both small and great, mortals from far and near came to honor me. Out of respect. Out of fear. Some seeking a blessing. Others seeking my mercy. All wishing for me to stay, to be content surrounded by the trees that towered in those days. In my naivety, I believed that there was nothing worth venturing beyond the borders of my domain."

The scene shifted from the offerings to the fae now standing in a clearing surrounded by woodland creatures.

"The animals did not treat me in the same way as the upright creatures. Their earnest eyes looked to me for affection and preservation in the face of much that would attempt to destroy them. They were...my children, and far more fitting were they to play such a role than the ones who would try to pacify me with their feeble offerings. Being to them a parent, sure in my power and authority, I would spare nothing in preserving the lives put under my charge. To keep their earnest stares and blind trust assured...I would even go to war...."

A harsh orange tint stained the picture as it blurred and shifted to the skyline of a village consumed in flames.

"Those who came from without the forest were far too insecure. Any whisper in their ear could convince them their own bedfellow was a sworn enemy. Though I know not whence it came, one such whisper convinced the powers of the time that I was some evil hellbent on their destruction. They sought to slay me.
"In their confused passion, they never thought--they could not even fathom--that this phenomenon of their own paranoia was known to me...and I weaponized it to great effect. One malevolent whisper caused the armies to turn on each other and ravage the lands without my forest. To see their cities burning was the first occasion that caused me to leave the forest of my dwelling."

The fires dimmed as the image shifted to the fae walking amongst ashen ruins. Like the steps before, the image replayed with the fae walking amongst many different ruins.

"There was something in seeing their settlements and kingdoms ruined that greatly pleased me. I was...satisfied that my own power had wrought such destruction of those that would be my enemies. In my pride I took an extended tour of their dessolated countryside. I had not seen their warfare first hand and knew nothing of the tenacity of the upright creatures. By the time I returned to my forest, the same fires and destruction that had consumed my enemies had also consumed my home. I would later learn that a remnant of the warring peoples had rallied together to finally purge themselves of me. Failing to find me, they desecrated my sanctum and scattered or else destroyed my children. This was when I first felt true wrath...."

The image of the fae distorted as his form became that of a humanoid tree. The scenery around him shifted to different places all showing creature fleeing from him in terror.

"I was wroth with the sentient creatures and sought their destruction. They had spurned any tolerance or benevolence I had for them. When a forest is infected with a blight, there is only one solution: destroy the roots afflicted by it. Though their roots spread far and wide, I believed my anger was sufficient to end the blight manifested by the hands of the humanoids. Their pestilence paled in comparison to the relentless scourge I wrought in those days. Yet...the stars would align against me...."

A final shift in the misty vision showed the garden just outside the cave. Barely recognizable, the end of the ravine where the mouth of the cave was stood barren with nothing green growing. The fae stood in front of the cave, seemingly boxed in by a band of warriors led by an individual wielding a strange magic manifested in projections of constellations.

"An individual wielding a magic powered by the celestial bodies above led a band of men against me. Through the mage's powers they succeeded in backing me into the cave that would ultimately become my prison. I would spend countless ages replaying these scenes endlessly..."

 

[Sisyphus Happy]

Liu, who had once seen a motion picture and had great interest in them, was less taken aback by the scenes before him. Actively he imagined what motion pictures would be like in the future, that they would be like memories shown on a screen. For this experience he maintained the distinct sense that he was an observer in this case and did not feel threatened by this scenery or these memories. Impressed with his own disposition at the sudden all-encompassing stimulation, he began considering the idea that this creature may benefit his own endeavors. Not as a matter of parasitism, but mutual benefit. Much to his relief this chamber is nothing but a prison, not necessarily an artifact to be preserved. As to this creature's intentions, Liu thought carefully about the scenes before him. It seemed like the creature was once similar to the elder creature Masaruma. In this forest, the beings stewarding over creatures surely enjoyed offerings and prostration. A stunning opportunity overall, he reasoned, was this creature's presence here.

He waited patiently for the scenes to conclude, bracing his arms at the small of his back, eagerly awaiting more information.

 

[Clyvelle]

Ciu'nan
|Fae|​

The weightless sensation of being in the fog was bizarre yet familiar to Ciu'nan. She could not place where she had felt such a thing before though. The scenes playing out before her were marvelous and horrific. The fae could not help but pity the one these memories belonged to. Even so, the lengths to which the creature went for vengeance were inexcusable.

The mists thinned as the memories faded from view. The pair would return to their respective frames feeling somehow heavier than before after experiencing the weightless environment of the memory mist. Before them, the fountain glowed as always, only now bubbles rose up from the depths to disturb the surface. First only a few bubbles, then many, until the whole fountain was churning. Finally up from the depths rose the very figure they had just been viewing.

Oddly enough, the creature was quite small compared to the likeness they had seen in the memories. The top of his horns stood about four feet off the top of the fountain where he stood. His eyes were closed as he emerged, but now they suddenly opened.

Ciu'nan inched back as the fae stared at her then Fei, then to the surrounding chamber, and finally down at his form.

"So...fate has seen fit to humiliate me in diminishing me during my confinement...." He said, his displeasure plain at his current state. "Were it not enough that I was falsely accused and persecuted only to be confined when I sought justice against my enemies?" Hopping down from the fountain, his height became more comedically apparent as he only came up to the torso on both of his visitors. "And who are you? What are you?" demanded the half pint as he stared at them quizzically.

Ciu'nan had been lost for words at the...surpisingly cute appearance of the shrunken fae. Biting her lip to keep from smiling or, gods forbid, laughing, she managed to blurt out her name. "I'm...Ciu'nan! Just a humble fae."

The elder fae scoffed at her response as he turned to Fei, waiting for an answer.

 

[Sisyphus Happy]

Fei bowed at the stomach toward this creature. A little embarrassed at his lumpy shape, he shifted on his feet a little, bringing one of his arms around the front and placing it on his stomach to break up the expanse of dark fabric that would otherwise loom over this imprisoned being. He glanced over toward the right at Ciu'nan's somewhat retreated form. Taken again by that unusual stillness, absent of breath and heartbeat and fear, he rose smoothly and inclined his head toward the creature. His tone was even and emanated from his form, the peak of his heavy hood hanging over his face and obscuring his features to normal sight. However, this creature could be fully aware of his condition. His voice's emotion was absent of overt excitement or fear, it was even absent of amusement or pity, only a measured respect and gentleness.

"Perhaps I am an opportunity," he suggested gently, raising his hand. Despite the gravity of his tone, the gesture rose grandly... and then he began shaking his arm roughly, the flapping of fabric emanating just like his voice. After a few rough shakes, making sure to direct all this movement away from the creature, the sleeve around his wrist bulged out and a corner of fabric peeked out of the mouth of it. He reached over and yanked a crumped garment out, deflating his arm greatly. Now the great cloak was hanging around his arm quite unimpressively. He swiftly threw the garment over his shoulder -- it seemed to be a nice tunic of indigo and lace, perfectly urbane after pressing the wrinkles out. He made the sound of a sigh and threw his hood back, revealing his skeletal form. There was obviously not any expression on his face since he was without skin but he tilted his head and began speaking, shaking his other arm rapidly with more muted motions. After a similar sequence of events, he pulled another few crumpled garments from his other sleeve, tossing them over the same shoulder. Perhpas it was obvious before but now it was clear that much of his form was stuffed with fabrics and garmets to give the impression of fullness. The way his cloak rested on his arms when it moved made clear his thinness, one might say bonyness.

"My name is Fei Liu -- Fei is my family name. I have a range of skills including the creation of maps," he glanced sidways at Ciunan -- that is to say his skull turned toward her briefly and then back to the creature, "and I am also rather lacking in patronage as it stands," he sighed wistfully, casting another garment over his shoulder and deflating some portion of his midsection in the process.

 

[Clyvelle]

Ciu'nan
|Fae|​

The fae looked at them both, receiving their answers, mulling them over. Both he and Ciu'nan watched as Fei finally revealed himself. Ciu'nan's eyes widened slightly, but she offered him a slightly sad smile. Her thoughts would have to wait as the fae began speaking again, starting with Fei.

"An opportunity, you say? Undead make good menial servants. Tireless warriors that lack the normal fragilities common in the living. These are your most logical uses, yet you come offering maps? You are...odd for an undead." The fae then turns to Ciu'nan. "And you. A 'humble fae', is it? I see your antlers. Your flowery decorum. You claim you are a fae, yet you stand before me wearing an animal skin. Since when do fae kill their own kin?" The tone with which the fae spoke became increasingly skeptical and a growing, accusatory tone crept into his voice. Before the pair could begin to defend themselves, he held up a hand, palm facing the pair. "I do not need your lies and excuses. My [Appraisal] will tell me all I need to know."

A light shone from the fae's palm as he closed his eyes. Ciu'nan took another step back. The fear she had felt in the presence of that stranger at the ruins crept up from the pit of her stomach as the fae examined her and Fei. After a few moments of quiet meditation, the light faded as the fae opened his eyes.

"Hmph, I knew it. Offworlders, the both of you." He said as his eyes narrowed.

Ciu'nan tilted her head in confusion.

"O...Offworlders...What--?" Ciu'nan began to ask.

"Offworlders." said the fae. "It's what we call your kind: spirits that have been sent here from somewhere else by that...meddlesome god. You are not part of this world's natural death and rebirth. You are a disturbance--a life that was never meant to be here."

Ciu'nan's face twisted in confusion.

 

[Sisyphus Happy]

Fei inclined his skull toward her, somehow wry despite the lack of expression. Grave though this creature may be, the constant flapping of Liu pulling, let's be frank, stolen clothing out of his person defused some tension for him. He deflated his silhouette further until he was deathly thin and inhumanly tall, around seven feet tall. Thankfully the cloak seemed to reach about that far. Betwen hunching a little and widening his form he was able to mitigate his beanpole build a little. now he stood at his full height, towering a little more over Ciu'nan, although relative to this thing it made little difference. He reached up with his white-gloved hand and adjusted the collar on his cloak as though it irritated him -- a farce, to be sure. For a moment he considered his response since the creature seemed unusually petulant for a great being. This soured his allure -- for some reason he felt, not thought, that divine creatures were mirrors of heavenly organization and restraint with supercognition and deep philosophies. He refrained from laughing but the creature's pedantic grandstanding stunned him with deja vu and relieved him greatly. To be sure it could murder him swiftly at the height of its power and probably even now, but even a normal person with a gun, and now a normal person with a reliable club, could murder him on a whim. Reassured by the creature's mild familiarity, Liu waved off the jargon and imagined himself sighing before cutting through all of the grandisonance.

"And a third was in this very forest," he added, recalling the demon-throated man referencing cultures from his own world out loud, "though he has since departed, we shared a fire with him. There seems to be an infestation," he finished, waiting patiently for this creature to reveal its intentions so that he would have something to grapple with. He turned his head toward Ciu'nan again, attempting to squint. She struck him as a local for a few reasons, hearing that she is in the same boat surprised him a little.

 

[Clyvelle]

Ciu'nan
|Fae|​

The fae's squinting gaze widened in surprise and disgust at Fei's commentary. He huffed his displeasure.

"There's more of you tainted facades milling about?! In my forest, no less! Oh, this cannot stand. I'll...I'll...!" said the fae as his fingers tensed and curled in growing agitation.

Ciu'nan took a small, tentative, yet indignant, step forward at the fae's claims. Her mouth gaped, seeking to formulate the words that would convince him he was wrong about her nature.

"Lord fae, I mean no disrespect, but you must be mistaken. I...I was born here...or rather, awoke here a handful of years ago. My earliest memories are of this world. I know no other." insisted she.

The fae's agitation settled, or perhaps peaked, as its demeanor froze while its gaze snapped to Ciu'nan. Beneath its unsettled surface, a decision had been made.

"I'll start with you. Both of you." It said menacingly. "I will not repeat my mistakes and turn a blind eye while you and your malignant kind play out your fantasies in a world that does not need or want you. I'll end you here."

The diminutive fae flicked his wrists to hike his sleeves back up off his hands. Reeling back, he thrust a palm forward, confident that their demise would be swift. And...nothing happened. He waited a moment, peradventure the spell was delayed in coming forth. Another moment passed in tense but uneventful silence. Finally, the fae relaxed, straightening as he stared at his palm.

"Will the insults never cease? Imprisoned for countless ages to have not only the height of my glory diminished, but now I find that my power has been reduced to almost nothing?"

The fae turned away and began to pace in frustration. His hands wringed one another as he pondered his predicament. He began to mutter to himself as he organized a plan.

"I'll have to reclaim my power...Yes...The obelisks then, assuming they still stand. How much time has passed, I wonder...Would anyone still know their significance? Or how to use them? No matter...I should start immediately then...however...." His attention turned back to his guests. "I can't just leave you two, knowing that I have been freed. They will have set up watchers, surely, though they may not even remember what they watch for....Then I will settle this now."

The fae approaches the pair, turning from one to the other. He was sizing them up.

"I will take only one of you, but to decide, let's play a game, shall we? Let's see which one of you is more stable: the dead man or the false fae?"

Suddenly, the fae lifted into the air, while the train of his robe stretched to the ground becoming transparent. He flew over top of the pair as his train washed over and passed through them. They would experience a montage of memories concerning their former life. The good. The bad. The worst. Moments of time with high emotional impact, perhaps even trauma.

 

[Sisyphus Happy]

Liu was shunted with little warning into his own memories. The sun shone brightly from the east, lifting the hard packed dry soil from its gloaming smear, from this high vantage point the clear blue sky buzzed with haze and scrubby dark bushes clutched sharp rocks carved by wind and time, forming a maze of cover for the enemy's advance. He stood glaring at the distance with sweat pooling at his neck from the humidity, but not out of nerves. He stood on the hard ground with his boots planted shoulder length apart and his arms clasped behind his back, standing tall. He much preferred this hard packed ground to the muddy slurry he had to trudge through in the south. Sure, they have that land now, but that means they have to climb uphill when the hills' defenders have solid footing now, no trenchfoot and no flies to shoo away, firm steps to carve through the fiends in the distance. He didn't even blink when the artillery behind him began thundering their protest -- he was far too close even with ear protection and his ears rang, but he wished to see the destruction for himself. Death, ardence, desperation, loss and triumph, explosions and industrial savagery all played back once again. These memories of his were not new to him, as they would be to Ciu'nan. Distracting though it may be, the feeling is familiar. He knows his story; it seemes for most of his life he has had the luxury of knowing what he was doing and why he was doing it, at least up until the end. He doesn't suffer when he falls into reliving it in the depths of the night, while all of his biological companions are resting. His only anguish is that now it is harder to find that steadfast ground to stand on, and there is nobody to stand by.

It took him mere seconds adapt to the effect. This thing posed some kind of challenge to them. Fei considered for a moment -- he rather liked this creature in a way it would never like him. The way he referred to them with such disdain, threw his weight around with such little efficacy or care, connived out loud and displays a staggering level of self absorption. Liu mused for another few moments -- this creature struck him as some kind of maniacal cat and couldn't trust that it wouldn't just discard him after finishing with its needs, but he was also sure some kind of contract could be etched out in magic. This creature is indeed not his style, but on the other hand, would Ciu'nan benefit in the long run from being burdened by its caprices and malcontent? Purported malice, Liu reasoned, seemed to be the only thing he and the creature share. It possessed such hatred and frustration, not that Liu blames it, that he wished to give the poor thing a hug. Would he steal from Ciu'nan her chance at success? Would he shield her from this thing's hateful rampage? He was certain that he could emotionally handle any nonsense the creature had for him, after all, he made it through training already. The sheer disdain it holds toward him mirrors the attitudes a fair few of his superiors in his past life. No, he could surely do better.

The problem is, so can Ciu'nan.

He watched for a moment to see how she would react while he faced true ambivalence.

 

[Clyvelle]

Ciu'nan...?
​

The testy nature of the fae was becoming more apparent, yet, even as he rose to cast a spell on Ciu'nan, her sixth sense that told her when she was in danger did not go off. As his train passed over her, she was taken from that chamber in the grotto to another place entirely. In moments, she would experience a series of moments from the former life she never knew she had.

My name was Dyani. I lived with a tribe of native people in those days. It was customary for women to learn homemaking skills, but, oh, how my heart yearned to wander the forest. Despite what was seen as a peculiarity, there was one young man whose favor I found...and he mine.

A war broke out between my people and strangers in the land. They came with weapons far superior to our own. My beloved would die protecting me...but they were in vain.

One of the strangers took a liking to me, but he knew nothing of swearing oneself to his partner. He took me and demanded my affections, punishing me severely when I denied him. I learned to just let him have his way. Somehow...even though he struck me less...it hurt all the more....

In this manner I would bear him three children. He named them, of course. I was forbidden. Even so, I still know the names I had picked out for them: my two boys, Citana, Jacy, and my youngest, a girl, Elu. Occasionally, I would use them when that man wasn't around.

I suffered much at the hands of my captor, but his wrath seemed to wane some once the children came. I took on another use for him then: caretaker. He would involve the boys in his hunting, but only because raising his own hunting party was lucrative for him. Everything he did--from taking me, to forcing me to bear his children, and now teaching his children how to hunt--was only out of self-interest.

I learned far too late that he was plotting a far more sinister use for our children. He decided to take us on a trip one day. Claimed he wanted to do something nice for us. I should have known right then that he was scheming something, but I was much to naive. Even after all the abuse I suffered from this man, I wanted to believe that maybe he would change.

We went out to a lesser mountain. He said the area was plenty safe, but even then I knew that the area was still wild. I questioned him about it, but that's exactly what he wanted. He was much too happy, smug really, when he said, he'd take the boys and scout out the area. When he revealed he had brought weapons, he silenced my protests by saying that he knew this was exactly how I'd respond. It was all a setup.

About a half hour later, I would hear fast approaching screams followed by the most horrible roar I'd ever heard. That fool of a man had brought all of us out to this very mountain to hunt a bear, whose pelt and fame from killing it would have made him very comfortable for a long while. I and my children were all bait, and it was bait we became.

Ciu'nan stood still, staring wide-eyed at the vision she had been granted by the fae's magic. Tears streamed down her face with each new revelation of her past. At the climax, her back arched as she relived the bear tearing into her. She would drop to her knees gasping for breath as the vision receded.

"My children...." she gasped.

She sobbed as her face bowed to the stone floor. The fae stood nearby, watching. Ciu'nan's shoulders shuddered with her profuse weeping. The fae clicked his tongue.

"There. You see?" he said to no one in particular. "Offworlders are often weak. These new lives are their way of escap--"

The fae was interrupted as Ciu'nan's weeping suddenly turned to laughing. He looked with renewed interest as Ciu'nan slowly sat back up, her laughing becoming more maniacal by the second. Tears still streamed down her face as her mouth opened in an agonized grin. As she begins to stand, the fae begins to approach. Ciu'nan sweeps with her spear, tightly gripped in her hand.

"Don't you see? I can still save them from that bear. I can save them...I can...."

Ciu'nan bursts into an unsettling fit of laughter as she disappears. The fae looks around as her laughter continues to echo throughout the grotto. Then the ripples appeared. Starting from where she had been standing, spectral ripples appeared, dotting a path out of the grotto. A faint jingling could be heard at the spawning of each ripple. The fae stared for a moment before shifting his gaze to Fei.

"You're, uh...you're alright then? Gonna hold it together a bit better than her?" he asked uncertainly.

 

[Sisyphus Happy]

Liu leaned away from the outburst, at first a little worried for her. However, quickly that worry evaporated when she became hopping mad. He reached up to scratch the back of his head out of habit. Once she reached that point he promptly gave up on her. He's seen it before, a few times. He's done his time at the burn piles, at the mass graves, stepping carefully through ruined, smouldering villages where filthy mothers clutched their dead children and people swayed back and forth like hungry ghosts, their minds sundered by the shockwave of some errant shell. He wasn't sure whether to wish for her speedy recovery or to hope she never snaps out of, joyous as she is. He turned back to the little wretch and let out the sound of a sigh. The skeleton crossed his arms sternly and shook his head faintly. Somehow a skeleton frowned that day, disappointment dripping from his posture. A little bit ago he was as sturdy as a stone standing equally on two feet but now he shifted his weight over onto the other foot and his hip jutted out a little, a casual position. A moment passed while he stared with his vacuous sockets at the fey lord until he broke the silence.

"Is your tantrum finished, my lord?" he snarked, looking down the ridge of his missing nose at this creature.

 

[Clyvelle]

The dull hissing of the rain outside crept into the lone chamber of the grotto in the wake of the last echoing laugh from Ciu'nan. The fae god did not stop her from leaving. His focus was on the one who remained. His eyes took on a critical look as he eyed the undead towering over him. The fae did not react when Fei taunted him, simply allowing the silence to hang in the air like the humidity created by the rain. Finally, a smile slowly crept along his face.

"You never know what your fate will be when drawing straws," said the fae thoughtfully as his gaze lingered on the featureless skull staring at him, "but whatever fate brought us together must have humor indeed." A satisfied chuckle escaped him as his demeanor soften somewhat. "You are a mapmaker, then? Show me your craft! Let me see how the land has changed in my long slumber...."

Conclusion
The nameless god aligns himself with Fei for the time being. After reviewing what Fei had mapped out, they would depart from the grotto. The god took particular interest in the ruins they had stayed at the previous night.
Sometime after the god departs with Fei, a massive bird flies over the garden outside the grotto. There is a rider on its back that looks at the slaughtered deer and destroyed briar bush with great distress. Urging her bird, she quickly flies off into the downpour that was finally coming to an end.
Ciu'nan is long gone, destination unknown.​

 

[Novama]

Isekai Hell RP Grade​

Clyvelle Sisyphus Happy LadyOfStars EMIYAman Volkie
Welp that was long. Felt like the definitive fantasy adventure. The ending was a hard left, but the rest was quite a ride. None of the rp'ers involved have the standing to establish living gods, so assume the powerful entities encountered were a dream or merely beings just a grade or so stronger than the rp's participants. I encourage breaking up rp's like this into parts. There were at least 3 distinct parts to the rp where a chapter break may have been appropriate and easy to do.

Aftermath
Fei Liu eventually parts ways with the powerful Fae assuming he actually met the Fae at all. Perhaps it was all a waking dream?
(fae can persist if Fei Liu makes him into a companion with points)
Those waiting on Ciu'nan's report would not receive one, but that's to be expected from Fae

Rewards


Ciu'nan - 105 points (narration included)

• optional title acquired [Flaky] - character was tasked with a job and failed to deliver. Character gives off an air of unpredictability and unreliability. Character is less likely to be tasked with someone's requests and little trust or grace will be extended if a job actually is taken. However, it is easy to live up to low expectations.

Fei Liu - 105 points

• optional title acquired [Unbroken] - Your time and experiences have hardened you, even in your worst state, you remain yourself even under stressful duress. Character has an easier time living with their choices and past or present experiences.

Partial Participants

Haruki - 26pts
Wonton - 18pts
Tia - 39pts