Fantasy Realm of the Dead

[scorpiodragon]

You wake up in the dark, wrapped in silence. A light shine down upon you when someone removes the lit from the coffin you've been resting in. A shadow of a man, fluid and interchangable, holds out his hand for you. "My condolances," he says. "Welcome to the Relm of the Dead." What does he want? Where are you? And... who are you?​

For the following players:

scorpiodragon
koala
Cartouche
​

 

[koala]

"C"​

Cartouche

A wave of nausea washed over Calidanea, her golden eyes fluttering open only to meet complete darkness. The only thing she could hear was the sound of her own breath--short, quiet, and growing increasingly jagged by the minute. A bundle of thoughts began to fill her head as she attempted moving only to be blocked by some kind of wooden barrier. It only took a second for her to realize she was in some kind of box. She was undoubtedly trapped in a coffin.

"He-hello?" The woman called out shakily, not even recognizing her own voice as it sounded raspy and unused. "Hello?" Repeated the female as she began to bang on the wood above her. "Is anyone out there? Somebody please let me out!" Calidanea repeatedly hit the wood until the sides of her hands began to sting. Laying her hands on either side of her body, her breath began to quicken once more. It was becoming harder and harder to breathe. Her chest was lowering and rising at an alarming rate as she desperately tried to breathe in deeply. Feeling as though her body was about to completely give out on her, she decided to shut her eyes and accept her situation. She was going to suffocate to death.

Suddenly, the lid of the coffin was removed and a bright light streamed directed onto her eyes and blinded her for a split second. Holding a slender hand over above her to provide some sort of shield, Calidanea noticed an unearthly creature gazing down at her. Or at least, it appeared to be gazing down at her. It was a shadow of a man, fluid and interchangeable. The only thing that could've really indicated the shadow was a man at all was the deep voice that resonated from the depths of its being.

The man--the shadow--held out his hand for Calidanea, which she hesitantly took, and said, "My condolences. Welcome to the Realm of the Dead."

What? Calidanea immediately thought as she sat upwards in the coffin. What? No. That can't be right. She looked at the figure with a quizzical expression, eyebrows scrunched and lips slightly ajar. The brief instance of empty thoughts passed, however, as she began to look around. Nothing around her appeared familiar. It all seemed like something out of a story, but how did she know that? How did she know the land was unfamiliar? Where was she? No, the better question would be who was she?

"No, no, no," Calidanea muttered as her hands gripped the sides of her hair. Bending her head downwards, that was when she noticed her bare legs were... transparent. They seemed to flicker in and out of opaqueness before returning to a frightening transparency. The woman could see everything inside her that was normally hidden by skin. "W-what the?" She stuttered as she examined her hands and arms, which exhibited the same transparency. A sense of fear began to form in her chest as she turned to the mysterious figure, eyes wide. "Am... I really dead?"

 

[Cartouche]

"Do not fear." The shadow kneel before her. "I am here to guide you, fair lady. You have been chosen by the king of this realm. You shall be queen in Death." He looked upon her, hesistantly. "Does your head hurt, m'lady?" He glanzed at the sun, pale as it was. It's ghostly light had that effect on some of the bodies arriving. He stod up and picked a rose from her grave. It froze by his touch, and he placed it in her hair.

Though he tried his best, he couldn't find ground to stand on. Hovering a few centimeters above the grass, he took her hand and kissed it. "We have a long road in front of us, m'lady. Are you feeling unwell?"

 

[scorpiodragon]

Cipher
Human Form
​

The first thing he was aware of when his eyes snapped open was darkness...still and encasing like a thick blanket he couldn't get off. He tried to move...elbows hitting wooden walls and his eyes widened as he thrust his hands up, hitting wood above him. His breath hitched in his throat, his heart sounding loud within his ears...or it would have if his heart had been beating. As he lowered his arms, there was the slight shifting of something beneath him...on him as well. What was going on? He again tried to move, his breath beginning to come out in fast pants and it was the only sound within his ears which was quite scary for the hybrid. Wait...how did he know that?

"..." For several minutes he could not make his mouth work, his mind beginning to shut down as it tried and failed to process where he was. Where am I? His mind drew a blank. All he could tell was he was trapped and he was suffocating. "Help! Someone...is anyone out...there?!" he shouted. His voice was the only thing to answer back, echoing within his confines, only serving to scare him further and he began pounding his fists against the top of the box. Hands soon uncurling, he began clawing at the top of the box in an effort to dig his way out. The thought that he had been buried alive flickered into his mind and caused him to begin hyperventilating, breath coming in short choked gasps, yet despite his lungs working, it felt like they weren't getting any air. "Oh Gods, I don't want to die! Not like this!"

 

[Cartouche]

The shadow jumped together by the sound from between the trees. "Excuse me for a moment, m'lady." He floated into the forest, followed the distant sound, until yet another grave appeared. How curious, he thought. Two graves within such short distance?

He knocked on the lid. "Hello?"

 

[koala]

"C"​

"I guess I really am dead..." Calidanea muttered as she continued to gaze at herself, failing to notice the mysterious figure reached to pick something. Looking down, the young woman noticed her attire was rather simple yet elegant. The dress she wore was silky and white. The torso portion covered a majority of her chest, with the straps wrapped around her neck and revealing her milky shoulders. The length of gown fell to around her ankles and there were two slits down the front to allow better movement and physical appeal. It was all a bit too pretty in her opinion, but perhaps she was at a party or something when she passed. Or may that was just her normal attire.

"Oh, thank you," the half-nymph responded, surprised that the shadow-like figure had placed a rose in her hair. She had failed to see him freeze it so when she reached up to touch it, the woman jumped slightly. The flower was extremely cold to touch, which was bizarre yet oddly satisfying.

Allowing the man to take her hand into his, she was once again surprised when his lips met her skin. It was a strange feeling, considering he didn't really have a physical body from the looks of it. His lips touching her hand honestly felt more like touching a cloud, though it was somewhat warmer than expected. "My head is fine." Calideana responded as she lifted herself from the coffin, using the shadow man as support. She'd half expected to fall right through him, but that didn't happen of course. Instead, her bare feet touched the warm, dewy grass and send a slight chill down her spine.

Calidanea smiled at the feeling that felt familiar yet foreign. She lightly glided her right foot over the grass as if she were a child experiencing a new sensation. Well... it felt new enough. Everything did. With her accepting the situation finally beginning to sink in, she'd begun to notice that the Realm of the Dead was quite peculiar. The sun was an off shade and the leaves of a nearby tree were pink on black stems. Wait, how did she know that was odd?

Shaking her head, the strawberry blonde nodded as the shadow man excused himself and floated off to another grave. Instead of waiting next to hers, however, she opted to follow him as covertly as she could, making her place behind him as she peeked around to see what was happening.

 

[scorpiodragon]

Cipher
Human Form
​

There was a sharp rapping upon the wood of the box he was in. At first he thought he was imaginal things. It felt like he had been here forever, trapped and confined, separated from the world. Perhaps he had been or perhaps he was just dreaming. What was dreaming? "Yes...help! Get me out!" he shouted. Cartouche

 

[Cartouche]

The shadow pushed to lid away. "What in all worlds are you doing down there, sir? The sun is at mith sky."

(Sorry for such short replies, work, work, work :-( )

 

[scorpiodragon]

Cipher
Human Form
​

Light flooded into his eyes, an arm lifting to shield them from the sudden brightness after being kept within the dark literally and figuratively. Slowly though he ended up lowering his arm enough to see a man...at least he assumed it was a man...a shadow more appropriately...standing or kneeling...floating? He was not sure, but there was somewhere there who might be able to help him get out. Or could he get out on his own? "I...I don't know," he said. "Where...where am I?"

He reached up, using the sides of the box to sit up and pull himself into a sitting position, then slowly stood and struggled out of the box onto the ground below. He looked down at himself and stumbled back, falling back into the grave and smacking his head on the edge of the coffin as he landed. Groaning, he slowly got up and this time when he got onto the ground, he moved away from it. "Who...who are you?" he questioned the shadow man as he looked around him at his surroundings. Everything looked so different which caused him to frown? Why was he questioning everything? Why couldn't he remember anything aside from he was a hybrid and what his parents were?

(No worries)

 

[koala]

"C"​

It was hard to tell what was really going on, what with the tall, shadowy figure blocking most of her vision. She attempted to lean towards the left, however, a collection of odd sounds from the new grave nearly caused her to fall sideways. If Calidanea hadn't grabbed the shadow man in front her, she might as well have gone rolling down the hill.

The new stranger's words were akin to her own. They both appeared to have no idea where or who there were. Perhaps entering the Realm of the Dead required erasing one's memories so regret and pain would not haunt them. If that were the case, Calidanea wouldn't complain. It was just a bit annoying that she couldn't even remember her name.

"Hello," Calidanea spoke softly, still peeking her head from around the shadow man. She offered a small smile as if to say I understand. "I'm C- C?" She repeated herself, unsure of what she meant by that. "C... C... I think my name started with the letter C. Interesting..." Realizing she'd gone on a short ramble, the young woman quickly apologized and stepped so she stood side-by-side with the shadow man. "I'm... uh... new too, I guess? I think this no-face man is supposed to be our guide." Calidanea said as she pointed towards the tall being next to her.

 

[scorpiodragon]

Cipher
Human Form
​

He turned his head at the sound of another voice, this one feminine in nature. A face peeked out from behind the shadow person, introducing herself as C and not seeming to know anything about where she was either, given the smile that came to her face. Thankfully he understood the meaning behind the small smile though frowned to himself as he tried to find his own name. However, everything in his head was a blank. He couldn't even say how old he was. "I don't remember my name...or really anything. Only something about my parents. I suppose...you can call me...Cipher."

 

[koala]

"C"​

"Cipher," Calidanea repeated softly, her eyes going from the new stranger's to the stone besides his grave. She was mildly surprised when she saw his name written on it. Wondering if her grave was the same, the woman dashed off without another word towards the direction she came. When she got there, however, there was nothing. Not even the hole she had risen from.

Eyes frantically looking around, she tried to see if she had maybe missed it. There was nothing for meters though. Only trees, grass, hills, and more trees. Disappointed, Calidanea made her way back to the pair and sighed. "I'm sorry... I thought maybe my name would be on my grave too but... the grave disappeared so..." She pursed her lips as she looked down, bare toes playing with the grass.

"Ah," Calidanea said, her thoughts seeming to change as quickly as the speed of light. The strawberry blonde woman faced the shadow man and crossed her arms over her plump breasts. "What's this about me being a queen? I don't understand. Is that normal? Do you normally greet people and tell them they're getting married?"

 

[scorpiodragon]

Cipher
Human Form
​

Before he could say anything, Cipher-as he decided to call himself-without any knowledge of whom he was, the female who had introduced herself as C suddenly ran off into the surrounding area. What was strange about it was that even with his superior senses, he couldn't hear the girl's feet upon the earth. Casting a glance down at himself, he saw himself still within the clothing he could only assume he had been in when he had died, but his body itself was somewhat transparent. Was this what happened when you died? Not only to lose your memories but also your identity and any human or supernatural ties...lose your body in a sense as well?

The girl soon came back and apologized for leaving. She spoke of thinking her name would be on her gravestone but there was nothing there. Cipher frowned and turned back, only for his own gravestone and the grave itself to disappear, leaving only a patch of green grass which was a welcome relief to the confused hybrid. The disappearance of his grave only caused his frown to deepen into a scowl, not sure what was going on here, but the girl's words made his eyes dart towards her and then to their shadow figure guide.

 

[Cartouche]

"Oh my... you weren't suppose to be here," the shadow said. He looked at C. "M'lady, I can't guide the both of you to the capital, but I must lead you to be wed." An odd feeling ran down his nonexisting spine. "M-master'll surely elliminate me if I don't!" He looked at the two, looking lost as little lambs, and sighed. As he imploted with the hissing of vacuumed air around him, he soon stod in a vaguely more humane form. His long, slender legs almost touched the grass, and although his body and clothes were constantly flickering and his face was a blur, he had the body of a young man. "I suppose you both find it a bit more soothing to be amongst someone looking... normal?"

 

[scorpiodragon]

Cipher
Human Form
​

So sorry that I disappointed you by being here, thought Cipher to himself. Next time, I'll be sure not to die at such an inconvenient time. He turned his gaze towards the shadow figure who spoke to C now, saying she was to be married to someone of importance, truthfully Cipher had not been paying the slightest attention to what may or may not have been said in the time he had managed to avoid falling back into the grave for a second time, a grave that mysteriously disappeared. The young man turned his gaze upon the shadowy figure as the male suddenly imploded, yet there was no explosion to this like he would have thought, instead there was the hissing of a vacuum and a more human figure appeared. Cipher detected no scent at all from the shadow figure, not even in this human form...well he couldn't really detect any scents within this area. "So what am I supposed to do? Just stand here?" he questioned. And the girl...was she really going to end up being forced to wed someone she had never met? What if she didn't even like the person? What was the reason for marrying anyway when you were dead?

 

[Cartouche]

"Young sir, you must be special as well since you're here - do you wish to go on adventure? I have to take my master's bride to him as quick as I can, but if you wish, I shall elad you to the village in which we'll rest for the night?" The shadow looked at the man, his grave had faded away. The sadness in him felt heavier than ever. He reminded him of someone, though he didn't remember who.

 

[scorpiodragon]

Cipher
Human Form
​

"An adventure?" Cipher questioned out loud, his tone showing disbelief at the question and offer. Did he want to go on an adventure? "Sure...there isn't anything else likely to do here," said Cipher. The young man scuffed a shoe in the grass as he looked around him before looking over at C. "I don't suppose we will meet again with your wedding and all but...good luck," he said, not really sure what to say to a random stranger. Cartouche koala

 

[koala]

"C"​

"I'm... I'm not getting married." Calidanea stated bluntly, her arms still crossed over her chest. She observed the interaction between the shadow man and Cipher, unsure of what to really do next. The only thing she was positive of was that there was no way she'd get married, especially to a stranger! Who cared if the guy was the king of the realm or whatever? All that mattered was that she had no idea who she was and everything going on was too sudden.

"I'm going with Cipher." She continued, her tone strong and unwavering. While she didn't know the guy, at least they showed up together. That had to have meant something right? Maybe there were friends when they were alive and died at the same time or something. Or they could've been enemies... or siblings... or maybe just neighbors... Shaking her head, Calidanea left the shadow's side and stood next to Cipher as if to challenge whatever order the shadow man had received.

That was when the shadow itself began to change. Arms and legs began to form and something that resembled a real man appeared. Although he still wasn't touch the ground entirely, he at least had the figure of a human. His face was still a blurred mess and that was all the more unnerving.

Without another word, Calidanea began marching in a random direction, not knowing where she was heading at all.

 

[scorpiodragon]

Cipher
Human Form
​

Cipher was surprised when C refused to get married, though the male had his doubts about the reasons for the marriage. Still, he could not blame the girl for refusing to marry someone she didn't know, even if it was this shadow man's "master" who he...she...it?...feared so much. The appearance into human form was...somewhat okay...if not for the blurry mass of a face and the fact that the shadow figure still did not touch the ground at all. When she moved beside him, he glanced sideways at her and then again looked around, the girl had a defiant streak in her...well until he turned back and she was marching off in some random direction.

 

[Cartouche]

"M'lady, please, don't go!" The shadow floated after her. "Please, I beg of you - my master'll erase me from this realm should I return empty handed! At least come and refuse him in person." Petals of shadows began drizzling off him and turning into sweet smoke. He tried to pick them up, but more fell. He shook his head and tried to catch her glanze. "M'lady, at least concider my master's offer! Let me take you to the village and rest, recover from your chok, please, I..." His words stuck to his throat as his else calm voice cracked for the first time in what may as well've been centuries.

 

[scorpiodragon]

Cipher
Human Form
​

Cipher shook his head as the lady walked off into the unknown, the shadow man then crying after her as shadow petals began falling from his body. Unable to pick them up, they turned into wisps of smoke which Cipher thought was unusual but everything here was unusual. Again he wondered how he knew such things. With nothing else to do, he trailed after the others as they drifted along a sea of green.

 

[koala]

"C"​

Calidanea continued walking through the field of green, again in no particular direction. She was hoping to find some signs of life besides plants and some questionable creatures. Something more human was probably a better explanation. Of course, the only "people" in the are were her, Cipher, and the peculiar shadow man that she couldn't help but pity. The entire time she'd been walking away, he was calling after her like some frightened child.

Finally, the woman stopped. She let out a deep sigh and contemplated on whether she should turn around or not. If she turned, that meant she'd inevitably have to go along with whatever the shadow and "king" had in mind. Or... Or... Calidanea thought as she turned, eyes looking across the field at two distant silhouettes. She decided to begin walking back to the two after reaching a conclusion. Instead of wandering off alone and possibly dying, she'd go along with the shadow man and run off when the timing was right. That, or she'd confront the king about the whole marriage ordeal.

"I pity you..." Calidanea said once she'd reached them both. "I'll go along for now, but I'm still not getting married. I hope your king is benevolent enough to acknowledge my stance or else I'll deeply regret my decision to stay."

 

[Cartouche]

"I'm sure our g-great king would understand!" The Shadow fell petals as big as feathers fall of. "H-he is truly a noble man, I'm sure the two of you can come to a civil solution." He lifted his hand. Petals blew from the ground, revealing a path. "If you please, follow me."

 

[scorpiodragon]

Cipher
Human Form

Cipher watched as "C" and the shadow figure spoke to each other, flowers falling off the shadow which it was unable to collect. He sighed tiredly but began walking, following the path laid out before them that he assumed would take them to the village, not saying anything as he had nothing to say and he wasn't even sure if conversation would be appreciated or what he could say to make this make any sense.​