Formally called Terra, or just The World by its inhabitants, or the Thaniealam, or simply Alam some ancient elves called it. The world of Terra functions similarly to the Earth as we know it. The level of civilization in Terra is currently equivalent to the late medieval to early Renaissance period.
It is a general knowledge among those who are literate enough that the world was created mainly for humanity to thrive. The destined dominant species, the Creator says, according to the ancient scriptures.
The Continent
The continent where the majority of the story currently takes place. The land soaked in blood for many centuries and the realm where empires fall and rebuild, only to have themselves plunged into another devastating war again. The list of conflicts was enormous most people wouldn't even bother to remember what the casus belli were.
Except, of course, misery during Serensiel's regime. But that's the story for another time.
It is the land where humans, elves, and other ancient races settle and thrive. The level of civilization, prosperity, demographics, and culture relatively varies between nations. Such disparity and differences have been used as reasons for nations to seek war with each other.
Nowadays, however, the prospects of war between nations have been more unpopular than ever. Pioneered by Helvetia and the Elven Kingdom, the two formed a strong alliance that advocated a peaceful diplomatic approach rather than an open conflict that also served as a deterrent from other hostile forces.
And it worked, flawlessly! No other major power would risk a blatant invasion against the two, allowing them to develop their nation significantly ahead of their neighbors. The success of the two racially different nations eventually inspired the other kingdoms to sign a covenant of peace and form a Council of Nations, for the peace and benefit of all.
And so, the continent is at peace. An uneasy peace perhaps, since there will be always some top brasses in every nation who despise the idea of amity and forgetting the old hatred. But as long as reasonable leaders remain in charge, the Council will manage. And so far, the organization has proven to be quite effective in resolving discords between its state members that are satisfactory enough for all parties involved.
The Nations in the continent are as follows:
Westernant
The continent's current dominant power. Westernant started its peak after the fall of Queen Serensiel some 1700 years ago and reached its greatest territorial extent 100 years later by absorbing weakened nations in the aftermath of The Great War against Varenheim.
The empire has claimed itself to be the liberator of humanity and its eternal shield, an undisputed claim that also shows their general view toward their non-human neighbor up north. Unrivaled when it comes to propaganda and raw military strengths. Westernant speaks the loudest about fairness and tradition to keep its unity with numerous vassal-states remained cohesive, and if that wasn't convincing enough, it could back it with an overwhelming military action. Their relations with Varenheim have seen many ups and downs throughout history but today it is mostly on cordial terms.
Westernant is a member of The Council of Nations.
Tretagor
Teretagor was once a major empire with a thirst for military conquest and expansion. For the last two decades, however, following the collapse of the Feredrin Dynasty, the nation has been torn apart by a ceaseless civil war between the Loyalists of the late monarch and the Revolutionists, who seek to overhaul the nation's government system.
With no strong unifying figure and major factions still fighting to claim and reclaim the capital, and people's support, it is predicted that Tretagor will eventually dissolve into smaller states, or be annexed by nearby powers by the end of the decade
Varenheim
The elven nation that is best to be left alone. Fully self-reliant, with stable socioeconomics, and a somewhat relaxed political attitude.
Even before Serensiel's regime, the elves' history was full of strives and conflicts. Ones that still harbor eternal hatred towards them were the descendants of expelled demons and djinn tribes that once occupied the forestry and plains before the dawn of human civilization. Though eons later both races finally saw the importance of peace with the demons retreating to the north and with Alkautsar recognizing the founding of Dagorlad, there are still some clans and tribes that see the elves as the invaders and would never stop treating them with the enmity they deserve until the elves gave up the territory they stole.
Varenheim was one of three founders of The Council of Nations.
Helvetia
The beacon of progress, technological advancement, and the first republic on the continent.
Helvetia's rise to prominence started 500 years ago. While most human nations regularly warred with each other and let their territory plunged into instability, Helvetia provided safe haven for the brightest minds with specialties commonly seen as unusable for war efforts. Helvetia is an example of what happened when an affluent state poured all the money and security to support technological research and prioritized education and knowledge more than the efforts for war. And today, such stratagems are finally paying off. Every piece of technology you can find these days is made in Helvetia, the latest medical progress and discoveries are researched there, and while the rest of the world stagnates Helvetia continues on with its pursuit of knowledge and invention.
Interestingly, despite being separated by half of the continent's size by the Westernant, Helvetia's diplomatic ties are tied closest to Varenheim, dating back to 800 years ago, and remain that way to this day.
Helvetia was one of three founders of The Council of Nations.
Meche
In its heydays, Meche was a heavily militarized nation that put a lot of effort into revolutionizing their metalwork industry to the highest degree achievable at that time. Their powerful armaments and their alliance with the more magic-savvy Kindeance have earned them a fearsome reputation that would make the giant Tratagor reluctant to start a war with Meche and its vassals.
Nowadays Meche is a husk of its former self. Following the independence of Kindeance and their failure to reclaim their vassal in the following century has rendered the nation financially bankrupt. Their adherence to their militaristic tradition and the closemindedness of its populace wasn't helping either.
Meche is one of the few nations where any form of magic is outlawed.
Kindeance
If Meche is in constant decline, their neighbor Kindeance is on the opposite. A newly flourishing economic powerhouse has seen unprecedented growth after undergoing several reformations in its governance red tape, shedding the old feudal system in favor of a more democratic and participative one. That, combined with the collective effort to improve the ease of doing business had turned the nation into one of the most important trading ports that nearly rivaled Hevetia's.
Kindeance overall foreign policy and stance could be described as cautiously neutral these days with the country's focus inwardly on its own economic growth. Yet, it remained relatively cautious should the crisis in Tretagor spread into its territory and bring instability and chaos along.
Kindeance is not yet a member of the Council of Nations
When the Master Shinobi went back to the camp with the party. He automatically go his scanning routine so that he can notify them when a familiar or a foe closing by with their campsite
Considering everything that just happened in the past 24 hours, Nanashi knew his boundaries. Every step was taken cautiously, in a way not a single fallen leaf would be disturbed.
It was just a light recon, and an uneventful one at that until Nanashi saw a faint smoke rising in the distance. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary in that part of the forest, and the smoke looked like coming from one or two campfires that served nothing but a generic source of heat deliberately lit up by a group of people. Probably twice the size of this party.
The question was, who was it? Wasn't this region supposed to be Varenheim's no man's land?
The Monster was still oozing greenish venom from its mandibles, it changed in color and viscosity upon being extracted, and if one would inspect it closer, it emanated a trace of a magical signature that seems of a foreign origin.
Gray advised not to touch the substance without any precaution, though typical of him, did not elaborate in detail on the important properties of such venom and its usefulness in regard to making an antidote out of it. So for now it was just very potent poison, capable of immobilizing a healthy grown man with a single touch.
With no longer stops ahead of them, they continued their march to the camp. The sun was already rising in the east when they arrived, and the situation at the camp appeared to be nominal at first glance.
Here they are at least, the result was far from optimal but at least mission accomplished. Vesemir, Gray and the remained young porter immediately unloaded some of the supply crates from the carriage and placed them under the giant chestnut, setting up makeshift beds where the injured could lay down.
"I thought you were going to give your verdict anytime now." Said Vesemir, in a defeated tone after Gray excused himself to get some rest.
"My wisdom can wait until I get a chance to close my eyes. For five or six hours, at least." Gray answered. "Until then, I would be no use to you. I am not a doctor you can consult on, Roxas is. though I am not sure if you will hear a lot of good news, even from her."
Everything seemed to be working out in the end. Carnathia would lead the way unburdened, and Gray was spared from the duty of hauling one of those injured porters. However, it should be mentioned that witnessing Roxas hoisting a fully-grown Tretagorian man like he was a bear pelt and carrying him away on her back was both confounding and... embarrassing, considering the party has no shortage of able-bodied men.
Yes, the Sky was their witness, and it was looking at you, Tillius, Gray, and Rezzelo.
Back to Gray Flame, he nodded at Roxas' request but did not say much when the healer conveyed her plan to neutralize the poison in their body. Nevertheless, the idea of collecting the White Lady's venom was a good idea, and he promised her that they would make a stop at the first site. After all, they need to evacuate that one guy with a punctured lung too.
“Actually, darling. I have a traveler’s potion kit. I don’t know if it will have what you need, but it’s something.” said Fia when they arrived at the first site. The dead arachnee was still there, in the same position, with its exterior looking even paler than before. Fia once again proposed her plan.
“I can go about collecting the venom. I’ll catch up with you once I’m done, deary.”
"That too... is a sound proposition, miss Carnathia." Said Vesmir flatly. With Stepan on his shoulder, the monocled elf started their arduous walk back to the camp, seemingly uninterested in pleading for aid any longer.
"Master Gray, would you be so kind as to pass the lantern to Miss Carnathia?" He asked, and the masked ranger nodded.
"Well after you, Miss." He added, gesturing to Carnathia to lead the way.
"It's dawning soon," Gray mumbled, looking up to the sky that was no longer pitch black. Finally, it felt like the night had been unnaturally stretched as if every shadow in this region conspired to lead them astray. Regardless, they had no reason to delay the evacuation.
"We need a stretcher then..." He glanced at Engelbert. "I hope you wouldn't mind having more stains in your snazzy-looking coat."
Then to Tillius, he said. "And two of your spears, Friend. Those paralyzed drunkards can take some rough hauling, but that bleeding Dimitri guy over there? Definitely need a proper means of transportation."
Besides, he was too tired to just carry someone in his back.
The unwrappings were done swiftly and efficiently, for the silky thread posed no meaningful resistance against the Shinobi's blade, or any blade in particular. In no time He had opened our cocoons from their bindings, in which two of the four were the abducted porters. Safe to say they were lucky-- very lucky compared to the other two bundles containing nothing but a partially rotting carcass, victims of the White Lady's previous hunt.
Thankfully the affair of the unwrapping wet and decomposing package was nothing but an insignificant spook for the shinobi.
Soon Roxas would examine them, but she had to take care of Stepan first.
The muscular Tretagorian man that was Stepan was unconscious, still fully clothed but with skin bluing and colder than bare polished iron. They knew he was alive because he was breathing, and no external injuries could be observed.
The other two seemed to be in a similar condition, but the last guy was missing a leg, with the silk wrappings seemed to be more prominent around the stump. Gray advised Nananshi not to tamper with that part for the time being.
"I think that's what's keeping him from bleeding to death."
Then he turned to Vesemir. at first, no words were coming out, Gray just shook his head, and Vesemir seemed to know what he was implying. It wasn't much of a good news, it seems.
Both men finally nodded in agreement, and Vesemir asked Gray to hold his lantern before speaking softly to Roxas first. "Dear Roxas, could you help me lift up our poor Stepan? I will carry him-- Those who still have strength, please lend me your aid. Let's take back these poor lands back to our camp."
Gray rubbed the back of his head and said nothing. Though a disagreement with Englbert could reinforce their disguises, he thought it was not worth the trouble and would prefer to keep discord at a minimum.
Walking past the hunk of white monstrosity, blood painted its pale exterior like blood upon the snow. The humanoid attached had stopped moving, petrified in its eternal yet restful weep, at least until time and decay claimed her. If that thing could rot, that was.
One thing for sure though, they didn't need an expert tracker to commence their search. The 'Snow Lady' wasn't such an inconspicuous creature it didn't leave any noticeable trail one can easily see even in the dark. After some turns and retakes, the track brought the team to a path that led them down the hill, which ended in a large but shallow cave. The ground around the site was suspiciously white, and sticky, like covered with white moss or a very thick smoke.
Upon closer inspection, the silkly thing was a spider web, and naturally, their guards were up.
But no more shrieking or singing was heard, and neither was the sound of movement on nearby bushes or branches above.
The air was foul and thick. From the entrance of that cave, they could see some bundles of white in a variety of sizes stuck in the wall, or suspended on the ceiling, or just laid down on the ground. Vesemir was the first to rush into the cave and approached one other bundle that looked like a human in fetal position.
"It's Stepan!" He announced. "I could use some help here!"
There were five other bundles that seemed big enough to be anything resembling wrapped adult humans. Thankfully none of them were high on the ceiling.
The battle had just ended, quicker and easier than a certain someone had expected. The spider's gigantic feature sprawled in a path it had made earlier, roughly 70 meters away from Vesemir and Roxas.
"The beast is slain." Exclaimed Engelbert as he returned to their employer to show off his kill. However if one would look closer, maybe that was not entirely true yet.
The humanoid being, gruesomely attached to the spider's head, twitched and raised its lanky being, a moment later it reached its bony arm out, while the other covered its face, which wailed eerie sobs.
Red blood slowly ran down from her face, onto her arm, and slowly but surely intertwined with the oozing greenish gore that started to puddle below.
_______
While Neglebert and the others celebrated their small victory, Gray picked up his sword again and regrouped with them. He advised them to continue their search.
"I don't think any of us can find a suitable stream to wash it off. Not until the morning anyway. Let's keep moving, every second counts if we want to save those poor bastards."
"What about Dimitri?" Asked Vesemir, ready to move on, but still showing some reservations. Gray's eyes gazed at Roxas, who had voiced her decision to stay.
Vesemir's frown deepened.
"Who can say there will be no other monstrosity waiting for us in that thing's lair? I don't think I can be assured that it is a wise plan to go without our healer."
"I don't think we have time to debate this, if you ask me. And if you value your men's life, you will listen to me and get your legs moving." In audible exasperation, Gray walked and said to them. "Ever read about how spider eat their prey? It doesn't munch them like sausage, it injects poison. Worst kind of poison. You'll see it soon."
Dimitri was unresponsive, but at least he breathed. Vesemir was still applying the pressure when Roxas performed her field surgery, and all things considered, the man would survive.
For now, at least.
The chaos had been shifted, now everyone was chasing after that fleeing Arachnee. Had he not been so occupied with assisting Roxas, he would have gone after them. It was not unusual for a predator of that type to lure its pursuer into a trap, so he heard.
Of all people, Gray Flame should know better, that was why he saved his breath and did not shout another warning at them. But he hoped that they would find the others.
Looking back at Dimitri, the optimism he felt earlier was somewhat diminishing. A forest is not an ideal place to recover, even less so in this Land of Twilight. They could afford to have Roxas taking care of one wounded person, but what about three more?
Biting his lips, the idea of having less manpower alone had already been grating his senses, let alone abandoning the entire expedition for the sake of those who were thoughtless!
"Are we done?" he asked Roxas, coldly, yet his gaze was straight toward the pursuing party. Seeing them like a scholar witnessing a wasted opportunity.
"If he will be alright, you should catch up with them. Just leave Dimitry to me, I will watch over him."
Gray tried to yank his sword back, but the combination of bad angle and the sudden jerking from the gigantic eigh-legged monstrosity caused him to lose a grip on his jian. A series of reckless retaliatory reactions then followed in response to Fia's unadulterated blasting, and the only sane option to not get himself smacked by one of those nasty appendages, or get squashed to death by its gigantic rear, was to move away.
And he did. It turned out that Engelbert thought the opposite.
The leap was spectacular, and the strike was equally so. Engelbert's one-and-a-half-meter greatsword plunged deep into the spider's eye cluster, and he nailed it even deeper now with his iron fist--- unnecessarily so because the greatsword was now stuck in that thing, and it wasn't dead yet.
Recoiled, likely by the pain or fear, it was quick to rely on its survival instinct. It rapidly turned around, haphazardly brandishing its front legs to scare away the potential attacker, and dislodged Gray's jian in such a wayward process. The masked Rezello was not quick enough to capitalize on the opening, for the spider had already started to flee and the distance was too far already.
"Ah great! Just what I need right now!"
Gray Flame immediately started his pursuit but then stopped the moment he saw Tillius launch his spear toward the retreating spider. It was too dark to ascertain whether the spear found its mark, but the plan was sound.
His diamond-shaped arrowhead shone in pale luster as he channeled for a power shot and unleashed it before the Arachnee could get too far. Even in the dark, its massive abdomen was certainly hard to miss.
Member
Redacted
Lewascan2
ScreenAcne
Randomness
Lunamaria Hawke
op2024
spiral origin
Soldat Elf
Fetzen
Augran
