Ashe considered it for a bit and then nodded to herself.
" By wind I meant elements. I know I've heard something about someone conjuring a massive tornado to fight off invaders. Bah, might've just been a drunken story. Anyways, let's try your freezing idea. I'll press on it gently, you freeze it and then we double-time run the moment that door is open. It's hot in here, the ice won't hold for long. " said Ashe with a smile before going to balance it properly, waiting for Gwy to freeze it.
A long time has passed since Penumbra left on their journey of self-discovery and Ashevelen was bored. She watched them at first via her shadows or occasionally transformed into a bird or other animal and checked up on them but that got boring fast. After their companion’s death, Penumbra’s journey turned for worse and Ashe knew if she would watch them any longer she would try to save them.
So, she did what anyone else would do in her position. She left them alone to figure out their own path and settled into Shadowville, providing advice to the residents that now could be counted in thousands. A true civilization was being born here. One that would last many, many years. But that got boring too, so she went to Traveville. Where the new village was built out of stone instead of the usual wood that Shadowville was built of.
Of course, she had spent some time teaching the new residents of the city how to work the rock in the needed form but fortunately, her Umbra were more than up for the task but after the village was built and people moved in en-mass…it got boring once more.
She just had to do something else. Needed some distraction of sorts and then it hit her. One more champion. Someone else to watch over and this one, this one will be different. Not an Umbra but something else. That was even harder than finding something to do. She already had an Umbra, Dawnborns weren’t suited to live outside the Umbral Woods, Satyrs were too simple and the Fairies…she just taught them something and then nothing. They were too quiet. Only one thing remained to do. BEHOLDERS!
With a clap, she appeared in the throne room of the Shadow Bazaar and with another clap, all the Beholders that were currently existing appeared before her. While they were breeding fast, they were defenceless and while some were kept safe by their Umbra handlers, most Beholders in the wilds died out eventually. That was about to end.
A deep breath, a smile and a blow of divine energy was all it took. The Beholders started to shake and many fell on the ground, tiny screams filled the room and a dark mist made the whole throne-room almost impossible to see. In the mist, dark shapes could be seen rising from the floor. Initially they were imobile and then they started to move left and right, left and right…slowly, rhythmically moving as if listening to a song that could not be heard. As the dark mist dissipated, the shapes became more and more visible until they could be seen clearly. Eggs hundreds of them. One for each Beholder.
Another clap and the eggs disappeared from the Bazaar and after taking a sip of a drink that just appeared in her hand, Ashevelen disappeared too. Somewhere in the south-east, eggs and a Goddess appeared. Looking around, Ashevelen decided one thing for sure. This area, while it was suited for the Beholder civilization to grow, it didn’t look just right enough for her.
Conjuring a bit more power, drawing upon her third aspect, she released a wave of energy that went on and on. Every plant that was touched by this energy, started to grow and grow without dying. From a simple barren place, a jungle sprouted out. Thick and full of foliage. The trees grew hundreds of metres up, mosquitos and other animals of the jungle were soon transported to the jungle too. But the work was not done, with a quick series of finger snaps, shadow wood from the Umbral Forest appeared out of the shadows and formed a round wall around an area that was left devoid of trees. The location of the first Beholder village.
Then, Ashevelen waited. After making sure a small river would flow right outside the village and food was brought, the eggs were arranged in a circle and at the center…the Lady herself. She had a plan, of course, the first to break through their metamorphosis will be named champion. Stronger than the rest of their kin, faster, more intelligent, everything that the Beholder race should be…the champion would be.
After a full day of waiting, it happened. Ashevelen sensed the life of an egg slowly dying. With a concerned look that her creations might not survive, she approached the egg and what she saw made her smile.
The Beholder inside was no longer 10 cm tall but 140. A big eye in the center of her head slowly opened and rose from the ground. Others soon opened up as well and soon enough, a few hundred Beholders were born.
Confused but feeling that their creator is near, they all gathered around Ashevelen. Waiting for her words even if none came. In the blink of an eye, their minds got filled with knowledge. All the knowledge the Umbra learned or were taught and the Beholder civilization was ready to start.
Without having any mouths, the Beholders couldn't communicate like other mortals but they were given an ability by their metamorphosis. Telepathy. Words soon assaulted the divine's mind.
" Quiet. All of you. I've made you long ago and while you won't remember your life from before, know this. You were pets. Animals to be played with. Critters of the forest. You are that no longer. You have ascended to a new level of consciousness. Know that I have a task for you and that is all I require of you. Get ready for war. Get ready for mass destruction of life from one of my siblings. For this, you and all of my creations are going to receive a great gift. Free passage via the Shadow Bazaar, my realm. Prepare in whatever way you may wish and do not harm each other. War within means that the war out there will be lost. I shall not let that happen. Even now, as we speak, my sibling destroyed the northern part of the world and is prepping for war. " said Ashevelen in a commanding tone while making the necessary changes to the teleportation system of the Bazaar subconsciously.
The Beholders steeled themselves for what was about to come. Most were already starting to build whatever was needed for war. As more and more peeled off the main group, Ashevelen lifted a finger up and pointed at the one that was bound to be her new champion. A zap of energy hit the new champion instantly and they grew in size. Taller now, 154 cm to be precise, the Beholder stood above her peers. All their abilities suddenly expanded, her telepathy no longer being able only to send messages but images too. Her hypnosis reached higher levels, being able to catch mostly anyone in its trap.
" You. I name you…Xen. Champion of the Beholder people. You're going to be the leader of this village until further notice. Know that you're greater than your peers. " commanded Ashe and before Xen could say anything, Ashevelen disappeared in a flash of shadow.
Ashevelen gets bored and upgrades the Beholders to a 4 MP race. She names one of them her new champion and gives them an important task - get ready for war.
The Beholders were upgraded to a 4MP race. They stand at 140cm (average), their flight capabilities have increased allowing them to fly up to 10 metres up in the air. Beholders now can telepathically communicate with one another or with other creatures.
Their hypnotic abilities have been expanded too, allowing them to not only immobilise creatures but give them short commands too.
Starting 5/5
-3 MP to raise the Beholders to a new level -1 MP to create a champion -2 AP (discounted from 4) to create the B-Jungle -1 AP to modify the blood mosquitoes making them unable to harm Beholders in any share or form
Finish 1 MP / 3 AP
The B-jungle is different from the usual jungles, all the plants/trees and non-fauna life is moving at an increased speed. Cut plants will grow back in a matter of minutes while trees will grow in days instead of weeks.
The B-Jungle is filled with the blood mosquitoes created by Wyn that hunt for anything that’s alive, Tarsks roam free as well making the whole area very hard to live in unless one can fly or fight off the creatures of the jungle.
Once upon a time, in a world full of magic and wonder, A caravan set out on a journey to distant lands, A group of travelers seeking adventure and new sights to see, Their leader a wise man
With a multitude of people, both young and old, The caravan made its way across the land, Singing songs and telling tales as they went, Inviting all who wished to join their band.
They traded in goods and artifacts, From exotic spices to rare magical artifacts, And put on shows for all who would see, From acrobatic feats to magic tricks, they entertained with glee.
They traveled far and wide, to the ends of the earth, Exploring realms both wondrous and wild, Meeting new friends and encountering foes, But always pushing forward with bravery and bold.
Through scorching deserts and lush forests they trekked, Over towering mountains and stormy seas, Never losing sight of their ultimate goal, To explore the world and all its mysteries.
And though their journey was long and hard, Filled with challenges both great and small, The caravan persevered and remained strong, A shining beacon of hope to one and all.
For they were the wandering caravan, A group of travelers bound by fate and friendship, Exploring the world and all its wonders, Leaving a trail of joy and wonder in their wake.
If I've got some free time later, I'll use all the main details of our characters go have an AI write a ballad about them. Already had it write one for a different character of mine and their party and damn, it was good.
The ill-fated mission ended the group thought as George and Custosa offered themselves to travel back to Shadowville to deliver the body. Of course, Penumbra had to continue their quest. They had to fulfill the divine quest that the Lady of the Swift Trade and Shadows issued.
Weeks passed as they walked and walked on. Alone now, their quest became insanely hard. Dangers lurked at every corner even as they put the Lightwoods in the rear view. They checked from time to time in with Custosa using the Shadow Bazaar as a way to communicate and they indeed managed to get Dahm back where he received a hero’s funeral. Alas’ the others were too far away and weary from their travels to join Penumbra, nor they wanted them back.
After all, it was their quest. Their burden to bear. Their life should’ve been the only one in danger, yet they brought others in and now one of them lay dead. Taken far too soon from this world. Too soon their song ended and so, they walked. Sleeping where they could, traveling to the Bazaar for a while for a safe place to sleep but soon even that proved impossible as the costs to travel in the Bazaar kept growing and growing with each use for them.
Eventually, after even more weeks, they passed the desert and walked on. The desert city proved to be as treacherous as expected based on rumors they heard from the occasional traveler and so, they avoided it. Moving forward they passed it and eventually reached the Dead Steppe. The place of Oa’s birth. Long has Penumbra heard rumors about that area and the monsters that existed in the place. The Lady herself warned them to go around that area if possible, not for any care for their wellbeing but more because she didn’t want to give Oa reasons to attack.
One night, as they lit a fire and set up their tent, Penumbra was close to sleep. Surrounded from behind by mountains, they were alone. Nothing could be seen nor heard. The area gave them the feel of a grave. Inviting them to sleep and never wake up. Tired from their journey, they almost didn’t feel the energy approaching them. A divine was close and that could mean one thing. Danger.
Silently sailing upon a sculpted shard of the starlit night, and swiftly surfing across the shadowy sky along streams of light, a red-haired goddess descended from above to arrive suddenly within the area of the solitary shelter of Penumbra. Afore coming to a halt soon afterwards; she announced her sacred presence with waves of wondrous radiance splashing in all directions, washing away the scent of sorrow as strength and shimmering spirit suffused their surroundings with colors - seeping into the land which began to thrum and glisten akin to a myriad of glittering gemstones dancing beneath sunshine - all while she was also accompanied by the soothing song of a serene melody that wandered from somewhere unseen to this site.
As soon as they felt the divine presence, Penumbra stood up from the ground with a tiny groan. While not having bones like most mortals, they still felt the exhaustion. The pain in their back from injuries that now seemed from ages ago but were actually only days, maybe weeks. Penumbra lost track in the desert and stopped counting.
The music made them forget for a moment about their pain. Only a moment before they shook their head. This was divine being. If it wanted to kill them, they would've already but what if it was just a ploy?
Creating two legs below them and transforming their arms into blades, Penumbra rose their voice and said, in a calm but firm voice " I am the chosen Champion of the Lady of Swift Trading and Shadows. I am under her protection. Know now that harming me means harming the Goddess but if you wish to trade or talk, come forth without fear. "
“I’m Pyrrha, a friend of Ashevelen, hehe. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Let’s speak!” The newcomer replied, surfing closer so that she sailed directly overhead and was in clear view of the Umbra, to be seen without holding weapons or showing hostility. She held up a hand, and revealed a black coin which she tossed and flipped in the air again and again, as she smiled at Penumbra.
Penumbra quickly changed their stance. The blades turned into hands and they nodded towards the Goddess in front of them. A look at the coin said it all. She was indeed friendly and knew Ashevelen.
"Friends of the Lady are always welcome. I wish I could offer you something to drink, alas I used all my water in the desert. But, more than happy to share the meat of this strange animal I caught. " continued Penumbra as they took out from inside themselves some rats native to the Steppe. Different than the usual ones they'd see in the Umbral Woods.
Pyrrha chuckled as she leapt from her strange sliver of darkness and alighted aside the warm fire wherein she seated herself comfortably. With gentle grace, she crossed her legs and clapped her hands with simple delight before she spoke. “I accept your generous gift, thank you kindly.” Her voice and visage exuded a combination of compassion and curiosity, poised with ruby-emerald eyes enkindled like sacred stars, staring at Penumbra - awaiting the shared refection of a rat.
Penumbra made a knife of their fingers and quickly cut a few slices of the rat, making sure the divine was getting the bigger pieces while only a tiny bit was left for them. Enough not to go hungry.
" There you go. It ain't the best I ate and many apologies this isn't a worthy meal for a divine such as yourself but there isn't much food to be found around here. Better than nothing. " said Penumbra as they handed the meat over. Their voice was obviously tired and their eyes were heavy. Shaking their head, as if to dispel the tiredness, they looked upon the divine. Admiring her clothing and power that was radiating from her.
Pyrrha hummed to herself while she held her puny pieces of sliced rodent in her hands, measuring the meat upon her palms as though she were ascertaining its apparent value with weight and texture. The wind began to whisper, the bittersweet scent of sorcery wafting throughout the world as the threads of the tapestry were woven anew. Dark and dancing glyphs appeared; a series of shifting symbols spreading across the skin of the sacred maiden as she cast a spell. She cupped the small and severed sections of the slain creature within her hands, and chanted:
“We send our lost ones to the land of light, to the tranquil trees of the god-grove…”
“We give our dead to life; thoughts and memories, within us they shall live…”
Afterwards, she opened her palms to reveal the rat, restored whole once more to the world with divine might, and it softly queaked as it shook and stared all around with surprise, then chirped with content while the red-haired goddess gently caressed its furry cheeks. The residual traces of sorcery receded; the glyphs of the Gnosis were gone and the whispering wind had went on its way, though the one known as Pyrrha still subtly shimmered with sacred power.
Penumbra’s senses flared as magic was used by the divine in front of them. Their body already preparing to attack, useless as it might've been. For fighting against a divine being was impossible but they weren't one to lay down and die. Whatever happened would've happened no matter what they would do, so, why not give as good as they could.
But it was all for naught as the divine started singing and glyphs appeared on the divine. Suddenly, everything ended as fast as it happened. Their senses now freed up from the strain of divine magic, Penumbra noticed the rat. Brought back to life, healed up by divine magic as if it was nothing.
“ Impressive magic, O’ blessed divine. So, it is true. Mortals can be brought back to life with your power. Is there a way I could learn magic like this? I wish not to bother the Lady of Swift Trade and Shadows, praised be her name, with something like this. ” said Penumbra as their hand extended from their body, reaching over to the rat, petting it on the head gently.
“Hmm… why do you wish to avoid asking the goddess that gave you life? Surely she’d have blessed or shall soon bless you with such knowledge, hehe.” Pyrrha pleasantly purred after Penumbra’s act of acceptance, as she then embraced the revived rat, before sealing her eyes when she began to silently weep with wondrous serenity. The trickle of tears that trailed from her fair features to the foundation of her face fell from her onto the rodent like a sporadic silvery rain. Without word or warning, she snapped the small throat of the one she saved, and the touch of death swiftly reclaimed what was temporarily relieved from its grave grasp.
Then emerging from her hands, suddenly sprouting from her palms; came forked tongues of green flame that consumed the carried corpse - greedily and grotesque. Pyrrha cried no longer as she opened her ruby-emerald eyes, though sorrow still shimmered in her haunted gaze so similar to the sparkling stars shining in the vast shroud of the night sky. She had seen the secrets of the cosmos, the cradle of celestial light concealed beneath the sea of shadows. Glittering like gemstones, she set her sacred sight upon Penumbra and peered deeply into the depths of their being, awaiting an answer to another mystery altogether.
Penumbra just stared at the divine as it killed the rat they just resurrected with amazement but at the same time mild resentment. Giving a creature the gift of life the second time only to take it away again as fast as it was given was something they couldn't understand, nor accept. But such was the way of divine beings, playing with life as if it was nothing but a toy. Maybe it was their tiredness, their weariness of travel but such thoughts ran through their mind constantly the past days, even more so now.
" Everything has a price for the Lady. Resurrection magic is knowledge that would cost more than I've got to give or wish to give. Maybe after I finally finish this journey I'll be able to trade for it or maybe I'll die and such wishes will fade. You still haven't answered my question. Sister of the Goddess. Is this something I could learn on my own? " replied Penumbra with a bit of resentment creeping into their voice.
Pyrrha tilted her head, curious like a cat. “You’re not on your own - not now at least. The shape of your self continues to expand, including your mind and spirit, giving you greater strength. Yes! Soon you’ll see with clarity, and comprehend all that the cosmos has to share with you. You’re seeking afar, as you already know the truth of the answers that await you…”
The Umbra champion stood up in a rush. Anger clear as daylight on their face. Tiny spikes forming themselves on their shoulders. " You divines speak in riddles on and on. Never giving a straight answer. What's the use of all your knowledge if you don't share it with your creations? What's the use of your power if you don't do anything with it but play with mortals? " half-yelled Penumbra at the divine before taking a deep breath and turned towards Pyrrha, looking her straight into the eye.
" I know the answer, yes. Death awaits me. None can escape it. Not even divines. No matter what magic you use or power, we all die and the peaceful embrace of death is all we'll know. With any luck, I'll be long gone when it will be your kin's turn."
The grim proclamation and anger of Penumbra was pursued with a predatory stare from Pyrrha; singing embers in her eyes, the prominent gleam of pale and pointed teeth as she grinned at the standing speaker, gnostic glyphs manifested, and then the fiery maiden moved with sudden haste, hovering face to face with the fuming umbra as she asked with fierce words uttered upon a forked tongue: “Will you forever be a victim? Will you perpetually stay as a toy to play with? Will you eternally remain my prey?”
Her hands grasped the shoulders of shadow, spike-sprouted and sharp, yet she held firm with ferocious strength. The pulse of otherworldly power resonated from the strange relic she rode upon, as she and the surf-shard suddenly exuded an immense amount of divine influence - intoxicating - an abundance alerting all of the senses Penumbra had been blessed with prior. The passage of time became trapped, as flames ceased flickering and the wind went silent, though the two of them still stirred in the solitude of an isolated site, seemingly separated from their surroundings.
There was no fear in Penumbra’s eyes as they stared the divine in the eyes. Only resolution. Firm and strong. Nothing else mattered in that moment. Only the power of their beliefs.
Pyrrha mocked them as they expected. What else could a divine do when a creation is talking back to them? What came next almost made them fall on their knees. If not for the divine's strong grip, they would've surely fell. The assault of magical energy was overwhelming even for the strongest mortals.
With a mighty yell, Penumbra gathered their strength. " I am not a toy. Never a victim. I am Penumbra. Champion of the Umbra. Strongest of their kind. I fear none! No matter how strong you are. No matter how powerful you think you are. In me, you'll find a worthy adversary. I AM NOT A TOY! "
Their resolve turned into power and while they knew it was useless to match the strength of a divine, Penumbra took Pyrrha’s hands into their own and tried to break her grip from them.
From the fiery maiden, searing pain surged from the palm of one side, as soothing peace surged from the palm of the other side, and Penumbra was wrecked by savage strength similar to the weight of the world pulling apart and pushing all together. Pyrrha spoke softly as she sailed simultaneously upwards and downwards with Penumbra, piercing the deep earth and ascending towards the heavens. “A phoenix burns before it rises from the ashes.” Split apart into two pieces, two perspectives through which the two of them could see and comprehend:
Beyond the cloud-covered sky…
Beyond the cloud-covered sky, so akin to a blanket of absolute blackness laid upon a sleeping world, coming closer and closer, as a thousand, thousand, thousand stars became curious and clear with the childlike intent of communicating. They danced and sang, all ignited with inspiration, burning bright before becoming cold, changing and then being born anew, but beyond the reach of the two that could only see the cycle repeating itself. Life and death, again and again, as there exists endless energies that the cosmos will create and annihilate. Pyrrha pushed Penumbra from the shard of shimmering light they stood upon, into the vast void where the infinite celestial children watched what they would do with wonder - whether the champion would sink or swim…
“Belief is just the beginning. You mustn't be afraid, and act! To explore the open and immense realm of our inner selves!” Pyrrha cried out to the champion as they drifted apart, and Penumbra was washed away from all that was familiar. The difference between the fathomless depths of the darkness in this divine domain - its stretched silence and endless emptiness - and the solid sensations of sacred shadows within the world woven by Ashevelen - trading the thread of the tapestry together - the contrast allowed one a defining glimpse into the hidden heart of a goddess and an understanding of that which was unknown. A chance to change and be curious with newfound nascent knowledge if noetic conviction prevails.
Penumbra’s struggle was useless and they knew it. Pain wrecked through their body and nothing, absolutely nothing could make them not feel it. A stray thought, somewhere in the pain, told them to call upon the Lady, pray to her for salvation but that thought was quickly dismissed. The Lady will answer the call whenever she wishes to, irrelevant of their wishes. Their desire. Their struggle. Nothing could stop this and in a way, if this is how death felt, they were at peace. They were alright with it.
An impossible thing happened, Penumbra smiled as they were pushed to the extreme. Smiled as they were thrown into the void. Celestials looking upon their naked form. Seeing them and through them as if they were nothing and nothing they were against these powers.
With a deep-genuine laugh, Penumbra looked at the celestials and from their body, tiny shapes of shadows appeared and took the form of puppets that started to dance.
“ If you want a show. Let me give you one. Laugh if you want. I care not. ” the words sounded strange-alien to them but that didn’t stop Penumbra.
And a show they gave them. The show would’ve been later called “The Journey” and the puppets, 3 of them, went on through shadowy woods, fighting off bandits. The occasional slap-stick comedy would happen, then they went through the lightwoods. Dinosaurs, monsters and plants. Everything they went through, even the final battle against the Mind Pod where Dahm, the hero of this story dies to save their friends. Accompanying the puppet show, Penumbra acted as a narrator, explaining everything that happened.
As Dahm fell, the story changed. No longer light and full of humor but a dark story, the Penumbra shadow grew big and strong. Fighting off desert creatures and other imaginary monsters, until finally meeting the Pyrrha but something was changed in the way they were portrayed, as if while Penumbra grew, something in them shrinked…and then it ended. Penumbra smiled gently and a single tear fell from their eyes.
“Don’t let go!”
Piercing the veil of the vast void, sacred silvery strings stretched forth from the shadows and silence, swiftly reaching towards the peculiar prison of Penumbra - their stray sailing shape - and then the goddess grasped them. The strings softly pulled Penumbra towards the sight of the sacred shimmer-board, the tender threads supervised by the transcendent touch of Pyrrha, bringing both parties together. Seated upon the shoulder of the deity, the familiar face of the death-defiant rodent stared at Penumbra with sincere sympathy.
Below the crust contained surface…
Below the crust contained surface, breaking apart bedrock and delving into the deepest darkest dungeon buried beneath the black core between walls of cursed iron and malice-manifested magma, they descended so upon the shining shard suffused with shadows Penumbra perceived and sensed as the powers of Ashevelen. They swiftly seeped through the small cracks and crevices, soft and steady, until the unseen and unheard song of the chthonic children reached them. The concealed choir performed in an immense cavern wherein a civilization of crystal seeds sown and sealed together with radiant roots were resting before being revealed to the traveling/descending duo. They were welcomed by a wondrous arrangement of animated artistry which awaited them.
“The darkness and the light are defined through the duality of one and another. The two continually shape and shift, command and change, love and loathe, embodying each other in an endless embrace. However, I wonder whether the one without another could endure an eternity always alone? Imagine how insane and painful it would be…”
A pensive Pyrrha peered at Penumbra after posing the concept, and crossed her arms across her chest as she shivered. Shaking, she silently announced the arrival of the cruel cold as it sank its chill fangs into the much more frail flesh of the champion. The subterranean choir continued their chant, calling upon primordial powers to pry the inner fire from the form of the faithful maiden. Fiendish frost formed on the suspended shimmer-board that Pyrrha and Penumbra stood upon, their journey halted as they hovered over the crowd of crystals beckoning both of them to jump and join the candescent circle below.
The Champion looked upon the visage posed by Pyrrha with a strange look upon their face. Realization of unspoken truths. Their hatred was slowly being replaced with something else. Something different. An understanding of something they never realized before. There’s duality in everything, exactly as the Goddess tried to teach. One cannot exist without the other.
Realization struck Penumbra once more and from the fire that burned within the divine. There was shadow in everything, same as the Lady taught but there’s also light. Somehow that was something they never understood. The thought never crossed their mind. There can be no shadows without light. That shook them to their core. Nothing could be done with that knowledge yet but later. Later things will be differ–
“ Grrr!! ” a growl escaped Penumbra as the cold fangs bit entered the Champion’s form, stopping their line of internal conceptualization.
With a deep breath, Penumbra created wings of shadow on their back and jumped downwards. The wings couldn’t be used to fly but it will soften the fall.
Soon crystals cracked, the simmering shards split and sundered, then spilling forth from the fragments, from the shattered collective, came crimson fluids of the cruel flood to spread throughout the underground gallery, to drown the deep earth. The radiant roots twisted and thrashed, then released themselves from the ceiling of the cavern as additional carmine ichor cascaded from above, falling akin to the familiar form of rain. Freed from their restraints, the tendrils of light lost their luminescence, changing to an enraged ruby color as they reached towards Pyrrha and impaled her.
In the deepest dungeon, the light faded, and as Penumbra alighted amongst the broken bulwark of once beautiful gemstone, but now engulfed in baleful mud and metallic odor, all they could blindly perceive was the prevalent cold and the pained screams of a goddess.
A small umbrella made out of their hand quickly formed above Penumbra’s head as the roots fell down. Upon seeing that they never reached them but Pyrrha, Penumbra jumped to action. They knew that the divine cannot die, wouldn’t die in something of her own making.
Darkness surrounded the champion and only the pained screams of the goddess could be heard. Focusing their magical sense as much as they could, they caught a glimpse of the goddess. Impaled by the roots that were now akin to solid blood. A glimpse was more than enough, using their [Javelin] skill in combination with the [Teleport] skill to teleport in the shadow formed by the throw javelin, they quickly closed the distance.
“ I don’t care if this is just a game. I won’t let you die. ” yelled Penumbra as they finally reached the goddess. The red-ravenous roots rapidly spread underneath the surface of Pyrrha’s pale skin, like sickly veins of poisoned blood, before a number of them burst from her flesh and reached outwards. The last of the light elsewhere in the cavern was consumed, and only the faint glow of the inner flames within the gouged goddess lingered.
The crystal choir continued their cacophonous chant, eerie lamentations and shrieking, echoing throughout the tenebrous chamber. The skin of the goddess shifted and became bark as branches sprouted, her hair transformed into the leafy visage of the forest-kin and fey-folk. Then the chthonic children were capable of conveying their thoughts as a telepathic connection was created through their cold-hearted and callous control of Pyrrha, thus she spoke so:
“A sacrifice! A sacrifice! A sacrifice! Two cannot come from Hades; one must stay!”
“Give us our own! Give us our origin! Give us our Desire!”
“ I have no idea what you are or who made you but I shan’t let you take this divine being. You’re saying that one must stay? I propose a new trade. The divine and I are one. Two sides of the same coin from my perspective. ” said Penumbra as they showed a coin with the face of the goddess on one side and theirs on the other before continuing “ For what are mortals but copies of the divines. You’re saying that two cannot come from Hades. I see only one. There are not two. ” continued Penumbra, talking as charmingly as possible.
The sadistic song of the sanguine sea resounded within this sunken recess of shadows wherein refuge and return was refused, as the abundance of infernal ichor continued to rise until it reached Penumbra and Pyrrha. It splashed over the sacred shard of the shimmering night they stood upon, engulfing everything - an unforgiving flood from the underworld relentlessly following the two trespassers to their final site of free sanctuary, yet no elsewhere remained to flee to. Soon they were submerged, eventually enveloped in the essence of the eviscerated earth, however no harm came to the champion, and the two travelers did not drown in the deep darkness. The sounds of sin suffused their surroundings similar to thunder, though the thorny tormentors that trapped the goddess stayed silent, seemingly to ponder the proposal offered.
“Cunning is the champion of choice - twice-born and together as one once…”
“Advaita Vedanta… it is accepted! Begone before the aspect of betrayal arrives!”
Initially as the infernal ichor rose up in level, almost submerging them, Penumbra grabbed the divine and tried to used their [Teleport+] skill but it was for naught. The skill was never meant to be used on a divine, something so strong and probably so high up in levels.
As the choir of voices congratulated them for their cunning, the champion couldn't do anything but smirk. It wasn't cunning. It wasn't their intelligence. It was one of the tricks the Lady used more than once to trap traders using their own words.
They were never a good trader, never enough from the point of view but, they were a good observer. A good listener. That's what did it, that's what saved their life here. If only the same skills could've been used to save Dahm.
" Give me permission to take us out of here. Lend me a fraction of your power or any kind of object and I shall take us away from here. " quickly said Penumbra as their body came close to the Goddess. Then the fey-like form faded, and found again as she was freed from the ruby roots, the familiar appearance of the fiery maiden, adorned with fresh scars and the shadow of a smile.
The ceiling of the cavern cracked and crumbled above them, suddenly sundered, swiftly shattering, the surging song of the spiritual sea so sharp and savage soaring towards a cosmic crescendo! And we all still die! Yes, we all still die! Oh, we all still die! Pyrrha stumbled into Penumbra, weak and weary as she whispered the words of wondrous will, granting the temporary grace of guidance/control to the champion, allowing them to attempt to command the clashing chaos of the rising currents they sailed upon through uttering the title of the relic they rode:
“Sunset Orange.”
Infused with a bit of power which allowed them to rise the Sunset Orange. Penumbra took the Goddess in their arms and lifted her up. Their legs coiled around the surfboard for better guidance and stability. With a deep breath, they rode.
Sensing the powers of the artifact, Penumbra knew they weren’t given permission to use them all but there was one thing that called to them. One ability in particular that sensed the champion and called. The shadowy powers of the Lady.
Summoning the power stored within, combined with their own shadow teleportation ability, they disappeared and for a few seconds, they couldn’t see anything. Darkness, shadows moving…and then with a *woof* they appeared back at the campfire. The shadows of the campfire were slowly dying, a few seconds later and they wouldn’t have been able to appear back at the same place.
Pyrrha pulled away from Penumbra, from her previous position of prying; the intrusive and predatory position prior to the twofold trip to the Heavens and Hades she had held after an outburst of anger from Penumbra in the past. She staggered backwards as she allowed her bruised and bloodied body to succumb to the fount of fatigue that suffused her, though also to be seen above her was the strength of her heavenly spirit, supporting the small soul of the revived rat upon her shoulder. “The Sea of Shadows saps so much…” She said softly.
“ I don’t know if I can heal you, Pyrrha but I’ll try. ” said Penumbra as they quickly approached the divine with bandages they took from within themselves. Upon hearing about the sea of shadows, Penumbra shook their head.
“ It doesn’t ask for much. Just what you’re willing to give. If you fight it, it will take everything you’ve got. Life included. Let yourself flow within it and it’ll take it wherever you wish. ” replied Penumbra to the injured divine.
Golden light shone suddenly as the goddess summoned a green blade within her grasp, the energies of divinity emanating from the exquisite dagger. “The Jade Knife shall replenish our strength, chosen champion of the Lady.” Pyrrha proclaimed before plunging the blade into her belly. A pulse of otherworldly power permeated throughout the perimeter of their paltry camp, and Pyrrha hummed to herself as she slowly healed; cleansed blood coming back to her body and the cluster of cursed scars being sealed completely. She sighed afterwards, soothed by the sacred cut of the Jade Knife, and then held the haft of the divine dagger out towards Penumbra.
With a nod, Penumbra extended a shadow tendril towards the Jade Knife and inspected it for a brief second before plunging it into their arm. While not overly injured from their excursion to…whatever that was, Penumbra still had many injuries from their travels. Some in different processes of healing, while others left large scars on their body. Invisible to all but other Umbras. The same pulse of otherworldly power hit Penumbra as they sang under their breath, one of Dahm’s songs. Their wounds started to heal and even the scars seemed to disappear, alongside the exhaustion that plagued Penumbra.
“ I don’t know what that was, but you have my thanks. I forgot how it felt to be so…refreshed. ” said Penumbra, gone was the hostility from their tone, now replaced with a trader’s sweet tone.
The goddess glanced away, and gone was the playful glitter in her ruby-emerald eyes. “You seemed pleased with yourself.” She said, before she shook her head. “May I call you Penumbra?” She asked, as the crystalline image of Penumbra appeared in the gemstones of her glimmer-gaze after it slowly came back to the champion, showing concern.
With a slight shake of their head, Penumbra replied “ Not pleased with myself. I just figured out something from our trip. Something I didn’t realize until now. The duality of things. Similar to a coin. Everything has two sides. I…understand it better now. ”
“ Oh’ call me whatever you like but, yes, I do prefer Penumbra. The name the Lady chose for me upon my ascendancy. ” quickly added the champion with a thin, but not unfriendly smile.
“Hmm… it’s an honor to have your name, Penumbra.” Pyrrha quietly proclaimed, shifting again as she seated herself and began to softly pet the phantasmal rodent upon her shoulder. Tranquil tears trickled as she spoke: “However, in Hades, you should’ve forsaken me. I should’ve been sacrificed, so that the suffering of those that seek salvation would be smaller. You shouldn’t have to endure such cruelty as children…”
“ That’s where you’re wrong. Why would’ve I forsaken you? If you take it from a cynical point of view, I had no clue if I’d be able to escape on my own or if the whatever those were would keep their word and let me leave. Simply put, you were my best chance of survival. ” said Penumbra raising a finger in the air, after a few seconds, they raised another one and continued speaking "You could see it from an Umbral perspective. The way I bargained for our release, formulated my response…that's an achievement for an Umbra. Now, bargaining for the life of a divine? Now that's something on a completely different level. And it's also a trade. I saved your life, you offer me something. "
Raising one more finger, they continued talking. Offering a more detailed reply than expected. Surprising even themselves. Maybe their exhaustion clouded their judgment until now.
" Lastly, you could simply say I saved us because of my selflessness and the want to do good. " finally finished Penumbra before closing their hand.
" In truth, I don't know why I saved you. I wanted someone to pay for Dahm’s death, that's for sure. Maybe that cost was paid by your blood or not. I don't know. What I know is that I've learned of a new way to see life. "
“We’ve become one… your words spoken in the presence of an avatar of the pantheon is sacred speech - the truth. You and I are one. Your choices and actions are considered my choices and actions, and… we shall suffer the consequences of our consecrated connection. That is the price we’ve paid through a primordial pact, this trade.”
Pyrrha peered at Penumbra, presenting an enigmatic expression as though she perceived a puzzle afore her - instead of a person. However, her analytical and critical perception soon changed into a look of compassion as she slightly smiled. “You desire to do good, though you also desire a costly compensation for the death of your companion. Since we will walk the Sacred Path together, I shall help you, Penumbra.”
Penumbra turned towards the divine, looking straight into her eyes. “ Next time. A little warning will do some good. But because it’s a pact, a trade…the Lady will surely have some ways to manipulate it if not break it. ” replied Penumbra with a grin, reminding themselves that the Lady has surely had broken pacts like these before more than once.
“ I don’t desire to do good, nor did I ask for compensation from you or others. In truth, I don’t know what I want. A part of this divine quest I’ve received from the Lady is for me to find answers on my own for surely, it ain’t about exploring. The Lady could’ve done that herself, if she didn’t do it already. Help? Help how? ”
“Ashevelen is intelligent, and she knows that a tree cannot grow in the shadow of its parent. I’m the seventh daughter of the sun, and I’ll show you the answers you seek since you and I are a singularity. How to help: Help? Help! Hehe. We should raise a tribe!” Desire declared, and the Hanged One held out her hand towards Penumbra.
Penumbra encounters Pyrrha, and the two travel through strange and mystical conversations and spiritual realms.
Desire Spends 3 AP to create the avatar; Pyrrha. Spends 3 MP to resurrect a slain rat. Spends 1 AP to hang Pyrrha and Penumbra in the Sea of Shadows. Spends 1 AP to create a small region/system of spiritual synthesis. Spends 2 MP to create a creature: The Rat of Remembrance.
0/5 MP & 0/5 AP remaining.
Ashevelen
-2 AP spent on Penumbra to bless them with the ability to sense magical energy or divine energy if it’s strong enough (off screen) -5 MP to create a device which can infuse an element of choice into an Umbra. Making them half-shadow, half-whatever element is added to them. -2 AP (discounted from 4) to create a shadow armor that adapts to the user’s body to fit and provides magical resistance to the wearer based on what they’re being attacked with. -1 AP (discounted from 2) to create a Belt of Speed which allows the user to make a few movements at a faster speed than perceptible to most mortal eyes.
0/5 MP & 0/5 AP remaining.
Starting Spirit: 28
+1 Spirit - Appeared in the post +1 Spirit - Longer than 5k characters +1 Spirit - Longer than 10k characters +1 Spirit - Creator doesn’t appear in the post +1 Spirit - Collab
Ashevelen was a scientist on a colony spaceship, Traversing the galaxy in search of a new home. Through a wormhole they traveled, a device called Gateway, But soon after its use, it ceased to function, and they were alone.
The planet they arrived on was inhospitable at best, With a radioactive atmosphere and toxic plants. Carnivorous animals roamed the land, a deadly test, For the humans to survive here, they would need a chance.
But Ashevelen was not deterred, she had a plan, To alter the human DNA, to make them fit for this land. And so, The Chosen were born, immune to sickness, able to withstand The harsh conditions of this planet, and to live for centuries at a time.
The Chosen worshiped Ashevelen as a living god, And she built a utopian society, a paradise for them. But secretly, she hated the worship and the adoration, For she knew that if the truth were known, it would cause devastation.
For in the early days of her experiments, not all went well, For every one Chosen, ten Rejected were created, a living hell. Deformed and twisted, some died of tumors, some were beasts, But most retained their minds, and still worshiped Ashevelen, hoping for a cure at least.
Three hundred years have passed, and Ashevelen still hides her true nature, Lest the worship turn to anger, and a civil war ensue. But she knows that one day, the truth will come out, And she must face the consequences of what she has done.
In the land of shadows, where darkness reigns, Lived a hero named Penumbra, of humanoid form, With his trusty sword by his side, and a heart of gold, He roamed the lands, young and bold.
One day, he met Custosa, an elf with no magic, But with a skill in combat, she was truly fantastic, Together, they fought against evil and wrong, And their bond grew strong.
One day, they met an old man named George, A warrior with fists of steel, who fought with great rage, And a Satyr bard named Dahm, with a voice so sweet, Together, they made a formidable team.
They set out on a quest to save George's home, From an evil plant, the Mind Pod, that sought to roam, With its power of mind control, it enslaved all in its path, But our heroes were not afraid, and they set out with a wrath.
Through the jungle, they fought, with all their might, Against the Mind Pod and its minions, in a fierce fight, Penumbra, Custosa, George, and Dahm, they fought as one, But alas, Dahm fell, his life now done.
But his sacrifice was not in vain, for they defeated the Mind Pod, And the land was saved, thanks to their heroic trod, Penumbra, Custosa, and George, they lived to fight another day, In memory of Dahm, who died in a heroic way.
Also known as : Ashevelendar/Ashevelen/AsheTheReborn
Best compliment so far from [@Tortoise]
[img]https://i.ibb.co/qdK70br/image.png[/img]
On the brilliant roleplay : [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/185726-through-the-gateways-humanity/ooc] Through The Gateways [/url]
Playing as the Goddess of Trade in Divinus 7
[img]https://i.ibb.co/QjWNXR4/Ashevelen-Token.png[/img]
Playing as the Goddess of Shadowy-Trades in Divinus 7
[img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1006946263599677521/1014229630783340544/ShadowsAspectToken.png[/img]
Thank you!
<div style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Also known as : Ashevelendar/Ashevelen/AsheTheReborn <br><br>Best compliment so far from <a class="bb-mention" href="/users/tortoise">@Tortoise</a><br><img src="https://i.ibb.co/qdK70br/image.png" /><br>On the brilliant roleplay : <a href="https://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/185726-through-the-gateways-humanity/ooc">Through The Gateways</a><br><br>Playing as the Goddess of Trade in Divinus 7<br><br><img src="https://i.ibb.co/QjWNXR4/Ashevelen-Token.png" /><br><br>Playing as the Goddess of Shadowy-Trades in Divinus 7<br><br><img src="https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1006946263599677521/1014229630783340544/ShadowsAspectToken.png" /><br><br>Thank you!</div>
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