[IC] Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

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[Lucius Cypher]

@Guardian Angel Haruki

You awaken in a strange cave, with very little memory of what had happened. You had the vague remembrance that you were simply falling asleep one night, a bit restless but nothing unusual, but now you find yourself in your sleeping clothes on the dirt floor. Scattered around you are old, dusty skeletons, dressed in tattered clothing and rusted armor. This was not the world that you remembered. Even if you called out for help there was no response but the light howling of the wind that lead further down the cave. There seem to be some light going above, which was the only source of illumination that even allows you to see your surroundings. There was really only one place to go unless you intend to end your life here.

Of the skeletal remains, there were very few things worth scavenging. There was a solid wooden staff, intricately carved if a bit dirty. On one body was an intact backpack full of supplies; there was a rolled up furred bedroll, some sort of eating utensil set made of copper, what appeared to be a matchbox, a few bundles of sticks, an empty canteen, and a coil of rope. In it's own separate sack was a box containing what appeared to be bread, however it was surprisingly hard. You couldn't even crush it in your hand. There was also a spare set of clothing here, what appears to be a pair of pants and a shirt, though they were a bit too big for you.

As for weapons there seemed to be a almost intact set of throwing knives tucked into the bandolier of one skeletal corpse without a head. There were ten knives total; these knives looked far too thin to be used to cut or slash, but they looked somewhat like the sort of throwing knives ninjas would use. And finally, of the corpses there was one that was disturbingly small. The other bodies at least might've been adults, but this one was of a very small person. Whatever they had seemed to have been taken or destroyed, but underneath the bones you could make out some sort of canvas. If you were willing to dig underneath, you'd find a flatten pouch containing five gold coins. Additionally, you'd soon find a small piece of jewelry you're familiar with. You remember this as this accessory belonged to you, though your memories of you wearing it to sleep was fuzzy. Still it's something familiar in this unfamiliar world.

The climb out of the cave would feel almost treacherous as you traverse towards the unknown, but it would be harmless as you find yourself looking across a truly new landscape. The air here is crisp and cold, and it's difficult for you to figure out what time it is. The sun was up, but whether it was rising or lowering you won't know until hours later. You are but a mere speck in this vast landscape. And should you turn around to see what was behind you, you'd suddenly find that the cave you came out of was no longer there. Now there was only solid dirt and rock. No going back.



In the distance you could make out the vague signs of smoke. A rather tall and thick tower of black smoke. If you had to guess, it actually wouldn't take you very long to reach the source, perhaps ten or twenty minutes at most. But even from your vantage point you cannot make out what is the cause of this smoke, as it's deep inside a canopy of trees.

What shall you do?

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

Sylvia groans as she slowly wakes up. The surface beneath her was hard and uncomfortable, which was a far cry from her bed. She hissed as she slowly sat up, ignoring the fact that she was still in her long sleeved blue pajamas that were decorated with cute little designs of white furred bunnies. Sleeping on the ground actually hurt...Come to think of it, where was she? She looked around and she called out "Hello?"

After receiving no answer, she looked on the ground, she spotted the skeletons. She gasped in fright and scrambled backwards. There were skeletons here! Was she kidnapped and left for dead here while she slept? The smallest of the skeletons was the most disturbing. Did...Did a child die here...? What happened here...?

After a moment of silence, Sylvia looked around and found some items she could salvage and use. She took as many as she could. When she found the pair of traveling clothes, she quickly took a moment to change into those clothes. There was no sense in wandering around in her PJs. She made a knot or two on the shirt, and rolled up the pant legs a little, in order to make sure that the clothes fit her properly. She shoved the Pajamas into the pack. Couldn't hurt to have them so she could use them later.

The piece of jewelry was a silver hair pin with a small, crystal clear, blue gem in it. She recognized that hair pin. That was the hair pin that grandmother gave to her...before she passed away. Pushing the memory to the back of her mind she continued salvaging for supplies that she could use to survive. She stuck the hair pin in her hair.

With the traveling supplies and new found weapons, she made her way out of the cave and to the unfamiliar scenery in front of her.

"...Where am I?"

This scenery...she had never seen any place like this before. This definitely wasn't the city she was used to.

Out of curiosity she turned to look behind her to see if the cave was still there, only to find that it was gone...! She raised an eyebrow and she asked "What?!" She placed her hands on the rock wall, as though to try and affirm that it really is there.

After that, she turned back to face the scenery. She spotted the black smoke. She commented out loud to herself "Where there's smoke..."

There is fire. And where there's fire, there's civilization, or a natural disaster. She hoped to find the former and get a bearing on where she is and maybe figure out what to do from there.

So...with that in mind, she starts to head towards the source of the smoke.

[Lucius Cypher]

There was a certain serenity as you walked through this unknown landscape. The nature and sights of these lands were not just new, but unusual for you. You saw animals that certainly did not exist in your world. Strange hybrid bird-monkeys who flew between trees, strange turtles with the bodies of frogs, and even large herds of what appeared to be rabbits who’s colors changed under the sun. Truly odd indeed. Fortunately at least you did not run into anything that harmed you but as you came closer to the Tower of smoke it was clear that this was not a bonfire.

As you peek your head out you could see what appears to be a small wooden hut and a lone woman desperately trying to put out the fire consuming her home, armed with nothing but a shovel to throw the dirt over the flames and try to snuff them out. Her efforts were not in vain as she seemed to be having some effect, but it was clear that she would not succeed soon. Additionally scattered around her burning home were more skeletons, these ones looking less ancient than the bones you found at the cave, also burnt by some flame.

“Dammit! Damned skeletons! I can’t believe they found me already!” You could hear the woman cry out as she tries to put out as much fire as she could.

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

As Sylvia walked on, she took in the serenity of the scenery around her, and she felt a little calmer than she did at the cave. When she spotted the animals, she breathed in awe, and she commented to herself quietly, "I'm not this creative. There's no way I could be dreaming this..."

Plus the fact that she was walking barefoot helped to confirm that fact. She could feel the ground beneath her feet.

Soon she came upon the source of the smoke. She took in the sight in front of her, and she noted that the skeletons were charred as well. Sylvia thought to herself, "Did this woman cause the fire...?"

Figuring that the woman in front of her could use some help in putting out the fire, and considering what she just said, Sylvia decided to step forwards, and she called to the woman, "Excuse me, Ma'am? Do you need any help?"

While she stepped out and called out to the woman, she looked for anything that she could use to help put out the fire. She doubted the tools she salvaged would be as effective as a shovel.

[Lucius Cypher]

The woman turned towards you startled, holding her shovel defensively. However looking you over she had to make a quick decision before tossing you the shovel. "Take this shovel and smother as much of the fire as you can!" She shouts as she goes to grab an axe from the ground, using it to chop away at the burnt wood and trying to separate it from the building. "Just deal with the fire on the outside, and I can deal with the inferno inside!"

Sure enough the flames seem hottest at the center. Whatever caused this blaze started from the inside. What to do, what to do.

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

Sylvia didn't move when the woman held the shovel defensively, knowing that if she did anything, let alone moved, the woman would probably try and hit her with the thing. Thankfully, the woman seemed to realize that she wasn't a threat. Sylvia caught the shovel, and she nodded to the woman, responding "Got it!"

She looked at the fire, and she realized that the dirt wasn't helping in the first place. It was just creating more smoke. It was better to get rid of the parts that were already on fire and let the fire die on its own. She immediately got to work, using the shovel to help get rid of the fire on the outside. However, the inferno on the inside raised concern. How did the woman plan to get rid of the inferno on the inside? Sylvia could barely stand to be near it just from the heat alone.

[Lucius Cypher]

Thanks to your help you and the mystery woman managed to stop the blaze from spreading any further. Though both of you are dirty with soot and ash you’re unharmed, but now you can really feel that blazing inferno. That’s when the woman tossed her axe aside and crossed her hands in front of herself. A small pendant around her necklace glowed faintly as she spoke a strange incantation.

{Creation Water Rain!}

From the woman’s hands must seemed to shoot out, forming a localized cloud over the burning home. Almost immediately after the cloud began to rain, causing more smoke to billow from the house but after a few seconds, the rain puts out the fire. The woman drops to her knee with gritted teeth. “Bah... Can’t believe I wasted my first spell doing that...” Standing up the woman turned to you, allowing her rain to waste off some soot. “Thanks for the help stranger, though I didn’t expect to see anyone out here in the sticks. I’m Pylia. Who are you?”

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

Sylvia stepped away from the inferno once she finished removing the outside of the house fire. What now? She then looked to the woman as she tossed away the axe and do something with her hands. Her pendant started to glow and she uttered some strange words. After that, a storm cloud appeared over the house, and started raining, much to Sylvia's surprise. Sylvia doubted that she could even hide her surprise right now.

How did she do that?!

It wasn't long before the inferno was completely out. Sylvia had to close her mouth as the stranger spoke to her. After she introduced herself, Sylvia nodded and answered "Nice to meet you, Pylia. I'm Sylvia. And to be quite honest, I didn't expect to find myself here...wherever here is,"

[Lucius Cypher]

Pylia wrung the wetness out of her clothes as she smirked at you. “From that look on your face I’m guessing that’s the first time you’ve seen magic. Hope you’re not the type who start throwing around mean words like ‘witchcraft’ and ‘heathen’ around, or else we’re going to have some problems.” Sighing Pylia picked up her axe and carefully walked towards the charred remains of her home. “Though from the sounds of it you have your fair share of problems already. Where did you come from stranger? Only village nearby is Cassari and you don’t look native. Far from it.”

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

When Pylia mentioned that was the first time she saw magic, and at the mention of calling Pylia a heathen or saying that magic is witchcraft, Sylvia answered her, with her hands raised palms facing forwards, "No! No! I wouldn't even dream of that! If anything, I'm more curious as to how that was possible!"

After Pylia asked where she was from, Sylvia answered, rubbing the back of her head, "I don't suppose you've heard of a city called New York?"

[Lucius Cypher]

Pylia cocked an eyebrow at you as she briefly stopped before going inside. “New York? Is that some recent settlement? I haven’t noticed any settlers moving through here.” She went inside, and soon there was the sound of crashing and axe-against-wood. A few minutes later and Pylia came out again, this time wearing some sort of leather armor, a long knife on her hip, and a shield strapped to her arm. She walked towards you with a curious look on her face.

“You... No, nevermind. I guess if you aren’t a settler, you’re lost. And since my home just got burnt down I need to head back to Cassari and figure out where to go next. But damn those skeletons, it’ll take us at least three hours to get to the village and it’ll be night by then... And no doubt more skeletons will rise during that time. So why don’t you come with me to the village? Safety in numbers.”

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

Sylvia shook her head in response to Pylia's question. She waited patiently for Pylia as she headed into the ruins of her house, and came back out with armor, a long knife, and a shield to complement the axe. At the suggestion of heading to the village together, Sylvia nodded and answered "Sure. Sounds like a plan,"

Going to this Cassari place sounded better than just wandering around. From what it seems like, she is very very far from home.

She then asked Pylia, "I hope you don't mind if I ask some questions while we head to Cassari?"

[Lucius Cypher]

“Only if you can walk and talk. We’ve got a long road ahead of us.” Pylia starts walking eastward, at least assuming that the sun sets to the east in this world. Aside from the clearing where her house once stood, there was no literal roads or paths for the two women to walk. They’d have to lush their way through brambles and bushes, which Pylia’s long knife was useful for clearing

“Suppose one thing you should know is that whatever happens, I don’t plan on staying in Cassari. I don’t know where you come from that magic is new to you, but there are... People in that town that don’t like me. That’s not to say everyone in Cassari is bad but, well, I don’t have the patience to deal with fools everyday.”

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

Sylvia nodded once at her answer in acknowledgment. She followed Pylia, as she made their way through the brambles and bushes. So that long knife could be used as a machete.

She blinked at Pylia's next words. She felt bad that the people didn't like there just because she could use magic. She sympathetically apologized, "I see. I'm sorry about that," She then decided to make a small joke, hopefully to lift spirits a bit, "But hey. You seem to be dealing with me just fine,"

Ah, self-deprecating humor. Sylvia had no doubt that she would probably count as a fool here.

She then commented contemplatively, "Somehow, I would not be completely surprised if I'm in a completely different world altogether. A lot of the animals I saw on my way to that clearing are just...inconceivable from my home,"

She asked Pylia, "So...we are headed to Cassari, but what continent, or country, are we in?"

[Lucius Cypher]

“Huh?” Pylia gave you a disbelieving look as she cleared her way to a somewhat open path, at least void of tall brush. “You have to be really lost if you don’t know that much.” She seemed dismissive at first, but Pylia took a moment to think of something before moving forward some more. ”We’re in the Grandal, lead by Duke Erod Blackbane. As for continent I suppose were at the southern side of Cormac, ruled by King Andrews Wyrmslayer, and the year is 7512 if you’re going to ask that too.”

None of these names would be familiar to you. They sounded like the sort of names you’d get from a typical fantasy, especially since the only time you hear people called dukes and Kong’s would be either in historical context or just ceremonial. Even Cormac isn’t anything that rings a bell for you geographically. “Just where did you come from? Did you lose your memories or something?”

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

Sylvia listened carefully as Pylia answered her question. She thought carefully over the answers, realizing that none of the names were ringing any bells. The year, 7512...the possibility of this being the distant future popped into Sylvia's mind, but she couldn't really say for sure whether this was a different world or if it was the future just yet.

When Pylia asked where she was from, Sylvia decided to answer her honestly,

"As I said, I'm from New York City. Part of the United States of America, which is run by a democratic system consisting of the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches. The year...well, was 2019,"

She hoped that by telling Pylia this information, she might have a better idea as to what is going on with her situation. Maybe she can shed some light.

At the mention of the memories, Sylvia answered "I have my memories, but how I got here is fuzzy. I remember going to sleep, and then suddenly waking up in a cave,"

[Lucius Cypher]

Pylia didn’t say much at first, just walking and chopping through the brush, but the more she listened soon she just laughed. “Ha ha ha, what?! A democratic system organized into three separate branches of power? Surely you must have come from a fantasy world where authority isn’t consolidated under a single power!” Soon they stopped by a river, where Pylia splashed some water to clean her feet and other parts still dirty from soot. She also grabbed a few bits of algae and other small plants on the riverbed.

“In any case, that doesn’t sound familiar to me at all. Closest place I can think that matches that description is the Republic of Doris, and that’s on the other side of the world. And something tells me you’re not even...” She seemed hesitant to speak before she took out her blade and cleaned it in the river. She looked into its reflection with a moment of contemplation. “Not from my world. But... Anyways, let’s continue on. Night has fallen and evil will be out. I hope you know how to fight.”

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

Sylvia let out a small disappointed sigh at the laughter. Of course she should have seen that coming. She answered her comment shrugging, "I could say the same exact thing about this place. Kings and Dukes? Governments consisting of a single power and divine right haven't been around for a long time!"

It wasn't long before they stopped at a river. Sylvia took the opportunity to wash off the soot off of herself as well. She listened as Pylia commented what sounded most like her home. However, the girl couldn't help raise an eyebrow in curiosity when Pylia trailed off at the mention of her not even being something. What was Pylia going to say?

She seemed to finish her words with not from her world, but somehow, Sylvia doubted that was what she was originally going to say. But she left it alone for now.

At the mention of fighting, Sylvia nodded and brought her quarterstaff once more, "I do, at least a little bit. It's a good thing I learned martial arts,"

She then commented, considering that night has fallen "We're probably going to need a light as well huh...? I know I've got matches, but let me see if I've got anything else..."

She rifled through the backpack and found the ten torches in there. "Ah ha! A torch should do the trick!"

[Lucius Cypher]

“Hah, I wish. The entire concept of kings and their gods... Ugh, I hate it. But that’s another discussion for another time.” Pylia shook the water from her hands as you took out your torch. “That ought to work. Let me light it up.” Teaching out Pylia grasped the tip of the torch, the end you’re suppose to light, and spoke a quick chant. {Creation Fire.} Pylia’s hand lit aflame, yet she didn’t seem to be in pain as she ignited the torch, illuminating the nearby area. She shook her hand afterwards to dismiss the flame.

Pylia took out her own torch and used your flame to ignite it, holding the torch with her shield hand. “We’ve walked for about an hour now, if we’re lucky we might make it in the next hour. Stay sharp.”

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

Sylvia blinked at the comment regarding Kings and their gods, but as Pylia stated that was a discussion for another day. She watched as Pylia lit the torch with magic once more. After the torch was lit, Sylvia commented "That was cool! Thank you," She then asked out of curiosity, "Your hand didn't hurt when the fire appeared?"

At the comment about the fact that they might make it in the next hour and to stay sharp, Sylvia nodded and answered "Okay,"

As soon as they started walking again, torch in one hand and the quarterstaff in the other, Sylvia decided to ask, "So...what kind of 'evils' are we keeping an eye out for exactly?" As they continued on, she looked around, keeping an eye out on her surroundings.