The Journey Never Ends (Original Fantasy Quest)

Vote tally is kind of screwing up, but I've decided to leave the vote up for a week. It's a little long admittedly, but I think I want the time to plan out the last arc of the Yashima volume as well as something else. I've been wanting to start up a second quest for months now, but could never find the time to really start ironing everything out. I think I want to spend some time having a good first draft of it and see if anyone would even be interested since its been burrowing in my mind for so long now without anyone really to discuss it with. At the very least I want to get thoughts of it out of the way when I start going for the finish here.

I'll probably have an update though soon after the vote ends(hopefully). Have a look at some of the plans a few have voted on so far, and if none of them are to your taste, there's still enough time and voters for things to change. I've also answered a few questions and gave some information in some follow-up posts, but if there's anything else, feel free to ask.

Deirdre groaned as she opened her eyes. What in Orbis did she do last night? She remembered getting horribly drunk, stepping out onto the street and then… reacting too late to a vehicle speeding towards her. Looking down at her body showed no wounds, yet she distinctly remembered a strange explosion of light when the vehicle crashed into her. A twinge in her chest formed as she thought of the driver, most likely severely injured or dead from such an impact.

"Awake, are you?"

The last elf looked towards the voice only to widen her eyes and immediately scramble back on on her hands and feet, knocking over the bed she was on and getting tangled in its sheets. Silence fell over the room save for the deep, heaving breaths of the fallen elf. Deirdre must still be drunk, because what she saw wasn't real, couldn't be real. Calming her rapidly beating heart, she closed her eyes, pinched herself, and very slowly, craned her head to look at the speaker once more.

Another elf stared back at her with a dry, unimpressed expression.

"Are you quite done?

Deirdre slammed the back of her head against the floor once more as she groaned, "I must be drunk still."

"I wouldn't be surprised if you were just slow of mind, but yes. The stench of drink was thick on you when we found you passed out at the Imperial camp. The Men of the Empire must still be enjoying the sight of an elf in such a disgraceful state."

She rubbed the bridge of her nose as she sighed. "Alright, that's enough. This… this is a prank in bad taste. Whoever you are, know that while I am forgiving, imitating the form of my fallen people is a very poor jest I suggest you correct."

Silence fell over the room once more. Deirdre chanced another look at the "elf" to see him staring at her with a mildly confused and alarmed expression.

"I assure you," he started. "I am not… 'imitating' anyone. Are you sure you are not afflicted with some form of insanity?"

A pit formed in her stomach.

"No. No. You aren't real. By the Light, did I get kidnapped by some cult again? I should have you know, few illusion spells can hold me for long."

Her tormentor narrowed his eyes, alike but different enough that she knew that whoever was doing this was acting off false impressions. The impostor was dressed in some ridiculous-looking outfit no elf would be caught dead in, but he looked frail enough from what little she could see underneath it. Deirdre braced herself as he reached into the folds of his robes, only for him to draw out a tablet—her tablet.

"What is this?" he asked suddenly. "An interesting relic you possess, among other things."

Deirdre blinked. "It's a tablet. You… you can stop committing to the act. It's embarrassing now."

"A tablet, hm?" he hummed, turning it on and flicking through a few screens.

The last elf growled. "Enough of this. I gave you a chance to call this off, but still you persist. How dare you? The elves may all be dead, but so long as—"

"What?" The imitation hissed out as he stood up with an alarmed expression. "Explain, now."

She glared back at him, but something told her something else was off with the situation. "I have been the last elf for over a hundred years now. You see…"

The… other elf stared at her incredulously as she explained, but his expression turned more and more grim the more details she gave. Looking down at her tablet once more, he set it aside when she finished.

"If you did not have these items on your person, I would believe this to be some joke by a follower of Loec. No, this is too detailed, too elaborate… could it be some ploy of—"

"BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD. SKULLS FOR THE SKULL THRONE!"

Both elves flinched when they felt the battle cry reverberate across the room and across all their senses. All hints of confusion on the male elf disappeared while Deirdre sobered up immediately and began to sit up.

"Later. We will speak of this later. Are you able to fight?" he asked, wandering to the side.

Deirdre nodded as her strength returned. "Yes, where is my bow?"

He revealed the Hurricane and its quiver hidden in some wrappings and tossed them over to her before turning to leave.

"Wait," she asked, the last spark of hesitation present in her voice. "One last question, so I know this not to be a cruel trick."

A look of impatience is thrown her way, but he acquiesced. "What is it?

Deirdre leaned forward, intent on asking the one question only an elf would know how to answer.

"What is your opinion of the dwarves?"

His face twisted. "I am willing to work with them against daemons, but since I think I know what you ask… it is the view of most elves that the Dawi are petty grudgebearers both short of stature and short of foresight."

The last traces of tension dissipated from her body after his words. It seemed all was right wherever she was then, if a little different. She'd figure everything out later.

"Perfect," Deirdre said, standing up with a smile.

"Awaken then, Ladrielle's chosen. We have a daemonhost to burn."

---

Happy April Fools Day! Not really a story that fits the day perfectly, but it was a funny idea I came up with today so why not? My knowledge of both Warhammers are patchy, but hopefully it got a laugh out of you. I know enough that across all worlds and realms, the enmity between elves and dwarves remains the same.

So... there's a lot of ties here. I'm ending the vote in 24 hours, so vote for an existing plan or try to get a new one going if none of them are to your taste, still up in the air! Remember, there's two plan votes here, one for what you want to do, and one for who you want to bring/leave behind.

The Administrator wanted to make a spectacle of the mission to reach the capital, most likely after you shared observations of your wanderings around Tsukishima with her. Perhaps you should've expected something like this from someone as at odds with leadership as she was, but your mind was on more pressing matters when you spoke with her. To be fair, it's not as if this were bad… but when your mind is called back to the military parades and processions of the World War you were a part of, it does not paint the brightest picture.

Down the repaired roads of Tsukishima you go as several bulky six-wheeled military vehicles, thrumming with Lumen, are escorted by an honor guard of mechanized soldiers and a few regular ones commanding them. Despite their size, the not-quite tank but not-quite transportation vehicle made of a black and silver material is as sleek and smooth as most of Yashima's wondrous technology, a callback to the glory days that many in the city still remember.

To mixed, but at least not negative reactions. In the last few days you spent here, you've noticed activity picking up as more and more efforts were made to repair the failing infrastructure that the Administration didn't have the manpower, time, or resources for before your arrival. People wandered out to investigate and even chat up with others, and that soon started a cascade where more and more people began to come out and linger. It wasn't drastic, especially when you heard the breach alarms for the first time, but it was an improvement.

Other than your arrival, your actions in Tsukishima were mostly out of the public eye. Most people seemed to recognize you from what you saw of their looks, but they only held curiosity and slight wariness within them. Still, as you stretch your senses and look around, the peeking around windows, curtains, and corners as the procession goes by shows at least some people are paying attention to this.

Perhaps the fact that the Gūji was standing by you was the cause of that, though.

"This is all…" she said, looking distinctly put-out but struggling not to seem rude.

"Heavy-handed? I think the UPs might have a word with her when we reconnect with Kiengir," the Paragon said, sounding out the acronym as a word instead of stating its letters. "Much as I'm skeptical about it all though, there's so much worse that could have happened here. So long as she's genuine about stepping down eventually, I don't see the problem."

The kitsune nods at that as she waves to a small crowd of people pointing at her. After their argument, you've noted that the two seemed to be getting along surprisingly well. They both readily agreed to come along on this mission when you asked it of them, even hashing out something that made it seem like a joint mission between the miko and priests that now inhabit most of the shrines.

Fushimi was upset when she heard the mission wasn't going to the locations she requested, but her eyes became a little glassy when you informed her that the final destination was to the capital. She recovered after a bit, accepting that visiting the many villages and ensuring their spiritual health was a priority, but it's clear that something was on her mind regarding the city.

When you pass by a certain street with a familiar house however, you suddenly hear a loud, shrill voice call out to you.

"Onee-chaan!" Kiyoko, the young kitsune Anomaly you met earlier, waves her hand frantically at you while holding something in her other hand.

You can spot Jiro trying to subtly shush her, but Furukawa simply looks amused at how excitable the girl is. Without hesitation, you leap out of the vehicle and jog over to them, ignoring the startled cries of your companions and muttering from other onlookers.

Paying no mind to the embers burning within you in her presence, you stoop down when you reach Kiyoko and pat her head. Most mortal children enjoy that, right? The pout on her face shows she doesn't, but she thrusts the paper in her hand at you a moment later with a beaming smile on her face.

"I drew this for you! Baachan got crayons for me and said I can draw whatever I like. Do you like it?"



You take the drawing in your hands and smile at the stick figures drawn on it. Even if the ears on what you guess is you are really way too long. By the Light.

"It's wonderful, Kiyoko-chan. Thank you very much."

"It's not much," she lets out, shuffling her feet but clearly hiding a smile.

Furukawa steps in after that. "Stay safe out there, you hear me? Can't imagine what it's like out there, so be prepared. I got you some of the best folks to go on this, so you should be fine, but…"

"Pathstrider-san will be fine. I heard she slew a demon lord before coming here," Jiro pipes in, trying to sound comforting but coming out excited instead.

You laugh at it all. "It was a demon candidate, but I'll be careful. Look after Kiyoko-chan for me. I'll have some stories for her when I return."

She looks up, fidgeting with her hands as her eyes almost seem to tremble.

"Will you really come back?"

Your smile dampens slightly as you wonder why she'd ask that in particular, but after a moment's thought you reach a hand towards your quiver and draw an arrow out. With a blunted tip, of course. Kneeling down before her, you take one of her hands and wrap her fingers carefully around the shaft.

"This arrow is tied to my bow, and by extension, me. So long as you hold onto it, you'll be able to tell if I am still here."

Her mouth forms an "o" as she peers down at the arrow, glistening slightly with a silver sheen. What you told her wasn't the complete truth, but it's not something she would be able to decipher anyways.

"Okay!" Kiyoko shouts, grasping the arrow and looking up at you with a fierce expression. "I'm waiting for you. If you don't come back, I'll hate you forever!"

Patting her head again and chuckling as she pouts once more, you nod to Furukawa and pat Jiro's shoulder before jogging back to your place in the procession. Willow raises an eyebrow at you, and the Gūji looks very conflicted, but you simply pretend as if nothing happened. After what feels like almost an hour or so, you come to the end and spot the Administrator standing with several guards and Sasaki Riko, looking more put together than usual. To your surprise, there is a tiny bake-danuki child behind Tomoko's leg peeking up at you.

There is no grand speech thankfully, but there are soldiers surrounding the vehicles on both sides who were at parade rest before now saluting everyone, a few of the ones with you returning them. Your attention is soon drawn to a loud humming noise at the edge of the city where it once again meets the sea. Suddenly, a shimmering bridge formed of pure light and energy comes into being, stretching over hundreds of meters in a blink of an eye.

With only one way in on foot, it's no wonder Tsukishima has survived so well once internal stability was reached. As the vehicles start revving up to speed through the last demonstration of the Administration's capabilities, you look back at Tomoko. A silent understanding is shared between you two as she nods. Before you left your last meeting with her, she handed a device over that could be keyed to your spiritual signature and that only you could activate.

The "Last Resort", she called it, if the worst should happen to you. You accepted it without protest.

---

The land is dead.

After several hours of a steady drive, that is the sobering conclusion you all come to. Of course, this was known before, but you are particularly sensitive to the bleak landscape and the absence of… anything to connect with leaves your skin crawling with pins and needles. Tsukishima, despite all it has gone through, at the very least had a semblance of life with its people and measures taken to protect against the Yamikiri.

Not so outside. It's something you might've noticed when you were a younger elf back in the city, but the stark lack of wildlife in Yashima is painfully apparent here. However accustomed you are to cities now, you still find solace in the song of birds and swaying of trees in the wind. Not even the chittering of insects exists now. It's been a long time since you have been so attuned to the breath of the world, but to hear its dying gasps like this still makes you shudder.

"Here, my friend. Yashima at its finest! There may be grander marvels crafted by others, but none can match our land's beauty. Haha, I'm sorry, of course your forests may be a peer~"

Your heart aches at the wonder that was shown to you so long ago with such love becoming a wasteland. People may pass, but the land is supposed to endure. Where were the colorful flowers that once dotted the countryside, through rolling hills and mountains? The maple and blushing trees, and the hum and glow of them all due to the kami's touch? Why must even Orbis itself start to die?

It is a struggle not to weep.

"By the kami…" Fushimi mutters after some time, collapsing onto her seat. "It's…"

The Gūji trails off, eyes shut tight and tails swishing erratically. She had been staring at the broken down roads and withered grasses and trees ever since the party left the city. Her purple eyes would flash at times, and she would flinch and shake her head before resuming her grim observation.

Willow looks over with a concerned expression. "You alright? It's tough, but…"

Fushimi sighs, "Yes, I know. Do not worry, I just needed to be certain. Ten years ago, the Kami thrived outside the cities even with how much has been industrialized. Some spoke of their diminishing presence… me especially. Now, I can hardly see signs of them and wish we could go back to those days. It's distressing as well, to see how little all my years of efforts have done to start the recovery."

"There are still signs of them?" you ask, hopes raised for a moment.

"Only the barest traces of their existence," she says, grimacing. "It is… I would not say impossible, but difficult to fully destroy the kami residing in Yashima. In the end, they represent the most foundational aspects of our land. So long as some of us live and put our faith to them, remnants will cling onto our world."

"Would be like trying to destroy the fundamental particles everything is made of. Possible, but too much effort. Or, maybe unnecessary."

A hush falls over the group as the Pedra Moura floats over and settles down next to you all, brown eyes staring up at all of yours. Ever since you called Ophelia over, it's reported that she has been more lucid and aware, but her presence is still an unsettling one. Nothing compared to the desolation surrounding everyone, but her presence is not just one of overwhelming force. It is a disconcerting otherworldliness, a peek into something more even as she lounges around and stares off into nothing.

The effect doesn't bother you too much, but the Gūji and even the Paragon are not fond of it. For followers of the known and present, of viewing certain things as sacred and absolute, they will always be at odds with their opposite in some ways. They're tactful enough not to speak on it, and perhaps may not even realize their own distaste, but it's you who has to break the silence Beatrice has caused with her presence.

"Unnecessary?" you ask.

La Encantada thinks before explaining in an even tone. "Demiurge, right? They could have destroyed everything. I can see it. Their particles, it's everywhere. Their dimension, keyed to Yashima enough that they can be everywhere, even most of Tsukishima. They didn't, though."

Fushimi grumbles, "Because they cannot. They are always present, trying to turn us, but we are still here."

"Yeah, always there, always," the myconid agrees, mumbling. "They're like a conjurer. They want to make things, create new stuff. Can't destroy material completely in that case."

You frown, "An interesting theory, but I feel it doesn't account for the scale of their activities if they are just a mad artisan."

Beatrice hums, but says no more as the rest of you fall into a slightly less uncomfortable silence. You're still working through what the myconid concluded with Ophelia and the researchers, but you understand what she means by "their particles" enough. It is the medium through which the Yamikiri and Demiurge work to alter and corrupt people, subtly flooding and replacing select particles in various areas. Dubbed "Mirror Particles", the Ame no Shisen is said to have perhaps been an answer from the Amatsu-Kami to it, another mirror reflecting back the distorted images and perceptions they inflict on their victims.

Ophelia was visibly frightened after it all. To beings like her, the particles have a much easier time getting past her defenses and… replacing her, bit by bit, with those particles. Many residents in Yashima have built up a resistance of sorts, their bodies ever so slightly repulsing them after years of exposure. Material beings are complicated constructs that take time to break down. For fairies and other residents from the Currents, there… isn't anything else to alter except the very essence of their existence.

Because of that, she informed you that while she could make her way back and would be open to requests still, the fairy would much prefer you call on her only when strictly necessary.

And as you think about what you've learned and the disappearance of the kami, you wonder just what the Demiurge might've done to them besides causing their death.

---

"Nothing again, ma'am."

Your lips purse as you walk through the destroyed ruins of another village. The Administration planned a route that would check on the nearby settlements of Tsukishima, just in case. Most people that were close fled to the city, but there was always the chance of those either left behind or who could not make the journey one way or the other. The place you are at now feels like the latter, with how ravaged everything was rather than simply abandoned.

The Gūji has been kneeling and praying everywhere you stopped, trying to kindle some life back in each fallen community, but all she seems to be doing is exhausting herself. Soldiers and mercenaries alike have dark, sullen expressions on their faces after searching through items left behind. Etsuko has been hard at work analyzing the readings her scanners have picked up, but her reports only tell you what everyone can feel deep in their bones. It isn't the optimistic start you were hoping for.

"Have the soldiers been having any difficulties, Commander?" you ask.

Tanaka Akihiko shook his head, saying, "Negative. Protections have been holding up against the mist… and we've all seen our fair share of tragedy the past decade. Boys and girls will get through this."

"Hmm, was your unit assigned to this mission, or did you volunteer?"

"More voluntold and 'asked' to by a certain someone, but we don't mind," the mokujin gives a wry smirk. "The Administrator loves her machines, and they've done good work, but we're one of the few people who actually have experience, training, and the will to put ourselves in danger. As you might have guessed, the defense forces was decimated by the Impact most. Been with her ever since I saw she wasn't too crazy a person to follow."

You raise an eyebrow. "I think few would call her crazy at all."

He chuckles, "She hides it well, but there's still signs of what she was like before. And you have to be a little crazy to think you can build a functioning state from one broken city, eh?"

The two of you fall into an amused silence for a while before things are ready to start up again. It has been a tedious few days as the convoy meticulously combs the area around Tsukishima, especially with sections of the roads being broken down or blocked off in certain areas, but at least this is one of the last villages you had to check on. You'll soon pass through the bridges at Busōshita River that partially split the northern and southern halves of the main island in Yashima.

Before that, you spend some time with two people in particular, getting to know them and whatever insights they might have on the Impact, Administration, and everything else going on.

Vote for up to two:

[] La Encantada
[] The Paragon
[] The Gūji
[] Etsuko
[] Commander Tanaka
[] The Administrator

---

Strangely enough, the convoy has not been attacked the past few days. Communications were often down with Tsukishima despite Etsuko's best efforts, but things have been quiet in terms of Kenomans in a territory where they should be abundant. Far too quiet. So it's to everyone's surprise that the first obstacle to the party is not a portal spawning a horde of Kenomans… but a solitary figure blocking the bridge they are about to cross.

"HAAAAALT!" a loud, almost shrill cry rings out from the figure. "Come out and state your business or be cut down by the legendary Kuroikaze!"

You share a look with Tanaka and Etsuko, the three of you discussing various matters inside one of the vehicles before getting interrupted by… whoever this is. The convoy stops a distance away from what you discover to be a bamboo-hatted mokujin clad in a black kimono with white cloud patterns decorated on it. A raggedy dark grey hakama is worn over it, the edges frayed beyond repair. At odds with it all are a pair of worn out sneakers.

"Err…" The kappa lets out, tapping a few boxes on her device. "Not a Kenoman, obviously, or even an Anomaly. Actually, I'm reading barely any Erosion readings off her at all, which should be impossible given how dense the Yamikiri is here."

"Think she's from one of the old samurai families, but they would've gotten wiped out all the same if they couldn't get to safety," the commander muses.

Etsuko's eyes light up, "Ohh! Maybe there's a secret samurai clan that's been surviving out here with a super secret technique? I wanna examine her a bit closer."

"Let me go first," you say, already opening the door and hopping onto the ground. "She doesn't appear friendly."

The thud behind you tells you that Tanaka decided to follow. Looking back, you gesture for everyone else behind you to stay calm while you approach this "Kuroikaze". On closer inspection, the mokujin is painfully thin, her wooden hands looking almost like twigs while her face has grown withered and dried out. Chips and marks on her body hint that she's been fighting for a while, yet she still stands tall and proud as her steely grey eyes look the both of you over.

"Greetings," you say after coming to a stop a few meters away and bowing. "We are an exploratory party from Tsukishima looking to cross through this bridge and see if any still live. Do you know anything about the local area?"

Her eyes narrow as she scoffs, "A likely story. Why would they send a foreigner to do so, if any still live in that city at all? Ah! You must be a foreign raiding party here to plunder what remains of our once great nation!"

You blink in confusion as she almost seems to transform, the stoic samurai becoming a twitchy, mad mess as she makes to draw her sword.

"She came to help us at the head of an entire expedition, actually," Tanaka interjects. "Calm yourself. We mean you no harm, and you can't seriously be expecting to take us all out by yourself, are you?"

That seems to be the wrong thing to say as the mokujin draws her weapon with a dramatic flourish, revealing a stained, chipped katana that must require constant maintenance to keep together.

"I have felled great foes and monstrosities alike with this blade, " she cries out. "No matter the bandit or demon, I am the Kuroikaze, the fastest and strongest warrior in these lands! I don't lose."

You raise your eyebrow. "How have you resisted the Erosion out here on your own?"

She points her blade at you, a confident smirk on her face where a wary scowl once was.

"I'm the Kuroikaze. I'm different, that's all. I don't lose."

You and Tanaka look at each other for a brief moment before turning back to her.

"We are sincere in our intentions to help." you say.

"None shall pass," she intones, back to making a fierce glare at you.

Tanaka sighs, "Lady, you—"

"None shall pass!"

You look around the area, noting the many vehicles behind you and the other bridges you can cross.

"I appreciate your… vigilance, but we are going to cross with or without your permission."

"Then I shall slay you where you stand."

Taking a deep breath, you put on a strained smile and try one last time to persuade her. "Is there anything we can do to convince you to move?"

Her eyes narrow, "I move for no…"

She trails off, looking at the Ame no Shisen sheathed in its scabbard. A calculating glint appears in her eyes as she looks back up at you.

"I, Suzuki Ai, the legendary Kuroikaze, challenge you to a duel of wills! A test of resolve and dance of steel. Show me the truth of your blade or be cut down like all the rest. Though, you should know—"

"You don't lose?" you finish for her, crossing your arms.

Suzuki scowls, "Hey, that's my thing! Grr… anyways! Do you accept my challenge, or are you a cowardly, craven foreigner that carries around one of our blades for appearances?"

Choose one:

[] Indulge her, draw the Ame no Shisen and dance!

[] She shouldn't have brought a sword to a bow fight. Show a little of your elven mastery and humble her.

[] Try to reason with this madwoman. This is ridiculous, and surely she'll tell you what she knows once she comes to her senses?

[] Simply reverse your vehicles and go through another one of the bridges. That'll show her. You wonder if she can run fast enough to block it off once she realizes what you're doing?

---

AN: