You are dead. Your body is broken, but your soul still remains. In your final hour, you chose to pray to Rytam, the God of Tribulations. As a result your soul has left the earthly plane of Nechachalaniliztli, and you now find yourself in Micohuayan, the afterlife of strife and competition. Yet, among all afterlifes, Micohuayan is unique- On the last week of every year, Rytam holds the grandest tournament in all of reality. He tests physical skill, mental prowess, leadership, and every quality under the Suns. And at the end, the top three winners get to return to the real world. Godkings abuse this to seize immortality, with many demigods and legends competing each year- Yet Rytam is fair, and even the poorest of commoners have the chance to win if luck and determination are on their side.
Micohuayan Afterlife Quest
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0: Origin
Summary:
You are dead. Your body is broken, but your soul still remains. In your final hour, you chose to pray to Rytam, the God of Tribulations. As a result your soul has left the earthly plane of Nechachalaniliztli, and you now find yourself in Micohuayan, the afterlife of strife and competition. Yet, among all afterlifes, Micohuayan is unique- On the last week of every year, Rytam holds the grandest tournament in all of reality. He tests physical skill, mental prowess, leadership, and every quality under the Suns. And at the end, the top three winners get to return to the real world. Godkings abuse this to seize immortality, with many demigods and legends competing each year- Yet Rytam is fair, and even the poorest of commoners have the chance to win if luck and determination are on their side.
Mechanics:
This is my first quest, and it will be largely drawing from the same mechanics as Now You Feel Like Number None- Skills are used in place of CK2 style checks, experience is used to upgrade skills, and the quest as a whole is narratively based on votes and skills rather than a random percentage based numbers game. Right now, you need to choose the category the story will start from- That will determine the options available during character creation.
Past Lives:
[ ] A Citizen Under the Godkings
You grew up in a society run by one or more of Nechachalaniliztli's Godkings. These demigods carved out cities at the edges of civilization, and to live there is to constantly live in danger. Incidentally, they are also the only ones who mandate state worship of Rytam. There are a vast array of people living there, from the richest aristocrats to the poorest street urchins- But either way, all true citizens of the city state make it to Micohuayan when they die.
To have this start means that you will begin with advanced knowledge- You will know a lot about Micohuayan, you will know about past tournaments, and you will have many skills. In a morbid sort of way, you have been preparing your whole life for this. However, your past allegiance will greatly complicate your afterlife's opportunities. The majority of people in Micohuayan are made up of people from the city states, and the politics they carried in life follow them into death. You will not have much freedom, as important figures from your home city will expect you to obey their orders and follow the hierarchy- This could range from handing out missions, to picking your teammates, all the way to forcing your assistance during a crucial moment. Rytam looks down upon making people outright throw matches, but there isn't any rule against forcing you to expend resources or energy in the process of assisting someone. You can go against this expectation and strike your own path, but this will earn the enmity of your previous city and a reputation as rebellious.
Overall, this pick would result in a somewhat risky but somewhat rewarding story that centers on politics and diplomacy alongside adventure.
[ ] An Isolated Believer
You grew up within civilization, with a variety of places and targets of worship. Yet, you do not worship the same as your peers. Whether your family were refugees from the wilds, immigrants from the city states, or one of the few who still follow Rytam's old cults; Your family has managed to survive. Religious persecution is not very common, at least towards those who worship Rytam- Yet you have still experienced troubles in life from your adherence to the faith.
To have this start means that you have an experienced worldview and a detailed understanding of Micohuayan. You have not trained in the same way as those at the frontier, but you have still done a little practice in preparation for your death. You also have a better knowledge base than someone from the frontier- You will have access to a more diverse pool of skills and information that you may start with. You will also enjoy a very smooth start to your afterlife, as isolated believers make up the second largest number of people in Micohuayan. You will have a lot of flexibility in picking teams and allegiances, and many factions cater to unattached arrivals. While the frontier citizens may scoff at your softness or look down on your weakness, they will be more paternalistic than aggressive.
Overall, this pick would result in a down to earth and more balanced fantasy adventure with leadership and community building.
[ ] A Very Recent Convert
Soul magic is interesting in Nechachalaniliztli. In order to send your soul to an afterlife, you simply have to pray to your god of choice before dying. As a very recent convert, you never really worshiped Rytam. You might have worshiped another god, or none at all- Many people chose to keep their options open, and most Gods are willing to be flexible. If you properly repent, donate, or sacrifice, most afterlives are open to you. Yet, Rytam is unique. He does not care who you are, what you have done, or what God you worshiped before you prayed to him- You could curse him and praise him in the same breath, and he wouldn't care. As someone who only began to worship Rytam as your last words, you are determined. It could be that you want to return to life in order to right the wrong that killed you, or maybe you have unfinished business, or a family- Perhaps you are simply a coward, who fears the eternity of isolation or servitude that other afterlives bring. Regardless, you are determined, and you are largely alone.
It is uncommon to swap worship to Rytam, and those that do lack the knowledge and preparation that everyone else will get. You will have a diverse pool of skills and information, and you will also have a very special opportunity- If you worshiped a god before the swap, you will still have access to the divine magic that you learned. It will be difficult to practice or advance while in Micohuayan, but even rudimentary secret magic can be a game changing utility or trick in a fight. While you will not be downright isolated, life is not good for the ignorant in Micohuayan. Allies will be fewer, enemies will be quicker to exploit your weakness, and you will have to manually learn a lot of information rather than getting it for free. Yet, there is one upside to being isolated from the larger community- You often get to see things best brushed under the rug, and meet those who might be shunned.
Overall, this pick would result in a more shounen mystery path, and while the other choices will also touch on the mystery of the setting, this path would be the deepest.
Information on Nechachalaniliztli
Sorry for the delay everyone. I have been sick this past week, and while it is thankfully not Covid, I still haven't really been able to write. I should have the character creation vote up in an hour or two, looks like A Very Recent Convert won!
This is an informational doc that just establishes some details within the setting so you have context for character creation. Nothing is vital other than the name and religion sections, so if you want to go in blind you don't have to read most of this. Any really important info will still be integrated and hinted in the story.
This is an informational doc that just establishes some details within the setting so you have context for character creation. Nothing is vital other than the name and religion sections, so if you want to go in blind you don't have to read most of this. Any really important info will still be integrated and hinted in the story.
- The land of Nechachalaniliztli is broken up into several distinct regions, all surrounding the Cemicacayoliztli lakes.
- For the borders, to the far east is the great salty Ilhuica Atl lake; To the west and north is the desert; and to the south is the jungle
- Off the Eastern coast there are several small islands, but no ships have managed to reach the other side.
- Wild beasts once stalked the land- Powerful and sometimes magical, in the last few hundreds of years the most dangerous species have been largely pushed to the periphery of civilization. They are still a danger, but they are no longer an existential threat. Ancient stories claim that some beasts used to be capable of speech, but there are no records to prove it.
- Civilization is based on city states. Identity is strongly tied to your home city, more so than race or culture, even if you do not live inside the city.
- The majority of the world is controlled by the Tlacacemele, a hegemonic federation controlled by the city of Eztlitlapalli. They control a vast decentralized empire of city states, and rule through force. Their allies act as junior partners in their empire, and they install friendly regimes in the cities they conquer. In the past, empires like this have formed, but they have never lasted long- Tlacacemele has been wildly successful in the past century, but recently their success has started causing problems.
- Without threatening external enemies, and with the migration of the beasts, the warriors of the lake region are left idle. All it took was one weak ruler followed by a weak heir to cause the most crippling weakness of the Tlacacemele- The Coronation campaigns.
- Whenever a ruler dies, the ambitious or disloyal will test the new leader's capabilities. Some vassals will attempt to subvert royal authority or stop sending taxes, and some will outright revolt.
- The fact of the matter is that the empire is far too large for current communication technology to support it, and Eztlitlapalli has not concentrated enough power or prestige to start integrating its vassals. Instead, it is stuck in a permanent power deficit, constantly trying to improve imperial authority while hampered by each ruler starting their reign with years of fighting and putting out fires.
- One of the few truly independent groups are the Tlapatlanitlaca. These people occupy the coastal islands and trade heavily with coastal city states. They are a loose mercantile group that share few ties with the mainland other than religion and trade.
- While Tlacacemele have been trying to conquer or coerce them for a while, the lack of support from coastal vassals and the traders' far more developed naval traditions have shut down each attempt.
- Another holdout is the Godkings, who scrape out cities at the edge of the world. By abusing immortality, they are able to hold their lands in an iron grip, and they possess great personal power. They would be able to rival Tlacacemele in strength, if not for their extreme disunity and each rulers' personal ambition.
- They live in very inhospitable climates too far away to easily influence, so Tlacacemele has struggled to permanently conquer them.
- It's also fairly hard to permanently put down godkings, especially if they form a temporary alliance to push Tlacacemele out.
- There are still a few smaller cities that still maintain independence, but that is mainly due to isolation and insignificance.
- Men usually wear loincloths with a cape or cloak, while women wear a dress or robe.
- Most armor is similar to the European gambeson, and is specially designed against piercing weapons. The most popular weapons are spears, whether they be ranged or melee.
- There is very little discrimination based on gender- Women are viewed as equals to men, are able to hold positions of authority, and are able to own property with all the legal protections that come with these rights. There are some gender norms, mainly around professions, but that is more of a statistical fact than a rule people must follow lest they be ostracized.
- There are three types of societies; Those close to the Cemicacayoliztli lakes, those living on the islands, and those by the frontier.
- For those by the lakes, civilization is booming. It would be inaccurate to say that they have entered into a decadent era, but production and entertainment are booming.
- Due to the prosperity, natural resources, and divine blessings, the population nearly has a plurality of craftsmen. The arts are flourishing, and there has been a population boom.
- The main problem in society is stratification- A caste system sets each family apart based on ancestral profession, and it is difficult for families to move up the ranks outside of martial feats.
- For those on the islands, they are beginning to form into a true nation, but they are still a loose tribe compared to the mainland.
- A large part of the population are wanderers, whether it be traders or explorers; The untamed lands to the North and South have been largely explored through sea travel.
- Society is less stratified than the Tlacacemele, but there are still stigmas on lower classes.
- For those by the frontier, life is not so great. The Godkings have a monopoly on force, and the population is smaller.
- There are much fewer craftsmen, and many more warriors and hunters than other regions.
- There is one positive- Society is almost completely unstratified, except for the uppermost ranks, where only the Godkings and their chosen priests are allowed to rule.
- For those by the lakes, civilization is booming. It would be inaccurate to say that they have entered into a decadent era, but production and entertainment are booming.
- There are no last names- You can use a parent, your home city, or your title as a surname in any ceremonies or introductions, but names in general are seen as temporary labels describing your current form rather than permanent descriptions. There is no stigma around changing names, so it can happen whenever the person wants.
- There are three types of names:
- Child names are decided at the day of your birth; based on the numeral of the day and the name of the month. This is seen as a prediction of destiny (despite no gods confirming or denying), and is also affected by any holidays or anniversaries the day might have fallen on. For some people it's mundane, but for others it is very important. If a child is born on an ominous omen, desperate parents will sometimes cover up the birth in order to shift their child's birthday to something better. During puberty, the child will choose another name to take- After this is done, their calendar name will never be used again, and it is seen as bad luck to refer to someone as their child name.
- Personal names are based on personality, nicknames, or deeds- This can be anything. You might call yourself Quail, Storm, or even something like Combatant. You might also call yourself Chatterbox, Vicious One, or other descriptors.
- Honor names are based on responsibilities or titles- It describes your duties in life, or future duties; This can be combined with personal names like "The Bold Prince of Zoquiacqui", or left by itself like "Godking of Zoquiacqui".
- For the purposes of this quest names will be presented in their Nahuatl translation, but every time a new name is learned the definition will be shown at the end of the chapter.
- There is only one religion in Nechachalaniliztli, because no God demands their worshipers ignore the rest. Their religion is polytheistic, and there are hundreds of major and minor gods. However, it would be impossible for you guys to remember them all, so I will only be detailing the most powerful Gods- Namely, those with an afterlife. Any other gods will have a mention of their domain and other details when they are introduced into the story.
- Rytam, the God of Tribulations and Skill
- His afterlife is Micohuayan, where his worshipers battle in a test of skills and smarts to return to the real world. Only the top three winners get to return, meaning that the majority of souls are stuck there forever- If they tire of fighting, they can choose to leave their astral bodies behind and become one of the audience.
- His name does not have to do with his domain, unlike the other Gods.
- Tlexictlicahuānāltiā, the Goddess of Justice and Community
- Her afterlife is Chantlaliayan, where her worshipers get to spend eternity in bliss if they are followed her commandments to the letter and spirit, and an eternity tortured if they are not. She also receives any unwanted souls from Yuallicualnezca, Calpampillitonayo, and Netlamatqui, along with any atheists.
- Yaotl, the God of Valor and Combat
- His afterlife is Tlatelchihuiliayan, where his worshipers spend eternity fighting a mysterious foe on the edges of reality. Not much is known about this foe to living mortals, especially those who do not worship Yaotl. Those who took lives and lived bravely will be officers, while those who were craven or beaten will be soldiers.
- Yuallicualnezca, the Goddess of Beauty and Darkness
- Her afterlife is Cacticacyan, where her worshipers spend eternity contemplating art and poetry in an endless void. Those who are creative will enjoy themselves, but if anyone tires of the void, they are allowed to reincarnate into an animal without their memories.
- Calpampillitonayo, the God of Nobility and the Sun
- While the Gods have no set organization other than a basic hierarchy, Calpampillitonayo is the closest thing the major Gods have to a leader.
- His afterlife is Tlathuicnencauh, where his worshipers are allowed to look in on the world and even manifest themselves. After manifestation, they are too tired to manifest again for another hundred years. Despite this upside, they spend most of their time as Calpampillitonayo's servants by assisting him with bureaucracy and acting as messengers.
- Neltlamatqui, the God of Wisdom
- His afterlife is Temachtiloyan, where his worshipers spend eternity pondering the greater meanings. They live in an infinite series of halls and libraries as they expand the fields of philosophy, mathematics, and science. The biggest downside is that there is no escape or diversions; Neltlamatqui allows his followers to choose what they want to study, but they have to be studying.
- Rytam, the God of Tribulations and Skill
- In the average person's daily life, they have dozens of small prayers and rituals; Even most non-worshipers do this, as it costs nothing and ensures good luck and better efficiency in their day.
- Offerings are the main distinction between someone who respects a god and someone who worships them- Whether it be an animal, incense, or a human, sacrifices are a key element to worship.
- Besides prayers and offerings, the crux of worship in Nechachalaniliztli is the calendar. For millennia people have known about the holy days of the Gods, as well as significant natural days and the seasons, but it was the work of several lifetimes to integrate them. There are 360 days in a year, with 30 days in a month, and 4 seasons to tie things together. Alongside them are the movements of the two suns, their relation to the moon, the relation to the stars, and how everything connects to the gods. As such, Astrology is a major field, and the almanac is incredibly thick. Each holiday is marked by a celebration, and any astrological events that year will complicate the ceremony more.
0.1: Character Creation
Here is character creation for A Very Recent Convert! After the questions, you may add the specific circumstances of your death if you want.
Student: 100xp- You have basic knowledge, but not really enough to be applicable.
Adept: 200xp- You have average skill.
Skilled: 400xp- Your skill is high enough to stand out among your peers.
Veteran: 800xp- You have reached a deep understanding of the field, and you might start getting approached by prospective students.
Master: 1600xp- You are an authority in this field, and any further advancements can't usually be bestowed by a teacher
Champion: 2400xp- You have reached the peak of human abilities, and you are known as a demigod.
Legend: 3200xp- You are a god in this field, or so close that the distinction doesn't matter.
Adept: 200xp- You have average skill.
Skilled: 400xp- Your skill is high enough to stand out among your peers.
Veteran: 800xp- You have reached a deep understanding of the field, and you might start getting approached by prospective students.
Master: 1600xp- You are an authority in this field, and any further advancements can't usually be bestowed by a teacher
Champion: 2400xp- You have reached the peak of human abilities, and you are known as a demigod.
Legend: 3200xp- You are a god in this field, or so close that the distinction doesn't matter.
Name:
[ ] Write a name in English based on the naming conventions in the information threadmark. You might want to come back to this after completing the rest of the questions.
Gender:
[ ] Male
[ ] Female
Age:
[ ] Late Teens (no longer a child, not quite an adult)
[ ] Early Adulthood
[ ] Middle Adulthood
What is your best trait?
[ ] You are thoughtful and willing to give anyone a helping hand.
[ ] You are confident and warm.
[ ] You are smart and calculating.
[ ] You are willing to sacrifice in order to achieve your goals.
[ ] Write in
What is your worst trait?
[ ] You don't know when to give up, even when it causes far more problems than it solves.
[ ] You suffer socially and find it hard to understand other people.
[ ] Your confidence is shattered, and you have a hard time believing in yourself.
[ ] You live by a harsh moral code that you hold yourself to at all costs.
[ ] Write in
Where do you live?
[ ] Around Eztlitlapalli, the capital of Tlacacemele.
[ ] Around a loyal Tlacacemele city.
[ ] Around a disloyal Tlacacemele city.
[ ] Around a city beneath Tlacacemele's notice.
[ ] Around a Tlapatlanitlaca city.
[ ] On the move, you are a nomad with no real home.
What was your profession in life? This will determine some starting skills, as well as your social position in society. The higher in the list, the higher the status. Your status will not matter much to the souls in Micohuayan, but it will affect your previous life.
[ ] Noble (Skilled in Diplomacy and Insight, adept in Writing and Leadership, student in Martial Form.)
[ ] Priest (Adept in Dogma and Writing. Your godly magic will be skilled rather than adept.)
[ ] Warrior (Adept in Melee Spears, Ranged Spears, and Martial Form, student in Group Fighting.)
[ ] Artist (Adept in Perception and Writing. After the first chapter there will be a vote to determine speciality.)
[ ] Craftsman (Adept in Crafting and student in Writing. After the first chapter there will be a vote to determine speciality.)
[ ] Explorer (Skilled in Problem Solving and Perception, adept in Survival and Vehicles, student in Beast Fighting.)
[ ] Merchant (Skilled in Trading and Insight, adept in Writing and Diplomacy, student in Espionage.)
[ ] Sailor (Skilled in Vehicles, adept in Acrobatics and Endurance.)
[ ] Misc. Worker (Skilled in Endurance, student in Survival. After the first chapter there will be a vote to determine speciality.)
[ ] Hunter (Skilled in Trapping and Beast Fighting, adept in Tracking and Martial Form, student in Survival, nature and Perception.)
[ ] Farmer (Adept in Survival and Nature, skilled in Endurance, student in tracking.)
[ ] Vagrant (Adept in Survival and Espionage, skilled in Acrobatics and Martial Form.)
[ ] Slave
-[ ] Write in what profession you have as a slave. You will get that profession's skills.
Did you have any interest in other faiths before your death? You will gain a special adept skill based on your other choices in this questionnaire combined with your choice of god.
[ ] Yes, Tlexictlicahuānāltiā, the Goddess of Justice and Community.
[ ] Yes, Yaotl, the God of Valor and Combat.
[ ] Yes, Yuallicualnezca, the Goddess of Beauty and Darkness.
[ ] Yes, Calpampillitonayo, the God of Nobility and the Sun.
[ ] Yes, Neltlamatqui, the God of Wisdom.
[ ] No. Write in a skill you studied in place of religion, and it will be upgraded from Adept to Skilled.
- [ ] Write In
You are a unique person, and the labels you hold in life don't necessarily reflect everything you did. Please select one skill to gain at adept level, then one skill to gain at student level.
[ ] Acrobatics
[ ] Beast Fighting
[ ] Crafting
[ ] Diplomacy
[ ] Dogma
[ ] Endurance
[ ] Espionage
[ ] Group Fighting
[ ] Insight
[ ] Leadership
[ ] Martial Form
[ ] Melee Spears
[ ] Nature
[ ] Problem Solving
[ ] Perception
[ ] Ranged Spears
[ ] Survival
[ ] Tracking
[ ] Trading
[ ] Trapping
[ ] Vehicles
[ ] Writing
[ ] Write in a craft or art
What made you pray to Rytam? There might be multiple reasons, but choose the most important.
[ ] Regrets about untimely death.
[ ] Regrets about loved ones left behind.
[ ] Revenge against those who killed you
[ ] Revenge against those which caused your suffering in life
[ ] Deep insecurities about your worthiness for your chosen god's afterlife.
[ ] Fear of permanent servitude or isolation in your chosen god's afterlife.
Character Sheet
Caxania
Gender: MaleCaxania
Age: 23
Resources:
- One small throwing knife
- Adventuring Cloak
- Non-magical
- Non-specialized
- Provides basic weather protection
- Adventuring Armor
- Non-magical
- Non-specialized
- Similar to leather armor, designed to stand up to small threats but is mediocre against weapons.
Reputation:
- Unknown
General Skills:
- Problem Solving (Skilled) (0/800)
- You are familiar with puzzles, traps, and mental quandaries. From years of exploration, you have become mentally flexible, and can quickly adapt to most situations.
- Perception (Skilled) (0/800)
- You are alert and attentive, with your experience backing up your innate skills. You can easily notice small details, and it is difficult to hide from your eyes and ears.
- Survival (Adept) (0/400)
- You are knowledgeable in survival tactics, and years spent in the wilderness mean you are quite familiar with dangerous living conditions.
- Vehicles (Adept) (0/400)
- There are few vehicles in the world due to the absence of ridable mounts. Wheels are seen largely as a curiosity, and the presence of lakes and rivers means that aquatic travel is popular. You are experienced in sailing a variety of boats, as well as the recently developed desert Huacacalco (Land sails).
- Insight (Adept) (0/400)
- You are a sociable person, and have spent a good deal of your time learning about the new people in the locations you've moved to. You can detect many lies and infer ambitions. You would consider yourself good enough to get by, but overconfidence is a slow and insidious killer…
- Beast Fighting (Student) (0/200)
- You have fought off a beast or two, and have started to learn the techniques used when fighting inhuman opponents.
- Group Fighting (Student) (0/200)
- Despite your wandering nature, you have still made an effort to stay connected to other people. There have been many instances where you have worked as a group when fighting wild beasts or lake serpents, and life on the frontier usually required strong bonds of teamwork.
Personal Skills:
- Aspect of Yaotl: Body (Adept) (0/400, also requires special communion to rank up)
- As a worshiper of Yaotl, you have spent years learning his commandments and studying combat. Yet, combat has never been your focus in life- That would be survival. You have used your lessons to magically enhance your body, pushing your endurance to the limit as you attempt seemingly impossible goals. This provides a small permanent boost to your base strength and endurance, as well as the option to supercharge your strength and endurance for a short period once per day. This ability will be accessible again after a prayer and at least 6 hours of sleep.
Chapter 1: Arrival
Chapter 1: Arrival
There was no gradual fade, there was no white light, and there were no gentle spirits to guide his journey. One moment, Caxania was watching teeth descend upon his head, the next moment he was sprawled across a mossy stone floor. One moment he was screaming and praying, the next he found himself perfectly safe.
As he stumbled to his feet, hope returned to him. 'Did… Did it work? Am I in Micohuayan? What if Yaotl sent me to the frontlines of Tlatelchihuiliayan for my hubris, what if..' Caxania hysterically thought.
After a second crouched in fear, he realized that no vengeful spirits were materializing out of the walls to kill him, and he slowly straightened up. He was wearing his previous clothes, albeit without his pack. His form was slightly ethereal, but there wasn't a single scratch on his body.
"It worked. It worked!" He crowed in relief. For the first time, he took a look around, and paused at the mundane ruins he found himself in. He was in some sort of ancient stone building, long overgrown with weeds and vines. Peeking through the gaps in the walls revealed a forest, but he could not see far past the thick mist congealing just outside.
"Is this really Micohuayan?" Caxania mused, "There doesn't seem to be enough challenges. Did I reform my body outside of the normal area?" Lacking answers, he gathered his wits and set out.
As he crept through the ruins, he came across a decaying scene of slaughter. Countless furry corpses littered the ground, and blood was smeared across every surface. Carefully bending down, he examined the bodies and realized to his surprise that they were Tlacamazates, a vicious monster that swarmed unaware explorers walking beneath their trees. It was unusual to see so many indoors, and even more unusual to see them so easily butchered. What sort of beast or person had done this?
Looking closer, Caxania noticed that there was a small throwing knife left behind in one of the bodies. It must have been a team, he concluded, with one person disabling joints and the other smashing limbs.
Despite the gruesome sight and smell, he knew this discovery was lucky for him. It meant that there were people nearby that he could negotiate with, and proved that at least some of them worked together. Caxania didn't know that much about the people who worshiped Rytam, but it was good to have confirmation that they weren't all meatheads obsessed with proving themselves to their Godkings. He let out a wry laugh that echoed in the silence before he stopped himself from reminiscing. Not everyone was going to line up with his mental image of them, and that was what got him into this mess in the first place. He shook his head to clear his thoughts and kept walking.
Caxania slowly crept out of the ruins, making sure to keep his wits about him- If there were still any living beasts nearby, he would be ill suited to defense with such a small knife. He didn't know if souls could be killed in Micohuayan, but he didn't want to find out firsthand. He had so much left to live for, he had places to explore and plans for his life. It could not end in some insignificant forest, it could not end like this.
For a moment, it was all too much. He was dead. That was an inescapable fact, and there was no use pretending otherwise. If he won Rytam's tournament, he would be back… He would be able to continue exploring the world while living life to the fullest. But how long would that take? He was facing off against demigods and legends, and he would be coming in as an outsider. Would anyone still be alive when he returned? He would only allow himself a single moment, but for that minute Caxania mourned those he left behind.
[ ] Cueponiliztli (Blossom), the love of your life. While work came first, she was a close second, always being supportive and willing to help in your endeavors.
[ ] Macehuallatoani (One who speaks rudely), your pet monkey. This animal has been with you for most of your journey, and has even assisted in some circumstances.
[ ] Your family. While never settling in one place for long, your family is part of a caravaneer or sailing group. You might stray far from them, but they always hold a place in your heart.
[ ] Your Crew- This group once formed for protection and mutual goals, but became a found family of sorts.
- [ ] Write a name for the group.
[ ] No one. Your life is a lonely one, and you instead take this time to mourn that you will be forgotten within months of your death.
Eventually, Caxania found a series of ridges running across the forest. Quickly climbing to the peak, he was delighted to find that he was finally above the mist. After some searching, he found the best tree and climbed to the top. His breath was sucked out as he gazed upon the sight before him.
If nothing else, going to Micohuayan had given him the opportunity to see an incredible sight. The mists bobbed and sank along the forest, the trees forming gnarled and intricate formations around numerous ruins. A raging river split the area in half, terminating into a waterfall leading down to some sort of hilly desert. And above it all, a sparking and spitting light danced across the sky and embraced the moon.
It was difficult for Caxania to put it into words, but he tried his best to burn the sight into his memory. Some of the mortal locations had been beautiful, but there was something about the energy of Micohuayan that left him speechless. Looking further, he could see some interesting sights hidden beside the fantastic. On the edge of the desert he could see a few small indistinct buildings, too many just to be a settlement; And nearby the river, one splotch of mist was faintly glowing and rippling like a strange tide…
[ ] Journey to the city seen in the distance. There must be people there, and the opportunity to learn more about Micohuayan.
[ ] Explore the forest further, there are many more ruins and you might want to collect more resources before you meet with strangers.
[ ] Investigate the disturbance in the mist.
From now on, chapters will have a 48 hour voting period, after which I will put the result in the thread. I aim to put out at least one chapter a week.
Chapter 2: Discovery
Sorry about the delay, work has been a bit harder than expected and I had to do some preplanning for the next chapter to finish this one. On the bright side, I should have the next update out sooner.
Chapter 2:
Although the view was captivating, Caxania eventually took his mind off the sight. If he was going to succeed in Micohuayan, he was going to need supplies. He was going to need connections, and information about how Rytam's tournament worked. And he still didn't know if his new spectral body gave him any special weaknesses. For all those reasons, the city was the most logical destination. He would get everything he needed there, and he might get ambushed out in the woods.
Yet, even as he prepared to leave his current branch, he caught another glimpse of the glowing fog and paused. It might be rational to go towards the city, but was that really the way he wanted to live his afterlife? More time spent on the minutiae, rather than what he wanted most? He clenched his jaw as he started to waver.
"Is this weakness?" He muttered, "Is this hubris? Or is this what I was truly meant to do? I have no one waiting for me in Nechachalaniliztli. I have nothing but my passion. And if I don't keep that…" He looked back at the glow.
"If I cannot fulfill my dream, I will be nothing."
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It was difficult to navigate in such a thick fog, but Caxania had plenty of experience traversing the Southern jungles. Keeping a mental image of the path in mind, he carefully threaded the way between the gnarled groups of trees and ruins. Caxania saw that some of them had potential, some of them looked empty, but all of them were ultimately irrelevant. While the potential resources inside could be useful, there was nothing that truly caught his eye. Nothing like the mystery in the fog.
As he approached, the glow grew more powerful. It was a half ruined pyramid, sunk into the surrounding swamp. Despite the crumbling steps and moss covered carvings, the building still radiated magic and golden light. Keeping a low profile, he began the climb.
Upon reaching the top, Caxania flattened himself into the foliage. The mist was less dense here, so the area ahead of him was clear enough for Caxania to observe the spectacle ahead of him. The pyramid had leveled off, and several ceremonial statues and stone tables proved its past nature as a temple. As did the current burning incense and bound sacrifice. His eyes widened as the female captive was lashed, her blood dropping to the floor and causing the light to flare.
Other than the woman, there were two other people in the area; In the corner, a large priest appeared to be consulting tablets on an unused table, while a smaller one was alternating between muttered prayers and whipping the prisoner.
'Human sacrifice is normal, but the unusual temple and circumstances are not. What would be the benefit to sacrificing a pure soul? And is it the temple's magic that causes the glow, or the blood of the woman?' Caxania continued his pondering until he noticed a disturbing detail.
She was looking directly at him.
Under the cover of plants, deep in the fog, and without any noise on his part.
A little unsettled, Caxania gave a small wave. Her stare turned towards a glare until she was interrupted by another blow. Recovering quickly, she locked eyes with him once more and started mouthing words.
"Help."
"Me."
"Caxania."
'How did she know my name?! I only arrived moments ago', he thought in a panic. In Caxania's mind, there was nothing but confusion. He had no real plans to interfere previously, but this was completely unexpected!
As Caxania crouched among the trees, he couldn't help but let out a suppressed laugh. He was not even an hour into his unlife before running into trouble. Unfortunately, he didn't have a lot of time to consider his options as the large priest set down their tablets and picked up a knife. Despite the captive's struggles, it seemed that the ritual would start shortly. While Caxania waited in the bushes, a plan started to form in his mind…
[ ] Engage in Diplomacy. Due to your fresh arrival, you are unfamiliar with this world. There is no way to know who these priests are, or what the woman has done to be sacrificed. After all, ritual human sacrifice is not out of the ordinary. If you intervene now without trying to learn more, you may be making permanent enemies or saving someone who deserves death.
-[ ] You may write in a plan.
[ ] Attack the Priests. While battle is not your strong suit, you still know a little bit about fighting. Unfortunately, the top of the pyramid is too wide and barren to allow any melee attacks from stealth, not that you were good at that either. You should be able to use your magic to hold a small advantage, but it will still be a tough fight. If you can free the captive quickly, it looks like she might be able to help you overpower the priests.
-[ ] You may write in a plan.
[ ] Cause a Distraction. You know your strengths, and fighting is not one of them. These priests look to be strong, and you only have a dagger. It would make much more sense to try and lure at least one of the priests away from the temple with a distraction before any action. It is unlikely that both will leave, but a duel is much more manageable. Unfortunately, anything large enough to cause a delay at this point of the ritual would also put the priests on guard, eliminating the chance for a sneak attack.
-[ ] You may write in a plan.