The chirping of birds woke him from his dreamless slumber. He was unsure of why he had awakened. He thought he would never open his eyes again, but he was conscious now and he knew there was no going back. The peaceful slumber would never return.
"The time has come for the fulfillment of my wish," a feminine voice spoke, drawing his attention. It was familiar and yet foreign to him.
He should remember who it belonged to, but grasping any memory was impossible for him. The fog of sleep was still too thick. Pushing himself up from his prone position, he looked around at his surroundings.
A large white birdcage. It was a prison that sat on a lake surrounded by a peaceful forest. It reminded him of a paradise-like setting. A serene atmosphere and yet something was wrong. He looked up to see the sun was shining brightly on the lake causing golden particles to shimmer in the light. It was ethereal but left him feeling empty inside.
He looked behind himself to the woman that sat in the prison with him. Long pure white hair cascaded down and around her body. She wore a smile so faint that he could barely discern it through the purple veil she wore. Her clothes were the same violet color but barely covering her body properly.
He knew her.
But she was a giant compared to him, but not imposing at all. He found it strange, he shouldn't be this way. He was small, too small. Smaller than a child.
He looked down at his hands noting that nothing looked familiar. The tiny digits moved as if they belonged to him but he knew that wasn't right. He grabbed at his hair pulling it forward to see the same shade of pure white that the woman possessed. Instinctively, he felt repulsed by the color.
This was not his hair color.
This was not his body.
"Liri." He looked up to the woman whose faint smile had become much more discernible. Looking closely, everything around her glowed in the sunlight but her. As if her body was sucking up the sunlight leaving the space around her dull, "Do not panic. You have been asleep for a long time. It's normal not to remember what happened all those years ago."
She spoke softly to him and he found her voice was soothing. Hearing her speak was calming the turbulence in his mind and giving him a sense of peace. The name she called him by felt right, unlike everything else. Still, it felt more like a nickname than an actual name.
He walked over to her slowly, taking in the strangeness that surrounded her. She seemed completely normal, but he noticed that the golden lights that kept shimmering never appeared near her. "What is wrong with me?"
His voice was tiny and very soft, nothing like the voice he should have. He touched his lips still taken aback by the voice that now belonged to him.
"You are a doll," she said reaching forward and picking him up. He was confused by her words but patiently waiting for her to continue. He knew he was never to rush her. Her words were to be listened to without interruption. She was due the utmost respect.
"To save you… I made you a new form. I knew you would hate it, but it was the only way to spare you from death. I couldn't just let you die." She sat him on her lap and he looked up getting a better view of her. She wore a long violet piece of fabric that covered the middle of her body leaving her sides completely exposed. Although it was anything but modesty it covered what shouldn't be seen and she did not seem concerned with it.
"Thank you." He felt that was the proper thing to say to the woman that saved his life, but he also felt he owed more to her. There was something deep inside of him screaming to be recognized but his mind was still a maze he could barely navigate.
"There is not much time. You must remember now," she said pulling off the veil she wore. She let it drop to the floor and pick him up again. This time she held him close to her face, close enough to see her hidden eyes. Endless crimson peeked from under her thick white bangs. He remembered her eyes and how he could drown in them with just a glance. He had seen them countless times unimpeded by her hair.
He had bowed before those eyes and had done anything to see them shine with happiness. He had even laid down his life for her. This woman before him had his devotion and loyalty because she was the Queen he had served for years. She recognized his potential and taught him. She had cared for him and gave him a purpose. She was everything to him.
Yet, they betrayed her out of fear and hate.
The flood of knowledge and memories that consumed him was painful but most welcomed. He needed those memories. He needed his hate and anger for the ones that betrayed her. The ones that locked them away to rot and be forgotten.
"My Queen," he said bending a knee to her. "Forgive me for my absence."
"My faithful knight, my heart is glad to see you again." his queen placed a small kiss on top of his head before sitting him back on her lap. He sat down on her lap and she patted his head fondly before she spoke.
"I have one wish. One wish that I know you can fulfill for me. I have waited for this moment for centuries." she looked up to the beautiful morning sky.
"That wish is for you to free me from this prison," she motioned to their surroundings, "I've let you rest so you could gain back your strength. Now I can send you there. To that world above."
Her eyes fell back on him. "I ask of you this one thing. Will you do it?"
"Of course my queen." He didn't hesitate to answer her. Her smile returned but it was much different.
"This is my only desire," she replied.
He stared at her for several seconds as more memories overtook his mind. He pushed the terrible memories down before speaking, "Then I will fulfill your wish."
Picking him up once more she placed him in a protective bubble-like shield and let it float in front of her before she continued, "This is the last of my power. We only have one chance, so you must make it to the other side. Go, my precious knight, go and awaken those sleeping queens that brought this unending peace."
She gently tapped the bottom of the bubble-like shield and it began to rise. "The queens that protected that world."
When he reached higher than she was sitting, she stood up. "Those that threw me away."
Her emotions were no longer hidden as her smile became filled with malice. "The very ones that have forsaken me..."
He rose out of the white prison and higher into the sky above the forest. All around the forest he could see nothing but a white void and in the center a false paradise. His queen stood there her eyes wild with too many emotions and it clicked in his mind the strangeness he saw around her. Her name came back to him.
Although he was too far to hear her voice, he knew her words and they echoed loudly in his mind.
The very ones that have forsaken me… the Darkness.
Nys is an average college student that finds a rabbit-eared doll going home. She is then attacked by a strange monster and given a key. Nys is laid back and usually goes with the flow. She adores her brother and best friend.
Stats
LV: 50
Sacred Palace
EXP:------
Last Gift
An art bestowed upon Nys by an unknown entity. Through a personal sacrifice Nys is able to purify the Void by taking away the memories of their past. She is then able to free them from corruption. She must touch the core to perform this art. If the core is destroyed it is impossible to save the Void. Nys pays a price each time she purifies a Void.
HP: 10000
Shining Light
An attack art with a wide area range. Nys will use Light Kren to attack all enemies in the area. The cost of KP is 500. Shining Rays becomes Shining Light once Nys reaches Lvl 20. The art then becomes a purifying move that allows Nys to purify Voids without touching the core. Lesser Voids only.
KP:7000
Voiscae
A recovery art that restores Kren and HP to the user. It also gives a boost to ATK and DEF. For a short time, the user is also possessed by Crimina. The drawback is that the recovery is granted using the Kren and HP of all queens in the party. Voiscae will KO every queen in the party
ATK: 15000
Annihilating Star
An art that Nys obtained after the trial in the Depths of Silence. The art uses the extremely volatile version of Light Kren. It is a wide area attack that destroy it's target completely. It should be only used on Vocivus.
DEF:10000
???
INT:9000
???
Buffs/Items
Buff: The Void Queen's Blessing(Permanent) (Effect Unknown)
Item: Nyseria's Pendant
Voiscae: A recovery art that restores Kren and HP to the user. It also gives a boost to ATK and DEF. For a short time, the user is also possessed by Crimina. The drawback is that the recovery is granted using the Kren and HP of all queens in the party. Voiscae will KO every queen in the party. Useable when Nys reaches level 15 and has the pendant in her possession.
Liri
Character Info
Age: Unknown Birthplace: Unknown
Moira Adrielynn
Stats - Locked until recruitment-
Character Info
Age: 21? Birthplace: Celestria City?
Nys' best friend, Moira. She's reserved and nice. She'll do anything for Nys. She hates bullies extremely. Although she grew up with a cruel family she has remained a kind person that does all she can for her friends. She constantly wears red lipstick. She already has her Queen's Mark and key. Moira seems to be well aware of everything occurring and has even lent Nys a hand.
Stats
[LOCKED]
Buffs, Titles & Items
[LOCKED]
Aria
Character Info
Age: ??? Birthplace: Ventuia
Stats
Stats:
LV: 50
Sacred Palace
Exp:
Spring Reprieve
A healing art that heals 100% of the target's HP. It can not heal damage received from a queen.
HP:3000
Gale Wall
A wind barrier that raises the defense of allies
KP:5000
High Winds
Strong gale force winds that are able to destroy anything in its path
Hyacinth's bully. She knows Moira and is very afraid of her. She hates Ai Ashbridge and wants to hurt Hyacinth to get back at her. She constantly tries to get in touch with her best friend but her attempts are unsuccessful. Though she is normally a very cruel person there are moments where she acts and sounds like a completely different person. Cara is actually the queen known as Eone. Her former self has been restored thanks to Liri. Lately, she's been trying to keep Ai from killing the Voids. She has been locking them away with her power to keep them safe from Ai.
AP: 40
SC: 0
Stats
LV: 55
Sacred Palace
EXP: -----
Terra Drive
Eone is able to boost the atk and def of everyone in the party for the duration of the battle by 25%. At level 50 Terra Drive become
Soul Drive boosting 50% for everyone outside of the Light Elemental Family and 75% for everyone within it. Cost 3000 KP.
HP: 15000
Anima
Eone has the ability to restore enormous amounts of health to anyone in her Elemental Family
KP: 12000
ATK: 15000
DEF: 11500
Int: 22200
Buffs, Titles & Items
Crown of the First
As the firstborn queen of the seven, Eone has been around for longer than any of them leaving her with a stronger relationship with the three deities of Elemencia. As such she is able to call upon them for help in certain situations.
Nem Lumillia
Character Info
Age: 35 Birthplace: The Illustrious Kingdom of Illacrimina
Nem is Nys' brother. He's a detective. He's taken care of her since she was born. He is very overprotective of her. He is known as the Prince of Illacrimina, Nemone. He seems to have ulterior motives. Lei is his royal maid. He's well aware that Nys has decided to seek the truth on her own. He has chosen to support her no matter the consequences.
AP: ∞
Stats
LV:???
Sacred Palace -Prince-
EXP: 0/0
Exalted Ersia
Ersia's blade becomes pure Kren. It is able to slice through almost anything with ease.
HP: 100,000
Affection
Nem can heal dark base characters and any under the elemental family. (ex. Any Void)
KP: ∞
Controlled Berserker
Nem's stats greatly increase but he takes damage the longer he uses the art.
Atk: 60,000
Def: 50,000
Int: 45,000
- Ersia (-)
Buffs, Titles & Items
The Prince of Illacrimina
As Prince of Illacrimina, Nemone is able to control all Kren in his reach. He is able to control Voids that are not completely corrupted and to a lesser extent those corrupted as well.
Nyseria's Blessing
Nemone will be automatically protected in the event of being fatally injured or corrupted. The cost to Nys is substantial. All stats will drop to one. She will gain the buff, Drained. She will not be able to fight.
Nyseria Mina Lumille Illacrimina
{Special Requirements}
Stats - Locked until recruitment-
CORRUPTED
Character Info
Age: ??? Birthplace: The Garden of Dawn
The 1st and only Queen of Illacrimina. She was known for being humble and kind. After being confined within the Abhorrent Paradise she had become twisted and cruel. She is the daughter of the Deity of Dusk, Alyconeiru and the Deity of Dawn, Eschalia.
Elirius Lalna Valenth
Character Info
Age: ??? Birthplace: The Throne of Annihilation
The firstborn of Savil'aln, the Annhilator of Kren. He was tasked with keeping watch over the Star King's grave and destroying the tainted Kren in the ruins of the first Celestria. After meeting Nyseria he dedicated his life to protecting her. Elirius has an aloof and stern personality. Though he is not on good terms with his mother she will assist him whenever he asks.
Buffs, Titles & Items
Royal Consort
As the Royal Consort of Illacrimina, Elirius had a surprising amount of power. As the Leader of the Knights and member of Nyseria's council it was easy for him to support Nyseria in any of her endeavors.
Vii'ahn
Stats - Locked until recruitment-
Character Info
Age: ??? Birthplace: Hymnnia
Stats
[LOCKED]
Buffs, Titles & Items
Forsaken
Ai has lost the title Messenger of Eschalia, for some reason she no longer holds the favor of the Dawn Deity. As a Forsaken One Ai is unable to communicate with Eschalia. Though she has lost her blessing she seems to be... stronger.
Mine Tau
Character Info
Age: 32 Birthplace: Aquai Town
Mine is a well-known detective in Aquai Town. She's known for having a very relaxed attitude outside of work. She seems to be able to see the corruption caused by Voids. She is the Queen of Aquinnia, Gelu. She has currently traveled to Celestria to help out and prepare for the inevitable with Cherrini.
Stats
LV: 55
Sacred Palace
EXP: 0/0
Ocean Echoes
???
HP:
Gentle Sea
???
KP:
Hail Fire
???
Atk:
Def:
Int:
Buffs, Titles & Items
The Ice Fairy
Mine was also known as the Ice Fairy during the war against Vahnaine. She has the ability to not only manipulate Water Kren but also create Eternal Ice. During the war when she joined the front lines she annihilated the Fiery Star Battalion by freezing every last person, animal and plant. This eventually took a toll on her physically and mentally and she was unable to continue, leading to the defeat of Aquinnia.
Eurytia Sherieve
Character Info
Age: 23 Birthplace: The Glittering Kingdom of Argenia
Eurytia is the Silver Queen, Argenti. She appears to remember the past world Liri spoke of. Though she is very powerful she has lost her emotions leaving her an apathetic person. She fights for what she remembers of her former self.
Stats
LV: 55
Sacred Palace
EXP:
Steel Resolve
Prevents incapacitation of party members for the duration of the battle.
Escha's Prayer
A prayer that is usually performed by the Golden Queen. It can achieve almost anything if it is what Escha desires.
KP:
Krenfall
An attack art that turns the Kren in the surrounding area into a piercing rain.
Atk:
Nurue's Prayer
???
Def:
Int:
Buffs, Titles & Items
Messenger of Alyconeiru
As the messenger of the Deity of Dusk, Eurytia must obey the commands of Alyconeiru even if she does not wish to. At times she can also be used as a puppet.
The Emotionless
Since she has no emotions, Eurytia is immune to emotional damage. She is able to kill voids without feeling guilt.
Age: 22 Birthplace: The Luxurious Kingdom of Aquinnia Title: Princess Gelu of Aquinnia
Cherrini is the daughter of Cherrimine and Princess of Aquinnia. She is a World Scholar that keeps an account of the history of Elemencia. She has no elemental ability due to taking after her father. Since she had no element she was considered useless and unfit to be the princess by her peers and her mother's council.
Callenii Eithne Vahnaire
Character Info
Age: 18 Birthplace: The Lightbringer Kingdom, Vahnaine Title: Prince of Vahnaine, Scintilla
Callen is the beloved Prince of Vahnaine. Known as a flirt, but also an excellent knight. He was also a candidate for the Blessing of Escha. Before the ceremony, he went to investigate an occurrence on the Black Sea. He was murdered before he could return. His body was never found.
Age: 28 (?) Birthplace: The Illustrious Kingdom of Darkness, Illacrimina Title: Royal Maid of the Prince
Not much is known about the Void named Lei. She has some kind of relationship with Liri. She never refers to herself as a Void. Her title is Royal Maid. Due to Nys' callous attitude, Lei has a strong dislike of her. She is extremely loyal to Nem and will do anything he asks of her. She is currently working on helping her queen escape her prison.
Ren Asala
Character Info
Age: 17 (At Death) Birthplace: Celestria (The Jubilant Kingdom, Celestria)
Ren is Cara's adopted brother. A former star of Luxarc, he was murdered by Ai Ashbridge. He was consumed by a Void after his murder and revived by it. He has a close relationship with Eurytia and is Eone's Knight. After being saved by Nys he is in the care of Eone.
Ren is the former knight of Eone. He also worked closely with Argenti for the benefit of both Kingdoms. He was chosen to become Eurytia's personal knight.
Well I'm interested in seeing where this goes. Hmm... exactly how does Liri look? Like are they an agender rabbit-eared doll, or if you squint could they almost seem like a normal person?
@Dahne: For "Unforgiving", is that negative AP? Seems weird it'd be that easy getting Liri to Neutral Affinity. Besides that, I take it what we choose has major narrative impacts?
@Dahne: For "Unforgiving", is that negative AP? Seems weird it'd be that easy getting Liri to Neutral Affinity. Besides that, I take it what we choose has major narrative impacts?
So for "Unforgiving", the Neutral affinity is more that Liri has decided that excessive hate is unneeded? That or the Affinity progress is permanently tainted, with even Positive Affinity just him deciding that's easier to manipulate Nys.
So for "Unforgiving", the Neutral affinity is more that Liri has decided that excessive hate is unneeded? That or the Affinity progress is permanently tainted, with even Positive Affinity just him deciding that's easier to manipulate Nys.
Hmm... so "Unforgiving" is definitely the bad option. Besides that, seems better to get a headstart on everyone's Affinity, instead of tainting how Nys acts.
Sorry if I made it confusing. Thanks for letting me know about the typo. The person in the prologue with Liri won't be introduced until later. As for the choice, it will be explained a bit later. For now, it's a which path do you go kind of choice. It affects the story later on. I'm sorry I didn't make that very clear from the beginning.
Nys noticed that right away when she picked it up on her way to work. It reminded her of something a niche collector would have. She pulled at one of its rabbit ears gently. They stuck straight up but it didn't feel like there was wire inside. It was curious.
"You're an odd doll," she said pinching the doll's cheek. The material was soft, almost like real skin.
It had a cute face with small red eyes. The blank expression seemed as if it would change, even though it had no eyebrows.
"I guess some collector must have dropped you." She stuffed the doll into her work bag and continued to her job.
Nys Lumilla was a twenty-year-old college student at Luxarc Advanced Academics. She spent her nights at her hated job, The Sleepless Sheep. A night cafe that stayed open until three in the morning that never ceased to have an influx of weird customers at all hours.
Entering the small hole-in-the-wall establishment, she was greeted by the smell of old coffee. Her best friend, Moira Adrielynn, stood at the counter getting ready for the night.
"You're here early," Moira said folding their new menus. The old ones had seen too much action. They were mostly scraps of laminated paper that could barely be read.
"Yeah, I skipped out on my last class," Nys tied her apron on, "it was mostly a study session for mid-terms."
"I know. The same thing happened in my last class," Moira said stacking the menus with an annoyed look. "If you haven't learned it now you're not going to."
"I wouldn't say that, but I can certainly find something better to waste time on," she said taking the stack from Moira and placing them on the tables. "Oh, yeah I found a weird doll outside."
"Nys, don't bring stuff from off the street." Moira chided as she grabbed the forks and spoons. She rolled them up in napkins.
"You're going to love it," tossing the last few menus on the tables Nys grabbed her bag, "See."
She took the doll out and showed it to Moira. The woman took it in hand and looked at it. Squeezing it several times she shrugged, "It is cute."
"Exactly, that's why I'm keeping it." Moira returned the doll and Nys placed it back in the bag.
"The crowd is gathering." Nys looked back at the door as Moira pointed at the gathering crowd.
Nys groaned and let her head loll to the side with an eye roll. "Let the hectic night begin."
"Let's hope for an uneventful shift," Moira said rolling her shoulder and getting to her designated spot behind the register.
The head waitress went to the door and opened them while Nys hurried to the kitchen to prepare for orders.
When the grandfather clock in the cafe struck midnight, Nys sighed in relief. The cafe had become slow so she was asked to leave earlier than normal. Moira had left already, so Nys was the only one left from the first shift crew. Grabbing her bag, she announced to the crew she was leaving for the night.
Stepping outside she shivered as a blast of cold air hit her. She forgot her coat since it was so warm that morning. Autumn was always like this in Celestria City. Grabbing her phone from her pocket she called her brother Nem.
"Hello?" he said after the third ring.
"It's me," she said pulling the collar of her shirt closer to her neck.
"Hey," He yawned over the phone. "You're off already?
"Yes, I wasn't second shift.
"Good. I'm sorry I can't come to pick you up," he said.
"I understand, you're still on duty right?"
"Yeah, I should be home soon. Another hour or two," he assured her.
Nem hated her job more than she did. Especially since she had to walk home at night. He wanted to pick her up on nights like these but he got off late. So they talked to each other until she got home.
"So any weird customer today?"
"The usual…" she told him about her day.
While she spoke, she noticed that a lot of the street lights were out. It wasn't out of the ordinary for a few to be out here and there, but there were so many that it was dark. A few streetlights in the distance were crackling strangely.
Looking behind herself she walked faster. Something wasn't right. She had walk home many nights by herself but tonight it was different.
"Nys?" Nem's voice had become distant. As if the phone wasn't directly next to her ear.
The temperature suddenly dropped making a breeze feel like ice on her skin. She shivered and began to jog, her conversation forgotten as something dark crawled into the pit of her stomach. Nem was calling her name repeatedly, but she couldn't answer. Something inside told her to run. To get as far as she could. Her jog quickly turned into an all-out sprint down the sidewalk. She had to escape the darkness surrounding her or else something bad would happen.
Help…
The voice was small.
Almost unnoticeable as she didn't hear it the first time but then the plea came again. She slowed her sprint to jog and she ended up briskly walking. Her head swiveled back and forth as she took in everything around her. She was several blocks from home and even the neighborhood she was in was looking unfamiliar. She was searching for the owner of the voice but she couldn't find it.
Help!
Again she heard it but this time there was no way to pinpoint it. It was coming from everywhere. As if the ground was screaming it. She stopped short when she saw a person at the other end of the street. It was too dark to make out any features, but they were large and it was setting off alarms in Nys' mind.
The moon illuminated the figure's back, and it remained static before her. Her heart was pounding faster as that feeling in her stomach crawled up to her throat. She felt lightheaded and a light sheen of sweat was covering her body.
Terror was gripping her.
"Hhhhelp," the voice came from the figure this time, but it was distorted and broken,
"Help... us..."
"Are you hurt," her voice didn't sound like her own. It was a higher pitch than normal and each word shook in her throat, "Do you need an ambulance?"
"Help us… please!" The shadowy figure suddenly came staggering toward her. At first, it was a slow gait but it gained speed and was in front of her faster than she could blink.
She froze in her spot as she finally saw its face. It was all wrong. Looking at it was like staring into a void. Something was missing but Nys didn't know what it was because she didn't understand what she was staring at. Her mind was not comprehending what she was seeing. Only that it was huge with no true form to it.
"S-save us!" The scream it let out was ear-piercing but still, Nys couldn't move. She knew she was in danger but her limbs were held in place by some unseen force. The closer it got to her the tighter the binds.
She had to move, and she was struggling to get her body to obey, but it wouldn't. She was helpless as it opened its maw wide to countless red eyes inside. Even with no solid form, she knew it was a mouth she was staring into.
She would die.
She didn't want to die.
Not now, not when she hadn't even picked a major or had her first kiss. She even had TV shows she wanted to finish watching. It was too early for her to die.
She had plans for her life. She wasn't going to die like this, right?
Nys could hear her brother yelling her name over her phone but she couldn't answer him. The force holding her was the same force keeping her silent. Tears ran down her cheeks and she knew this was the end of her.
What should Nys do?
[x] Give in
--------- (+ 1pt)
--------- (- 10 ap for Liri and Moira)
