Spoiler: show
A wrong turn
Araena sat listlessly, her many smooth, chitinous legs bunched up lazily around her. Leaning back wearily on her smooth sleek arms, she felt the sharp prickle of shale and coral beneath her dainty hands. Her languid gaze took in the calm ocean before her, the unchanging seemingly frozen sky. Would every day be this way? How long had she been here for? Had it been mere hours, days, or.. Pray it was not so, weeks? The indolent aranaei drew a long, raking sigh as a cool breeze shifted a stray strand of hair, coaxing it to tickle her neck. The beach, which spread around her seemed to fade into an indeterminable blur mere metres away from her as if scooped out of reality and placed in some sort of crystalline trinket. A door, embellished with the same weird nonsense writing found all over this place jutted from the coral strewn sands.
She was not a bad person, she had just taken a wrong turn it seemed, or had simply gotten herself lost, as some people did in the lush forests surrounding Pallascens. Her mind slid back to the events which she for some strange reason, could not put a time to. Yes, time acted differently in this place, wherever she was.
It had been a warm sunny day in Pallascens, a small town near the coast of Briiart, a monster friendly state on the continent of Palachia. She had moved here in search of a suitable human mate, her actions governed by the pull of her heart had led her here a year ago, and after the arduous journey from her cave in the Demon Kingdoms, she had decided vehemently, that she would never go back.
Pallascens was a beautiful town, nestled in the forested coastal mountains of Briiart, the town boasted a thriving population of mamonme and humans alike. Along the cobbled streets and promenades, lorelie minstrels strutted about, filling the air with their dulcet tones. Farmers and traders alike plied their wares in the breezy marketplaces near the shore and at the town square. Along the many streets, the alluring scent of Aluraune sweet shoppes, seemed to beckon to both human and mamonme alike, inviting them to purchase their wares. Here and there, interspersed throughout the warren of lanes and alleys, Mud Wasps had taken up with a human mate and remodelled the exterior of his house in their sweeping, organic fashion. It was hard to believe that this beautiful town sat, a mere stone's throw of one state, from the borders of the Luminaire Kingdoms.
With the sun warming her tanned shoulders, Araena skittered along the street after another successful day at the seaside market. Her silkwork fetched a reasonable price which allowed her to survive and enjoy her life while attempting to find the prize she wished for most of all. The food she had bought would last her a week or so, however the one prize she had still not picked up yet was a man. The aranaei sighed, glaring at her feet while muttering under her breath about her misfortune in this one aspect of her life. Her mother would not let this go very easily of course.
"When I was your age I already had a husband, such a charming fellow an..."
The aranaei mimicked her mother's usual recriminations with a caustic tone and felt the sun cool at her back. Coming back to herself, Araena noticed that the cobbles appeared different, more nonsensically laid out, in fact, laid out in odd shapes which confused her. Drawing her eyes up from her feet she took in the familiar lane which led to her home, it looked the same... Well, perhaps it seemed longer than usual and was devoid of the aluraune scent which commonly cloyed the air in this area.
Feeling a shiver run up her smooth arms and back, the aranaei proceeded on towards her home.
An hour later, Araena was scared. Not only had she not reached home yet, but something was wrong with the buildings. They just, they did not appear correctly angled, in fact, it seemed as if they were looming over her, a sense of foreboding crept into her already fluttery heart as she tried to make sense of the changes around her. Strange symbols, appearing first, at random intervals and eventually littering the walls around her seemed to scream some message which she could not perceive. Turning down a lane which intersected her own at an inappropriate angle, the spider woman was met with a large oddly placed door. The same indescribable text had been etched onto the frame of the gateway, looking around, the aranaei felt she had no other choice, but to go through.
Araena's legs buckled under her as she took in the wild environment around her. The buildings.. Well if you could call their vague shapes buildings, were still there, but it seemed they were made out of bright red coral! In fact, wherever this was, the creator must have been obsessed with coral, for coral filled every possible open space along the walkway. Ruby red, citrine orange, corals in various hues towered above and about her, it seemed to go on forever. Windows balanced precariously on random branches alluded to that which the coral was supposed to imply. The glyphs appeared abundantly here too, the feeling radiating from these felt more extollant than negative, still however the aranaei hurried on nervously and eventually came upon a set of doors set into a particularly large coral branch. Choosing a door at random Araena traipsed through.
Darkness, or at least a grim looking world greeted the eight, terrified eyes of the wary aranaei. An effigy of a child with twin tails of hair which more resembled dollops of melted wax and clothed in a flouncy skirt hung suspended from a large, solid pole. Various whips, staves, clubs and other weapons appeared intent on doing the figure physical harm. It was quite clear from the ridiculously oversized weapons in comparison to the pitiful doll-like form, that the creator of this place had undergone a painful and unfair punishment at some point. Dead coral stumps and various plaques inscribed in the same peculiar sigils pronounced some form of judgement. Araena shivered nervously and wondered yet again how she had arrived at this situation and how she could get out of it.
It was at this moment that it appeared the weapons had grown weary of punishing the icon of whatever or whoever had created this place, and proceeded to attempt to punish her instead. Araena scuttled away from the macabre structure and fled in the direction of a large coralline gateway, the weapons bore down on her as she fumbled with the door handle, swearing an oath under her breath the aranaei finally wrenched the door open and tumbled through, receiving a blood drawing lick of the whip across her sleek back and carapace for her troubles.
Breathing heavily from the exertion of her frenzied sprint, Araena felt the last vestiges of her composure crumble as though a rock slide towards a waiting valley floor. How had she arrived here? Where was she? What had she done to deserve this? The spider woman collapsed heavily as tears traced across her gentle cheeks and trickled down her chin, this was too much, too cruel for a mamonme like herself. Pulling herself wearily to her feet and sniffing pathetically, the spider woman rubbed her back and noted the crimson hue of her blood. With a final sniff and a quick rubbing of her cheeks and eyes, the aranaei headed out once more.
The atmosphere in this place seemed almost sombre, a dull, protective white mist filled the air and her almost purposeful pace dwindled to a wary skulk. Finally Araena noticed what looked like a figure in the mists surrounded by strange, familiar shapes. Creeping into an opening in the mist, the scene before the aranaei could only be described as heart-wrenching. Once again a doll like caricature of a young maiden, her face merely scribbled on, kneeled, her hands planted pathetically on the ground. Large wooden signs surrounded her, the nearest sides carved to resemble points, all appeared to point to the girl in the centre. Each of the sign boards had varying amounts of symbols etched upon them, it appeared the signs all applied to the person at the centre of them, though what they meant was beyond her.
Casting a final glance towards the pitiable figure, Araena turned her back on the scene and continued on her way. feathery wreaths of mist clung to her arms and legs as the aranaei made her way towards another pair of doors, these set at varying angles. Opting for the door on her right, the spider woman pulled open the door and strode through... A beach greeted her eyes, soft powdery white sand mixed in with pieces of coral and shells swept out before her and led to a calm, pure ocean. she sighed in relief.
Ferki looked at the street before him and rubbed his eyes in confusion. What had happened to his street? The angles seemed wrong, and what had happened to his partner who had been standing beside him a second ago? Turning briskly, the young man noted a peculiar door inscribed with what appeared to be some sort of runes... Taking a calming breath the man headed through.
Araena sat listlessly, her many smooth, chitinous legs bunched up lazily around her. Leaning back wearily on her smooth sleek arms, she felt the sharp prickle of shale and coral beneath her dainty hands. Her languid gaze took in the calm ocean before her, the unchanging seemingly frozen sky. Would every day be this way? How long had she been here for? Had it been mere hours, days, or.. Pray it was not so, weeks? The indolent aranaei drew a long, raking sigh as a cool breeze shifted a stray strand of hair, coaxing it to tickle her neck. The beach, which spread around her seemed to fade into an indeterminable blur mere metres away from her as if scooped out of reality and placed in some sort of crystalline trinket. A door, embellished with the same weird nonsense writing found all over this place jutted from the coral strewn sands.
She was not a bad person, she had just taken a wrong turn it seemed, or had simply gotten herself lost, as some people did in the lush forests surrounding Pallascens. Her mind slid back to the events which she for some strange reason, could not put a time to. Yes, time acted differently in this place, wherever she was.
It had been a warm sunny day in Pallascens, a small town near the coast of Briiart, a monster friendly state on the continent of Palachia. She had moved here in search of a suitable human mate, her actions governed by the pull of her heart had led her here a year ago, and after the arduous journey from her cave in the Demon Kingdoms, she had decided vehemently, that she would never go back.
Pallascens was a beautiful town, nestled in the forested coastal mountains of Briiart, the town boasted a thriving population of mamonme and humans alike. Along the cobbled streets and promenades, lorelie minstrels strutted about, filling the air with their dulcet tones. Farmers and traders alike plied their wares in the breezy marketplaces near the shore and at the town square. Along the many streets, the alluring scent of Aluraune sweet shoppes, seemed to beckon to both human and mamonme alike, inviting them to purchase their wares. Here and there, interspersed throughout the warren of lanes and alleys, Mud Wasps had taken up with a human mate and remodelled the exterior of his house in their sweeping, organic fashion. It was hard to believe that this beautiful town sat, a mere stone's throw of one state, from the borders of the Luminaire Kingdoms.
With the sun warming her tanned shoulders, Araena skittered along the street after another successful day at the seaside market. Her silkwork fetched a reasonable price which allowed her to survive and enjoy her life while attempting to find the prize she wished for most of all. The food she had bought would last her a week or so, however the one prize she had still not picked up yet was a man. The aranaei sighed, glaring at her feet while muttering under her breath about her misfortune in this one aspect of her life. Her mother would not let this go very easily of course.
"When I was your age I already had a husband, such a charming fellow an..."
The aranaei mimicked her mother's usual recriminations with a caustic tone and felt the sun cool at her back. Coming back to herself, Araena noticed that the cobbles appeared different, more nonsensically laid out, in fact, laid out in odd shapes which confused her. Drawing her eyes up from her feet she took in the familiar lane which led to her home, it looked the same... Well, perhaps it seemed longer than usual and was devoid of the aluraune scent which commonly cloyed the air in this area.
Feeling a shiver run up her smooth arms and back, the aranaei proceeded on towards her home.
An hour later, Araena was scared. Not only had she not reached home yet, but something was wrong with the buildings. They just, they did not appear correctly angled, in fact, it seemed as if they were looming over her, a sense of foreboding crept into her already fluttery heart as she tried to make sense of the changes around her. Strange symbols, appearing first, at random intervals and eventually littering the walls around her seemed to scream some message which she could not perceive. Turning down a lane which intersected her own at an inappropriate angle, the spider woman was met with a large oddly placed door. The same indescribable text had been etched onto the frame of the gateway, looking around, the aranaei felt she had no other choice, but to go through.
Araena's legs buckled under her as she took in the wild environment around her. The buildings.. Well if you could call their vague shapes buildings, were still there, but it seemed they were made out of bright red coral! In fact, wherever this was, the creator must have been obsessed with coral, for coral filled every possible open space along the walkway. Ruby red, citrine orange, corals in various hues towered above and about her, it seemed to go on forever. Windows balanced precariously on random branches alluded to that which the coral was supposed to imply. The glyphs appeared abundantly here too, the feeling radiating from these felt more extollant than negative, still however the aranaei hurried on nervously and eventually came upon a set of doors set into a particularly large coral branch. Choosing a door at random Araena traipsed through.
Darkness, or at least a grim looking world greeted the eight, terrified eyes of the wary aranaei. An effigy of a child with twin tails of hair which more resembled dollops of melted wax and clothed in a flouncy skirt hung suspended from a large, solid pole. Various whips, staves, clubs and other weapons appeared intent on doing the figure physical harm. It was quite clear from the ridiculously oversized weapons in comparison to the pitiful doll-like form, that the creator of this place had undergone a painful and unfair punishment at some point. Dead coral stumps and various plaques inscribed in the same peculiar sigils pronounced some form of judgement. Araena shivered nervously and wondered yet again how she had arrived at this situation and how she could get out of it.
It was at this moment that it appeared the weapons had grown weary of punishing the icon of whatever or whoever had created this place, and proceeded to attempt to punish her instead. Araena scuttled away from the macabre structure and fled in the direction of a large coralline gateway, the weapons bore down on her as she fumbled with the door handle, swearing an oath under her breath the aranaei finally wrenched the door open and tumbled through, receiving a blood drawing lick of the whip across her sleek back and carapace for her troubles.
Breathing heavily from the exertion of her frenzied sprint, Araena felt the last vestiges of her composure crumble as though a rock slide towards a waiting valley floor. How had she arrived here? Where was she? What had she done to deserve this? The spider woman collapsed heavily as tears traced across her gentle cheeks and trickled down her chin, this was too much, too cruel for a mamonme like herself. Pulling herself wearily to her feet and sniffing pathetically, the spider woman rubbed her back and noted the crimson hue of her blood. With a final sniff and a quick rubbing of her cheeks and eyes, the aranaei headed out once more.
The atmosphere in this place seemed almost sombre, a dull, protective white mist filled the air and her almost purposeful pace dwindled to a wary skulk. Finally Araena noticed what looked like a figure in the mists surrounded by strange, familiar shapes. Creeping into an opening in the mist, the scene before the aranaei could only be described as heart-wrenching. Once again a doll like caricature of a young maiden, her face merely scribbled on, kneeled, her hands planted pathetically on the ground. Large wooden signs surrounded her, the nearest sides carved to resemble points, all appeared to point to the girl in the centre. Each of the sign boards had varying amounts of symbols etched upon them, it appeared the signs all applied to the person at the centre of them, though what they meant was beyond her.
Casting a final glance towards the pitiable figure, Araena turned her back on the scene and continued on her way. feathery wreaths of mist clung to her arms and legs as the aranaei made her way towards another pair of doors, these set at varying angles. Opting for the door on her right, the spider woman pulled open the door and strode through... A beach greeted her eyes, soft powdery white sand mixed in with pieces of coral and shells swept out before her and led to a calm, pure ocean. she sighed in relief.
Ferki looked at the street before him and rubbed his eyes in confusion. What had happened to his street? The angles seemed wrong, and what had happened to his partner who had been standing beside him a second ago? Turning briskly, the young man noted a peculiar door inscribed with what appeared to be some sort of runes... Taking a calming breath the man headed through.
If you want to work out who this world belongs to, just have a look at the Praxian Monstergirls List, you should find a profile there. This is Praxian lore, not really MGE lore 