[Cotton Bed] = 4 Wood (Hard, 0.8-0.95m) + 2 Wood (Hard, 1.5-2.2m) + 2 Wood (Hard, 0.9-1.2m) + 2 Hide (Level 11+, 0.95-1.25m) + Cotton (1.3-2.2kg) + 20 Twine (Hemp+2, 0.3-0.35m) + [Knife] (Copper)
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Jay opened his eyes, but he did not see light.
Instead, only a dark chamber met him. The same as it had been since his capture.
But had it been that long? Jay could not say. Only the faintest trickle of illumination sometimes drifted in through gaps in the wooden part of the wall. Air occasionally flowed in as well, its temperature cool and its taste moldy.
That was his entire world though.
Jay twisted his head an inch, but that was all he could afford. Vines had been fashioned around his entire body, locking him in place. If he ever managed to move too much, they’d constrict tighter, like a weighted blanket with a mind of its own.
They’d lost everything so easily. That sprigg – General Gornn, as he had later learned – was a beast who greatly surpassed every other enemy he’d faced. Though Jay had faced his strength directly, it was still impossible to say if that was his true extent. Until that moment, Jay had never encountered anything that could suppress its aura, and that made this creature more dangerous than anything else.
There was no telling just how strong these spriggs could get.
His enemies had worked quickly from there. They’d stripped their armor, stolen their weapons, and emptied their backpacks. They’d separating them from one another. They’d confined them in this prison.
…And worse yet.
Jay’s throat suddenly tightened. His heart skipped a beat. He glanced feverishly from side to side, that same familiar sense of dread overwhelming him that he experienced on a daily basis.
Night had come again.
But instead of launching into another climactic fight, he could do nothing but sit there and wait, his limbs as locked as ever.
Little by little, the very fear began to dissipate. Like the pressure was being relieved. His breath grew steady, and his sense of running went away.
Then, there was nothing.
3) Natura confronts each Expatriate differently at the start of each night.
Not even the spriggs could go against Annwyn’s Rules. They were universal principles that happened regardless of what anyone else had to say. Whether high in the mountains, buried at the depths of the caves, or floating in the ocean, Natura would always, always rise up to oust the Expatriates who invaded Her world. Night after night, this would not end until the Grand Bargain was complete.
But, these spriggs were an organized military force whose power level surpassed their own. Nothing prevented them from clearing Natura’s monsters of their own accord. He’d heard enough whispers of fighting trickle into his prison to know they had simply handled the threat as soon as it appeared.
And so the night ended without a fight, with Jay still trapped.
Not even this world’s God would gift them freedom. Their jailers wouldn’t allow it.
All Jay could do was sit and think and wait for whatever came next. He was utterly at their mercy.
Sounds drew near. Shuffling. Like branches dragged against stone, slowly closing in. Jay peered through the dark but saw nothing.
A golden light flared into existence. He recoiled a bit, but the vines tightened ever more in response. A few moments went unopposed as he acclimated to the change.
Then he opened his eyes and took in his cell again.
The spriggs had brought him into a cave, it seemed, with the walls and stalagmites made of a natural basalt while the entrance had been blocked off with their strange, living wood. Vines otherwise coiled about, and flowers blossomed despite the dark, their brownish bulbs swollen into a globular shape.
The golden light dimmed further, and he could see his captors again. A pair of spriggs stood in front.
The first had a feminine frame and vines flowing free. The smell of peat radiated from her, like a swamp. This sprigg woman gripped a gnarled staff, magical light glowing from the gap in its tip.
The other appeared to be her companion, also female, and also brandishing a matching staff. Nightshade sprouted where ears were supposed to be, and dark, sullen eyes stared into his own. With a nod from the other sprigg, this one raised her own staff.
The room brightened further.
The first one’s jaw dropped. “I am Archwitch Zynth of the Spriggs Empire. Now tell us your name and Rank, Interloper.” Close.
He grit his teeth. “Screw you!”
“Hrm? Incorrect answer. Tell name and Rank or suffer consequences, yes.”
“Let me and my friends go, and I’ll talk.”
“Incorrect answer,” she repeated, deep and clear. “You are Interloper who flee from island northwest of here, one-hundred-and-twenty kilometers. Provide full human name and current Rank.”
Jay considered the information. “If you came from that island, then you must be related to Dyrk. I was promised by him that we would be protected when he called for reinforcements.”
But Zynth did not move. “Incorrect answer. Last chance to provide name and Rank by choice.”
He narrowed his gaze. “Where is he? I demand to speak with him at once!”
Her mouth twitched, ever so slightly.
“Incorrect answer,” Zynth repeated, unblinking. “Information will be extracted.” She smiled. “Do not attempt to fight. It will cause much pain, yes.”
The second sprigg marched closer, her eyes glazed over, as if a film covered it suddenly. Her staff began to glow a different color, now with a mossy green. A low murmur erupted from within. Roots grew from the edge of her staff, snaking through the air, right for his face.
Jay recoiled instinctively, but his restraints merely tightened further.
The roots closed in mercilessly, aiming for his nose. He tilted away to no avail.
Then they shot within, and the world went blank.
* * *
Jay opened his eyes.
Palm trees swayed gently in the wind, reeds drifting beneath in an even smoother cadence. An open, cobalt sky sprawled out above, with the sun shining bright.
But everything was slightly… Off. Like the world was made of wet paint, leaking down the canvas. The edges blurred and bled together the harder he tried to look at them.
No, it was different than that. The ground, the trees, the sky, the mountains. All of them were being tied together by plant roots of different colors. Like brush strokes, each thin line came together to form the complete canvas.
Huh? he thought, still disoriented. Where the hell am I, and when did I get here?
Then Jay looked up. A vague silhouette stood nearby, shaped like a person in a cloak. Their face remained hidden behind a veil of smoke.
Look, I’m sorry about that, the shadow said, roots slithering around. It’s been a while since I’ve seen an Expat around this part of the island. It held out a hand. What’s your name?
“Jay,” he said instinctively. “Jay Reis.”
Then everything vanished.
* * *
Jay coughed, a sharp pain shooting through his scalp. He blinked through the agony, the dim cave coming together again.
Archwitch Zynth stood in front. Her jaw dropped. “Jay Reis,” she repeated. “Interloper Rank – F.”
Jay tried to think back to what had just happened, but the memory was fuzzy and half-formed, as if he’d just awoken from a dream.
I couldn’t have been… And yet, the taste of the old island was fresh in his nose where those roots had once been, and he still felt the coolness of that gentle breeze. Phantom pain even clung to his old injuries, a reminder of the minotaur boss that had almost killed him.
But worse yet, he couldn’t picture what Naomi looked like in that moment. He remembered her saving him and the punch to his face, but the image in his mind was no longer there, replaced by that blurring visage he’d never seen before.
Hell, he wasn’t fully sure what they’d talked about…
Jay gasped. “…How?”
Archwitch Zynth stared on. “Memories lie in depth of Anima, yes. Can be extracted by force.” Her mouth twitched into a smile before falling again. “Like pulling water from soil, they will not survive once extracted.”
It took a second to consider everything, but Jay clenched his jaw with this realization. This was bad. About as bad as it got. These spriggs could pull memories from his mind with their magic, forcing him to relive the moment so he’d give information up.
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And even more dangerous, some parts of his memories were lost when that happened, possibly for good.
The spriggs continued to stand and stare, unmoved.
Zynth stepped forth. “How many Interlopers escape interstice, hrm?”
“You bastards!” Jay cursed, ignoring the pain.
“Incorrect answer.” She stared deep. “How many Interlopers escape interstice?”
No, Jay couldn’t do this. Giving up information would earn him nothing, and he needed to buy more time. Naomi’s group would figure something out and stop this violation. They had to!
“How many Interlopers escape interstice?” Zynth repeated.
“Go fuck yourself!” Jay spat.
“Incorrect answer.”
Again, her companion raised her staff, its roots crawling for him. Again, Jay failed to do anything about it, his binds pressing deeper into his chest the second he moved.
He cried out as they shot into his nose.
* * *
Viktor’s skiff roared through the open ocean, the crew of Expats within.
Jay tilted his head. Though the Seam remained where it had been, it appeared even more wild than before. The gray, shifting earth of his starting island was now erverted, its form tangled in roots.
But had they escaped, really? The sea was just as blurred, as if the Nightrealm had spread its influence here.
Doesn’t matter, Naomi said behind, her face like a slate of dirt. We either hit landfall before then, or we die.
Jay blinked. Huh?
Desmond scoffed, muscular arms constricted by this same effect. Listen, love. I’d rather take my chances at night than bumble into some A-Rank hellhole!
The shore will be safer, Sayid pointed out, also blurred before turning. No features could be seen, even as he looked right at him. What do you think, Jay? You are the captain of this ship now.
“I think…” he started instinctively, but his tongue caught in his throat, another thought coming to mind.
This isn’t right.
He wasn’t here. He’d already lived this moment.
Jay stared into the sky, seeing those damn roots again.
And he remembered how this came about.
“Screw you!” Jay shouted.
But the roots merely multiplied, the world growing into a finer detail.
Sayid stood in front, his features still obscured, but now with more clarity than before.
What do you think, Jay? he asked again. You are the captain of this ship now.
“You aren’t here!” Jay scowled. “This isn’t happening.”
He shoved the specter back. It dissipated into smoke for a beat, but then more roots formed, pulling it back together.
Jay blinked.
The sun was now lower on the horizon, and the waves more intense, still under this plant-like mirage.
We’re running out of time, Ben said behind.
Yep, Naomi repeated. No way to make it.
What the hell does Natura do in oceans? Trish asked.
Naomi exhaled. Something that we’ll be lucky to get out of. Jay, I need you to go full sail. Now!
“Rig–” he almost instinctively said, hands on the mast, but he again remembered how this all was coming about.
This wasn’t real. This wasn’t happening. It was all just a forced dream by those fucking witches.
But the sense of dread pushed as mercilessly as before, and every instinct told him to acknowledge his full crew.
The water behind stirred, a dark blur forming. Jay knew what was about to come.
Brace for impact, everyone! Naomi shouted. Shit’s about to get real!
Can’t let them win, Jay realized. If they wanted him to relive this moment to learn everything about it, then the only way to prevent that would be to do something different.
He stared into the ocean. Into his enemy. Into this unstoppable force that he’d been forced to flee from the first time.
And he jumped right for it, no weapons on hand.
The darkness grew in size and shape, rushing right for them. His heart thrummed in his chest. Green light formed, larger and brighter than he’d ever seen before…
* * *
Jay opened his eyes with a scream, the agony more sharp than ever. He vomited out a mouthful of water, tasting saltwater and blood.
And that damn sprigg witch stood where she remained, roots coiling back into her staff.
“Four Interlopers of E-Rank status,” Zynth said without mercy. “Three of F-Rank status. Information consistent with other prisoners, yes.”
They’d gotten the memory anyway!? Jay tried to think back, but now he couldn’t even remember what had come for them. He knew he had been there, but he couldn’t see it anymore. Like waking from a dream and immediately forgetting.
Jay bit through the pain, holding back tears.
“Yes, yes,” Zynth said. “It is impossible to resist. Answer questions accurately, hrm?”
It was hopeless. These spriggs had abilities he had no clue how to combat, and they would only get more effective with time.
And the pain, more than anything, left him scrambled. Just as this witch had said, his brain felt… Empty. Muddled. Dry. Like those roots had sucked the very thoughts out, leaving only an open space behind. What the hell had they faced at sea?
And with that realization, a more inescapable truth came about.
No one was coming for him.
Archwitch Zynth looked him in the eye. “How was Seam expanded into interstice so quickly?”
“I don’t know what that means,” Jay answered, defeated.
“Incorrect answer.” The staff began to glow.
“Wait! Seriously, I don’t know what an ‘Interstice’ is.”
“Island was encompassed in Interstice. Hard to miss, hrm?”
It took a second to put those words together. “Are you saying the Seam became an ‘Interstice’ when it got too big?”
“Correct.”
There’s a difference? Jay supposed that he wouldn’t be privy to all the nuances of this world, and to that extent, it did make sense that a portal of that magnitude would be different from one found in cairns.
So, Viktor hadn’t just expanded the size of a portal, but changed its dynamic altogether.
Why not give this detail up? Viktor was dead, and Jay took no part in this. They could do their mind magic and uncover this truth for themselves. He should have nothing to hide.
And yet… He could not help himself. Jay stared this bitch right in the eye.
“Fuck you.”
No one forced them to capture Hyuk. No one forced them to set a trap. And no one forced them to try to manipulate his very consciousness.
Jay refused to bow down.
And to this declaration, Archwitch Zynth suddenly tilted her head suspiciously. Without saying another word, she pulled some paint from a pouch on her waist and tapped his head, drawing a symbol. His flesh warmed where the paint had been applied.
Her eyes widened a moment later.
“Impossible!” Zynth spat.
Only then did the other sprigg make the slightest reaction. “Hrm?”
“No Expatriate Core sensed. Interloper Anima unique!”
“What!? How can that be, Archwitch?”
“This Interloper should be dead, yes. Transdimensional ‘Tutorial’ island never reached. Should not be possible to survive this long without assistance.” She peered deeper, her voice rising. “‘Will To Live’ attribute must have greatly surpassed ordinary humans.”
“Human receive Grand Bargain?” the other asked.
“Yes, but… Without Expatriate Core, Wyrm Curses will be less effective, even as human continues to grow in strength.” She quaked, suddenly in fear. “Capacity for Chaotic influence unprecedented!”
Now, both stepped back, as if he could threaten them.
Jay gaped, unsure how to respond… Or how to even think. Since when did his handicap become so dangerous? He could barely get by on a good day.
But before anyone could say another word, the door to the cavern thrust open. A small troupe marched through, with one leading the pack.
It had been some since their first encounter. This sprigg still had that lean, wiry look, but unlike before where his flesh had been loose and mossy, a hard wooden carapace surrounded it like the other sprigg soldiers. He watched this display, a fire growing behind his jade-colored eyes before his jaw dropped in rage.
“What is going on here, hrm!?” Dyrk bellowed.
Name: Jay Reis (Copper Age)
Vitality – ??/106
Hunger – ??/72
Thirst – ??/24
Fatigue – ??/40
Sanity – ??/110
Main Crafts: Alchemy 2, Armor Crafting 2, Base Building 3, Cooking 2, Jewelry 2, Medicine 2, Tailoring 2, Tool Crafting 3, Tinkering 1, Vehicles 1, Weapon Crafting 2.
Weapon Crafts: Axes 5, Bows 9, Clubs 5, Daggers 5, Spears 5, Swords 11.
Armor Crafts: Heavy Armor 5, Light Armor 5, Medium Armor 8, Shields 6.
Sub-Crafts: Curved Swords 5.
Character Skills:
[Forbidden Knowledge]
Armor Skills:
Heavy Armor: [Push], [Stampede]
Medium Armor: [Recover], [Leap], [Waterform], [Quickstep]
Light Armor: [Dash], [Feather Fall]
Shield: [Brace], [Track], [Break]
Weapon Skills:
Axes: [Chop], [Whirlwind]
Bows: [Sharpshooter], [Longshot], [Scattershot Arrow]
Clubs: [Bash], [Paralyze]
Daggers: [Slice], [Flourish]
Spears: [Thrust], [Sweep]
Swords: [Power Attack], [Slash], [Rend], [Shirk], [Violent Storm]
Boons:
[Minor (Speed)] (x3), [Minor (Sanity)]