Shivna
The Endless Expanse, Kavlaka
Within the endless expanse, lounged Shivna. Ruler of the planet Kavlaka, mistress of clarity, champion of learning, sponsor of libraries, lounged. The territory was of her own making, a construct born of, but not sustained by, her domain. One would be forgiven for believing themselves within a paradise should they find themselves within. The thousands of souls who frolicked within certainly did.
Rolling hills rippled with color in a gentle breeze carrying the scent of freshly clipped grass and mountain springs. Iridescent grasses bending and standing under the playful wind caused the landscape to shimmer and shift vibrantly. Whistling song drifted along the air, an endless harmony of tantalizing flutes and pipes, a song ever at the edge of hearing. A tune scratching at the mind, while shying away as soon as it was reached for.
Denizens of the endless expanse laughed and chased each other with abandon, finding pure pleasure in the simplicity and truth of their actions. Humans chased elves, who in turn pursued paavaras and so on. The endless cycle of playing was broken only by the equally endless cycle of violence. A dwarf would catch a hazzabi who didn’t fancy them, and it would turn quickly to blood. The brutality was as pure and innocent as the love and joy, unrestrained, unconcerned with society and propriety. Wild.
The Endless Expanse was a place where all beings were welcome to indulge in their instincts. In fact, it was all they were able to do. The domain-born habitat had taken and refined the suppressive nature of Shivna’s domain, clouding the minds of all those within and reducing them to base creatures. Only those with the necessary knowledge, the appropriate truth, could enter without being stripped of their personhood. A delightfully raw and honest state replaced the naturally fraudulent and scheming natures of intelligent beings. Indulging herself by watching those within the expanse, whether they wondered in, were coerced, or simply tossed in, was among Shivna’s favorite pastimes. Furthermore, it was one of the only places she found the peace she so desired.
A particularly beautiful elf skipped up the hill upon which Shivna languished. Like the occupants of the expanse, she had no use for clothing. Unlike the approaching pink haired girl, who twirled and cartwheeled while squealing and giggling, her more impressively voluptuous form was only hinted at. Despite a particularly odd desire to be seen, her nature did not allow it. Mist of ever-shifting color cloaked her, whether she wanted it to or not. Light bounced about within the thin cloud cladding her figure and refracted back in a glittering display. Every one of her features, which she imagined to be perfect, was obscured. Her mist-obscured figure was shaped as if sculpted by a lusty sailor months from port, hallucinating his ideal release.
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Suddenly noticing the sparkling and shifting colors and the form they suggested, the elf stopped dead in her tracks and gaped. Then she giggled and rushed forward. She leapt forward, landing atop Shivna, who caught her and stroked her hair indulgently for but a moment. After, she endured the sudden rain of attempted affection, almost wishing she could reciprocate given the ardor with which the slip of a girl lavished her attention.
Alas, the mists were an impenetrable barrier between them. As such, Shivna had learned to simply remain still and wait. Should she attempt to disengage, the elf would likely grow angry and try to attack her. Moving too much in any other way might be taken as encouragement and would extend the uncomfortable sensation of someone nearly touching her body. Even catching the creature had likely extended the annoyance a bit.
In her youth, as far back as her tutorial in fact, Shivna had been a grand warrior. Natural talent with a spear, paired with the natural barrier of her mists had allowed her to become a true terror upon any field of battle. Yet, she had no love for the frivolity of violence herself. Observing others in combat, though, that was a different story entirely. The greatest pleasure she could indulge in was observing others as they satisfied their own basest wishes.
Eventually, the elf grew bored of failing to get a rise from her and left as she came. Her voice raised in an off-key song made of gibberish, the young woman rushed off to join the rest. A grand sigh escaping her lips. Shivna finally returned to the thoughts which had encouraged her to come to this place. Another of her kind, Nuu, had visited and brought with him a fascinating tale. More importantly, he had informed her of Madrick’s fall from godhood. The question of what she would do with this information had haunted her. Certainly, she would not let the knowledge remain unactioned. The man had been a menace before his ascension, then he’d become a true thorn.
While his path should have provided ample opportunities for Shivna to spy upon battles and other expressions of true abandon, the infuriating man always knew when she tried. Even his followers had a strange inherent ability to notice her observation and tended to find ways to close off whatever method of observation she used.
Beyond simple petty revenge, though, this was a true opportunity to gain favor with the court. Although technically Shivna was a full member of the summer court, she was not fool enough to think any of the others truly saw her that way. While they all played on Filcria, she’d been assigned as an on-planet governor. Being given a title and expected to directly handle the responsibilities of that title was a grave insult. Truly, though, she barely cared. The courtly intrigues were mostly not to her liking, as actual self-indulgent behavior was rarely seen within. The court was a place of self-control, careful planning, manipulation, and twisting of truth. Given her insights, Shivna could certainly have flourished. It simply didn’t interest her.
What did interest her, however, was gaining access to the Whispering Nyad Forest rift which the summer court controlled. Access was strictly controlled by Tiana, the summer queen. Sojourns into the rift were given out as rewards for services or to favored members of the court. It was one of the primary ways in which the queen maintained her power. The forest was particularly suited to help most fae develop their insights, as it was strongly oriented toward their own nature. There were, certainly, other rifts which were nearly as good. They were controlled just as jealously, though. Everyone understood the value of specialized rifts and would not easily part with such a treasure, not if they could avoid it.
Considered from this angle, her path was clear. Standing from her languid position laying atop the grass, Shivna stood and turned to leave. She would have to invite Nuu to another luncheon and suggest some interesting narrative possibilities.
Perhaps one of those scenes of his could encourage Madrick’s path to cross her own once more.