The Glass Flute (2014-08-18)

CD5K > FU > arc > discon > thrice

The character of Thrice has his origin in a forum role-play centered around an academy for future mages. It was an interesting romp, but playing a socially inept recluse meant I didn't do much (in-character) posting. Still, I liked what was there enough to want to wrap things up.

Context

To help accelerate the story, the GM had every character teleported out of the academy, to any strange place their players wanted. This ended up backfiring; the absolute creative freedom caused most people to not know what they wanted to do. I did have some ideas, but perfectionism struck and I couldn't stop revising and rewriting. This was on top of being the de-facto writer of the massive thread's recap/summary page, which was lazily made and in need of a complete overhaul.

After I had the idea for the Ultraverse, I decided I would just write up and post an epilogue to Thrice's adventures, similar in spirit to the epilogue of the IWA's involvement in the Gearworks War. But, Thrice's story has since been tweaked for originality, so - in the spirit of this section - here's the old ideas that are no longer relevant.

Background Information

Riverling (Species)

Amphibious reptile-mammal hybrids hailing from a northern desert country that was slowly getting colder. They are hatched, warm blooded, and have hairless skin, thick tails, hemicircular snouts, and large cat-like ears. In place of nails or claws are skin-covered protrusions of bone extending from the edge of each digit. Their genitalia is internal unless aroused, and this and the base of the tail's underside are a Riverling's only erogenous zones. Culturally, they are very comfortable with regard to nudity, but not undressing in sight of others. They tended to be highly religious, efficient, and secretive.

Kaluan (Species)

Basically, Kaluans were otter anthropomorphs; short fur coats, small claws, large black eyes, and toothy grins. They were typically extremely friendly, which played a role in their ubiquitousness in service jobs. They were known to be very trusting and open, but also social chameleons, as they preferred to adopt the values of those around them to make themselves seem more likeable. They also placed a high value on femininity and cuteness to such a degree that discerning a (clothed) Kaluan's gender by appearance alone was a difficult task.

Kaluan cities were psychically directed by queens. Their people have a forgotten history, now only known due to allegories made in religious texts. These state that the entire Kaluan race was either killed or enslaved by a "golden army". Some of them rebelled, turning into violent ferals, but those who were treated with kindness enjoyed their work more, which set the stage for the modern stereotype of Kaluans being docile and friendly.

Thrice [M Riverling Ice Mage]

My primary character, Thrice was a quiet loner with cerulean skin. He had an (until recently) infallible memory, and was obsessed with control over his destiny. He was studying cryomancy. Daily attire consisted of black pants (with a knife and canteen on his belt), a black robe with red and gold highlights, thick gloves, a mask that fully obscured his eyes, and a silver pocketwatch on a necklace. (The reason for the mask was that Riverlings had Mood Ring Eyes, and he didn't want anyone to know what he was thinking just by looking at him.)

He had a vague, traumatic past that he refused to talk about. He was a member of a cult which worshipped a powerful ghoul that lurked in forests. While part of that cult, he learned a bit of dark magic, including the ability to morph to a semi-liquid form to let attacks pass through him, and a hex which caused its victim to have vivid, terrifying hallucinations for a few minutes. For each day that passed without him using the hex on someone, his nightmares would get progressively worse.

Raindrop [F Riverling Druid]

Thrice's familiar at first seemed to be a telepathic Screech Owl with a cheery personality, but was later revealed to be a ressurrected Riverling druid. In her Riverling form, she had purple skin and wore either nothing or a robe made of brown feathers.

Lutha [F Kaluan Dark Mage]

A friend to Thrice and girlfriend to Sothua.

Sothua [M Seafolk Water Mage]

A stalwart aquamancer who loved experimenting.

Mute Sector (Group)

The above four were all a part of Mute Sector. That was the nickname of one of the great hall's tables where the same people would gather. It was called that because it was the only place in the hall where total silence could be found during mealtimes.

Snippets

Dialog colors are Thrice, Raindrop, Lutha, and Sothua.

The Death of Thrice

Following the corruption of the academy by a powerful dark force, Thrice and his friends wake up in a strange ethereal forest.

---

Thunder occasionally punctuates the rain's babbling, causing lost ravens to cry out and fly away. It is warm here, but only because Raindrop's on top of me. She is already awake.
What happened?
I'm not sure.

She climbs off of me. I wipe the blood from my face and realize I'm not wearing my mask.. or anything else, for that matter. Raindrop giggles at me.
Relax. Nobody's here but us. Besides, you look better without it on.

She arches her back, then sighs.
I don't know if anyone else survived, if the academy still exists, or where we are.

Thick black clouds cast a dark cover over the area. We're in a dense forest. There's a faint and ethereal glow about the place that bathes it in a pleasant but eerie turquoise light. Beyond the fog I can hear the sound of a flowing river.
As I move to stand up, my hand displaces something. The shadow warrior marionette. I imagine it has no use, but we may as well keep it with us.
Raindrop?
Hm?
What happened to me back at the academy?
..I don't know either.

At first this notion brings me relief, but then I remember she's the one who did it to me in the first place.
You of all people should know I have little tolerance for liars.
No, I really don't. The spell I tried to cast should have enhanced your abilities at the price of your reasoning, but it instead did that to me and had the opposite effect on you.

An awkward silence passes, the storm contributing words for us.
Thrice!
Oh, good, it's not just us, then. Lutha and Sothua, also strangely absent of clothing, have found us.
Mmh. Feels nice out here, doesn't it.
I suppose it does.

Raindrop motions for us to follow her. For a lack of anything better to do, we form a single file line and let her lead us down the glowing river.

---

Time has become distorted. The rain stopped, but I cannot tell how long we've been marching; minutes, or ages? Regardless, our journey ends here, at the lake from which the river flows.
Now what?
We wait.
What? You expect to just sit around until something happens?!
If you have more important matters to tend to, you are welcome to do so.

Raindrop and I sink into the welcoming waters and start to meditate. After Lutha and Sothua carry out an argument I don't care to listen to, one departs and the other joins us.

We have spent a long time in the waking world. Perhaps it is time we truly slept. Our senses are slowly surrendered to the forest.

The last feeling that graces my body is the heat of sunlight spreading through the forest. Then, blackness. The chill returns, but I am no longer able to shiver. The icy grip of death wrests me away from mortality. Is that you, oblivion? It's been a long time, but I'm here to stay if you'll have me.

The dream came true.

Perfect Thrice

Following my final post in the RP thread (above), I immediately started to write a follow-up story idea; Lutha survived, and she doubled back only to find that her idiot friends had managed to somehow drown themselves in three feet of water.

The Birth of Perfect Thrice

Footsteps mark Lutha's return to the drowned bodies of her best, and perhaps only, friends.
Guys! I found-- No!

Something has left me. Was it vital, or holding me back? Do I still exist? Ugh, this is confusing. I knew I should've became a librarian instead of pursuing magic. Wait, I've got something..

The shadow warrior doll slowly lifts up and hovers over to the shuddering Kaluan. Her hesitant hand slowly grips the cross of the possessed marionette.
I submit myself to you. Though I am the manipulator, I am now your puppet. Use me wisely.

As much dark energy as she can muster is poured into the avatar. The fallen Riverling's shadow begins to fluctuate and form.

[Continued]

Post-Mortem Exposition

Two silent watchers stand nearby, hidden and staring from the shadows with eyes that match their skin. Remnants of the fallen.
Suffering surrounds us. How could things have gone so wrong?
Misfortune seems to follow him around as if it were a loyal pet.
Myself, too. But no longer. Luck and fate can no longer pester me. How could you possibly resist such a temptation?
I've passed on once, and see no reason to do so again. When death returns for me, there shall be a fight.
Are you saying you find me weak?
No. But I am glad I will not have to further endure your pessimism.
..Heh. So it shall be.

They pull their hands away from eachother. The blue one smiles and fades away. The purple one disappears into the thick underbrush.
Farewell, my friend and master. I fear I may have known you too well.

Shadow Raindrop

After I started up the Ultraverse (at the time, simply called the Vincent Continuity), I scrapped the above idea and was going to have everyone live, so that they could jump over to the fun stuff happening on Terridux.

My legs have been hacked off and replaced with tentacles that writhe through the aether, reaching out and wrapping around the essences of other beings. The academy is so wrought with anger it makes the watcher Lord [REDACTED] himself seem.. sane by comparison. But that is not all that has caught my attention.. I know not where we are, but I think I know how we may escape.

Unused Content

Before we get to the file I got the name of this page from, here's some stuff I wrote while still active in the RP, but never got around to posting.

Intruding on the Intruder

Another player's character was a hyperactive imp who was quickly learning geomancy. He also had a habit of randomly teleporting into other characters' dorm rooms. I figured it might be funny to have Thrice pay him a visit instead of the other way around:

The gravel imp descends into the familiar space that is his room, but finds something off about it. The bookcase! It used to be haphazard, but every single tome has been organized by cover color and then title.

Wait, him too! ..Who is that? That's that weird masked lizard, but he's not wearing his mask! ..or anything else, by the looks of it. Hey, he does have eyes!

The Riverling, relaxing in one of the many pools adorning the imp's massive underground cavern, notices Krumarg and reaches for his pocketwatch in the neatly folded pile of clothes behind him.
Oh, fourth period's over already..

Thrice's eye color shifts from turqoise to yellow as he focuses on Krumarg.
I hope you'll be able to pardon my intrusion, but I found your door open, and.. well, once I saw all this, I couldn't control myself.
He smiles apologetically.

I don't care what he says or does to me, coming in here was worth it. This is the best I've felt all afternoon.

Fight Club

Thrice and Raindrop discuss amongst themselves after eating.
What shall we do this evening?
I'm open to suggestions.
She rubs against him seductively and whispers, I'm in need of a bit of excitement, if you know of what I speak.
Thrice smirks. Quite. How proficient are you?
She forms a small icicle in her right hand and shows him. Proficient enough.
Then let it be so.

Any who went to the sparring ring that evening would witness a fantastic spectacle; two Riverlings aiming to kill eachother, both ice-attuned and fighting in the nude. Already known for their mental endurance, these two now prove their capacity for pain. Tonight's match is Thrice vs. Raindrop. No rules. No mercy.

The fight carried on for quite some time. The ring was bloodied, and both combatants had taken significant damage; Thrice limped as he walked and was having trouble breathing while Raindrop's arms and stomach were bleeding internally, but neither showed any signs of letting up. Thrice had conjured and attached to his hands some sort of frozen fistblades while Raindrop assaulted him with ranged attacks. Both used their magic abilities and physical prowess to an extreme degree; were they not striking eachother, it might seem more like an acrobat show at a circus than a fight. But, eventually, Raindrop catches Thrice unaware, freezing his feet to the ring as a row of icicles plummet towards him. He closes his eyes and.. manages to escape! Flipping out of the trap but cutting his feet in the process, Thrice grabs Raindrop by the shoulders and hurls her into the approaching spike wall. She falls to the floor, limp and bleeding, as he whips around and de-summons the ice, regaining some lost mana.

Victor, a watcher shouts, Skulker Thrice's opponent has fallen!
Thrice drags the pierced Raindrop out of the ring. The protection spell slowly reverses the damage and she regains consciousness. He retrieves their clothes from underneath the ring.
Ugh.. Good fight.
Are you kidding? That was a terrible match for me. I didn't even slow you down!
Raindrop smirks. No, but you did well enough.
Well, if you liked it, then I suppose it's fine.

They set their clothes down and change into them, then return to the dorms for the evening. The protection spell may be able to reverse damage, but it does not reverse the loss of energy.
So, how did I do?
You are.. quite vicious. My right leg was shattered and most of my ribs were broken. I'm glad that instead of fighting eachother, we choose to fight for eachother. But we shall do this again; more practice will be needed as we learn the ways of cryomancy.

Raindrop smiles and hands something to him. Candy?
Thrice takes it. This.. This is Irisian saltwater taffy! Where did you get this?
The dining hall offers a mind-blowing selection, you just have to know where to look.
Thrice chuckles, pops an unwrapped taffy in his mouth, and opens the door to his room.

The Worst Nightmare

The usual peaceful silence of the morning is shattered by a single horrified scream. Raindrop is awake now, and remains equally scared until she feels herself pulled over to the Riverling's sweaty body, being hugged for dear life.
Gah! Careful! I'm fragile in this form!

Thrice slowly and reluctantly releases the death grip he has on his familiar.
Druid. I'm scared. Don't leave me here all alone.
Ungh.. Good morning to you too, disciple. Wow, th-that was.. You're always so quiet. I didn't know you could be so loud.
Another nightmare, but this one was worse.. Much, much worse..
Really? How so?
I don't want to talk about it.
Oh, come on. It couldn't have been that bad.
I really don't want to talk about it. Please, just be with me for a moment.

Huh. All right, I won't press the issue.
Th--Thank you.. You're very nice for an owl.
And you have the most brilliant eyes I've ever seen.. Why do you never let the others see them?
A Riverling's eyes are what gives away its emotions. If the others knew what I was thinking, when I was thinking it, they could use it to their advantage. The very thought sends a chill up my spine..
..Has that been turned against you before?
Yes, by my brother. Or, rather, his sadistic side. I may maintain these scars, but he was the one who first carved them into me. It hurt. Did it ever hurt. But I wanted him to hurt me. And he did. Mmm..

Oh, gods, just thinking about that.. Don't ever bring up my past again. It does bad things to me.
Sorry..

I Have Friends Now

Well, this is odd. Some sort of sabre-toothed leopard is waiting at Thrice's door. The door swings open. From beyond a calm purple fog steps the masked dweller. He kneels down and pets the cat. It gets up and walks away. Closing his door behind him, Thrice follows it.

The big cat leads Thrice to the table known as "Mute Sector", named such because this is the only place in the entirety of the Great Hall where complete silence can be found during mealtimes. Various people are gathered here, but the only one of any immediate interest sits across from Thrice's Kaluan friend; a seafolk dressed in blue who is teasing a frog with tendrils of water.
Lutha.
Hi, Thrice. I see you've met Skrith.
Thrice chuckles and takes the empty seat next to her.
Not that I had much choice in the matter.

A pause.
..Aren't you going to ask me who he is?
I am curious, but I can understand those who don't introduce themselves.

This gets the seafolk's attention. He looks up and smiles, then returns his attention to the frog, who is now upside-down and being supported by a small geyser.
Well, he's Sothua, and the frog is.. uh, Xel'rekrid.
Thrice nods.
Miniturization?
Once more Sothua smiles, this time without looking up.
Easy to concentrate and virtually effortless.
But isn't that a bit difficult to duplicate into a viable attack?
He shrugs. For some people. I don't seem to have that problem.
Thrice grabs a fruit sitting in a nearby bowl and continues to watch Sothua as he eats.

The Glass Flute

Here's a combat sequence showing Thrice's "Shit Just Got Real" weapon of choice, and also what I got the name of the epilogue from.

Excerpt from The Legends of Cephara

Riverlings who are skilled in illusion and enchantment magic are able to enchant wind instruments to serve as energy amplifiers - projecting the power focused into them - which are often used to confuse and demoralize enemy troops in large-scale combat situations. Each tune played yields a different effect, but they always take place in a spherical radius, the size of which increases the longer the instrument is played. They are very powerful in the right hands, but also very dangerous; it is difficult for one of a different study to dispose of the illusion when it is no longer needed without inadvertently harming themselves.

The reformed riverling eventually reaches the scene of the battle. Sitting down a fair distance from the damaged wall, he pulls out a glass flute and begins to play a tune on it. The instrument somehow remains silent.

I never thought I'd have to use this. Good thing we're already at the clinic if anything should happen. May [REDACTED] have mercy on me.

Slowly, a field of influence reaches out, corrupting the reality in the immediate area around him, twisting it, converting it. The parts of the academy the sphere reaches begin to glow with malevolence.

A living creature distorts and replaces the walls. The hole where the angel made its entrance begins to bleed. Though it sounds distant and is only carried by echoes, the song of the flute can now be heard. A slow, depressive tune flows through the air as Thrice and Raindrop's forms shift.

A glowing summoning circle appears beneath them. Brown feathers and blue skin blacken. The hood of the robe gains teeth and scythe-like limbs extend from the back. Talons and gloved claws increase in size and sharpness. What the hell are these two creatures?

---

With the attacker defeated, Thrice ends the tune.
Now comes the fun part.
His form reverts to normal. The sphere of corrupt influence slowly sinks.. into him. With a flick of the wrists, it is gone.

All seems normal for a moment, but then Thrice is engulfed in a large explosion. When the smoke clears, he falls to his hands and knees, coughing up blood.
Ah, yeah, that's the stuff.. Hahahaha..
Oh, my! Are you going to be okay?
My movement right now is severely limited and I can't use any of my abilities, but I'm not complaining; normally that would cause one or all of my limbs to fracture.

Thrice smiles and chuckles again. He then pulls off his mask and shakily manages to stand up. He attempts to survey the damage with slitted black pupils cast against turqoise eyes.
In fact, I got off easy; normally I need weeks to recover from a use of the flute, but I should be back to normal after a day or two. I must be getting better at this. Vision's a bit blurry, though.

She Plays The Glass Flute

Through the darkness, an enchanting tune sings out. The source is a purple reptilian creature playing a flute made of glass. The song finishes, punctuated by a drop of blood flowing through the instrument.
Do you want to know what really happened to me and my friends? I'll gladly tell you.
She leans back and smiles seductively.
Where should I begin?

This was originally going to be a brief continuation of Thrice's adventures. I then had the idea to start introducing other characters, and the planning file promptly exploded into a gigantic mess. I started that file on 2010-04-29, and kept "or maybe they could"ing until 2011-12-18. Parts of said mess were recycled to form the purely original story, and will thus not be shown here. This page is long enough without that.

Part One: What Remains

Blackness. All had fallen into blackness. I lay face down in this void, but I can see myself, and feel, and I feel pools of a viscous liquid slowly dripping down my back, as if disinterested insects toward a boring find. I can also hear; a familiar voice is humming a familiar tune as she pours more of the stuff upon my tail. She massages me with it, her nimble hands running along my rear and thighs.

All things return to me - my senses, my memories - save for the ability to move or speak. But she speaks for me, Hm? Oh, you're awake.

The sensation stops briefly. Soon I am hoisted by one side and turned over, allowed to see my captor. It's Raindrop. What might she possibly be doing?
Do not try to resist, my dear master. Instead lay back, and enjoy what I give to you, and take from you.

From a pitcher, she oozes more of the substance onto her hand, letting the excess flow onto my chest. My mouth twitches and flicks beyond my control as she lets me taste it. Honey, more pure and sweet than any I'd ever eaten in living. Almost the whole of my body has been made sticky. What does she aim to accomplish by making me delicious?
Oops. I've missed a spot. Perhaps the most important.

She couldn't possibly mean-.. Two fingers part my sheath, allowing the amber slime to seep in and surround my hidden sex with a strange and gelatinous feeling. She withdraws her hand and waits for the inevitable. My body reacts, and in this briefest of moments, every single second is drawn out to ten. The small pocket of flesh bulges, and then erupts, all the while she is completely focused on the emerging organ -- staring at my best kept secret, watching it grow until it can no more, and then she giggles.
"So, this is what it looks like... I've always been curious, but I'd imagined yours would be a bit bigger."

She teases me with her gooey fingers, rythymically drumming them against it before wrapping them around. Using the honey as lubrication, she begins to relieve a cramp I'd forgotton existed. She flashes me that devious smile as she rubs my erect member and my body is soon awash with ecstasy. I breathe faster and heavier, and my thoughts become distant and cloudy. She then stops suddenly, closing her eyes and leaning down to deliver a long, loving lick that pushes me over the edge, sending me into an incredible orgasm. Every part of my body seizes up and pulses in tune with the spasms of my member's deliverance. All fades to brightness.
You're welcome.

I gasp for breath and find myself returned to the forest. Lutha had pulled me from the lake and attempted to revive me. I pant as the last of the waves pass over me; soon my seed gushes forth from inside my sheath, quickly followed by another erection. Lutha takes notice, her surprise replaced with shock. Shame floods me, and my hands flee to cover my face as it grows hot with embarrassment. But something's different. I can sense a change taking place.
Lutha.. I--I'm sorry..

I weakly return to the lake. Already parts of my skin have turned blotchy and white. Protrusions are beginning to emerge from all over my body. My bones and muscles slowly unalign and change shape. The Kaluan stares at me helplessly. I return her gaze with the same worry of what I am becoming.
Press on, Lutha. Raindrop watches over you now, look to her. When I rise again, I shall be radically different, but I will not allow myself to forget you. Extend the same favor to me.

This is all I am able to say with hopes of reassuring her before it becomes difficult to speak any language she would recognize. I slowly fall asleep once again underneath the blanket of the lake's water.

Part Two: The Creation of Perfect

[Redundant content removed]

Part Three: The End and The Beginning

Raindrop has saved me yet again. I wait at the bottom of the lake for my transformation to complete. My now pale skin shifts and morphs as things jut out of it and my bones reshape and rearrange themselves underneath it. Webs have formed between my fingers and toes, and under my arms. From the protrusions arise fins, attached to my head, back, and limbs. I become shorter, smaller, more suited for a purely aquatic environment.

I've had a long, and perhaps incredulous, journey as a Riverling. Though I can not help but look forward, it is tempting to turn around for a brief moment and remember how I came to be here.

[Redundant content removed]

Part Four: New Horizons

This was never written, but I do remember what I had in mind. The third part was meant to be a sort of highlights reel, complete with deleted scenes. This part would see Thrice transformed into the first Dweller. He would explore the forest a bit, then end up meeting the Refuge Base Team visiting the planet in their scout ship. They would take him with them to go have some fun in space. From there, it's "To be continued."

---