With the efforts of so many kin assaulting it, the brilliantly glowing stone starts to give way. At first it is merely a few glowing pebbles which tumble free, along with a powdery dust residue, but before long, huge hairline cracks begin to lattice its surface. More and more collisions finally result in these cracks growing larger and larger. Eventually it can endure no longer and with a crunch it shatters, tossing dangerous shards of glowing stone across the glade. It is a mercy no one is injured beyond a few scratches.

Of course, shattering the rock seems like a poor idea overall as light starts to haemorrhage from what remains of it, impossible to look at and even more unbearable than before. The world around them becomes insufferably bright, the shadows so deep as to completely lack nuance at all.

It seems to be endless, leaving the gathered kin half blinded, even as they turn away from the source of the light itself.

Steals Fire does not turn away from it as the others do, looking into the heart of the light with a big, rictus smile. "We did it." he breathes.

“Well done.”

A strange, agonised sounding voice comes from nearby. The harbinger seems to absorb the light, a steep dark hole in the world that is almost a relief to look at after the blazing brightness. “Very well done to all of you.” He says, looking over the gathered culprits.

“The motherfather can no longer trap the light in their lands and in the deep places of the world.” He seems to smile, but it’s hard to tell when he’s smiling thanks to the visible skull that floats in his thick tar-like body.

“I didn’t do this for you or /Him/.” Steals Fire says, finally snapping out of his reverie, rounding on the harbinger, his fur bristling and tail whipping at his heels. “I did this for THEM.”

He gestures with a hoof at the gathered kin. “We have no need for gods. Or their lackeys.”

The harbinger laughs raucously at this, a thick bubbling sound that seethes up from within him. “And yet you accepted the Other’s gift. You are changed.”

“I did not understand the terms at the time." Steals Fire hisses. "I belong to no one.” His posture is defiant and quivering with rage, but he nevertheless takes a step back from the harbinger, as if considering running.

“And yet in spite of your bravado. You will still want someone to protect you now.” The harbinger says. “Because you have done something catastrophic. The motherfather will be /angry/. So, so angry. You are in trouble, little Fire.”

As if on cue, another voice breaks in from the other side of the clearing. This time, a legendary stag strides forth to stand against the smothering light. He looks horrified, his handsome features twisted by the gravity of what he is confronted with, looking to the unbearable light and then to the gathered kin, accusation and horror in his gaze.

“What have you DONE?” he cries out, anguished, and then turns to bare his teeth at the Harbinger. “YOU.” He hisses, his strong voice strangled with dislike.

“Oh, it’s you Never Idle.” The harbinger croons, delighted, unphased by the two angry bucks who are now glaring at him as though they might obliterate him with their eyes. “You think that I did this? No. You know I could not. I’ve changed too much for too long to even touch the creations of your master.”

He inclines his head proudly towards Steals Fire and the other gathered kin.

“They did it on their own. Prisoners rebelling against their captor. You cannot keep what they deserve from them. They are coming for you and yours.”

Steals Fire rounds on both of them. “I am not helping EITHER OF YOU. Or the Motherfather! Or the Other! The Other claims to be for us, some defender of what we need, but all he craves is chaos, he’ll destroy us and the world given half a chance, the Motherfather wants nothing but order and control. It’s just as dangerous and terrible for us! We are our OWN gods!”

The harbinger rounds on Steals Fire, eyes blazing like stars. “Mind your words.” He hisses, dangerously.

It is Never Idle’s turn to laugh this time. “Finding out that they do as they please now Har? I thought you’d have known that from the start. Your master was the one who stole the light. You hear that?” He turns to the gathered kin, his voice booming. “The Other stole the light. Stole the light to send you out here to destroy a cornerstone of balance. You have all been used as tools and played like fools.”

Around them the light seems to intensify, more unbearable than before, it starts to creep into their minds as it had before.

Steals Fire turns to those gathered. “Get out of here!” he booms, his voice loud for such a slight Acha, his glowing like the banked embers of an wildfire. “Before we become just another casualty of this stupid war. Chaos and order BOTH live within us, we are neither one nor the other. We are balance incarnate. Bow to NO master. We won’t be fooled again. We have returned the light and ALL of us are blessed.” He does not tarry, but leads the way away from the group, a beacon against the strange contrasts of the world. "If something is wrong. We will set it right. Together"

Some of the gathered kin start to leave, others quickly following suit. The light doesn’t seem to be stopping any time soon, a vast pillar lancing up into the sky over the swamp.

Never Idle scowls at the Harbinger “You tricked them.” He said accusingly.

“It doesn’t take much.” the harbinger crooned back, just a little flirty in a way that obviously irritates Idle. “It is a victory regardless.”

“Is it?” Never Idle says, frowning. “Something is broken. Breaking it does not fix what has happened. While this crack remains, your master won’t be able to return the daylight. Even the Other cannot act while a fracture is present.”

“He does not care.” The Harbinger says with a grin that bares his skeletal teeth. “Go, run home and tell your mistress what happened today, Idle.”

“She will set this right.” Idle replies, furious, backing away and stooping to pick up a glowing chunk of rock in his teeth, giving the harbinger an accusing stare.

“She can try.” The harbinger says, smug.

Idle departs and the harbinger watches him go.

Finally, he turns back to the remaining stragglers and the Helpers, who still stand, uncertain of what to do or where to go. “You are no longer needed.” He says. “You are free to leave. But remember who brought back the light, remember who blessed you, it was not the Motherfather. They exist only to lie, and I pity those of you who are already beholden to their whims, as Never Idle is.”

He smiles a little bitterly. “He was a much better kin, once.”

Looking them over the Harbinger seems to consider the other kin. “Some of you may find yourself changed by events today. If you do, consider yourselves blessed, and remember that there will always be rewards for those who seek for the Other.”

He smirks at them. "I am not he. I am merely the Harbinger of his coming."

And with that, he too departs.

The pillar of light remains in the sky, the light does not fully return. All around the swamp there are places where the light is too bright and the shadows too dark, places that are steeped in darkness all day, others where darkness never comes. The plants are saved, the light is enough to sustain the swamp as it is, but not enough and in the right places for the kin who live there to feel things are right. Instability still reigns, and it feels like this cannot truly be an end.

But by their actions, they have blessed every creature in their world with the potential to glow, or not to. The rules are broken.

They are victorious.

But what was the cost?



And in the wake of events, what of the Helpers?

They find themselves waking up as though from a long and hazy dream. They cannot recall exactly what happened to them , with only glimmers of a life before their devotion to the Other. Even the details of what they may have done in service of Steals Fire is blurry in their recollection. They are left in the swamp, impacted by the Ache and now no longer able to leave, forced to begin their lives anew. It feels as though whatever contract they were bound under has shattered.

The other kin they met might mistrust them now, marked as they are as direct associates of chaotic and unpredictable forces, but yet others might find them in kinship.

Their allegiance is now their own, their path their own to choose. They have no master and no one to tell them where they go from here.

And unlike other kin in the world, it is their choice to take on a name or not. The swamp offers them a naming dream, but only if they decide that is what they desire, able to remain nameless or take on a deed name at their own discretion.

However, their name dream is not pleasant or easy, a purgatorial challenge and in some cases more like a punishment than a blessing. The Motherfather remembers their previous allegiance.

But, just as Steals Fire said, Chaos and Order lives within all of them, and they may choose which to embrace.

Their future is theirs to re-make.

THE VISIONS

And in the wake of everything, when things settle down - or don't - the swamp is left a little bit off kilter, a little bit strange. The visions that plagued kin throughout the assault on the stone seemed to gather in pockets in the swamp, it is easy to find yourself slipping off the swamp and into what is closer to a dream, with those alongside you. This strangeness becomes the new normal for now, but surely not forever.

(( For the duration of December's Winter Market, it will be possible to revisit AUs or create new ones, even - if you desire - to have a booth set in one of these AUs of your own devising! The only condition is that anything beyond swamp-knowledge cannot be remembered by those who visit as things stand. This AU infested situation will not be a permanent state of affairs for the swamp, it's just for fun for the time being. ))

THE GLOW

In the wake of the Shattering there are no longer any restrictions on where glows may appear. Zikwa appear without glow, other kin appear with it, even familiars may glow. It seems that the status quo has shifted.

And things will never be the same.

(( From now on ALL GLOW RESTRICTIONS ARE LIFTED. This applies to all species, including familiars! ))

He had hung in the back among the shadows that twisted between kin and creature. He dug at the ground on an off but the visions that assaulted him left him so disturbed and disoriented that he was slow to return to the task. Too much this reminded him of the fevered harvest of mushrooms for the Harbinger down below. Was this another ruse by the creature his grandfather worshipped? If so, what would the cost be this time? He had paid for his actions below ground. He had lost his sense of self, his control over his own thoughts and feelings and the stability he'd thought he'd had under Night Father's guidance. He'd begun to distance himself from the tar pits, taking longer and further routes through the swamp to fulfil his duties in bringing back sacrifices for Night Father to lay at the Harbinger's hooves.

This felt too much like the visions he'd been given before, the difference being he could remember every detail of every vision he'd had in the caves. Here though only vague senses and feelings remained, leaving him in fear of what he may be doing. That's what it all came to. He felt fear now, when he'd had no reason to before the Harbinger. Night Father had led their family in opposition of the MotherFather's curse. The ache that kept kin trapped within the boundaries of the swamp regardless of their origin like a fly who slipped into the sticky belly of a trap plant. The Harbinger's arrival had given him the outlet he'd been searching for and suddenly the entire families dynamic changed. Bite of Passage had been young, only just ventured from his mother's clan to join his father where his family congregated within the tar pits the Harbinger brought with him, when Night Father took him under wing and groomed him into his service and gave him a role that suited his natural inclinations. He'd been happy to preform, even if he didn't share the same fervent passion of his grandfather. His role was simple, predictable, and while it was distasteful to some, he found peace in it. It didn't weigh on him then the way it did now.

Nameless Ghoul had left. She was still frequently at Night Father's side, but it was well known that she was no longer one of His and she often disappeared for days at a time and no one ever called her on her absences. Night Father was growing more and more unhinged at what he viewed as a lack of favor from the Harbinger. His demands on Bite had increased even as the younger buck's willingness to obey diminished.

Bite of Passage thought of that as he slammed his hooves into the glowing stone containing the world's light beneath him. Between visions he wondered if he was doing this to break away from the clan himself... or if he once again was being obedient to a whim he had no knowledge of.

"Well done."

No. The light blinded him but he knew that voice. His heart sank as he listened to the heated argument brewing between the leader of the project and the Harbinger. Trap the light? Had they done as Night Father had believed the Harbinger would do and freed kin from the Ache? He stepped closer, out of the shadows and into the light that he could almost feel like thick mud it seemed more than just light emanating from the earth beneath them. Confusion and horror twisted in his mind as he listened. This went so much further than he or Night Father had ever imagined. Harbinger wasn't the anti-thesis to the MotherFather. Not if what he was saying was true. Bite of Passage had wondered briefly, before he'd gone into the Obelisks, that the Harbinger was only a legendary taking advantage and playing god. He'd been dissuaded from that by the creatures immense display of power but now? Now it sounded like that was exactly the truth but then what kind of being could grant a kin that kind of power? The power to split the world open on a whim? Legendaries blessed unborn babies. They didn't take over minds and transport kin between distant locations.

Being whipped back and forth between doubting Night Father's beliefs, to realizing that maybe he was right just not in the way he thought was too much for Bite of Passage. It seemed like every step he'd taken to distance himself kept driving him back deeper. The Harbinger was a messenger, a servant of one greater than him, one who also wished to free the kin of the swamp from the MotherFather's tyranny. He listened to the battle, the war of words between the servant of the MotherFather and that of this new entity, the Other, as well as Steals Fire who claimed to speak for the kin themselves. What was the truth in all of this? What pledges had already been made that could no longer be taken back? He watched the acha leave and the darkening shapes of the kin who followed. Choosing Neither appeared to be an option... but one that also didn't sit well with Bite.

The Tenacious Buck stood, proud of their work. Returning the light was no small feat, but the others had been clever and given all they had to offer and Steals Fire had seen them through all of it. He seemed small in front of the brilliant light, but it was no matter. He had done it, they had all done it.

And then there was that lurching, half-familiar voice, a coo of pleasure from a dark, tarry creature.

You want someone to protect you. the voice said to Fire, and Tenacious couldn't help in spite of everything to fiercely think, Me. The light seemed brighter, and there was a ringing in Tenacious's ears as he tried to remember, to recall, why... had he been tricked? Had he...he'd wanted something, and he...what had he traded? What had he done? His memories felt like they were slipping away, like eels through his teeth.

Tenacious pushed away the humming blur of his own mind. Fire was telling them to leave, to save themselves. But he...

"Fire," he said, and he stood closer. For once, he felt small too. But- "I'll stay," he told him.

He worked up a scarred smile at the acha. "Can't expect me to turn tail just when it's getting good."

Steals Fire flitted like a firefly through the swamp, away from the scene of the confrontation, aware that things would be different and he would have incited the ire of the MotherFather. He paused only when a familiar voice reached him.

He gave Tenacious a pained look, stalwart and true, he was devoted even now.

"You can't stay." he said. "There's nothing to stay for, we served our purpose, the cause is dissolved. It is not safe to linger with me either. I'll only lead to further ruin. Find someone or something else to protect. Something worthwhile, this time."

Following along with the digging the brightness that emanated was blinding. Shielding away didn't do much, even with eyes clenched shut. Memories that were lost came and went and there was an odd after affect and she listened as the voices unfolded. Interesting... She thought. After all was said and done she departed, there wasn't anything left for her here.
Veil of Death and Once Pleasant Dreams helped along with the digging and the scene that unfolded was interesting to say the least. Would her siblings believe anything she remembered from this? Did she really care if they believed her though? Looking over towards her father she nodded her head. "We should depart."
"Yes." He said with a bow. "Our task is done and for the better or worse, only time will tell." The pair headed off.

Giving a huff after everything hit a rather eventful end she looked around. "Well, I suppose this is where I depart? Unless you wish to travel along with me. It seems we've served our purpose." She didn't wait to see if he would follow as she began to walk away.

Lutz wrote:

Taste of Darkness couldn't help but laugh as events happened at once it seemed. Intriguing, he couldn't wait to see what was in store for them going forward. Only the MotherFather would truly know he surmised.

The Undefeated doe blinked the light from her eyes and turned away, squinting against the brightness of the spilling light, gushing like an open wound. She felt strange.

Uncertainly, she blinked as, with horror, she realised she knew almost none of the faces before her- some regarding her with fear or distrust, others amazement, some even with fury. She had heard the worlds of Harbinger and Never Idle and understood little, save for one part.

She had been used.

She ran after Steals Fire, her powerful body taut with tension and fury, but she came to a trembling stop as she saw the acha and realised with a shock of pain that he was one of the only things she recognised. Even the memories of him were blurry, but he was someone she’d worked with for… for who knew how long.

She didn’t have words to express the fury, betrayal, fear and confusion, so she just stared numbly, trying to put her world into some sort of order.

Baneful wrote:

Steals Fire wasn't expecting to be pursued the way he was, at first mistaking the familiar dark shape of one of the Helpers for something more ominous coming his way. Still, he paused and realised that her eyes were no doubt clear now, freed from whatever it was that had held them in such conveniently obedient sway.

He'd chosen, and he'd chosen wrong for all of them.

"I was trying to do the right thing," he said. "I still am. I'll put it right."

subducting wrote: ↑Tue Dec 05, 2023 2:35 pm

The undefeated doe drew herself up, staring Steals Fire down imperiously, her eyes snapping coldly. “I barely remember anything,” she said, in a low, quivering voice that was equal parts fury and terror.

Her heart ached. She knew him, and yet she didn’t- even those memories were already filtering away, like spilled water disappearing into the Earth, filtering and fragmenting into a million tiny rivulets of knowledge.

She so badly wanted to believe him, to trust that familiar-and-not face, but- well, the illusion had shattered.

Baneful wrote:

"I didn't take your recollection." he said. "I didn't do what was done to you." He shook his head. "You'll find your path again; this won't fall on you; it shouldn't."

He gave her a smile that was tinged with sadness.

"I'll miss you," he said. "And the others."

And he would remember everything.

"I'm sorry I didn't realise what was going on sooner. I'm old but I've still got a lot left to learn."

subducting wrote: ↑Wed Dec 06, 2023 4:56 pm

The hard line of the doe’s jaw softened just slightly. Steals Fire sounded more confident of her future than she was, but borrowed hope would have to do for now.

She returned his smile with one equally sad, part of her wishing to run to him and embrace. But her hooves wouldn’t move. She was stuck, moving neither forwards nor back.

She didn’t want him to leave, and yet she wanted to never see him again.

She bowed her head finally and sighed deeply. “I seem to recall,” she said slowly, “that I enjoy learning.” She lifted her gaze again, a smile sadder and wider than before, “So I suppose I should count myself lucky. What a lot I have to learn before me.”

She nodded to the acha, wondering if their paths would cross again.

Baneful wrote: