Welcome to Gaia! ::

Title: The Only Way Through Is Breathing
Genre: Fantasy, Mystery, Adventure.
Rating: PG-13 to T for teen, may change.
Warnings: Cursing, blood, maybe some sexual references.
Synopsis: In the wide land of Celterica, on one chilly October morning, a plague swept through the lands, infecting and killing the male kings of every kingdom. Soon after, to everyone's growing horror, the next male in line vanished, their bodies reappearing, mutilated and nearly beyond recognition. The only people in line for the throne are the princesses of each kingdom, who must now take the reins and lead their homes to safety, creating new laws, securing allies, and leading armies. At the heart of this, each princess is searching for the same thing: The reason why this tragedy happened.

Celterica is a vast landscape, every kind of land imaginable on it. There are caves, deserts, oceans, plains, forests, mountains, shadow lands, and even more. These are notes that I'll continue to fill in as the story comes along, if a word in the story is like this: I, then the explanation is up here.

Places in Celterica:

Draconic Peak Mountains - The home of Purla's people. The mountain has homes carved into it, and caves are full of rooms. The people here are hardy and quick, learning to be silent and deadly while walking through the mountains. Located in the very center of Celterica.

Frost Spirit Tribe - This is where Naomh the Wild rules. Located near the Frost ocean, her people are so used to the cold temperatures that they travel around wearing almost nothing.

Pasaelaer Var - This is where Turtegiel Bloodrunner rules. As few elves actually have let themselves be seen since the deaths, Turtegiel allowed her kingdom to fall into slight ruin, and it began to appear abandoned.

Ashukin - Home to the people of the night, Kilyanox of the Night rules at the very top of her tower, far enough up that no assassin could hope to reach her. Kilyanox's home is deep in the forests of darkness, all the way across Celterica from Naomh's kingdom.

Domus - Where the Faeries live. Here, you can find Chryseis in her magic bubble floating high above the lake. Located to the north of the Draconic Peak Mountains.

Dhig - Stronghold of the thieves and Beltryd, Dhig is where the most skillful thieves live. It is located near the mountains of Cor, to the east for the Draconic Peak Mountains.

Virgatus - Meaning, where the fish swim, Virgatus is Zephrya's home, and her kingdom. It is located behind the valley of blades.

Kelzergal - This is where the demons live with their queen and mother, Azanigin. It is set deep in the North-East corner of Celterica.

Shaskka - Where Gaia rules her people. Shaskka is suppose to have been where the gods were born and raised as babes.

Progress

Beltryd was excited, and she was certain her men and women could see it clearly. Tonight was the first night of All Hallows End, the holiday which lasted from the eighteenth day of October to the thirty first. Dressed for the occasion, she was wearing a long gown. The gown was orange at the top, and somewhere around the middle it faded into black before flowing out around her body. The sleeves did not cover her shoulders, and were styled after calla lilies. She’d torn at the ends of the sleeves and the dress to make it more raggedy.


Beltryd stepped up to the stage that her family were gathered around. The polished wood made no sound underneath her feet, and she turned to face them all, raising her arms up to the sky, as to silence them.


“Welcome, my family, to the first gathering of All Hallows End!” She waited for the cheers to subside, smiling fondly. “In light of the tradition passed down through many generations of the Dhig Stronghold family, we will tell a tale of Hallows End spooks and ghouls each night.” More cheers.


“May we begin with a tale we all know. The tale of the Headless Horseman.” She lowered her arms to her sides slowly, and the lights dimmed with them. Stepping off of the stage, she dropped a small purple marble, which opened up and transported her across the room, besides the actors and actresses.


“Long ago, in the first human kingdom that we all gratefully descend from, there was the king’s favourite knight, as there is in every kingdom. Now, this knight’s name is unknown, but we all know that he was the strongest and most skilled knight across the lands.” On stage, actors and actresses took their places, and began to act with the words.


“On one day, during the celebration of fall, a brash, young knight challenged our knight to a duel. Agreeing, it was no surprise to him that the youngling had been defeated instantly. However, this youngling was not really a knight. He was an assassin, and as soon at the knight turned his back on him, he attacked the knight, and transported them both to the border of a small town, far away from the kingdom. The knight fought bravely, but the assassin was quick, and he cut off the knight’s head with a slash of his knife.


“late that night, a demon came upon the knight’s shallow grave. Coming down to inspect, the demon slipped into the body, and was delighted to find the spirit still huddled inside of it’s heart. Planting a seed of corruption, and whispering maddening lies to the spirit, the demon watched in satisfaction as the knight awoke from his grave, sure that we was alive, and that all others were dead and evil. The headless knight stumbled along, following the voice of the demon. He came upon something that was slightly circular, and rather smooth. As soon as the knight touched it, the pumpkin - for that was what it was, - attached to his neck, sealing itself deep onto his body. For the pumpkin was the demon’s body, it had been cursed to stay in that form. The knight found he had amazing powers, and with a simple flick of his wrist, his now alive horse came running to him.


“Alas, someone had to feel the wrath of The Headless Horseman, and this was the village he’d been slaughtered near. As he continuously killed the villagers, leaving their bodies and taking their heads, a messenger left the village and traveled to the kingdom with the news. The knight sent him away immediately, believing his words to be lies. However, the prince and his wife called for the messenger, and promised to go with him back to the village.


“The prince’s wife, Isabel, was the knight’s daughter, and had, though she did not know, been possessed by a demon hunter, who was after the demon holding her father. The demon hunter prepared her during the journey, whispering spells to her during her sleep and murmuring nothing during the day. Upon arriving at the village, it was exactly this day, the fated day of Bloodstone. The princess commanded the villagers to stay away and watch, and forced her husband away as well. They made a wall behind her of people, and watched as she slit her arm open, and poured her blood into a hollow stone, creating the Bloodstone today is named after.


“Holding the Bloodstone, she waited for her father. She did not have to wait long. As soon as he was in the village, she cast a spell, freezing his horse’s legs to the ground. As he hacked frantically at the ice with his sword, she raised the Bloodstone and began chanting. The Horseman was smart, and knew that he would not be free in time. And so, he tossed his sword into the crowd, slaughtering many villagers and the prince himself.


“His daughter was so anguished at seeing her unborn child’s father die, that she loosed the spell to early, hitting him in the heart instead of the head. She had done a great thing, and had trapped him, only allowing him to walk the world during the days of Hallow’s End. However, full of grief and guilt, she died soon after giving birth. The Horseman still lives to this day, killing every Hallows Eve.”


Her people cheered as the actors and actresses bowed, and Beltryd smiled. She so enjoyed All Hallows End.

(Written for school, so it sucks, lol.)

Why, thank you!
As for Zehpyra, I was originally planning for, like, the perfect mermaid, but then impulsively I went for something darker. I rather like her uniqueness as well. :3

*nods* Indeed. And they were so made by Disney, lol!
But I do like having the stereotype character in my story. For example, the Faerie Queene I so made a stereotype. :3

Oh wow. I was meaning to only glance at this until tomorrow, but it just sucked me in. I love the whole concept, and the All Hallow's Eve thing was very cool. I especially like the Queene idea. I totally can't wait to see more of this. 3nodding