capriciouswriter207

[capriciouswriter207]

Kristen stands in front of him. She looks behind him. There’s nobody behind him but Gavin Pundle, up high in a tower.

Pain. It shoots through his throat. Kristen stands and looks horrified.

Not her. It can’t have been her. This does not feel like divine magic turned foul; instead, it feels like cold steel against his skin.

Buddy falls. He doesn’t hit the ground. Instead, he falls and falls and falls. He falls through the pale tiles of the arena and continues to fall.

Death. That’s what happened. 

Death. He is not unfamiliar with the sensation, nor is he afraid. Death happens to everyone, even young adventurers. If Helio has deemed that it was Buddy’s time to go, then that is how it will be. Everything grows dull and numb, and Buddy waits for the darkness to give way to his promised afterlife.

It does not come.

He waits patiently. Many people die each day. Helio must be up there, at the pearly gates, awaiting every follower with a smile to give them access to what is rightfully theirs. Buddy can wait, for Helio will give him the same courtesy.

That is coming. His afterlife. He’s getting there.

Any minute now.

No longer falling; now weightless in this void. There is no light, not even a flicker or a hint. Buddy clutches his staff and whispers a prayer. Surely Helio would remember him. Surely Helio would await him.

Sensation returns to him. It starts in his chest, deep within his stomach. Negligible at first, then growing. It beats, almost like a heart. With each beat, more and more of that searing sensation spreads across his chest and stomach. It is difficult to breathe (he’s dead. he doesn’t need to breathe. let go) and it spread through his neck to his mind.

Rage. He clings to it. Helio is the only one who can call down righteous fury onto the unbelievers and lash out with hatred. He has never known Helio’s wrath, but he has seen it in action.

He welcomes it. He expects to be wrapped up in it - not as its target, but a witness. Righteous fury by a god aimed towards themselves, for forgetting one of their most loyal, dutiful followers. Hasn’t he been loyal? Hasn’t he been dutiful? The Rat Grinders prove difficult to convert, yes, but Helio knows he hasn’t stopped trying.

It’s not righteous. It burns through him, it hurts in a way that nothing has ever hurt before. It is not righteous rage, but rather uncontrolled. Unbridled, untapped rage that lashes out like a wildfire, that cares not about who stands in the way and what gets destroyed in its path. It similarly lashes out at Buddy’s soul and being, whatever is left of it after this murder.

A hellscape. He blinks and he is no longer within this lightless void. Instead, he sees a terrifying hellscape such as his grandfather has warned him about. He tries to block it out and quell the rising panic in his chest, but he doesn’t need to. The rage is all-encompassing that he almost can’t feel that terrible dread sink into his chest.

He shouldn’t be here. He has been loyal and dutiful. He should not be here.

A voice. Or perhaps there isn’t. Perhaps he wishes to hear a voice. It whispers in his mind all the same.

A promise. An impossible choice between life in service of rage, or eternal death in this hellscape. 

Buddy wishes to stay true. To make a well-informed decision. Yet unbridled rage clouds his mind and time, he feels, is running out. He needs to make a decision now. 

Helio has abandoned me.

The thought sneaks into his mind. He wishes to cast it out, but once taken root, it spreads like the wildfire ignited by rage. 

Helio has abandoned him. He cares not for the mortals who would follow him. If Helio cared, he would have shielded Buddy from this hell and this decision in the first place. If Helio cared, Buddy would be on the other side of the pearly gates - where he belongs.

Helio has abandoned him. Helio isn’t here.

But this god is.

He doesn’t need to agree verbally. He doesn’t need to think about his answer to be heard, because this god knows his answer.

A breath. He sees the sky of the plane where the Last Stand takes place. A deep breath in as he sits up straight.

A scream. A hateful, guttural scream that has been sitting at the bottom of his throat finally is released. It felt good to release it at last and to feel all the things he’s always felt but never acted on. A scream, heard only by himself and the giant that towered over him. 

The rage stops burning. Instead, it settles in his stomach. His chest hurts only a little.

Buddy looks up. The face of the giant is obscured. He knows this being brought him back. He knows this is a servant of the one he now worships.

It’s a funny feeling. When he thinks about Helio, he feels no devotion at all. Only the now omni-present rage colors his view. Though his new deity does not have a name - it doesn’t need one, he still follows it - he can feel that devotion that once belonged to Helio. It now belongs to her.

Buddy belongs to her.

“Dang, y’all,” he says. “I worship a nameless god of rage.”

#buddy dawn #ankarna #fhjy #fhjy spoilers #fantasy high spoilers #fantasy high junior year #dimension 20 #just a bit of creative writing about that moment #don't know why it stuck with me so much - but it did #capricious writings

[capriciouswriter207]

The Curse of Deepfrost

Chapter 9: Scourge of the lake

Pearl and Etho come face to face with Willie, the scourge of the lake.

Summary

The kingdom has fallen, its population decimated. The outskirts are already caught in the maelstrom of ice and snow, and it moves in on the capital. A few pockets of civilization in and around the citadel have survived thus far, but food supplies and hope are dwindling as the wind picks up and blasts ice in their hearts.

The only thing that can chase away the cold is hidden deep below the earth. In the deepest dungeons of the citadel, a spell is rumored to be located, strong enough to dispel the winter. Yet all who entered through the doors have never returned.

With little left to lose - and with the encouragement of the survivors under her wing - a young woman named Pearl steps through the doors to help her people and put an end to the eternal winter.

#hermitcraft s9 #pearlescentmoon #ethoslab #decked out 2 #One eyed willie #Time for a bit of a confrontation methinks #capricious writings

[capriciouswriter207]

The sun battered his senses.

Sweat dripped down his forehead, onto the hot desert sands.

He unclenched his bloodied fists and let them rest next to his body.

He couldn’t pull his gaze away even if he tried. They had fallen on the bare-chested maniac whom he had followed into war. They remained together. Fought together. Killed together.

Bruises and small puncture wounds covered the bare-chested corpse. It had fallen against a cactus, stubbornly held up by the plant that had caused him pain. The body slumped, head bowed to the ground.

Those lifeless eyes were still open.

Tears mingled with the sweat. An unsteady, shaking hand reached out to the corpse. A trembling step forward. A voice silently whispered a name. Unanswered. 

The heat battered his senses. Difficult to breathe before, now doubly so. The warmth created a fuzzy haze in his mind. His skin could be melting off but he wouldn’t care. He couldn’t care. His friend had died.

His friend had been murdered.

The blood on his knuckles had already dried.

The victor lived.

No. He lifted his head to the clear blue sky. Not like this.

A victory wasn’t worth it if there was nobody else to celebrate it.

A victory wasn’t worth it if it meant loneliness.

A victory wasn’t worth it if he could never see that wide grin again or the mischief in his friend’s eyes.

The edge of the plateau was nearby.

One thought broke through the fuzzy haze that was his mind. Someone up there would have tried to suppress it, but it broke through nonetheless.

He moved to the edge, glanced down, and jumped.

#3rd life #grian #goodtimeswithscar #happy 3rd life anniversary #capricious writings #yes i know i'm a little late #just wanted to write something for the occasion nonetheless #this was the first thing that came to mind #haven’t got a lot of time rn but i quite like what i came up with #implied death #implied suicide

[capriciouswriter207]

Neither ever nor never goodbye

Chapter 15.1: Anger (ch 43/66)

Gem breaks the news that Shelby isn't getting her shard back. She doesn't take it well.

Story summary

The fog of the Evermoore grants the witch Shelby a strange shard that seems to call out to her.

A mysterious rift in the middle of his base leads Grian to call for exploration.

The wizard Gem returns home with her brother, to see the broken world they’d left behind and to find any survivors among the ruins.

Everything is connected, and nothing is what it seems.

#hermitcraft s9 #empires x hermitcraft #empires smp #geminitay #mythicalsausage #fwhip #shubble #jimmy solidarity #pixlriffs #from here on out it is going to be spicy #we're starting to head to the next climax from here #exciting times exciting chapters ahead #including this one #capricious writings

[capriciouswriter207]

Take back the mountain

Chapter 6: Submit

Welsknight has a conversation with Xisuma before things go wrong.

Story summary

Everyone is happy in Hermiton. Why wouldn’t they be? Every day is a great day. A beautiful day, surrounded by friends.

Except it isn't, and Impulse takes what little knowledge he has to the Hermits who have managed to escape Hermiton since its inception. Fearing that Xisuma (under the influence of Evil X) has planned something big that would endanger all Hermits, it's up to those who are not caught in that haze of bliss to finally put an end to this madness and save their friends.

(How curious. How easily drawn back in.)

#hermitcraft s8 #welsknight #evil xisuma #xisumavoid #capricious writings

[capriciouswriter207]

Neither ever nor never goodbye

Chapter 14.3: Enticement (ch 42/66)

Scar and Joel have a dicussin about why they should or shouldn't go to the Ancient City.

Story summary

The fog of the Evermoore grants the witch Shelby a strange shard that seems to call out to her.

A mysterious rift in the middle of his base leads Grian to call for exploration.

The wizard Gem returns home with her brother, to see the broken world they’d left behind and to find any survivors among the ruins.

Everything is connected, and nothing is what it seems.

#hermitcraft s9 #empires x hermitcraft #empires smp #joel smallishbeans #goodtimeswithscar #new chapter hype! #building up to the next big thing #but still important nonetheless #at the very least you'll get joel and scar interactions #and i've always had a ton of fun writing their dialogue #capricious writings

[capriciouswriter207]

The Curse of Deepfrost

Chapter 8: Ship ashore

When Pearl and Etho climb aboard a stranded ship, they make some peculiar friends.

Summary

The kingdom has fallen, its population decimated. The outskirts are already caught in the maelstrom of ice and snow, and it moves in on the capital. A few pockets of civilization in and around the citadel have survived thus far, but food supplies and hope are dwindling as the wind picks up and blasts ice in their hearts.

The only thing that can chase away the cold is hidden deep below the earth. In the deepest dungeons of the citadel, a spell is rumored to be located, strong enough to dispel the winter. Yet all who entered through the doors have never returned.

With little left to lose - and with the encouragement of the survivors under her wing - a young woman named Pearl steps through the doors to help her people and put an end to the eternal winter.

#hermitcraft s9 #decked out 2 #pearlescentmoon #ethoslab #sorry about the delay #had to fix some minor things #mostly miscalculated how much i could fit into one chapter so this one has to be split in two #as well as some irl stuff #but it's all good now so here you go #anyway this was fun to write #capricious writings

[capriciouswriter207]

Take back the mountain

Chapter 5: Come home

Impulse leads an expedition back into the mountain, to go and confront Evil X.

Story summary

Everyone is happy in Hermiton. Why wouldn’t they be? Every day is a great day. A beautiful day, surrounded by friends.

Except it isn't, and Impulse takes what little knowledge he has to the Hermits who have managed to escape Hermiton since its inception. Fearing that Xisuma (under the influence of Evil X) has planned something big that would endanger all Hermits, it's up to those who are not caught in that haze of bliss to finally put an end to this madness and save their friends.

(How curious. How easily drawn back in.)

#hermitcraft s8 #impulsesv #tangotek #geminitay #falsesymmetry #bdoubleo100 #it took a while but it's here #not abandoning this story #just updating whenever i feel like it #capricious writings #yeah i'm still writing this fic #just taking things slowly as i struggle through some wild times #been quietly enjoying hermitcraft and the sos hardcore series

[capriciouswriter207]

Neither ever nor never goodbye

Chapter 14.2: Obstinacy (ch 41/66)

Impulse worries and Pearl attempts to help him with those

Story summary

The fog of the Evermoore grants the witch Shelby a strange shard that seems to call out to her. A mysterious rift in the middle of his base leads Grian to call for exploration.

The wizard Gem returns home with her brother, to see the broken world they’d left behind and to find any survivors among the ruins.

Everything is connected, and nothing is what it seems.

#hermitcraft s9 #empires smp #empires x hermitcraft #impulsesv #pearlescentmoon #talking about tango mostly #and a couple more plot-relevant things are said #we're getting close to the next big confrontation #won't be for another few weeks #but we're getting there #oh i'm so excited! #capricious writings

[capriciouswriter207]

Neither ever nor never goodbye

Chapter 14.1: Compulsion (ch 40/66)

Tango is not feeling well and can't ask for help.

Story summary

The fog of the Evermoore grants the witch Shelby a strange shard that seems to call out to her.A mysterious rift in the middle of his base leads Grian to call for exploration.

The wizard Gem returns home with her brother, to see the broken world they’d left behind and to find any survivors among the ruins.

Everything is connected, and nothing is what it seems.

#hermitcraft s9 #empires smp #empires x hermitcraft #tangotek #a little bit of tango angst #because I just love to write angst #no better way to celebrate the holiday #capricious writings

[capriciouswriter207]

No, I don't mind you leaving the comments here!

Yes, this chapter was very much inspired by Pearl's room - an easy narrative place for that lore drop. Pearl definitely be making those logical leaps, couldn't have her stumble through the dungeons clueless. Thanks for that comment!

The Curse of Deepfrost

Chapter 7: Born from despair

Pearl and Etho find a golden sarcophagus, whcih allows them to glimpse into the past.

Summary

The kingdom has fallen, its population decimated. The outskirts are already caught in the maelstrom of ice and snow, and it moves in on the capital. A few pockets of civilization in and around the citadel have survived thus far, but food supplies and hope are dwindling as the wind picks up and blasts ice in their hearts.

The only thing that can chase away the cold is hidden deep below the earth. In the deepest dungeons of the citadel, a spell is rumored to be located, strong enough to dispel the winter. Yet all who entered through the doors have never returned.

With little left to lose - and with the encouragement of the survivors under her wing - a young woman named Pearl steps through the doors to help her people and put an end to the eternal winter.

#I really did choose a poor time to post this chapter today didn't i?

[capriciouswriter207]

The Curse of Deepfrost

Chapter 7: Born from despair

Pearl and Etho find a golden sarcophagus, whcih allows them to glimpse into the past.

Summary

The kingdom has fallen, its population decimated. The outskirts are already caught in the maelstrom of ice and snow, and it moves in on the capital. A few pockets of civilization in and around the citadel have survived thus far, but food supplies and hope are dwindling as the wind picks up and blasts ice in their hearts.

The only thing that can chase away the cold is hidden deep below the earth. In the deepest dungeons of the citadel, a spell is rumored to be located, strong enough to dispel the winter. Yet all who entered through the doors have never returned.

With little left to lose - and with the encouragement of the survivors under her wing - a young woman named Pearl steps through the doors to help her people and put an end to the eternal winter.

#hermitcraft s9 #decked out 2 #pearlescentmoon #ethoslab #tangotek #new chapter new lore #this is a big lore chapter #i've had such fun writing this #capricious writings

[capriciouswriter207]

Neither ever nor never goodbye

Chapter 13.3: The future beckons (ch 39/66)

Shelby is concerned about her condition. Sausage tries to make her feel better.

Story summary

The fog of the Evermoore grants the witch Shelby a strange shard that seems to call out to her.

A mysterious rift in the middle of his base leads Grian to call for exploration.

The wizard Gem returns home with her brother, to see the broken world they’d left behind and to find any survivors among the ruins.

Everything is connected, and nothing is what it seems.

#hermitcraft s9 #empires x hermitcraft #empires smp #shubble #mythicalsausage #new chapter! #here have some shelby angst #bit more of plot and just some fun interactions between the two #but i'm here still #capricious writings

[capriciouswriter207]

The Curse of Deepfrost

Chapter 6: Laboratory

A conversation between Pearl and Etho is interrupted by unwelcome guests.

Summary

The kingdom has fallen, its population decimated. The outskirts are already caught in the maelstrom of ice and snow, and it moves in on the capital. A few pockets of civilization in and around the citadel have survived thus far, but food supplies and hope are dwindling as the wind picks up and blasts ice in their hearts.

The only thing that can chase away the cold is hidden deep below the earth. In the deepest dungeons of the citadel, a spell is rumored to be located, strong enough to dispel the winter. Yet all who entered through the doors have never returned.

With little left to lose - and with the encouragement of the survivors under her wing - a young woman named Pearl steps through the doors to help her people and put an end to the eternal winter.

#hermitcraft s9 #decked out 2 #ethoslab #pearlescentmoon #say hi to rusty everybody #because we're going to the lab #capricious writings

[capriciouswriter207]

Take back the mountain

Chapter 4: Argue

Impulse and Tango talk about what to do next. Bdubs and Gem also have some input

Story summary

Everyone is happy in Hermiton. Why wouldn’t they be? Every day is a great day. A beautiful day, surrounded by friends.

Except it isn't, and Impulse takes what little knowledge he has to the Hermits who have managed to escape Hermiton since its inception. Fearing that Xisuma (under the influence of Evil X) has planned something big that would endanger all Hermits, it's up to those who are not caught in that haze of bliss to finally put an end to this madness and save their friends.

(How curious. How easily drawn back in.)

#hermitcraft s8 #impulsesv #tangotek #geminitay #bdoubleo100 #they don't argue that badly #it's just tango being protective of his friend #capricious writings

[capriciouswriter207]

Beacon AU: Another sacrifice (beacon site 1)

The shadows were not shadows. From below, at the base of the beacon's pyramid, the creatures that climbed it were not the shadows that Gem and Wels believed they were. Instead, these vaguely humanoid creatures resembled the same strange moss tendrils that crawled up the pyramid and almost looked like they would pull it beneath the earth. All the while, the man at the top grew more and more desperate with no idea that he was about to be torn apart.

Wels raced to the man, while Gem jumped straight to fending off the moss creatures. Wels could see that the man was wounded, exhausted, and screamed through gritted teeth. Oblivious to the world, he tore the mossy veins that covered the pyramid's top off of it. Wels grabbed the man's shoulder, but he did not seem to acknowledge him. No matter how much Wels tried to get his attention, the man never saw or acknowledged him in any way, mumbling about his sacrifice and how the winds were particularly wild today.

This was Skizzleman, Wels realized - one of the men who originally made the sacrifice to light the beacon. All Wels could do to help was to destroy the assailants Skizz had no idea were coming for him. He drew his blade and attacked the moss creatures that had reached the top of the pyramid and had slipped past Gem’s flurry.

He wasn't looking at Skizz, but something was happening. Something that meant the man muttered under his breath and a soft glow spread from his position. Wels, however, was too focused on his final opponent. A sinister laugh came from its featureless face, and a voice was projected outward.

The damage has already been done, a low, growling voice spoke. Even if the beacons are lit again, the door has been opened. The deep dark shall rise.

It lashed out with a sharp tendril, digging into Wels’ chest. At the exact same time, the light - that had been building up where Skizz had been standing - seemed to explode in a painless burst of light. The beacon was lit again, and the moss creature was evaporated in that instant, including the tendril that had dug deep in Wels’ body. Now, blood just seeped from the wound he pressed his hand against.

Weakly, the knight turned around. The beacon was lit and Skizz was nowhere to be seen. Gem looked around confused, for all the other moss creatures and the larger tendrils had withered away as well.

To be this close to an active beacon, as the first people to stand in its vicinity… its gentle light spread a sense of stillness and peace through him that he wasn’t expecting. Neither was Gem, as she lowered her weapon. Yet, she stared at him and rushed up the pyramid, closing the distance. Perhaps, he thought, because he was slowly sinking to his knees, involuntarily giving himself to that peace, not in any position to stop it.

He was certain Gem called his name. 

He was certain the deep dark did the same.

#hermitcraft #beacon au #welsknight #geminitay #skizzleman #and another sacrifice to light the beacon #i mean the beacons have to be lit again to do what they're supposed to do #also a bit of lore #okay a lot of lore #because of course there will be lore #capricious writings

[capriciouswriter207]

Neither ever nor never goodbye

Chapter 13.2: Present concerns (ch 38/66)

Impulse and Skizz are worried about Tango. At the same time, Gem is trying to wrap her head around what Pearl just revealed to her.

Story summary

The fog of the Evermoore grants the witch Shelby a strange shard that seems to call out to her.

A mysterious rift in the middle of his base leads Grian to call for exploration.

The wizard Gem returns home with her brother, to see the broken world they’d left behind and to find any survivors among the ruins.

Everything is connected, and nothing is what it seems.

#empires smp #empires x hermitcraft #hermitcraft s9 #pearlescentmoon #geminitay #skizzleman #impulsesv #sorry about the three week wait #it's once again very busy irl #i'm not abandoning this don't worry #nor anything else i swear #i sometimes may need a bit of a break between chapters #capricious writings