NSK NET Rixixi Hub

Here There Be Dragons Hub

Chapter 3

Judge, Jury, and the Netherworld
Requirements outside of Karma Seasons: Completion of Here There Be Dragons: Chapter 2A or 2B. Can be played by One Track Mind (+,++) Rad Sick Ixi.)
Requirements during Karma Seasons: 20 Karma (total - positive and negative combined). Can be played by One Track Mind (+,++) Rad Sick Ixi.)
Rewards: 500 EXP
Additional rewards during Karma Seasons: 30 Karma (Positive or Negative depends on path)
Replayable.
The two Primal Ixi who have been showing up in the tunnels of the Nether Steps now stand side by side, an uneasy truce almost physically clear between them. Qaeturna Un holds themself tall, calling attention to their powerful build, but refrains from making eye contact with the much shier Rebel, who all but sinks into a ball on the floor.

"We seek to reach a compromise," Qaeturna speaks first. "And it would seem that obtaining insight from others in the world would help to guide us to a fair verdict. Please feel free to share your thoughts, Rebel. You're... not in trouble-"

"Unless I run off," Rebel sighs. From Qaeturna's sad grimace, it seems like this is more than just a sarcastic interjection. "I'd like to make amends to the miners if they'll let me. I didn't mean to destroy the site with my rruur imriri-"

Qaeturna makes an awkward sound at Rebel's choice of words.

"I - oh. I meant Land Magic. I forget the new words sometimes," Rebel shuffles themself awkwardly into a laying position, looking much like a sad, overgrown cat. "Anyways, I want to help clean up after my mistake, and I can't do that if I'm facing whatever I need to back in the caves."

"I'm not opposed to this," Qaeturna says, and Rebel's head whips to look at them in surprise. "I doubt it would cause much trouble. The world is starting to know of us now, and it's not like they're coming in droves to gaze at us. Truthfully, the Steps alone knew of us for longer than we cared to admit - they simply were... the type to keep secrets for a local."

"However, something... odd seems to be happening in the caves. I've been barred from re-entry for just a couple of days now, with one guard claiming that the chief is too busy and another saying that the chief won't allow it. I'm concerned something may have happened to the chief, and I do need to get back soon, but I'll need a reason that they'll listen to, and I either need to bring Rebel with me or to know that Rebel is safe to leave behind with the miners."

What would the guards even respond to? If they're making up things to keep a scout away then how are you going to come up with something?

"Emergencies, shortage of supplies that can get to the caves, chaos nearby," Qaeturna's eyes narrow. "At this point, I don't care if you shake down one of the less reputable merchants around here or get documents forged. I'm willing to take the fall for it later if it means the caves are safe now."

Prompts

Pick 1 out of the following 2 and illustrate or write about it. Illustrations should be fully colored and fullbody with at least a somewhat detailed background. Literature should be 800+ words. An NPC will write up a reaction to which a second piece must be made. (Fullbody, color, and background OR 600+ words) Upon completion of the second piece, this chapter will be complete!

If you can't come up with a response to the prompt you're provided, you may ask for a new one - also, do know that you don't have to base your entire response around it so long as you address the prompt somehow. We'll probably appreciate creative interpretations!

Lawful

OPTION 1: Qaeturna

You won't need to shake anyone down. It's like Qaeturna just said - there's plenty of less-than-reputable things going on in the Steps, and you can investigate any of that. Maybe you could look into how the Primals expect to get any supplies into their camp while stopping scouts at the door.

Maybe someone on the outside has a way to transport goods into the caves... if you know who, you could ask them if they know anything.

OPTION 2: Rebel

Let's give this community service a test run. You could ask the miners if they need any help, drop off supplies or clean up with Rebel, help mediate an apology from Rebel, etc. They want to help, so might as well get started, right?

Chaotic

OPTION 1: Rebel

This is getting ridiculous, now the chief is possibly missing? Just go, run for it while Qaeturna is trying to talk to someone else. You could provide a distraction or escape route or really anything useful here. Throw a gigantic costume over Rebel and try to make it look like two Ixi inside it. Anything. Whatever you choose, though, Qaeturna will probably be hot on your trail and fairly disappointed.

OPTION 2: Qaeturna

Did they just say shakedown and forgery? Didn't know they had it in them. Well, the Nether Steps has plenty of shady customers looking to make a nice handful of gems without a lot of scrutiny, so there should be plenty of people to harass or pay off, whatever your preferred method is - just keep in mind that being witnessed attacking someone is a good way to get kicked out of the Steps, so be careful who you show your fists to.

Submit your piece at this prompt with the following form:
Link to participating Rixixi: [link to import here!]
Prompt responding to: ["Lawful Qaeturna", "Lawful Rebel", "Chaotic Rebel", "Chaotic Qaeturna"]

Multiple Rixixi may partake in Story Mode in the same image, with the following restrictions:

  • 4 Ixi at maximum per image (other ixi can appear for Training Mode EXP, but cannot be submitted for the story mode chapter in that piece.)
  • All Ixi pictured must be partaking in the same chapter. Different prompts can be used for the different Ixi, however.
  • Please submit separate prompts for each Ixi!
Rruur Imriri is closest to "Digging Shimmer" in modern Sxriix'n rather than a direct transliteration of "Land Magic" or even something more like "Ground Radiation", hence leaving it untranslated - to Most ixi it would sound strange in context. If your Ixi is a linguist or Primal it'd probably sound logical.

ARCHIVED - SPECIAL:
LIMITED TIME CANON PATH DECISION PERIOD

Canon Path Decision does not require any karma to vote in.

For a limited time, you can post to a comment thread using a form listed just below (between this section and the prompts) to vote on the canon choices that Qaeturna and Rebel make. Doing so grants 30 Karma (which you can put entirely into Positive or Negative, or split evenly - 15 into each) and you can only do so once.

Your choices have been counted. Canon Path Decision Period is closed.

Canon path:
Rebel's Location: Community Service with Miners
Chaotic Qaeturna: Qaeturna Canonically Uses Illegal Evidence

Entries to HTBD Chapter 3 do not have to follow this, but Chapter 4's story will follow this canon.

The options available were:
Rebel's Location: (Choose One: "Back To Caves with Qaeturna", "Community Service with Miners", "Flees the Nether Steps")
Chaotic Qaeturna: (Choose One: "Qaeturna Canonically Uses Illegal Evidence", "Morals Win Out, Qaeturna Only Uses Factual Evidence")

Votes:
Rebel's Location: Back To Caves with Qaeturna 0 | Community Service with Miners 6 | Flees the Nether Steps 1
Chaotic Qaeturna: Qaeturna Canonically Uses Illegal Evidence 5 | Morals Win Out, Qaeturna Only Uses Factual Evidence 2