Crossroads of Fate
Magical researchers from across the realm must come together to save their gods and prevent imperial conquest.
Note: This serial originally was being published on Ream in mid-2024. Due to personnel changes at Ream and changes in the infrastructure, it is being removed from there and republished here. Some light editing is underway for clarity and flow, but no major story changes have/will happened.
Currently mid-Season 1. Releasing every other week, but sometimes more often. Currently limited to paid members only.
Dax Murray, Queer Fantasy Author
Season One of Crossroads of Fate
Our Heroes
Aodhe Callicra
Pixel sprite of Aodhe by Tallia Elliot Belser
A recent graduate from the University of Toraeima. While her specialties are "active" aclaerical manifestations such as creating fire or lighting, she has spent years studying martial arts in her spare time, picking up the sword, the polearm, and hand-to-hand combat. Elpace and the larger Escnean region has only known peace for a century, but Aodhe appreciates the physical satisfaction of striking down a foe, particularly if that foe is her brother.
Her mother and brother both serve on the Board of Directors for the University, a path she has no intentions of following, however. She longs to find adventure as a Researcher, especially if it can help her understand some of the aclaerical powers she shouldn't have.
Aodhe has pledged herself to Semele, the regional goddess, and as a result she has access to the aclaere via her consantrir, Imrai–part dog, part goat, part snake, all snark.
Kyna Mytilenes
Pixel sprite of Kyna by Tallia Elliot Belser
Kyna's family is not originally from the Escnean region. She grew up in Krasygone, her family part of the staff that served the rulers of Alcyone's domain. The land of the khorns is notorious for not wanting to send their people into the world, and reluctant to let outsiders in. They therefore employ people from the nearest edges of their territories, often families of qattes, that serve for generations.
But something great and terrible happened that lead to Kyna's family going into hiding. Kyna can pass herself off as a native Escnean, and renounced Alcyone as her goddess, being granted the right to a consantrir by Semele. Silvoren–part fox, part rabbit, all attitude.
Her specialties including curative and restorative magics, a path she hopes to continue on even as she takes on the role of a Researcher. She is reluctant, however, to leave Elpace, fearing that something terrible will happen to her parents while she is gone. She is often soft-spoken, but she will speak up if she believes no one else will against an injustice. The philosophy of many of the University and the Research Society is non-intervention; they are there to observe and take notes, not step in to help or assist. A philosophy Kyna has challenged often in her classes, and fears she will come up against on her fist assignment.
Epiphron Agelastos
While all business and professionalism at xir job at the Forum, Epiphron is more flirtatious and charming with xir friends. But it can take a rather long time to become friends with xir. Epiphron spent the years immediately after leaving University as a diplomat, spending much time at the capitals of Ku-Aya and Abazu.
However, Epiphron experienced something while abroad that left xir second-guesing xir decision to be a diplomat and has taken a post at Forum headquarters, overseeing the assignments of Researchers.
Epiphron has pledged xirself to Semele, and as a devotee, has been granted the consantrir Melusine--mostly snake, and something distinctly unnatural, the taciturn and surly Melusine is prone to withholding information that might be useful to Epiphron.
Hegemone Verus
Former Major in the military of Isador; while she had achieved the rank of Major, most of her work for the imperial military was in weapons research, working on the intaerit, a Sinean artifact she retrofited into a weapon.
After an accident in the research and development building in the imperial capital, Hegemone and Grimalkin flee Isador.
For More about Hegemon, read "Curiosity and the Cat of the Imperial Capital."
Dax Murray, Queer Fantasy Author
Grimalkin
A professor originally from Sine, having been blessed Euphrenes with the power of shape-shifting. Even Grimalkin has forgotten his original form, being stuck in his cat form since he lost the blessing of his goddess over five hundred years ago. Due to the length of his lifespan, it can be assumed that he was either lisen or khorn. He claims to prefer his cat form and has no desire to regain Euphrenes favor and claim his old body.
Despite no longer having the blessing of Euphrenes, he has been able to obtain the blessing of other Divinities and wield the aclare.
For more about Grimalkin, read "Curiosity and the Cat of the Imperial Capital."
Dax Murray, Queer Fantasy Author
Eristral
A khorn from Krasygone.
More to be revealed soon...
Ceinwen
A lisen from Mirosla.
More io be revealed soon...
Saeina
For more about Saeina, read "Moonsong."
Dax Murray, Queer Fantasy Author
The Gods and their Domains
The Divinities of the Old World, mostly forgotten in the modern age of Ahnlisen and relegated to myth and legend, once controlled the access to aclaere, the powerful forces used to perform magic. Each Divinity oversaw their own region, and rarely interfered or meddled in affairs elsewhere.
Unlike the Gods of modern day Ahnlisen, the Divinities frequently manifested themselves before their followers and adherents, directly answering their prayers or denying their requests.
Issa - Goddess of Mirosla
The Independent Duchy of Mirosla, once the home of the majority of the lisen people, but now run largely by ohyuems, is kept green and fertile by Issa. Issa is known to be strict, requiring extreme vows from those who wish the use and manipulate the aclaere.
The people of Mirosla must make a vow of poverty and solitude to be granted permission by Issa to wield this power. Because of this, many of the wielders have created communities where all work together. They call these communities Issiettes. Each member of an Issiette has assigned duties and chores according to their abilities and talents. The Duke of Mirosla often employs several weilders from the Issiettes and retains them as a matter of security.
Issa has told many that this poverty and solitude is necessary to ensure that the weilders are not corrupted by greed and avarice. She has been known to personally execute any weilders she believes have become tainted or twisted with ambition or envy.
Melita - Goddess of Carathounus
The Kingdom of Carathounus pays tribute to Melita. Melita only grants access to the aclaere to those born into the royal family. She requires that her weilders undergo an extreme trial of courage and determination, often forcing those seeking the power to face their deepest fears and expose their weaknesses to their peers.
Because the survival rate for these trials is not high, the royal family has always maintained large numbers, with many of the cadet branches numbering in the hundreds.
But Melita can be fickle. While she has never imparted any reasons for who she does and does not grant access like others do, she is also not reluctant to cut someone off again. At least twice in the Kingdom's history she has revoked access from the entire royal family and chose a new dynasty to take over.
Lysikles - God of Cintusmina
The Grand Duchy of Cintusmina look to Lysikles for their power. Lysikles has no known pattern or distinction in his choices. He chooses at random, visiting people in the night as a beggar, only later revealing who he is and bestowing access.
But those who are granted this gift all perish young. Some may live another 5 years, some may live another 20. But none have ever lived past the age of 50. While 50 is early middle-aged to the ohyuems, it is still young for qatte, and extremely young for listen and khorns. Among the people of Cintusmina, this access is often considered a tragedy, and is referred to colloquially as Lysikles Curse.
Philona - Goddess of Belatsunat
Belatsunat, being a nation largely comprised of artisans and valuing creative works above all others, view the aclaere as just another medium for creative expression, the same as acrylic paints or a musical instrument.
It is unknown if Philona adapted to her people or if the creatives of the world were naturally drawn to her, but Philona only grants access to those who present to her a creative work that she considers worthy. She grants access more freely than many of the other Divinities, but like all the others, her blessing does not come without strings.
Once someone had been granted access, they must forsake all other patrons and paid projects. They must be willing to accept an artistic assignment from her at any moment. Some artists she never approaches again after their access has been granted, but some she approaches annually.
Kallinicus - God of Ku-Aya
The Allied Cities of Ku-Aya, like many of the nations on the east of the Avon River, treat their Divinity in a similar fashion as people in modern Ahnlisen treat the Gods. Everyone, not just those with access of seeking access, pay respects to Kallinicus, holding regular ceremonies of reverence and devotion. The people in this region all undergo a coming of age ceremony where they approach the god and ask for access.
No one has been able to determine his criteria or standards for choosing who is granted access. Some speculate that the Divinity chooses based on strength, intelligence, empathy, or righteousness. Others speculate that it is random.
Kallinicus requires that his chosen weave a second shadow for themselves. It is through this shadow that they access the aclaere, rather than be granted the ability to tap into it directly. The god himself can inhabit this shadow, and from it spy upon the people. But the wielders can also weild the shadow, using it to observe and eavesdrop.
The price, or the diam, as the Ku-Aya call it, for this power is a regular sacrifice to the Divinity. It must be a personal sacrifice, something with cost specific to the individual.
Neleos - God of Abazu
The Democratic Caliphate of Abazu, like other eastern nations, revere their god, Neleos. Neleos personally involves himself in their politics, and the elected candidates for the position of High Caliph all are judged by Neleos, with the God executing any he does not believe to be fit enough to rule.
Neleos grants access by way of Artefacts. Any who desire to be wielders must create for themselves an Artefact, an item that can be used to store and collect aclaere. This can take many years, and failure can often cause grave and serious injury.
No one can create Artefacts that can store more aclaere than is found in a living being naturally.
Semele - Goddess of Escnea
Those living within the boundaries of the Alliance of Escnean Scholasticates look to Semele for not just power, but guidance and instruction.
A coming of age ritual sends a hopeful weilder to meet the goddess. If she chooses to accept the potential weilder into her circle of adherents, she will create a being made purely of aclaere, and it is via this being that her followers can access aclaere.
This being, known as a consantrir, also reports back to Semele. Should Semele become dissatisfied by a weilder, she has the consantrir destroy its weilder.
Eos - Goddess of Isidora
Imperial Confederacy of Isidora look to Eos as a source of power. She grants access only to those who demonstrate martial prowess and ambition. But very few are granted direct access. Many, however, are granted leave to harness the aclaere to power technological marvels and machines. It is through this means that Isidora has enriched itself, being able to eschew the need to other natural resources. Soldiers are granted a Macharatus (plural: Machararti), a device that can harvest aclaere and can regenerate it artificially if given a few drops of the blood of the wielder.
But she is a bloodthirsty goddess and expects her people to make yearly sacrifices. She is usually content with livestock. But there have been some rumors that she has made larger demands more than once.
Euphrenes - Goddess of Sine
The lone western nation to treat their goddess as a deity, the Holy Republic of Sine is ruled by an elected council of priests and priestesses and the use of aclaere is restricted to those who have taken vows in the Temples.
Euphrenes grants her followers the power to change their form. They can shift to become partially or wholly another creature. Upon being granted this access, her adherents will choose a creature they feel an affinity to, and this shall be their primary "kyne," or shifted-state. They can shift into their kyne easily and without using large amounts of aclaere.
However, to displease the goddess or renounce her can trap a person in their kyne state, never to regain their original form again.
Hekaline - Goddess of Nin-Imma
The United Cities of Nin-imma call Hekaline the Duskbringer, and revere her as supreme above all Divinities. Not much is known in the outside world about who she grants access, what her conditions and stipulations are, and what happens to those who upset her. There are rumors that her followers can speak with the dead, and can travel to and from the asphoderes.
Alcyone - Goddess of Krasygone
Krasygone being the home of the khorns, Alcyone grants everyone access to the aclaere, but only while they remain in her lands.
If someone leaves her lands to live elsewhere, they are never allowed back. Because of this, khorns are rarely seen outside of Krasygone, and the nation employs qattes to act as their diplomats and envoys. These qattes are granted special permission to use aclaere within Krasygone, but only in ways that serve the national interest.
Imbrius - God of Audgisil
Imbrius grants power only to the High Patrarch of the Holy Sedes of Audgisil. The High Patrarch is able to store aclaere in items known as sacraments and then gift sacraments to his advisors and those in favor for them to use.
To misuse or take advantage of a sacrament is punishable by death, and the High Patrarch is expected to keep the nation in line or risk his own termination and replacement. A Patrarch is chosen from among the high-ranking priests. Once chosen, he shares his body with the God as a physical vessel. This considerably shortens the life span of the Patrarch.
The People
The Aranea
A previously unknown race that lives deep in the woods. They have spider-like qualities and do not honor or recognize the Divinities. They can practice some form of magic without being granted access to the aclaere by a Divinity.
The Khorns
A race of creatures with equine-like features and a spiraling horn protruding from their forehead. They are reclusive and secretive, living primarily in Krasygone and using people of other races as their ambassadors to the outside world.
The Lisen
A deer-like race of beings with two antlers protruding from their heads and only four fingers, as well as cloven hooves instead of feet. They were once the dominant race of the world, but now are a small minority primarily living in Mirosla.
The Ohyuems
The now-dominant race of the world, they have no horns or hooves, but stand at middling height and are notable for their strength and ability to master any form of magic.
The Qatte
They have feline-like features, including prehensile tails and pointed ears on the top of their head. They are highly dexterous, but prone to let their emotions get the best of them.