Submission (#334) Approved

<p>To say time was a blur would be a falsehood, the reality for Umbra was that time had lost meaning. Purpose taken, it now seemed to skip like the ephemeral flicker of light in the corner of one's vision, there, most assuredly there, yet gone in an instant as one tried to focus upon it. Days uncounted, weeks or months he knew not, passed as he continued his aimless trek through the Berkirian wilderness. Walking until exhaustion took hold before collapsing into a restless slumber, darkness and light in an endless conflict within the recesses of his unconscious mind, ideas and fragments flitting away as he awoke to trudge onward once more.</p>
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<p>Had he cared enough to, he could have long since departed this land, but each day's path was chosen at random without intent. Lingering within Berkir seemed to be fated, not that the shadowed Opexo cared. The land shrouded in a dark malaise that appeared to dim even Solara's light, air crisp above a low fog coating the very ground upon which he tread. Every footfall leaving fading wisps of shadow behind him, a rotten mulch of decaying vegetation squelching unpleasantly underfoot. Nothing in this land seemed able to snap Umbra out of his self imposed solitude, silence other than the ground underfoot, endless skeletal trees stretching as far his eyes could see, an earthy rot filling his nose with an unchanging monotony. But then something changed, ahead in the distance the woods took on an eerie red glow, faint sounds of revelry caught in his ears, even notes of sweetness somehow drifted to him upon the nigh still air. He must have felt it before, even if the thought had been stolen from him, sacrificed maybe more apt, but curiosity brewed within his mind. What was this that broke the unchanging land, that looked to embrace an altogether different aspect? One with, seemingly, more life filling it. 'Why not', was the thought that crossed Umbra's mind, pace quickened even without telling his body to do so, even Philip perked in the direction the headed. It may not be much of a purpose, but at least he had a path, some, as yet unknown destination ahead. Shadows shrouding him from clear sight, Umbra pressed onward, soon he would discover what had interrupted him from his stupor, good or ill yet determined, nor yet a consideration to him in truth. But at least for now, curiosity.</p>
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<p>Now time did indeed blur, no skipping or seeming irrelevant gaps, just now Umbra had a focus, he had a destination to draw him on, even if an uncertain one. Sounds of revelry, both macabre and jovial, increased as he approached, glow cast revealed giant tents and attractions to draw the eye and supplicants to this twisted dark affair. This carnivals' cacophony of roiling chaos seemingly offers something for all, perhaps if they wished it or otherwise, mayhaps those brave enough to dare would obtain some of those prizes on offer.</p>
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<p>Uncertain if he wished to partake in the festivities, if such a word could describe what was glimpsed within, Umbra paused to watch. A patch of darkness formed aside a great tree of weeping crimson, the hollow Opexo let his gaze pass over the entrance to the grounds, variety of entrants wide, a curvaceous female of darker shades bubbling I'm with excitement, a pale opexo flitting inward with ghostly grace, a patchwork appearing femme in pristine gown of white, standing out against the dark, carrying a multitude of goods hidden within boxes and accompanied by a strange, one might say almost creature opexo, and even a dark spotted male with hints of his own twisted form like Umbra's. Glancing down at himself, smoking eyes piercing the shroud of darkness he had formed around himself, he held out his arms and, turning them over, realised that here was a place where his changed body would not be out of place. And whilst he may choose not to directly partake, Umbra resolved to enter. </p>
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<p>Flitting forward, an inky stain of shade crossed the open ground, none noticed him enter, yet he felt eyes upon him and a certain knowledge filled him, that his presence was known and, for now, allowed to remain under subterfuge's shadow. Wandering gaze took in the new surroundings that opened up beyond the gateway to this playground of the many, everywhere he looked Umbra spied something different, a taste for all to titillate the senses and entrance the mind. Catching sight of forlorn disappointment turned rapture upon the face of the full figured beauty, as she looked go have finally won her prize. The graceful flitting of the ghostly pale Opexo who seemed most content to drift around the peripherals of other interactions. The simply dressed pair, who seemed almost put together from spare parts, visiting around the stalls and games leaving packages for all. </p>
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<p>It all seemed as a pleasant take upon a common celebration, albeit with a darker twist upon it. Pleasant in all, at least till Umbra spotted the speckled Opexo from before standing alone in a clearing, stock still beyond quivering hands, flexing fingers as if grasping in desperation. His patch of darkness flowed with him as he walked circles around, coming to view them from the front, ephemeral tendrils of blood red mist rose from the ground and seemed to flow up into the captives mouth. Eyes closed but clearly dashing around behind sealed lids as if in a panicked dream, face carved into a rictus of terror as silent scream tore through his sight. Umbra cared not for this unknown male, in truth he found himself as yet void of any care at all, yet he <strong>was</strong> curious. Before Umbra's eyes it seemed as if seizure took hold, fear shaking his form, even clothing tore as if assaulted by some tempestuous phantasm beyond the realm of vision. Without though arm stretched towards the tormented fool, bones a-glow in the moons' light, even Philip raised caprice head to rest upon the spikes upon Umbra's brand shoulders in grim fascination. As soon as outstretched hand made contact, the air was rent asunder by a blood-curdling scream as the male jerked back and was suddenly fleeing, not towards the exit, but a horror induced run just to get away. Head cocked aside Umbra looked upon his hand as if he had broken some spell cast upon the unfortunate, knowing in truth he possessed no such power upon the mind, likely just a physical sensation cast into their mind to throw aside whatever enchantment held them prisoner, however their mind translated that into the reality they had found imposed upon them. Turning to face Philip, a silent shrug shared between the two, Umbra once more set off, curiosity as yet unsated, he <strong>knew</strong> there was much still to see.</p>
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<p>Eyes streaming tendrils of shadow kept a wary watch, flickering around like errant voids of flame buffeted by a vengeful wind. As much as Umbra was curious, the incident with the clearly bewitched male <strong>had</strong> shaken him, he <strong>would not</strong> suffer further at the hands of these lands, if indeed his current condition and existence was suffering in comparison to the blank filled memory of the recent past. His wanderings brought him near the pale ghostly Opexo spied before, interest piqued as he noted she was in fact levitating, and bore, upon closer inspection, similarities regards to visible skeleton. Hers seemingly more a result of transparent flesh whereas his own pulsed with a dark vitality that shone even through his own body. Yet it again made part of him recognise that maybe these were his people now. Dark, and twisted forms maybe, but unique and potentially beautiful in their own ways. Still it was not an altogether pleasing realisation for the numb creature he had become, if he had not always been thus.</p>
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<p>Despite a semblance of distant kinship felt, Umbra skirted wide of wraith-like entity as she struck up a conversation with yet another glowing Opexo. Small shake of head at her rotationary antics sending his pigment void hair cascading around within the darkness of his shadows, shadows which were now second nature to keep around himself. Whether it was this movement, or if it's vast eye pierced his shadowy veil, Umbra paused. Crouched ahead of his path was a large animal, shades of black and red as if in semblance to himself it stared straight at the concealed opexo. It possessed no face, instead a single giant orb of an eye dominated its head, hint of a mouth below, something perhaps held within as the corner of a paler shade was just visible. Deciding it best to avoid the beast and its ability to see through his camouflage in the darkness, Umbra moved to step aside and circle it from a distance. But, as he moved the oddity let out a muffled growl, causing him to pause and look once more. Doing so may have been a mistake, halt taken as an open invitation, the creature took a bounding leap forward, stopping immediately before him. Body half within, half without the radius of his power Umbra knew it could easily be drawing attention that something strange was there. Snarling back, he moved a clawed hand aside his head, positioned to push it aside and away, even his recalcitrant tail Philip moved to butt it in unison. However it was unnecessary. As soon as his hand made contact with the beast, a sodden mass at the edge where its mouth must have resided, it let out a vague hiccuping cough and deposited something within his hand before moving to bound away. </p>
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<p>He traced its steps, making sure it had indeed departed his vicinity, and did not return, before looking down to face that which had been deposited in his grasp. His heart paused, breath caught, as he saw what he held, the effigy, the idol... the simulacrum of <strong>her</strong>. Knees crumpled and met the rancid earth as they folded in two, the split sided doll an exact replica of the twisted Giantess whom vague recollection brought to mind, standing over his writhing form as his entreaty was fulfilled. Hands raised to his head, clutching at his colourless locks, gripped tight nigh unto tearing them free. Fragments of painful memories ripped through his mind, drink turned smoke, swirling around him before permeating his very essence, what he was before torn away in his quest to forget.... something... some absent blank in himself now... form turned to mirror, corrupted body lost equal measure that his mind had taken from it.</p>
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<p>This place was an echo of that which did this to him, which he willed and allowed to happen to himself. He couldn't even say he had lost, for the very purpose had torn the ability to discern comparison away, by its very amnesiac nature. But innately somehow he still knew and his body felt foreign, in many ways felt wrong, tainted, a twisted corruption taken flesh. <strong>NO MORE</strong> the scream filled his head as flashbacks scattered, a roar of defiance sounded from the darkness, as suddenly with fist slammed to the dirt shadows were cast aside, scattered as if fog by gale. Eyes upon the discarded doll, its power over his mind broken and refused, he snatched it up as once more he set his feet under him. </p>
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<p>With it dangling from his grasp like a naughty child to be returned to disappointed parent, he set off once more. Shadows unsummoned, unshrouded and open for once, he was uncowed by this dark demesne, curiosity remained for who knew what he could uncover here, but he would not give it any more, anything else it wanted it could <strong>take</strong>.</p>

Reward	Amount
Unvivos	100