User blog:MockingJester/Malinita: masked guides



In the waves of a tropical island, the Cerulean peaks. A paradise made manifest by the sudden and impromptu arrival of monsters looking to sink their teeth in the paradisial island, once decked in gold and white.



Many accepted. Others required convincing in the way monsters were overly enthusiastic in. A game in their minds to lull the hesitant.



The rest...hid. Deep in the marrow of the island, far from the surface. The dissidents, mask, and smoke. Mirrors and disappearance.



And they returned...changed, hidden still. Dancing in the mist. The Malinita...

---

Their presence_

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">Strange lights flickering in the night.

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">Dancing mask wandering the light.

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">They walk with certain ease into the night. Their faces had exhumed in a mask, white in purpose. They welcome those wandering the night, offering a walk back if needed.

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">They move with uncanny precision, wasting no stimulation of the limbs. Their voice pours a friendly greeting, yet, it seems to miss something. A certain vibe. A certain touch. One present when speaking to others...

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">Their hands move toward people of all kind, willing to induce a much-trusted manner of interacting with those around, a way long behaved before their island's conversion to a monster city. Yet, some see them stray the new denizens, masks hushed in silence. They move from them, their voices toned in a callous voice, hushing how the monsters had no need of their words.

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">Being relatively new to this place, they'd be left to their device, strangers to the masked's edicts...somewhat scorned at their inability to integrate themselves to this long-standing culture of nightly greeting from the masked ones.

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">If one was to get a clear glimpse of the Malinita devotee, as they are called, they'd see the clothes perfumed in white. Mundane, save for the purity of the color. Stains of purple afflicted on it like a coursing disease perfectly symmetrical as patterns.

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">Robes lowered all the way to the bottom, leaving but their hands to demonstrate the humanity that lingers behind the faceless entities. A strange yet welcome sight to humans that dwell in the night, as they always did.

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">A different story for the monsters that populate the island as its new citizen, well-intended on imprinting their presence upon it. Some speak of them as emotionless individuals. Others, automatons. Other still, a cold shoulder from their hands seeking to bond with the person behind the mask, breaching their amicable tones in which they speak back...

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">---

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">Their voices_

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true"> <span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">| <span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">Translations from interpellated individuals to the Malinita <span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">| <span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">: <span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true"> Town guard

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">"They spoke to me, once, you know? They're mighty fine guides to throttle the night away...if you can get past their creepy tendencies to sneak up from nowhere.

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">The history of the place before I even wandered in seeking a way to earn my home and my life is fascinating to behold. All of this random information making night shifts pretty mild. Helped me pass the dark away without so much as tired eyelids.

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">At least...before I met my beloved. Well, she met me, should I say. Somewhere in a bar. That...that's when they kind of stopped going to me, even as I waved at them with my spear in hand. They waved back...and no much else.

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">I...I don't know. It just seems as if I had scorned them in some way. I'm not sure..."

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">|Translations from interpellated individuals to the Malinita <span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">| <span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">: <span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true"> <span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">Shoe cobbler

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">"Anything? Well, if you ask me, I gotta know what kind of laces they fill under their soles.

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">Seriously, did you see how they move in the dark? It's like I'm seeing a trance-induced man move about in the dark, seemingly aware of his surroundings. If it wasn't for his robes, I'm sure his feet wouldn't touch grounds with how seamlessly he walks about.

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">His movements entrance me more than his words, which are already something to behold, especially under the light of the moon.

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">By the way, something to know about them. Good luck trying to meet one in a day. Yea, they're here all right, only barely. Which is...interesting, seeing as most of the lovelies that live here dwell in the day.

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">I remember seeing a lot more of them before this town's tone shift. It's as if...I'm not sure. Ahh, forget it. I'm just overreaching...

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true"> <span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">| <span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">Translations from interpellated individuals to the Malinita <span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">| <span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">:  <span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">Flower shopper

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">You seem...troubled.

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">"What is what one called me as I walked from the store. I guess she must have read between my facial expression as I paced out.

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">To be honest, she wasn't wrong. I was at an impasse. I had come down with a chip on my shoulder since my meeting with that furry lady in the latest festivities. A nice woman, if somewhat intrusive around personal space.

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">She kind of...well...hum...she had her hands on my chest and...rubbed them. Half of me was astonished, unable to react to her onslaught of compliments. It wanted her to stop.

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">But, the other half of me felt...good. I never thought having someone else softly touch me in this manner would feel so enticing.

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">But now, I didn't know what to do until now, this emotion...stirred within me. Part of me wanted for someone closer to...despite our old teachings. It felt dirty as it felt good.

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">Perhaps do you want to meet with me? I may have something to soothe this stirring chip biting down.

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">I've set up a time and date to meet. I've heard the Malinita devotee can find one they sense as troubled, so I don't have any worry in her direction home. Hopefully, she has something to calm this awoken fondness.

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true"> <span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">| <span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">Translations from interpellated individuals to the Malinita <span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">| <span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">:  <span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">Wanderer

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">Fascinating. You have something onto you. A...stain?

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">"He told me I may have had a stain? He must have been talking about my thoughts entangled in last week's impromptu meeting with a gal.

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">For a week, I have been running across the same lady. A rather fruitful set of coincidences if I say so myself.

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">A woman adorned in soft and fluffy wool. Which none of it impedes on her body. Swinging hips luring my eyes, hiding her embracing intent as our lips smooth against one another, with a promise to meet tomorrow.

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">And the next day, again, walking in my direction amidst the northern lights of the festival with a whisper inviting my hands to her bosom, speaking of the goodness I fill her with.

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">All accumulated to a meeting at the blissful night where she...well, her lips are as smooth as they are warm. They were hungry. And I couldn't help myself, drained by her voracious hunger. And a promise to her last present. Something that remained vivid in my mind since.

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">He must have seen it too. The doubt in my mind. It felt heavenly...and dirty. I didn't know what to do with myself, sometimes looking forward to it, sometimes regretting, especially in his presence.

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">I see you are conflicted. Would you not want to meet somewhere so that you may speak out, abstained from judgment?

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">I agreed, looking to speak to him of that fiery woman of wools on a small bridge nearby...

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;;" data-preserver-spaces="true">

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p style="color: rgb(28, 30, 41); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;">Their time_

Cities in white. Ornaments in gold. An island dedicated to the main state. The Cerulean had its origins in long-standing settlers teeming between neutrality and affiliation to the Order, one of the two factions desiring the entirety of the continents.

With their arrival, came order and fruitful buildings to an island whose once sheltered in neutrality. Mists and fogs sometimes wash the place in its majesty, though the island's distance from the mainlands meant little support from those that once claimed it.

Slow to wither, they came, hands filled with a resolution to the most afflicted, depleted from any aid. A faith to carry on over their backs, bringing much revere from the masses who sought them out as guides of the zealots. Devotees, they called them.

Until the first monsters' arrival to the land, a hunger for resources. A hunger for companionship. A sight to a brittle land that they rebuilt in their hands. Their prices? What always was the price.

Slow to act as they sought to deeply embed themselves. Chip the restraints of Ordelite mannerism in attritional rates. To slow drip the inhabitants in their pleasurable ways. To...make their incursion a sincere co-joining of species.

Curious at the white mantles pacing, they would inquire about them as they plunder the wealth of available men to make husbands and fathers of. Women to conjure in more comfortable forms.

Answers came in their absence, seeing them but by the corner of their eyes, knowing all-too-well the Malinita are none too welcoming of them...