The Uncrucified [BETA] - Chapter 4 - Escape

Author's Note:  I had a bad case of writer's block during this mini-arc in Gem for a long while up until the bathhouse scene from last chapter.  I struggled with the question of how do I explain that in Kalara's situation she doesn't really suffer the worst aspects of slavery?  Other slaves have it far worse.  How could she appreciate the depths of her situation in life if she was mostly treated well?  Why, then, would she later be so vehemently against slavery in Creation as an adult?

How do I also tell this kind of story without resorting to some of the things that I felt weren't where her story should take her? (ie. childhood sexual assault.)  It's not that I fear writing about this topic, but rather the one thing I AM certain of is that this story hinges more around an understanding that even the more gentle aspects of slavery are wrong.  

Not every slave in this world endures horrible abuse...and that simple fact is the terrible creeping insidiousness of the institution that she fights with later in her life.  I imagine so many people brought up this example to her as to why she is foolish for wanting to abolish the whole institution as a successful business practice.  Surely there are good masters and well-treated slaves that are exceptions to the rule?  She was, for the most part, one of those exceptions and to this aspect she can speak most thoroughly.

I realized the answer to my writer's block was in the fact that this lack of understanding of the worst of things IS her flaw in this early stage of life.  She dreams of better things even when she knows she should accept what she has.  This kind of dreaming in this kind of life has consequences for everyone, not just herself.

Once I realized this, the story began to flow so much better!


RATING: G

Reading Alternatives:

• Comment on Google Drive instead.  You can save this chapter in an ebook file format for any ereader at the link.  Click File>Download As to download in your favorite format.

• Access the entire Google Drive version of Beta chapters here.

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Djali tore from his chrysanthemum haunted dreams with a jerk, his head rung like a bell from someone wrenching him by the shoulders.

“Djali, wake up. Please!”

“Kallie…what?” He managed to ask, barely recognizing Kalara through the crust of sleep over his eyes.  The resistance of his eyelids and the dimmed lamps above hinted at the ungodly hour it was.

She only turned, beckoning him with a strange quickness in her voice. “Just follow me.  I have something to show you.”

Kalara led them through familiar work tunnels, a single pebble of a glowstone temporarily borrowed from a lantern lighting their way.  Spinel wouldn’t be happy if he saw her with that, but the silent purposeful intent of her steps and the way she clutched his wrist and pulled him along as they walked made him think twice about poking fun at her.  Even he knew when to be serious.  She led them to a nook they often hid for mealtimes.  The small, circular loop of an inlet carved from natural erosion was the perfect space to get away on a busy day.  She stopped there, kneeling and running her hands across the cavern floor like a lunatic.

“Kallie, what are you…?” He didn’t have time to finish his question when her fingertips found the edge of the rock she’d been using as camouflage, pulling up the large piece of slate to reveal a cache dug into the floor.

Djali’s jaw dropped when it dawned on him what he was looking at.  “You’ve been stealing food!?”

The Uncrucified [BETA] - Chapter 3 - Plentimon's Day

RATING: R
- Adult Situations
- Light Gore

Reading Alternatives:

• Comment on Google Drive instead.  You can save this chapter in an ebook file format at the link.  You can save this chapter in an ebook file format for any ereader at the link.  Click File>Download As to download in your favorite format.

• Access the entire Google Drive version of Beta chapters here.

At night, Kalara still heard the Dream Eaten’s hollow voice ringing in her ears.

“I’ll be back in the morning” the unfulfilled promise echoed in her nightmares.

Her mind invented myriad ways that Fey might nibble on her most secret thoughts, from singing little songs that went into her ears and stole visions with every note to a long-fingered fey dragging her dreams out of her nose like narrow glowing noodles.  Those dreams began the same, with her being sold for her impertinence, for having stolen a pie or for tripping during a delivery, silly stupid things she knew weren’t true, but that always felt true in dream logic.

Even while her overactive mind invented nightmares, her waking hours never proved such fears real.  In fact, life in Gem revolved around more than just work and meals and fearful punishments.  Festival days for the Small Gods allowed even the lowest workers an extended afternoon of feasting and gambling.  Only the cut of the meat and the size of the prize pot differed between rich and poor.  The Scraps, in particular, looked forward to the one day out of the year they were allowed to visit the Sahlak Bathhouse, a day Djali spoke of in splendid detail.  They would be allowed to wash in crystal clear sweet-smelling waters attended by beautiful maidens who would feed them small cakes!  Or so Djali said.

Plentimon’s Day arrived with much fanfare, as it did every year since Kalara could remember.  The God of Chance, himself, made the long journey from Whitewall where an underground gambling palace lined with unimaginable finery, women, and feasts was prepared especially for him by the Despot.  The marketplace was always filled with chatter about it, as was Djali.

Kalara had doubted the validity of Djali’s interpretation of facts since the day she met him.

Concept Art: Kalara Vadras Casual Set

I haven't had a lot of time to write on The Uncrucified lately with conventions and a busy schedule, BUT I have been chipping away at these clothing concepts for Kalara's iconic casual look over the past few weeks!

2 represents the first ever outfit I drew her in for the fanfic cover.  For Kalara, I wanted something fashionable and elegant that she could move around in.  If possible, I also wanted to show her habit of wearing the craftsmanship of her Guild of artisans, which she likes to advertise by wearing their creations directly on her person.

Kalara's first iconic design. 

In the end, I favored the gold-green color scheme for her, which helped to set off her eyes and hair with the complementary color scheme.  I also like 2, 3, and 10 for their functional simplicity that still balances her fashionista nature without going overboard.  Funny enough, even after all this exploration, I still really enjoy the color scheme and outfit from that first original look!

I kept coming back to the gold trim with the swirling flame motif, which just felt right in reflecting her Southern desert heritage, as the region is represented by the element of fire.  She operates currently in the Central-East area of Creation, which, to me, says she would wear clothing acclimated to the region, while still showing hints of her Southern pride in her garb's motifs.

The asymmetrical cut of her shirt in my favorite choices also seemed to feel right and presented more unique shapes that were less overtly derivative of real-world cultures.

5, as eye-catching as it is, was the pure fun design where I focused more on visuals than rationale.  I think it's a cool outfit, but very out of character for her.  Too flashy and more dancer-esque than stylish.  I think it might be a cool outfit for her if she ever had to go in disguise on the road as a performer, perhaps!

Mood board for Kalara's casual look.  See more plus individual image sources at The Uncrucified board on Pinterest.

By the end of this exploration, her look started to get too formal looking, which will make them a great jumping off point when I move into her Formal and Business sets next!  It's nice to have variations also if she ever decides to change clothing in the comic that might one day be.

Which looks do you guys like?  It's always interesting to hear what resonates with other folks outside of my own POV!

Did you miss the live broadcast I did while I was drawing on her outfits and chatting about characters?  Watch them on my YouTube channel!

Guest Art Feature: Formal Night Locust and Kalara by Raeliyah

I've been very busy with convention prep and projects, which has meant no time to continue writing on the beta draft!  This makes me a very sad panda.

Luckily, Sam aka. Raeliyah has done more amazing art of Kalara and her present day bodyguard, Night Locust, that I can share with you all in the meantime!

I just adore the detail Sam put into their outfits, like the embroidery in Night's vest and the flames in Kalara's armlet, as I'm always talking about how she enjoys flame motifs to reflect her Southern heritage.  She drew a very attractive Night Locust as well.  Very lovely job on his face!  I haven't drawn this character much yet (aside from that one time), so seeing another artist take on this character has helped me form a better mental image of him for myself, also.

You can see more of Sam's work at her tumblr and read more of her amazing Exalted fiction here, as she's written some fun stories in the setting, also!

I hope to get back to this project soon.  I just need to survive DragonCon and other deadlines!  In the meantime, if you haven't caught up on the beta draft of The Uncrucified yet, you can do so here.  Happy reading!

Beta Draft Ebook Files Now Available!

Look who's figured out how to use Scrivener's compile functions!  You can now find PDF, MOBI, and EPUB file formats of the beta draft of The Uncrucified! Happy day!

Download your preferred file format here.

For your convenience, the PDF version  even has bookmarked chapter breaks. Yay!  I'll update each ebook file as new chapters become available, but they may be slightly behind the blog releases.

Enjoy this newfound convenience and remember to come back and comment on the individual chapters, if you can!

The Uncrucified [BETA] - Chapter 2 - Dream Eaten

RATING: PG
- Mature Themes

Reading Alternatives:

• Comment on Google Drive instead.  You can save this chapter in an ebook file format for any ereader at the link.  Click File>Download As to download in your favorite format.

• Access the entire Google Drive version of Beta chapters here.

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The exuberant Djali became her constant companion during those first days of uncertainty. The talkative boy made the loneliness of her abandonment by Auntie Sweets more bearable, as did the constant company of the other Scraps around her age in their barracks.

Despite the canvas walls that barely counted as walls, Kalara had a tiny space all her own, unlike the crowded bunk beds she’d shared with others at Auntie’s orphanage. A bit of charcoal pinched from the hearth at mealtime and sharpened with a piece of shale helped Kalara customize her own side of the canvas with a ten year old girl’s vision of the sun and moon with haphazard trees on the horizon, a bit of comfort in the deep tunnels where they barely ever got the chance to see the surface.

As Djali had promised, life as a Scrap wasn’t so bad. The children filtered out of their quarters at the sound of a bell in the morning, each one given a path and a task for the day. They carried water and supplies to the workers deep in the Iblan mines, delivered messages along the lines, and, most importantly, crawled into the spaces the adult workers couldn’t. A nimble child could crawl into the space between a cart and a wall and remove a jammed rock from the axle. Tiny bodies could crawl into nooks and crannies to survey new resources that might lie just beyond a crevice they would otherwise have to blast open.

The Uncrucified [BETA] - Chapter 1 - Sweet Children

Welcome to the first stage of the Beta draft!  After listening to feedback on the first arc of the Alpha draft, I've decided to rewrite a fairly significant portion of the beginning in Gem.  Prepare yourself for more of the city and more of Djali, who was pretty popular during initial feedback!


RATING: PG
- Mature Themes

Reading Alternatives:

• Comment on Google Drive instead. You can save this chapter in an ebook file format for any ereader at the link.  Click File>Download As to download in your favorite format.
  
• Access the entire Google Drive version of Beta chapters here.

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The gods took no more notice than usual on the day that a slave named Kalara was born in the dusty slums of a basement in the city of Gem. The cycle of a soul began anew, as it always did, the web of destiny continued as usual without tangles, the weavers pleased with their work. The sun moved overhead, Sol Invictus forever journeying on his sure path across the skies of Creation. If he noticed her then, he made no motions to show it. Her fate seemed settled the day she was born to a pair of slaves in an underground tenement of Gem.

If she had a last name when she was born, she would never learn it. The most the child would learn from her real parents was the melody of a lullaby sang softly in Flametongue.

Shiyan, shiyan, teyah. Sleep, sleep, my child, for the moon will always set and the sun will always rise.
The Lady Moon will spread thy dreams across the sky.
Shiyan, shiyan, teyah. Sleep, sleep, my child.
For thy days require rest.
The Lord Sun rises on those truly blessed.

Only the melody would remain in her mind, a final momento of parents Kalara would never know. She hummed it to herself as she watched the priests cover their sunken faces with black veils, muttering the prayers of Rest and Succor for their spirits. In time, she would remember only those black, motionless veils instead of her parents’ faces.

VISUAL GUIDE: The City of Gem

Welcome to the City of Gem!  Before I continue re-writing The Uncrucified, I wanted to familiarize myself with the many locations before I move on to the next draft.  The rule book for the South leaves a lot for our imaginations to fill in, so I wanted to fill in those gaps for my own writing and art purposes with this write-up and visual guide!

For further reading on Gem, as the following is only a brief summary of 
key visuals and concepts for my own purposes, be sure 
to check out the official rulebook on The South!

The City

As far south as south goes lies the city of Gem, a city warmed by the winds of the elemental pole of Fire and held together by the industry and greed of its inhabitants.

Founded by the industrious miner, Rankar I, who struck precious stones on a dig, the city rests in the caldera of an ancient volcano, Rankar Peak, nestled in the Fire Mountains, a chain of active volcanos stretching from north to south across the region of the South. Citizens inhabit the surface of the caldera as well as great subterranean markets filled with all kinds of wonders.

Unlike the other major trade center of Chiaroscuro, Gem would evolve completely without the aid or luxury of First Age technology.

(Click for a full view)

The Despot

Rankar I would become known as the Despot, the ruler of the city who would monopolize the gem trade for himself and raise his business associates to the status of noble. With their combined interests, they would keep a stranglehold on the economy and wealth of the city. Despots would come and go in a series of uprisings over the generations, but the role of the ruler would always remain along with the Houses, keeping a balance of power till current times under the rule of Kolar III, the alleged rightful heir to the original family line of Rankar I.

The Despot's palace is the most prominent landmark of the city, a structure so tall that it exists both partially underground and above the surface in a prime spot with the most shade inside the caldera. Underground, a long avenue usually frequented by guards, slaves, and citizens leads up to the palace, which is adorned with decorative Glowstones for illumination. Statues of the previous Despots line the main gates of the palace.

Whoever the Despot is at any given time, this ruler and their family remain the sole proprietors of the gem trade in Gem. Anyone caught buying or selling gems without their consent is liable to be put to death.

The Red Stone District

The red light district of the city caters to all manner of wants and desires.  Red silk drapes on the windows and decorative Glowstones cast the area in a surreal light, welcoming people into a bawdy dream.  Interests range from mundane encounters to interludes with gods and demons in the more exclusive brothels.

The Sunken Bazaar

The main market stretches across the expanse of a large lava tube with the central district dedicated to the Despot's gem trade and the noble houses demarcated by bright silks.  Alongside gems, one can find items from all over Creation.  The farther from the central district one is, the less upstanding (and less safe) the shops and area become.

The Sun Market

Above the surface during the hot hours of the day lies the Sun Market, the black market where one procures any illegal items that might draw suspicion normally.  This temporary market exists only from sunup to sundown during the hottest parts of the day when nobody ventures forth.  Most merchants keep themselves cool by covering themselves from head to toe or using magical means to withstand the sun.

Design Notes: I imagine this market to be made of makeshift tents and questionable quality goods, unlike the Sunken Bazaar with its more permanent decorative carts and stalls.

The Mercenary Market

This flesh market specializes in the procurement and selling of soldiers and mercenaries, of which there is a high population in the city. The Guild participates most widely in this area of industry.

(Click for full view)

The Gemfolk

Social status can be fluid in Gem.  A slave might strike rich upon discovering a large gem in the mines or from the favor of someone already in power.  A wealthy individual might sell a family member into slavery if they can't pay their business fees, which are owed to dubious collectors.  Because of this precarious social fluidity, most Gemfolk don't discriminate between new and old wealth.

Outside of the crushing schedule of sleep and work, most citizens find respite in a regular cycle of festivals, feast days, and weddings or the amply available brothels and gambling parlors available to citizens from all walks of life.

Design Notes:  I envision the upper class quarters having more ornate methods of utilizing Glowstones for their residential areas by using intricately crafted lamps and glass to cast colorful light in their areas.  Meanwhile, the lower class quarters can't afford such finely crafted luxury and must rely on raw unadorned stones and holders for their light sources.

The Noble Houses

Each noble house represents a trade that bolsters the monopoly the city holds over the wealth of the South.

The Despot controls the gem trade, while House Arbani arms the military with their black powder guns. House Circla provides the manpower in soldiers and gladiators, while House Sahlak provides succor and secrets with their brothels and dream parlors. House Iblan specializes in silver and gold refinement and distribution, while House Trasti provides a backbone of banking and gambling in their palatial casinos.

The houses try to gain advantage over each other and regularly rail against the rule of the Despot, but all need each other for Gem to remain the bastion of wealth in the deepest South ruled by the element of Fire and untameable desert.

Design Notes: I've included a portrait of a character representing the head of each noble house on the top-right of each section dedicated to the noble houses on the sheet.

On the section for House Arbani, I've included a strip on the bottom for real-world maker's marks. I imagine House Arbani has a house sigil they stamp on their widely available line of guns.  However, I imagine Arbani Halan, the house founder, has a personal insignia he uses to mark the guns crafted by his own hand which are not available for sale.  Such treasures are only available as a personal gift from such a fine craftsman who would never profane such an item by selling it, as the rulebook states.

• Download a PDF of this visual guide here (6.17MB).
• Find the individual images with links to their original sources here.
• Find the blank template of this guide here.

Fan Art Feature: Koh and Kalara by Raeliyah

Camp NaNoWriMo has come around again for July and that means I'm doubly motivated to get working on The Uncrucified!  I've set a Camp NaNoWriMo goal for myself of editing, reading, and working on this story for a minimum 30 minutes every day.  I've already been massively productive, which you can see a blow by blow of my Camp NaNo progress over at my personal tumblr.

I've started on some really cool inspiration sheets for the setting I intend to share here, but until they're ready to share as a complete collection, enjoy another fan art feature of Raeliyah's work!  She did this fantastic portrait of Kalara wining and dining dignitaries with her merchant prince, Koh.  Most people don't know that they are actually one and the same person, but she cleverly convinced her Circle's Night Caste to pose as her alter ego to throw off her growing list of enemies.  

In a hilarious turn of events, the two are rumored to be lovers.  Talk about self-love!

I love Raeliyah's attention to detail with Kalara's gold makeup and fantastic outfit.  She even remembered to include Koh's glasses, which are a momento of Kalara's father.

Fan Art Feature: Kalara Vadras by Rage-Halo

While we wait on more story to be written, I thought I'd feature some of the amazing art inspired by The Uncrucified!  I commissioned Rage-Halo on DA for a simple portrait of Kalara.  He surprised me with this full colored lovely!

I haven't quite defined the designs on Kalara's artifact flame pieces just yet, which made this a special treat to see what the artist did with them! I always imagined them appearing similar to the Indian matchlock weaponry I've seen with ornately styled panels in metal, wood, and shell.  For the curious, I've saved all the weaponry references for Kalara onto my story's board on Pinterest.

I think this green vest dress is becoming iconic for her as well. I'll have to play with a fully body shot of it sometime!

Go Favorite Rage-Halo's piece on DeviantART here.

EDIT: Rage-Halo did another gift art piece of Kalara I thought I'd add. So cool to see her doing the gun-fu I haven't had a chance to draw her doing yet!

Open to the Public!

After much thought, I decided to switch this blog over to being accessible to the public!  Current readers, please be aware that your feedback can now be seen by everyone.

I decided it was much easier to send out updates about new chapters this way rather than having to use workarounds!  Now, there's a handy Subscribe by Email box in the sidebar where you can sign up to have this blog automagically email you when new posts go up.

The main reason I made this blog private in the first place was to learn how to manage a private feedback blog for when I want to do so for my original fiction.  But as I'm writing fanfiction here, there's no need to be so secretive.  Enjoy and feel free to link this to anyone else you think might be able to leave valuable feedback!

Also enjoy the sweet, sweet convenience of easy email updates!

Where to Keep Up? + Progress Report!

EDIT: I've switched this blog to be public now to make it play friendly with RSS readers!  Now there's a Subscribe by Email button in the sidebar if you'd like an automatic email whenever new posts go up. Yay!

Checking in to let you know I haven't forgotten about The Uncrucified!  First up, I'm trying to figure out the best way to push out updates to readers since this private blog does not have RSS that can be used with standard subscription and RSS readers.

To that end, I've set up some update mirrors where you all can subscribe for updates about new chapters, posts, etc.:

- On Reddit
- On Tumblr
- On Twitter

So give your favorite outlet a Follow so you can keep up here!  I had started a mailing list, but I noticed no one has subscribed to it yet, so I removed the option.  It's also easier for me to just post to social media and be done with it rather than compose an email, honestly!

If you'd like email updates sent directly to you, I recommend using a service like blogtrottr to be emailed posts from this project's tumblr mirror.

Facebook Group?

I'm pondering a closed Facebook Group to push out updates and conduct discussions as well since I participate in groups often there. However, I don't want to be the only member there talking to myself.  If I started one up, would that be an easier way to communicate and see updates?  I'd like to hear your thoughts!

In Other News...

I haven't returned to writing yet, but after getting feedback from the couple of you who have finished Act 1 of this story and left your thoughts, I'm brimming with ideas for the next draft!  To be sure, there will be more adventures in Gem, more of Djali, and more refinement, overall.

I'm still studying up on the cities of Chiaroscuro and Gem and want to feel confident I can do justice to these amazing locales before I return to writing.  I want people to feel the shattered grandeur of Chiaroscuro and the resourcefulness of the mining community of Gem!

I glossed over a LOT in this Alpha draft and I have a feeling it's going to explode into something grandiose as I move into Beta form!

Till then, thanks as ever for providing your thoughts, those who have!  Those who haven't, I understand life gets busy.  If life isn't holding you back, but the story is, for one reason or another, that's feedback I need to hear as well!  Be brutal. That's what this process is about!

And now...back to hitting the rulebooks!

ART SNEAK PEEK: Act 1 Banner Art

I'm still enjoying a break from the draft to gather my thoughts, read up on lore, and wrap up a few other things that have me working late these days while the new readers here take the time to catch up on the story thus far.

In the meantime, I managed to sneak a couple of hours over the weekend to sketch an idea I had for promo art for Act 1 of The Uncrucified!

Kalara leans against a wall at Taresh's elegant estate, the skyline of Chiaroscuro behind her as illusionary butterflies float by.  I worked in a foreshadowing of her choosing as an Eclipse Caste in the wall carving behind her with the caste mark in the design.  She's also wearing the gold dress from the high stakes game and her 'lucky' jade necklace.  I finally have my chance to paint succulents, as well!  They act as a fun decorative way to tie the climate of her setting to the desert.

I've been adding some really cool examples of modern stained glass and skylines of Dubai for Chiaroscuro inspiration over at my Pinterest board for this story, for those interested in mining for inspiration!  I really want to tighten up the skyline and make it more unique as I start refining details for this image.

I can't wait to work on this image when I have time!  I'm hyped by the moment of quiet introspection and glittering desert city I was able to capture here.

Act 1 Wrap-Up!

Here we are at the end of Act 1!  Congratulations and thanks to those of you who made it this far!

The first part of Kalara's tale wraps up so neatly with her time in the South drawing to a close.  At this tidy port in the storm, I want to let this draft rest for a little while, gather reader feedback, and make sure that everything is ship shape before I move on to Act 2!

I also have many 2e rulebooks to re-read to start refining the lore, so I'll be doing that for a little while as well while you, my lovely readers, tear this thing to bits!

Where will we go from here?  For those who read the original memoir, you already know the immense change coming up for Kalara.  It's the time of her life where she'll truly learn who she really is, while also seeing the shades of who she will become.

I'm super looking forward to writing this next bit!  No doubt, it's going to be the most challenging part to write, as well.

For now, pat yourselves on the back. We've made it a 3rd of the way through!

The Uncrucified [ALPHA] - Ch.8 - Parting Gifts

RATING: R
- Gore

Kalara didn’t know how much time had passed before she came to a version of consciousness dulled by poppy milk and filled with the metal smell of blood.  A doctor was suturing the wounds on her back and sealing them with herb-filled poultices.

“What a waste of a slave…”  She heard him say as he sucked his teeth and moved on to the next wound.

The Uncrucified [ALPHA] - Ch.7 - Blood and Jasmine

RATING: R
- Language
- Violence
- Slavery
- Physical Abuse

The next day began like any other, or it would have if Kalara hadn’t slept in by a few minutes.  She was late in preparing Sana’s tea by nearly ten minutes, a fact which quickly earned her a chiding as she knelt by the table and served the tea.

“What’s wrong with you, girl?”  Sana scolded in a huff. “You’re late!”  Her keen eyes moved over Kalara’s unkempt hair and hastily assembled robes.  “Wipe your face, you’re a mess!  What have I told you about appearing improperly in my presence?”  She threw a handkerchief at Kalara, who quickly did as she was told to remove whatever it was Sana didn’t like.

Sana raised a brow at the strange mix of leftover khol and gold dust left in the handkerchief before waving Kalara off with a testy motion of her hand.  Kalara quickly bowed, knowing better than to say anything else when Sana was in such a mood. 

The Uncrucified [ALPHA] - Ch.6 - Hidden Empress

RATING: PG
- Gambling

Varia, out of breath and red faced, fell into a seat next to her where the Serene Viper had just been sitting.  Kalara set aside the pitcher she had been clutching for protection and dared to lay her hand on his arm.  “Varia…I saw him…The Viper.”  She whispered, fear making her voice shake slightly.

At that, Varia let out a long sigh, pushing his thumbs to his temples to sober himself. “Yes I know.  It’s the deadline, the final one I will likely get for repayment.  I haven’t seen him, but I knew he’d be here…”  His gaze wandered to a far-off place as he sat quiet for a long moment, contemplating the outcome of the night.  If he won, his troubles would be over, if he lost, he most likely would never be seen again after this night.

The Uncrucified [ALPHA] - Ch.5 - Cynis Varia's Lucky Charm

RATING: PG
- Gambling

            Over the course of the next few months, Kalara found herself embroiled in a secret night life.  Varia encouraged Sana to be more active in her social circles and in promoting their bathhouse businesses.  He became intimately aware with her social calendar, slotting in secret gambling meetups on the nights she was away.  Thankfully for Kalara, Sana still preferred to take a Realm servant with her to her social outings, rather than a lowly Southern girl.  Sana would think Kalara was home helping to take on more of the duties of household maintenance when, in fact, she embarked with Varia on one adventure after another.

The Uncrucified [ALPHA] - Ch.4 - The God of Fivefold Luck

RATING: PG-13
- Slavery
- Gambling
- Drug Use

After that day in the bath with Sana, the mistress’ ire towards Kalara lost some of its sharpness.  The dynamic of the household grew tense.  Even Sana’s ability to pretend as if everything was normal couldn’t hide the fact that servants were being laid off and valuables in the household were disappearing, sold off by Rij on what Kalara guessed were Varia’s orders.  More than once, Kalara spotted the candlelight of late night business meetings between Varia and his partners.  It seemed his ventures in setting up bathhouses in the area were having a hard time staying afloat amidst local competition.  It was a problem he couldn’t just throw money and the Cynis name at.

The Uncrucified [ALPHA] - Ch.3 - Breakable Dolls

RATING: PG-13

- Slavery
- Violence

          A month passed, then another and another until Kalara had spent the better part of a year in the service of Cynis Varia and his wife.  Her life had become a numbing repetition revolving around Sana’s wants and needs.  She prepared her tea.  She cleaned her chambers.  She emptied her chamber pots.  She did whatever errand was demanded of her.  

          When Sana was pleased with her, Kalara would sometimes be allowed to venture alone into the markets where she would have her only respite from the household.  She spent many evenings staring towards the horizon to Gem.  Sometimes she’d gaze towards Paragon, where a slave could be truly freed of their obligations by the city’s oath of fealty. 

           Such things were fantasy, however.  She was never allowed to stay away long enough to think too long, to ever forget who owned her destiny, lest she get a lashing when she returned home or sold off to a worse fate than a household slave’s.

The Uncrucified [ALPHA] - Ch.2 - Her Sharp Tongue

RATING: PG-13
- Slavery
- Violence
- Physical & Verbal Abuse

After the caravan's brief stop at the Rock, their monotonous vigil of the dunes resumed. The sudden shift to the shade of the buildings of Chiaroscuro was a welcome sight after so many days of sand!

Kalara arrived at the estate of Cynis Varia sun-worn and sand-beaten, the small lot of slaves hurried out by the attendant she had met before.  He bid them to stand in a line with other souls such as herself, the new slaves mixed in with prior servants of the household's original owners, all awaiting instruction.  A stream of workers carried furniture in and out of the home, removing Southern furniture and tossing it in a pile and bringing in brand new furniture marked by the stylistic flair of the Blessed Isle.

The Uncrucified [ALPHA] - Ch.1 - No More Daydreams

RATING: PG-13
- Slavery

The gods took no more notice than usual on the day that a slave named Kalara was born in the dusty slums of a basement in the city of Gem.  The cycle of a soul began anew, as it always did, the web of destiny continued as usual without tangles, the spiders pleased with their work.  The sun moved overhead, Sol Invictus forever journeying on his sure path across the skies of Creation.  If he noticed her then, he made no motions to show it.  Her fate seemed settled the day she was born to a pair of slaves, doomed to be yet another slave with a hard and short life.

            If she had a last name when she was born, she would never learn it.  The most the child would learn from her real parents was the melody of a lullaby sang softly in Firetongue.