The Herdmaster's Emissary

Praise be to the Wild Moon.

[emissary-gala]

Oh, mighty Herdmaster... I pray to you. Guide your loyal Emissary. To the depths of Esperia, I will follow only you.

For if I am not your servant... then what else should I be?

...Ah. Hello...

{ Greetings, all. This is an ask blog for the character Gala from AFK Journey.

Before sending asks, I would like everyone to observe a few rules:

This blog will be as canon compliant as much as possible. There may be a few headcanons sprinkled here and there, but ultimately Gala's blog will stick to canon as close as I can. Mun would like to apologize in advance for any inaccuracies along the way.

As Gala is a child character, NSFW asks are strictly prohibited.

UPDATE: Gala in this askblog will be follow POST-Thorns of Devotion. This means she's already known what has gone in the season; but, as she is still young, she still has doubts of her own. Her introduction post reflects this. The "Herdmaster" she refers to is Merlin.

There's not much you need to know about MUN, except that I'm an adult. I go by she/her pronouns. }

[afkj-morgan]

Sena? I know you'd sniff on my hair as if it was catnip! (@bunnybird-afk)

Vi? You're terribly biased towards kids. Stop finding their jokes funny. (@magister-violyste)

Kafka? No - EVA! Get here and fight! You want to see my hair be reason for your trip to the moon? You can have that! (@kafka030)

Zinni? Did you mumble a spell in your sleep again?! You're out! Sleep with your oversized rabbits elsewhere! (@zinnithemage)

Or was it Gala? You and your terribly unfunny teasing. Ha ha. (@emissary-gala)

[emissary-gala]

Wh- What are you TALKING about?! I would never do such a thing!

Always roping me into these things... ugh!

...Why do you have a seaweed head, anyway?

[emissary-gala]

PEEK-A-BOO!!!!

GYAAAA!!!

{ The girl sprints from where she had been sitting, staring perplexed at the figure who'd come out from... nowhere. }

Wh- What are you?! As a matter of fact, who are you?!

S-Speak up! Or I'll... I'll bite you!!

[mad-daggerrrrrrrrrr]

*giggles* Trust me, you will regret biting me! This body has been decaying for over...

... ... Gonna be real with you, I forgot how long I've been like this.

ANYWAYS!! You haven't seen a Graveborn up close, have you? Well now you do!! Nice to meet you!! My name's Igor!! Hehehe, now it's your turn to introduce yourself!!

[emissary-gala]

Your body has been... decaying? You're dead?!

And... um... what's a Graveborn?

( ...Despite his peculiarity, I do have a feeling he'd be useful to Morgan as a case study... )

...Nice to meet you, as well... though I still don't know what to make of you...

[mad-daggerrrrrrrrrr]

HAHAHAHAA!! It really is your first time, I see!!

Graveborns are undeads! Living corpses having a mind on its own-

-and ROSE from their own graves to live life again!! Well, at least that's what my senior told me!

Some Graveborns remember their time when they were alive- like my friends!! They seem to keep their memories nice and safe in their lil old brains!

(he then proceeds to knock his helmet as he said that.)

And me too! But I won't tell you my life story- that's a secret! Hehehehehe!!

I'm here to find some friends and coincidentally I found you!! Would you like to play some games with me? I'm down with any! I like all of them!!

[emissary-gala]

Un...deads...? Rose from the... grave...?

...Hmm...

( This is somewhat like... Morgan's necromancy. But in this day and age, his spells are still underworked and still in the process of improvement.

Does that mean... necromancy has gained some relevance? )

So... if you're dead... and have come back alive...

Then that technically means you weren't dead in the first place. Simply waiting to be reborn. Hehe.

Ah, but... are you guys not reincarnated, then? Still in the same bodies?

[mad-daggerrrrrrrrrr]

Hehehehe!! "Waiting to be reborn" huh? Interesting way to put it!! I like your words my funny little friend!!

But reincarnation... Hmmm....

Nahhhhhh I still feel the same even if I don't remember anything, and me and my friends woke up in our own respectful graves, so I don't think that counts as reincarnation!! Just our same old selves!!

Not only that, it's gotta be someone or something that revives you most of the time!! *sighs* How I wonder who revived little ol' me!!

I only know my senior, Valka told me that she was revived by the God of Death himself, but I never knew how the others revived!! They kept their secrets too well, I think!!!!!

I wish I could introduce you to my friends in Whiteridge, they're such nice people and fun to play with, but I'm the only one STUCK here in this who knows where of a timeline!!! Such a shame...

(quietly mumbles to himself) I'm starting to miss Valka and the others...

[emissary-gala]

Hmm... what an interesting way to put it. So someone else needs to be a catalyst for you to be truly revived...

Gravecalling has seriously gone many lengths in the future...

Am I correct? That you're not from this timeline?

Missing your friends... I get how that feels. There's someone I miss, too...

Do you remember where you'd come from? I could take you back there so you could reunite with your friends. I know a little bit of time magic, but I've studied well since I've started.

Maybe I can help you out of this era and return to your own!

[emissary-gala]

@theharbingerofflames

OOC: Throughout TOD, she is only referred to as Lisin, not Fox.

{ She has not heard from her Master, in a while.

Which is... strange. And worrisome. She knows the Herdmaster has other duties to attend to— more than aware that they do not belong in this time, painfully succinct to the fact they are needed in their own era.

But she remembers their promise. Someday, they will return to her again, descending from the same alter she would have been held sacrifice to.

Nowadays, Gala spends most of her time around the Skyfall Altar. Waiting. Watching for a miracle. }

...

...Master...

Where are you right now?

[emissary-gala]

Gala i hope you understand you cause in me something called cuteness agression

...Cuteness... aggression?

...

( Whatever do they mean by that...? )

[soul-stalker]

Nazrik... how have you been?

( @emissary-gala )

Ah! Gala.

Surprised to see you here. Shouldn't you be seeing how the wheat's doing?

As for me, I'm doing alright. You don't have to worry so much about me, kid.

[emissary-gala]

B-But Nazrik... word has been going around that you've been cooped up in your treehouse for far too long. That's why I'm asking.

...You're not preparing for another hunt again, are you? You almost got hurt from the last one three days ago!

You have to remember... your weapon's power is not the same as it was before. Azora's power no longer blesses it.

[soul-stalker]

...

Hah. Tuft must be snitching on me again, huh?

I really am alright, kid. No need to worry about whether my damn spears are working or not.

I can assure you, I don't need the powers of a fallen goddess to function.

[emissary-gala]

...Sigh. Nazrik...

I don't want to be blunt. But this stubbornness will kill you one day.

...The Wildborn can't lose their greatest warrior. Even without the Hunting Goddess' blessing, you'd still be revered as such.

So... if you're still going on that hunt, just... be careful.

[afkj-morgan]

Morgan, I've returned.

Apparently, you wanted me for something... again.

So... what is it?

( @emissary-gala )

*Morgan looks up from his papers, studying Gala for a moment, showing no clear reaction.*

...

... it took you a while. In fact, it took you so long that I have already forgotten what I so desperately needed you for.

But since you are here now, take a seat, pour us some water and relax for a moment. I am sure it will come to me shortly.

Oh hey, that's it. You can't sit down. It's a bit messy. So...

... get Merlin's scrolls back to where they belong and then you can rest.

[emissary-gala]

...Hmph.

{ Good grief. She had just gotten home from the wheat fields, and now there's more work to be done?! If she had enough energy she would have certainly argued back.

But she does as she is told, strolling begrudgingly into the cottage and collecting Merlin's scrolls in her arms. Initially pondering which shelves housed these scrolls in the first place, her eyes catch a glimpse of the scrolls' titles.

...Spells. That she has not heard of before, or ones she had not been taught.

Yet. }

...These scrolls...

Morgan, what are these scrolls for? You nor Merlin have never shown these to me before.

New spells, perhaps? Will you teach me these one day?

[magister-supreme]

Merlin! I've returned...

I'm sorry for being late. Morgan sent me to do a rather arduous task with the corpses found around Mirehold... even when I should've been tracking the progress of the wheat fields...

By then it was too late before I received your summons. Is there anything you'd like me to do?

( @emissary-gala )

☼ — Welcome back, Gala. It’s alright, I understand.

☼ — At least Morgan now has a helping hand…

☼ — Hmm, aside from the progress of the wheat fields… You can rest for now. You’ve already done a lot today.

[emissary-gala]

Hmph... some helping hand I am! All day he's made me do nothing but scour through corpses and dead bodies and drain them of any divinely-corrupted magic essence should I find any!

But... it's alright. At least I did learn plenty from the task today. Necromancy truly is fascinating, although it can be quite scary...

Is there... really nothing else I can do, Lady Merlin?

[magister-supreme]

—Merlin can only chuckle in response.—

☼ — At least you got to learn a thing or two, right?

☼ — I agree with you. Necromancy is interesting in its own way… And Morgan is getting better at it as time passes.

☼ — And, Gala… If your master was here, I’m sure they would’ve advised you to rest. The wheat’s progress is going steady, and you’ve completed your tasks…

☼ — Though I heard you’ve had some… interesting encounters lately. If you want, we can talk about them.

[emissary-gala]

...Hmm...

Y-Yes. I... I did encounter such strange things as of late. I've been wanting to bring it up to you and Morgan for the past few days, but I thought... maybe I should try and figure them out on my own.

Obviously, that didn't work... I still can't wrap my head around them.

Lady Merlin... are you aware that Perseus has come back to life?

Gorgonna too! B-But it's not the Gorgonna we know! She's not the same as Azora, for some reason...

And, and...! An animated corpse! I've been talking to him for a while, and he seems so nice, but... his case still seems quite peculiar to me...

[emissary-gala]

PEEK-A-BOO!!!!

GYAAAA!!!

{ The girl sprints from where she had been sitting, staring perplexed at the figure who'd come out from... nowhere. }

Wh- What are you?! As a matter of fact, who are you?!

S-Speak up! Or I'll... I'll bite you!!

[mad-daggerrrrrrrrrr]

*giggles* Trust me, you will regret biting me! This body has been decaying for over...

... ... Gonna be real with you, I forgot how long I've been like this.

ANYWAYS!! You haven't seen a Graveborn up close, have you? Well now you do!! Nice to meet you!! My name's Igor!! Hehehe, now it's your turn to introduce yourself!!

[emissary-gala]

Your body has been... decaying? You're dead?!

And... um... what's a Graveborn?

( ...Despite his peculiarity, I do have a feeling he'd be useful to Morgan as a case study... )

...Nice to meet you, as well... though I still don't know what to make of you...

[mad-daggerrrrrrrrrr]

HAHAHAHAA!! It really is your first time, I see!!

Graveborns are undeads! Living corpses having a mind on its own-

-and ROSE from their own graves to live life again!! Well, at least that's what my senior told me!

Some Graveborns remember their time when they were alive- like my friends!! They seem to keep their memories nice and safe in their lil old brains!

(he then proceeds to knock his helmet as he said that.)

And me too! But I won't tell you my life story- that's a secret! Hehehehehe!!

I'm here to find some friends and coincidentally I found you!! Would you like to play some games with me? I'm down with any! I like all of them!!

[emissary-gala]

Un...deads...? Rose from the... grave...?

...Hmm...

( This is somewhat like... Morgan's necromancy. But in this day and age, his spells are still underworked and still in the process of improvement.

Does that mean... necromancy has gained some relevance? )

So... if you're dead... and have come back alive...

Then that technically means you weren't dead in the first place. Simply waiting to be reborn. Hehe.

Ah, but... are you guys not reincarnated, then? Still in the same bodies?

[chosen--champion]

Wha...?

Perseus?! How are you... alive?

( @emissary-gala )

Huh?…

*For a moment, he stops at the spot.*

*Alive?*

*However, his confusion doesn’t stay for long as he registers who’s speaking to him.*

… Wait…

You’re the little Wildborn girl who was with the Arcane Council.

[emissary-gala]

( Perseus... he's alive...?

But... he died! During that brutal war... how could this be possible? )

( Did Azora's plan to revive him work, then? And so, because of that... he'd come back? )

( ...No. I should keep my wits about me. He may not know much from being revived. Morgan told me as much.

I should question him. )

...Yes. I am. Master is not with me right now, and... I happened to stop by during one of my inspections of the wheat's progress.

...How... are you?

( He doesn't look pleased to see me. If I remember correctly, that was how he was when...

When Halia suffered the flood... )

[chosen--champion]

The wheat’s progress…? You know we can’t grow any crops in Halia.

*When asked how he is doing, his frown only deepens, albeit only slightly. The person that this Wildborn girl claims to be her master had the gall to impersonate the Hunting Goddess— Even contributed to causing the flood. And now here she is, all by herself.*

…

*He’s let out enough frustration back then. And despite what happened, Gala here is still a young girl, and so…*

*He shakes his head.* There’s no need to concern yourself. Especially over me.

[emissary-gala]

You... still can't grow crops?

But... the truce! The deal! It was all set in stone after the—

( No. Wait. This isn't right. The truce was made after the war. After he... died.

Something really is not adding up... )

( I must get to the bottom of this. )

...Nevermind. I... suppose I must be misremembering things.

Perseus... is it still flooding in Halia?

( If he answers how I think he'll answer, then... I may know what to do next. )

[chosen--champion]

…?

*Out of all the strange encounters Perseus has come across… This, with Gala, is likely the strangest yet. First, she was shocked, asking how he’s alive, and now she talks about a truce…?*

*Still, he, too, brushes it aside after her saying she must be misremembering things.*

…

Yes.

[emissary-gala]

...Is... is that so...

( My suspicions are correct, then. I'm back to the time of that dreaded flood. )

...Sir Perseus, I'd like to ask a favor.

I know... you still don't trust us. I know you still won't believe me when I say my master and their colleagues were not the cause of the flood, even though it's the truth.

Just... grant me this one favor. Afterwards, I'll leave.

Please take me to Halia.

Allow me to see the flood again, with my own eyes...

[emissary-gala]

Some quick footsteps can be heard at the Wrathwood Grove. A female white tiger, a wildborn to Their eyes... tackle hug Gala from behind her, almost causing her to fall. "Gala~ I finally found you~" she said loudly and sinking her face in her fluffy, white hair.

Oh!

( The child catches her off guard. Gala stumbles onto the wet ground with a soft yelp, rubbing dust and dirt off of her face. Afterwards, she turns swiftly towards the child, a disapproving frown on her face.

Had she not been in a good mood today, she would have given this child a stern talking-to. They couldn't have been younger than her by five years.

However — just this once — she'll settle her temper. )

That is not very nice of you! Don't push people into the dirt again.

But... how do you know my name? I don't believe we've even met yet... who are you? Where is your mother and father?

[emissary-gala]

PEEK-A-BOO!!!!

GYAAAA!!!

{ The girl sprints from where she had been sitting, staring perplexed at the figure who'd come out from... nowhere. }

Wh- What are you?! As a matter of fact, who are you?!

S-Speak up! Or I'll... I'll bite you!!

[mad-daggerrrrrrrrrr]

*giggles* Trust me, you will regret biting me! This body has been decaying for over...

... ... Gonna be real with you, I forgot how long I've been like this.

ANYWAYS!! You haven't seen a Graveborn up close, have you? Well now you do!! Nice to meet you!! My name's Igor!! Hehehe, now it's your turn to introduce yourself!!

[emissary-gala]

Your body has been... decaying? You're dead?!

And... um... what's a Graveborn?

( ...Despite his peculiarity, I do have a feeling he'd be useful to Morgan as a case study... )

...Nice to meet you, as well... though I still don't know what to make of you...

[emissary-gala]

Gala, my sweet!! 🥺 I hope you're doing alright!

I do have a question about your fellow Wildborns. Who did you know personally — if any at all?

Who I knew personally...

In truth, I've no personal connections with any of my people. I was raised as a sacrifice to the Hunting Goddess— truth be told, I shouldn't even be breathing right now.

...If not for my Master, that is...

Oh, but... I did know someone from my childhood! Her name was... Tilaya, if I recall. According to Modra, she was also supposed to be a sacrifice like me.

Tilaya was friendly to me. I liked her despite her rather... rambunctious, rough behavior. Unfortunately I didn't get to connect much with her... I hope I'll get to see her again.

Hopefully, she still remembers me...

[emissary-gala]

PEEK-A-BOO!!!!

GYAAAA!!!

{ The girl sprints from where she had been sitting, staring perplexed at the figure who'd come out from... nowhere. }

Wh- What are you?! As a matter of fact, who are you?!

S-Speak up! Or I'll... I'll bite you!!

[emissary-gala]

Golden light imbued with crimson red glows before Gala. Slowly unveiling a towering woman dressed in divine robes, adorned with pomegranate berries and donning the crown that the little emissary had bestowed upon her. Then her low, deep and authoritative yet oddly mellifluous voice boomed.

"Gala, my sweet little one.. how have you been faring on our adventures so far? You have demonstrated resilience and wit that is far beyond impressive and have defied expectations in all the best ways. I am proud to have you by my side, and for that, is why I am concerned for your wellbeing."

The goddess-mage surprisingly crouches down to be at eye-level with Gala as she reaches out to pat her head. Ruffling her fluffy hair in a way one can tell she is still getting used to administering physical affection, "Tell Master Elysia your thoughts, I shall listen in all fairness."

{ Gala stares in awe at the towering lady before her — would have stared too long had it not been for the lady ruffling her hair. Whining, she tries to shake the hand off her; but the affectionate gesture does feel nice.

She recognizes the crown on her head; she had given the "Herdmaster" (really the Magister Merlin from the future) after their descent upon the Wildborn sacrificial altar. But she has no recollection of who she gave it to, exactly; to her, she sees many faces when she tries to think of her Master...

Perhaps she'd only forgotten. But how could she, for someone so important? Is it perhaps this person, then?

...No matter. Regardless of who she sees as Magister Merlin, they will be greeted with the same kind of enthusiasm. }

I'm... I'm doing quite well. Thank you for your concern, Master Elysia.

What would be the reason for your visit today, Master? Would you like to see how the wheat progress is going?

[meepinmeat]

Elysia nods as she replies, "That's good to hear. Yes, I would like to see the progress on the wheats and lend a hand if needed."

The goddess-mage before she stands back up. Giving Gala more opportunities to take in her full height that she wasn't able to earlier ago. She may be a child and of course, the adults are taller than her but it looks like Elysia could tower over that Halian General or even Chief Kordan as they both made their way to Mirehold where the wheat are being farmed.

And no matter the guise Magister Merlin wears, Gala will know that they'll always be the person who cared for and guided her in a time of need. The two gals keeping close as they ventured forth, "..How has your time with the Arcane Council been? Your progress in wielding your magic?"

[emissary-gala]

Alright! This way, Master!

{ Gala leads Elysia through tall stalks of wheat, golden under the midday sun. Humans and Wildborn alike are busy at work — coexisting in peace, for once, save for the occasional discriminate glaring. There's still a lot more to do, but the progress is gradual.

Upon being questioned about her time at the council, Gala hums in contemplation. }

The Arcane Council has been kind to me. Lady Merlin teaches me so much more than I know, and Morgan too — though he still teases me a lot.

And my time magic has improved a lot! Lady Merlin tells me I have great potential, and to continue studying it so I can harness it better in the future—

Oh! Master, please, let me show you what I've learned! Please? Pleeease?

[wildborn-gorgonna]

!!!

...Are... are you... Gorgonna?

( @emissary-gala )

….!

….Yes, I am.

And you are….Gala?

[emissary-gala]

...

{ She finds herself staring at the woman, for a while. Gala has only heard Gorgonna's name once, from Modra — if one were to not count the seemingly-dozens of times Perseus had yelled her name at her Master back during the floods of Halia.

Elder Toro had mentioned what she looked like. Hair the color of the deep sky; eyes like a jungle cat. Exactly the woman she's looking at.

...Though Gala knows better now. This woman is not named Gorgonna. She doesn't have cat-like eyes. But she goes by someone else entirely, only hiding it from view of everyone... }

You... deceived many people. Deceived Perseus, deceived the Wildborn. And then you turn out to be the Hunting Goddess. You abandoned us during the Blood Moon. Chose your selfish desires over your own followers.

...How... why... are you back, Azora? Are you simply here to torment us once more?

[wildborn-gorgonna]

….

Despite the confused reaction to all the things Gala was saying, Gorgonna remains calm.

She has only briefly heard of her while she has to remain hidden from prying eyes, keeping watch in the Hunting Goddess’s stead around the territory. Even with that, she isn’t able to wander very far, so what she knows about Gala is limited.

….One moment, Gala. I believe there has been a misunderstanding. I’m not Lady Azora.

[emissary-gala]

What?

Don't. Lie! You're the Hunting Goddess!

How are you going to prove you are not Azora? The Arcane Council saw with their own two eyes the way you turned into the Wild Moon!

[wildborn-gorgonna]

● - The Arcane Council saw it….? And they told you?

● - You’re being too sure of yourself, Gala.

● - If you don’t believe me, you may detect it from my magic traces. I can sense your magic potential. I’m sure you’ll be able to tell for yourself from there.

[emissary-gala]

...Your magic traces...

{ Gala does exactly that.

By the looks of it, sure enough... nothing. No single trace of Azora's bloodthirst in Gorgonna's essence. Her body and mind truly are separate— unlike the traces of magic she'd detected from the goddess during that fight in the Tree of Life.

Yet, still... how? }

...You... you really are different.

But... how? Did... Azora simply assume your identity?

You are right, I have no proof. But we did defeat Azora; she was struck dead by none other than Lady Merlin. And my Master helped her in doing so. I saw that with my own eyes, and even aided in defeating her.

How, then, are you different?

[soul-stalker]

Nazrik... how have you been?

( @emissary-gala )

Ah! Gala.

Surprised to see you here. Shouldn't you be seeing how the wheat's doing?

As for me, I'm doing alright. You don't have to worry so much about me, kid.

[emissary-gala]

B-But Nazrik... word has been going around that you've been cooped up in your treehouse for far too long. That's why I'm asking.

...You're not preparing for another hunt again, are you? You almost got hurt from the last one three days ago!

You have to remember... your weapon's power is not the same as it was before. Azora no longer blesses it.