When Azra Stormchaser, a fallen angel with a thirst for knowledge and an unshakable determination, finds himself washed up on the riverbanks of Styx, it becomes his mission to find the truth about the history between Heaven and Hell, and hopefully stop Armageddon in its tracks (with the help of you, the astral chorus). Series by @ashimadu!
So, Bruce, what's the Jamboree supposed to be like anyway?
"Yer buddy Azra here was right on the money fer the most part. It's a festival. There's plenty a' stuff to do, plenty a' vendors sellin' wares, tons of dancin' and food."
"Not to mention th' big event at the end a' the night."
Cinder gives a whinny of excitement at the particular mention of the "big event", driving a look of concern from the stressed out angel on its back.
"Big event, hm?"
As they thunder down the path to the Riverside Rumble, it makes itself visible before long. It's a much more lively sight than it was yesterday, with plenty of lights, chatter, and energetic instrumental music pumping from behind the wooden gate and fence.
It's also teeming with people, demons, imps, and even a handful of hellcats are chattering amongst each other excitedly, some selling their aforementioned wares, some playing various carnival style games, and others chowing down on food and drinks.
You look (and sound) very tired! But anyway- what do you think the Jamboree is going to be like?
"If I have any guesses based on what I'd seen yesterday of the Rodeo decor, it seems to be a festival of some sort. I trust there will be plenty of merrymaking and food."
"And if the name is anything to go off of, plenty of alcohol as well."
"Best in Styx if y'aint countin' the Gluttony Ring."
Bruce rounds the corner from the side of the house atop Cinder, who seems quite eager to get going to the Jamboree, if the excited flickering of its mane is a tell of any kind.
"Ah take it yer ready ta get goin', Azra?"
"Quite."
Azra mounts Cinder with intent, squinting at Bruce with suspicion.
By the time Azra finally returns, many hours have passed. The scene you're met with is the mellow nighttime view from Bruce's porch, where Azra seems to be waiting rather vigilantly for someone, fidgeting his wings and shifting his gaze around from object to object. One could even say he seems paranoid.
"...Good evening."
His tone comes off rather flat and even suspicious, but it isn't aimed toward you at all. On top of his paranoia, a rather long yawn from him tells you that he also seems exhausted.
Howdy! Ashi here! For those who have been anticipating day three of the story, look no further than tomorrow, November 23rd!
For a bit following the end of day two, I slid into a sort of mental/emotional slump (and also school got in the mix, as school does), so I decided not to proceed onto day three until I was feeling up to the task in order to deliver a quality finale for our first chapter.
I hope the story has been a fun experience for everyone so far, and I’m glad you’ve all decided to stick around for it! I’m very grateful for your patience as I navigate this new scene!
I’ll see you all tomorrow for the Moonshine Jamboree~!
The Wrath Ring has been quite intriguing thus far. The locals seem rather friendly. Well, as friendly as they can be seeing as I come from Heaven.
I know that the tension between Heaven and the Underworld has been thick for ages, but what exactly caused this rift between us? It feels as if this is an issue that extends far past me, but still one that I can...fix somehow. If I just dig a bit deeper. Find out more about all of this. Perhaps somehow if I find all of the pieces, I can finally convince the archangels to stop the corruption from spreading.
I'm rambling. I've never been able to quite stop myself once I get going. Back to the present. The Moonshine Jubilee is tomorrow. Or was it Jamboree? I believe it was Jamboree. Part of me wants to run before I can even discover what it is Bruce is plotting.
He wouldn't try to kill me, right? He's been incredibly hospitable and kind to me thus far. Not to mention that he showed me around the ring. It'd be redundant to go through all of this effort for someone that you plan to off the next day.
I'm still afraid, though, unfortunately. I don't know what to expect. All my life I've always relied on knowing what to expect, which has made these past unpredictable months rather distressing, and these past couple of days even worse.
No matter. If Bruce and the rest of Wrath try to catch me off guard, I'll simply have a plan for every possible thing they could throw at me. No more unpredictability.
Tomorrow will be no big deal at all.
-Azra
[Standard font for those who have difficulty reading cursive.]
The Wrath Ring has been quite intriguing thus far. The locals seem rather friendly. Well, as friendly as they can be seeing as I come from Heaven.
I know that the tension between Heaven and the Underworld has been thick for ages, but what exactly caused this rift between us? It feels as if this is an issue that extends far past me, but still one that I can...fix somehow. If I just dig a bit deeper. Find out more about all of this. Perhaps somehow if I find all of the pieces, I can finally convince the archangels to stop the corruption from spreading.
I'm rambling. I've never been able to quite stop myself once I get going. Back to the present. The Moonshine Jubilee is tomorrow. Or was it Jamboree? I believe it was Jamboree. Part of me wants to run before I can even discover what it is Bruce is plotting.
He wouldn't try to kill me, right? He's been incredibly hospitable and kind to me thus far. Not to mention that he showed me around the ring. It'd be redundant to go through all of this effort for someone that you plan to off the next day.
I'm still afraid, though, unfortunately. I don't know what to expect. All my life I've always relied on knowing what to expect, which has made these past unpredictable months rather distressing, and these past couple of days even worse.
No matter. If Bruce and the rest of Wrath try to catch me off guard, I'll simply have a plan for every possible thing they could throw at me. No more unpredictability.
Azra rises from the bed and goes to his writing desk. He once again flips his journal open, flipping to a fresh page.
"I hope the lot of you don't mind an early end to our time together today. I like to write when I'm stressed, and I can't focus much with an audience."
There's clear apprehension in Azra's voice as he addresses Bruce's statement, brows furrowed with concern.
"Well, we can't letcha out of Wrath without testin' the thick of yer skin, now can we?"
He doesn't elaborate any further than that.
The residential lanscape, now far behind, gives way to a long dirt road leading to some kind of structure decorated with banners and other festive decor.
"This here's the Riverside Rumble. Only rodeo in all of Styx. Moonshine Jamboree's gonna take place here."
"I see."
Azra appears to be dedicating its sight to memory, hiding the fear he possesses about what could possibly be in store for tomorrow.
~~~
The tour continues on for a while longer, Azra being taken to see other popular spots around the ring and taken to meet some of Bruce's familiar locals. By the end of it all, the sun is getting ready to set again.
Bruce sets Cinder back up in its stable as per usual and gets ready to set up dinner (give it up for Taco Night) as Azra makes his way straight to his room to think.
"What on earth could he possibly be talking about?"
He flops backward onto his mattress, staring at the ceiling with distress.
I for one thing you deseeve to feel pride for looking amazing
"Thank you. I do look quite nice now."
Azra and Bruce leave The Nifty Thimble and climb back onto Cinder, who was entertaining itself by playing with a stray hellspawn that had come sniffing around for food scraps in the trash bins.
Bruce whistles for it to get moving on through town square, and it does just that, kicking up dust and grit as it goes.
"Oh, right, I was meaning to ask...What's a Moonshine Jamboree?"
"Wrath Ring tradition. Everyone comes down to the Riverside Rumble fer a sorta farmer's market with other festivities."
As town square goes by, the busy, shoppy scenery dwindles into a more calm, residential area with farmhouses, mills, clotheslines, et cetera. Cinder slows its pace as to not cause a disturbance among the homes.
"I-I...I'd better get back to filling orders! I have much to do, especially with the Moonshine Jamboree tomorrow! Have a nifty day, Mister Banesong! You as well, Mister Azra."
"Sure thing, Maurice. Wouldn't want ta keep ya from yer work fer too long. Ah hope ya have a good day too."
Maurice turns to leave, but Bruce speaks again before he does.
"By the way, ya can call me Bruce if ya like."
It seems Maurice has reached maximum capacity at the moment. Without responding, he rushes his way back through the door and clatters it shut, fluffed and flustered all the way.
"It seems he isn't much up for conversation anymore."
"He's fine. Gets like that sometimes."
"Fer now, though, Ah think it's 'bout time Ah show you some more'a the ring."
AWOOOGA! Looking good, Azra!! That color looks lovely on you!!
"Thank you. I thought so too."
"Ya never miss a beat, Maurice."
Marice looks to the side timidly, his four eyes blinking one at a time.
"I-I try my best, Mister Banesong."
He looks back at Azra with a more politely formal expression, smiling softly.
"I'm very glad ya like the new clothing, Mister Azra."
Bruce waves his hand, summoning a red, glowing ball of flame that soon disperses into glittering embers. When it does, a thick leather wallet is revealed in his hand.
"Let's see here...Ah hope this about does it; puttin' in extra fer the trouble, too."
Bruce sticks his tongue out a tad as he sifts through the wallet, before pulling out about ten thick, shiny gold coins and placing them into Maurice's hand.
"Oh, this is awfully generous of you, Bruce- er- Mister Banesong. It was no trouble at all, I swear it!"
Maurice's tails swish with glee as he puts the coins in their rightful new home inside of the cash register.
"Hm."
Azra appears to be looking at himself rather pridefully in a mirror hung on one of the shop's walls.
