#oditi

Chapter 1 Meetings and Mysteries

The land of Arthrope…many Bugs of all kinds have built civilizations here, from little villages to entire kingdoms, living in tandem with the natural landscape and the life that calls it home. Of these civilizations, though, many would argue that the grandest was that of the Bards. Bugs with a particular relationship with the voices of nature, they used a unique magic that enhanced them, allowed them to break past the limitations of the typical Bug. Unfortunately, disaster struck the Bards one day, one that not even their magic could save them from. Many Bards perished in this cataclysm, and afterwards many more left Arthrope. A few, however, remained and did what they could to improve the lives of the Bugs around them. They were no longer masters of magic, they no longer controlled the energy that flowed through them. They were Bugs like any other, and they did what they could to make Arthrope beautiful. Even still, many wonder where the magic of the old Bards had gone. Many wonder if traces of it linger still…

A trio of bugs were walking down a dirt path surrounded by dead grass. Most bugs don’t choose to go through these parts, even with a path to guide them, but these three seemed to be traveling for a specific reason. One member of the trio was a Termite Princess, decorated with mushroom-themed wear and holding a mushroom-like hiking staff. Accompanying her were a pair of Beetles: one was an Ironclad Beetle, covered in what appeared to be fancy silver and gems, while the other was a Bombardier Beetle, wearing a trenchcoat, a trilby and safety goggles.

Ironclad Beetle: That’s, uh, quite the story there, Princess. Did your Queen read it to you as a kid?

Termite Princess: N-no, it was not a bedtime story: It’s a story of what truly happened to the Bards of Arthrope...at least, according to surviving reports...

Bombardier Beetle: So, an entire civilization was basically wiped out by dumb luck?

TP: W-well it’s not like the entire civilization was wiped out, though there were casualties...A-again, many left Arthrope while others-

IB: Yeah, yeah, cool stuff. When will we get to safety so we can go do other things?

BB: Titan, shut up! (To the Termite Princess) Princess Oditi, please ignore my IDIOTIC partner: we will take as much time as necessary to get you where you need to be. Then you can give us the other half of our pay and we’ll head off!

Oditi the Termite Princess: Well, th-thank you very much, Nitro! I still feel slightly bad about needing your help, but…

Nitro the Bombardier Beetle: I mean, the thing was that your parents couldn’t help with your little quest, right?

Oditi: Y-yes…

Nitro: Do me and Titan look like your parents?

Oditi: (Giggles) No, I suppose you do not…

Nitro: Then there’s nothing to -

Suddenly, a distant roar sounded off through the area, and the trio of Bugs stopped dead in their tracks. Oditi and Nitro were both shivering like mad, scared nearly out of their wits.

Oditi: W-w-what was that!?

Nitro: I-it must b-be some sort of p-p-pre-predator! N-native to these lands!

Titan the Ironclad Beetle: You and the wuss stay under this bush here, Princess. I’ll handle it.

Nitro: What!? You can’t do anything, I’ll handle it!

Titan: Yeah, right, Maybe your wimpy little gasses can make it dizzy or something but I know how to cause some actual damage.

Nitro: I’m the only one who knows what I’m doing, you oaf!

Titan: Then why do you always drop-

Oditi: U-um, pardon me for interrupting, but is it truly necessary for me to stay here?

Nitro: Huh? Well yeah, we don’t want you getting hurt, right?

Titan: Yeah, we’d lose our pay-

Nitro: (Quietly) SHUT UP ABOUT THE PAY! (To Oditi, Normally) Just sit still and keep safe, Princess! We’ll be back shortly.

Oditi: V-very well. May the kind spores protect you!

Titan: Alrighty then. [I swear, if she talks about mushrooms one more time I’m gonna snap.]

So Nitro and Titan moved out as Oditi hid behind some underbrush. She sat quietly for a few minutes, which became a little more than a few minutes, until she began to worry for the Beetles.

Oditi: Huuuuuuu…[They are safe, Oditi. They are skilled explorers, they are strong, they are safe.]

Shortly after she said that to herself, she heard the roar from earlier again. This made her quiver in fear, but she tried to remain confident that her escorts would be fine. Oditi held her antennae and lightly fiddled with them as she repeated three words to herself.

Oditi: They are safe, they are safe, they are safe, they are-

Nitro: AHHHHHH, STAY BACK!!!!!

Oditi: Nitro!?

Titan: YOU WANT A PIECE OF ME, YA BIG CREEP!? COME HERE, I’LL MESS YOU UP!!!

Oditi: Titan?!

Nitro: TITAN, YOU MORON, WE GOTTA GET AWAY FROM THIS THING!!!

Oditi was about to call out for the Beetles when she realized that doing so would likely just call the monster to her next. So she sat a little longer, wishing that maybe her escorts would come back for her or the monster was not as dangerous as it first appeared or anything that could ease her stress. But after sitting for even more time, she feared for the worst and realized that the best thing for her to do...was to go forward and hope for safety. She prayed some before getting up and heading off.

Oditi followed the same path that Nitro and Titan took, but didn’t go far before she heard even more worrying noises. She tensed up and her eyes darted around, looking for somewhere she could run away to.

Oditi: M-Maybe I can hide in the tall grass? No, monsters love to go through there...Perhaps I can play dead? No, that couldn’t work, I know that I will be shivering far too much!...Huuuuuuu…

So she just stood still, paralyzed with fear and about to cry, as the sounds grew more and more, closer and closer. After a bit, some nearby grass starts to rustle, so Odoti closed her eyes and waited for the inevitable...when the creature hiding in the grass showed itself, it turned out to be a tiny ball-like thing, looking somewhat like a Seedling: however, the leaves on this creature’s head were near withered, and it was overall paler. Upon noticing the identity of the thing in the grass, Odoti calmed down a little and even walked a bit closer to it.

Oditi: Oh, I believe I’ve read about these creatures...is that a...Rotling?...Ohhh, poor thing, you look hungry. Let me see if I have any food for you to eat.

Oditi reached into a little pouch she had to try and find some food for the Rotling. The Rotling, on the other hand, stepped closer to her and began to growl. When Oditi heard this growling she stopped searching and slowly turned her head towards the thing she was just about to feed. Suddenly, the Rotling jumped at Oditi, attacking her. She screamed and put up her hiking stick, luckily blocking the Rotling’s charge completely. Though she was not harmed, the Rotling was still feeling aggressive, and continued attacking. All Oditi could think of was to run around in circles, hoping to tire it out. It wasn’t long before she got tired herself, leading to the Rotling catching up.

Oditi: Oh Gods...I-I don’t want-

Suddenly, a battle cry echoed out in the area. Both Oditi and the Rotling looked around in confusion, and the latter was met with a running kick to its side, causing it to be launched back into the grass from which it came. Oditi looked in the direction the Rotling was launched in, mouth agape, before spotting the figure that launched it away: it was an Ant, specifically a Gravel Ant. She was wearing copper-looking gauntlets on her hands and feet, as well as an iron-looking band on her abdomen and a white headband. Clearly a skilled fighter, this Ant had a fierce, serious expression on her face, and was not even bothering to look at Oditi at the moment. Oditi was near speechless with gratitude, but after a minute she did get up and began proclaiming her thanks to the stern-looking stranger.

Oditi: Oh, miss! Thank you so, so, so SO-

Gravel Ant: You utter idiot!

Oditi: Huh?

Ant: You clearly have no battle capabilities: am I wrong in assuming that?

Oditi: N-no...I studied many subjects back in my home, b-but bat-

Ant: Why would you travel through here with no combat experience, then!? The Scarred Lands are a death trap for fools like yourself, looking for entertainment yet lacking the skills necessary to survive in such a harsh environment!

Oditi: W-well, it’s tradition for the Termite Princesses of my lineage to journey off and find a new land in which to form their kingdom. I heard about Arthrope, and-

Ant: That does not explain why you chose to come here with no combat experience!

Oditi: I-I-I was g-going to say-(notices something) eep!

Before she could talk any longer, Oditi noticed two more Rotlings emerging from the dead grass: it would appear that the Rotling the Ant kicked away had landed on these ones, and they came in the direction it flew in from looking for revenge.

Ant: More monsters...You! Foolish Termite! If you wish to survive, I would recommend you stay back whilst I deal with these beasts.

Oditi: B-but-

Suddenly, the Rotlings jumped at the Bugs: Oditi dodged one of their lunges, while the Ant countered the other. Both monsters turned their attention to the Ant, the bigger threat in this battle. Oditi just sat and cowered as her savior fought off the little things. Neither posed a challenge to the Ant, though she still put in the effort as if they did. After but a minute of fighting, both Rotlings appeared to be knocked out. Oditi got up and exhaled, the danger apparently over. The Ant walked up to one of the Rotlings and looked down on it with disgust.

Ant: Let this be a lesson to all weak creatures like yourself: though you try to threaten others, you are little more than a nuisance at best, and…

As the ant continued her speech against the Rotling, the second one got up and sneaked up on her. Oditi noticed this one, and she fearfully called to get the Ant’s attention.

Oditi: L-look out! There is-

Ant: Silence, fool! Can you not see me speaking!?

The Ant turned back to the downed Rotling and resumed her tirade, having quite literally looked over the Rotling that had eyes on her. Meanwhile, the Rotling that was ready to fight shifted its view to Oditi, now preparing to attack her. She cowered some more as it began walking in her direction, before looking at her hiking stick. She grasped the stick and swung it down at the enemy. It was caught by surprise and knocked out by the force of her swing, catching Oditi herself by surprise too. The Ant heard the sound of the attack and turned to Oditi ready to strike, though her battle-ready look faded away as she got a better look at the situation.

Ant: What...what did you do?

Oditi: I-I tried to warn you that the other Rotling was still active: it was t-trying to sneak up on you. But, w-when it heard me call it tried to attack me instead so I…I hadn’t physically attacked anything before, except for the squabbles I had with my brother back-

Ant: Did you think that I was incapable of fending for myself?

Oditi: N-no, I trusted you could! I just didn’t want you to get caught off-

Ant: I do not need assistance from anyone, most certainly not a pampered, pathetic princess like yourself!

Oditi:...

Ant:...

Oditi: I-I-I’m...sorry…

Ant:...You may call me Kiri, if necessary.

Oditi: Huh?

Kiri the Gravel Ant: If you desperately feel the need to refer to me, my name is Kiri.

Oditi: Oh, th-that is a lovely name! My name is Oditi.

Kiri: I do not need you to compliment my name...so why are you in the Scarred Lands...Oditi?

Oditi: Oh, yes! Well, in my family it is tradition for Princes and Princesses to one day leave their home palace and kingdom in search of another land in which to create a palace and kingdom of their own.

Kiri: So, you came searching for a new land to call your kingdom?

Oditi: You could say that...though personally, I like to think that I am searching for a lover: a husband, a prince, a bug that can charm me and love me and help me in building the best kingdom possible!

Kiri:...Where was this enthusiasm during the battle?

Oditi: O-oh! W-well, um…

Kiri: Never mind. You will hardly be able to create a kingdom in a place such as this, am I wrong?

Oditi: Well, it may not be impossible-

Kiri: Actually, it may be. The Scarred Lands are far too sacred for just anyone to build a “kingdom”.

Oditi: Sacred!? Oh dear, have I been trespassing into holy grounds?!

Kiri:...Perhaps “sacred” is a strong word, but the point is that the local mayor has much respect for these grounds. Too much to allow just anyone to build what they want here. I question it, personally: the area is mostly dead, barring weak but hostile plantlife.

Odit: W-well, perhaps there’s some history behind this place? Maybe some important figures traveled through here or-

Kiri: I did not request for you to educate me…Listen, Princess: I will escort you to the nearby town. After that, I have no further obligations to assist you.

Oditi: I-I understand that, and thank you very much for your help. I can pay you for your services as well.

Kiri: That is not necessary, I am not escorting you for monetary gain: I am here to train myself, become stronger, and the mayor wishes for me to assist any bugs I find while I am here.

Oditi: S-speaking of that, did you see a pair of beetles? They were initially my escorts, b-but I fear something may have happened to them…

Kiri: I heard some screaming, but it hardly resembled the voice I hear from you now.

Oditi: M-m-maybe that was them! Do you remember the direction you heard the screaming from?

Kiri:...Do you or do you not wish to reach the town?

Oditi: I-I-I do! I just want to make sure they’re safe…

Kiri:...

Oditi: Th-they offered to protect me, I just want to give back by ensuring that they-

Kiri: Whatever. It is unimportant. If you really wish to search for them we shall. But only momentarily! If we do not find them quickly enough we will go back in the direction of the town and remain in that direction.

Oditi: I-I...I s-suppose I will accept that…[I pray we find them…]

So the duo moved in the direction Kiri heard the screaming from, fighting off some more Rotlings that came their way. As they ventured further into the Scarred Lands, Oditi began to notice unusual details about the area around them.

Oditi: Look at the grass here...there are burns, but not of fire.

Kiri: You are correct. These appear to be some sort of...poison?

Oditi: Nitro was skilled with poisons…(Gasp) he and Titan must be nearby!!!

Kiri: Perhaps you’d wish to attract a ravenous monster by screaming like that.

Oditi: M-M-Monster!?

Kiri: Yes, a monster, so quiet down or else you may attract it!

Oditi: [Is it the same one Titan and Nitro went off to fight? Ohhhh...]

As they walked, the stress and fear in Oditi built up. Kiri did some searching for the Princess’s previous escorts as said Princess begins to hum a simple melody.

Kiri:...What are you doing?

Oditi: O-oh! Well, my mother taught me when I was young to hum this little melody when I’m...v-very scared. It helps soothe me, and if nothing else gives me something to do.

Kiri:...You are childish. Do you truly hum a song to calm-

She stops when she hears the song again, faintly, in a different direction.

Oditi: Huh!? I-I knew the song was common to teach children, b-but I did not expect to hear it so far outside our kingdom.

Kiri: Was it…mimicking you?

Oditi started humming the song again, slightly louder. Afterwards, they heard the other voice again. The two of them headed in the direction of the new singer, but stopped moving when they spotted a little creature hiding in the shadows.

Kiri: Another beast!

Kiri lunged forward to attack the creature, but it jumped in shock and scurried off before she could reach it.

Oditi: W-what was that?

Kiri: Whatever it was, I scared it off. It should not be of concern now.

Oditi:I think...I think it liked my singing, though.

Kiri:...What does that matter?

Oditi:...

They continued searching until they came across a strange black structure, laying on its side and apparently in a state of disrepair.

Oditi: Oh my…what is this?

Kiri: A charred chunk of wood. There are many of them here, there is little point in-

Oditi: “-ells?”

Kiri:...Ells?

Oditi: On the structure. If you turn your head, you can see it says “-ells” in Ancient Roach.

Kiri: You can read Ancient Roach?

Oditi: Y-yes, at least a tad. I studied it before I left home, but I didn’t have enough time to study all of it.

Kiri: Well, regardless of your ability to decipher dead languages, I see no use we could have for this…

Kiri turned away as she spoke, and when she turned back she noticed Oditi walking towards the structure, readying to enter a hole in it.

Kiri:...So why do you feel the need to enter it???

Oditi: I-I-I’m sorry, but this is just too unusual. I need to see what’s inside, I will only be a moment.

Kiri: Ugh…utterly incompetent…

The two tried searching through the structure, but it was terribly dark. The only reason they were even able to see is that the accessories Oditi wore on her antennae glowed in the dark.

Kiri:...Do you see anything, so-called Princess?

Oditi: O-only black. This structure really was charred, wasn’t it?

Kiri: Again, that is not unique to this chunk of wood.

Oditi: But there were words on the front of it, why…look!

Oditi noticed a small book on the ground, though it was lacking some pages (be it due to wear, ashes, damage, etc.) She picked and opened it up, scanning for any information she could find.

Kiri: Now is not the time to catch up on reading.

Oditi: I-I know that, but…I am just terribly curious!...What’s this?

Kiri: Can you read it?

Oditi: Only parts. Again, I only studied so much Roach back at home…I’m seeing a few words, though…”Return…Transform…Protect…Revert…” What’s this? It…it looks like musical notation!

Oditi began to sing lightly, mimicking the notes on the page, before Kiri covered her mouth.

Kiri: Imbecile! Why would you sing and attract monsters to us?!

Oditi: Mm-mh smrrh. Mh jmhst-

She was interrupted by more singing, from a different voice, mimicking the notes she herself had just sung.

Kiri: Look what you’ve done…

Kiri took her hand off the Princess’s mouth and got into a battle stance, readying to take down whatever showed up…she was underwhelmed, then, when what showed up was a small, yellow Spiderling. The creature looked up at her and Oditi for a moment before singing once more. Oditi gasped excitedly and she kneeled to get a better look at it.

Oditi: Awww, so this is the little musician! Laa-la-la-la-laaaaaaa!

Spiderling: Graa-gra-gra-gra-graaaaaaa!

Oditi giggled and hugged the Spiderling before Kiri pulled her away from it.

Kiri: Fool! It will eat you!

Oditi: I-i-it’s a baby!

Kiri: A Spider youngling. It will grow to feast on you and any other Bugs idiotic enough to go near it.

Oditi: Spiders…are often dangerous…(Gasp) What if we raise him to be less aggressive?

Kiri:...If it eats you I will care not. Just keep it away from me.

Oditi: U–u-understood…

Oditi held the Spiderling close to her as she went back to the book to look for anything else interesting.

Oditi: Ooh, more notes!

Oditi sang some more, this time uninterrupted. Kiri just rolled her eyes and crossed her arms as she went on. After a bit of singing, Oditi looked to the Spiderling with a big, friendly smile, and the Spiderling started singing as well. After it sang for a bit, it and the Bugs around him felt something strange happening.

Oditi: D-do you feel…different, Kiri?

Kiri:...Somewhat…I feel…more powerful…

Before they could question any further, they heard a loud roar and the clambering of dozens of legs.

Kiri: YOU FOOL! I TOLD YOU YOUR SINGING WOULD ATTRACT MONSTERS!

Oditi: I’MSORRYI’MSORRYI’MSORRYI’MSORRYI-

Kiri: Silence and follow me ou-

Suddenly the hole that they came through was made bigger: a House Centipede had broken through the weakened wall, and it stared at them with a hungry grin.

Oditi: Th-th-that’s our only exit!

Kiri:...[I can best it…I have been trained well…] You stay back! I will take down this beast!

Oditi: What!?

The Spiderling hissed at the Centipede, and it roared right back in response. The monster lunged at the group, but Kiri knocked it away with a roundhouse kick so powerful even she was taken aback.

Oditi: K-Kiri, that was amazing!

Kiri:...My kingdom is comprised of the greatest fighters in the land. This does not surprise me.

The Centipede was quick to get up and barrelled into Kiri, smashing her into a wall. Before it could chomp her head, the Spiderling crawled up its back and chomped onto its head. The monster swung around, roaring in pain as it attempted to shake the Spiderling off. Kiri kicked it away and started pummeling it when Oditi ran up to her with a small bottle in hand.

Kiri: What are you doing? Do you wish to die?

Oditi: I-I just want to keep you safe! Now hold still, I u-understand if you aren’t used to medicinal spores…

Kiri: Medicinal-

Oditi grabbed a small handful of spores from her bottle and sprinkled them onto Kiri, catching her by surprise. She coughed a little before grabbing Oditi threateningly.

Kiri: How dare you throw those onto me without…wait…the pain I was feeling is gone?

Oditi: My kingdom has very good knowledge on what spores and mushrooms are and aren’t good for you, and I carry a wide variety of them on me!

Kiri: Hm. I suppose you are not quite as moronic as I initially presumed.

Oditi:...Thank you???

The Centipede flung the Spiderling at Kiri, knocking her to the ground. Oditi squeaked in shock, but quickly sprinkled more healing spores on both of her cohorts while they were still. Meanwhile the Centipede roared again, and was about to lunge once more when the Spiderling spat some web-type gunk into its eyes.

Oditi: Ooh, you’re a Spitting Spider!

The little creature didn’t quite know what Oditi was saying, but it jumped cheerily anyway.

Spiderling: Grao!

Oditi pocketed the book before helping Kiri up.

Oditi: I think it’s distracted now, come on!

Kiri: You do not command me!

Kiri dashed out through the hole the monster made, leaving Oditi and the Spiderling to scramble after her. The Centipede tried following as well, but Oditi smacked it so hard with her staff that it got dizzy. While it was downed she smacked it some more, but as she did so she started feeling weaker and weaker.

Kiri: Hurry before I abandon you!

Oditi: R-r-right!

The three Bugs ran off, leaving the dazed and blinded Centipede behind, and hid in some underbrush to catch their breath. When she heard it running towards them again Kiri readied herself to fight (feeling more confident now that she was in a more open area), but Oditi grabbed and hushed her before crouching so as to remain hidden. Even the Spiderling was laying low (though perhaps it was more so copying Oditi), but Kiri was frustrated. She was about to start shouting at Oditi when the Centipede rushed past their hiding spot. It was still blinded and disoriented, so it failed to notice them even when Kiri jumped out at the last second to try and face it. When she was certain the monster was gone, Oditi left the underbrush herself and let out a big exhale.

Kiri: How dare you hold me back in such a manner?

Oditi: I-I’m sorry, but the energy I was filled with started fading. I wasn’t sure if yours was too so I thought it’d be best to lay low…What was that, anyway? W-w-why did I feel so energized one moment then…average the next?

Kiri: Adrenaline does that to an insect…Also, I did not need you to protect me. I’ve the strength to handle anything on my own.

Oditi: I-I-I know, you said that last time…but it would be wrong of me not to at least try to help you.

Kiri: Why?

Oditi: Well, where I’m from, we’re taught that you must pay someone back when they show you kindness.

Kiri:...You feel I’ve shown you kindness?

Oditi: [Kindness might be a strong word but…] you went out of your way to assist me, I-I felt that assisting you in return is necessary.

Kiri: Your kingdom must be weak. Where I am from, each Ant keeps herself in check, and we are all greater for it.

Oditi: May I hear more about your kingdom?

Kiri:...If we make it out of the Scarred Lands, then maybe.

Oditi: I-i-if???

Kiri: Yes, if, because IF you keep halting our progress with your questions and comments we will never leave!!!

Oditi:...Apologies…

The Spiderling rubbed up against Kiri’s leg and whimpered a little. She looked at it weirdly before pushing it lightly in Oditi’s direction.

Kiri: Again, you may have this creature around if you so wish, but keep it away from me.

Oditi: U-understood…

The three continued eastward, eventually coming across a rickety-looking bridge. Oditi shuddered when she saw it, being rather afraid of heights.

Oditi: Th-this is quite a fall, i-i-isn’t it?

Kiri: What are you, a child? Simply do not look down.

Oditi repeated these words to herself quietly, but was calmed more by the Spiderling rubbing up against her. The three of them moved over the bridge and were nearly fully across when a fluffy, cheery-looking Butterfly in a hat and bowtie greeted them.

Butterfly: Howdy there!

Oditi yelped in surprise, but nonetheless felt the need to reciprocate that warm welcome.

Oditi:...H-h-hello, I…I hope you’re doing well?

Butterfly: Hey, I’m doing alright. (To Kiri) Nice to see you again, Kiri!

Kiri just groaned and rolled her eyes.

Kiri:...Leap…

Oditi: Do you two know each other?

Leap the Butterfly: Kinda. I’ve seen her plenty of times. Name’s Leap, by the way!

Kiri: We are not friends, if that is what you believe.

Before anything else could be said, the group heard a familiar roaring sound again.The Centipede was attacking once more!...Though currently it was attacking other Bugs. Oditi gasped in shock when she noticed who they were, and called out to them against her better judgment.

Oditi: NITRO! TITAN!

The two Beetles were concurrently battling the monster when Titan heard the Princess’s cry, and he waved to her in response.

Titan: Heyyy, Princess!

Nitro: PAY ATTENTION, YOU-

The Centipede tried chomping Titan, to the horror of the others, but he just laughed as he held its maw open.

Titan: Nice try, beast-o, haha!

Titan kicked the monster away fiercely, but it was still angry enough to charge him once more. Though he was able to mostly halt it, it still managed to push past him enough to destroy the bridge that Oditi, Kiri, and the Spiderling were on. With a scream the trio fell, with Leap trying in vain to reach for them.

Leap: Oh no!!!!!!!!!