This is an adaptation of a storyline idea that I previously posted here: https://www.lioden.com/topic.php?id=304429270591

Story line idea for November.

The lioness below is Roho (name means Spirit in Swahili). She is the guide of the departed to whatever place they go. Normally she can keep up with the demands of collecting lost spirits, but with the demon vs. angels war and rabies plague taking so many animals down, she has become overwhelmed. She needs help to collect all the wandering souls.

She looks intimidating, but is actually a kind creature. Due to the nature of her work, however, she is a bit of a downer. Working with death for thousands of years hasn't been great for her own happiness.

The pretty lady:



Beginning story line:

As you pad through the woods, everything is quiet. The night is warm and heavy with the scent of rotting leaves, but under everything there is the stench of sickness that permeates your entire territory. The rabies plague seems to have silenced the entire world. If you look closer into the gloom, the scorched and ripped patches of plants become more apparent. The land itself hasn't escape the ferocity of the war between heaven and hell that accompanied the maddening virus.

You are about to turn back for home, satisfied that everything is as normal as it can be, despite recent events, when a pale light catches your attention. It bobs through the forest in a wandering sort of way and you wonder if it’s a human with one of their strange devices that seems to hold a piece of the sun inside. You trot towards the light, confidant in your strength and cunning to warn off any danger.

As you approach, though, you can tell it is certainly not a human. The creature moves on all fours, and has horns that jut above its head, though it is too thickset to be any sort of hooved prey. Suddenly your foot snaps a twig and the creature whirls toward you.

It’s a lioness with something draped across her face!

She approaches you and you can see the light emanates from her body. Ethereal blue flames dance across her skin and her eyes are glowing orbs. Fear pumps through you; nothing is natural about her. And then she speaks, “Do not be afraid, dear _____. I have been looking for you.”

Your fear begins to fade, overtaken by curiosity. “How do you know my name?” you ask, allowing her to approach. Her paws make no noise as they skim the forest floor.

“I know all of my charges, _____. Don’t you know me? I am Roho, Keeper of Spirits,” she says, each word punctuated with a soft cloud of blue mist from her muzzle. You look her over more carefully; she is coal grey, like leaden stormclouds, with white crackles running upward from her paws. Her face and neck are covered in a hood of some kind, and her eyes are visible through it, despite a lack of holes for them. They are alive with flickering blue light. Chains hang from her frame and wrap themselves around her legs. Her body is drooping, and she seems terribly sad. It occurs to you that, indeed, you have heard of her in legends, though she was told to be much more frightening and powerful than the creature standing across from you.

“I’m sorry for not recognizing you. I do know who you are. But why are you here?” you say, confused. Roho gives you a somber smile and she lays down, inviting you to do so as well. You comply, not wanting to offend her. Cool air seems to surround her. It is pleasant against the heat of the night.

“Oh, ____! I’m in over my head! You know that I guide the spirits of the dead to the next realm. This is already an arduous task with so many creatures running about and dying all the time, but the plague and war has worsened it to where I cannot keep up. Your mortal eyes cannot see them, but there are spirits wandering aimlessly all around, waiting for me to find them. I need your help, _____. I am recruiting only the strongest among lions to assist me.”

You are shocked at her sudden proposal and open your mouth to speak, but she brushed her tail across your muzzle to silence you. The blue flames smell like ice; sharp and clean. “Don’t say anything yet. Let me explain.”

She rises to her paws and reaches under her hood, pulling out a long silver chain with a glowing blue pendant. “This necklace will grant you the power to see almost as I do. I have made sure, though, that it will only show you the souls who have waited the longest for my aid, so you do not become overwhelmed. If you help me in guiding spirits of the lost, ____, then I shall reward you greatly. I have many things that will benefit you and your pride. Do you accept my offer?”

You think for a moment. Working with the dead sounds terrifying, but you can tell Roho is truly desperate. Her body sags with exhaustion. After a few heartbeats, you nod. A look of relief flashes across her muzzle. “Thank you, _____. Come see me here tomorrow and I will give you your first task.” Then, she lets the necklace fall over your head, and the chain nestles into your mane. For a second, your vision goes blinding white, but returns just as quickly as it left. At your side, you see a faint figure of a mongoose, wandering aimlessly. Stars seem to shine in its fur. Eyes wide with shock, you realize that you are seeing a soul.

“Is that one of them?” you ask. Roho nods and pads to the confused spirit. She taps it gently with a paw. Instantly the mongoose begins to follow her as she trots away into the darkness.

“Remember to return tomorrow. Good luck,” and then she’s gone, blue light fading as she retreats through the trees.


Quest Examples:

“Oh! ____, thank goodness, you’re here! I’ve gathered a large number of souls from my helpers, but word has reached me that almost an entire herd of antelope has succumbed to the plague and needs my escort. Could you lead these spirits to the portal to the next world? If you lay a trail of soul stones, they’ll follow them.”
Need: x5 soul stones

The next day, you go to find Roho in her normal spot. Halftway to her den, the lioness come dashign towards you, tail lashing furiously. She looks terribly panicked. "_____! I need you help! Quickly! The soul gate is in trouble. It's been overburdened with so many spirits. If it closes, the dead will be left to wander eternally, and I will not be able to return home! I need 20 soul stones to stabalize it."

"____, there is a strong spirit roaming around. It refuses to acknowledge its passing, and tried to fight me when I attempted to lead it on. It wants to fight, and that is something out of my range of ability. Perhaps a lion like you can subdue it..."

You pad softly into Roho's den at sundown, grunting to announce your presence. The glowing lioness looks up from where she had been grinding herbs between two stones. "Good evening, ______. You've arrived just in time for what I need. There are many frightened spirits that need a little extra help crossing into the next realm. I'm preparing a potion to calm them. Please bring me five of the following herbs:"

The following morning, you return to the den, ready for your next task. Roho is waiting outside. At her softly glowing paws are five waterskins, not unlike those that the humans use. "Good morning. I finished brewing the potion last night. Please take these doses and find fearful spirits. Bring them here once you have dosed five."
As you are about to walk away, she calls you back. "Wait! I need to grant you the ability to see your targets." She reaches forward and brushes your necklace with her nose. "They'll appear green to you now. Good luck."


AFTER THE QUEST- "Thank you, ____. You have been a great help. I can now handle the spirits myself. You are released from your duties. Take this gift, to remind yourself of your achievements. It will not grant you any visions, but it is pretty..." (You receive a Soul Stone Pendent)
And possibly a base applicator? I'm thinking it could be named Spirit or Apparition. I don't know what the base would look like, but it seems logical given the rewards for a lot of other events.

Let me know what you think? :D