Saskori Saga

[June Scarlet]

Committee of Normalcy in Neovia Meeting Minutes

Chairwoman Mona Hallow pointed out that these kinds of monster shenanigans were the entire reason the Committee of Normalcy in Neovia was formed in the first place.

SPOILER: Click to show

Committee of Normalcy in Neovia

“From a Seed, Growth”

Chairwoman Mona Hallow called to order the meeting of the Committee of Normalcy in Neovia (CONIN) at 6:02pm NST on the 10th day of Running Y25 at Town Hall in Neovia, Haunted Woods.

Secretary Thomas Carmichael conducted a roll call. The following persons were present:

Committee Members:
- Chairwoman Mona Hallow
- Vice Chairman Clancy Geyer
- Secretary Thomas Carmichael
- Treasurer Gustave Cheltenham
- Sergeant-at-arms Junoa
- Event Officer Meredith

Guests:
- Tippins, President of the Spooky Shindig Society
- Corbin, Monster Hunter
- Kell, Monster Hunter
- Professor Vinsjin, Ghoul Catcher
- Brave Bern, Ghoul Catcher
- Glyn, Ghoul Catcher
- Saskori, Monster Tamer

Secretary Thomas Carmichael read the minutes from the last meeting. The minutes were approved.

Old Business

1. Fundraising - Treasurer Gustave Cheltenham reported that fundraising efforts continue to hold strong. Current raised funds total 4,867,332 Neopoints. In addition, several Paint Brushes had been donated. Chairwoman Mona Hallow motioned that these Paint Brushes be auctioned off to raise further funds, adding that she could take them to the Neopia Central Auction House herself on an upcoming return to the city. Sergeant-at-arms Junoa seconded the motion.

2. Grand Neovian Gala - Event Officer Meredith reported that planning for the inaugural Grand Neovian Gala Fundraiser is going smoothly. This Gala will raise funds for CONIN, as well as serve to give Neovians a taste of the normalcy they so crave, free of monsters and other supernatural things. The venue and dates have been confirmed, advertising is set to begin soon. Tippins, President of the Spooky Shindig Society, expressed enthusiasm for an exciting new event in Neovia. Chairwoman Mona Hallow agreed, saying it would bring a touch of class to the small town known better for Spooky Food Contests gone awry.

Some discussion broke out, with Tippins protesting that it was no fault of the Spooky Shindig Society that a monster disguised itself as a participant, and Corbin and Kell, Monster Hunters, explaining how they chased said monster throughout Neovia and the catacombs that run underneath. Chairwoman Mona Hallow pointed out that these kinds of monster shenanigans were the entire reason the Committee of Normalcy in Neovia was formed in the first place. At this point, Sergeant-at-arms Junoa called point of order, stating that the committee had gone on a tangent unrelated to the Grand Gala, and that discussion of monsters would best be tabled for later in the meeting, as was already planned in the agenda.

With order restored, Event Officer Meredith stated that The Neopian Philharmonic had been booked for the Grand Gala. Treasurer Gustave Cheltenham added that their charge had been reduced due to the charitable work CONIN does, with many of the orchestra members donating their time to the event. Vice Chairman Clancy Geyer motioned that these selfless musicians be thanked by name during the event. Event Officer Meredith seconded.

3. Dehaunting of Carmichael’s Theater - Secretary Thomas Carmichael was happy to report that his theater is no longer haunted, thanks to the efforts of the Monster Tamer, Saskori. Chairwoman Mona Hallow asked for Saskori to rise. Said Cybunny stood up, gripping one arm shyly.

Professor Vinsjin of the Ghoul Catchers inquired as to how the young girl managed to free Carmichael’s Theater where his team had failed. Saskori stared at the floor and muttered unintelligibly. Brave Bern, another Ghoul Catcher, asked her to speak up. Saskori looked up and explained that once she uncovered the ghost, it was a simple matter to rid the theater of them.

Corbin, Monster Hunter, commended Saskori’s actions, saying they were well-thought out and planned. Kell, Corbin’s brother, nodded and said, “Cool (sic),” to which Saskori blushed and buried her face in her paws.

After a silent minute, Treasurer Gustave Cheltenham moved that the meeting proceed to the final order of business. Several seconded the motion, including Saskori herself.

New Business

1. Hiring of Normalcy Officers - Chairwoman Mona Hallow started off by saying when she first arrived in Neovia from Neopia Central, she saw potential in a problem the town has long faced, being in the Haunted Woods. Despite their best efforts, the normal townsfolk were flooded with denizens of the Haunted Woods, those such as zombies, ghosts, vampires, werelupes, and other such monsters. Some were easily spotted, while others were able to slip into society without detection.

It's a problem, Chairwoman Mona Hallow explained, but one with a solution. So she gathered concerned citizens, and founded this organization to bring normalcy back to Neovia. To drive out the monsters hidden in plain sight. However, the committee is unable to do this on its own. Therefore, they must hire Normalcy Officers to detect and drive out those undesirable monsters from Neovia.

CONIN invited Ghoul Catchers, Monster Hunters, and Monster Tamers alike to this meeting with a proposition: to be hired on by the city to remove those pests undermining the integrity of Neovia. They will be paid a fair wage for their services, as well as being honored and loved by all Neovians.

To this, Saskori the Monster Tamer raised her hand. Chairwoman Mona Hallow nodded and permitted her to speak. Saskori expressed concern that Normalcy Officers wouldn’t be loved by all Neovians, if they’d be driving out at least half of them.

The committee expressed their confusion, to which Saskori replied that many good and respectable Neovians were “so-called monsters.” Sergeant-at-arms Junoa protested this, explaining that this simply wasn’t true. Event Officer Meredith agreed, saying that only normal Neopets were real Neovians.

An argument broke out. Saskori insisted that being Neovian had nothing to do with being normal. Several disagreed. Cheltenham urged everyone to calm down. Junoa called point of order.

Saskori yelled that this was the whole point of the “stupid (sic)” committee, to discriminate against those CONIN determined to be inferior. Hallow called for Saskori to be removed from the meeting if she continued with these outbursts.

Saskori huffed and said she’d leave of her own accord. She wanted no part of this.

Saskori left the meeting.

Hallow looked at the remaining guests. She asked if any of them were interested in carrying out CONIN’s important work. Kell and Corbin declined.

Kell and Corbin left the meeting.

The Ghoul Catchers said they would be able to take on these duties. Hallow nodded and said that they would settle the details at the next meeting.

Junoa asked if there were any other points of business to address. No one replied.

Chairwoman Mona Hallow adjourned the meeting at 7:12pm NST.

Minutes submitted by: Secretary Thomas Carmichael

Minutes approved by: Chairwoman Mona Hallow

***

Character Credits: Thank you to Liou for letting me use Gustave Cheltenham, Rabbit ♠ for letting me use Junoa, and Kat for letting me use Meredith.

[June Scarlet]

Still working on getting the Committee article in, but in the meanwhile I've written the next entry for the Saskori Saga. It also doubles as an entry for the Underground Great Collab this summer.

I still need to draw the thumbnail, proofread, and come up with a title before I post it here. But if you've beta read a Saskori story before and want a preview, let me know!

[June Scarlet]

Beneath

A spark of light appeared. I quickly blew on it, and it swirled and grew, gaining life, the magic taking the form of a Glowing Xweetok, except one that glowed blue instead of green.

SPOILER: Click to show

Even before I opened my eyes, I knew something was wrong. The musty smell of damp stone. A metallic taste in my mouth. The cold feel of the floor against my back. The distant sound of… banjo music?

My eyes snapped open, only to find myself in pitch darkness. I sat up, becoming dizzy. But I had to find out where I was.

I rubbed my front hooves together. A spark of light appeared. I quickly blew on it, and it swirled and grew, gaining life, the magic taking the form of a Glowing Xweetok, except one that glowed blue instead of green. I thought I saw a dark form in the corner of my eye as well but chose to ignore it.

The Xweetok said nothing, but it didn’t need to. I could see now. I could see I was in a room hewn from stone. The walls, floor, even ceiling were all made from carved blocks. There were two wooden doors as well, on opposite walls.

I traced a Codestone rune into the air. “Point me the way back to where the sunlight touches,” I said to the Xweetok.

The Xweetok got on its hind legs and jumped, leaping far higher than a normal Neopet would. It hit the ceiling, magical sparks brushing off as it passed through to the level above. So I was a level below the sun, at least.

The room became dark again as the Xweetok scouted the way. I swore I saw the shadowy form of Neopet, but knew it was just my eyes playing tricks on me in the darkness. After five minutes, I grew worried. It was a simple spell to have one’s magic lead to magic alike; I had light magic, and this should easily lead back to the outdoors, where the sunlight is.

Ten minutes. I did my best to ignore the shadows twisting and turning, playing at my mind.

Finally, the Xweetok returned, its light bursting through the ceiling, driving away the shadows. “What took so long?” I shouted, my nerves frayed.

The Xweetok silently stared at me, then walked to one of the wood doors, walking through it to the next room. I followed, opening the door to find stairs leading upwards.

The Xweetok that glowed blue trotted up the stairs, only to appear at the bottom of the stairs once they reached the top. It magically repeated this a few times before I got the message.

“I have to go up multiple times?”

The Xweetok nodded.

“Just how far down are we?”

The Xweetok tilted its head, unsure of how to answer my question.

“Still,” I said, more to myself, “It must be very far underground for it to take so long to get back up for you.”

My magic agreed with me, the Xweetok nodding its head.

This was going to require more complex magic. I grabbed for my satchel, only to realize it was missing. I dashed back to the room I’d found myself. It was empty.

I ran my hand over my hair, brushing up against my horns as well. Where was it?

I ran across the room barely registering the sound of music, the Xweetok following. I threw open the door only to see myself playing the banjo.

The Eventide Ixi who surely wasn’t me looked up. “You interrupted the song!” she complained. Then my doppelganger thrust out an outreached hand, cursing me. It felt like the world was spinning. Then I realized I was the one spinning, I’d been given the Curse of Barrel Roll.

It clicked into place. “I’m… I’m in the catacombs, the ones under Neovia. But this place is full of curses, how did I even get down here?”

“How did I even get down here?” mocked my doppelganger in a high-pitched voice. The Eventide Ixi that wasn’t me laughed. “Like all the others, silly, you were sent down. Teleported.”

“I don’t remember that!” I argued. “I was visiting Neovia, looking for a place to stay, and the Ghoul Catchers-“

“Pft, they call themselves ‘Normalcy Officers,’ don’t ya know?” said the other Ixi.

“I don’t know. Only the Ghoul Catchers said they had the perfect place for me. And then-, and then I woke up here.”

“Yeah, I hear that story a lot,” said the doppelganger. “Ya done been bamboozled. The Ghoul Catchers got paid to remove all the monsters from Neovia, and I mean ALL the monsters.”

“But I’m not a monster.” I protested.

The other Eventide pointed behind me. I whirled around, but the only thing I saw was the shadowy imprint of an Acara in my eyes. Then I looked down, and saw the Xweetok.

“You mean my magic?” I said.

The doppelganger nodded. “That’s right! Anyone abnormal is against the law in Neovia now! The law only recently passed, but do you think the committee cares? No! They started right away dumping them out of the town’s limits. And when that didn’t keep them out, they started throwing them down here. The cults hate it, you mind, it invades on their space, but no one is willing to admit they’re in a cult in Neovia, so nothing comes of it.”

“Wait wait, back up, Who’s throwing people down here?” I yelled.

The other Ixi rolled her eyes. “The Committee of Normalcy in Neovia, duh. They’re the ones who are trying to get Neovia to be normal and boring like Neopia Central.”

“They… they do realize what planet they’re on, right?”

The doppelganger shrugged. “I don’t know. I just know I have way too many people interrupting my banjo practice. Now shoo, before I curse you again.”

I stepped back, closing the door behind me. The sound of banjo music started up again.

I’d read about the catacombs, though I never had any desire to visit their dark depths myself, or even let my Petpet explore them. They were filled with sarcastic skeletons, zombie ghosts, Petpets, and cultists of all sorts. And doppelgangers, of course.

They were a maze of levels stretching far below the surface. And I was now trapped in them.

But it didn’t even make sense. Since when was Neovia not okay with its position in the Haunted Woods? Hadn’t it always been a part of the spooky magic that surrounded it? What was going on at the surface?

The blue-glowing Xweetok looked up at me with concern in its eyes. “We’ll get out of here,” I promised, though I wasn’t sure how long it’d take, with all the curses, rooms, and levels we might encounter.

I slumped to the ground. Just how long would it take? How long would my light magic hold out? How much longer could I hold out against the shadows?

I closed my eyes, only to again see the black outline of an Acara. I jerked them open, but only saw the blue comforting glow of the Xweetok. How much longer?

Then I heard something. The trotting of tiny hooves, like a Petpet. I stood up, readying myself for whatever was coming my way.

A blue Petpet peered around the corner of the doorway. With its horns, little tail, and hooved feet, it looked to be a Tamed Mini-Monster, native to the area. It came up to me, sniffling and snorting. Then I noticed a tag hanging from one of its horns.

I knelt down, gesturing the Glowing Xweetok to come closer. The tag read, “Teleportation spell in Pouch. Please bring April along.”

I gasped, and looked closer. There was indeed a pouch harnessed to the Tamed Mini-Monster, apparently named April. I stroked April’s fur gently while unfastening the pouch. Inside the carrier was a packet with instructions written on the outside. “Throw the powder in the packet to the ground while carrying what you want to go with you.” Standard teleportation stuff.

I picked up the Petpet, who seemed to be used to being handled. I dismissed my magic, the Xweetok dissipating. Then I threw the powder to the ground.

A rush filled my head before I found myself outside a cottage. Judging from the multitude of dead trees, I was still in the Haunted Woods, but outside of Neovia. The cottage itself had a fenced-in yard filled with many unlit lanterns, an odd decorating choice.

April the Tamed Mini-Monster wriggled out of my grasp, trotting through the open gate and up the path, squealing excitedly. The front door to the cottage opened, revealing an adolescent Cybunny girl. She scooped up the Petpet, hugging April.

I hesitantly followed. “Hello?” I said, “I’m Starla, I was trapped in the Catacombs, but your Petpet kind of rescued me? Thank you.”

The blue-grey Cybunny looked me up and down. “The Committee’s just getting worse and worse about who they throw down there, aren’t they?”

I nodded, “I’m completely ordinary,” I said, pushing aside thoughts of my magic. Magic like mine was ordinary in Neopia, right?

She set down the Tamed Mini-Monster, who trotted inside. “Well, ordinary or not, you’re still welcome here.”

She gestured for me to follow as she crossed the threshold. “I’m Saskori. Welcome to the Monster Resistance.”

[June Scarlet]

Saskori Main Titles

I had that dream again.

SPOILER: Click to show

[June Scarlet]

A prologue of sorts to "A Story of the Haunted Woods" from 2019.

Lost

SPOILER: Click to show

Saskori navigated the path back to her treehouse in the Haunted Woods, munching on a crumpet she'd gotten from Neovia. As she got closer, she could hear a booming voice. "Only those who prove themselves worthy may enter here!"

That would be the tree that her treehouse was located in. Like the braintree, it could talk and move its branches. It also asked riddles to those who would want to enter the treehouse.

Saskori clutched her bag closer. Who was trying to enter her home? The Woods were full of danger, after all. Or maybe it was someone else, someone looking for a monster tamer like herself. She quickened her pace.

As she reached the crest of the final hill, she could see that it was a Buzz. A Zombie Buzz.

Saskori had read her monster-taming books, and knew that Zombies come in all different types. Some could more or less act as they did when they were alive, while others could barely move. So it was still possible that this one could be a customer.

Saskori walked up to the Zombie and said, "Can I help you?"

The Buzz turned to look at her, but said nothing.

"Are you okay?" asked Saskori.

The Buzz said nothing.

Saskori tried again. "Are you lost?"

The Buzz slowly turned to face the treehouse again, slowly shuffling forward.

"Wait, no, you can't-"

The Buzz ignored her.

Saskori shook her head. "Figures. Just another lost, soulless zombie. As least it seems harmless, right tree?"

The tree replied in a booming voice, "The Woods hold many secrets."

"Yeah, yeah," said Saskori dismissively. "Glad you agree."

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