Altered Lore

Rin

8 min read

Rin

Overview

Rin is a Muna Exalt and Alterer who was found as an infant and raised by the fisherman Yonago. Through The Musubi ceremony, she bonded with Orchid, a mantis Chimera who had originally brought her to Yonago’s doorstep. Rin joined the Rediscovery Endeavor to seek answers about her origins beyond Asgartha’s borders.

Background

Yonago found Rin on his doorstep one rainy evening as a tiny infant wrapped in vines and bluish foliage in a cocoon lined with moss. He had seen the Chimera that brought her—a human-sized praying mantis with a rosy hue like an orchid. Yonago raised her as his own daughter, teaching her to walk, talk, and decipher the language of nature. At least once a season, the mantis would return to the edge of the forest to see if Rin had grown well. Rin grew up helping Yonago with fishing work, always careful to give some fish to Ukai, their domestic cormorant. Since she was very young, Rin ventured into the diaphanous forest where she explored the undergrowth in search of mushrooms, wild berries, or edible herbs. She watched the beaver family build a shelter, played hide and seek with white wolf cubs, and rummaged in streams for shells or crayfish. Twice a week, they would wake before dawn and load bins onto their yak to reach the floating city of Amorgand.

One day, Rin set off alone toward the forest, determined to find the only being who might know where she came from. She ventured farther into the spectral forest than ever before, where bluish foliage undulated in an unreal breeze. As night fell, two yellow eyes began to shine in the darkness, and the mantis emerged from the thickets with blade-like legs shining in the moonlight. The Chimera moved slowly with delicacy, and Rin reached out until she touched its chitinous abdomen. From that day on, Rin returned every day to see the Chimera, whom she named Orchid. Yonago revealed that through The Musubi, Rin could bond with the creature and communicate. At the next market, he introduced her to Turuun, a venerable Muna priestess. Yonago told her that nature had been generous to him and if nature gave, it was necessary to give back. Rin would have to journey to the Katkera and perhaps become a Muna herself.

The envisaged months turned into years. Rin and Orchid accompanied Turuun to The Spindle and the Bark Refuge. Through The Musubi, they became an Exalt and joined the Muna family. During this long absence, Rin sent letters to her father. One day, Yonago saw a frail figure raise its arm from the shore, accompanied by a more massive insectoid form. Orchid revealed something to Rin—the Chimera had come from beyond the borders of Asgartha, tossed by the tumultuous flows. Orchid had taken in a baby from a distant Oasis to keep her safe. Yonago offered his blessing—of course, she had to find answers about her origins. Rin joined the Expeditionary Corps to venture beyond Asgartha’s borders.

Timeline

387 AC - Kodama Encounter

Rin traveled through Katkera forest with Turuun. Group of Kodama spirits greeted Rin with little wave from branch lookout.

388 AC - Observing Spindle Harvesters

Rin climbed The Spindle Tree secured by rope and observed tiny rodents descending trunk with claws sinking deep in bark.

388 AC - Cernunnos Death Ritual

Rin observed death ritual for Valpas, eldest elk. Cernunnos emerged from fire and laid hand on old elk as The Skein’s strands rose from soil.

389 AC - Learning Herbal Medicine from Aja

Rin watched Aja the Orisha Eidolon prepare salves while cauldron boiled, mimicking each movement to make own ointment.

389 AC - Observing Muna Caregiver with Wyvern

Rin watched Muna healer carefully moving dragon eggs while scaly wyvern creature watched, and wyrmling emerged as healer presented newborn to dragon.

390 AC - Son of Yggdrasil Transportation

Rin climbed onto Son of Yggdrasil’s hand as he lifted them onto shoulder, stepping over hills and crossing forest to reach Amorgand.

391 AC - Yong-Su Manifestation

Rin followed procession crossing Mugen bridge during Ryukkōsai festival where Yong-Su Tenzing’s Eidolon manifested floating in air with lotus flowers blooming beneath steps.

392 AC - Forest Exploration with Orchid

Rin and Orchid explored dense forest where Orchid cut through undergrowth with sickle-like forelegs while Rin released Mana back into wounded plants, discovering strange fruit with tart grassy flavor and emerald juice.

393 AC, January-April - Hypothermia and Rescue at Storvhit

During blizzard at Storhvit, Rin fell from height through storm and a layer of fresh powder broke her fall. Arjun took nearly an hour to reach Rin through the blizzard, long enough for her body temperature to drop noticeably. Arjun and Orchid rescued Rin from powder snow, with Arjun providing shelter using Alteration to conjure fire while Orchid hunted for food.

393 AC, January-April - Discovering Seeds from Arjun’s Pots

Rin found seeds in bottom of Arjun’s pots when taking down floral tent before striking camp, and they decided to share seeds as Arjun had done with Teija.

393 AC, January-April - Summoning Persephone in Frozen Taiga

Rin summoned Persephone in frozen northern forest where dead tree trunks suggested winter had swept into once-temperate region, causing snowbanks to melt and awakening old tree spirits including oak, chestnut, and beech manifestations who approached the goddess.

393 AC, January-April - Scolded by Saskia Averina

Saskia Averina scolded Rin for carelessly summoning Persephone without respect for Storhvit ecosystem, calling it a “rookie mistake” that disrupted balance the Winter Folk and Hakupopo depended on, then comforted Rin about missing her father.

393 AC, January-April - Encountering the Snow Maiden

Rin followed a melancholy song through ice-covered forest to discover Snow Maiden sculpting ice animals including rabbits, fawns, and foxes that came to life and frolicked around her, noting the unusual frequency of unsummoned Eidolons manifesting at Storhvit.

393 AC, January-April - Sensing Belisenki in Icebound Taiga

Rin sensed Belisenki watching expedition through The Skein while traveling through taiga where something formidable had passed leaving wake of intense cold, warning companions to stay on the trail.

393 AC, June-August - Cooking for Arjun

Rin regularly cooked meals for Arjun to thank him for saving her during the Cais Adarra ascent.

393 AC, June-August - Watching Pastry Chef at The Mess

Rin watched Hestia’s brigade pastry chef create lemon meringue and a layer cake with Sap-infused raspberry mousse that turned sparkling golden.

393 AC, June-August - Working at The Farm

Rin worked at The Farm spraying Sap on plants alongside other gardeners, discovering that Sap amplifies flavor, scent, and texture.

393 AC, June-August - Attempting to Forage Gran Bwa’s Orchard

Rin tried to forage from Gran Bwa’s orchard but found the Eidolon surrounded by bumblebeets, and received an apple from a young shepherd.

393 AC, June-August - Tracking Noosh to Golden Tuber

Rin chased a Noosh through stone maze into The Scholars’ Tomb, following the creature as it unearthed an extremely rare golden tuber.

393 AC, June-August - Exploring The Undergrowth

Rin explored The Undergrowth and discovered through The Skein that the biotope was an extension of the City of Scholars’s consciousness, sensing a presence deep within the network.

Abilities

Rin practices Alteration through The Skein, allowing her to connect to her surroundings, sense presences, and project her mind to search the surrounding area. She can conjure climbing plants that blossom with white flowers and release Mana back into wounded plants. Through her Musubi bond with Orchid, she can share tastes and sensations with her Alter Ego. Rin is also a skilled cook and herbalist, trained in preparing salves and ointments.

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