Spike

Spike is a sentient cactus Chimera who serves as the Alter Ego to Arjun through their Musubi bond. He is part of the Muna Faction and will accompany Arjun on the Rediscovery Endeavor beyond Asgartha’s borders.

Physical Appearance and Characteristics

Spike is described as a small creature and a sentient cactus. He has spines that can emerge from his skin and then retract. When he sneezes, his spines emerge briefly before retracting again. His eyes can appear fogged with sleep, and he can have a droplet on his nose like a dew bubble. A faint smile can light up his face. Bright-red flowers (corollae) bloom over Spike’s head, which wilts when he is sick. When wilted flowers are removed, new buds can bloom more easily.

Spike is small enough to climb on Arjun’s shoulders or nestle in their hood, where he snuggles whenever the opportunity arises. He can also climb onto Arjun’s knee and rest his head in the crook of their arm. He can be placed on Arjun’s lap for medical care.

Personality and Behavior

Spike possesses constant good humor and is always ready to help. He is curious about what Arjun is doing and becomes happy when walking among the crops. When fully awake, he starts dancing as usual while moving through the fields. Spike has little patience for being stuck somewhere with nothing to do and becomes anxious to get moving when recovered from illness.

Spike yawns unabashedly and rubs his eyes when waking up. He can sense when something is troubling Arjun through their Musubi bond, without Arjun needing to vocalize anything. Arjun can give Spike a brief nod to reassure him that everything is fine.

Meeting Arjun

Arjun first encountered Spike while wandering under the canopy of trees. The small Chimera was trying to climb an apple tree, slipping on the moss covering its roots as he attempted to reach a red and juicy apple. The lowest fruit was unfortunately out of reach for the small creature, and he was so absorbed in his potential prize that he didn’t notice Arjun’s approach.

Arjun struck the trunk of the fruit tree with their stick, causing an apple to fall softly next to Spike. When the Chimera saw it, he rushed to embrace it lovingly before taking big bites of the sweet and succulent fruit.

Developing Bond

After their first meeting, Spike didn’t leave Arjun’s side. He followed them, at first timidly, then more deliberately. Sometimes he would stick his head out from behind a rock, watching them closely and a bit greedily. Arjun would leave a few berries or a slice of buttered bread for him, which Spike delightedly devoured.

Over the days, the little cactus became less and less shy, even coming to Arjun when snack time rolled around. One day, Arjun suggested that Spike climb on their shoulders, which he did without hesitation. Over time, he got into the habit of dozing there or in Arjun’s hood, where he would snuggle up whenever the opportunity arose.

Companionship During Wanderings

During Arjun’s long wanderings, Spike was of great comfort. While Arjun initially thought that Spike depended on them to survive, over time they realized how much they needed him to keep moving forward. When weariness gripped Arjun, Spike was there to motivate them and give them courage. When homesickness seized them, it was Spike who brought a smile back to their face with his unintentional antics.

Musubi Bond with Arjun

Bonding through Musubi was an obvious outcome for Arjun and Spike, almost a necessity. During the bonding ceremony, when their essences intertwined, it appeared to them that they had always been like two soulmates, two sides of the same coin.

Through the bond, Spike knows when something is troubling Arjun without them needing to vocalize anything. They can sense each other’s emotional states and communicate beyond words.

Timeline

384 AC - Journey with Cornucoopia Merchant

During Arjun’s travels with merchant Kimo, Spike discreetly poked his head between wooden barrel and stack of wrapped crates in the carriage. Spike did happy dance when Arjun helped unstuck the wheel from mud - slightest wins always made him euphoric, almost intoxicated.

388 AC - Village Food Crisis Assistance

When village elders approached Arjun about food crisis, Spike clung to Arjun’s leg while they prepared to use Alteration in meadow center. Arjun summoned Daughter of Yggdrasil by weaving concepts of Abundance and Generosity. The sentient tree spread out and children ran toward her. Spike observed as she smiled, let them climb, and rustled leaves as if laughing.

392 AC - Mountain Snow Experience

Spike woke in Arjun’s hood on mountain during expedition. Everything rocked warm and cozy. He crawled to open air to stretch without getting spines out to avoid pricking Arjun. Cold made Spike miss desert heat where flower grew on head. He pulled off wilted flower watching it fall on white ground. Arjun picked him up, and Spike clung to gloves receiving Mana and warmth before slipping under coat against chest. Spike reached hand out catching snowflakes - beautiful but cold. When snowflake melted becoming water drop on hand, Arjun laughed. Spike happy that Arjun happy. Tomorrow would leave for Tumult, but today plan was hot spring with friend Vera, drinking juice and relaxing.

392 AC - Hot Spring Play with Aloe Vera

Spike gathered Mana bits along mountain path. When Arjun created onsen using Alteration, Spike rushed to hot springs avoiding snowbanks. He dove in doing cannonball before coming to surface to splash around. Spike tugged on bond with Arjun and their Alteration powers. Arjun called little Vera who appeared as graceful plant near pond. Delighted to see playmate again, Spike motioned repeatedly for Vera to join him in steaming water. They played together like children while fog settled around them. Spike came up to Arjun pouting then imploring with eyes. He nodded vigorously until Arjun gave in to whim - creating two iced teas for two rascals. Spike then rolled up in ball under scarf, jacket and coat to sleep in best place in world next to Arjun.

393 AC - Riding Tumult Currents at Storvhit Summit

When Storvhit summit became Tumult singularity with pink currents pulsing through clouds, Spike shed his form to ride Tumult currents. Arjun felt bonded Alter Ego descending step by step through pink auroras at high altitude where Oasis still held strong. Spike remained in Tumult for days while Arjun maintained connection through Musubi bond. Arjun expressed pride in Spike’s ability to navigate chaotic flows at summit. Spike’s departure allowed Arjun to focus on rescue operations including saving Rin from hypothermia near sérac edge.

393 AC - Illness During Blizzard

Spike ran high fever and felt weak during blizzard. Flowers covering head wilted. Arjun placed Spike on lap and took temperature with thermometer. Spike’s head drooped from exhaustion. Arjun waited in greenhouse for Repotter Otter to finish repotting other sentient plants, Coneman, and Sneezer Shroom. Repotter Otter placed Spike in pot and patted down earth around feet, wrapped bundle warmly, then removed wilted flowers so new buds could bloom more easily.

393 AC - Rescue Mission with Yeti Discovery

New layer of snow appeared overnight. Spike poked Arjun in rear to begin rescue mission for arctic poppies, blueberries, rockfoils, and cottongrass. Spike led Arjun along narrow path where they discovered Yeti Eidolon with thick white fur, bright blue face, and black ibex horns sitting in snow. Yeti acted as perch for cold birds huddling against chest while singing. Arjun left Yeti to bring warmth to woods and resumed rescue mission with Spike.

393 AC - Storm Shelter in Floral Tent

Spike tugged Arjun’s sleeve in floral tent during blizzard where Rin was recovering from hypothermia. Arjun poured hot water into cup with black compost for Spike to endure cold. Spike wrapped in blanket looking worried and dejected as strong gusts rattled petal walls and whistled in ears. Spike waited with Arjun for Rin to wake.

393 AC - City of Scholars Excavation

Spike accompanied Arjun to the City of Scholars excavation site, curling up against them and yawning theatrically while Arjun conversed with Treyst about the Sap discovery.

Role in the Rediscovery Endeavor

When Arjun proposed the expedition beyond Asgartha’s borders to find a cure for the dying Spindle, Spike was included in the plan. During the fireside gathering where Arjun declared their readiness to attempt the adventure, they spoke of being ready together: “Spike and them, to attempt the adventure, whatever its end result.”

After the proposal received unanimous blessing from the other Muna through the veins of the Skein, Arjun and Spike went to the capital to help the Expeditionary Corps prepare. They assisted in setting up mobile and sustainable crops to meet the food needs of the exploration forces.

Daily Life with Arjun

Spike accompanies Arjun during their agricultural work. When Arjun squats down at dawn to grasp handfuls of earth and assess the soil, Spike is nearby. He wakes up in the morning, yawning and rubbing his eyes, then sneezing with his spines briefly emerging before retracting.

Arjun affectionately pats Spike’s head, and he lets himself be cajoled. In a few minutes after waking, he becomes fully alert and starts dancing as usual, happy to walk among the crops.

Before Arjun’s departure for the Rediscovery Endeavor, Spike spends time with them as they return home to be with family for a few final months. During this period, Spike climbs onto Arjun’s knee and rests his head in the crook of their arm as they sit together at dawn while other cultivators join them in the fields.

Relationships

• Arjun: Bonded partner through Musubi ceremony
• Aloe Vera: Playmate who Spike plays with in water like children (392 AC)
• Daughter of Yggdrasil: Sentient tree Eidolon Spike observed during village crisis (388 AC)
• Kimo: Cornucoopia merchant whose carriage Spike hid in during journey (384 AC)
• Repotter Otter: Otter Eidolon gardener who repotted sick Spike (393 AC)
• Yeti: Eidolon discovered while on rescue mission with Arjun (393 AC)
• Rin: Muna Exalt whom Spike sheltered with in floral tent during storm (393 AC)