Ne

Ne

Ne (pronounced /ˈnēän/) lives the secluded life of a forest mystic somewhere in the Shrieking Wilds. It is unknown whether she has a permanent lair or travels the verdant cacophony of the Labyrinth at her own whims, but she has the uncanny ability to appear to those who need her help most.

Immeasurably old, Ne herself does not remember her hatchday, only that she has always lived in the Green. Nature, flora or fauna, is her charge. The Natural Order her prime directive in this world.

This, however, does not mean that Ne is passive. Nor does she favor the aggressor. Survival of the Fittest is a Plague ideal, not one of Nature. Nature... in real nature, survival is a constantly moving finish line in a constantly escalating arms race between all everything around you. The Fittest is an ideal Dragons will parrot as they glut themselves on carnage born of Ego.

Ne will tell you; even the strongest, fastest, fiercest Wildclaw may die from a mosquito bite. A seedling will come to split the even the bones of a Snapper. There are fish that may swallow a Fae whole but in turn fall prey to a keen King Parda. Fit changes. Survival changes. Life is constantly changing.


In her satchel Ne carries all she will ever need by way of components. Bones and blood and bright jungle raincatch, even a canopy darter or two; countless cuttings and powders and oils that she mixes carefully in the delicate blown glass globes of her kit. No magic to little or too large, Ne keeps her spells in a massive tome and freely helps those that happen upon her.

Twice a year, on the equinoxes, Ne will perform the Augeries, seeking answers to the questions other folk have brought to her ears. 3 chips of Jade, 3 Live Butterflies, 3 glittering amber gems... prayer and magic and a sacrifice of essence is all it takes to listen at the Tidelord's ear. Ne learned this ritual from a Water Sprite as repayment for rescuing their Maren companion from a hunter's trap.

It was on one such night that Ne received a grand and awful vision. Those at the ritual only remember hearing Ne's voice become sluggish and thick, watching her body go rigid for terrifying seconds and then collapse. When Ne regained consciousness, her eyesight was gone, and she could not bring herself to speak of the vision.

Her only companion has ever been Yaaxche, and then only for a time. The little coatl, too wise for their years, and voice too full of power, returns occasionally to spend time with Ne in the forests to learn and teach in equal measures.