Nu Ze, Poet of Gloom
Nu Ze (Xivi: ?:!), also known as "Voice of Calamity", or "The Jester that Hides", is a legendary figure in many a classic Albian tale. He appears in major and otherwise epic scripts as the voice of damnation, often narrating major disastrous events in history. Several versions depict him at first as either a slinky callous man or as an unassuming child. However, it is widely accepted that his appearance changed drastically when the witch Xusfia cursed and transformed him into her furry greaves and shoes. Scattered documentation of sightings has been recorded in texts all over the kingdom since then, spreading his name far and wide as the malevolent jester whose words bring ruin.Do you believe in true evil?I have seen it before,keeping as close to the ground as it could...Eyes of pure malice...the voice of calamity.
Current Status
Cursed to compose epic poems for a witch
Children
Eyes
Turquoise
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Furry black
Neer Zuli by Yurii & rikia
Major Appearances
Endless Immortal War
Nu Ze was first mentioned in the Marred Scripts as a young boy who the Endless Immortal War had orphaned. The legend about his accursed transformation has been passed on by hearsay alone, making it the most unreliable part of his tale.Nauseous gnawing nerving madness
Eerie envy earnest pain
Rapture rival risking malice
Lurking leering lonely rain
One of the more popular versions introduces a boy named Neer Zuli. He was the son of two powerful Sigami masters during EIW. Already at a tender age, he had begun to receive premonition that told of inevitable disasters.
Using the words of Sigami, Neer crafted poems that rang across the human kingdom, foretelling the doom of mankind. His parents grew contempt for their son, seeing him as the one to blame for the events, calling him "a spy sent by the gods". However, he was also a threat in the gods' eyes, and those too sought to smite him.
Rejected by the adults who towered over him and hunted by the gods from above, Neer eventually lost his sanity and fled deep down into Gallana Amon. It is there - crawling on the ground - that he happened upon the mythical witch, Xusfia.
Neer meant to foretell her future, at which the witch quickly acted to halt the boy. She transformed the wretched thing into a being that could stay as low as possible while continuing to deliver his poems of doom and gloom. The witch thus gave him the Xivi name Nu Ze, separating him from humanity forever.
Consequently, he would appear in several holy scripts like the Black Teachings as the lower garments of the witch Xufia, already taken his monstrous form.
Xusfia and Nu Ze by Yurii & rikia
Ironia's Birth
The opening chapter of Black Teachings introduces the lonely, frozen birth of Saint Ironia of Sheleg with a prophetic poem from Nu Ze. The Poet of Gloom appears with Xusfia to congratulate Ironia and foresee the dark life that awaits her. He uses heavy metaphors such as {...naked to the mountains through the flood} to symbolize what arduous trials she would have to endure before her purpose is fulfilled. He also provides similies to equate the beginning of her life with the end of humankind's immortality - {...a birth that came from decay, inviting the snowy day}.Vicious vengeful unrelenting
Hasty healing hollow hymns
Fearing foreign fingers touching
Crude caressing candid whims
Great Exile of the Witches
The witch and the poet appeared once more in the years leading to the Great Exile of the Witches in 333. As the lamia refugees walked the beaches of the southern coast, they were accompanied by Nu Ze's scornful voice. His words laid waste to the hearts of the witches, causing their sorrow to blemish the sands they stepped on. The coast absorbed so much of their suffering that it had turned completely black and eroded, earning its more modern name as the Ghastly Coast.Sanguine symbolic sandy beaches
Jilting journey jeering fail
Dim and damning daunting ventures
Magnum opus written -----
Second Civil War
Nu Ze by Yurii & rikia
I am not long for this worldIn more recent history, Nu Ze no longer appears in epic proportions as before, but rather only to individuals. This more intimate approach has been reported by several humans who met gruesome deaths shortly after. Most of these testimonies had spread towards the end of the Second Civil War of Album, when chaos and death flooded the human kingdom. Soldiers on the frontlines would claim to have witnessed the "Jester" who had suggested their imminent demise. It was only after the war ended that Nu ze's name and legend were truly immortalized in Album's consciousness and culture.
Last night I saw the Jester hiding under my bed
He softly whispered two words to me:
"Friendly fire"
Influence
Did you hear about Gilfred?The fifth-century MA brought dark times for the people of Album, who had seen no rest since the Day of the First Snow. The popularized myth of Nu Ze was among the most discussed and often proven to be fatal to those who claimed to have seen the sentient shoed jester. The legend evolved so that finding a jester's shoe under one's bed or dresser was considered a mark for death. In some cases, people had admitted to placing such a shoe in an attempt to cover their planned homicide. Eventually, the act of planting jester shoes had been made a serious offense punishable by imprisonment or worse. The whereabouts of Nu Ze - or the witch for that matter - have been a mystery to most since their disappearance around the end of the fourth-century. Though one would do well to check under their bed, were they to hear the faint voice of the 'Jester that Hides'.
Apparently, he thought it amusing to place a shoe with a hawk's eye under his father's bed!
He was caught in the act. The poor fool probably won't see the light of day for a long time.
This is a really interesting entry for the bard challenge! I absolutely love the folk feeling to it, the fact that he was changed into a pair of shoes has some very like russian folklore vibe for some reason, which I find very neat. I'm a bit rusty on feedback, but I'll try my best!
Introduction
I find it interesting that he is called "The Jester that Hides", I'm curious about the Jester name came from as the figure doesn't seem very Jester-y to me. Similarly, I'm curious as to where the depiction of a "slinky callous man" comes from.Endless Immortal War
I very much enjoy the fact that you've made a section that tells part of the story! I am curious as to where people think this gift comes from- was it god given, a curse, a blessing or other?Ironia's Birth
I really enjoy the fact that you included a little stylistic approach! Ngl I would've been curious to read more about the style, but I'm aware this requires a lot of effort so it makes sense to keep it at that.Great Exile of the Witches
Formatting wise, I'd add a few spaces so that the header is aligned to the left. That or make the above picture a bit smaller. I like that the witch and poet have this omnious role, though I would've like a more detailed explanation of how perception of Nu Ze evolved across time. Who first told his story? And why?Second Civil War
It feels like it is only around the Second Civil War that Ne Zu got the nickname of the Jester. I'm curious about the name, and I'm also wondering how come Ne Zu suddenly stopped appearing without the witch. Obviously sometimes things just happen, but its more fun when there's a reason!Influence
Very cool section!I love the quote, though I had a bit of trouble understanding what you meant when you initially wrote "The poor fool probably won't see the light of day for a long time.". I'm assuming this means Gilfred ended up in jail. Also, when you say "The legend evolved so that finding a jester's shoe under one's bed or dresser was considered a mark for death.", does that imply it was used as a threat or by assassins perhaps? Or is it solely superstitious?I'm also curious about studies that may have been done about the character and myth, from an academic pov- though thats just personal curiosity!
Conclusion
I'm quite a fan of the character, though I feel like a lot more can be said. The art is really fun as always, and really brings that eery vibe to the article! Top choice of music too, way to go :)Let us unite against the enemies of Album!