An Apeiron Story: The Godiverse Holidays, Part 2

Season’s greetings doods!

Season’s greetings doods!

In today’s blog post, we proudly present part 2 of The Godiverse Holidays. In this story, the miserly Ebegeezer Dood quests across the godiverse in a bid to rediscover his lost doodiness and to understand the meaning of Doodmas — and he better hurry, because if he doesn’t, he could lose his very sanity and transform into a ravenous bood.

Some announcements: Playas gonna Breed breeding event begins tomorrow! Breed your Planets and win awesome prizes — including, for the first time ever, Astronomicals to enhance your Star NFTs! Also — Christmas is coming and we’re going to have A TON of Christmas events going on soon with lots of surprises in store! Come over to our Discord and share in the holiday cheer with your fellow doods.

Now then, let’s do a quick reminder of where we left off. In Part 1 (which you can read HERE), we are introduced to Ebegeezer before being whisked away by the spirit of Corncob across the godiverse. Ebegeezer visits the Village of Candles and reflects on his relationship with his sister Franny, walks the Road of Inns and remembers his lost love Bonnie, before being finally assaulted by a pack of blood-crazed babari-doods.

We rejoin our (anti?)hero as he reappears in a new place in the godiverse, having only just escaped from being torn apart by the skin of his teeth. But time is running out…

________

Ebegeezer Dood woke up — but not in reality.

He was still in spirit form. And he was alive. Well, as alive as anyone could be whose spirit had left their body and flown across the godiverse. He picked himself up off the dirt, brushed himself off, and looked around.

He was standing in a forest glade. Soft morning light filtered through the leaves above to create a patchwork mosaic on the loam-covered ground. It was peaceful, a far-cry from the bloody castle they had run from. But he was alone. Corncob, his dearly departed friend, had departed again — or been left behind. Had he escaped the bloody dood barbarians? There was no way of knowing. Without Corncob to take him around the godiverse, would he be doomed to wander the godiverse as a spirit for all eternity? Oh dear.

Still, there was no use in just standing around miserably. And Ebegeezer Dood was nothing if not practical. So he chose a direction and started walking. Being a spirit, he passed right through the dense forest underbrush without any discomfort. He was free to admire the natural world around him. It was…pleasant. Small birds flitted amongst the branches singing to one another. A light breeze rustled the leaves. He hadn’t taken many walks like this in a long time. Too busy. Always too busy.

The forest quickly began to thin out. He found himself in a quite striking landscape: it was relatively flat, but with tall mountains punching upwards sheer from the ground. They stood like tower guardians overlooking the rivers and farmland, for he could begin to see signs of doodilization. Following a robust stream flowing out of the forest was a small dirt path that gradually widened and became more packed. There were rice paddies to either side, and farmhouses at some distance — more and more as he got closer to what he assumed was a small town, nestled in a protected valley surrounded by those impressive towering mountains.

Doods started to pass him on the path, but thankfully remained blissfully unaware of his presence. Many of them were carrying red banners and boxes full of fireworks. They appeared to be preparing for something or other. A celebration or holiday, no doubt, just like the other places. Ebegeezer ignored them…at first. But he had nothing else to do, and curiosity got the best of him. So when a father, mother, and daughter dood passed close by and veered off towards a pleasant little cottage, he followed them.

They were greeted at the door by a pair of older doods — he guessed grandparents. There was a bit of a hullabaloo as the girl’s grandmother made a fuss over her and insisted she take some sort of red envelope. Then the girl pulled out a red envelope and handed it to her grandma, which then caused a whole new spate of fussing over whether to take it or not. Eventually both the girl and her grandma pocketed the red envelopes. Ebegeezer wondered what was in them.

Then they started decorating. The family worked together — under the grandfather’s pointed directions — to stick the red banners all over the outside of the house. It was certainly striking if nothing else: he had to give them that. The red banners had some words on them, but he couldn’t quite make them out. They taped the banners all around the doors and windows, and then retreated inside. He tried to follow, but found he couldn’t pass through the walls. Something was keeping him out.

Rebuffed, he decided to move on and explore the other houses. He discovered much the same: red banners pasted on walls near doors and windows, and however much he pushed, he couldn’t force his way in. So he decided to walk through the town instead.

The town was busy with doods buying boxes of fireworks and food. It was a lively atmosphere in the central market in particular, where vendors lined up on the streetsides and crowed out the deals on offer. Ebegeezer floated through it all untouched and unharried. But he had a strange sentiment building inside of him: he wished he could be a part of it, this beautiful flow of doody life. The energy was infectious. He thought about lighting fireworks of his own, perhaps with Corncob or Franny. It would be fun.

As the day wore on the crowds thinned out. Having nothing to do and nowhere to go, he decided to return to that first house he had visited to see if anything had changed. By the time he got back there it was already dark outside. He peered in at the windows. My oh my how the table was set with a veritable feast of tasty treats: roast jungle bird with gravy, an enormous poached snowfish covered in chilis, thick slabs of a crispy fried glutinous cake, a bubbling cauldron of traditional “hairy” soup, and — off to one side — a multi-tiered butter’n’egg sugarcake.

His mouth was watering. When was the last time he had had a meal like that? At some point he had stopped caring about food so much. It was just another expense. He had stopped living to eat, and started to eat to live. But now he felt hungry: and not just for any old snack. He wanted this.

But of course, he couldn’t have it. Feeling sorry for himself, he parked himself on a grassy knoll outside the house and sat there for a good long while and thought about his life, his choices. He had been confident in them before. He wasn’t so sure now.

Time passed. He thought everyone would be sleeping, but suddenly the family reappeared holding their fireworks excitedly. And then one firework went up into the sky in a brilliant blaze of light. And then another. And another! And then the ground was alive with sound as families all over town set off noisemakers and cracklers. The dark world was illuminated by colorful exploding lights, and even the towering mountains got in on the fun, echoing and re-trumpeting the noisy celebrations. It was overwhelming, incredible.

“EBE! THERE YOU ARE!”

“What?” Ebe turned and saw Corncob’s ghost dashing towards him.

His old friend reached him and quickly nabbed him up in a spirited hug. “Oh good gracious! I thought I had lost you. When I did the transfer we got separated. I’ve been looking all over for you. Are you alright?”

“Yes…yes. I’m fine. But…how much time has passed? Shouldn’t it already be daytime back home? I’ve missed my window. I’m dead. Or a bood. Or something. I don’t know,” he said despairingly. Only now, that he had lost everything, did he long for a second chance.

But Corncob was shaking his head resolutely. “Time is a funny thing, when you’re traveling as a spirit. We’ve still got a little bit left before we need to go back! And actually, we’ve got just one last place I wanted us to visit. But we’ve got to hurry. Come on!”

He held out his hand. Ebe took it without hesitation, and in the flash of a firework, they were gone.

_________

They reappeared on top of a hill overlooking a valley. It was nighttime again, wherever they were. And through the valley ran a river of light, cutting through the darkness of night, a twisting and incandescent serpent.

“Wow!” said Ebe. “Would you look at that.”

“Let’s get a bit closer, shall we?” said Corncob with a smile.

They started down the hill towards the bottom of the valley and the river. Snatches of song were carried across the open air towards them as they walked.

Corncob turned to him as they were strolling: “So how was your trip to the last town?”

“The place with the red banners and fireworks?” He thought for a second. “It was strange.”

“Oh? How so?”

“There were some things I couldn’t understand. What were those red envelopes they were passing around?”

“Oh! Those were money.”

“They were giving each other money?”

“Yeah!”

“Huh,” thought Ebe. Then he nodded. “Sensible. Money’s always useful. I’d love to be given some money.”

“That’s the idea!”

“What about the red banners on the walls?”

“To prevent spirits and ghosts from coming knocking. It’s also supposed to scare boods away, but I’m not sure it works in that capacity.”

“Ah, fair enough. And the fireworks, did those represent anything?”

Corncob shrugged. “Fireworks are awesome.”

Ebe chuckled. “That’s true. I love fireworks.”

Corncob looked at him oddly. “Ebe, did anything happen while you were there? You seem…different.”

“Hmm…I know what you mean, but I can’t quite explain it. It’s like when you take a long rest and then you wake up and stretch. That stretch: it feels so good. And you look forward to the day ahead. Then you splash your face with water and you’re really awake, ready for anything. That’s kind of what it felt like.”

“It felt like you woke up?”

“Yeah. A little bit.”

Corncob did a little leap and punched the air happily. “That’s what I like to hear, Ebe! You’re remembering what it’s like to be a dood.”

He smiled at his old friend’s jubilance. “Maybe I am at that.”

They lapsed into amicable silence as they perambulated towards the river of light. As they got closer, Ebe could make out a crowd of doods by the riverside. Parent doods were chatting as doodlings ran about happily, stuffing their mouths with colorful sweets. There were some bonfires set up, around which there was music and dancing. He also noticed some riverside shrines — and below these were hundreds of candles. Looking out over the river, he realized that the river of light was also covered with candles — candles that had been delicately perched on small, flat cups and then set out onto the water.

The atmosphere was breathtaking. “What celebration is this?” he whispered reverently to Corncob.

“The Festival of Light,” said Corncob. “I would say more, but I don’t want to spoil the surprise.”

“What do you mean? What surprise?”

Corncob winked. “You’ll see.”

So they waited. The party carried on, and Ebe’s mind wandered. He worried, to some extent. But he was less worried if he would become a bood now. Instead, he was worried about his future — and not just the future of his business, but of his life. Could he repair the damage done to his relationships? So many bridges burned…was there any chance left he could find forgiveness? He wasn’t sure. But damned if he wasn’t going to try.

He was brought back from his reverie by the sound of hushed silence. He blinked and looked around. There was the river of light and its celebrants. But now they were quiet, whispering to each other excitedly, holding hands, and looking up at the crest of the valley. He looked as well. And gasped.

There, looking out over the edge of the valley, was a god. Or goddess…did gods have genders? He wasn’t sure. Whatever! It was divine, and it was huge. Looming over the side of the valley, the god turned its gigantic head to observe the doods below it. Ebe stared up, slack-jawed, into eyes the size of moons.

Spontaneous cheering erupted from the doods in the valley. The god raised a massive hand in greeting. And then it slowly tilted it’s head upwards, to the sky. Around its body, an aura of light began to build and build and build until it was blinding. Ebe covered his eyes with everyone else — then, with a bone-rattling THROOM sound, the god was gone. Above, a sparkling shooting star could be spotted streaking across the night sky.

The doods in the valley clapped and cheered in rapturous excitement. Ebe was still shell-shocked by the whole experience. Beside him, he heard Corncob snort: “Hmph. Show off.”

“Show off?”

“That god. He didn’t really need to do all that. He could show up anytime he wants and help out. But this is a ritual here on this planet. He only turns up once on this night and it’s a whole song and dance.”

“Well, it’s a pretty spectacular song and dance! He just rocketed into space! And he was huge!”

“Yes, well. Like I said, very dramatic. Once you’ve met some other gods, you’ll see what I mean. Still, the doods here enjoy the spectacle of it. Did you?”

Ebe sighed contentedly as he thought about the dramatic scene he had just witnessed. “It was magical. Really magical.”

“Do you think you learned anything? Or do you feel more doody?”

He nodded. “Yeah. I think…I think before I was almost too hungry. I wanted everything so much that everything was never enough. But now I realize- now I get it. The doody spirit isn’t about just being hungry,” he grinned, “it’s about enjoying life for what it is. Having fun and relaxing! There’s a whole godiverse of things to see and eat…might as well make the most of it.”

Corncob gave him a big hug. When he pulled back, Ebe could see ethereal tears running down his ghostly friend’s round cheeks. “I knew you could do it,” said Corncob proudly. “You were always my best friend when we were alive, even when you started to get distant. I’m proud of you, Ebe.”

Then his friend took a step back and clapped his hands together. Suddenly Ebe was falling through a portal of space and time once more, with Corncob standing over him at the edge of the portal. Not following. He reached out a hand to his old friend. “Wait! Corncob!”

Corncob waved. “I can’t come back with you now, Ebe. It’s time to wake up. I’ll see you soon.” He winked. “Though not too soon, I hope. Bye’e!”

And with that, the portal closed, and he disappeared.

________

Ebe(sometimes geezer) Dood woke up with a start, sitting straight up in bed. Everything in his mostly empty chambers looked just the way he had left it, except the fire he had set in the hearth the previous night had guttered out sometime during the night, and now the sun was shining brightly through the window. He got up and looked outside. It was snowing. And it was Doodmas Day! Oh gosh, he had so much to do.

He quickly put on his hat and coat and rushed downstairs, but then remembered: it was only just Doodmas morning, and he still had time yet. So he grabbed his moneybags and went to the nearest tavern for breakfast and had the biggest meal he had had for a long, long time: scrambled turducken eggs with cheesy mashed browns, several strips of salty, streaky strimmer bacon, a pile of steaming saucy goobers, all washed down with a mug of frothy maplebeer.

As he cleaned up his plate, he noticed that the waitress was watching him nervously with wide eyes. Normally he would come in, order the cheapest thing, and then eat and leave as quickly as possible. So this was…different. He beckoned to her. She came closer, her face resigned to being scolded for some perceived slight or scorned for her lack of wealth.

But instead he took her hand and pressed a small pile of coins in it. She gasped. He smiled at her. “I’m sorry for how I treated you before. Merry Doodmas!”

‘Well I never! I couldn’t possibly take this, Mr. Ebegeezer sir!”

He laughed. “You can and you will. It’s Doodmas, after all. And from now on, just call me Ebe. See you!”

And with that, he was off, the waitress ready to faint out of shock, but secretly basking in the joy of this sudden windfall — she’d be able to pay off her debts with this, and actually start to do all the things she had dreamed of off the back of this little nest egg…

Ebe left her and her dreams behind as he went crunching through the snow down the main street of the town. There were various doods moving about here and there, on their ways to visit family and friends. He smiled and waved to all of them and wished each dood a very Merry Doodmas. No one could quite believe it. And when he ran into a doodling and gave him a gift-coin for the holidays, the whole street began to become alive with chatter. What had happened to old man Ebegeezer? Charity? Love of holidays? Unheard of! It was a Doodmas Miracle, they said. A Doodmas Miracle.

Ebe was having a ball of a time, but there were still butterflies in his stomach as he knocked on the door of his secretary, Critchens. When Critchens opened the door he looked as if the Doodmas spirit had been sapped out of him. He had big bags under his eyes and was only half-dressed. Utter exhaustion mixed with terrible despair as he saw who it was: “Oh…Mr. Ebegeezer sir…I wasn’t expecting you-”

“Critchens,” Ebe cut him off. “Here.” A small crowd had gathered behind him to see what the fuss was about. A murmur went up as they saw him drop a literal sack of money into Critchens’ hands. Critchens looked inside the money sack and then looked at his boss. Astonished didn’t even begin to describe what he was feeling. Total amazement might have come close. “Mr. Ebegeezer…this…this is enough to get the medicine I need for Timmy. And it looks like it might be enough for me to buy a new helmet as well! I can get back to adventuring with this!”

Ebe took a deep breath. “You came to this town destitute,” he said, “And I know I haven’t treated you the way I should have. I guess I took advantage of your situation, and I’m sorry for that. But I’m trying to turn a new leaf. And I hope that this money helps. It’s not a loan. It’s a gift. I hope you can accept it. Are your sons ok?”

Critchens nodded. An uncontrollable smile was starting to creep across his face. “They will be now! Timmy! Tommy! Come downstairs, quick now boys! Come say thank you to Mr. Ebegeezer!”

“No need for thanks,” protested Ebe, already donning his hat and moving away. “Merry Doodmas, Critchens. If I don’t see you again, I hope you find everything you’ve lost and more.”

“Merry Doodmas, Mr. Ebegeezer!” Critchens waved goodbye, now practically jumping up and down with joy and excitement.

Right then! Ebe felt good about how the day had gone so far, but he almost wanted to run back home instead of going to his next destination. Still, he had come this far. He couldn’t give up now. He had to be brave. So off he marched through the streets once more — and as he went he found himself crowded upon by what must have been every doodling in town, who must have heard (or whose parents must have heard) about Ebegeezer Dood’s unexpected charity and come hoping for a Doodmas gift-coin themselves.

Ebe made sure that every single doodling got a coin of their own and left happy and thankful. Buoyed by the high spirits of the giddy doodlings, he swiftly reached the home of his sister Franny. He stood for a moment outside the door, fidgeting and fiddling with his hat, the snow falling chilly now. Would he be a burden, coming to them now when they weren’t expecting him? Oh it had been so long since they had last talked, let alone since he had visited…

But the noise of the children playing around him meant that he didn’t even need to knock. His sister opened the door to check on the commotion and saw him standing there awkwardly in the snowy street. For a time, they just stared at one another. Then she came up and embraced him. “Merry Doodmas, Ebe,” she said with all the kindness and warmth in the whole wide world. “I’ve missed you, big brother.”

“Merry Doodmas Franny,” he returned shyly. “I missed you too.”

“Well what are you waiting for? We’re almost ready for lunch. Come in, come in!”

And so they went in.

And so it was that Ebe Dood rediscovered his doody spirit and learned the meaning of Doodmas — and indeed, the meaning of all of the wonderful holidays spread across the godiverse.

END

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We hope you enjoyed this holiday story, and — from everyone here at Foonie Magus — we wish you all a very Merry Doodmas and Happy Holidays! And remember, if you’re feeling alone and looking for some doody cheer, look no further than our social media (Twitter, Telegram) — especially our Discord, where you’ll always find some doods to chat with.

Much love y’all. See you next year ❤

About Apeiron

Apeiron is the world’s first NFT-based play-and-earn godgame. Apeiron will feature a unique card-based action-adventure combat system combined with god game simulation gameplay inspired by classic god games like Populous and Black & White. Players will be able to build up planets from above before descending to the ground as a powerful Avatar to solve the mysteries of the universe. Players will grow their planet to the point of developmental stagnation, then reset the planetary cycle via an Armageddon event to allow for even more advancement and thrilling late-game alliance level GvE and GvG activities. Apeiron will use a tri-token architecture, which means that there will be three separate tokens to navigate their ecosystem: a governance token, a play-to-earn token, and a premium alliance token.

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