#hermitcraft rift

[max-flower]

Thought of this when watching the new episodes

[thathermitweirdo]

This is my big secret project! Not a fanfiction, but a COMIC! You might notice that the writing is a bit different than my normal style. Conversations, characters, even the length of chapters, it might seem a bit off in comparison to my other works. This is because this has been written in collaboration with d0not_disturb! If you head over to their tumblr, you'll find a comic version of this fic! The comic is to provide visuals, while the fic is to provide greater details! Please go and support them, it really helps out the project! Anyway, I hope you enjoy!

—

It was dark and cold. Those were the first things Grian noticed when he woke up.

The place he was in, it wasn't normal. The air felt heavy and thick, like it was weighing him down with every breath he took. And the cold...it was a familiar sensation. One that Grian remembered faintly, but couldn't quite place. He looked around at the emptiness, nothing but a void of light surrounding him.

Grian shuddered a little, feeling uneasy on his feet. There was something in the air, something in the cold. Something that Grian remembered. Magic. It was very faint. Hard to sense, but he knew it was there. And with that magic, something else would follow.

"Nonono," Grian's eyes widened in realization as he took a step back. "Not this again." Memories were starting to flow back now. Unfortunate memories. Memories he chose not to remember.

He turned to try and run, hoping that maybe he could flee before things got even worse. But Grian froze up before he had the chance to take another step. In front of him stood a man, tall and slim, wearing a dark suit and red tie, a finely trimmed mustache covering his lips. "Mumbo?" Grian's eyes widened as he recognized the redstoner.

His expression was hidden away by the shadows of his place, making his emotions hard to read. "What are you doing here, Mumbo?" Grian took a step forward, his eyes filled with worry.

Claws grasped Mumbo's shoulders, a figure stepping out of the darkness. Grian could feel the pit of his stomach twist and ache at the sight, a deep feeling of dread washing over him. "Don't worry," the figure spoke, a twisted smile playing along their lips. "He's safe..."

Grian knew them. Just based on that voice, he knew them. But they shouldn't be here. They were gone, weren't they? It had been years, how—?

"Did you really think you could run away, fledgling?" Their voice was oozing with fake sweetness, as though they were mocking him. As if they had just let him escape. On purpose. As if they had been watching him this entire time...

A glowing sword came out of the darkness, radiating with purple magic as the blade was brought to Mumbo's neck. Grian froze up in shock, tears breaking through the corners of his eyes. "Oh Grian..." Mumbo held his head low, his facial expression hidden away by the darkness. He slowly glanced up from the ground, his eyes fully glowing purple. "Why didn't you stop them?"

His voice sounded betrayed, empty, devoid of anything Grian could recognize. Glowing purple oozed down his face, almost like tears that leaked from his eyes. His head tilted to the side, he looked like some kind of lifeless puppet. Grian could feel his chest tighten and constrict, his breaths becoming shorter and more shallow. Tears started to spill from the corners of his eyes.

"I'm sorry..." He managed, his words barely leaving his lips. "I-I'll help you! I thought they were gone! I didn't—"

A blast of magic caught Grian off guard, knocking him off his feet and causing his face to slam into the ground. "Oh please," Another voice spat, harsh and rough as he spoke. "Save the excuses."

Corvus. He was always rather cold. One of the Watchers that taught the fledgling. Columba wouldn't be too far behind either, she never strayed too far from her other half. And obviously the third of their little trio was already here, with their filthy claws sinking into Mumbo's shoulders.

Grian tried to get up, though he was met by the pointed tip of a sickle. Corvus stood on the other end of the weapon, his expression covered by his mask. He was a tall man, suited in armor that made the Watcher appear to be a knight. He had horns coming out of the side of his head, with long black hair that fell past his shoulders. He had tail feathers as well, and talons for feet, like a bird hybrid of sorts.

Columba stepped out of the darkness next, her sword radiating with purple magic. She was also dressed in silver armor, her white hair puffy and short. She had a pair of smaller wings on either side of her head, with feathers that not only matched her hair color, but also the same purple color that radiated through her blade. A veil mask covered her mouth, along with a vibrant purple panache that came from her headpiece.

She brought her blade to Mumbo's neck, as if to threaten Grian. And unfortunately, it was working. Grian couldn't risk Mumbo's life, and knowing the Watchers, they wouldn't hesitate to hurt the redstoner if they wanted to punish the fledgling.

"You knew we wouldn't be gone," Based on his tone, it was easy to tell that Corvus was smirking behind his mask. "Besides..." The Watcher snatched Grian's wrist, the sickle still pressed firmly against his skin. "Phoenix just wants a word."

"Indeed I do." The tallest of the three Watchers stepped forward, pushing Mumbo to the side for Columba to hold hostage.

Phoenix was the leader of the other two Watchers, a powerful god with unmatched abilities. They had flowing hair that almost seemed to glow, along with a ring of eyes around their head, almost arranged like a crown of sorts. They had the same bird-like talons the other two Watchers had as well, though they also had a massive pair of wings resting on their back.

Phoenix raised their hand, an orange glow of magic surrounding their palm. Glowing restraints wrapped around Grian's arms and chest, like ropes that seemed to tighten with any kind of movement. The fledgling looked down at his glowing restraints, a bit puzzled. "Huh." His head tilted a bit to the side, "Okay, what's up with that?"

"It's called a precaution, Grian." Phoenix looked a bit fed up with the fledgling, but they didn't seem mad. At least, not yet.

"I feel like Grian is a little slow." Columba tilted her head as she looked at Corvus.

"I can agree with you there." Corvus shrugged, pushing the tip of his sickle a bit further against Grian's skin.

"Shut up! Both of you." Phoenix scolded the two, "We are getting off task."

"Okay, but first—" Columba lowered her blade, though she snapped her fingers together. Purple strings came out of the darkness, wrapping around Mumbo's limbs, as if he were some kind of puppet. "I'm just gonna get Mumbo out of here. He's only a distraction."

He was lifted up by the strings, his body hanging loosely off the strands of glowing magic that bound his limbs. He looked lifeless and empty, the redstoner's eyes still filled with purple magic. It was almost unsettling looking.

"Hey, wait!" Grian tried to protest, "Where are you taking him?!"

"I dunno, somewhere." Columba snapped her fingers again, and Mumbo was pulled out of the dark void, disappearing without a trace. "You won't need him, anyway."

Her voice taunted him, her tone laced with malice. She had no remorse, none whatsoever. It's not like the other Watchers had remorse, either. The three of them had always been like this, lacking empathy in their behavior, their actions; they acted purely according to their own whims.

"You know what?" Grian shut his eyes, his arms fighting against the glowing restraints. He spread out his wings, breaking the magical binds that kept him imprisoned. "I'm out of here."

Grian flapped his wings, flying off into the darkness of the void. The other Watchers looked up at him as he flew off, Columba looking towards Phoenix and Corvus for support. "So is anyone going to stop him?" She sounded annoyed, her voice dripping with disdain.

Phoenix lifted an arm, their palm pointed toward Grian with an orange glow surrounding their hand. "I'm on it." They said, their hand closing into a fist.

A shackle made up of orange magic formed around Grian's neck, along with a long chain that kept him leashed. The other end of the chain sat in Phoenix's hand. The head Watcher glanced over at their subordinates, Columba and Corvus standing off to the side of Phoenix. "You two can go. I don't need you here."

Corvus and Columba smiled behind their masks. "Perfect!" They said in unison, disappearing within the blink of an eye.

Phoenix began to pull against the chain, tugging Grian closer towards them. "You know, it's funny." They sounded calm, yet their grip on the chain tightened slightly. "How you think you can run from your problems."

"Well, here's a newsflash for you, fledgling.." Grian could feel the chain around his neck heat up, as if the shackle was about to burst into flames. "You can't."

"Try as you might..."

"But we..."

"Will always be a part of you."

"And we"

"Will always"

"Find You."

[salem-arts]

The Rift.

[legally-allowed-to-slime]

if no one's gonna write about grian staying back in a valiant attempt to save grumbot, HIS evil robot, I will

also does anyone find it hilarious that princess gem the ultimate larper is just standing on the hermit's side of the bridge during the standoff. like, she's just chilling

-

grian sat on grumbot's palm. can you open the rift?

mumbo. no purpose. make mumbo mayor. it was as if the words were coded into his brain, which grian supposed it was, and grumbot kept on repeating it, as grian threw papers increasingly frantically.

grian groaned in frustration and flew off. "just an evil, insane robot," he muttered to himself.

then there was a boat. small but cluttered, sitting in the water between grumbot and the rift, which was now surrounded by a box.

"he's an evil robot," sausage protested.

something in grian's heart clenched. that's what he'd been telling to himself, telling to grumbot, even, but yet, when someone else said it out loud, it didn't seem right. he was just his grumbot, his little robot boy. he hadn't done anything wrong, per say.

other than threatening to purge the whole of empires.

"that's not true," grian said, mouth dry.

they talked to grumbot again, and there had been a lighthearted moment with oli's question. it was katherine's turn, and the response resurfaced like a cork in water. no mumbo, no purpose. she turned to him and the expression of skeptical worry was unmistakable.

grian inhaled. "I- I'm experienced with grumbot, alright? this is the third grumbot. I know what I'm doing." the words sounded hollow even to his ears, like he was trying to convince himself with untrue sentiments.

oli turned to him. the normally silly bard said accusingly, "well, what happened to the other two?"

grian's eye muscles suddenly malfunctioned. he knew this because water was leaking out. he pulled his wings around him and looked away from the others to grumbot, hoping to pull off a stoic, cool look. "it- it's alright. they…"

one in a box, cartoon clouds and grass, convinced that he had fulfilled it's purpose, living in a prison of lies

the other waiting for its father, its fathers, sitting in a lab, full of scorn at him what did he do make mumbo mayor —

grian laughed weakly. "yeah, he's being existential again. it's fine. everything's fine. he's just a bit evil?"

I'm so sorry, grumbot. but I'm not sure what I'm sorry for. he's just an evil and insane robot, grian repeated to himself.

but he's mine.

-

"NO! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" his voice was strained and raw, going from the heart to the throat without bothering to bypass the head. grian, devoid of armour and any blocks, stared in despair at the slowly and steadily flying TNT machine, heading straight towards grumbot.

the other emperors stood on the bridge, staring at the machine. their normally distinct personalities had all merged into one of excited desperation.

"it's like you said, grian!" sausage laughed, with a glint in his eye. "we have to kill the evil robot. you guys can't leave. the rift has to close, and the robot has to die."

"whoo!!!" joel cheered raggedly in the background, amid the atmosphere of chaotic anticipation. the way they just treated it, so lightly, as just another evil thing to be eliminated.

grian was rooted to the spot. "no, you can't do this… no, you…"

something in his brain clicked and he ran up the island. "I can save him! no, I have to— blocks! I need to—" heartbeat thumping violently, he clawed dirt and grass and wood and whatever, collecting them and sprinting over to grumbot, his boy.

grian dived into the water. immediately, his heavy sweater made heavier still with the weight of water, began to pull him down. he yelped in panic and slapped the water, trying to float forward. "grumbot! no!"

and the robot's face, unblinking, as death approached him.

grian felt the arrow pierce through him as fwhip's shot delivered the final blast to his already low health. there was a moment of nothing, and he was at spawn in the tower. chest still aching from the goblin's arrow, he grabbed as many blocks as he could and dashed over.

grumbot, I'm coming for you! grumbot!

he frantically stacked up, and the view was front-row when he saw grumbot explode in a boom of TNT and vengeance.

no—

he let himself fall, and thumped onto the ground.

when he woke up yet again, he felt hazy. grumbot. he was dead. if only he had stopped them in time.

blood and tears mixed in his vision as he pushed his way through the emperors and screamed in triumph as he went back home, to hermitcraft, to grumbot, his little robot boy.

[phish-h]

In a parallel universe..

[i-only-created-this-to-read]

Yay, Grumbot the 3rd finally got a proper name.

[kale-of-the-forbidden-cities]

Grian fanart~

Hermitcraft x empires crossover was something I absolutely needed

[daniplaystheminecrafts]

I feel I need to mini rant. Joe Hills, we all love him, but sometimes... Joe in the Grumbot/rift/going home scene is giving nothing to his viewers and taking away from the experience by insisting to not use an elytra and rockets. It is a group activity, Joe. Actively sabotaging yourself and missing out on key parts of a conversation that are pivotal to understanding what is going on isn't humorous. You didn't have an arc of "no elyta", and were using one with rockets before this. It narratively doesn't fit and just makes your point of view in the video not fun to watch. Seeing you bumble in the kings court in the same way was alright, since it was a point to get out, and all activities had been had already. so getting stuck on an exit is fine for humor. And then on the return trip when scar asks if it was a dream, and you respond, "or a nightmare..." in the most disappointed, I am done with this voice you could muster. Like... really, Joe? Those words, as is, written out are a fine joke if delivered properly. But it really rubbed me the wrong way hearing you say it like that.

I could go on, but I feel like I should keep it to this episode. Also, this is my opinion, I don't really care about you arguing against any point... because it is an opinion... like, am I talking for you? No. so...

[kyistell]

Day 4: False Symmetry (Hermit False and Empries False)

Actually ended up finishing this before 12am so I think I'm getting better at not getting distracted while drawing....or that could just be because I was watching DocM77 instead of NCIS lolz

[sircyanic]

He was only meant to watch

[clumsyhusky06]

aaaand heres grians rift, banished to my door! I hope nothing crawls out of it...

(ehk version here!)

[daffyros3]

What if the rift led elsewhere?

[vardinycx]

yknow from jimmy’s latest empires episode it kinda seems like it’s building up to the rift going all unstable and funky again when grumbot tries to activate it. i can only wonder what jimmy and fwhip’s interference will do. i sure hope some of the empires squad get yeeted into hermitcraft as a result and they have to fix grumbot *again*

[legally-allowed-to-slime]

"So," said Cleo, "Grumbot's hands."

Two black, long arms extended from the computer's moustached face, topped off with two cartoon white gloves. The computer's wide, white eyes were neutral, but he seemed content.

"Yeah, it's cursed. That's the point," Grian replied, looking proudly at Grumbot. "Main point is, Grumbot's awake, but the rift isn't open? I don't know about you, but I'm a tad homesick."

"So am I," Cleo agreed. "Why isn't it opening? I mean, Grumbot was supposed to be the way out, right? How are we gonna get home? What if…"

She trailed off into a worried frown as Grian's wings flapped in agitation. They were both thinking the same thing. What if they were trapped here forever? The very thought made them cold with terror.

"How's it going, guys?" Gem chirped, "Looks like you Hermits are doing pretty good with the tower so far!"

"Yeah, hi, Gem," Grian absentmindedly greeted, deep in thought of the possibilities if Grumbot couldn't open the rift.

"Just came over to see," Gem said cheerfully, "Anyways, need to pop over to check on my castle megabase. See you!" With a soft pop, she was gone.

"Yep, yep," said Cleo vaguely, mind running over their current predicament.

Grian's head snapped up. "I can't think of anything. Gem, do you have any ideas- WAIT-"

Cleo blinked.

[abovesealevl]

The rift?? Hello?? This looks so cool what are we feeding these artists?!?

THE RIFT

[isjasz]

2- Two of Wands

(Planning, Decisions, Discovery)

My piece!! for @the-hermit-arcana :D!!! I had such a blast drawing this piece, though the colors and lighting were actively trying to kill me HSKFNEKWJ. Spot all the empires on the globe 💥💥 (This is also a reference to the original Raider Waite deck!)

And definitely check out the whole arcana HERE! This is SUCH A COOL PROJECT ISTG EVERY CARD IS SO PRETTYYY and the graphics of the booklet are phenomenal <3 go read my description for my card too ;3