Nightfall [Archelon]

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

51st Fall 511AV

Serrif had finished up with Lym for the day. He made a few more medicines and well at the end of it all he learned even more things than he thought possible. Now was the next task on hand. He was to purchase daggers from the Heart of Steel. He didn’t know where this place was but thanks to the signs that had been put up for visitors to the festival he had a general idea. He walked through the street following the signs appropriately. He knew the sun would go down here sometime soon and he knew that he was reporting tomorrow morning to his new Mistress. He knew not who this person was but he knew that he couldn’t show up unprepared. That wouldn’t fare him well. So he took to a quick jog.

He could still feel his legs screaming from the work Ildin gave them earlier in the morning. But he needed to get to the Heart of Steel. He reached the center of Mura and well saw a small white house that was rectangular in shape. There was only one real decoration, a large window made of orange and yellow glass. There were plenty of weapons depicted in the windows, swords, bows, quivers and a few suvai. This seemed to be the place. He walked through a simple wooden door and into the shop. There was a plentiful amount of space out here in the storefront. He looked around and stretched a little. His body still screaming from the jog here. He would have to get better at this. He looked through the shelves and well there were really no daggers on the shelf that caught his eye. He wanted something that would remind him of the Isle…since he would likely never be coming back in this lifetime. Or if he did come back it would only be after a long time to gain further knowledge.

The light wooden shelf seemed to carry all the weapons she carried for general sale. He picked up a normal dagger and turned it over in his hand. He supposed this one would have to do. He continued to look through the shelf for a dagger that matched it, but it seemed like there wasn’t one. Well he only assumed he had to get two identical daggers, he supposed he could get two that were slightly different. He held the dagger up and compared it to the ones on the shelf. Each one was a little different, and none of them looked particularly special to him. He sighed, wishing he could find a weapon that better suited his wants and needs. But if this was where there was he would make the best of it. It was funny none of these daggers felt like they suited him, or maybe he just didn’t know daggers very well.

“Hello how can I help you?” A friendly voice called to him. He turned around and there was a Konti woman sitting behind the counter polishing some blades.

Serrif smiled and brought the two rather ordinary blades he found to the counter and laid them down, they were obviously of standard shape and size but they were nowhere near identical. “I was told by Ildin to come here and purchase two daggers. So I think these two will do.” He said somewhat dissatisfied with his find, but they were daggers…he was only hoping for something more…

It was then he noticed another set of shelves behind the counter that consisted of a decent amount of wooden boxes hiding the contents inside them. There was a littering of these ornate boxes scattered and stacked on the shelves. They were all shapes and sizes and could hold everything from a dagger to a long sword. But they were likely just empty boxes.

[Archelon]

K'Sein was reading a book beyond the counter as Serrif walked into the store, wondering which of the many inhabitants of the isle was visiting today. Her fascination was captured by a broguish sort of man, a human (which made him more of a boy really), just walking in and perusing the wares of weapons on the shelves and she smiled slightly as he meandered about the store searching the tables for any assortment of weaponry which caught his eye. But a raised corner of her mouth might bely her amusement. She smiled and placed one hand on her hip as she waited for his approach up to the counter to explain that he was Ildrin's pupil and she laughed a bit at his evident disatisfaction of his choices of daggers. "My dear man, don't try to fool me, those two weapons you chose are so disimilar in their grip you'd never be able to use them properly. Look at the weaving of the leather work around the handle. They're made for well..." The woman paused a moment, and then reached across to pick up one of Serrif's hands and hold it in the air long enough to press her open palm to his. The human's fingers were slightly larger then her own, and her eyes sparkled with amusement."... far smaller hands then yours. Besides, Ildrin would never want me to let any studen of hers leave this shop without a proper weapon for them. It just wouldn't suit her reputation or mine." Closing her eyes , she breathed lightly as she allowed her control of her gift to come to the fore as she began to attempt to fathom which weapon truly could be made his own. After a moment, she began to saw something, something she had never made before and withdrew her hand. "Well... it seems there will be a bit of work for this one. I don't have what you need in stock right now, in fact I'll have to forge them. A simple enough design, but in order for it to be personalized to you I'll need you to get me a few things. Are you willing to work for a bit otherwise I won't stop you from buying any dagger in here?" She paused a moment and stepped back to cross her arms over her chest, wondering if this childlike being was ready to work for something new.

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

It seemed there was no fooling this woman. She knew of his dissatisfaction with the daggers he found. But honestly he just needed daggers, there weren’t any specifics put on what kind of daggers he would need nor what their function would have to be. But he picked these two just because they were the most similar. But he did know what she told him was true, these daggers weren’t meant for his hands. And well how could any of these weapons be good for him then? He was an oddity here on the isle, so much so that he was leaving. The thought that maybe this was all planned hovered in the back of his head. Was he really just not welcome here anymore? He didn’t know and judging by the way that the women here acted he couldn’t be completely sure if it was on purpose or not. But he was hoping that it was because he was indeed fitting to be honored and just not fitting to be tossed out. If this wasn’t exile it sure felt like it to him.

When she held op her hand to his it became apparently obvious that there was nothing here in the store for him. He sighed, figured was this just another one of Ildin’s tests? She had to know that there was nothing here for him. He watched the woman behind the counter carefully. Wondering what she would do about this…if anything. She spoke that she needed a few things that she didn’t have in stock. So would she be having him run errands around town for her? That wasn’t what he planned for the day but he knew that in the long run anything worth your time was worth your effort Ildin had taught him this well. His body was sore and indeed screaming, if Ildin had done this on purpose he had underestimated her sorely. He had been torn asunder almost but he knew that he would have much more to do if he was to continue with her request of him. He nodded and smiled.

“I’m always up for a challenge, what is it you need?” He asked as he prepared his mind to take careful notes of whatever she asked of him.

[Archelon]

K'Sein smiled at the man and nodded, as she pictured what she would need to make his daggers. Taking the vision to heart of the weapon which would suit him best she sighed a little before leaning back to close her eyes as she began to speak. "Well, I can certainly say it's refreshing to have a man willing to go the extra mile if I say so myself. So listen closely to what I say. Dear Ildry is trusting me to ensure you are well prepared with something that suits you well. Even if in the future your skills might outgrow such things. So here's what I need you to do. She said you live by the ocean, on the beaches no less and that is where you are to go. I will need you to find several things to make these daggers : The first being a set of conch shells; two small, two large, and both as white or pearl as possible. " The konti woman smiled a bit as she drummed her hands on the countertop, her thoughts and mind already beginning to think of what else she would need to work on such a creation. "Also, I will require you to find me five limpet shells, but beware the best cling in the places of the isle where the shore becomes rocky in the surf tides. You're way may be perilous as you walk amidst the sharpened rocks. The most healthy limpets with the best multi-colored shells can be found in the deepest of tide pools or cavities in the rock. Beware the dangers of being there, if high tide comes in too early. For then you may face the hazards of climbing and swimming at the same time. I can ground these shells up into a fine powder to coat the conch shells for an inlay for the hilt. The best times to find them are close to dusk so you do not have much time." K'sein's eyes opened and she looked at Serrif, cocking her head slightly to the right as she threw back her hair to refasten the trademark bandana that she wore about her head to keep it free from her eyes during her work. "Then, find from the sea a bounty of driftwood, it does not have to be from a tree of the Isles, there are many things the Sea brings to our shores. Just find one large enough to be used in carving the base of a hilt." She pressed her lips together a moment to moisten them before she finished. "Last but not least, I will need a small memento that catches your eye, I do not know where or when you shall find, or if you have it already. But bring it back here with you. You have till tomorrow morning to bring me what I require, and I will fashion a set of daggers for you otherwise, I shall simply sell the two you picked up. That is all, my dear man. It is time for you to go and I hope to see you on the morrow." Her eyes twinkled mischieviously as she gazed at the human in front of her before she lowered her voice to whisper conspiratorially to him with a wink, "I can see why Ildrin likes you so much... now run along and good luck in your search."

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

His mind set to organizing the tasks before him. He needed several things two large and two small conch shells all of them as white as possible, he needed five limpet shells and then driftwood as far as the memento…well that would come when it came he figured. But he needed these daggers early tomorrow morning, which meant that he would have to get all of this as soon as possible. This would stretch his comfort levels way past where they were currently. He had never been comfortable with the night or with the darkness. But he knew that he would have to put all that aside and push himself a little further than before. He swore Ildin had to plan this entire thing out. There just wasn’t a way that she couldn’t have known all the pieces would fall like they had. That left him with few choices and he knew he would have to throw sleep aside and just do what was required of him.

“I will do as you ask.” He said as he then nodded and left in a somewhat hurry. He didn’t know much about the tides but he did know that they were going to come up with the moon, and that meant he had little time left.

He rushed to the beach full stride his body still screaming as it carried him to the shore. He knew the first thing on his list had to be the limpet shells. And if he wanted colorful ones he knew he had almost no time left. The rocky shore was right to the north of where he had set up camp. He grabbed his empty backpack and gladius and like that he was off again. He ran with due haste to the north up the beach. The entire time his body was aching it was so tired and strained. He swore Ildin had to have planned this entire thing out for him. He had been going for over twelve hours now. And he had a feeling he would be going for far longer. He struggled to find energy but he knew that he needed these daggers; all he had to do was work for them. As he jogged north he looked across the shoreline for anything resembling a conch shell. He figured he could gather several and then she could pick the best. And having a few more than needed couldn’t hurt he did after all have a backpack.

While running along the shore he found one such shell and it was huge, maybe it was a large shell? He couldn’t be sure. He picked it up and there wasn’t anything living in it so he put it in his backpack and continued along his way. The entire time keeping his eyes peeled for more such shells as well as driftwood. Driftwood was important as well. But he didn’t see any as the rocky shore came into view. He knew there had to be a deep tide pool around here somewhere. He looked down the rock face and there jutting out was what appeared to be a deep tidepool. He knew he would have to climb down to reach it. So he readied himself and decided to get to it.

He got on all fours and edged over and felt down with his feet to try and see where there was footing. He found some footing that seemed stable and he inched over his other foot. With his boots on it was difficult to feel for good footing. He knew even with his limited knowledge that good footing was key here. It would decide if he fell or if he simply descended. So he climbed down little by little making sure that he had good hand-holds as well. However hand holds were more painful than foot holds. The sharp rocks were biting into his hands at places. Exactly what the woman had warned him of. He wished he had gloves about now but he didn’t. So he would just have to manage through the pain and blood. He knew there would be blood. Every hand hold and foot hold was carefully selected for stability. He knew he lacked climbing skills so he wasn’t about to do anything stupid. The ocean was right there and there wasn’t anyone to save him here. He would die definitely if he made a foolish move; his body swept out to sea…All over stupid shells.

He eventually got down to the jut and he looked down. Again it seemed like he would be climbing down the rocks some more to reach the shells. He could see them glimmering on the walls of the tide pool at the very bottom. Of course they had to be at the very bottom! Where else would the petching things be. They couldn’t be at the top where he wouldn’t have to climb anymore. NO they had to be at the very bottom of the tide pool. He shook his head and well had no more time to curse his luck before he checked his pack and hands. There were some small cuts on them that were bleeding and irritated by the saltwater. They stung but that just made this more interesting he figured. Judging by the opening of the rather deep pool he would be able to clear…but just barely. If the tide came down on him…well that wouldn’t be good. There were about four or six inches of water level between him and the ocean. Every now and then a wave would push over into the pool…it was about ten or so feet deep…and about four feet wide. So he figured he could make it down into it and back up before he drowned. Then he could make it back up the rock face before it was submerged again.

He began his controlled descent again into the hole. It was a rather uncomfortable feeling but he knew that once that moon came up there would be no getting these shells. His footing slipped a few times but he was able to lean his back against the far wall to stabilize himself. He eventually climbed down to the bottom and started looking at the shells. There were some rather colorful ones attached to the wall. They would be easily removed with his gladius. He then picked the six most colorful shells and pried them from the wall and then put them in the backpack. Every now and then cold splashes of water reminded him that he was indeed on a time schedule. He was fretting a little because the tide could literally come in and drown him; as well as bash him against the sharp rocks that formed the walls. That would make him a bloody mess he was sure…if it didn’t just kill him outright. He sheathed his weapon and then began climbing back up. He used his legs to power him up through the hole. The random sprays of water just motivated him more; accenting his need to get out.

Eventually he came to the mouth of the opening and then powered himself onto the jut. He looked over and the water was indeed closer than before. He looked at his bleeding hands and sighed. Well that was only a hint of what was to come. And he knew that it would only get worse. The ledge he climbed down looked much more jagged than the one he just did. This was going to be pleasant he was sure. He fixed his backpack on himself and made sure everything was correct. He stretched his tired body…it was obvious he wasn’t going to get any real sleep tonight. But that was just how tonight was going to be. He walked over to the wall and found the appropriate hand holds and foot holds. He climbed carefully trying to find smoother hand holds but there were indeed few to be found here. He was slow in his ascent up the wall, he didn’t want to make any mistakes or cut up his hands any more than he needed to. So he climbed up slowly placing his hands and feet accordingly.

Eventually after messing up his hands some more he got to the top and looked out over the coastline. Well he had part of what he needed. But that was only part of the entire puzzle here. He had even more things he needed to collect but he got the more pressed issue out of the way. And well the rest of the items he was sure he could find just walking down the shoreline. He stretched some and looked at his hands. They were bloodied some but they would be ok if he got them healed up in the temple before reporting to the pavilion…if he had time.

[Archelon]

In the Shop... When K'sein saw the man named Serrif leave, she slowly went to lock the door to her shop behind him before turning towards the back workshop. She took the time to get a few ingots of isurian steel out from a chest she kept there. The metal was rare on the island, but she had over the course of her smithing taking great pride in achieving the friendships she'd need in faraway lands to import the metal in small quantities, and she only used it for special items she crafted. Her vision had been purer then most of what she had seen and already the idea of how she would begin to heat and fold the metal rang clear in her mind. Soon enough the forge's fires were glowing a cherry red, and the smith was ready. The sound of hammers on steel began to echo through the night air.

Upon the shore... The tide was beginning to come in, and the night weather began to take a turn for the worse as the sea swelled. In the distant skyline beyond the shore the towering peaks of thunderclouds could be seen with flashes of lightning illuminating the night. It was a common occurence for fall, after the storms much needed rain fell upon the island, soaking it' forests and allowing it's unique flora and fauna to be quanched, it's lakes to be replenished and its gullies to overflow as the natural processes of the Isle began. This nights whether had been predicted, expected even and that made Serrif's search all the more crystalized in the efforts he would need. Tonight, Serrif's enemy would not be that of any man , nor beast, but of himself, his fatigue, and the elements.

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

The sun was setting, and off in the distance he could tell a storm was rolling in. It seemed this was a bad night to go looking for thinks along the shoreline. Perfect…If Ildin had planned out this entire thing herself she was far more devious than he first thought. But he was not going to disappoint her or his new Mistress. He settled his pack on his back evenly and then did a rather quick equipment check. He had everything he came here with and was actually heavy a few things. He settled his gladius in his backpack assuming he wouldn’t need it the rest of the night. He would drop it off later at his tent. That was fine by him because he needed to get rolling on all of this. He stretched trying to postpone how tired he felt before he headed off again across the shoreline to look for the rest of the items.

He knew he needed a few more conch shells 1 more large and 2 more small; then driftwood and a memento. He knew he would likely be at this most if not all night. So he began his hike down the beach and scanned the sand for anything that looked like a conch shell or driftwood. He could feel the force that the waves hit his feet with. The current was picking up fast and well the storms were coming in…and fast. With them the waves got fiercer and picked up energy. He knew he didn’t want to be out here long; that would be a mistake that could cost him tons of energy. It was best to spend his energy now then later. Especially because he did want to try and get some sleep in before he trained in the Suvai Pavilion with his new Mistress.

He spotted something as it was tossed onto the shore about fifty feet in front of him. The way it floated on the water gave it away immediately. Wood…the first piece of driftwood he had seen all night. But by looking at the way it was thrown about in the waves another flash of water would carry it away. He ran and took off his pack at the same time throwing it higher on the shore as he ran with all haste to try and get the wood. It was about eighteen inches long and looked like it belonged to a beam of some kind at one point as it was eight inches thick. But even it could be tossed around in the waves. As he approached a large wave knocked against his legs and caused him to lose balance. He knocked around and hit the wet sand hard. The piece of wood was only ten feet away or so and he scurried over to grip it just as it looked like it would be swept away from him. The saltwater stung the open wounds on his hands but he didn’t really care, he needed this wood.

He gripped it hard and then got to his feet. There he held his prize, a piece of wood…It was sad but the elation of having completed this task was indeed intoxicating chasing away all feelings of being tired. He was awake with adrenaline as he walked back over to his bag and stashed the piece of wood in it. Then it began to rain…it started off slow but picked up drastically decreasing his field of vision. He sighed and knew that the sooner he got this done the sooner he could be holding his new daggers in his hands. And maybe catch some sleep. He scanned the coastline some more. Where were conch shells when you needed them?

[Archelon]

In the shop... The cherry red of metal glowed through the back of the workshop. The hammer was struck. Sparks flew at the impact as the item was beginning to be forged. Slowly, ever slowly, it was coming into shape, it's being being forged for a purpose. The long slab of metal for the blade was turned, and folded over, cut with the tongs , hammered, then heated and turned over again. The tail of the hilt was coming closer into being recognizable as the metal core of where the wooden hilt would be carved and secured, enwrapping it in a pleasant embrace. But that would come later... for now... the sound of hammer hitting steel continued.

On the shore.... Standing on the shore, Serrif's eyes would wander to a rock formation thirty feet out in the waves, the white flakes of shells glinting in the moonlight would draw his eye. It was about thirty feet off the shore, but there amidst the shells and cockles were a series of conch shells that were of a multitude of sizes, clinging there together as the waves began to get rough. The undertow of the water's currents would be quite strong if he made an attempt to reach them. The moon was out, high on one side of the horizon, with the darkened stormfront of the clouds on the other. It was almost as if the scene was a visual representation of Serrif's journey her to the Isle, the dark past, the clouded present, and perhaps the brightest of futures. But would the man risk such a future to brave the perilous swim for a few measly conch shells? If he did, would he have the foresight to travel there with something to hold them in for the swim back? Or would he search elsewhere along the shores?

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

His eyes caught the glint of the conch shells on their own little island…perfect. How would he reach that? He watched the waves toil and the rain got heavier…and heavier. Almost to the point where he could no longer see the little island where the shells were. This was only getting worse and worse by the second. He knew if he waited much longer it may be impossible for him to get these shells, and there seemed to be such a plentiful selection of them on that one small island. He really only had one choice here if he wanted to do this right. He walked further inland and then with his hands made a small bowl in the sand. He took off his backpack and began to put the contents of it into the bowl. It was far enough inland to where a wave wouldn’t come through and wash the items away. He placed everything in the little bowl then stuck his Gladius in the sand as a marker. He then strapped his empty backpack to his back. But what if a wave did wash over this… He couldn’t afford for anything to go wrong so he covered the loot in sand and packed it tight. This way his Gladius in the sand would mark the loot he would just have to dig it up He breathed in and knew that this would be far from easy.

He inadvertently pondered if he should just watch the shore some more. But he knew if he did that he would be lucky if he found any shells as white as the ones that he saw out there. He knew the eaves could wash them away as well so he needed to be fast about this. He stretched and then waded out battling the waves. About ten feet out he was down to his waist and the waves were battering his face as they tossed up the shore. He battled out and then started swimming at about fifteen feet out. He could feel the current carrying him toward the rock…this was helpful but dangerous because he could get pinned to the rock…or if it was undercut he could get drug underneath and drown.

He wasn’t a strong swimmer, but he was strong…and he didn’t want to die. The last usually helped people navigate dire situations. He swam and eventually he saw the rock formation. He grabbed onto it and fought the current to get his legs and body out of the water. He could feel how horribly his hands stung as he cut them a little more on the rocks. He pulled and found foot holds. He then powered up out of the water and settled himself on the top of the formation. He had to watch because at any time a large wave could come and knock him over off into the sea claiming his life. He searched finding quickly two very white large shells and three or so white small ones.

Quickly he stashed them in his pack and tied it shut. He was kneeling as he threw on his pack and began to tighten it around his body. About this time a large wave washed over him sending him to his face roughly . He struggled just to keep himself atop that little rock formation. And just when he thought he was a goner the wave halted and he was able to compose himself. It seemed that was his sign to get the hell out of here. He jumped off of the rock and started swimming diagonally to shore to escape the rip currents. When he had he started swimming toward shore again. When his feet hit the sand he was never so happy to just be on solid ground again. He walked up the shore then back to where his Gladius was stuck in the sand.

He was glad to see that his Gladius was still sticking in the sand. But it looked like the sand had been washed over once or so. He was glad he buried the shells. He walked over and then dug up his treasure with his hands. He placed it all delicately into his pack. The wood, shells he had everything except a memento…but what did she mean by memento? He sighed as the fresh rainwater washed over his form taking some of the salt water off of his body. He was soaked beyond belief now. But that didn’t really bother him. He only needed that memento now.

[Archelon]

In the shop... The blade's metal took a shape close to what she envisioned their final form to be. A matched set in the making, only it was her will and arm and hammer which struck the metal now. Folds upon folds, metal upon metal, the hammer blows had sounded like thunder ringing in the heavens.he konti smith was putting her all into this process. Forging, and reforging, heating and reheating until any flaw or blemish was hammered out to the best of her abilities until a short silence pervaded the shop. The metal was ready for the tempering process... and was dunked into the water the smith had at her disposal. The hissing of steam filled the air as they were doused and then hammered and cut for sharpening. The metal of the blades were taking shape. The steel almost finished besides the sharpening process which would come after the resources arrived to craft the hilt, the only thing now K'Sein would worry about is the gilting of small strips of gold around the pommel hilt as she began to use a smaller set of hammers and chisels to etch the cooling metal with a set of grooves for the inlay. She smiled a little, gazing at the work she had done so far, yet she knew there was much more forging to be done before they were ready.

On the shore... From Serrif's backpack the sounds of chittering came, tiny claws made holes within the fabric of the backpack as three sets of chitinous legs came scurrying from the pack. Climbing down his back to jump into the sand as small crustaceans tried to make their way back to the surf. Small crabs walking sideways and clacking their pinchers like castanets as they made their ire at their situation known to the man. He'd have a very brief amount of time to catch them all before they vanished back into the sea. But just picking them up with his hands would only serve to get him pinched. Did he have the ingenuity to find a means to perhaps save the conch shells on their backs and perhaps as well to gain some dinner for his stomach as well?