One Wrong Turn (Solo)

[Liandra]

Timestamp: Winter 12, 511 AV Time: Early Morning Location: Southern Suvan Kylayia let out a shrill whine into the cool waters around the strange pair. "I know love, I know, I can feel it too." Liandra could feel a strange current fighting against them. Being winter in these tropical waters, she knew storms and current changes were likely, but she never expected it to be so consistently inconsistent. Her instincts were telling her that going deeper was not a good choice. She said a quick prayer to the gods. Laviku, Makutsi, Zulrav, Please see us through this. We are looking to simply enjoy the life you have given us in your domains. We have always honored you, and will continue to do so if you wish our lives to be forfeit. All we ask is to let us live longer so as to continue praising you and living how you would want us to live. We thank you both. Liandra knew they would hear her prayer, but didn't know if they would see them through this. But she wouldn't give up, and neither would Kylayia. She tapped Kylayia gently on the neck, signaling that they needed to rise. Kylayia sung back a reply, questioning the idea. "Love... If we go deeper, we will be swept up in the violent currents, you know that." Squeezing with her knees, she steered Kylayia upwards, the spotted seahorse pointing upward like a spear. They were getting awfully close to the surface, and it looked like a storm was raging above.They finally broke the away from the current and continued heading in a northerly direction. The water was extremely rough and choppy, knocking the pair around violently. Kylayia was crying loudly as the water bashed into them. Liandra wrapped her arms firmly around the distressed creature's torso, and clamped her knees tightly into Kylayia's sides. Kylayia knew that this grip meant for him to go for speed. He tilted forward, and Liandra flattened herself as much as she could against his back. As he started speeding forward, the waves around them began surging even more violently. Kylayia was forced to rise even closer to the dangerous surface. Liandra motivated him further with a squeezing of the knees when he breached through a wave. The pair was airborne, much to their surprise. Liandra took this brief moment to look around at the storm they were swimming through. It looked like they were nearing the edge and then they should be clear. She ducked her down against her trusted companion as they dove back into the water. "We are almost there love, just a bit more, a strong finish." Kylayia cried out in agreement and renewed his fervor as the pair sped forward. Liandra held on tight as they fought against Laviku's domain. Liandra felt a strange tug to the right as they neared where the storm should have been ending. The pair breached the surface once more, and Liandra's eyes grew wide. They had exited the storm, and were now falling into quite possibly the largest whirlpool they'd ever seen.

[Liandra]

The united pair tumbled through the air, head over tail. They came down on Liandra's back against one of the slanted whirlpool walls. Liandra cried out in pain as they submerged, already feeling the tug pull them away. They were now tumbling every which way, and Liandra couldn't tell up from left or down from back. She had to straighten Kylayia out before they were bashed against something that would kill them both. She struggled to hold on, she tightened her knees. Then with one hand, she began stroking the front of his neck. She was trying to calm him, and her words wouldn't carry over the roaring maelstrom. She continued to rub him, and she could feel his muscles beginning to relax. They were still being swept around, but he was prepared now. When she felt he was fully ready, she tapped him a few times. He jerked the pair until they were facing the direction of the flow. She still couldn't tell up or down, but at least they were going with the current now. Laviku, you certainly a god of mysteries. She tapped Kylayia, pressed as tight against his back as she could, and gripped her knees. He began to dart forward in the current, spurts of speed in an already racing pace. She would continue to signal him forward, until it was quite obvious the rings were getting short. She could feel this by the lack of seemingly straight stretches of current. It was all one hard left turn. Or was it right? She still was confused, but she knew they didn't have long. She tried to look up, hoping to see sky. What she saw instead, was a deadly reef coming up awfully fast. She patted Kylayia more urgently now. He began sprinting as fast as he could, ready for the moment, a moment they both knew would happen. Then they felt it. For the briefest of instances, the grip of the current didn't hold them. Faster than she could have signaled him, he shot hard to the right. The pair shot out of the whirlpool like an arrow from a bow. Liandra was so glad she'd paid attention in school back in Charbosi. Whirlpools always fade before they reach the bottom of the ocean. They were both tired, so tired. Thank you Laviku, for seeing us through this. You are very merciful.

[Liandra]

But there would be no rest for the adventurous pair. Liandra was right after all. The deeper currents were the more dangerous ones. Just as quickly as they'd stopped to rest, the pair felt a shift in the currents. The storm was probably passing over the maelstrom. "Kylayia! Hurry, we have to move! Now!" The giant seahorse was near his point of exhaustion. Liandra had to think of something, someway to avoid Zulrav and Laviku's test against them. No. Not avoid. Endure. Fight through. Kylayia was getting ready to take off, but Liandra stopped him. "Just rest love. Let's just ride it out, Laviku will take care of us." Kylayia had to fight every instinct to escape, but his weary body stayed at the word of his partner. The pair felt the shifting current begin tugging them upward. She tilted toward the upward direction to match it, and Kylayia followed suit. And soon, the current was dragging them off the bottom and upwards. It would use less energy to simply ride the current than to fight against a god's will. They weren't being dragged along like a powerless minnow. They were riding along a road paved by Laviku himself. And this road was very smooth. Very smooth indeed. The pair darted upward and leveled out, a harpoon being thrown by Laviku. Liandra could tell that she was just a few dart lengths below the surface. Being inside the current protected her from the rough waves of Zulrav's test. Up ahead, she saw the current leading toward the maelstrom that had sucked them under earlier. Apparently Laviku was wanting a second match. But this time, he was in her corner. Or so she hoped. Kylayia used up the last of his strength, adding speed to their course. Liandra quickly realized his idea, and it was a crazy one. But if it worked, it would really work. She held on tightly, the whirlpool dead ahead. The current did a mild upward slope, and Kylayia followed it dutifully. The pair breached the surface like a showboating dolphin. Zulrav's storm was just overhead, and was beating them with wind and rain. Their flight path carried them over the gaping expanse of the whirlpool's center. Kylayia fluted in triumph as they soared. Liandra looked up above at the dark clouds. She waved up at Zulrav and cheered for him. She looked down and saw they were nearing the rim of the whirlpool, and her and Kylayia prepared to dive once more. Kylayia tilted forward, and Liandra was flat against his back. His head broke through just at the lip of the rim. But their momentum carried them through the tug of the whirlpool's grip and out the other side. The waters on this side were much more calm, the storm not having caught them in its grasp yet. The pair kept a steady pace until storm and maelstrom were far behind them. They had a well deserved rest waiting for them. "Laviku, Zulrav, Makutsi. Thank you. We live for you for another day."

[Trident]

Liandra Skills: Riding (Seahorse) +4 Animal Husbandry +2 Lores: A Simple Prayer Location: Kanvi Whirlpool Escaping a Maelstrom Tropical Currents [incomplete] Comments: A very interesting thread about escaping a maelstrom as well as Liandra's faith. Keep it up! If you have any questions about my ruling, feel free to PM me!