[The Docks] Losing Equilibrium

[Echelon]

Spring 10th, 512 The storm had left a wake of destruction; injured, hungry, and severally unstable citizen's in it's wake. Though the first few days were filled with casualties and shock amongst the general populace it only took a few more to open the gates of violence, rashes of assaults and theft breaking out throughout the devistated city. Vigil antis had quelled these outbreaks with some struggle, but all knew the shipment bound for the harbour would bring much worse odds to those that wished to keep what remained of Zeltiva safe. Four carriages full of food, one of medical supplies would be arriving from Syliras, a shipment which took emergency refuge in Riverfall before the storm hit. All of the city knew the horrifying truth that the next shipment would take far longer than many would have to servive, hysteria and the smell of the sick still thick in the air. Zeltiva was not the same cultured center of knowledge it had been before, it's heart had been damaged, and with it blackened the hearts of it's people. People that crowded the docks, pushing their way forward onto the damaged pier which the ship's cargo would be arriving at, one carriage load at a time. Hunger flashed clearly in every attendant's eyes, desperation, and in some rare cases conviction. Even the most heroic and steadfast of the gathering had to admit to a carnal flare of lust as the crowd spotted their savior on the horizon, however, approaching at what seemed like an impossibly slow speed. The forefront of these protectors were no exceptions, three steadfast figures trying to hold the mass back, but had only partially succeeded, leaving about half of the pier itself packed with people. Gregory Lyrmitch stood strong at the point of these three, trying his best to explain to the nonsensical masses the importance of allowing the supplies through to the weak, puffs and curls of blue smoke jetting out from around his mouth at he yelled, twitching impatiently under the stress of the situation, and his own hunger. All he had done since the storm, was look after his wife and nine year old son, until the news of this shipment reached him. His wife who had been sick prior to the storm had been robbed of many of the medical supplies needed to tend to her cold at the turn of the month, and as such she had fallen into more dire and dire straights, much as Zeltiva had around her. The more informed of the city would know this, and know he took to the charge of this peaceful brigade not out of bravo, but to ensure the medical supplies would reach the University's medical center unmolested. In stark contrast was the women beside him, matching then exceeding Gregory's apparent battle prowess several times fold. Teirra, a newcomer in town, stood dressed in stiff studded leather, her hip adorned by a long combat dagger, well maintained, and looking as prepared as her to engage any that pass the line Gregory set forth. Though many bodies shifted, tempting the line set down, for that moment none dared test her appearance. Last of the trio was Kutren Hender. This otherwise attractive young man had a peculiar past shrouded in mystery. A past which left him rather odd in the eyes of his fellow Zeltivans. His father was the quite talented alchemist professor at the college before a series of unexplained events unfolded, causing the disappearance of Kutren and his family for three weeks, finally giving forth thirteen year old Kutren one early morning walking alone along the halls of the university with only a women's scarf wrapped around him. Ever since, his speech had been forced, his exposure to people limited, which is why his presence not only at the gathering but helping enforce Geregory's words at the front was so unexpected. His mannerisms were still shy, but to compensate for this was his rather capable frame, more than enough to push two or three of the starving citizens back at a time when needed. Between the three a shaky hold on the invisible line was held, each member of the crowd fighting to push forward, to see the ship, to remain on the dock which had several large planks missing or damaged, leaving hazardous holes large enough for people to slip through into the cold water below if not careful, or lucky. [/style]

[Avari]

OOCHope this is okay!

Like a snake extending its tongue to taste the air, Avari could sense the tension and desperation in the crowd of Zeltivan citizens as they stared hungrily at the shipment of food and supplies newly arrived all the way from Syliras. With hunger and sickness becoming widespread throughout the city, everyone wanted a share of the precious shipment, knowing that they would have to count on its contents for at least the rest of the season until the regular trade routes could be reestablished and traveled again. Even Avari, who had been doing her best to eat sparingly from her hoard of food, knew she either had to replenish her stores or else starve to death.

Like a small fish darting between crevices in rocks and reefs, the small Konti slipped forward through the crowd, turning sideways and squeezing between people as unobtrusively as she could. She wanted to be near the front of the crowd and thus get her share as early as possible, before supplies started running short. The three protectors might care about distributing food and medicine equally among the people, but Avari couldn’t have cared less about equality or fairness. She had never been content to sit back and patiently wait for good things to happen to her; life and wealth waited for anyone who wasn't afraid to work -- or to grab -- and Avari wasn't about to shrink away from either.

"Hey, watch it!" a tall, gaunt man with hollowed cheeks snapped at her when she tried to duck under his outstretched arm but instead collided into his shoulder. Avari muttered an insincere apology and turned back, looking for another path forward.

"That was my foot!" howled the girl whom Avari tried to slip past next. "What're you trying to pull, you crazy shrew?"

"Stop pushing!" the plump woman in the smocking cap beside her scolded Avari. "Wait your turn!"

"I ain't going to wait," a black-bearded sailor that the Konti recognized from the Kelp Bar declared in a loud voice, rubbing his hands and cracking his knuckles. He stomped forward through the crowd."I ain't going sit here and let 'em take all that food away. Let us past! Give us the food!"

Acting quickly, Avari hurried forward in the small wake that the big, black-haired sailor left in the crowd before it closed up again. She made it at least two or three feet before several people turned toward the sailor in distrust and anger and began hemming him in, some raising their fists or elbowing him sharply in the ribs. "What do you think you're doing, you big oaf?" someone shouted at him. "Who're you callin' an oaf?" the sailor retorted. "Watch it, friend, before I give ya what's comin' to ya!"

Recognizing the cue for a fight about to start, even more people whirled around and watched as the big black-bearded sailor and someone else in the crowd started shoving each other and exchanging blows. Avari took advantage of their diverted attention to scurry forward even more, dodging and zigzagging around onlookers turning around to see what was going on. One hand clutched tightly at the brim of her hat, keeping it firmly pressed down on her head, while the other held her backpack in a death grip. If she could get close enough to the shipment, she could even exploit the distraction and the crowd's growing restiveness to try and take what she needed while no one was watching her. Oh, she hoped it would be possible!

It almost seemed like it would be possible, until she ran straight into a man standing behind the female guard in charge of protecting the shipment. Avari had been hurrying so fast that even her slight weight was enough to push the man forward, causing him to bump into the studded leather-clad woman. In an instant, the woman had spun around to confront the hapless man, her long dagger half-drawn from its sheath.

"It wasn't me!" the man protested, instinctively backing away and holding up his hands. "It was...it was..." His eyes roved the crowd until his gaze landed on Avari. He pointed at her. "It was her! She ran into me! It was her fault!"

Avari gulped as silence fell around them and a handful of people started glaring at her. From the short distance between her and the lady guard, the Konti eyed the long combat dagger nervously. She had been trying to take advantage of the developing tension, anger, and desperation in the crowd for her own interests. Now, although she wasn't afraid of working or grabbing at opportunities as they came, she found herself afraid that she might reap some unforeseen consequences for pushing forward and trying to get close to the shipment of food and supplies.

[Idue]

No classes today. A day for most students to study for their classes, or spend their time wisely. Maybe wander the University. Some students even helped in clearing rubble while the workers toiled at rebuilding the Astronomy tower. But Idue didn't find excitement in simple things like that. He didn't even like spending his time at the University when he didn't have to. Which is why he found himself at the docks this day. Not a real shocker for someone like Idue, who frequented the docks since arriving a while ago. But this time. . . he's wasn't alone. Jostled to the right of him by the mass of people crowding the docks, Idue was once again reminded that by no means was he alone out here. He had expected to have the docks to himself and the workers rebuilding it. He hadn't heard of the supplies arriving from Syliras, nor did he expect the majority of the city rushing out to meet it. It wasn't that Idue didn't realize a food shortage was under effect; the food at the University was getter smaller and smaller. It was just that Idue was usually used to having trrouble getting food. In Ekytol, it wasn't just brought to them; they had to go get it themselves. So he found this odd that so many people needed help getting their food. After two seasons among city folk, he still did not understand their ways. Sure he was hungry, but he wasn't that hungry. But that also didn't mean he was going to get trampled by the mass of people around them. He was standing near the front, watching the three people who seemed to be the only ones holding the flood of people back. Two men and a woman, the woman the only one who appeared to be armed. And even her dagger didn't look like it was enough to keep the people back long if they rushed at them for the food. Idue didn't know what he'd do if that happened. He had his axes stuck through the sash around his waist, but even they wouldn't keep back the hundreds for long. Would he just let it happen, to spare his own life? A scuffle behind him caught his attention, and he turned to watch a black haired sailor begin to fight against another man. He was so preoccupied with the fight, that he nearly missed it. But the slight bump on his side, and the pale blond hair passing his line of vision was still noticed. Idue turned to watch a woman weave through the lines of people, trying to get closer to the front of the line. A good idea with people around them focused on the fight. But was she just another citizen, or something worse? The last time someone underestimated a citizen, someone got murdered, and Faylon nearly died too. Idue wasn't too wary to let this woman go. So he followed her to the front of the line. Speaking an apology for anyone he bumped, he tailed the woman to the front. So of course he saw her nudge the man, who collided with the armed woman. Her back was turned, but she whipped around, weapon drawn, without hesitation. Idue nearly chuckled when the man threw his arms up immediately, frightened by the woman; she was very intimidating. But then he ratted out the blond woman, blaming her for bumping him into her. Idue felt himself walking closer, wondering what would happen. This guard seemed the sort to stab first and ask questions later. Who knew if she would wonder why this blond woman rushed to the front. And Idue didn't know either, but he was determined to learn of Avari's purpose before she died. If she was up to something bad, then she could die. But until he was sure, he needed to keep her alive to find out. So he covered for her. Walking up to the left of Avari, hand on his axe, he casually stated aloud to the guard listening, "It seems she didn't want to stick around the back of the line. Don't blame her either. Not everyone wants to be near a fight when it breaks out; might get hurt even if ya don't want to be in it." Idue glanced behind him, not sure if the sailor was still fighting. He didn't know, but maybe the guard didn't either. My guess is this woman here came up here for your protection from those two fellas fighting back there. Not everyone is a fighter like you and I, miss." And that was where Idue stopped speaking. He would let his little gem sink in. Maybe the guard would see logic in his words, and spare Avari. Maybe she wouldn't. Idue wasn't even sure what he was going to do next. Now he waited and observed.

[Leigo]

Leigo used the ruckus in the streets to reach higher ground. A nearby shop had some sort of a ladder leading all the way up to the top of the establishment. Once there he could see what the fuss was all about without getting too involved. After reaching his destination, his gaze first fell to the ground below; he disliked heights, this one was no different. As soon as he managed to grab onto something, Leigo focused farther into the distance, hoping to understand just what was happening. The docks were never a simple place, because even when peace ruled the streets they remained all but such. The shifting crowd didn’t surprise Leigo; instead it gave him a better understanding of the situation. There was only one thing people would trample on one another for in this city. Food supplies were so thin and far apart that each man had treasured his own like they were divine in origin. Leigo considered the ration system to be pure rubbish, but it was still better than having masses take all of it. Hell, half of it would probably get ruined just in the part where dozens of those fools start trampling over the dropped goods. In his mind he could feel the need for something to be done, but his heart bore no responsibility large enough to cater such courageous acts. Instead he could just go for the crowd and hope to reach the back. He could probably do at least that before something terrible happened. Even if he was no hero, Leigo couldn’t stand by idly. Stealing something from one of the thieves wasn’t really a bad thing as much as it was a bad thing to let those idiots raid city’s supplies. Leigo contemplated on what he could and couldn’t do in case of a full blown riot. There wasn’t really much boy could possibly stop, but there were quite a few things he could provoke. His thoughts ended as he entered the crowd. Instead of staying in the back, he headed for the middle of the group, staying close to the two men that were fighting. It was nonsense to stay to far back as he wouldn’t get anything worthwhile should the attack happen. Getting all the way to the front however was an even stupider idea. Leigo had no ambitions of getting trampled after all. The way things stood, he wasn’t likely to join the small garrison defending food when there was a much larger giant waiting to reward him promptly. Should the scales of power shift however, nothing would remain certain...

[Echelon]

The tension of the crowd, which had grown insurmountably in the hours before the large man's outbreak seemed to snap like a dry fragile twig at Avari's smallest of provocation. Everybody, even the most unaware felt it. Like a rending, shuddering screech of a child, eyes found the conflict in moments, as the dark bearded oaf took the first real strike, a fist that found it's mark firmly in the face of a smaller sailor, the man collapsing instantly both from the assault and his own fatigue. Chaos ensued. Voices rose in anger, in hunger, after the shortest of silent moments following in the wake of the first man's fall to the deck. Women grabbed at the dark haired sailor, men struck out. But, the limbs seemed to multiply in the struggle, most of them finding themselves on their neighbors instead of the dark haired sailor. And predictably enough, the violence spread, like a drop of burning oil on already murky water. Within an instant the violence shot through the crowd, and those that had not predicted it before realized with horror, or anger, what this gathering would be. A riot. Meanwhile, at the front Teirra's hand remained poised with vigilance upon her weapon. Her eyes fiercely shooting over Avari's frail visage. A Konti women, draped in rags of the common. A contrast that left her eyes searching, her own hunger retarding her comprehension for a moment too long. Then, a man in her defense: Armed. Her eyes narrow, this was something she understood. He was either going to help this situation, or hurt it. Her lips parted, and the low rumble of a single stern syllable was heard before the interruption caught up with them, a body unknown stumbling forward from a sheer shove, colliding into Idue, and Avari, who had made the mistake of turning their backs to the violence. Underestimating the speed in which it rippled out from it's origin. The unknown body, likely an adult women stumbled awkwardly after colliding with the two, trying to right herself and began the fall straight off to the side of the docks into the water below. Teirra made the tactful move of positioning her blade far from the two falling toward her, not wanting to skewer either, yet. Neither individual, Avari nor Idue, found their footing with any particular ease nor grace. Avari landed squarely into Teirra, who took a stumble of her own backward, dangerously toward one of the pitfalls in the injured pier. A loud creak squealed out from the broken plank bordering the hole at the two women stepped onto it. Teirra's free hand moved out intellectually to Avari, grabbing onto her arm for support. It was Idue's weight which would shatter this, plunge them all three down into the salty waters below. And Kutren's actions which moved to prevent it. Positioned several steps away he thought to only reach out, not so much for a certain reason, but to catch something; anything. What he did manage was to present a hand for Idue to grab for, steady himself, stop the sudden decent. If he thought to reach for Kutren's hand. The large ship found it's way within the reach of Mathew's Bay as violence tore across the pier, equilibrium of our heroes waning, teetering on the edge of a plunge, and that of violence. One would be safer, but the other promised life, promised food. The first of the five shipments carried upon a small ship's boat slid across the troubled waters toward the pier, to arrive with crates of supplies in mere minutes. Gregory's eyes snapped toward his new companions as they fell dangerously toward the edge, standing too far out of reach to help. Stuck in a world too far from the supplies, and too far from those that would help him. And even still, impossibly far from his wife. Other matters pressed upon him however, as he let out a loud swear, his pipe tumbling from his mouth as two teenagers pressed what was left of the line: him. His empty gut was met wit a firm strike from one of the boys, as the other bypassed him completely, sprinting toward the end of the pier, only to find one of the unstable planks give way beneath his bounds. With a twisted ankle and a last yelp of shock, he disappeared into the water below. The opposite side of the mob presented a mirrored state. Leigo was just close enough to watch as the small sailor which was felled in the first hit struggled to awaken as large feet came showering down upon him. Leigo could tell without question that the man would be lucky to live through this, and would certainly have at least a few broken bones and some good shiners to show for it. He could also tell, that if not careful, he could share a similar fate with the man upon the pier. There was no power to balance, men were powerful, men could be manipulated. These were hungry animals. The most sane of them turned, and fled from the piers as violence struck out. A mother with screeching infant pushed past him, screaming out with disregard for anyone but her own. "Cheryl! Hurry up!" Her calls winning no response, she gave a frantic look back at the crowd, seeing no child of hers in her small wake, quickly filled with Leigo. There was no anger in this baby totting women's eyes, only terror. "Cheryl!" She called out frantically, her eyes darting about the mob around them, tears welling from beneath, as she stood beside Leigo. Leigo knew he was unseen, invisible to the women, a backdrop like the rest of the gathering. A man without a face, exempt from all rules of society. The madness around him was a mask. All were like this: anything would go. oocGo ahead and keep progressing things in your posts, guys. I like it when you help guide whats happening, like you have been. Keep in mind the more you lead the more XP you get ~.^ Sorry for being slow, im officially not on right now. But, I intend to be around some more soon.

[Avari]

Behind them, shouts and arguments turned quickly into violence, with hungry and impatient citizens exchanging blows and charging forward toward the approaching ship, heedless of the treacherous and uncertain footing on the crumbled piers. Even the more patient and long-suffering citizens who would have been content to wait their turn found themselves being pushed forward by the gathering wave of aggression and desperation. The sounds of struggle spread outward, along with protests and cries from hapless citizens caught up in the rapidly escalating riot.

Even as Avari turned around, catching the sound of a woman screaming, she couldn't get out of the way in time as an older woman collided right into her and the brown-haired, plump-lipped fellow who had spoken up more or less in her defense. The two of them were pushed directly into the fierce-looking, leather-clad woman. To her credit, the woman did her best to catch the two of them and avoid impaling anyone with her long dagger. Avari crashed squarely into her, causing the woman to stumble backward and the planks beneath their feet to creak dangerously. The Konti's momentum drove them perilously close to one of the jagged gaps in the pier.

Reacting much faster than the Konti ever could have, the leather-clad woman reached for Avari's arm to regain her balance. Her hand closed on Avari's tunic sleeve in a crushingly strong grip. The two of them hung precariously over the edge of the gap, both fighting to keep from tumbling into the water below.

Seeing the leather-clad guardswoman fall, an exultant cry rose from a muscular-looking fisherman. At once, the cry echoed in a dozen other throats. "She's down! Teirra's down! The way is open! The food is ours!"

Whatever hopes Avari had that she could keep upright, let alone be the first to reach the food shipment, faded in that moment. With wild, joyous shouts, a horde of salt-stained fishermen dashed forward, their feet stamping heavily on the wooden pier. One of them jostled Avari and another stepped on her foot as they rushed past carelessly, causing her to cry out in sharp pain. Most of them took a moment to pause next to Teirra and give her sides or head a vindictive kick, as though in retaliation for keeping them away from the food shipment.

Despite being helplessly engaged in keeping her balance, the leather-clad woman managed to lash back at her attackers with the point of her long dagger. With each swipe of her weapon, though, her hand started slipping lower and lower on Avari's arm. It wasn't until her hand had almost reached the end of Avari's sleeve, though, that the Konti cried out in alarm.

"No, no!" she exclaimed. "Stop thrashing about! Just hold on!"

It was too late. Teirra's hand slipped past the edge of Avari's tunic sleeve and latched onto her bare wrist. Even if she hadn't been weak with hunger, Avari wasn't nearly strong enough to pull free. At the sudden skin-to-skin contact, the Konti went limp as her vision was flooded with blinding, rushing images of a complete stranger's deepest desire.

"Avalis, no," she breathed, lost in visions of the guardswoman heading her own mercenary company.

Her knees turned to water with the intensity of the vision, and she turned all at once from a woman fighting her hardest to keep her balance into a dead weight unable to even stay upright. She swayed forward into the stunned and dazed-looking Teirra. Unable to understand the sudden change in the Konti or manage the burden of her stiff, unresponsive weight, the guardswoman stumbled back even further. Her back foot slid over the smooth, worn wooden planks and met the empty air of the gaping hole in the pier.

With a shriek, Teirra went crashing down into the planks as her back leg went out from under her, taking Avari to the ground with her. One of her arms flailed in an attempt to find something to pull her back up, but her other hand persisted in gripping Avari's wrist like a lifeline. The Konti lay almost insensible on the pier, unable to stop the visions that assaulted her senses.

As long as Teirra kept holding onto Avari, she would have to fight as hard as she could just to regain control of herself, let alone start moving. Until she could, though, the Konti was in danger of getting trampled by the enthusiastically charging crowd surging forward on the piers.

[Leigo]

OOCPardon my lateness but this is one of the threads I forgot I even had. For the briefest moment Leigo could feel entrapped by the mother’s deafening screams. It wasn’t like he could hear only her voice, or even hear her properly at all, but there was something so deeply dreadful inside this thought of a child lost. Maybe he would normally scold the woman for being inattentive with her offspring, or he could blame the hunger for the terrible act about to take place. This wasn’t an ordinary situation however and no matter how hard the boy tried to let the feeling drown itself, his mind refused to cope – refused to function. For what seemed like an eternity, he could feel people rushing by him. Grazing his shoulders, stomping on his toes, and occasionally catching him just below the waist with something blunt – the tide rose to desecrate all supplies that were left. If Leigo wasn’t thinking about the folly of it all up till that point, he changed his mind rather quickly upon witnessing the madness. As his sanity dwindled, Leigo wanted peace and punishment, he wanted food and nourishment, he wanted death and treachery… all those wishes and not a single muscle moved, not flinching even. Cries of the strange mother had long ceased but they were ripping through his insides like claws of death. They weren’t even words anymore; instead he could feel roars that made the world tremble – all that life defended by few so all of them could live, but instead many would trample the few and they would all die for it. One could argue divine justice or irony against such a sentiment. Barely noticing, Leigo finally figured out he was moving. Slowly but surely, he slid across the pier with the crowd that rushed forward. He could no longer see the mother or recall the child’s name, but that scene alone unnerved him more than any angry mob ever could. There wasn’t a way to wash the image away from his sour face, no matter how he tried; the memory was meant to be eternal. It was clear that one of the defenders had fallen upon the beginning of the stomping race. A foreigner to these kinds of ordeals, Leigo did his best to help while looking every bit as crazed and feelings matching surrounding. His elbow first pushed against two men that were at the edge of the pier. This sent vultures into an awkward descent over the edge. His arm hurt for it, he could feel a boot kicking just below his knee, causing him to lose what little balance his position still held. If there was a god up there he sure was a funny character. For whatever reason the people who advanced seemed to vanish or just fall face first into the planks with gaping wounds in their torsos – it continued until mere three steps set Leigo apart from the first line of hunger. Something needed to be done to stop Zeltivans from destroying their mother; however Leigo was hardly man enough to fit the bill. Contemplating it for a while, his trembling subsided in a wicked thought. Efficient he would call it, but desperate was a better word. Doing the only thing he was proficient at, boy started oozing from his mouth as a liquid like substance fell to the waistline. Its metallic hue spoke of its uncommon nature. The boy would soon curse both himself and the one that taught him magic for wanting to do such a thing. Normally people would be all up and about in his business, poking sticks and prodding questions – hunger as the underlying motive did wonders as far as stealth was concerned. Once he expulsed all he could, Leigo had no intention of ever forming anything structurally sound – instead his res greased up two strangers in front of him, stopping as it reached their shoulders. Panting, Leigo felt hungrier than before. This needed to work or he would have starved himself for nothing… and at such a time no less. Normally the boy would have ignited the res slowly, layer by layer and on a less visible body part. This time however, he needed everything to go fast and he needed people to notice while he still had the strength to reach his shameful lair. Once his essence was done coating the backs of two would be thieves, it erupted into thick violent strokes of flame. Overpricing his distance, Leigo could feel the lick of his wicked creations on one of his sleeves as the pair now screamed in agony. There was neither moment of sudden realization nor a dramatic undertone to follow his actions, instead people around him started stopping with sudden thumps to his back whenever someone else stopped too late. Soon the people around those people started stopping and the more they did, the more his back shook. Screams were everything. Their screams were his; he caused them and felt profoundly proud for it. Waiting for someone to call out his scheme for what he wanted it to look like, the boy pushed the people behind him backwards and strangely those in immediate vicinity obeyed, silently moving away. “T’was the gods smitin’ them!” finally the words that played a just melody to his ears – finally a cog to fit his machination, but would anyone listen to what a random voice had said? Not waiting for those around him to start moving back, Leigo used his arms to push people back while they were still willing to comply. They remained docile while they were hungrier than they were afraid, but such things could only last so long.