[Quest] Broken Sails

by **Trident** on April 14th, 2012, 1:45 pm

The sentiment of being there for one another was one shared amongst many that walked the island that day. Blue eyes brimming with tears were soothed by the hands of sympathetic friends, even as their eyes shone with their own losses. Everyone had lost someone, or knew someone that had lost someone; and thus, for the Svefra, even as they distracted themselves with silliness and games, also subtly provided a true comfort to one another.

A sound fell upon the gathered ears. Low and familiar, it silenced all conversation as it was heard. It was a conch shell, praise be to Laviku as it always was among the Svefra. The origin was the base of the outcropping, and as soon as it was heard it became clear to all the meeting was beginning.

The torchbearers had anticipated this. Subtly, they had been pushing the last stragglers on the beach inland, to the witch's rock. With the blowing of the conch shell, however, their urgings became overt and soon most of lingerers had been deposited at their destination.

A jutting finger of stone it was, piercing the crowd of blue eyed Svefra and taller trees to touch the sky above. Around its base a ring of torches had been assembled. They lit the blue-gray complexion of the witch's rock, illuminating runes that had been carved in; Fratava words that said “In memory of Maris Seachanter”.

But the epitaph did not carry the Svefra's attention for long. Instead, their gazes were directed at the single living thing that stood in the circle of torches. It was a woman, proud and terrible, cerulean eyes filled with the rough and crashing waves of the sea. Her scarred face, the way she carried themselves, the air of nuanced leadership – all bespoke the hard yet fulfilling and joy filled life of the Lia.

“Welcome, my brothers and sisters,” Taliss Whitwave said in Fratava. Her voice was quiet and her hand gestures quick, but her speech seemed to carry across leagues; and perhaps it was the sudden silence that had fallen over the crowd that allowed this effect. In any case, the old Lia was as calm and decisive as always, though beneath her placid exterior it was clear a sea of fire burned bright.

“We are gathered here today to account for the losses this nation has suffered,” Taliss continued. “Before we begin, let us have a moment of silence for those among us who now drift with Laviku.” If it was possible for the crowd to become even more silent, such happened now. Heads dipped. Silent prayers were said. And all begged mercy from the Sea Father for their lost loved ones.

“Now then,” the Whitewave grandmother said at last, “Our first order is to discover who has gathered here today. I am not sure how many Pods have come hither,” she said, clearing her throat. As the Svefra looked around, it became clear why Taliss had paused; there were much fewer assembled then one might have expected from an entire race, and it was an optimistic mind that would think it was negligence rather than devastation.

“But I would like to find out who is.” Taliss struggled on resolutely. “The lost ones here deserve to know if any of their family is hidden among our ranks. If you are a Lia either by circumstance or by our father's blessing, please speak up now.”

OoCHey guys! I love the conversation you have going. Feel free to continue it, though responding to Taliss's request (Jestam, Sable, Gabrielle) would also be great.

by **Daske Baggywrinkle** on April 19th, 2012, 1:48 am

For the first time, Daske began to feel the loss these people – his people – had experienced. Was it really possible that entire pods had perished? How many more “orphans” were out there? What would the Svefra do now? How would they recover after losing so much? He realized now that contrary to what he had said earlier, there were not really so many Svefra here after all. If this was the entire nation, it was hard to see how they would survive.

On the other hand, Daske was in rapt awe of the old woman. She spoke quietly yet loudly, softly yet forcefully, intimately yet distantly. Only once before had Daske see someone like her. A Drykas Elder, a very different man than Daske's master. The Elder spoke and acted with authority. But his authority did not come from his position or from some rank or honor. It came from inside of him. He didn't need any sign or position of authority. He was authority. The elder Lia was like that, too. She simply radiated authority as a by-product of who she was. Somehow when she spoke you knew everything was going to turn out alright.

Daske turned to Jetsam. “I may be an outsider but these are my people and I belong here.” There was pride and defiance in his voice. “We will rebuild.”

EDIT :

by **Gabrielle Seawind** on April 20th, 2012, 5:11 pm

As soon as she heard the sound of the conch shell, Gabrielle's eyes flickered up. She complied with her people as they moved closer to the stone that would be the center of the meeting.

Taliss Whitewave stood there, addressing the crowd. Gabrielle found it amazing how she could speak as naturally as she did. When silence was called, Gabrielle bowed her head in prayer and prayed that she would soon find the rest of her pod, even though as the minutes passed, she was slowly beginning to face the reality of it all. Then, she prayed for the lost ones... for the ones left behind, for the crying and desperate children, for the mothers searching for their daughters, for everyone.

As Lia Whitewave continued to speak, Gabrielle couldn’t help but overhear Daske’s words. She flashed him a grin, and she turned to Jetsam, “Yes, our race is stubborn, isn’t it? We will definitely rebuild.” While she couldn’t say the same specifically for her pod, she knew the Svefra as a whole would get through this.

When Lia Whitewave asked for the pods to state their presence, Gabrielle listened intently as names were brought forth one by one. Women stepped forward to shout out the names of their pods. Gabrielle couldn't help but smile when a woman announced her pod's name, and a shriek from the other end of the crowd was heard. A young woman, crying with joy, ran to her mother. Gabrielle was happy for them.

Another occurrence that caught Gabrielle's attention was when a woman called out a name, and then frantically looked around to see if anyone would answer... nobody did, but the hushed silence that weighed heavily on the atmosphere was a response in itself.

Gabrielle waited for her own pod's name to be called out, but it didn't come. Well, that was that. The Seawinds weren't on the island. More so, she had to face the truth.

"Seawind," said Gabrielle in the loudest voice she could muster. Nobody answered her, and she expected that. Only silence answered her, just like the woman from earlier. Everyone else knew her fate as well. Sighing, Gabrielle looked at Sable, waiting for the woman to announce her own pod's presence.

by **Estlor Stormborn** on April 24th, 2012, 2:03 am

As soon as the shore crept into view beyond the horizon, Estlor felt a wave of relief pass through him. All of his worries about being off course and hopelessly lost quickly faded away into nothing. He had found the famous Caiyha’s Fist Isle, a place he hadn’t been to in years. This was his first voyage of such a large caliber. He had sailed quite a bit before, but he always had assistance from his Lia. Unfortunately, given the circumstances, he had no other option.

That being said, this voyage was a great success. He had managed to bring his two brothers to answer the call they had received a couple of weeks ago, and even though he was a little late, he felt a certain amount of accomplishment. Given the challenges he had to overcome to arrive, he had done what he once would have though impossible. He yelled down to his brothers, “I think,” he hesitated for a second, not wanting to mislead his family, “I think that we’ve arrived.” He continued towards shore, his eyes fixated on the somehow untouched isle. It just all seemed too perfect to be true. This was the first good thing to really happen to him since the storm. Things were finally starting to turn around.

“Do you guys mind if we anchor a little bit away from shore? I want to swim in,” he asked Anadeos. He asked Kelak to start to put up the sails, as he ran down to go drop the anchor. For the first time in weeks he was excited. He might be able to meet the rest of his pod, he might be able to find his Lia again. This isle represented more than just protection for him. It was his last hope to rebuild his pod.

As he went down to drop the anchor, he looked down into the ocean. LIke always, Lavo was there, right below the boat. Estlor gave him a slight smile and told him to wait here. "Somebody has to watch the boat," he told him. Lavo seemed to understand as he swam around the perimeter of Serenity. Estlor didn't trust him to keep guard, but it was always good to ask. It'd give him something to do while everyone else went to the island.

Estlor noticed that there were many other boats around him. He tried to look for Ariana's, but he couldn't really differentiate between them. Regardless, there were definitely survivors. There would be no shortage of people who could relate. There would be no shortage of help. Even though he hadn't been to this isle in years, he felt like he was finally home. It didn't even occur to him that although there were quite a few boats here, that there were far too few for a call like this. He had no idea just how bad the situation was.

As he started to prepare to get off of his boat, he heard the bellowing sound of a conch shell. He dropped anchor and dove off the ship. He wasn't as late as he thought. If he hurried he might even make it to the meeting before it truly started. These waters felt comfortable, they weren't aggressive. Estlor thought he felt Laviku's presence waters. Just something about them felt godly. He swam to shore, got out of the water, straightened his back and waited for the rest of his pod to arrive. It was time to rebuild.

by **Anadeos Stormborn** on April 24th, 2012, 2:49 am

Anadeos was supposed to man the ballista on the front of the ship, but the sun's golden warmth loosened his shoulders and burdened his eyelids, and he simply sat against the side of the ship.

He jerked awake, his shoulder ached and burned. He reproached himself for nodding off in the middle of the day, running his fingers across the scar on his chest and shoulder. The scar was from so long ago, and hadn't troubled him at all until the storm came. That storm, that damned storm He stretched his aching muscles, and looked out over the side of the ship. By Laviku's beard, that had to be it! The clear waters surrounding Cayha's Fist were beautiful, as if untouched by the storm of chaos and destruction that changed so much but a few weeks ago.

Grinning broadly at Eslor, Anadeos nods as he dons his father's scale armor, slips on his cloak and picks up his trident, and dives off the side of the boat at the sound of a conch shell blaring from the shore. Artis, his beloved Tavan swims beside Anadeos in playful greeting, and dives under him. Anadeos sees the orca's intention, grabbing onto its back as Artis rocketed to the shore. Anadeos could hardly manage to hold the trident in a way that it didn't impale either of them, or go racing out of his hand as the water ripped past. The speed, Oh the SPEED! Exhiliration spilled between orca and Svefra as they flew closer and faster towards shore. Moments before impact, Artis pulled up and the two of them went skidding to a stop on the beach, sending Anadeos flying through the air. Shyke, I knew this was stupid, this would be such a horrible way to die. Impaled on my own... His trident was gone. The world blurred and spun and he gracelessly crashed into the unforgiving ground.

Blinking away the stars in front of his eyes, Anadeos spat out a curiously tasting blend of salt water, sand, and blood. His entire right side was buried in the sand, and it took a few minutes to wiggle out. He stumbled, grinning broadly at the sight of Artis wiggling in much the same fashion to get off the land. Blood and sand mingled on his lower lip, but he didn't care, he was alive, more so than he had been in weeks. And that damned pain in his scar was absent, replaced with a buzzing sensation across his body, focused in both sides of the small of his back. He yelled in triumph,and Kelak passed with a smirk, unable to help but chuckle at the pure enjoyment in his reckless brother's eyes. Eslor walked up to greet him holding the trident that had gone spinning from his grasp not so long ago. Taking the trident, Anadeos said, "Now that that's over, time to catch up with family, shall we?"

by **Kelak Stormborn** on April 24th, 2012, 3:27 am

As the rocky isle, that famous place which Laviku himself watched over, came closer and closer into view, Kelak couldn't help but have mixed feelings. He gazed at all of the moored ships on the shore- more of his people's boats than he had ever seen, but what still felt like too few.... Far too few... Was this really it? Were these all of his people who had survived the storm. Though it was still relatively far away, he scanned through the assortment of Casinors and Palivars, hoping to catch sight of any he recognized as belonging to the Stormborn. Lia Arianna was a strong woman- and Kelak had hoped to see her boat- the boat of his parents, the storm spirit, docked amongst them. But as he he searched amongst the assembled ships- many clearly marked with damage from the storm's wrath, his heart began to sink. The Stormspirit, that proud Palivar on which he had spent so much of his childhood, was nowhere to be seen.

No. he thought to himself. Surely.... Perhaps the ship was simply damaged... She probably simply has yet to get here- after all, it took us this long. The Stormspirit was likely just further out... they'll be here soon. Or maybe they joined up with another ship!... They can't be.... But even as he thought the words, and clung desperately at straws for hope, he began to feel a sort of aching hollowness swell up within him. Deny it though he may, he knew chances were slim that the rest of his pod was even alive. His fingers idly ruffled through the feathers of Aserus, his loyal tavan, as he tried to come to terms with the grim truth that had presented itself to him. Throughout their journey here, he had clung to hope that the Svefra, proud, seafaring people that they were, would have been able to mostly weather the storm, and that surely his podmates and his Lia at the very least would have been here.... But he became more and more crestfallen as he saw how few had made it here. Indeed, he was so entangled in his own thoughts, in his own shock and grief, now rising through him like a tide, that he only barely heard Estlor asking him to pull up the sails, and make ready to drop anchor. He shook himself from his reverie, and reminded himself that he should be thankful, to Laviku he supposed, that any had made it at all. He moved rhythmically through the routine of tying up the sails, and making ready to dock, and tried to focus on the positives.

Just as Kelak was tying the final knot, a conch shell, loud and blaring, pierced the air. “Shyke!” He swore, recognizing what was no doubt the signal that the gathering had commenced. Hastening his efforts, he finished the knot, grabbed his scrollcase, where he had already put an inkwell and a couple of quills, as well as a few dozens sheets of paper, then followed their example, taking a running dive off the boat. The water rushed up to greet him, and his dive ended somewhat ungracefully, his feet going slightly beyond his head as he plowed into the lukewarm waters of the ocean below. Nevertheless, he recovered quickly, and headed toward the shore. He wasn't as adept a swimmer as either of his shipmates, but like all Svefra he was able to make due, and paddled toward the shore, evading the damaged hulls of several other ships as he did so. As he pulled himself out the water, and jogged up onto the shore in time to see Anadeos splayed out in the sand, only just recovering from an apparent crash landing off his orcas back- an utterly reckless stunt that the other Svefra often liked to pull. At first Kelak was concerned, and quickened his pace up the beach, as it appeared his friend may be hurt, but as Anadeos rose precariously to his feet, apparently alright, Kelak couldn't help but shake his head at his brothers daredevil nature, and in spite of all the sorrow that had transpired over the past few days, offered Anadeos a wry smirk as he jogged past him. Estlor, meanwhile, was returning Anadeos' trident from where it had fallen, but as Kelak looked up the hill, the circle of gathered torches indicated to him just how late the three were. “Let's go you two.” He called back in Fratava to his podmates “The gathering has already begun.” With that said, he turned, and began jogging up the hill, Aserus swooping overhead, both of them hurrying toward the conference.

by **Jetsam** on April 27th, 2012, 10:45 pm

A woman in the little group smiled at Jetsam, and she lifted a hollow corner of her mouth in reply, having little to say: she didn't recognise any of them, and she'd already put her foot in it once. The woman seemed eager to smooth things over though, judging by her elegantly chosen words placed to relieve Jetsam of embarrassment, not that she had felt any, but the thought was what counted. Appreciatively, Jetsam followed the small collection of disparate Svefrans as the gathering slowly congregated at the Rock.

Here, Jetsam stared desperately around from face to face, noticing many others doing the same. But she found no Steepdive countenance, and there were so few gathered here that it should have been possible to spot any. Her heart felt like it could sink no further, but it managed to when Taliss called for the Lias to speak. Jetsam grimaced. She wasn't a Lia: that was her mother. But nobody spoke up. Either no Steepdive was here, or they were shy of claiming a title not theirs. Well, Jetsam wasn't claiming the title but she was going to make her presence known, just in case. Spurred on by the example of the young woman standing near her, who had just called the name "Seawind" Jetsam followed with her own utterance: "Steepdive?" The word rose in scale at the end, more of a question than a statement. But no one answered her, either. Many others were in similar plights, and far too few pod names had been spoken. The blood rang in her ears: fear and despair combined.

The scar-faced man recalled their previous misunderstanding, and she clung to his acknowledgement of her existence like a lifeline. A tightening of her lips, a flashing eye answered him as much as her words. "Yes. We will." Then Jetsam relented her stiff manner a little: sternness wasn't really her style. She sighed, then smiled weakly. "And if being alone makes you an outsider, then hey, that makes me one too." She managed to smile in a somewhat more friendly manner, before turning her attention back to the powerful woman who had previously spoken to the gathering, wondering where the meeting would be taken next.

by **Sable Baggywrinkle** on April 28th, 2012, 2:23 am

Gathered in their small group, like so many other Svefra, it quickly became apparent that other groups were not in fact whole pods but stragglers like themselves. Often, entire pods had not been lost, she saw, but their numbers chipped away. In the cases where a lone voice rang out to no enthusiastic affirmations, such as Gabby, then Steepdive, Sable thanked Laviku for delivering her loved ones safely. For preparing her relations with the necessary skills or wisdom to survive even within the turmoil of divine proportions.

A scattered pod converged together after a shout, and Sable smiled at the reunion. She turned back toward Taliss, who waited for the voices to stop, and caught Gabrielle’s gaze. The smile didn’t fade, but it did change. It saddened, softened, but offered hope and comfort. It invited the young woman into a bond, cemented in survival and rebirth. Ever tactile, as she lifted her face to the gathering a long hand curled over Gabrielle’s thin shoulder.

As she prepared to announce her presence, Daske, Gabrielle and Jetsam’s exchange probably captured the spirit of many Svefra. The lanky woman’s smile widened. His strength had never been a question, but his loyalty had. Her free hand briefly squeezed his wrist, and from the corner of her eye, she nodded.

“Baggywrinkle, all accounted for!” Sable called out, following in the footsteps of others who had found either family or their fates before the meeting.

Glancing over at the Steepdive, the lanky woman cocked a grin. “You don’t look so alone to me. I’m Sable.”

OOC :

by **Daske Baggywrinkle** on April 28th, 2012, 2:48 pm

Daske had left the Black Lady in Syliras for repairs under the watchful eye of Urrezko, who seemed to has assumed the role of his Tavan. He wasn't altogether sure how that would go down with Sable and they hadn't talked about it yet. In any case, the ten days from Syliras, where Sable had picked him up, to now had been a time of deep thought for Daske. At least, as deep as Daske ever thought. He wasn't really much of a thinker. He was more a man of action. But now the time had come to decide. He turned to face Sable directly and pulled himself up straight.

“You are my Lia, if you will have me,” he said in an almost comical attempt at formality. “It would be a great honor for me if you would allow me to take the Baggywrinkle name.” He paused moment and then finished with, "Whadda ya think?"

by **Gabrielle Seawind** on April 29th, 2012, 10:51 am

The woman was a Steepdive, and Gabrielle stared at the similiar reaction she had gotten. She had spoken her name as if it was a question, and when nobody answered her, Gabrielle forced a smile and gave it to Jetsam. She knew how it felt.

Sable had her hand on Gabrielle's shoulder. Gabrielle gave her a lingering and puzzled look. She couldn't help but wonder the meaning behind it. She was truly not accustomed to being comforted in any way.

"Thanks,” said Gabrielle plainly, her eyes still puzzled.

When Sable announced her pod's presence, Gabrielle couldn't help but feel envious that her pod had been able to stay intact. She didn't know if it was just her and Daske, or if there were others in the crowd or in their ships, but Gabrielle felt envy.

"Just because we're here amongst all of you doesn't mean we're not alone..." muttered Gabrielle, her statement directed at Sable's words. Her voice was so soft that nobody probably heard it, and she didn't mean for them to. She knew Sable meant well -- it was obvious. Gabrielle was starting to come into terms with her predicament as well, but she couldn't help but jab out negatively.

Gabrielle stood there and listened to the words that Daske spoke. He wanted to take in the Baggywrinkle name, which Gabrielle found strange -- she thought he was already part of her pod. Gabrielle smirked to herself. She wondered how that felt, to be included in a new family.

Shrugging, she reverted her attention to Lia Whitewave, wondering what would happen next.