By Laviku's Beard! (Uleru)

by **Tyral Moondrinker** on June 13th, 2013, 4:48 am

60th day of Summer

It was a particularly hot day in summer, made more so by the wind blowing up from the Southern Sea, carrying the heat with it like a bad case of morning breath. The water, enchantingly blue, sparkled as the waves caught the light. It was calm for once which made for good fishing weather. If one were to stand on the docks of Riverfall and squint against the glare, they would catch sight of a white sale with a large circle emblazoned on it. And if that person, staring into the sun, were a Svefran or a friend of theirs, they could identify the vessel as The Pearl Diver.

Tyral Moondrinker sprawled lazily across the prow of his Casinor, his feet dipped in the water. Close by, a worn fishing pole arced over the side of the boat, a thin line dipping into the water and disappearing into the depth. Beside Tyral lay a small otter, his Tavan Pearl, whom the boat was named after. A string of small fish hung from a rope nearby, the results of a full morning of fishing. The Svefra scratched his bare, tanned chest and held his arm up above him, appreciating the beauty of Laviku's waves twisting about his skin. He knew that many took this for granted, this feeling of being connected to a whole world, and being counted special by a god. But the Mark served as a reminder for him that home was more than just a boat or a family. Home was all around him, splashing against the hull, stretching far beneath him into a domain of mystery and darkness.

A bouncing of the tip of his fishing pole brought him to a sitting position as he reached out to retrieve it. The fish had been biting well all day. He already had more than he and Pearl needed, but he could sell some later that evening to the fishmongers along the docks. Perhaps even pay that Akalak's daughter a visit. She had seemed awfully close to his face the night before, her hand straying up his leg. He grinned to himself and tugged on the line.

by **Uleru** on June 14th, 2013, 1:13 am

"Oi! Go on, shoo!"

The pry bar rapts smartly across the Otani's gelatine wrists, and Uleru drops the fish in her hands with a vehement hiss. The docks wooden boards creak and groan as the bar-weilding Akalak waves a heavy boot at her like a dog owner threatening his pet with a rolled up newspaper. Leaving her to sink scornfully back into the water and out of reach of the size fifteen steel toe.

She's being lazy, she knows, nicking seafood from the Riverfall port rather than hunting it down herself. But really! They took it out of her territory in the first place, least they can do is share!

Another hiss for good measure, and the Otani turns away and disappears under the sparkling blue water with nary a ripple to signal she's ever been there. At the hight of noon Syna's rays penetrate through even the darkest corners of the bay, illuminating everything with a dappled glow. If she really has to get her own food it should be easy, since the glittering scales of the fish can be seen close to the surface, just waiting to be plucked from the water like fishy popcorn.

One in particular catches her eye, for it's quite large and not with a school. It seems to be doing a horrible twitchy thrashing, possibly because its injured. All of which make easy pickings for a ravenous Otani.

She swims for her little treat as fast as her newly formed tail will allow, finally snatching the creature out of the shallow water and down towards herself. Only to bubble soundlessly in surprise when the fish in her hand gives an almighty jerk back by something else. And its then that she notices the thin wire of a fishing line trailing from its gapping mouth like a string of drool.

Oh no you petching don't, she inwardly growls, loathed to give up yet another lunch to the landstriders. A short bout of a strange kind of tug-o'-war ensues as Uleru and Tyral fight each other for the gormless fish, its mouth locked into a perfect 'o' of fishy panic. But the fishing pole wins when Uleru loses grip of the slippery scales and the heavy body whizzes out of the water like a reverse suicide drowning.

The Otani blows out her cheeks with ire, staring at her lunchless hands as if she cant believe what just happened. Gods dammit.

She floats towards the surface with an eye on the ship at the end of that blasted fishing rod. And she spots a handsome Sevfra lad siting on the deck, admiring his hard-won catch with his feet trailing in the water. At this point she could leave and track down another prize, but no, she wont let this game up so easily. With one swift motion she wraps her hands around both ankles and wrenches him into the water to join her. Catching the fish out of his hands as he hits the surface with a tremendous splash.

"Aha! Shows you, you petching thief", the Otani barks with glee, clutching the struggling prize to her chest and blowing a raspberry at the human.

by **Tyral Moondrinker** on June 14th, 2013, 6:12 pm

As Tyral began to pull the fish in, he encountered more resistance than expected. He gritted his teeth and gripped the pole harder, using his weight against his prey. This must be a huge one. Sweat beaded across his forehead as his muscles flexed and tensed, trying to control what was on the other end of the line. Pearl woke at the sounds of the struggle and shook herself, chattering nervously. Tyral saw her out of the corner of his eye.

“Pearl, get over here,” he grunted. “Can't you see I need-”With a sudden splash, the fish flew out of the water like a cork shot from a wine bottle. Tyral fell backwards, hitting his head smartly against the deck. The fish landed squarely on Tyral's chest, slapping him in the face with its tail in indignation. Sputtering, the Svefra sat up, grabbing the fish. He eyed it over and realized he was holding a fairly small specimen, maybe five pounds at most. It had felt like there were at least forty pounds on the other end of the line. His brow scrunched together in consternation as he peered into the depths beneath his trailing feet. Nothing... He began to rub his eyes clear of the saltwater the fish had splashed into them.

Wait a second...

Is that...

He watched as a shadow appeared in the blue and grew larger beneath his feet. His eyes went wide in surprise and his mouth fell open.

Laviku?

His body jerked as something grabbed him by the ankles and yanked him into the water. As he fell, the fish left his hands, snatched away by something. What it was, he couldn't tell because his vision was all water and confusion. Calming down, he focused his eyes and found himself underwater, floating somewhat serenely. He took in the clear blue expanse in front of him, overwhelmed as always by the beauty of Laviku's domain. This was the last true place left. All the others had been corrupted and twisted, but this. This was true. He didn't have long to slip into his thoughts as he turned and came face to face with Uleru blowing a raspberry at him. His heart skipped a beat and he yelled, thrashing his way to the surface. He broke the water with a large splash and gulped in a deep breath. A scare like that hadn't grabbed him in a long time. Was it a mermaid? An Otani? He hadn't had enough of a look to tell. He decided to wait for the culprit to show itself.

by **Uleru** on June 16th, 2013, 7:53 pm

Uleru floats leisurely to the surface a few feet away from the startled Svefra. Below the waves, his first impression of her had been a bit chaotic. And despite his rather hilarious reaction, she's determined to make a better impression this time around. She's feeling quite a bit more charitable towards him now that he has relinquished hold of her food.

The first thing she sees in the man is Laviku's mark on him. But really, the sea god appears to have been pretty heavy-handed with his gifts to the Svefra. His eyes are the swirling azure blue of the kind she hasn't seen in decades. Skin the trademark windburned brown you see on anyone who makes the ocean their home, laced with scars to make it tough. And a bit more obscure is the playfulness she detects under surprisingly handsome features. Like he is more used to laughing with friends than scowling at strangers. She decides, right then, that she likes him.

Her so far transparent body almost unconsciously takes on the remarkable blue of his eyes.

The fish still held to her chest is no longer moving, and if the angle is right the Svefra could see a neat hole -roughly the size of a thumb- punched neatly through the roof of its mouth. An old trick to killing small fish she has learned. But before she will indulge in her (arguably) hard won meal, she must pray to the god who gave it to her. She faces the human as she does so, expecting him to share in her expression of thanks to his patron god. Closing her eyes, she treads water with her sweeping tail while holding her fish with both hands, singing her prayer as she would a poem:

"Father, blessed are we with the bounty taken from your blood.
Let it, in turn, nourish us.
Blessed are we to be cradled with the calm in your arms
May we find comfort in its embrace,"

Opening one eye she shoots a wily look at the human, smiling to herself.

"Blessed are the people who crawl across the skin of your world
Let them take reverence in your constant presence...
And your limitless generosity"

Prayer done, she eyes his ship and the row of fish stung up by the mast. Quite a bit more than one person and his little furry friend would need.

"And what will you give to your god to thank him for this feast, Svefra?"

by **Tyral Moondrinker** on June 19th, 2013, 6:52 pm

Tyral watched as Uleru broke the surface and a revelation passed over him, visible in his features as his startled expression turned into a relieved one. He notices his fish in her hands and decides it's not worth arguing over. This was an Otani, a servant of Laviku, his first children. Who was he to begrudge one of them their meal? They did the will of Laviku, some would even argue they were his will.

As the Otani studied him, he remained silent, waiting until she finished. He had only meet a couple Otani when he was a child and they had never talked to him, only to his father. This was a rare occasion and he didn't want to mess it up. His eyes went wide as her skin began to change to a dark blue right in front of him. A small laugh left his mouth and he smiled. The tales of Otani being able to change shape and color were told around every fire, but he had never know the truth of it. To see it was a beautiful thing indeed.

Uleru closed her eyes and began to pray. Confusion overcame him for a moment, but he realized she was blessing the food she was about to eat(stolen or not). He closed eyes in reverence and listened to her prayer. It was a strange thing to hear an Otani, one who was closer to Laviku than any other could be, speak to him. Chills ran up and down his spine and he found himself getting lost in her voice. Then abruptly she was finished. He opened his eyes and followed her gaze to his ship.

"And what will you give to your god to thank him for this feast, Svefra?"

He laughed, smiling widely. “I will give whatever the good god wishes of me.” Tyral swam over to the side of his ship and reached up to remove the line from a hook. He turned to the Otani and held it up. “What does a child of Laviku think would be sufficient?”

by **Uleru** on June 19th, 2013, 8:20 pm

"What does a child of Laviku think will be sufficient?"

The question is not posed to her very often, and Uleru find herself startled by it. He is not asking what the god would find suitable, he's asking what she herself would offer. What does the servant think will please the master? She taps her lip with a brilliantly blue hand, eye roaming the ship and the human with thoughts cast into this particular basket.

"Hmm, well, most give coins. But some of these people don't really understand what Laviku wants. He's not impressed by shiny things and trinkets, He wants you to sacrifice something to him. If your gold is the most meaningful sacrifice, than he will be pleased with the offer."

She studies him thoroughly, even going so far as to drift uncomfortably close, almost nose-to-nose, and smiling all the while.

"Ooo, but I don't think your gold is quite that important to you, is it?" she ventures, enjoying this guessing game. "You cherish..." her fingers find their way back to her mouth, tapping her lip with a thoughtful tattoo as she thinks, while her body drifts back to a more reasonable distance. Really, she knows nothing about this Svefra. There are things they, as a people, love of course: their ships, the sea, their family...

"Ah! Thats it: blood", she smiles, clapping her hands together in revelation. "Thats it, isn't it? Family, ties, and a physical injury to show your commitment. That would be meaningful, yes? Just a drop or two, as thanks for the fish", she nods.

And that looks like thats it for the Otani's requests, until, after a second, she asks something she hasn't asked in quite a while.

"And can I have a gift too?"

She loops her hand through a draining hole in the railing to keep herself afloat as she gauges his reaction. She will often trick or tease a sailor into giving her something, usually food. And many times she has begged of something from a craftsman, which the wise Svefra are quick to ignore, obviously. But she is not often refused from the more superstitious, thanks to her relationship with such a powerful god. This Svefra doesn't strike her as a particularly wise, or extremely superstitious. She really has no idea how he will react. But he is handsome and friendly, she would be loathed to let this opportunity for play go.

"Blood for your god... A kiss for his child?", she coos thoughtfully. "Oh, will you? Please? Blood for your god, a kiss for his child. Blood for your god, a kiss for his child. Blood for your god, a kiss for his child!", she repeats like a mantra, dissolving into sparkling laughter.

by **Tyral Moondrinker** on June 22nd, 2013, 2:51 am

”Ah! That's it: blood.

Tyral studied the coy Otani for a moment before laughing, his smile wide and his eyes full of merriment. Of course she would know better than he what Laviku wanted. His pod knew well the value of sacrifice as their history was filled with it. Before allowing his thoughts to stray to the past, Tyral turned and reached up, placing the fish back on the hook. Without warning, he dove under the surface and kicked off for the depths. Beneath the waves, everything was quiet. Quiet and blue.

Tyral blinked as eyes as he swam deeper, seeing a nearby spur of coral. He knew he wouldn't be able to reach the bottom without help this far out, but this area had an abundance of high reaching coral that grew quickly and died quickly. They were the bane of many ships, but since they were a part of the sea, the Svefras' marks usually warned them of dangerous areas around them. Tyral reached the coral and stopped, admiring the beauty of it. In a realm of dark blues fading to even darker shades, here was a splash of bright yellows and reds, surrounded by small fish and other assorted marine life. It was a world unto itself. When the coral died, the life around it would most likely die as it depended on the ecosystem there. It was a testament to the temporary nature of life, yet the permanence of the sea itself. The sea was life and within it was life. Laviku be praised, he thought. That I should be called one of his is truly a blessing indeed.

He reached out and placed a hand on a piece of coral. It was pointless to try to break one off without a knife since it would cut him anyways. Besides, this was his god's domain. What better place to give him an offering? With a quick gesture, he cut his palm on the edge of the yellow coral. Almost instantaneously, a fog of red grew around his hand and he closed his eyes.

“I give you my blood,
for all I am is flesh and blood.
I give you this life for the life you have given.
Praise be to Laviku, the father of us all.”

His words were illegible, as he spoke in bubbles and grunts, but he spoke his prayer nonetheless. He had always believed in the power of words and thought men who prayed in their heads were foolish. The gods deserved to be praised aloud, not in the loneliness and silence of one's thoughts. It seemed an affront to him to hold one's tongue when praise could be given a voice.

Tyral looked above him and saw the Otani at the surface waiting. She had asked for a kiss, in that strange singsong voice of hers, chanting it as if she had never wanted anything else. She was a strange one, but he had heard that they were none of them normal. They were godtouched and understandably different because of it. He wondered at the conversations she had had with Laviku, at the intimacy she shared with the sea that he would never know. A pang of jealousy echoed in his heart, but he shook it off. His lungs were burning and he needed to return to the surface. He kicked off to the top, leaving the quiet and solitude of the depths behind as he splashed into the air, taking a deep breath.

Tyral looked over at Uleru and grinned mischievously. “My offering is given. Now as for your gift, I see no reason why it should not be.” He was not too far away, so he was at her side quickly, his face close to hers. He smiled and closed the distance between them, his lips touching hers. He kissed for but a moment, holding his own passionate impulses at bay. This was a gift. It wasn't for him to take something in the act of giving. Swimming back a few feet he laughed.

“I hope my gift is well received,” he smiled. Tyral looked up at the sun high above them and took a deep breath of salty air. “Tell me, please. Have you ever seen him? Laviku, I mean.”

by **Uleru** on June 24th, 2013, 12:14 am

The Otani doesn't follow the human under the waves, and doesn't spy on his prayer. Some prefer a more private communion with their god, after all. When he does surface again, its with a deep pull of air and a small trail of blood turned green in the water. She hums her approval.

Next is her gift. She is surprised he is going to give it to her without a fuss, and is all the more pleased because of it. It is the gentlest, most platonic brush of lips, but even so she is quick to bask in the pleasure of having a warm-blooded being so close. Since she carries no heat of her own, this is a rare indulgence and she enjoys it immensely.

“I hope my gift is well received”, he smiles. The Otani merely winks teasingly at him. But his smile slowly fades as he looks to the sky again, tracing Syna's arc with his eye. He takes a deep breath, and she can tell what he is about to say is important to him.

“Tell me, please. Have you ever seen him? Laviku, I mean.”

"Of course", she begins, her body shimmering back into its natural, colourless shade as if to prove her brotherhood with the water. "You have too. You just did. As you surfaced, I saw the serenity on your face. You saw Him."

Thats not what he meant, and she knows this. But the realm is the craftwork of the god, and to ignore one in reverence of the other is a mistake she has seen made. Laviku is the sea, and the sea is Laviku. Though she doubts this Svefra needs to be reminded of that.

"I have seen his face too", she continues, rising to the bait. "But I haven't had the honour in over a century", a wistful look passes over her face and she suddenly looks far away, reliving a memory from a long time ago. "But I hear him. I hear him all the time. His will", she taps the side of her head, "it runs through me sometimes."

Almost absently, her hands come together to form a cup in front of her. An ethereal pool of white res is pulled from her palms to make a small, glowing sphere. The Svefra's profile is distorted and warped when viewed through it, making the Otani smile with mirth.

"And he sees you, of course. He knows you because I know you. He sees through my eyes and knows what I know. Thats why I exist."

The little ball of res shudders and twists as Uleru folds it into shape. Her concentration, before wandering idly with attention flickering around the sailor, becomes focused on her little task. Very human-looking lines of concentration set in between her brows and in the corners of her eyes.

"Hmm, but thats not why you exist or what you were made for, is it? You chose the sea of your own will. And thats... Well, thats amazing. I may be a conduit for him, but you carry his mark in a way I never could. You can call predators, control tides... His priest can even summon me by will. Just like he can! I can only imagine what kind of relationship they might have with him."

Finally satisfied with her project, she quickly transmutes the ethereal substance into something much more corporeal: ice. Its a fist sized sculpture of a whale, and though her body throws no heat, the tiny statue begins to sweat under the heat of the Syna's rays. She sets it down and lets it bob on the water for a chime before giving it a gentle blow to steer it towards the human.

"Why do you ask, Svefra?" she questions, remembering that there was once a specific question that sparked her dialogue. "Could there be something on your mind?"

by **Magpie** on August 18th, 2013, 10:18 pm

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Tyral :

Uleru :

Notes :

If you have any questions or concerns about what was awarded, please don't hesitate to PM me.
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Closed By Laviku's Beard! (Uleru)