Open Hiding from the Rain

[Cadence Pruette]

11 Fall, 513AV As she walked along the dock area, breathing in the salty air and reveling silently in the peace, Cadence Pruette was a mess. Her hair was ratted more than normal, and she didn't look as though she'd slept a wink in ages. Probably because she hadn't, or at least, it didn't feel like she had. Ever since her life had been turned upside down she'd been residing in the World's End Grotto, trying to find a way to support herself any way she could, often times not in a legitimate manner. She looked up at the sky from her peaceful stroll, seeing the incoming storm clouds, and in what seemed like moments, her world was turned into pouring water, soaking through her cloak and clothing. She then turned to look around, and upon seeing lights through a window nearby, she approached the building. Reading the metal sign, it said 'The Kelp Bar'. She opened the doors and entered the building, the smell of their specialty dring, Kelp Beer, hitting her instantly.

[Savidis]

It wasn’t storming, not exactly. If the sky was truly howling or thundering, it was lost beneath the sheets upon sheets of torrential rain. It struck the ground loudly, almost as violent as hail. It was a dull roar made by a silver wall, one that not even Savidis could see through.

He’d made the mistake of abandoning the ship and crew the moment he’d set foot on dry land; the lure of stable ground that didn’t rock beneath him had been too bright to resist, and within minutes the sky had opened and spilled over the region. Too late had he realized that he knew nothing about Zeltiva, and now the rain made it impossible to find his way back to the harbor. Streets were no more than vague shapes in the rain marking what was solid and what was not, forcing the wayward Symenestra to admit that he was completely, utterly lost.

He clutched his belongings to his chest in an attempt to shield them from the downpour, though he was too soaked to tell if he was succeeding or not. He couldn’t help a twinge of worry; rain was something that had not existed in Kalinor, and he didn’t know what kind of damage it might leave on his possessions.

Then, like a blessing from Viratas himself, two bright lights materialized from the gloom. Hope rose in Savidis’ chest as he quickened his pace, praying for an inn or a tavern, for anything that would grant him shelter from the storm.

The sharp creak of metal hinges pierced the drone of the rain, drawing attention to the wooden sign jutting from above one of the lights. They were windows, it seemed, though the traveler had difficulty perceiving what might be inside them aside from the light. The sign itself was weathered, with carvings and smeared paint that barely managed to keep the words “Kelp Bar” from being washed away. Still, it was a sign that lifted Savidis’ spirits greatly, and without another glance to his surroundings he shouldered his way inside.

The brightness hit his dilated eyes like a hammer, forcing him to screw them shut with a hiss. The tavern was drowning in the merry sound of drunken sailors well into a night of alcohol, and for three painful moments all he could do was stand helplessly beneath an onslaught of sensation.

Stop. Breathe. Within moments the pricking of his eyes dulled as they adjusted to the light, allowing him to crack them and take stock of his surroundings. The establishment was packed, almost to the pointed that it seemed as if sailors should have been spilling through the windows. He thought that he heard music, but, like the rain, the rumble of the patrons made it impossible to be certain of anything he heard. Still, their sheer numbers left Savidis unremarkable among them, and no one spared him a second glance when he waded into the crowd in search of a place to sit. He needed to rest and gather his thoughts. He needed to learn where he was, and then he needed to figure out what he was going to do next.

It was with this in mind that he angled towards the first empty seat he saw: a stool by the bar, flanked on either side by a similarly unoccupied spot. He took the one in the middle, sinking deeper into his hood as the bar matron approached. He sincerely hoped that she wasn’t familiar with his kind, or at least that she wouldn’t recognize him as one--he was well aware of the Symenestra’s unpopularity among other races.

Still, even with half of his face hidden he was a strange sight to behold. The matron paused uncertainly, eyeing his ashen skin, scarred cheeks and the long black claws in the place of fingernails. Deciding that he was too wet and tired to deal with explanations, Savidis simply took out a miza, placed it on the counter before him and pointed to the sign behind her. This was a gesture with which she was quite familiar, and so the matron shook herself of her unease, gave him a merchant’s smile and took the coin to go off and prepare whatever “kelp beer” was.

[Lorelai Stormwatcher]

The downpour had caught Lorelai by suprise. It was a heavier rain then Zeltiva had had in a while. large rain drops came down with such force the stung when they hit Lorelai's skin, and the winds almost took her off her feet. Not that that is much of an accomplishment, she thought to herself. Ellie sprinted to the closest building she could find, unfortunately the dank and disgusting Kelp Bar. Slipping in the door she nabbed a seat at the end of the bar and looked around.

It seemed that many people had come to the bar to escape Zulrav's wrath. She had taken the last seat at the bar. Glancing down the line she caught an exceptionally pale face she didn't recognize and took note. She also picked out several svefra to keep an eye on. They were easy enough to recognize, with their tattooed bodies and beaded hair. The last thing she needed was to walk out a few mizas lighter than intended. Mack had always told her to be on her guard, and that was especially important in the bar. Another young girl stood among the crowd of sailors near the doorway, seemingly taking in the environment.

Ellie tossed a miza on the counter, and was greeted with some change and a mug of kelp beer. It was a detestable beverage, and Lorelai wasn't quite used to it. She wasn't usually allowed to drink, but it was warming all the same. She took a swig and grimaced, letting it wash down her throat. Warmth spread through her stomach, taking the edge off the chill in her bones. She stared at her murky green beverage, prepared to wait out the storm.

[Iff]

The curtains of rain washed over Iff, plastering her dark hair against the sides of her face and down her back. It ran in a stream over her face, but she made no move to wipe it away. She walked with an almost nonchalant attitude through the drenching downpour. Why had she come out into the night anyway? She had no ready answer, but perhaps it was because of the rains, which were so very like those in the jungle of her birth. After a bit of a walk she came to a bar and stood for a time, studying the sign in front of the bar.

"Keellllp Barrr."

She read they words slowly, sounding out the letters. She was not a strong reader and in the darkness of the rain the faded letters were hard to make out. With a decisive thrust, she pushed the door open and came into the common room, water pouring off her sodden clothing onto the floor. The smells of food and humanity formed an almost perceptible barrier against the heavy smell of earth and rain outside.

Making her way to the bar, she leaned between patrons, her dripping person causing them to cringe back out of the way.

"I will have a...carcass of ten inches dimension," she said. Her accent was noticeable but decipherable. "I will drink whatever has the least amount of seaweed in it."

[Cadence Pruette]

Cadence admired her surroundings, while she had lived in Zeltiva all her life, she'd never really been to this side of the town. She watched the drunken sailors as they sang and laughed, argued and cheered. As more and more people entered the bar behind her, she finally snapped out of her trance and blinked a few times, focusing. She began to walk towards the bar, taking note of any coin purses that where less than protected. Her body was instinctively poised to take a grab at her dagger if anything where to happen, which she feared would. But nonetheless, she made it to the bar untouched. Cadence approached an empty seat by a cloaked man, and took sat by him, seeing no other suitable options. She dropped a single golden Miza on the bar, worn smooth from use, and looked to the bar maiden. "I'll take a..uhm, Kelp Beer?" She said, almost as if she where asking a question than making a request. The maiden nodded and took the Miza, moving to make the abhorrent drink. As she walked by, she gave a slightly concerned look to the cloaked man sitting by Cadence, before averting her eyes and continuing with her duties. Cadence proceeded to pull off her own cloak's hood, her fiery red mess of hair an ironic compliment to the ruddy, pitted burn scar on her right cheek, spreading down to just above her jawline. She looked around, picking out the cloaked man next to her, noting the claws jutting from his fingertips, rather than fingernails. She looked to the soaking wet girl with the dark hair falling over her face, standing without shame between two bewildered bar patrons, not wishing to be touched by the drenched girl. And finally the woman observing her surroundings, taking note of everything, perhaps even herself, cringing at the taste of the Kelp Beer. Cadence sighed and waited patiently for the beverage as more and more people filed in, filling the already full bar beyond any recommended population for one room. Storms could do that, especially those of Zeltiva. Cadence sighed and hunched over, leaning her head against the bar.

[Savidis]

The tankard was set before him delicately, as if the matron was wary of making too much noise lest the pale man snap like some savage beast. His change was dropped beside it, and he gave the matron a pleasant smile, taking extra care to keep his mouth closed to hide a set of fangs that would certainly not put her any more at ease. He then took the time to look into his tankard and take a whiff of whatever it contained. Something green, he was sure, with a bit of grain and lots of salt. It was with no small measure of wariness that Savidis tipped the mug forward and stole a small sip. Hmm. He took another. It wasn’t actually that bad—at least, it didn’t taste nearly as bad as it smelled. It was certainly new, but it was strong—almost as strong as the food he had grown up with. It might take a bit of getting used to, but it was alright as far as alcohol went. “I will have a carcass of ten inches dimension.” Savidis accidentally inhaled a bit of beer. “I will drink whatever has the least amount of seaweed in it.” The spider-child suppressed a small fit of coughs as he cleared his windpipe, then slicked it with another gulp. Still, he bore a mischievous smile when he turned to the soaked young woman who had placed the order. "Hungry, are we?"

[Lorelai Stormwatcher]

Lorelai took another hearty swing of her beverage with a grimace, and it almost came back out when when she heard the word carcass. Her head shot over and she recognized the girl from the ocean a week prior. Another Drink brought her ever closer to inebriation. She had to be quite careful. Someone as small as her had no business drinking too much.

The girl she had passed walking into the bar sat down next to the stranger with the hood. As she pulled hers, the scar on her face almost brought tears to her eyes. The large, ugly red weal had only just begun to heal, marring the side of an otherwise beautiful face.
A drunk running into her jolted her out of her reverie by knocking her off her bar stool towards the other patrons like a domino starting an avalanche

[Iff]

Iff turned to look at the man who spoke to her, sizing up his features at a glance. A Symenestra, it would seem. Iff had respect for the race, as like her they were hunters and tended towards the ruthless. She bared her teeth at him in the human ritual of smiling, although in truth she looked more like her shoes didn't fit than a person under the influence of happiness.

"I hunger, yes, and a body requires meat to become strong."

It was only then that she noticed the woman who had pulled her from the sea a few days before, but before she could speak a drunk drove her from her stool into the man with the hood. Reflexively she grabbed the drunk by the throat and thrust him backwards towards the bar so that the back of his head hit the battered wood surface.

"My friend does not wish to be treated so. She is angry at your behavior."

The drunk began to flail wildly, backhanding Iff across the face.

[Cadence Pruette]

As the Myrian threw the drunk into the bar, Cadence saw her chance. She stood as the Kelp Beer was set in front of her, grabbing her change at the same time. She raised her hood, and removed her dagger from its sheath. She began strolling through the mess, looking for any easy grabs. A sailor bumped into her, and as she pushed him away, she reached into his coat pocket and grabbed out a few Nilo. She turned, and saw an unconcealed coin-purse hanging from the belt of a sailor fighting off two other men. She cut the purse from his side using her dagger, and concealed the coin purse and knife within her cloak. Feeling satisfied, but not wishing to test her luck, the thief returned to her seat at the bar, sitting down to take a swig of the Kelp Beer.