PM to join The End of Ends [Kel, Shijara]

[Tydus Tempest]

32nd of Spring, 514

There was an assortment of things to do before the Tempest Pod was to cast off. The destination was known, a general direction given, the rest possible with the assistance of the gnosis that Laviku bestowed upon his beloved people. Bright eyes of ocean's majesty cast themselves to look upon the God's oceanic blood, the Tempest looking about his ship, noting the presence of a loose rope from the mast. Tydus looked to the ropes holding the Tempest Wind to the docks, a cursory glance set to Riverfall itself as the realization swept over him that the pod was being left behind.

Everything the Tempest had done was for the Pod to remain as a unit. An intention to keep them together, a desire to have them fed and safe, but there was complacency there. More than fifty days had been spent on Riverfall's land, Tydus becoming used to it, accustomed to the place, nearly calling it home. And worst of all, he sort of liked it. The freaky blue men became less freaky. The few lovely women became more alluring. The spirits and drink of the pubs pulled him in. It had to stop. Tydus was not interested in the life of a landlubber, nor was he going to be intimidated, by nightmares regarding Laviku or any sort of fear that he had, to stay upon the accursed shores any longer.

It was time to go.

Lips were closed around a segment of rope, the line held close as Tydus secured the barrel holding his ale to the deck. Other, more pertinent supplies were kept in his own quarters, but he ignored the thought, focusing instead on the more relevant and important aspect that was leaving Riverfall once and for all. Memories pulled at his consciousness, entering with Adney, being kicked out of their suite... Reunion with Kel, the night with Adi... The Pod's reformation. The more recent night with Callipsia. More than anything, the last scared him into leaving. She needed to head the Pod. The Tempest name was hers to command. It was simply that Kel and Tydus had no intention of being one with it anymore.

Svefra could not bear to be alone, but Tydus and Kel would never be alone. They were to cross the seas together, and, apparently, a mutual acquaintance was joining them. Shijara was a name he hadn't heard in quite a while, but it was nice to know that they had the company on their journey, even if she was as close to a normal as they could get. At best, it was someone to talk to. At worst, it was someone to charge and make coin from for passage through to Kenash.

"Oi, Kel! Ye ready ta' cast off?"

The Svefra spoke in Fratava, with no intention to change it, quickly tying the knots onto the mast and raising the sail before making his way to Callipsia's boat. The Tempest scion slipped a small note beneath the door before returning to his own casinor, looking to Laviku's Wrath as he reached for his cutlass to cut the rope that bound his ship to port.

[Kel Tempest]

It was time.


The day had finally arrived when the Tempest brothers would depart from Riverfall, the wind to their backs and defiance in their eyes. The sea called them; it whispered tantalizing words of riches and glory ripe for the taking. But instead of taking those rewards by the throat, he was trapped on land. The longer he stayed, the more he felt the ground wrapping its treacherous grip around him, suffocating him. It had been a long month for the eldest Tempest member while he had been landlocked and he had done everything he could to relieve the tension, but his excursions only helped temporarily.


If he were honest with himself, it had been a long few seasons. He assumed that when he disowned his former pod, the Greytides that previous Winter and joined up with Tydus, that he would found peace and contentment. But his arrival in Riverfall and the joining of the Tempest hadn’t filled the void he felt. If anything, he felt even more restless and reckless.


But when the two podmates met one evening and laid everything on the table, they realized they needed out. They needed out of the city. The city was for the land dwellers, for the weak. It was no place for Svefra. It drained their life force and threatened to destroy them. Kel could feel it sucking away his sanity. It pushed him to acting out into more reckless behavior just to prove to himself that he wasn’t being converted into a petching land dweller. He was spiraling. He could feel himself dangling over the black abyss in his mind, the pit that longed to consume him ever since the death of his mentor. He was strangely drawn to the chasm but he knew it was somewhere he wasn’t ready for.


Yet.


But the moment they decided to leave Riverfall and put it behind them to head towards Kenash, it was as if a massive weight was lifted off his chest. A dark cloud had hovered over him growing more dangerous every passing day. But now it was gone and he felt free for the first time in a long time. His lighthearted, cocky persona was returning. He also realized that it wasn’t acceptance he was originally looking for when he left the Greytides for the Tempests. It wasn’t even peace from the chaotic emotions he did his best to bury deep within himself.


He was looking for adventure on the high seas.


Kel Tempest felt giddy laughter bubble to his lips as he stood on the deck of the Laviku’s Wrath. He felt like he could run around in circles, dancing and shouting at the top of his lungs. He let out the bundle of energy in the form of a little jig and laughed. His eyes danced with excitement as Tydus began getting ready to sail next to him in the Tempest Wind.


The Svefra was eager to depart the city of the irritating blue freaks and leave it all behind him. Kel almost danced across the deck as he made sure everything was secure for their departure and in ship shape. There was enough ale to get them to Kenash and then refill with glorious rum for the return trip. He wasn’t as partial to it as Tydus was but it did the trick.


Tydus’ voice rang out and Kel looked over at his podmate, grinning.


“Mate, I was born ready for this. Time to leave the land of the petchin’ blue snobs and journey towards the horizon!” He planted a foot on the railing of his ship and struck a heroic pose, holding it for a moment.


Now all they had to do was wait for Shijara to show up and their adventure would begin.

Fratava, Kel's Common

[Shijara]

Her heart had been pounding all morning in anticipation. The Chaktawe slept very little, much too nervous. She counted her money. Once. Twice. Three times. Double checked to make sure all her things were packed. She busied herself in any way she could, running around the streets of Riverfall since before the sun had risen. The young woman needed to make sure she was ready. Clothes, toiletries, rations, rings... She had little, but enough to survive the trip. The largest of her items was probably a barrel of fresh water. The rest she was capable to carry.

Shijara had visited Makutsi's tower to pray to the goddess for her blessing. Perhaps she had connections with the god, Laviku. After all, didn't rivers merge into oceans? She took a deep breath. Calm down, she thought, You sold your horse. No turning back.

Shijara's fear of the ocean caused her to groom to calm her nerves. She had taken a meticulous shower. Her teeth were clean. Her hair was brushed and held back with a red sash that she was using as a head band. She wore a different style of clothes, turning her old trousers into shorts with the help of her new dagger (and nearly cut herself in the process). A leather belt hung at her hips, along with her weapon's sheathe. Even her legs and underarms were smooth and flawless. It was how she calmed down. She distracted herself.

Her leather boots felt weird on her feet as she adjusted to the feeling, running towards the docks. The rings in her pocket pressed against her thigh, and her backpack hung loosely on her shoulder, if not a bit heavy. Soon, Laviku's Wrath caught her eye and she could hear a familiar voice yelling in Fratava. All she heard in the foreign tongue and understood was "Oi, Kel." The rest of the sentence fell on deaf ears. She might as well get used to it.

Her eyes landed on Kel and she lifted up her fingers to give a sharp, clear whistle to get the attention of the boys, "I've got something for you, Chopre. " Her payment. How she planned to complete her bribe with the male. She reached into her pockets and withdrew both rings, one a simple black band, the other, more ornate. Shijara told the jeweler to make it as gaudy as he could. She was not disappointed, and had to admit it still had an appeal. Both were silver, although the first had to be disguised.

Shi waved briefly at Tydus and gave a fleeting smile. She hadn't seen him in quite some time. She wondered if he still had her drawing. Quickly, though, her attention was drawn away and she moved to give her investment to the other Tempest brother.

"Well?"

[Kel Tempest]

Kel’s head turned as he stood, leg braced against the gunwale, hands on waist in his heroic pose as a familiar, sarcastic voice rang out. His eyes lit up as he spotted the Chaktawe standing uncomfortably on the pier next to his ship only a few yards away. His excitement was evident on his face but not for the reasons she might think. He wasn’t excited to see her; he could care less if she showed up or not.


No, he was excited for the items she was expected to bring with her.


Greed tinged the excitement that lit his sea blue eyes. Objects of value got his blood pumping almost as much as combat did. Kel hurried across the deck of his ship and bowed gallantly, hands extended widely beside him, one foot in front of the other, his baggy black shirt hanging loosely on his muscular frame.


He looked up from his bow and grinned, offering a hand for Shijara to take.


“Aye there, pretty! Welcome aboard teh’ Laviku’s Wrath where all yeh’ dreams await yeh’.” He winked at her and helped her down if she accepted his hand and offer to help her over the small gap between his ship and the dock.


His feint politeness was both in humor and to wheedle his payment out of her as quickly as possible. He could easily demand the compensation then and there before even allowing her to step aboard his ship. But he was in a good mood and enjoyed the dramatic flair that he flaunted about as he toyed with her, he didn’t even care if she believed it or not. It was the act that entertained him.


He stepped over to the cabin and gestured dramatically through the open doorway revealing a small room, the bunk against the left wall under a small port window, a small table sitting beside the bed and his chest sitting against the far right wall, all bolted down to the floor.


“Here’s where yeh’ will be stayin’.” Kel stepped inside, intending to whisk her away before she had the chance to interact with Tydus. The black haired Svefra pointed to the bare floor of the cabin, a smirk plastered across his face, knowing there was a high possibility that she would hate her accommodations, especially since the bed he would be using sat in the corner.


Kel sauntered out of the cabin, a feeling of contentment and grandeur in his chest. He strolled over to the gunwale next to the pier and untied the line connecting it to the wooden beam on the deck. The Svefra quickly moved to the mast and untied the straps holding the sails in place along the wooden spar before grabbing a hold of the rope connected to the pulley system and hoisted them up.


Once the course fabric had reached its full height, Kel quickly strode to the stern of the ship and threw off the looped rope that held the wheel in place. He gripped the wooden circle in both hands and turned it a few degrees as the wind caught a hold of the sails and edged the ship away from the docks. Kel grinned as he looked over at Tydus as they pulled ahead of the other casinor. He called out impishly to his podmate in Common so that Shijara could understand his insult.


“Last one out of teh’ bay has’ta deal with the petchin’ land dweller staggerin’ across my decks!” He laughed raucously, ecstasy pumping through his veins as he felt his ship finally broke the shackles it had been bound by as it left the city of Riverfall in its wake.

[Shijara]

Shijara took his hand. His words didn't interest her so much, as she was too busy eyeing the gap between the dock and the ship's edge. Could she slip and fall between them? Would she drown? Hand clasping onto Kel's, Shijara pinched her eyes shut and boarded the Laviku's Wrath, eager to let go of his hand almost as quickly as she had grabbed it. She calmed only momentarily, eyeing the mast and all the contraptions on the boat.

Kel began leading her to the cabin, and Shijara made a beeline towards it. This isn't bad. Shijara was not used to beds or much for that matter. She had her bedroll and blanket. She was a simple woman and didn't need much to get by. Besides, did anyone honestly think Kel would be offering what was his? Shijara tucked her bag under the corner and lingered in the door way when he exited.

The moment she noticed him going for the ropes and things, Shi perked up, running to where the dock was. She waved over one of the nearby Akalak and asked him to hand her the small barrel that needed to be boarded. The stranger nearly attempted to step on the ship, and she gasped, stopping him in his tracks. Shijara hadn't known the Svefra long, but she knew they were weird about their boats. She couldn't let anyone come aboard. Even she didn't feel welcome.

Instead, the barrel was handed to her instead, and she nearly dropped it in the process. Grunting, she rolled it out of the way, the thing nearly as big as her. Kel wasted no time. Just as she was finished, it seemed that they were moving. Panic rose in her and she gripped the edge of the barrel, and then ran to the cabin. Oh no, no, no.

This was a dumb idea. The boat already bobbed slowly on the water, a sensation she was not familiar with. Shijara looked tense. Like a threatened animal ready to bolt. But it was too late. She eased her way back on deck, carefully walking to where Kel stood. At least he was in a good mood. Maybe it was his smile, or the way he spoke common just so she could hear his insult. Either way, it would either make him manageable or unbearable.

The Chaktawe finally tried to put the rings in Kel's hand if he would take them. Just like she promised. His insult didn't affect her so much. She felt like she was staggering, and if she was a landlubber, so be it. She had never been on the sea. To her, this was going to be a gruesome ride. All she wanted to do was lay down in the cabin until Kel found some new way of making her life a living hell.

"You're gonna have to do better than that."

[Tydus Tempest]

Confusion made its way upon the Svefra's expression as he noted a woman approach the boat. She looked... familiar, in a way. Sun-kissed skin, a rather attractive woman, at the least, that was Tydus' assessment until he reached the point where he looked at her eyes. Pitch-black in colour, the woman seemed like some sort of undead apparition given flesh and wearing it as a suit, walking about the world in search of its next meal. Yet... something felt familiar.

Ah! She was the lass I saved from the depths of the sea. An undead surely wouldn't scramble about in the depths of the sea, begging for help. She was warm, too. She must be something else. Not that it matters anyway. Is she Kel's 'fare?'

Tydus remembered Kel's mention of a bribe on his part, scoffing at the gesture, but wondering to himself why Tydus himself didn't get a cut of the loot.

Greedy bastard... I'm taking one of the bloody rings later. I'm sure Kel will 'agree' that it's fair. But, first things first! Let's greet the lass.

A vibrant smile materialized upon the Tempest's features, a laugh escaping his lips as he shouted out at the woman, "Oi, guppy! Yeh findin' yer way around alrigh' on the land? Try not tah fall off the boat o'er there with Kelly. He's a righ' bastard when it comes to 'is personal space, ye know."

The Svefra smirked at Kel before he wrapped his extra length of rope into a tight coil, plotting ways to wreak vengeance on Kel and his betrayal of the not dividing the plunder of Shijara's fare. A laugh escaped his lips, the thought half-serious in nature, though he decided to not press the point for the moment. "Anyway, lass, if yer ever lonely with that 'un over there, feel free ta' ask and I can make some room in my boat."

The Tempest winked at her before he moved over to the line connecting his ship to the port. He decided to go for the grand effect, the Tempest reaching for the cutlass, Tatianna's blade, that he held at his side and using it to sever the rope. The swing was poorly done, failing to make a proper arch, resulting in a very choppy motion, clearly too weak to sever flesh from bone, though the rope did not hold to steel. Tydus then looked to the sea, a vibrant smile cast upon his expression before he pressed the cutlass into his palm.

A thin cut resulted from the pressure, blood seeping from the wound before Tydus pressed deeper. Blood flowed freely from the wound, the Tempest moving to the ship's gunwale, placing his hand to the water and offering his blood as sacrifice to Laviku. Once he felt that his sacrifice was paid, he raised his hand and moved to the ship's wheel. Winds whipped at Tydus' sails, pushing the Tempest Wind out to sea as he shouted out.

"And we're off! To Kenash!"

[Kel Tempest]

The grin that stretched across his face didn’t waver as the Laviku’s Wrath left the docks. Kel eased the casinor past Tydus’ ship and slowly made his way through the bay. The Svefra slowly navigated his way through the labyrinth of ships of all sizes that filled the bay, from fishermen’s dinghies to first class merchant vessels. Some of them were beautifully made but none matched the simplistic beauty of a hand crafted Svefra ship.


He could already see some of the captains fighting to get to his empty spot at the dock. His nose wrinkled in disgust and he spat as a fisherman passed by.


“Blasted land dwellers, thinkin’ they belong in Laviku’s domain…”


The passing sailor heard Kel grumbling and gave him an odd look. The Svefra glared at him and made an obscene gesture as they passed one another. The old sailor almost looked as if he were about to retort but saw the trident propped up against the cabin wall, glinting menacingly beside Kel. The words died on his lips as he decided he was better off just continuing on his way towards the dock. The Svefra smirked at him, congratulating him on making the right choice.


Having dismissed the disgrace of a sailor from his mind, Kel gripped the wheel, gently teasing the wooden steering device that shifted the boom overhead, correcting the sails as the wind continually changed. The last remaining bit of tension filtered out of him. They were finally leaving behind the land of rules, regulations and blue freaks that lorded it over them. They were finally free to do whatever they pleased without the threat of being locked up. It was a liberating feeling.


They finally managed to pass through the main bulk of ships just inside the bay entrance and were fast approaching the mouth of the bay. Kel pulled out the two rings Shijara gave him out from his pocket and held each of them up to the light as the ship was rocked gently by the waves. He examined the jewelry, pleased with his bribe. He slid the silver banded blue sapphire over his middle finger on his right hand. Then the Svefra looked at the second ring before fitting the black and silver band snugly over the thumb on his ring hand. He looked at them, a grin crossing his face. It was a good day indeed.


Kel looked towards the bow of the ship but didn’t spot Shijara anywhere. He assumed she must have been in the cabin. He didn’t particularly care where she was. He had his payment, she could have fallen overboard and he wouldn’t have been troubled. But the thought of her puking in his sleeping quarters crossed his mind and he frowned. Land dwellers had such pathetically weak stomachs. It’d be a quick way to overstay her welcome, payment or not.


The Svefra threw the looped rope over the peg of the wooden wheel to keep the ship on course and crossed the deck towards the cabin door. He poked his head in.


“Soulless One, yeh’ still alive?”

[Shijara]

Was the other Svefra talking to her? Shijara turned, seeing that Ty, in fact, was addressing her. She laughed at his offer. She shouted back at the Svefra, "What's so great over there?" After he winked, Shi took the opportunity to vanish while the boys were busy.

The waves lifted and lowered the small ship easily, and the movements still unsettled her. Luckily, her stomach was holding down lunch and there wasn't any nausea. Shijara felt more dizzy than anything, and an impending fear of drowning. To distract herself, she had retreated to the cabin, taking deep breaths and setting up shop. She unrolled her bed roll, and folded her blanket, placing it neatly on top. Her hands shook and she frowned in disappointment, flashes of struggling in the cold grips of the water with no bottom to push off on.

Shijara was not scared of water. She enjoyed going for a dip. But she was used to a rare oasis, a body of water usually clear and shallow enough to stand in. It was the vastness, the unknown, the wildness of the sea that made her fearful. While beautiful, Shijara knew that usually the most enticing things in life were usually the most dangerous.

After her sleeping arrangements were set up, she tucked her sketchbook underneath the mattress and made sure that none of her things would be in Kel's way. She wasn't afraid of offending him. After all, he had stepped on a few more of her toes than she cared to admit, but she actually had a sense of common courtesy.

Can't hide forever.

As if in sync with her thoughts, Kel's voice called to her, “Soulless One, yeh’ still alive?” Shijara looked up, throwing a bright grin at Kel. She clenched her hands into fists to hide their movement. The last thing she needed to do was show this man more weakness.

"Ha. You'd like otherwise, I bet." Shijara stood abruptly, not feeling nearly as confident on board as she was acting. Sometimes it was a good thing to have black eyes. Made it harder for others to tell what you were thinking. Shijara moved towards the door, squeezing past him, trying her best to touch as little skin to his as possible. When she was back on deck, she brushed her hair out of her face and put both hands on her hips.So, this is sailing.

She looked out at Tydus and his boat, then down at the deck she was standing on and over at Kel. I don't like it. She turned her head to Kel, raising a thin brow, "Shouldn't you be doing ship things instead of checking up on some guppy?" Like steering? Shijara really had no idea how this type of stuff worked, but it was only a matter of time before Kel concocted up something obnoxious. Conversations with him were a 50/50 affair.

Perhaps she would take up Tydus up on his offer later, but the Chaktawe could only imagine what he would ask for payment, and she wasn't sure which Tempest was the lesser evil.

[Sunette]

After about a week, Sunette decided that she wanted to see Tydus again. Their last encounter had been… Strange, to say the least. Awkward might have been the right word for it. She happened to become much too comfortable much too quickly thanks to a much too attractive sailor whispering sweet nothings in her ear, soothing the loneliness inside of her for that short while out on the water. She hadn't looked for him since that day, but thought it had been enough time. She wanted to see him-- No, she needed to see him. She hadn't felt comfort from another person since… Since…

She shook the thought from her mind as she walked to the dock, watching the ground as her heart sank with memories of the past. As she made her way, it never occurred to her that he wouldn't be there. Why wouldn't he? His ship was there. Though she'd been on his ship when it let the dock, for some reason she never thought that he'd leave. But, as her foot landed on the wood of the dock, she raised her eyes to the empty place that was previously home to Guilty Pleasure. It was early, but she hadn't been able to sleep anyway. Not for days.

Hey amethyst eyes rose to the horizon, seeing the little ship sailing away, and along with it any feeling of comfort she'd had. She let it sink in for a moment, the realization that he was leaving and she didn't know when, or if, he was coming back.

I'm alone again…

Sunette sighed deeply, and walked away from the docks. A single tear fell from her eyes as her heart sank lower with every silent step she made.

[Gossamer]

XP AWARD!
Thanks for threading in Riverfall.

Character: Tydus Tempest
Experience: Observation +1
Lore: None


Character: Shijara
Experience: Observation +2, Socialization +1
Lore: Volunteering is not always a good idea.


Character: Kel Tempest
Experience: Leadership +1
Lore: None
Loot: Two silver Rings (pending Shijara documenting where she got them)


Character: Sunnet
Experience: Observation +1
Lore: Tydus: Not In Riverfall


Additional Note: Shijara, you can’t just materialize rings out of thin air. Those were valuable ones that Kel posted in pics. You need to deduct at least a 50-100 gold for them from your ledger and account for where you got them… either buying them in the market or some other place. Please PM me and let me know when you’ve done this.

Otherwise, there was almost nothing I could award XP to in this thread. Sorry guys!