Open [The Saique] Ghosts in the Harbor

[Aer'wyn Grisghul]

Kynier was still babbling some nonsense which the Akalak could only assume was a language he wasn't familiar with. But it didn't sound like a language. The words formed were far more reminiscent of a man who found the tongue in his mouth for the first time than anything even remotely similar to actual words. With each word Vel grew more cautious and less trusting.

As the man reached for his sword, Vel instantly assumed a battle stance with the sword at an angle, across his body. A defensive stance which he was all too familiar with. But seeing the man drop the weapon almost immediately, having trouble even gripping the handle, Vel guessed a fight wasn't what he was after and so the weapon was lowered. Akalak eyes watched him with suspicion, only confused further by his actions.

Was this really the same man of just a few chimes ago? An eloquent man. A man skilled enough to create drawings which Vel would struggle even conceiving of as his art skills equalled those of a man with no arms. Truly pitiful.

"What the shike are you doing!?" he cried in shock as he watched Kynier cut his own hands open. He almost wanted to reach out and stop the man who continued to babble but it seemed he had other ideas. If he had any sense Vel would have gotten out of there right then but it seemed the Akalak was far more foolish than any would think.

At last Kynier managed to choke out a few muddle words with a voice that sounded like talking underwater. Vel took a moment before answering. "The screams you mean? You heard them too I take it. It sounded like there were people here but I hadn't heard footsteps or any other voices since. Oh for the love of Akija, don't let this ship be haunted. "

Once again he leaned over Kynier's parchment, watching the red letters in blood form in wobbly writing. Vel hoped that the man had no more 'clever' ideas to play with his weapon but just incase he kept his own sword firmly grasped with the tip pointing towards the ground. "Do you think those screams had anything to do with that word? I couldn't make out anything but it swear... that word wasn't there before. Right? Did I miss it?"

[Kynier]

For a moment he stared at the word on the parchment, trying to consider its meaning. It didn’t sound like any word he had ever heard before. Either it was from another language, or perhaps it was a name. Kynier set his fingers down on the sheet of parchment and struggled to slide it off the blank one that lay beneath it. Small red smears of blood running across its surface as he tried to gage the pressure he needed to apply. When he had the new sheet exposed before him Kynier carefully he set the quill tip in the blood that covered his hand. There had been words, and he needed to write them down while they were still fresh in his mind.

As he reached to set the quill to parchment his fingers trembled and the quill fell from his grasp. With a snarl he tried to pick it up again. Numb fingers pushed it around before he resorted to setting his palm on the quill and dragging it towards the slabs edge. There he snatched the bit he left hanging over then readjusted his grip. Kynier did not try as hard to keep his hands from shaking. These words could be written less eloquently. As he thought hard on recalling what he heard he looked to Vel.

“Screem yes, bud… wordth too. Did you… hear… tha wordth?” Kynier was already finding it a little easier to sound more coherent though certain annunciations were still eluding him. He set the quill tip down and started writing out what he had heard. After several more chimes of effort he finally had them down on the parchment.

Kynier's writing :

“No end to the conflict. Only years of loss and futility..."

"Not futility... but perseverance. We've never yielded an inch. ”

“Then you must have a plan?"

"No, WE have a plan.”

Kynier read and reread them to be sure he hadn’t missed anything or had gotten something wrong. What he wasn’t sure of were how many had been speaking. It was difficult enough to hear them over the agonizing cries. But he couldn’t tell if it had been two voices or even four. Kynier shook his finger at his writing. “Thiss is what dey said. Did you hear thith?” It was then Kynier noticed that the Akalak’s sword was still out. Granted it was pointed at the floorboards, but Kynier arched an eyebrow sceptically. If there where ghosts he didn’t see how the sword would help.

After that he fumbled at folding the parchments that had the depictions and writing on them. Numb hands were challenging enough before adding the effort to not stain any more blood on them. Doler had better appreciate this information. Kynier would be sure to get some sort of explanation out of the wizard if he knew anything.


Job Thread Word Count: 471
Total Count: 4,994

[Aer'wyn Grisghul]

Vel looked at the paper as Kynier slowly drew the words with shaking hands. It took some time. The writing was more chicken scratches than actual writing but eventually Vel was just about able to decipher the words by reading some of the letters and guessing the others. But as he read his expression became more and more baffled.

"This is what you heard?" he asked as if unable to believe it. But then again they were both hearing things and it was far too late for the Akalak who detested all things magical to deny the strange occurrences of debunk them in anyway. It would have been a waste of time. Coming to terms with such Vel shook his head. "No... no I didn't hear this. Do you know what it means, who was speaking it? And what is this plan? Was there anything else after?"

The Akalak felt a little guilty asking Kynier so many questions considering the man's condition. And there was a sneaking suspicion in his mind that the man probably didn't have many answers to these questions for he seemed just as confused. A part of him wanted to know more, another part to forget all that has happened. But it seemed he was in too deep on this mystery.

"Kynier, you've showed yourself a man of language. Do you know what this word means?" Vel asked pointing the tip of the blade towards the only decipherable word on the stone slab. He did pay attention to not touch it with the cold metal of the blade however seeing as what had happened to his new acquaintance. He wasn't about to start slurring his words as well.

[Kynier]

A discouraging sigh escaped his nose. He was grateful that Vel was there to verify what had happened. Yet the Akalak did not hear the same thing he had. Kynier’s brow furrowed as he stared at the slab. The blue shade beside him asked the same questions he would. There was just no way of knowing. The rumor of this stone being in Sunberth before now lay foremost in his mind. Whatever trouble it had caused it must have happened before he moved here. How powerful the artifact was in a docile state scared him. Sunberth’s prejudice against magic and mages slowly seemed more justified the more he learned about it.

As he could do was shake his head at each of Vel’s questions. Clumsily he stuffed the sheets of parchment into a pocket along with the quill and ink. Multiple times his hand failed to slip into the opening. Kynier hoped that the numbness was temporary and would fade soon. Even thinking of trying to perform simple tasks like this by sight alone dampened his spirit. Once the items were stowed away he looked at Vel quizzically. A man of language? With just a phrase in another culture’s tongue he was suddenly supposed to be an expert? Had his tongue been in full form he would’ve crushed the idea from Vel’s mind. As it was…

“Not fwom any langage I know. It may bwe a name.” Quite frankly it was beyond him. Doler would probably know, or at least know where to look for an answer. Perhaps it was time to claim some knowledge in exchange for all the tasks he’s provided. Old Bashful maybe eccentric but he most likely had a lot of insights that Kynier would find beneficial. Like knowing when there is something you should not use auristics on. “I am don here,” he said turning to leave. Before he took two steps he stopped and looked back at the slab. He wanted to spit at it but didn’t trust that his body could perform the action now. So he just stomped with louder steps than normal towards the ladder to the deck.

The swaying of the ship nearly toppled him. Unable to sense the change to subconsciously rebalance himself. His feet took him a sort of beeline path to the ladder. The light from outside caused him to close his eyes. A migraine instantly formed. So there were some forms of pain he wasn’t numb to. Well petch it all!


Job Thread Word Count: 415
Total Count: 5,409

[Aer'wyn Grisghul]

Maybe a name... But who'se name?

Vel watched as the shakey man walked away with no goodbyes. No more than a quick proclamation of being done. The Akalak couldn't really blame him for he hardly believed he'd have any more tact if the same misfortune had befallen his own blue self. There were certainly far more questions posed than answered on that day and as of yet the Akalak wasn't entirely certain he really wanted to have them answered all that much.

Barely had he the chance to reign back control over his own body before already getting into trouble. Typical, wasn't it? Such pertching luck. But then again having come aboard the ship of his own accord he was really looking for the trouble. Wasn't he?

He had sat in solitude for another half a bell with the eery stone on the either side of the deck. His eyes focused on it, on that one word specifically. No other soul had come during that time. No accidental source of information. Vel didn't really even know why he counted on that to happen. Meeting Kynier was a chance of one in a million. Odds that don't usually happen twice in the same day. But so many odd things have already happened today, counting on just one more oddity wasn't that far fetched.

Eventually the Akalak warrior too packed up and left the ship. A good stiff drink was first on the agenda. Anything to wash down the sour taste left in his mouth.

[Kynier]

Climbing the ladder was quite awkward. He would watched as his hands and feel were placed in the correct places. The first attempt he rose up but didn’t have a correct grip and just stumbled right back down. “Piece of shyke.” The utter lack of touch was very disorienting. Only now did he realize how dependent upon it he, or people in general, really were. It was a basic way of orienting themselves with the world around them. Sight was critical to that function and yet touch was severely underestimated. Kynier wasn’t able to tell how hard he was gripping the ladder, so he went to the extreme until his knuckles were white. Step by step, white knuckled grip by white knuckled grip he rose up the rungs until he was out on the deck.

Climbing out into Syna’s light he looked around and had a disturbing sensation. It was probably nausea affecting him the only way it could. For he saw the boat pitching in the water with his eyes but couldn’t feel it in his legs. It made him have to brace himself with a lower and wider stance to keep his balance. Using his unusual gait Kynier left the deck of the ship and descending the gangway. Once on dry land he fel… was more comfortable. Kynier walked through Baroque Bay towards stumble alley. He made a conscious effort to tuck his valuables further into his pockets. He was quite worried about a pickpocket, now that he was a very easy mark. In fact, he was more one edge about everything now. It was as though he was walking with one eye closed all the time. Unable to sense everything that he normally could. Kynier eyes were scanning the environment more now that he couldn’t physically sense danger approaching.

To put his own mind more at ease he took a longer route to the Majestic. One which involved travelling down more alleys that were less occupied. While he could tolerate being in a crowd before, now it was too intimidating of a task. Kynier noted how loud he was walking and tried slowing down his pace. Even then his boots kept stomping on the ground. Nothing. No quaking of muscles from hard impact. Only the heavy thump of his boot. Gods. Don’t let this be permanent.

Upon entering the Majestic, Kynier started fumbling for his sketches. After a chime he got each of them in hand and ready to give to Doler. Kynier raised a fist to knock on the shelf that concealed the doorway to Doler’s living area, but stopped. He couldn’t feel pain, and his body was already overcompensating its actions with strength. If that continued he was bound to injure himself, and he wouldn’t even realize it. Kynier drew his short sword and used the pommel to knock against the wood. He stepped away from the shelves while sheathing with careful motions. Kynier waited until in the center of the room for the wizard to come out.

As he did he looked over his sketches. One of the cargo hold, the other of the slab itself with each side available for view, the last with the words he had heard over the screaming. The second sketch seemed like a waste now that there was only one side with any decoration. Petricious. When the shelf finally opened Kynier immediately turned and fumbled a question on his tongue. “Dowla, what is Petricious?” he said holding up the sketches in his hand. “I yoosd Auritic on the swab. Now I cand feel anyding!”



Job Thread Word Count: 596
Total Count: 6,005

[Regime]

Doler stood up briskly from his reading chair. He was not a man of large stature, but despite never leaving his home, Doler always appeared to be well built and formally dressed. He did not wear scholarly robes, nor any Wizardly garb. He only slipped on a long black wool coat coated in its own layers of shielding that he used for added protection on top of those layers of shields which painted his skin in a glimmering fields of tasked djed.

This man knew magic, and that much was obvious from the look in his eyes as he prepared to show himself to the outside world. His madness, even now, wanted him to never step within fifteen feet of the front door of his own house despite him being in the back room. Doler carefully opened the shelved-door to his abode.

Doler was insane in his own unique way, but he listened with a keen ear when people spoke. His eyes narrowed at the sketches, trying to understand what the odd little man was saying to him.

“Auristics on the slab.” Doler stated to himself, rather than asking for clarification. “All things exude their true nature, no matter how they try to hide it. The slab is obviously a thing of great power. It was… unwise to bask in its full power directly.”

He had studied magical development on and written hundreds of journals on the matter which no other eyes other than himself would likely ever seen; and there was literally nothing fundamental that he didn't know about most. It was obvious that Doler was about to go into an acane lecture on the nature of Auristics when he caught himself from going into a tangent.

“Petricious? Are you sure the slab mentioned that word exactly?” He paused for a long moment, then turned around to retrieve a quill that laid on the small desk by his chair. He quickly wrote something onto a small parchment before sealing it within an envelop with a bit of gold melted wax. He pressed the symbol of a small star into the wax, then set it down on one of the selves next to the outside of his door for Kynier to retrieve.

“I can only offer you encouragement," said the mage, “Petricious is a rather brutal man to the naive, remain on your guard. Give him that letter and ask him all the right questions… I will await the story of your future success or failure.”

Doler took a seat in his chair, leaving the door open as he watched Kynier from the other room. “Your eyes are bloodshot, your words are slurred, and you... reek... Of djed. Your case of overgiving is severe, but given the fact that you can walk, and are not blind means you will live. Wait thirty days, if you have not returned to your senses by then. Then your symptoms are most likely permanent.”

He did not expressly state that Kynier needed to leave, given that was Bashful's natural tone, he sat there in his chair with his head focused on the book which laid open on his reading table. If Kynier had further questions for him, the man was obviously free to ask them.

Item received

• 1x Doler's Letter to Doctor Petricious.

[Kynier]

Rather than attempt to say more in his condition, Kynier nodded when the wizard asked for clarification. The silence lingered for a while before Doler just turned back into his private living area. Kynier took a step to track the man’s movements. He was writing something down then sealed it with wax. When he returned he spoke with what seemed a rather neutral tone. The look in his eyes indicated that the wizard did know something, but hadn’t enough evidence to be sure of his own thoughts. Doler set the letter down and returned to his reading chair. Kynier was surprised that the passage was left open. He strode forward and first took the letter from the shelf. He examined the intended recipient’s name.

Doctor Petricious

So it was a name! But a doctor? There weren’t any doctors in Sunberth except for the one that… Shyke. Brutal to the naïve? Kynier mentally questioned whatever reports the wizard had heard about the doctor. If it was anything like what Kynier had heard then he wondered what the doctor could possibly be doing for people to be naïve about his methods. He stowed the letter away into a pocket. Today wouldn’t be the day to hand off the letter. He would wait for the overgiving symptoms to alleviate, and he desparately hoped that they would. The prospect of living like this for the rest of his time was quite unbecoming.

Kynier didn’t attempt to enter Doler’s living area. But he did linger at its entrance and gaze inside, curious to how the man lived. Inside was a substantial collection of books as well as a wizard’s work station. It looked alchemical in nature, though Kynier didn’t have any knowledge of that magic art. He could only assume that from the mortar and pestle, vails, and other contraptions on the station’s surface. Overall it was very appealing. Doler’s attention had returned to his book. Kynier didn’t want to be rude, but there were some questions he felt were relevant to the situation.

“I herd dat, a few decads ago, there was anoder sw… sllab… dat caused trouble for da city. Dat was before my time here. Is dare any twuth to dat?” If this strange relic had any relation to the rumored one then Kynier wanted to know about it. Walking in unaware of what to expect had already cost him, and all to learn a single word. Earlier Doler looked ready to speak in depth about auristics. Kynier was learning from experience, but was curious about any of the insights the wizard had.

“What methods could be used to protect myself fwom powerful auras? Da name only came after a lengthy use of auristics.”



Job Thread Word Count: 452
Total Count: 6,457

[Kynier]

Grades!

 

Kynier

Skill Rewards

• Auristics +3
• Deduction +1
• Drawing +4
• Intelligence +5
• Investigation +5
• Meditation +1
• Observation +5
• Rhetoric +2
• Socialization +3
• Storytelling +1
• Stealth +1
• Writing +1

Lores Learned

• Location: Baroque Bay Harbor
• Location: Byron’s Bank
• Location: The Mysterious Slab
• The Saique: a smaller ship
• Vel: A dichotomy soul
• Vel: Has one hand
• Mysterious Slab: Unreadable
• Mysterious Slab: Magical Artifact
• Mysterious Slab: Says Petricious
• Petricious: The Sunberth Doctor
• Overgiving: Side Effects lasting more than 30 days may be permanent
• Doler: Doesn’t consider Doctor Petricious brutal
• Doler: What his living area looks like

 

Vel

Skill Rewards

• Investigation +1
• Observation +5
• Rhetoric +2
• Socialization +5
• Stealth +1

Lores Learned

• Location: Drunken Fish
• Location: Byron’s Bank
• Location: The Mysterious Slab
• Mysterious Slab: Unreadable
• Mysterious Slab: Is probably magical
• Mysterious Slab: Says Petricious
• Kynier: A man of language
• Kynier: Speaks some Tukant
• Kynier: Draws images for his employer

Thanks for joining me in the thread Aer'wyn! If you have an questions or concerns about your grade please feel free to PM me.