Spring 68th 520AV
The widow sat on the edge of the dock, her leg dangling into the water tracing an infinity symbol. The connected rings that symbolized Viratas. Beside her slouched a backpack stuffed with rope, a hatchet, and other supplies Tony had said she would need for harvesting the reeds. The reeds would be dried and prepped over the course of several days before being formed into the baskets Sykans relied on for harvesting and storage, or the various other uses Tony had for them; wicker chairs, room dividers, garden fences, and other assorted construction. Her fingers were sore from weaving with Tony the day before, and she was looking forward to a day of harvesting new reeds to replace what had been used the day before. As a weaver in Kalinor the materials were already harvested by others, so harvesting and foraging for materials was a novel exciting aspect of Syka she hadn’t been expecting.
She had finally understood Tony’s dismay at her arrival when he had described what would be involved in harvesting the reeds. They would need to be escorted by an experienced Sykan who understood the peculiar and frequent dangers of the jungle, hacking through uneven terrain that would quite likely be difficult for the Sym with her balance handicap, stay away from or kill predators that might be attracted from the noise of their harvesting.
Having landed in Syka seven days prior she had done little to contribute to the settlement beyond the experimental buoys Pelly and Juli had a hand in creating, and was feeling the pressure to contribute. Paranoia a cold wet cloth on the back of her neck that she was insufficient and could be cast from the colony or worse, her child would be, when she wasn’t there to care for her. Perhaps it was the paranoia, perhaps her own arrogance that had her scrambling a group together to harvest reeds for Tony as part of her work. Tony had advised against it, but the sneer with which he had done it was a kick in Selene’s mulishness.
The rough-hided face topped with a bloom of wild white hair bobbed along the beach, his intense direct gait a sharp contrast to the plume of red hair ambling along at his side. Selene watched them, standing up only once they strode across the dock to join her. Selene, still getting used to smiling for no reason to be seen as friendly, smiled awkwardly at the two.
“Good morning Tony,” She nodded at Tony, glancing sidelong at his companion. On Tony’s advice, Selene had traded her usual delicate sundress and broad-rimmed hat for what she hoped was jungle appropriate clothing, although it had all been brought from Lhavit. “It’s not the rain that’s going to soak you, it’s the jungle itself,” He had explained, “and the humidity will keep you sweating even when you’re standing still. You’re going to be pretty much constantly, be in contact with wet plants…so dress properly.” Selene hadn’t taken the warning lightly, but the Mercantile hadn’t had any clothes besides heavy black jungle boots (which had required Selene, with disgust, to spend the night cutting, trimming, hacksawing, and sanding down her feet’s claws). The heavily traded bottoms of the boots would dig into the mud, but was still soft and bendable enough to grip wet rocks and logs.
“Well that won’t do lass,” the nameless red-head waggled his finger and dropped one of the backpacks he had slung over his back at her feet. Tony grumbled to himself rolling his eyes and mumbling something about newcomers.
“Here,” Tony kicked the back towards Selene. Crouching, Selene tore through the bag and hid the smile the contents created. The grump is really as soft and fluffy as the Isuas he picks! She realized. Inside the backpack was an assortment of waterproof clothing he must have made himself at some point. Everything was obviously made for a man much larger than Selene and was heavier than anything she was used to wearing.
“Thank you,” She nodded at Tony, struggling to keep her face impassive. It certainly didn’t seem like the man was one for overly emotive displays and she didn’t want to make him uncomfortable in front of the stranger. An Isuas cotton long-sleeved shirt, long trousers, and huge long socks were folded neatly at the top of the pack, Beneath, there was an insect repellant cream, waterproof gaiters, a boonie hat with a neck protector, one pair of wrist length gloves and one pair of elbow length gloves, and a machete strapped to the outside.
“Now that you’ll be dressed like a proper Sykan woman on an adventure, let’s get on with it. I hear we’re going reed hunting? I’m Ken Chi, guard and guide.” The red-head introduced himself, grinning with enthusiasm. The red hair grew all over his face, framing his mouth and cheeks, Like those little red monkeys, Selene thought, imagining him running up to steal her banana before swinging away like the rascals had done. His white shirt was slung over his shoulder revealing a heavily tattooed chest and arms of which Selene only recognized a masted ship on his left bicep and a wing sprawled bird across his chest.
“I’m Selene,” She introduced with a bob of her head and a fanged smile. I’m getting used to this smiling thing She thought jubilantly. “We’re just waiting on Marino Oceangem, he’ll be taking us to the reeds and his boat will help up bring a lot more back than ever before, Tony says.”
“Ah, well that explains why you wanted me to come along chap,” He wrapped a huge arm over the thin mans shoulders, “Can’t have you babysitting two new Sykan tots alone, plus between you and the little ladies state I can’t imagine you’ll get much carrying done without me,” He teased, his grin spreading when he received the desired twin glares of the two weavers.
Smart ass…
Word count: 1,000
OOC: “Can I get a double double?” - WSx2 work skills and wilderness skills.
Backpack Contents:
Jungle boots (boots, high) 5sm
Black Isuas Pants (man-sized used) 8sm*0.75(used)*2(Isuas)=12sm
Green Isuas Shirt (w ties at the wrists)(man-sized used) 8sm*0.75(used)*2(Isuas)=12sm
Boonie hat with neck cover (used) 2smx0.75(used)*2(leather)=3sm
Waterskin (own)
Rope, Hemp (50 ft.) 1gm
Eating Knife (own)
Flint and Steel (own)
1 day rations (own)
Belt + Pouch (own)
Machete 10gm
Insect Repellant Cream 1GM
Waterproof Green Gaitors 3sm(guess?)*0.75(used)*2(Isuas) = 4.5sm
Socks (very large man socks) 4sm*0.75(used)*2(Isuas) = 6sm
Wrist length gloves (man-sized used) 5sm*0.75 (used)*2 (Isuas) = 7.5sm
Elbow length gloves (man-sized used) 5sm*0.75 (used)*2 (Isuas) = 7.5sm
Let me know if I rushed it along too much or anything. Feel free to instruct Selene on how to help out and can assume she would listen and try her best (feel free to describe her struggling and you having to clarify if you want to work on your teaching XP).