[Quest] When It Rains, It Pours (Candira)

[Rage]

Timestamp: 1st of Summer, 511 AV Location: Southern Falyndar Jungle Summer. For most regions, summer was the season when the sun graced the sky longer than its nighttime counterpart did. Depending on where one was, this could be a blessing or a curse. For those living in the scorching desert of Eyktol, summer brought the onset of drought, when Syna's blazing orb dried up oases and reduced rivers and lakes into mere muddy watering holes, where day to day life among the region's denizens became a matter of survival. For those in the northern reaches, summer provided warmth and staved off the debilitating touch of the creeping cold. In places where weather conditions were less extreme, summer brought vibrancy and life to the surroundings: flowers bloomed and trees bore fruit, beasts and their offspring roamed the land, the former teaching their young how to survive in the wilds, the latter seeming to be at play as they explored what the world could offer them. Man did the same. All these did not apply to Falyndar however. Whereas the people from other regions enjoyed - or suffered - their days under the sun, those living in the thick jungles experienced near unending rain instead, as Makutsi made her presence felt throughout the land. In a few short days, the Kandukta Basin would overflow, flooding a good part of the surrounding land, replenishing the ground's nutrients, but also displacing land-bound beasts as they moved to higher ground in order to avoid the encroaching waters and the water-based predators that would come along with it. Due to the nearness of their city to the Basin, Myrian tribes such as the Snapping Jaws would be hard at work at driving back those beasts that venture too close to Taloba for fear that these creatures would trigger the hundreds of traps that served at the first layer of defense of the city. Predators such as crocodiles are herded back towards the deeper waters of the Basin as well, lest they decide to take permanent residence near near the vicinity of the Myrians' territory. Meanwhile, on this first day of the season, the goddess of the rain would grace Taloba with her presence, signaling the beginning of the festival Myrians hold yearly in her honor. The festivities consist of dancing, running the obstacle course called Quoalelye, and of course, rain - lots and lots of rain. Elsewhere, the Dhani would break through the Myrian blockade that besieged their underground city, using their serpentine forms to escape detection in the low visibility afforded by blinding downpour. They would hunt, for food and sport, using their superior strength to crush both beast and Myrian - any lone warrior they happened upon, at least. A deserving fate for their antagonists. In the sea surrounding the mainland, those Charodae who were adventurous (or what their elders called foolish) would venture forth, their curiosity piqued by the strange phenomenon of water falling from the sky. Many would know that such a thing was a blessing from the goddess Makutsi, and some would take this opportunity, when the rain blanketed the land and obscured their intrusion in the jungle, to explore and find the sacred shrine to the goddess, the Owehlai Falls, seeking to chance upon the Rainbringer and garner her favor. Even those that have no intention of walking the through the forbidding jungles, but had just broke the sea's surface to observe the falling rain, were often forced ashore because of the strength of the storm-powered waves. Any one of these reasons could be why a young Charoda found herself beached in the southern shore of Falyndar. She was too weak to swim against the crashing waves no matter how much she tried: the sea would tease her by seemingly sucking her back into the depths, only to dump her right back into the sandy beach after several feet high waves carried her in their wake. Left with no recourse but to wait for the storm brewed by Makutsi to abate, the small Charoda would sit on the sand, hugging her knees to her chest. But it looked like the storm would take forever before it ceased. And out in the open, even in an empty beach, the fish-girl would know that she was leaving herself exposed. Yards ahead, the treeline that was the but the beginning of the dense jungle seemed to invitingly offer her cover from any who may be watching from within the foliage.

[Candira]

Season of the Summer, Day 1, 511 AV On a normal day, in a different season, the shoreline could be pleasant: birds gracing the sunny sky, the crash of waves churning the pale, and the ever-present aura of the forest lurking in the background. Only a few times had Candira actually ventured topside and crawled onto the beach; she learned from word of mouth, and more so experience, that the forest of Falyndar was a deadly place, even on the fringes. In this case, a brave Charoda was a dead Charoda. Summer made the area all the more harsh, with torrential downpours flooding the beach and yanking the white waves into seven-foot, growling monsters. She had not expected the current to rip her from Le'Shea's back, her seahorse squealing as it spun away. The water plucked her and twisted her, throwing her bag against her hip and slamming her to the sandy bottom. She screamed, once, maybe; she couldn't remember. Her hands had clawed desperately at the water, looking to find balance and swim away. But the ocean won, and her horse was lost in a stream of bubbles. They were separated so easily. The far-out riptide pulled her closer to shore, and the waves finally spit her out, an offering from the ocean to the land. Candira huddled, her back to the waves and eyes on the tree line. She was no longer a child, and knew the horror stories meant to keep guppies in line were, in fact, true. The woman clutched her sandy bag, occasionally wiping rain from her eyes. She had attempted, more than twice, to jump back into the water before a beast found her. Laviku refused. The beach was wide and broad, the white sand darkened by water. Small dunes gave host to sea grass, some flattened by passage and by wind, and a generous outcropping of rock poked from the forest. One hundred feet from the waterline, sand gave way to thick dirt, nutrient rich and moist. Small plants melted into larger bushes and ferns and, beyond, loomed the trees. The forest of Falyndar. Dark. Dangerous. She needed to hide. The rain would not stop, and oh, she was frightened and unprepared for forest survival. Candira had only meant to peek her head from the waves, watch the rain fall for a bit, then continue her journey to Black Rock. She only came so close to the shoreline to follow it north, tracing her sister's supposed footsteps from two Seasons ago. Laviku refused her, Makutsi kept her company, and Caiyha welcomed her. She cast one furtive look at the empty beach, hoping the rain that dulled her vision also dimmed a predator's. The woman grabbed her bag, leaped from her crouch, and dashed to the forest. Her breath came heavy, and she hid behind the first tree. Climb, and wait for the storm to pass? She looked up the wide expanse of tree, where the limbs began only far above her head. In a log? Of the one she saw, it was broken. Walk? Moving was her only option, but Candira was a swimmer. She would make a racket and leave a path, even this close to the edge. No choice. The Charoda slipped through the wet leaves carefully, keeping low and moving slowly. Would the storm ever let up?

[Rage]

Her webbed feet slapped audibly against the mud but the sound of millions of droplets falling on the canopy of leaves above and on the ground masked any sound Candira made. The tracks she left behind were easily erased by the gushing waters, the light indentations made by her feet were flooded in no time. Predators and hunters would be hard-pressed to detect her; only direct line of sight would have revealed her presence and even that was difficult to achieve given the thick foliage and the sheer volume of the downpour. Candira got about fifty yards into the jungle from the beach - no small feat for some unfamiliar in traversing through the wooded terrain and its mass of trees and tangle of roots - when a strong arm shot out somewhere from the side and made a grab for her. The muscled limb wrapped itself around her slim shoulders, yanking her from where she had paused momentarily, while another moved to cover her. Surprisingly, the hand was webbed just like hers. "Stay quiet!" her assailant's voice whispered sharply to her ear. "There are beasts nearby!" The harsh sound of speech, discordant in the open air and a far cry from the melodious tones it would have made underwater, only confirmed the man's identity: another Charoda. But despite this realization, Candira's heart would certainly be thumping through her breast. She would feel each of its beat against the other's arm as his hold upon her tightened, securing her body against his own, her back pressed close to his broad chest. Long moments passed but no other sound broke the ceaseless beat of the falling rain. As if hearing an unknown signal, one Candira could not even pick out, the other Charoda's grip on her relaxed. He spun her around gently to face him, revealing him to be a tall, athletic specimen of his race. Every little movement caused his muscles to ripple over his deep gray skin, a shade similar to that of a dolphin's, and his bare physique showed numerous small scars. He wore a simple loincloth fashioned from treated kelp and a wall-worn dagger hanged off his belt. "What are you doing here, fishling? Have you come to find the home of the Rainmaker as well? This place is dangerous!" he hissed, his voice just barely audible over the sound of the rain. "I am T'sonou, I should take-" The Charoda paused, cocking his head as if suddenly picking up a sound he did not like. Silently, he lowered himself closer to the ground to allow the foliage to cover his body, motioning for Candira to do that same. "What is your name, girl? We must get you home! This is a dangerous place for you." OOCFeel free to do what you like. You can run away from T'sonou or converse with him. This is free-form so I won't be limiting you on what you want your PC to do. Just indicate which direction you'll be going if you decide to move.

[Candira]

Season of the Summer, Day 1, 511 AV A wall of flora closed behind her, hiding the ocean behind broad, green leaves. The rain pooled in the canopy above and splashed her head in thick drops. Water slipped down her blue face, tickling her nose and hanging from her chin. She slithered forward, back to a tree, hopelessly lost. The forest was so unlike the colorful reef, dotted with recognizable landmarks. She was a stranger here, and everything looked the same! Mud streaked up her legs and small green shoots clung to her arms. A bristle attached to her shirt and refused to be removed. A branch cracked under her foot, and she froze in fear. To her, the rustle of the wind and the rustle of animals were no different. Something could stalk her, and Candira wouldn't know until she was dead. A creature buzzed by her face. She smacked it, and hurt herself instead. The woman turned quickly, searching for the bug. Her eyes were wide, her breathing heavy. Where did it go? What was it? Something caught her around her shoulders. A scream tore from her throat, discordant and laced with terror. She kicked instantly, bucking her body, flailing her arms, and swinging her legs. Most of her attacks struck harmlessly against the brush, cascading water and breaking branches. Before the Charoda could scream again, a hand smacked across her mouth. She wheezed through her nose, struggling through her captor's first hissed words. Her heart thudded, the blood thumping in her head. Sound was muffled. Breath was hard to catch. She squirmed. Fear escalated to panic. She would die; this man would kill her. Her eyes rolled, and her fingertips clawed at the man's arms. Nothing worked. She gave up, and hung limp. Her whimpers died away. Candira squeezed her eyes closed and braced herself for an onslaught of pain. Would she be eaten? She waited. And waited. Why was she still alive? Slowly, the man's grip loosened and he turned her around. Candira did not face a crazed Myrian, as she first thought, but a Charoda. Relief washed away the fear; here was an ally, a savior! Her hands shook. Her shivering lips refused to form words, and Candira was left speechless. Candira sank to the ground at T'sonou, her blue body bright against the dark ground, despite the leaves. "What is out there?" she hissed. "What did you hear?" She paused, hope blossoming. "Are you with others?" The look on his face was answer enough, and she swung her eyes from his scars and peered through a thin plant. "Candira," she finally answered after a tense chime. "I followed the coast north, but the sea refused to let me swim. So I walk." They crawled forward, Candira following reluctantly. If not for the rain, her path would be dreadfully obvious even to the least skilled of trackers. But T'sonou seemed more accustomed, and she frowned. Who was he? "You seek Makutsi?" she asked, forsaking safety for curiosity. "If it is so obviously dangerous," Candira scorned, annoyed at his assumption about her well-being. "Then why do you go?"

[Rage]

T'sonou did not respond for a while, his head cocked as if listening for something that would tell him it was safe to speak. To Candira's untrained earns, the only sound to be heard was the incessant pounding of the rain on the canopy above and on the slick, muddy ground below. "I am one of the few the Circle have sent out to seek peace with the Myrians, an acquitor," he said at last. THere was emphasis on the last word, and it was one Candira would recognize. Acquitors were ambassadors sent by her people to establish communication with the surfacers. Those who went to nearby Black Rock were the most successful, able to set up trade and commerce in the island ruled by Dira. There were even rumors that they were making headway progress in doing the same with Yahebah (though the surface conditions of that city made it difficult for them to stay overlong) and the far away city of Riverfall. The biggest hurdle they faced was finding a way to commune with the leaders of the race of people who lived nearest the underwater city of Charoda - the Myrians. To date, all the acquitors sent to contact them have never returned. "Our numbers are preyed upon by these Myrians and this could not continue," T'sonou continued. "The Elders believe that we need only set up dialogue between our two peoples before they can level their weapons upon us, and we can show them the benefits of the union between our races. There is much we can teach them, the elders believe, and they us. We could trade the bounty of the sea in exchange for their strength of arm - they could be our protectors overland rather than our hunters. "I do not agree with the elders, but that isn't here or there. I still must obey, if they believe it's for the good of our people." There was a sour note in the Charoda's voice and from the way his face wrinkled, Candira would tell that T'sonou was displeased with the Elders' decision in this particular matter. But he shook his head, as if to clear his thoughts of any negative emotion his disagreement may have evoked. "Makutsi is the key to this - she shows favor to these warriors, but to us as well. Too, this blessing of water from the sky is her doing, allowing us to walk the land with better concealment. The elders insist it is a sign of the goddess' encouragement of our choice to find peace with the Myrians. Summer is the best time to carry out our plan as well, and that is to ask Makutsi to act as mediator between our two peoples. But asking her is the easy part...we still need to survive this alien landscape and find her. "That is why the place is dangerous for you. You are not part of my team, and your presence here could endanger our mission. Already one of our numbers have been detected by a patrol and-" A roar like the sound of the birth of an underwater volcano erupted in the distance, interrupting the Charoda. It was savage and primal, unlike anything Candira had ever heard before. She would feel a sense of panic as T'sonou's bulbous eyes widened at the sound. He grabbed her by the wrist and gestured for her to follow him back to the coast. "Come, I will try to get you into the deep waters so you do not have to face these savages. This is no place of one as young as you." Falling on all fours, the Charoda crab-walked through the dense foliage, snaking his arm around obstructions and sliding smoothly between them to leave as little movement as possible in the wake of his passage. He moved towards the direction where Candira came from. Every two steps, he would look back to make sure that the girl still followed him, and also as if to reassure her that he would keep her safe while she remained in his company. They made a good fifty yards when another roar erupted, this time much closer to their location. The sound seemed to come ahead of them, towards the beach. Candira would T'sonou curse as he retreated to her location. "No good, they stationed someone at the beach, likely an archer." The term would be unfamiliar to the sheltered Candira, and T'sonou was quick to explain the danger. "They wield weapons than shoot wooden arrows that can sail through the air faster than a lamprey could dart in the water and latch itself on one of your limbs. Very deadly. Come, best we can do now is hole up until this patrol has passed." Again, T'sonou snaked through the jungle, motioning for Candira to follow. The gravity of the situation would slowly creep into the girl's heart, the danger to her life, the danger to both their lives, though the large Charoda seemed able and willing to keep them out of harm's way. Should she still trust him or should she try to find a means to avoid this 'patrol' he spoke of? If he came with others after all, and as he had said, one of them had been detected, then wouldn't it be better for Candira to distance herself from him and his group?