[Quest] I. Westward Ho! [Closed]

by **Tabarnac** on July 10th, 2011, 8:22 pm

Characters: Marlow, Ianus, Taithrosa.
Date: 90th Summer, 511 A.V.

With the last cargo and passengers on board, an order was quietly given by captain to first mate, who relayed the message to the crew with a much louder cry. The Star of Denval was a clean, new ship, paid for by the Captain of that far sister-city in order to promote trade and cooperation. Of course, it was only one ship, fine though it might be, and the journey to Denval was a long and arduous one, but it was a beginning and as a beginning, it was quite auspicious.

As the sailors hove to, chasing down the dawn tide to hurry them through Mathews Bay toward the open sea and the easterly coast of the continent, several professors from the august University of Zeltiva clustered it knots or alone to bid farewell to the port city of kelp beer and pre-Valterrian architecture for their stint as visiting dignitaries at Denval's Lyceum, assuming they survived the journey ahead.

The Denvali degtine had already evaporated from the polished wood of the prow from the Star's christening, and the oars were taken in and sails unfurled to catch the breeze with the creak of thick rope and wood. Syna was bronzing the deck with Her early light, and the first mate called down the man watching in the crow's nest.

"Marlow!" he called, and of course the man came down with alacrity, knowing how opportune was this employment. The Sailors' Guild had a hall in Denval, as well, and this was an important and well-paying job as far as seafaring went, ferrying dignitaries and earning the favor of governments, such as they were in this day and age.

The passengers and most of the crew gathered before the first mate and the captain, who stood, smiling, to address them.

"Welcome aboard the Star of Denval," he said with a toothy grin and a marked Denvali accent. "I am Captain Augus, and while I know you are all aware of our mission and purpose, I thought it best to speak to you all together now that we have taken our first gliding minutes out of Zeltiva's harbor for the adventure and good fortune that await us."

Crowned by the sun behind him, he continued, "This is an exciting place and time, following the venerable Captain Wright's passage to Denval, this time with the knowledge of its existence and whereabouts." There were a few chuckles, and he acknowledged them with a flashed smile before proceeding. "Though the best laid schemes of mice and men oft go awry, we plan a brief berth in Mura and another in Avanthal to resupply and will only stop elsewhere should the need arise. We should make Denval before ice and storms make the northerly passage too dangerous, but if we do not make sufficiently good time, we have been welcomed to weather the worst of winter in Queen Morwen's city.

"I would invite you to get to know each other now, as we will be together for a good while. Please feel free to let me or my first mate know if you require anything. A good voyage to us all."

by **Taithrosa Eldytia** on July 11th, 2011, 4:19 am

Taithrosa couldn't really explain why it was that he was here on the ship, heading towards Denval. It was actually fairly strange that he found himself on this voyage. He had felt the need to leave Mura for a time, but not to Riverfall, he wasn't sure why, he knew that he would be needed there and would like to offer his help to the Akalak's but he felt that he was needed to do something else. So he had found him self in Zeltiva only a short while before and just as suddenly found himself on this ship heading towards some hidden city.

His silver eyes looked around as the ship left port. They took in the verity of professors hanging around him, vaguely remembing similar people from one of his past lives. They like to ask questions. He wondered what would happen once evening settled over them and he became himself. The large Akalak was lost in these thoughts when the captian called there attention.

The large man walked over and joined the crowd and listened as the captian spoke. The silver eyes were emotionless as the healer listened to the explanation. He approved of the efforts to improve communications with other locations. Mizahar would need such efforts if it really wanted to restore its former greatness.

He looked around at the others wondering who would be the most interesting person here.

by **Marlow** on July 11th, 2011, 6:20 am

Marlow felt good being on the sea.

He doesn't remember anything of his life before being found half-drowned on the beach at Zeltiva, but his rescuer said that his gait and appearance pointed to a life at sea. It would seem that the old fisherman him was right once again, because he felt more at home here on the deck of a ship than when he was ashore.

He knew that we was lucky to have landed this job. Even though he couldn't provide any proof of previous employment as a sailor his apparent skill at sailing earned him the rank of an able seaman, otherwise he wouldn't have been told to man the crow's nest. Had he been labeled a landlubber he'd have been stuck making oakum and applying it down in the bilges. Instead he was here on the deck with the passengers, most of whom were professors from Zeltiva's university.

"Aye! A good voyage to us all. May Laviku and Zulrav favor us." He replied in response to the captain's speech.

He looked around at the faces around him, familiarizing himself with their features. Perhaps later he would know them by name, but as one of the crew he would be expected to perform his duties first before fraternizing with the passengers.

by **Taithrosa Eldytia** on July 17th, 2011, 11:43 pm

OOCTo keep it moving

Taithrosa found himself standing next to a young man who looked like one of the sailors. In Taithrosa's many memories that flood his mind every now and then he didn't actually have any of the sea. So this was a first time, and he wasn't sure exactly what a seaman looked like, but the tanned skin with and the weathered skin most certianly suggested to Taithrosa he wasn't a scholar and was instead one of the sailors.

The large Akalak looked at Marlow and smiled his white teeth flashing against his saphire skin. His black hair was recently trimmed since it had been growing so that it covered his eyes. He nodded to the young man and asked. " Do you know much the town we are going to?"

by **Marlow** on July 18th, 2011, 3:15 am

Marlow was considered big by human standards, but the blue-skinned man beside him was probably a couple of heads taller than he was. He actually had to look up then up again just to meet his eyes. Akalak. was the name that came to mind. Though he doesn't remember his life from before he was found on the beach of Zeltiva by an old fisherman, Marlow has learned to cope with the occasional insights that come unbidden from his locked-away memories.

"Of Denval? Not much sir, only what any other Guild sailor would know. That it's a small settlement in Kalea re-discovered by Captain Kenabelle Wright in her circumnavigation of the continent." Marlow said in response. And only the gods know what I knew of it from before. He added silently.

"Other than that I do not know much about it sir." Keeping in mind that he was a sailor on a Sailor's Guild ship, Marlow refrained from adding anything else. The need for discipline among sailors was paramount and it would not do for the Akalak to think that he was overstepping his bounds.

by **Tabarnac** on July 19th, 2011, 3:05 am

"I am a native of Denval, Master Eldytia," came the captain's voice, and apparently the man knew the names and faces of all the passengers onboard his ship. Though he was giving them attention now, he was so seasoned a sailor that it was not difficult to listen to the noises of the ship, the calls of the sailors, and keep abreast of what was happening with his ship. After all, they were safely out of Zeltiva's harbor and there was little that needed his attention unless bad weather came their way which was unlikely given the strong wind at their back but otherwise bright and sunny late summer day.

"I would be happy to answer any questions you might have."

He nodded to the passenger and to his crewman, but when he didn't order Marlow to any particular task, it was clear that he didn't mind the sailor stopping to talk to one of their guests if first spoken to.

by **Taithrosa Eldytia** on July 19th, 2011, 4:30 am

Taithrosa listened as the sailor answered his question. The large man nodded his head as the man explained that it was a city only recently rediscovered. His silver eyes looked at the man and he had the chance to see into those eyes. They were kind, but there was also a depth that was strange for a man who looked so young.

His handsome face turned towards the captian and he nodded his head. "I would appreciate some answers. I find myself to be a curious person who like to ask a number of questions." His smile flashed with white teeth against saphire blue skin. Little did the sailor know that Taithrosa was more then just and Akalak, he was a son of Leth, one of the fallen and Ethaefel.

"Tell me a bit about the city. What is it like, who are the people." He asked tilting his head in curiosity.

by **Marlow** on July 25th, 2011, 4:56 am

Seeing that the captain has joined the conversation Marlow was about to go up to the crow's nest when he saw him nod in his direction. Taking that as a cue to stay just in case the captain or the Akalak needed anything else Marlow signed to one of the riggers to take his place on watch. The crewman's face twisted in a grimace since crow's nest duty was a common punishment as even the most veteran sailors oftentimes get seasick in the crow's nest. Marlow, however, seemed to be immune to seasickness and so the duty was not so onerous for him.

As he waited in a relaxed stance, he became aware of movement heading towards him. Turning his head he spotted a pure white seagull diving towards him. No wait... he thought to himself ...that's no seagull. That's an Avikki!

Marlow instinctively raised his arm to ward off the diving bird, but was taken aback when the Avikki spread its wings to break its dive and landed on his forearm. The bird then peered at Marlow and tilted its head as if to examine him. Marlow lowered his arm and looked towards the captain and Akalak, hoping that what had happened had not interrupted their conversation. The Avikki took that opportunity to hop up Marlow's arm and perch on his shoulder, seemingly deciding that Marlow would make a good perch.

by **Ianus** on July 25th, 2011, 1:24 pm

The Symenestra remained in the background, a thin figure dressed in white fabric and with hair like black silk overshadowing his cheeks, skin as pale as death. Eyes that mirrored the dark red color of fresh blood observed the movements of the sailors, listened to the words spoken and commands yelled and judged the other passengers. They were all in the same boat, one could say, if one had lyrical ambitions. He didn’t though.

The reason why the Ukalas had rejected him, why the divine realm couldn’t hold him and why he slipped was closely connected to the reason that awaited him after Zeltiva, beyond the rolling waves and in the small town they called Denval. Flashes of white light and foreign words he had once understood, movement and harsh sounds had penetrated his ears when the word had first touched the bottom of his memory. The secrets that lay in those bits and pieces he desired to unveil. Boarding the ship had been the first step. Observation was the second one.

His eyes closed for a moment, his breath calmed and his concentration sank to the sources of djed pulsing through his veins. When he took the next glance over the deck, colorful and spiraling shells of light surrounded every object and every person. The ship’s aura faded into the background as his concentration lingered on the tall blue-skin. A silvery mist blurred his form, a piercing contrast to Syna’s golden rays. He wasn’t what he seemed.

The Symenestra blinked again, extinguishing the light. The Akalak was by far the most fascinating person. However, it was in the Symenestra’s nature to step around the object of interest and observe from afar. Thus, he approached a bunch of professors in an attempt to mingle. His moves were shaky at first, but of course skill only came from practice.

With a faint glint in his eyes Savere spoke to the nearest man: “Please excuse my curiosity, but what do you hope to find in Denval?” Lines in his opponent’s face were studied. Traveling for the sake of learning – it would be the easiest answer, as well as the most superficial one.

by **Tabarnac** on August 1st, 2011, 3:47 am

"The people are the Denvali," said the captain in answer to the Ethaefal's question. "The town is small, but thriving, coming out of isolation, connecting with its neighbors. Kalea is an unforgiving region, but we trade with the eagle-riders of Wind Reach, the Vantha, the Lhavitians, and the Symenestra of Kalinor. Of course, we have a special relationship with Zeltiva. Our Lyceum is like their University, though not so grand. The Sailor's Guild has a hall in Denval as well. The houses are brightly colored, the terrain around the settlement impassible for the most part. Mountaineers find pockets of hunting ground, and we are building a road to Sultros. The Road. We are wisely ruled by Captain Astrid, whose ancestor was the lord commander of the garrison at the time of the Breaking."

To the eyes of the onlooking Aurist, the charismatic captain of the ship had a ripple of energy along his back almost like wings that shimmered through his aura, but he chose to speak to the professors and so explanation for the strangeness of his aura went unanswered. The man peered strangely at the bird taking a perch on his crewman. They were far from the Suvan Sea, but he hoped against hope that his men on in the crow's nest would see a marauding pod coming. Perhaps they would have to take on more speed than necessary to reach safety.

The first academician to respond to Ianus was a quiet, serious woman with sad eyes, the sort that saw too much, but held acceptance rather than judgment. She considered him for a few moments, then his words, before she finally answered.

"I seek the gods." It was a simple statement, but not especially pious. She didn't give the impression of being some stuffy religious type, but a true seeker. "The cults of Viratas and Aquiras in Denval are quite interesting, and I would like to study them firsthand. Also, if we stop in Mura or Avanthal, there are goddesses to observe as well. And you?"