[Quest] I. Westward Ho! [Closed]

[Nathan Longstride]

[OCC: I notice there isn't a posting order. Oh well]

Nathan felt a little better with Marlow's answer to Master Eldytia. Nathan began to wonder whether these Ethaefel were apart of Eldytia's race, for he had never heard that named mentioned by the lips of men with more common skin-colors of white, brown, and tan. But, what was normal these days?

The bird on Marlow's shoulder tapped his head, drawing a slight chuckle from Nathan, but Marlow continued talking, so his enjoyment of his crewmate's predicament went unoticed. Nathan listened to Marlow agree to show the blue-skinned man the boat, forgoing the tour of the crow's nest and bilge. Nathan himself had yet to visit the latter of the two, and was hoping that stayed. When the mention of disciplinary action drew a gulp from the freckled teenager. The thought of whipping with his sloppy boatmanship was not something he wanted to think of. Add that to the mention of his recent hiring completely broke his previous statement to Master Eldytia. The way he worded his answer made it sound like he didn't know everything about the ship. Marlow's answer now made it sound like Nathan didn't know anything.

The trail of words was lost in the wind after that, drawing the blue eyes of Nathan on his captain. He stood still, mouth moving, as the winds on his back picked up speed. In fact, Nathan was so preoccupied with the sight, that the sound of a woman's voice stating her thoughts on the captain startled him greatly. But Nathan did catch the name Stormwarden, which explained the gnosis on his back. Other than the Hapchance gnosis on his forearm, Nathan was oblivious to the gods markings. After the first statement, which was for all three to hear, she turned her words to Marlow, calling him their lucky charm. Marlow, who had been speaking to the bird, who was repeatedly squawking in his ear, was shocked by the woman's words, evident by the tone in his question to her. He even directed the compliment of lucky charm over to Nathan, since he was devoted to Kelwyn.

Nathan glanced at Marlow once, the question "Why me?" written in his light blue eyes, before turning his attention to the woman. She was older than Nathan by double atleast, with eyes that spoke wisdom on whatever they gazed upon. "I must say, Kelwyn appears to be lucky, but only to those who were saved by their grace. If you were on the wrong end of their powers, would you call yourself lucky? But if Laviku provided us with calm waters the entire trip to Denval, wouldn't that also be considered luck? But I do understand Marlow's point. Luck is random, and random be Kelwyn."

Nathan glanced at Master Eldytia once more. He had been silent since he had asked his question, and the young man wondered when the blue-skinned man would speak again. Reaching up with his right hand, always wary of flashing the gnosis on his opposite arm, he brushed back the dirty blond bangs on his head, brushing them to the side. It was humid, and the cotton clothes he wore were sticking to him. He had considered going bare like the captain, but the pale white skin underneath the green cotton shirt was enough to blind a person. So he just decided to bear the humidity. It was only 180 days until winter anyway.

[Taithrosa Eldytia]

Taithrosa was about to answer when a young woman joined them. He looked at her as she commented on gnosis on the captians back. "I am guessing that the mark has some effect on the winds then?" He asked her in his accent voice.

He then turned back to the original subject. "An Ethaefel, is a race of people, who change with the setting of Syna or Leth. They look normal during half the day and durning the other half of the day they look different. They glow." He said figuring he needed to warn his new friends.

He looked over at the bird. "Are those birds lucky?" He asked the lady as she mentioned about the bird. It looked more like it was an uncomfortable to have the bird sitting on his shoulders.

[Tabarnac]

"I haven't the wisdom to speak on luck, especially in the face of one of Kelwyn's," she replied with a faint smile. "Ovek might have something to say about it, too. We have gods and gods in our pantheon. But some people think birds are lucky. The Chaktawe... the Svefra. I like to think we make our own luck, but again, what do I know?" What she knew was auras, and the captain still blazed to her senses like a torch in the darkness, but divine energy in a mortal aura always seemed to have that effect. Her smile grew a bit more focused as she looked back at the other passengers. "Well, I feel much safer knowing we've a Stormwarden as captain of our ship. Hopefully we'll reach Denval before Winter, the sooner I can settle in at the Lyceum and learn from my students. What takes you all to Denval if you don't mind me asking?"

[Marlow]

The Avikki on Marlow's forearm let out a short wail upon the mention of Ovek and another, louder, one at the mention of Svefra. Then it began to bob its head up and down in the direction of the woman as if to say 'she's smarter than you.'

Marlow's gaze took on a distant look and then he slapped himself on the forehead. "Ovek, of course! Kelwyn is the patron of last resort. I'm sorry if I got turned around there for a bit. My memory... well, you can say it's not as it used to be." he said after he got over his faux pas. "I always thought that we won't be able to make it to Denval come winter, but with a Stormwarden at the helm it now seems more than possible. As for my reasons for being on the ship; I'm applying for membership in the Sailor's Guild and this berth was my first assignment. A pretty important one too if I may add."

[Nathan Longstride]

Nathan listened as Master Eldytia explained the Ethaefel to he and Marlow. Glowing was a neat trait of these people, and brought on Nathan's interest. Looking around, he wondered if anyone on the ship was one of this race, but common sense told him otherwise. Even if he hadn't saw one in the evening during one his strolls through Zeltiva, rumors in taverns, most likely the Kelp Bar, would focus on a glowing being walking around. At least, that was how Nathan pictured it.

Nathan was slightly disappointed that Master Eldytia never told him his given name, instead asking if birds were lucky. The woman strayed away from that question, a faint smile on her face while she stated she knew little in the way of Kelwyn. Nathan was not surprised, seeing that usually only those who were saved by the twin gods trully worshipped them. The woman continued, mentioned Ovek, a god that Nathan was unfamilar with. She continued, also mentioning a race of people, the Chaktawe, that Nathan was also ignorant about. Not until she fully answered Eldytia's question by also mentioning the Svefra's feelings on birds. Nathan in fact was decent with the language of the Svefra, and considered them a neat group of people. In fact, he was once mistaken as a Svefra in the market, as he communicated with another one. His blue eyes was the only reason, but that was all that was needed sometimes.

Marlow spoke next, assuring the woman, and the two men, that he was caught up, and that his memory wasn't as good as it should be. Nathan didn't hold it against him, as Marlow barely looked older than him, so he wouldn't know everything. The woman continued speaking where she left off, stating her relief of having a Stormwarden as the captain. Nathan was piecing the gnosis together just by the words of others, and he assumed with the gnosis, he could control the wind to some degree. She also hoped to be in Denval by winter, a feeling that Nathan kinda
understood. With the heat in the summer, he also hoped for the relief of cool air. The woman then finished with a question for all three men. What did they seek in Denval?

Marlow spoke first, also voicing his thoughts on getting to Denval by winter. He too believed it possible with the aid of a Stormwarden, drawing Nathan's curiosity towards the power of this gnosis that Captain. But the man didn't waste time before answering the woman's question, stating that he hoped to become a member of the Sailor's Guild, and the journey to Denval was his first assignment. Nathan considered that a good cause to travel.

Turning to the woman, he shrugged, not knowing if his answer was as suitable as Marlow's, or whatever Master Eldytia's desire was. Nathan heard the Opal Clinic mentioned earlier, which probably meant the blue-skinned man sought something on the lines of healing. "My dream, milady, is to make a name for myself as a trader. What better place than in Zeltiva. I have to say I asked that question to myself many times. But when I heard of a recently discovered city, and a ship taking people there, my adventureous side trapped me. Plus, I have a better chance to make a name in a place with less people. Maybe I'll find items not usually sold on the market. But if nothing else, it was a random decision, and with it, I'll most definately find adventure." Nathan gave a small smile, happy that he could continue to bring up the interesting, if not always positive, powers of Kelwyn.

[Ianus]

I seek the gods. From the lips of any other mortal creature, it might have sounded superficial, but not from this woman. The Symenestra watched her with hidden curiosity. She seemed to search for something, to truly mean what she said. He felt sympathy infuse his mind and the corners of his mouth twitched. However, he thought her approach was wrong. When he spoke, a soft accent of some unknown place colored his voice. “I seek Leth. It seems that Denval is near Lhavit where He is worshipped.” Then he said no more. A little dreamy the woman appeared to him, although she had spoken with reason. And a little dreamy he felt as he let his gaze wander over the deck once again. The crew was preparing for the journey, assuming their positions and getting the sails ready in no time. The captain had been speaking to the blue giant and two human-looking men, one of them carrying a white bird. Now he moved away, a tattoo swirling on his back, and suddenly the wind picked up. Zulrav guided the ship east. And he wondered... but he hadn’t gotten enough sleep for a long time before reaching Zeltiva and his thoughts were slow... He watched the captain for a little longer, thoughts drifting back to Leth, his beloved Lord. He’d truly give everything he had for being united with Him again, for doing deeds He had whispered into his ears, for feeling His good will and presence in his life. The previous conversation had made him realize that it was indeed the truth. The sole reason why he was where he was. Holding that thought, the Symenestra started to move away from the woman and the rest of the university group. Trying to imitate the rolling walk of the sailors, but not quite succeeding, he passed the other travelers and caught bits and pieces of small talk. Nothing of interest, anyway. Thoughts and impressions slowly fading into the background, he welcomed the slight drop of temperature as he descended a narrow staircase. Crimson red eyes cut through the shadows. A moment later they closed and the movement of the ship guided him to sleep. OOCSeems like I can’t keep up with the posting pace, sorry! I’d like to skip this thread and wait for the next.

[Taithrosa Eldytia]

Tiathrosa nodded his head. "I would have to agree we do make out own luck. Our life changes to much not to try and make our own luck. If we always wait for symbols we could miss obertunities." He thought for a moment. No one seemed to be any more interested in his previous statement. He felt that he had warned them for what would happen with the setting of moon.

"I am going mostly because I felt the desire to see the place. I am training as a healer and feel that this is a chance to learn more about how people heal in other places."

[Tabarnac]

Ilenia Deren watched the somnolent Symenestra make his exit, then turned to watch the sea slide by as their progress and the morning proceeded apace. Another academician spoke to her in quiet tones. Meanwhile, the more motherly professor continued her conversation with the other men. She looked at Marlow, lips pursed slightly in thought, but she decided not to say whatever it was she was thinking. "Denval's rediscovery is hardly news, Master Longstride. Captain Wright found it sixty years ago, but this increased interest in the little settlement is new, I suppose." She smiled brightly, encouragingly. "Let us hope this trip earns Master Marlow his guild membership and helps you start your career. Dependable trade routes will be of vital importance for building Mizahar back toward its former glory. I hope it will not err in the same ways, but progress is good. At least, I like to think so..." She nodded to in the direction of Master Eldytia, whose vestigial horns were visible in his aura, trying for the time being to put them all into the pattern she saw in the djed around them, souls like jewels of dew on a spider's web at this dawning of a new day, a new adventure. It was exciting even with the occasional slow phase. "Well, I hope for a little adventure along the way to keep things interesting, but not enough to threaten our health." She smiled, a little plump, a little frowsy, her long blond hair fading with her middling years. "I'm Palmyra Oslie, by the bye. Late of Zeltiva. I'll be teaching Auristics at the Denvali Lyceum and anything else they might desire that I can accommodate."

[Nathan Longstride]

The man that Nathan had spotted earlier passed by, not stopping to speak, so the young man didn't pay him much mind. He listened to Master's Eldytia's opinion on luck, puzzled on his last statement. But he quickly moved on to his next statement, where he confirmed his notion to train with healing.

The woman spoke again, telling him in a tone that sounded like a teacher about how the discovery of this settlement wasn't new. He felt the urge to tell her it was new to him, only learning about it a week ago. But he stayed silent has her voice changed, wishing him and Marlow luck in their goals. She also said a slight adventure would be good.

Finally she introduced herself as Palmyra Oslie, a hopeful professor in Auristics in the Denvali Lyceum. Nathan bowed slightly. "Well, you already know my last name, but you may call me Nathan. As for teaching, you have a long while before to reach Denval, and I won't spend much time learning much once I arrive to the settlement, so I offer myself as practice, so you won't get rusty before we arrive. Plus I enjoy to learn new things. It keeps things random, as my long-term goals might change with the learning of a new skill."

Nathan wasn't lying when he told her this, as he always liked to learn new things. He wasn't what you called master at anything, only being good with his daggers. Plus this Auristics seemed interesting, whatever it was.

[Taithrosa Eldytia]

The immortal son of Leth looked at Palmyra and his silver eyes took on a distant look, his voice slipped into the more archaic version of common that was present when he was alive the first time as an akalak. "You are right, trade is critical to restoring Mizahar, to peace and stability. I personally could care less about glory, but stability, were the races aren't fearing extinction." There was a pause before he contiuned. "We need to redelvelop that web that once excisted between the cities so that once again we can support each other. Trade is critical as it once allowed more then article to travel the world, but ideas and knowledge. These things connected us to each other and once again could do the same."

His silver eyes because focused on her again and his words became less archaic. "I think a little adventure on the way would be good as well, and I agree with Nathan here, learning is good, I haven't had much chance to meet with aurists or many other and I would be interested in learning more if you are up to students."