Open Come Sail Away... Come Sail Away With Me...

[Kavala]

Timestamp: 20th of Spring, 514 A.V.

The Konti threw the line off the side of the catamaran and jumped off onto the newly finished dock in front of Alements. Here she didn't have to pay the Portmaster docking fees and here she could leave the ship for days on end and Caelum rarely said a word. She grabbed the rope she'd thrown, deftly wrapped it around the horn cleat she'd worked into the stone dock for that very purpose. Once that was done, she jumped back onto the ship, walked to the aft, and tossed another rope, securing the rear of the sailing vessel that way as well.

Then she re-boarded, made sure the sails were well and rolled down, reefing them down to nothing and securing them with the waterproof line. She ran her hand over the tell-tails and sighed softly. The Dreamcatcher was too much sailing ship for her right now. She had to learn more about it and fast. That was why she was here. First and foremost to check on the progress at Alements but also to work on finding someone to show her some more things about sailing.

Kavala thrust out a gang plank, needing it now, and walked down to the cargo area to pick up her first barrel. Vanator had been busy and she was unloading the results single handedly. Just a season a go, she'd not have been able too. But now she felt strong, far better mentally and physically. And so single handedly she was able to unload the ship's cargo over the course of a bell, lifting the barrels, carrying them one at a time and then placing them carefully in the stockroom where Caelum could find them.

Then... on a whim when she was done, she raided his desk inside, borrowed ink and pen, and wrote out a wanted poster. It wasn't a large thing, but it was big enough for people with passable Common and Tukant to read. She posted it in both languages, just in case.

WANTED: SAILING COMPANIONS

Owner of The Dreamcatcher looks forward to having some instructional day trips out into the harbor and surrounding coasts to brush up on her sailing techniques. Would love some experienced companionship along for fun and exchange of knowledge. If compensation is required, trade can be offered for food, drink, or healing remedies in the forms of potions or scrolls from a well marked Rak'keli healer.

Inquire within and ask for Kavala Denusk.

Kavala stood back, surveyed the poster as she tacked it up to the small message board that stood on the stone wall outside of Alements and smiled. Now, hopefully someone would see it. She tapped her chin with a thumb, her fist folded up under her jaw and looked thoughtful. Alements was open, all but done, and it was time she got more adventuresome and got out and about with others after the rough last year she'd had.

Kavala glanced over at the Catamaran and smiled slightly. The Dreamcatcher had managed to take her to Kalea and back. But she was certain sure it could take her even further if she just learned a bit more about the ship and how to sail her.

The Dreamcatcher :

[Tydus Tempest]

A flurry of emotions reverberated within Tydus' mind, the events of the past several weeks crashing into his psyche, much like the waves of Laviku's blessed sea crashed against sandy shores. First, there was tragedy, fire and death, destruction and decimation that split his life asunder with the force of the tsunami. Trauma and devastation ensued, the ruins of the Svefra's life scattered about as he struggled to pick up the pieces of what was close by.

First, there was Adney. He ensured that the Svefra was not alone, the six days the two spent recovering and sheltered, alone, in Riverfall the hardest of their lives. It had seemed that a single gust could have torn down the fledgling semblance of existence that they re-created. Then, Kel followed. The structure of their life was restored, if slightly, by the addition of a ship. A friend. A podmate. The Greytide, now a fully-accepted Tempest, allowed them the strength to continue by offering them both companionship and a chance to rebuild upon the stronger foundation of Laviku's tides.

Then, there was the search. An attempt to scavenge from the remnants of the past had resulted in the gathering of more survivors, familiar faces and familiar names bringing a sense of completion. There was a flurry of conflict still in Tydus' own heart, but with the inauguration of a Lia in the form of Callipsia Tempest, was a start. Nerida and Aquia, one found with the new Lia and the other encountered by Adney in Riverfall itself, built... completion. The five Tempests and the Blooded Greytide were now a Pod, and Tydus, despite his own predicament, accepted this as truth.

We have a Pod... but there is nothing to aim for. There is little to do. Staying at the Riverfall docks without a purpose and a handful of ships means absolutely nothing.

Of course, the Lia likely disagreed. The younger podmates likely disagreed. They were happy to be united with one another, but for Tydus, unity wasn't enough.

We can't just assemble the pieces of the past in order to survive. If Callipsia doesn't understand this, she has to be shown. I cannot go against her, but I can try to... steer her in the right direction.

The Svefra looked around to his podmates, noting that only the youngest were left with the casinor, leaving the men of the Pod to gather the resources needed in order to begin their first voyage in what felt like ages. The Svefra yearned for the sea as a man dying of thirst yearned for water to sustain him. With each day passing, he felt as if the mark on his shoulder was shriveling up, that the whale that traversed the ocean's depths was dying. The Svefra felt it in his very soul, and looked inwardly, imagining the ocean, though his eyes cast about, blue eyes of Laviku's blood fixated upon what looked to be a Konti placing a notice outside of a building the young Svefra was unfamiliar. It looked to be a bar of sorts, a ritzy looking one at that, but other than a first impression, he had no idea. The Alements?

"Oi, mates. Let's check this out, yeah? I dunno how up either of you are for readin', but if it means gettin' to talk to a Konti, why not? Need'ta check them off my list." The Svefra chuckled, looking back to his podmates, a laugh sounding from his lips and a wink expressed before he turned back. He took several steps forward, blue irises directed towards the posting.

His grasp of written Common was shaky, but in his time with the man he knew only as the "Magic Merchant" a number of years ago, had proven fruitful as they taxi'd him from Riverfall to Avanthal. The period following that job was a period of unity for the scattering of the Tempest pod. Even the Greytides, their sister pod, a division of a single pod that had existed before Tydus was born, joined the job, albeit months later when circumstance and Laviku's will had reunited the pods. The Svefra opened his mouth to read the Common, hoping that the words, spoken aloud, allowed him to understand them better.

WANTED: SAILING COMPANIONS

Owner of The Dreamcatcher looks forward to having some instructional day trips out into the harbor and surrounding coasts to brush up on her sailing techniques. Would love some experienced companionship along for fun and exchange of knowledge. If compensation is required, trade can be offered for food, drink, or healing remedies in the forms of potions or scrolls from a well marked Rak'keli healer.

Inquire within and ask for Kavala Denusk.

At first, the words meant very little to him, though upon a second, and third read, understanding dawning upon him. A laugh escaped his features as he looked to his crew, "Lads, looks like this woman wants to learn how ta' sail. How 'bout we show her the ropes, then? She's got a bigger ship, too. Should be fun."

Tbe Svefra allowed a soft hum to escape his lips as he cast his ocean-blue gaze about, in search of the ship in question. In about thirty ticks, he identified the form of the cataraman, the name of the vessel embossed upon its surface. Looking over at Kel and Addy, he muttered, "Definitely bigger. Feel like we're driving little pieces of shyke now." He flashed a grin at his podmates as he nodded his head towards the door, taking a step towards it in his insistence to see what possibilities awaited them. Business was a game he enjoyed playing.

- Tydus Tempest

[Kel Tempest]

Day 1 of Spring in the Year 514 AV

Mixed emotions swirled through the Svefra’s head. He finally had a pod of his own, this time, one that accepted him. Sort of. But as always, he tended to push away the very people he wanted to be close to. The pod was still a little uneasy with him. He may have been a fellow Svefra but they didn’t know him in the slightest. They had to accept him based on the declaration made by Tydus. They might have initiated him into the pod but the guarded way they looked at him, he could tell they were still unsure. So far, Kel hadn’t done anything to prove his worth. All they saw in him was a cocky, rude and selfish man with a loud mouth. He was all those things, he couldn’t argue with them there. But he knew he was a valuable asset to the pod, he just needed the opportunity to prove it.


The three podmates wandered through the docks looking for supplies for their first venture out as an official pod with their new Lia. The three were unusually quiet and Kel felt his stomach rile with the urge to break the silence. He hated the sound of peace. It was so….bland. Eerie even. The tediousness of peace always caused his chest to tighten until he felt like he would explode. It made him uncomfortable.


He was on the verge of cracking a joke, just to stir the atmosphere when Tydus jerked to a halt. Kel continued walking a few steps before realizing he was alone. He stopped walking and turned, seeing Tydus staring at a piece of parchment. Kel wandered back to where the older Svefra was standing and peered over at the slip. Random squiggly lines were drawn across it. He tilted his head and squinted really hard, hoping that would help make everything more understandable.


It didn’t.


Kel growled in irritation. “Who invented this blasted language, it’s petchin’ annoying.” He raised both hands in front of his face, feinting awe. “Oooooo, look at me, I’m so amazing. Worship me, I can read…” He tsked in scorn and tapped his foot impatiently on the dock. Tydus continued to read the notice for what seemed like ages. Kel felt that his stomach churn as he grew antsy. He was about to snort and walk off when Tydus spoke up.


“A woman trying to sail? Bahh, if she ain’t Svefra, she’s got nothin’ to offer. I ain’t babysittin.” Kel turned to walk off when he caught sight of the vessel Tydus had gestured to, the Dreamcatcher. The beautiful ship floated calmly on the gently shifting waters. The Svefra glanced between the notice and the ship.


Kel eyed the ship enviously. He felt the urge to run his hand along the wood and feel the shift of its movement as it was gently caressed by the ocean. He coughed, trying to conceal his sudden shift in countenance. “Well, err…maybe she could use some assistance…”


All Kel could do was cross his fingers and hope that Tydus would be quick with the negotiations, Kel was eager to board the ship and get their sail on.

[Adney Tempest]

So many emotions were running through his face. He was happy, shocked and excited. He couldn't even put these emotions into words he was jumping and screaming all over the place.This excitement made him think about everything that occurred over the past couple of weeks, One day while Kel and Tydus went out to check the shipwreck he found Aquia one of his pod mates that survived the shipwreck. When Kel and Tydus came back they found Nedira and Callipsia the Lia's daughter. He was happy to see some of his pod mates alive and well. After their reunion they decided to become a pod with Callipsia as the new lia and they would begin to travel soon. Adney was sooo ready to get out of Riverfall and be back on the sea.

Adney was walking with Tydus and Kel trying to gather up resources for the ships. Adney was enjoying the walk when he noticed Tydus looking at something ,Adney traced Tydus's eyes to a Konti who was posting something on a board. Adney followed Tydus behind towards the board. The words were in common but Adney had no idea what it said. "Oi, mates. Let's check this out, yeah? I dunno how up either of you are for readin', but if it means gettin' to talk to a Konti, why not? Need'ta check them off my list." Adney nodded and thought it was a good idea. "yeah we should check it out, it sounds like an interesting adventure for us." Adney began to laugh as Kel was complaining about the language and how annoying since he couldn't read. Kel didn't agree on this since the Konti wasn't Svefra that is until he took a good glance at the ship that Tydus mentioned in the reading. Then Kel looked at Adney and Tydus. “Well, err…maybe she could use some assistance…” Adney smiled and turned to Tydus with a smirk on his face. "Then let's get going."

- AdneyTempest

[Callipsia Tempest]

Shoulders back. Neck long. Chin up.

Callipsia found the mantra on loop in her mind as she paced with her pod-brothers, each foot placing itself deliberately in front of the other. At least, until her thoughts wandered, and doubts crept into her mind with the steady determination of coral. As her chin lowered ritually to her chest, and eyes met her feet, the girl knew she had lost the fight for growing a Lia's confidence once again.

Lia Tatianna never lowered her head. She never answered to anyone.

With a determined huff, her mind repeated the mantra, and she reset the posture. Perhaps it would last longer than a few chimes this time around.

The Young Lia peered close at each of her pod-brother's faces, and saw nothing but emotional turmoil. Frowning, she gently adjusted the braids that fell down both of her shoulders as she pondered what a good leader would say. A frown tugged at her lips, but she pulled at them, tucking at her chin. No - not now, not in front of them. She was their pillar of strength now. She was not allowed to break. The cruelty of the past few weeks left slight bags under otherwise bright, youthful eyes that were still haunted by memories no amount of prayer would wipe from her mind. Her new role caused her to walk as though there were a weight in her rib cage at times; something she constantly fought to correct.

Callipsia was unsure whether the men saw her struggle; She hoped Kel did not. She watched his mannerisms, wondering if her silence or awkward exercises in posture had made him uncomfortable.

You are no longer an anemone in the reef, waiting for the fish around you to entertain, the chastisements continued. These are your people now. Lead! Say something!

As Callipsia opened her lips to say something, she realized rather embarrassingly she had not thought of a thing to say yet, and closed it again. After a moment of pondering again, she thought to try again, before Tydus loudly went on about some sign, and checking a Konti off his list, and Addy's sudden agreement.

Inwardly sighing at the derailment of their business venture due to Tydus' blood flow distribution, the Young Lia raised her head, and churned over how to handle this. Clearly, Tydus had his interests where they were - but to turn down the venture out right would only make the men hate her. She couldn't have half the pod hate her this early.

No. She would entertain the notion, at least so far as they could make the sign out to be. Poising herself as Lia-like as she thought she should be, she waiting patiently for Tydus to work through the translation enough times for it to be understandable.

“Who invented this blasted language, it’s petchin’ annoying.” -- “Oooooo, look at me, I’m so amazing. Worship me, I can read…”

At least, until that was said.

Despite herself, Callipsia giggled girlishly, covering her hand with her mouth, a small snort escaping as well. Her eyes widened in astonishment at the noise, and giggled a little more, glancing up at her new brother happily. Clearing her throat, she straightened, looking forward to keep focus on looking Lia-like, though with a more mirthful gleam in her eyes this time around. Her head tilted in consideration of the offer, listening to the brothers talk among themselves about the deal.

"B-babysitting'r not, we ought t'hear it out," Callipsia finally spoke out in Fravata, albeit still softly. Her face flushed red and her heart quickened, unused to commanding the attention of others with her speech. Turning to Kel, she nervously bit her lip, and felt her chin begin to drop, before squaring her stance to him and slowly correcting herself. "We - well, we don't have much right now," she stated, a meekness inescapable in her tone. "B'fore we can think of stronger ships, or sailin' somewhere else, we need more than what we scavenged from the wreck of the Fist. This would b'easy work, for easy barter."

Instinctually, her head whipped to look at Tydus, as though seeking his approval. She stopped herself before she could verbally ask it.

You are Lia now. You need approval from no man.

Clearing her throat again to calm her nerves, she raised her eyes more readily to Tydus as she let out a breath, before finding words to speak again. "We're hearin' the offer, to see if it's worth our while. Pod-Brother Tydus, you're, well, you're better at negotiations, and the like and all, so I'll let you handle most of those, but I'd like, well I'd like to learn some from you." Despite the stumbles, Calli felt for speaking to her Pod, it was a fair start. She could do worse.

With a slight look of relief that she didn't need to say much more when it came to official words, Callipsia resumed standing Lia-like, and walked into the Alements, turning her face this way and that. A Konti woman struck her eyes, and once more she felt her heart rise in her throat, but the young Lia raised her chin and fought it down as she approached with a polite smile.

"Are y' Kavala Denusk?" Calli inquired slowly in the best Common she could muster, deep blue eyes studying the woman as she nervously tried to think of what words to say next. "I'm Callipsia Tempest, Lia of the Tempest Pod," She finally got out of herself, a hand fidgeting with her hair out of nervous habit.. "My pod brothers an' I read your poster outside, askin' for Sailing help." Calli looked over her shoulder to ensure her pod brothers had in fact followed her and not made her look a fool - especially hoping Tydus was near, ready to step in at a moment's notice. Until then though - Shoulders back. Neck long. Chin up.

[Kavala]

Kavala busied herself stacking barrels just inside Alements. While she was no lightweight, the Konti did give herself a break and congratulate herself on actually delivering the products from The Sanctuary. Stacking and putting them away? Well, she had no idea where Caelum wanted them or where he was going to do most of his storage. So she simply left them by the door stacked neatly along the big stained glass windows that weren’t exactly windows but were instead thin stone made from reimancy to mimic glass. If a geologist looked at the work, they’d claim the stone quartz, but it was artificially made with still the same results. The scene laid out depicted a beautiful rendition of the sky infused with the four elements that refracted light throughout the space within, highlighting the copper backing behind the stone bar and the scattered furniture. The floor had been redone in a pale white that wouldn’t interfere with the colored light refracted upon it. And throw rugs were scattered everywhere, lending texture and surprising elements throughout.

Kavala took a moment to admire the almost finished space. Alements wasn’t open yet but Caelum had been working hard on it. He had a bit of help, but from the floor to the ceiling the place screamed his name and his essence. Kavala thought this was his beautiful side, the immortal man, and hoped that someday he’d expand to include more of his darker side within the space as well… private meeting space, a side room, something… anything that ran with a bit of blood and rage to appeal to the darker sides of the Akalak and humans that spent time in the space.

The Konti looked up from her musings when the slip of a teen walked into the business and looked around. She hadn’t failed to notice the gathering interest in her posted missive, but she hadn’t thought a young woman would approach. She’d expected one of the slightly older boys. Kavala slowly slipped a smile on her face, nodded to the woman, and was pleasantly surprised she offered an introduction.

The Konti’s hands slipped into a pavi greeting of warm welcome though her lips spoke common. “Yes. I’m Kavala. Pod brothers? Are you Svefra then?” Kavala asked, approaching the young woman closer and offering her a hand to shake. The Konti wasn’t dressed as a typical Konti in Riverfall might be expected too. She was decked out in leathers that had been bleached to a fine pale tan that made her white skin hold more color than it ought too. In fact she looked like she was dressed as a slimmer paler version of most of the Akalak warriors in the city. Across her chest and around her torso was a weapons’ harness that held enough knives to arm most of a small unit of Kuvay’Nas. The Konti wore the knives with ease, shorter than Calli but showing a form that looked well defined from training.

“I’ve sailed The Dreamcatcher to Kalea and back, but I’m looking for more experience. I thought to hire some companionship to take some trips with me out and back, on all kinds of seas, so I can get a little more miles under me handling the Catamaran. Do you or your brothers have experience with double hulled vessels? I had thought to ….” She started to say pay well, but then decided that knowing what she knew of the Svefra, bartering might be a better situation. “… to trade healing potions, scrolls, and supplies for the company. Life’s been a bit… rough lately. I want something lighter, more fun, to take my mind off things.” Kavala wasn’t sure she could explain what she meant to the young woman, not without knowing her better. Her last pregnancy had almost killed her and she’d been stuck a bed more than naught and hadn’t been out doing things. Now she was better, almost fully recovered, and wanted to explore and laugh and worry a whole lot less. That sort of feeling was hard to put into words. She hoped she could put it into her expression though.

“I thought a lot of wine, some good food, and a light attitude out on the water under the sun with some good company might… help that.” She said brushing a loose strand of almost translucent hair out of her eyes.

[Tydus Tempest]

Apparently the Konti women knew a smidge of Svefra culture, but by her inability to split their appearance from that of the normals that walked about Riverfall and the land in general, it was obvious that her knowledge ended there. Svefra were known to the world for their distinctive blue eyes which shone with the simple brilliance of Laviku's realm. It was almost completely distinct, for any Svefra born with a different eye colour were chucked out into the sea. A grim fate, but anything that did not bring glory to Laviku's blood and heart was not worthy of being born as Svefra.

The Tempest scion tilted his head as he listened to Callipsia. Her words were solid enough, but her posture and the unnatural, and even off-putting fidgeting of her hands in the context of speaking was an atrocity. She was utterly incapable of mustering the courage to speak, though, he would learn in a moment's time that her affinities were to come of use after all. He held his tongue, nearly forced to bite and choke on it as he allowed Callipsia to finish speaking. He was standing next to her, his straightened posture speaking volumes of the confidence he held in self, which had plummeted, only to rise again when his recent conquests had shown him that Tydus Tempest was not a man that belonged on his knees in despair, but on his back in victory.

Of course, the metaphor did not apply here, but the principle and direct result of it was nice to experience anew. In the moments when he was not relegated to solitude, Tydus was free. It was only in the nights he spent in his ship that he despaired, when Leth was invisible behind the wooden boards that sheltered him from the very elements that set him free. The Tempest returned to the situation at hand, his attentions refocusing upon the Konti woman as she asked her question regarding their experience in sailing on double-hulled vessels.

For Tydus, it was negligible, at best. He had, in his teen-aged years, spent several days with Kel and a number of others aboard a cataraman that the Tempest Pod had seized from a 'normal.' The experience was negligible, and neither Tydus nor Kel were the best of sailors, but perhaps Callipsia had learned something from Tatianna. At the very least, Tydus' use would come into play now. He noted the woman's distinct hesitation before discussing the involvement of compensation, curiosity present upon eyes of Laviku's blood.

She spoke of potions and scrolls as if the Svefra crew were a pair of ruddy scholars seeking the secrets of immortality in writing and strange drink. The only beverages that Ty placed in his mouth were either water purified via gnosis, or alcohol that soothed the blood and clouded the mind. The barter system, though filled with its merits, is flawed when exchanging for services rather than goods. Tydus had, on many different occasions, brought this up to the previous Lia, even shouting at the woman at one point for her inability to break free of the traditions of her foremothers.

But, Tydus knew. Mizas, coin. Gold. They were the way the world ran; the infinite cycle of exchange and commerce funded by the brilliance of shining coin. The Magic Merchant had taught him this years ago, and the man's voice sailed in his mind still with each exchange had. "Supplies are all well n' good, and company is always a pleasure, especially with a lass as... lovely as yerself." The Svefra hesitated with his flattery as he noted the small arsenal of knives and murderous tools that the Konti wore upon her body. Leathers wrapped around her form, an athletic, rather toned form marking her as one that had much experience with the world. Though, Tydus remained unimpressed, calm and assessing the situation at hand.

This woman will likely be more inclined into paying or putting out, as she's already mentioned that she's having a hard time. You could turn this to one of two scenarios, but... to benefit the Pod, stick to the first, Tydus. There's always other lasses to petch. Maybe Adi's got an inkling for a second taste.

The Svefra chuckled silently in his mind before he looked upon the Konti again, bright laughter bubbling from his lips as he realized that he had interjected between the conversation between the two women. It was simply natural to do so, given that Callipsia had already proven how new she was to any sort of role in business.

"How rude of me! I do apologize, lass. It's been a rough coupla' weeks for us, as well. In any case, M'Tydus Tempest. And it's a pleasure to meet you..." The Svefra dug through the recent conversation, making an extra effort because of how little attention he'd been paying to it. "Kavala. To answer yer earlier question, yes. I've sailed a double-hulled ship befer', but t'was ages ago. Most of ar', with the exception of the black-haired one, Kel, learned how to sail upon the Sloop, The Waverunner's Fist."

Perhaps the woman had heard of the vessel, since it had been docked in Riverfall just weeks before for a number of days, the regal-looking ship meeting military standards for nautical excellence. It was a loss to the world that it was now, with his Pod, sinking to the bottom of the sea. The young man then re-focused his attentions again to due compensation,

"With ar' Pod as small as it is now, an' the troubles of makin' ends meet and buyin' what we need to journey out of here, we'll need mizas more than anything else, lass, if it doesn't trouble ye."

After all, one couldn't buy rum with a fish... Tydus had tried, only to be slapped with the very fish he'd tried to trade. It simply wasn't how the world worked.

[Kel Tempest]

Day 20 of Spring in the Year 514 AV

The eldest Svefra of the pod wandered into the Alement behind the other three, a slight swagger in his step. He had pulled out his kukri from its home in its sheath that sat pressed up against his lower back under his sash. He picked at his finger nails with the tip of the blade, cleaning the dirt from under them, bored. He hated having to sit through these bargaining sessions. He could feel the restlessness stirring inside his chest. He wasn't built for battling back and forth with words. He was much more comfortable ramming his blade into the throats of others.


He sighed, gently scrapping out the dirt before inspecting the blade and wiping it against his black shirt. He still wasn’t completely sold on the idea of sailing the Dreamcatcher. He had never be in control of a vessel quite so large before. He had a small amount of experience sailing when he was young aboard the Greytide’s palivar, the Stormbrewer, but most of his days were spent in combat training rather than actually sailing the large ship.


Finally, he looked up from his task and scouted out the room. He blinked. He could smell the “new” in the bar. The tavern was drastically different than the ones he was used to. He was at home in bars reeking of booze and smoke, cheap drinks, rickety stools and rough crowds. He cocked an eyebrow skeptically, taking in the marble countertops and polished furniture. He almost caught himself looking around for a throne, expecting a majestic king to walk in and enter at any moment. He couldn’t decide whether or not to be uncomfortable or not. It was not the type of bar one would expect to see in a busy dock where sailors and merchants would soon dirty it up. But business was business.


He listened idly as their Lia began introducing herself. He rolled his eyes as he watched her. Even he could see how uncomfortable she was as she nervously fiddled with her hair, trying to broach the subject about working aboard the Dreamcatcher. She was uncertain about her leadership, not sure if she had the pod’s trust. Which was a valid concern. She certainly didn’t have his vote of confidence.


Tydus seemed to feel the same way because he was quick to intervene. Even as kids, Tydus always had a silver tongue. He was always the first to try and talk their way out of a situation. Usually if that failed or the older Svefra grew impatient, Kel would finish the job with fists where words were unsuccessful. Their strengths and weaknesses complimented each other, though at the moment, the last thing Kel wanted to do was stand around and jabber back and forth.


Kel crossed his arms irritably and listened cynically to the konti as she spoke about her past trials. He didn’t care one way or another about her problems, he just wanted to hear what they got out of it. She listed off supplies she was willing to trade for their services. Kel snorted, they were racketeers, not mages.


The mention of wine and food, however, caught his attention.


Often times he was considered shallow and selfish. In truth, both were true. But while some saw them as character flaws, he saw them as knowing what he wanted and taking it. He knew who he was and he wasn’t about to change it based on what made others happy. And at the moment, all he wanted was a full belly and a drink or ten to wash it down. Maybe, just maybe, this endeavor wouldn’t be so bad after all.

[Callipsia Tempest]

Callipsia tried to hide the surprise on her face when she noticed the arsenal around the woman's body, but most likely tinges still seeped around her eyes and lips. As a Svefra woman, Calli was used to towering over other women from other lands, and here she still found herself taller than the Konti woman. Yet still, she couldn't help but feel...small, compared to this woman.


A Lia is never small, She reminded herself before Kavala spoke, and chose to focus on the woman's words instead. Yes, that could do with ease. Her arms crossed comfortably under her chest as the Konti woman described the Dreamcatcher's time on the ocean, her terms and requests, her wishes. Calli pinched a pink lip with her teeth as she considered the woman's words, trying her best to decipher more complex Common words. The sailing words, she understood well enough, but others were still rough in her unpracticed mind.

'Barter', Calli understood well enough, and appreciated. This woman, whatever she may be, was cultured, and knew of their customs. Truly, the goods she offered weren't really up there alley, but just the familiarity perked her eyes back at the woman's face intently. As she spoke of the need for fun, the Lia's face split in an honest, albeit shy, smile. She thought over the the tumultuous faces she saw on her brothers' faces on the walk here, the grief she struggled to hide in her own face.

Perhaps we could all use a little fun at the moment, The girl thought to herself before a smirk formed on her face. She even meant to speak, naturally, without thinking out how or what she should say - at least, before until Tydus spoke.

"Supplies are all well n' good, and company is always a pleasure, especially with a lass as... lovely as yerself."

Callipsia found herself biting her tongue, and offering a careful, hard glance at her pod-brother. A pity she left Visi on the boat today, or perhaps she'd have her Tavan remind him that perhaps now was not the best time to be flirting with their first - and currently, only - job offer. Her narrowed lagoon eyes followed his effortless introduction and easy smiles carefully, watching to see if his flirtations crossed into the unprofessional. Somewhere in the depths of her memory, the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end from the feeling of his breath on her neck some nights ago. The girl tried not to let her cheeks flush at his flirtation, tried to forget the sensation of his skin on hers. No. Not here.

Thrusting up her chin, she sucked on the inside of her teeth as he started on about Mizas and her offer on barter. "M'Pod-brother speaks truth," Calli interjected quickly after Tydus said his piece, looking over the Konti woman's knives in a sort of reverence. "This is a - a hard time f'r our Pod, Miss Denusk. It is kind of you, to- t'offer a barter t'my people. But right now, mizas will do more f'r us than barter will." The girl swallowed to clear her throat, allowing herself the break from eye contact, before addressing the next issue at hand.

"I sailed a little, on a catamaran as a child," Calli admitted. "It-it was not ours. It was, part of a job. I may not have - er - not have sailed the boat myself. But we are Svefra - we do not forget how t'sail, even by - er, um - by watchin' others." The young woman forced herself to make eye contact on the last bit and smiled at the Konti woman. Arsenal aside, she did seem rather pleasant. That's comforting at least.

[Kavala]

Kavala quietly met the eyes of each of the trio in turn, reserving judgment until they spoke or acted. Humans had often in the past disappointed her. They came across selfish, greedy, or even needy and she understood inherently why some cultures tended to reject them completely. One of the cultures she most admired blamed them utterly for the Valterrian and had retreated into the belly of the world in order to avoid them. Had the trio been Akalak or even Konti, she would have better known how to handle them. Instead, Svefra stood before her and utterly baffled her by their behavior and words.

First there was the outspoken outgoing one. Tydus? What she offered was more valuable than mizas. The potions and scrolls could be sold for far more than any paid escort on a sailing outing which included lessons could be traded for. A simple compound fracture at sea, bone protruding from the skin, could kill a man in a matter of minutes especially if arteries were damaged, and then no coin in the world would heal it. A sharkbite, with flesh torn away, healed instantly by inciting a simple trigger word on a scroll… irreplaceable. A cure for fever, cough, an infection of the lungs rejected? Because they wanted coin? What Kavala had offered them was the portable permanent services of a Master Healer, one marked, that would keep their podmates safe in a number of ways and all the supplies they might need to outfit a ship. But that wasn’t good enough?

The Konti schooled her expression into a pleasant non-reactive one. She tried not to feel offended, perhaps first by their ignorance of what she offered and secondly because it seemed they valued metal far more than material things which was contrary to all the Svefra she’d ever known… which had been quite a few. When she was younger Svefra had first shown her the sea. The Svefra she had known had ferried her from Zeltiva to Konti Isle and shown her kindness and kinship where none was merited. She’d learned to sing shanties at sea and to drink homemade grog of kelp and a sweet secret sea creature that was intoxicating and something of an aphrodisiac. She’d even been propositioned a time or two by men that had taken no offense at her rejection when she’d suggested they sing more and worry about sex less.

This lot looked worn too, like they’d fallen on hard times. The Konti wondered if hard times had marked them and stripped them of sense or if their lack of it had brought on the hard times. Still, she said nothing. They appeared distracted and Tydus’ apology for not giving a name rang as lighthearted and insincere. She raised an eyebrow at that.

When he reiterated that he needed coin more to buy supplies – supplies she’d offered – Kavala instantly assumed he meant coin for alcohol or drugs. Why else would he turned down her offer to supply them? The Konti kept her neatly schooled expression, turning her attention to the second lad.

He was pretty alright, but in a way she disliked. He seemed overly aware of his looks and that meant he leaned on them more than he did his wits. The fact that he toyed with a Kukri like it was a grooming tool and not a respectable instrument of death bothered the inner warrior in her. Weapons were to be respected, not tucked into one’s belt forgotten or ill used. His body language projected spoiled bored arrogance and with a quick assessment of how he moved and cased Caelum’s new place had her quickly judging him and putting him in an unimportant and non-threatening category. A boy and his sharp toy, no doubt, more interested in where to dip his wick and what liquid burn could next fill his belly than anything else. She was relieved he didn’t speak. The Konti could only imagine what he’d have to say if he did indeed find it within himself to actually say something intelligent.

The eyeroll the silent idiot gave at the girl’s words caught Kavala’s attention as well. Internally she groaned while externally offering the Lia a smile… until, the woman crossed her hands over her chest and did not take the Konti’s offered hand to shake. Kavala’s inherent dislike of humans reared its head, both because the woman that should have been in charge stepped back slightly and let Tydus walk all over her verbally. Kavala wasn’t entirely boned up on the whole of Svefra culture, but every one she’d known and respected gave the utmost respect to the women in their culture and even deferred to them for leadership. It was obvious these young men had none for the girl before the Konti.

When Tydus finally did stop speaking and Calli spoke up, Kavala had already made up her mind. Little to no experience with Catamarans? The men both rude and disrespectful of their Lia? A Lia who let them get away with it in front of a stranger? No… this lot wasn’t going to teach her anything she couldn’t figure out on her own. They’d demonstrated no maturity, no wisdom, and in fact had shown a lot of ignorance in doing so.

“Interesting. I do not think there is an agreement to be made here today then. I will be honest with you. Neither of you respect this woman who claims to have the most experience of all three of you which is seemingly absolutely none at all sailing a double hulled boat. And Calli, you think it sails like a normal single hull because you’ve … watched… one being sailed before? You turn down my offer to supply you because you need coin instead for supplies? That makes no sense unless all you want is coin for recreation of other types. And I offered you a Master Healer’s services in scrolls and potions that could cure things that can kill you just by reciting a word or quaffing a vial of liquid. Such things are rare to come by and beyond the price of mere coin. I do not want to learn from the unwise. I’m sorry. But I think it best you seek work elsewhere. The truth is, the way you have represented yourselves here, tells me that you might not be the best of the instructors available.” She said firmly.

“And Tydus, if you want to be Lia, best loose the equipment between your legs and learn to make babies. You can’t be Lia for Calli. And walking all over her in business does neither her nor your pod any good.” The Konti said sadly, turning her icy pale gaze on Calli and wondering why in the world the woman let him get away with it. Kavala was schooled in observation and hadn't missed the woman's eyes on Tydus when he'd called Kavala lovely. Kavala tossed her head, almost like one of her beloved horses, causing the long almost translucent locks of pale hair to resettle around her shoulders again. Moving was better than talking and saying something else she would regret. The Dreamwalker wanted to tell the young Lia she was better off taking lovers among men that respected her, not those that only cowed to the rules because they were born the wrong sex to lead. If they were bedmates, and Kavala thought perhaps they were, it showed a weakness in Tydus' character as well that he'd openly flirt with a stranger in front of a lover, even if it was just a means to an end.

The Konti would have gladly offered the shy girl her friendship, but in doing so she'd have to drill some common sense into her because shy women that stood back and let men do their business for them only got dead in the world they lived in faster than they tended to find any real happiness. And in standing back, she was acting like no real Lia at all.