Pandora's Chest [closed]

[Tarot]

First days of Fall, 509 AV
South of Syliras, on the shores of the Sea of Suvan

It was late in the morning, and it started to rain. It came down lazily, just hard enough to tickle and moisten. The cloudy sky cast a greyish tint upon the landscape, mostly devoid of life. This place was within a couple days' travel from the gates of Syliras, along the imaginary line dividing slightly-more-civilized Sylira and the untamed plains of Cyphrus. Sailors had reported seeing something like a shipwreck on these shores, but the Syliran Knights had not found the time to check it out yet. The news had quickly spread around the inns and taverns, though, and it was just a matter of time before people would come and see if there was any truth to the rumors.

As it was, the crew had been correct. Crates and assorted washed up flotsam littered the rough, coarse-grained beach. The carcass of a small sailing vessel - a schooner for anyone with enough nautical savvy - could be seen, impaled on the sharp, young rocks of the recently formed Suvan Sea. It had not completely sunk yet, though getting there would require a bit of a swim. The sails had been lost to the sea, and only stubs were left of the two sleek masts that had graced the vessel when she was alive.

The sea seemed relatively calm as it danced under the light rain. No particular sounds other than the gentle rhythm of the waves filled the crisp autumn air. This place looked beautifully dead, much like most of the Mizaharian wilderness. The Valterrian had reshaped the very meaning of life in this world. Before the cataclysm, these areas had been densely populated, albeit constantly war-torn as they lay on the border between the two great powers. The land was resting now, as if enjoying a good night's sleep after centuries of exploitation and bloodshed.

[Kebdl Amradji]

Fall, Day 44, 509 AV

Damned gods... damned weather... damned rain... damned oxen... Why not take a trip, Kebdl? Get some fresh air.. you'll get paid to travel.. it'll be easy..

He spat into the mud beside the wagon as it trundled along. It had rained almost the entire journey from the gates of Syliras. Day and night. Sure, it was a light rain, but even a sprinkle turned the roads to rivers of mud if it didn't stop once in a while. As it was, he'd had to leave the road and get onto the grassy plain to manage anything more than a crawl. Even then, his pace was still slowed by the need to watch for holes so the oxen didn't break their legs.

Kebdl had no idea how far he was from the wreck. He'd left the road on the sea-side, so he could see the rocky shore through the misty curtain of rain. The waves were a constant roar to his right, even though the sea was fairly calm. The jagged rocks and hidden caves amplified the sound until it seemed a great beast was tracking his movements.

The clouds made telling the time difficult, other than ascertaining that it was still daytime. He knew it must be morning, the third day since he'd left Syliras. If he didn't find this wreck soon, he was ready to turn around, tell the client there wasn't anything worth taking, and take the 13 gold Mizas.

Lo and behold, as if his thoughts had conjured it, a dark shape materialized out of the rain. His eyes drank the sight in, registering every detail he could make out. As the situation sank it, he let out a long string of curses.

"I hate swimming.."

[Niall Raghnall]

The Syliras Knights had left the finding of the shipwreck to the scouts of the order. There had been no word in the city that a ship had gone missing nor was one expected in that had not come. This put the priority of the search low in comparison to their other tasks. Thus looking for the remains rested upon a squire of the order within the scouts, Niall.

He was not thrilled with the idea of a shoreline goose chase for something only being spread around as rumor. his main task was to look for survivors and aid them as necessary. He was pretty certain that any survivors were already dead ro were well enough to make the short journey to Syliras. He really felt like the order was sending a grunt to do a grunt's job. That was why he felt so negative towards the whole thing.

Deep inside it only made Iwyn laugh at him. The idea of two souls intertwined within one body was still hard to accept. But inside him was the soul of his twin; his dark brother. Niall may have found the duality of the Akalak strange, but he loved his brother all the same. It felt natural in a twisted sort of way. There were times he wondered why Wysar had allowed Akajia to have placed this dark secret upon the race ... but why question the desires of the gods. you'd never get an answer and only go crazy trying to imagine why.

Niall had his lakan sheathed at his side and his bow and quiver slung across his back. The morning air was not too uncomfortable, but the rain was as annoying as being tied down and someone softly tapping their finger against your chest. He pulled the hood of his cloak up over his head as he continued on. His taks may have felt miniscual, but he would perform his duty as top priority none the less. Tracing the shore line he looked for tracks along the ground while scouring the shoreside looking for the wreckage.

Niall hoped that scavangers would not be pilfering the remains and dishing out threats to those that came near. he had a task to accomplish and wasn't in the mood to let Iwyn kill anyone today.

[Malia]

Sometimes Malia felt an urge to do unreasonable things. For example wandering out of the city and strolling through the wilderness for a few days.

It had been raining for days and days, endless grey and sometimes pale blue threads were falling from heaven, connecting the sky with the ground and making the whole world sadder. During rain times people hid at their firepits, close to each other, telling stories and enjoying the warmth. However, Malia did not. There was no family, no firepit, since she didn’t see any sense in creating impressions she didn’t rely on.

And while others, humans and Kelvic and other races, were grateful for shelter and company, the Nuit sought loneliness and bad weather. Walking through the rain somehow freed the mind – even more so when one didn’t have to worry about catching an illness or starving or collapsing due to exhaustion during the journey. Her mind emptied more and more with every step she made. She simply followed the coastline. Since she had already moved in the opposite direction some time ago, exploring the forest and Pavi Lake, it was only natural to explore the rest of Syliras’ neighborhood.

When she eventually spotted the wreck, her condition wasn’t too bad. Of course she was completely soppy, her cloak wasn’t of much use anymore, her boots were stained with dirt and worse things – new ones would be necessary – and she hadn’t seen a living being for days. But her mind felt refreshingly light.

For once recognizing humans at the shore didn’t bother her in the slightest. After days of sleepless loneliness, community with nature, she couldn’t be bothered by the sight of the living. They meant nothing, they weren’t of any importance in the great, dangerous wilderness. Powerless, insignificant.

Still she approached and watched them from the distance, curious about what they would do. Did they look for treasures, money, people who had survived, dead corpses? Or did they come because of the vessel? Malia assumed that wood couldn’t be too expensive these days, with big forests near the city.

And if they swam? Would she follow? The truth was, she didn’t know whether she was still able to. While she considered the possibility, tried to remember movement, images came to her mind, about creatures of the sea, dangerous beasts, sharp rocks hidden under the waves … Her ichor would spill and slowly sink to the ground like milk, precious white blood, her body would look like drowned. Hah, as if a Nuit without a need to breathe could drown!

No, Malia preferred to remain and observe.

[Vaine]

Sifting through the playful density of shattered wood, a ragged figure waded knee deep amidst the wreckage. Wet clothes clung to his body while a dry cloak waved from the distant shore. Sand pressed between his bare toes as the hunter licked the salt from a half healed wound on his lips. He hadn't a name, but they called him Vaine.. among other things. He was Akalak - dressed in a short sleeved scarlet top and patchwork leather britches. Remains of a nightgown or tunic wrapped tightly around his left shoulder and forearm; old wounds patched up by bandages that needed redressing.

The warrior moved like a hungry animal, swaying his arms smoothly from right to left with out even a thought for his appearance, pulling his legs further through the mire. He searched amidst the crates, prying them open with his strength or the leverage of rusting metal. His dagger felt like a weight of lead digging into his hip bone, but covered in the liberated sash of a shylock it was a comfort he wouldn't soon forget.
Vaine hadn't bathed in quite some time, so this ebb and flow held the dull press of practicality, yet it only drowned the ticks. He would shed these garments soon like identities and move on. Waves suited him.. for he had no land or connection to one, simply moved from place to place like the driftwood between his hands.

[Ryndra]

Rain? Were the Gods trying to make her day even harder? Ryndra hung her head slightly, keeping her eyes on the ground in front of her. She looked up occasionally, trying to spot the dark shape of the Akalak she had been told to find. Her mind fell to the last time she had been told to go out on her own. That had not gone well. Had word not been passed through the Order or was this Akalak of such little importance that nobody really cared if he came back? She doubted that, but venturing out of Syliras alone could be a dangerous thing.
Ryndra’s feet were aching again from the run. She’d had to make good time to try and reach her fellow squire before something, if anything got to him. Her boots were caked in mud and her coat, though reasonably waterproof, was becoming a lot heavier with the rain. It could have been worse, she reasoned but the niggling voice in her mind told her it could be better. She tried to remain positive. She was out of that oppressive city once more. Now used to how the place made her feel, getting out of it was becoming a rare occurrence and she had almost jumped at the chance to leave.
Tyeth help her should she not find him at the wreckage already. She crested the last hill and her eyes fell on Niall. This brightened her mood. Her chest rose and fell with heavy breathing as she gathered herself and made her way down towards him.
“You’re a hard man to find, Squire Raghnall,” she spoke once she was in hearing range, a tangible amount of exhaustion present in her voice. But she held herself as she always did, standing upright and unfaltering.

[Tarot]

Different people are out for different things. Distraction, enlightenment, duty, or simply greed; they were all well-represented in those who arrived, more or less at the same time, at the location of the shipwreck. A lonely Autumn morning that they would likely remember for a long, long time.

Malia came from straight North, walking along the seaside. It wasn't the easiest route to tread, but she did not have to worry about fatigue, for she was dead. As she walked, words ebbed and flowed into her mind, words from her lost "master" nagging her not to spend too much time in the water, especially salt water. It made a body decay four times faster, he would sometimes remind her. Where was he, now? Every step Malia took in the world resonated with his distant presence. Somehow, he still existed, but where?

Kebdl may have been less than pleased with the job, but at least it was a job, and a man could not be too particular about his job nowadays. The oxen had done their part getting him so far, but they seemed to be getting slightly nervous for some reason as the beach came into view. Even notoriously docile beasts turned hesitant and had to think twice before advancing further. Yet there was no immediate danger in sight, was there?

Niall and Ryndra were slightly behind, but they had done what any good scout would, conquering a vantage point atop a low hill that allowed them to get a full view of the surrounding landscape. They could see Malia's calm approach from the North, and Kebdl's arrival via wagon. And... they could see the fifth participant in today's little show, as well.

A pilferer, as it were. Vaine had come from the South, and his first and foremost thought had been one of loot, regardless of anything else. Wet wood gave way easily under his strength, lids falling and splinters flying. The more he closed in on the center of the shipwrecked cargo, the more interesting the findings. This had been a big one. Pottery first; Vaine could not tell its artistic value, but it was mostly broken anyways. Cups, bottles, generic trading articles... many types of wares. Almost too many. Leathers, furs, food, statuettes. There was a little bit of everything, and he had but started to scratch the surface. The latest crate returned bottles of spices... and, curiously, a small dead butterfly. Its wings were a vibrant blue, and the species did not seem native to Sylira.

Quite a few crates were yet to be opened, and the others may want to join in, or interact with each other.

[Kebdl Amradji]

As Kebdl pulled the reins to bring the Oxen to a stop, he chanced to glance up at the hill to the south. He couldn't make out much through the rain, but what he saw, two figures in a position to see all that occurred today, made him pause to reconsider. Eyes narrowed, he slowly dismounted from the wagon and reached under the seat, opening a compartment beneath the boards to draw out a wax-paper wrapped bundle. Inside, carefully protected against the rain, were his weapons. He took the Gladius that had belonged to his father, checking to make sure it was loose in the scabbard and ready to draw. As he drew aside his cloak to strap it on, the light glinted dully on his breastplate.

He left the short sword and bastard sword in the bundle, and replaced it in the compartment under the seat. Keeping a careful eye on the figures on the hilltop, Kebdl made his way down the slope to the sands. As his feet moved from rocky shoreline to loose sand, he finally had a much clearer view of the wrecked vessel, and the contents it had left scattered along the beach. He hesitated when he saw the man digging through the crates, and laid a hand casually on the hilt of his gladius as he slowly edged forward, doing his best to make it clear he didn't intend to precipitate any violence.

His gaze having never traveled north, he hadn't noticed the other traveler coming up behind him.

[Niall Raghnall]

Niall had been watching his surroundings and the shoreline not wanting to fall into the middle of danger while looking for the wreckage. This made identifying Rynda fairly easy since he was in the open lands and not dashing in and out of trees. It only took a few moments to realize she was coming towards him, so Niall slowed his pace considerably until she caught him. He did not remember ever having a conversation with the woman, but there were not so many knights that the squires were unaware of whom each other were.

"There will come a day, I hope, that finding me will become the hardest thing anyone ever had to do, or else I will be a worthless scout," he replied with a small laugh. He knew she was training to be a knight within the horseman and was already pretty darn good with her blade. Niall could fight with his lakan, but he was a man of the outdoors and prefered the use of his hands over any weapon though he did not mind weilding the javelin. Everyone had value within the knighthood, and Rynda was a woman who sought honor better than some men. In this she had a small amount of reputation.

Niall, on the other hand, knew what he was being Akalak. There was a dark side within him that needed fed, or else it would take over. It had been twenty years but one common rumor about him would have been the day he nearly killed two other squires. Only the knight that trained him, Captain Knight Albrek Degan, would ever know why he'd done what he'd done, and Niall would always leave it that way. Many believe Niall was only still in the order because of the Captain Knight and his high position of authority in the knighthood. In some ways this was true, but Niall was the longest running squire in the order, most went from Squire to knight once they came of age, because he had a lot more to prove to the elders. He would do what he must in order to bring honor to his family. Niall was not evil by any means, he cared for the safety of all those in Syliras and those people less fortunate. He merely held an 'ends justifies the means' approach to handling things. He fought with honor, but he'd kill in an instance. It was the Captain Knight who had recommended Nial to pursue a scout career because of his beliefs. Captain Knight Albrek Degan knew Niall would serve the needs of the knighthood best within this regiment.

"I guess the order did not like me handling this situation alone after all since you have come to join me. So far I have not even encountered as much as one set of tracks, we might as well stick together instead of me taking point."

As the two came within vantage point of the wreckage, Niall spotted the others coming to investigate as well. One was a human male and had the equipment and look of a warrior. He also did not look like any of those he'd seen or met within the knighthood. The second was an Akalak like himself. His people were men of discipline and respect from the moment they were born. But they had a dark half as well and if this half was in control, then the Akalak would be the hardest of the male adversaries. The third was a woman who did not look to pose a threat. Not because of her size because Rynda was not a big woman, this woman looked frail and weak. Niall would hold no trust, but would not concern himself with this woman first.

"Keep your eyes on the human warrior, I shall watch the Akalak, and let us stay close to each other. Our primary concern is the potential survivor. Scavange as you must, keep whatever you like, but let us pray that someone has survived. It would be nice to find out what happened here."

Niall made his way down to the wreckage sight taking note that the Akalak had made it first, and the human warrior upon the wagon was right behind him and Rynda. The human had shown signs of a non aggressive nature which made him feel more comfortable regarding the fella. The Akalak he was still unsure of.

"My name is Squire Raghnall and this is Squire Stormwulf. We have been sent by the Knights of Syliras to aid any potential survivors, NOT to take claim over the wreckage. No one has claim to what is spread out since it would appear that you've come for a chance at finding valuables. Enjoy your search and good luck. Keep things peaceful, and we will not be in your way. If you do find a body, please let us know so we can attempt to find out what has taken place here. Thank you."

Niall scanned the shoreline first for bodies and then stepped into the water ckecking all things floating in hopes that a survivor would be using it as a floatation device. If he happened to find a trinket along the way he would pocket it, but it was not his primary concern.

[Malia]

While slowly continuing to approach the place where the ship’s remains were scattered at the beach she suspiciously watched other people approaching. One from nearly the same direction than her, two from the east. Oh, and one from the south. She wondered where the last one was coming from, what he expected from the objects lying around. Was he some sort of hermit?

To be honest, the various little treasures caught her interest as well, but she was unsure whether she should approach the other people who had come to take a look at the wreck. The duo from the east apparently had a mission, and the guy she had spotted first didn’t seem to have any plan at all.

She would have continued at her usual pace, but … fear of the water kept her from doing so. Waves, licking sand and wood, other material, everything. Like skin. Like dead skin. And then, she suddenly remembered her Master’s voice, telling her about salt water as though he was standing next to her. Never swim in salt water. Never. Your body will decay incredibly fast, four times faster actually. You swim for fifteen minutes – and need a new body afterwards.

Please, be careful, Malia.

His words echoed inside her head, creating a warm and fuzzy feeling … like being alive …

Then the rain hit her again, and she was back at the beach, her dirty leather boots slowly sinking in the wet, soft sand. She forcefully pulled them out again and continued approaching the small group. Her curiosity was stronger than fear.

Still, she would stay away from the water!

She nearly twitched in surprise when the armed Akalak started to speak. So he confirmed that they could take what they wanted and call it their own? But why would he even bother to tell them so? She had already assumed as much on her own. Then she took a closer look, and remembered his exact words. Squire … so they were members of the knighthood. The woman too? Interesting information, indeed. Malia kept watching both, but especially the woman who looked so calm and friendly, but in fact was a warrior.

Humans, but still … their lives were as unique as an undead’s.

At the same time, she was wandering through what was half-buried in the sand and curiously watched what she discovered. Something exciting? Something telling the story of the ship? Something useful even?

Although it was hard to tell what could be useful for a Nuit, naturally.