Solo [The Docks] A Call Home

[Nanuk]

43 Winter 513 AV

And as the woman turned to him,
A toad did come out!

Nanuk sat on the docks with his finished tune as triumphantly as he could. He looked around to see if anyone listened or cared. Nobody. Granted, people existed. They milled by uncaring from one end of the dock to another. He hung his head, eyes burgeoning a pale red in frustration. He'd tried every song he'd known, and hadn't gotten so much as a copper in the past hour. It was as though this town's appreciation of music or laughter was sucked out with the cold. He'd tried the center of town, and other areas too. He hardly got the coin he needed to survive in the taverns at night, and he'd never known people to give much during the day. Were he home in Alvadas, the coin would be flowing to give him a modest, but good life. Not to mention how uncomfortable his color-changing eyes made the locals. He saw what they did with a Kelvic once, those knights....he shivered, and took a drink from his water skin.

What do you want? He asked himself bitterly. You left home to travel the world and have great adventures. Did you expect it to be easy? Did you expect to be wealthy in days?

No. He certainly didn't. But there weren't even any adventures! He was playing the same songs to the same people for half a season. No adventurers would take him along, so he had no ballads to write. Sylir knows the knights wouldn't take baggage like him along. His belly ached, his lips dry, his eyes bagging.

Sleep. That's what he needed. Packing his things, he stood with his drum strapped to his side, a light pack on one shoulder. As he began walking, a boat docked from Alvadas. He paused for a moment. Homesick green eyes stared at the colorful masts, at the colorful people that were coming off the ship. He could wait a chime or two to talk with some locals.

A man came off onto the docks, wearing a thick wool cloak against the cold. It was of many colors, with gorgeous silver embroidery. He recognized that man - He was a cloth merchant that Nanuk had played for a few times when he first began his bard's work. A bright white smile crossed his face, a brilliant blue in his eyes. "Phaedrin!" Nanuk called. The merchant stopped stroking his mustache and met the Vanthan with a surprised, but happy expression. "Nanuk!" He returned, meeting the bard in a casual embrace. "By Ionu's name, what are you doing here? I'd meant to call on you for an event, but I was told you moved out of town." Phaedrin scoffed at the man, as though remembering his own disbelief at that news. "You'd always done well in Alvadas. Why are you in Syliras?"

Nanuk sighed heavily, hands open as though he didn't have the answer. "I wanted to become a world-renowned bard," He said simply. "Which means traveling all over, having adventures, writing songs. It turns out, that's a lot harder than it sounds. I'm barely getting by here, to be honest, friend. I'm beginning to wonder if glory truly exists out here." He lowered his voice in volume, but raised it in shock. "Everyone's just so serious here! It's as though these Knights passed a law that none shall be happy."

Phaedrin nodded sympathetically, patting an aging hand on the younger man. "A noble venture, but I'm sorry to hear it not doing so well. Is there anything I can do to help?"

Nanuk chuckled, shaking his head. "I'll not ask you for coin. I'm not a beggar. But it's alright. Perhaps, I ought to return home. There's nothing here for me. I'd just hate to give up on adventuring so easily, after only half a season's effort-"

Phaedrin's eyes widened and he snapped his fingers continuously, wetting his lips as a thought came to him. "You know, I heard of a performing group starting in Alvadas! Word says, if they can get enough good talent, they'll try to become a traveling band! They were looking for a bard!"

Nanuk's eyes lit up with some hope. "Where did you hear this? How long ago?" He questioned eagerly. A traveling troupe of performers was perfect. That was his fatal flaw all along. How can one expect to have adventures in as dangerous a world as Mizahar traveling alone? He felt so stupid for not realizing that in the first place.

"Just before I left," Phaedrin recalled airily, peering at the clouds as his weathered mind pieced his memory together. "I was in the market, I believe. Oh lad, you ought to run home! Sometimes you need to go backwards to go forwards, eh?" His dark eyes crinkled at the youth, or at least what he saw to be the youth.

Nanuk's stomach growled triumphantly at the prospect of being home, where busking actually got you enough to eat. "How long will you be in the city. Can I return with you?"

Phaedrin pursed his lips, fingers clasping and unclasping habitually. The many rings clinked against one another. "Two weeks. A bit long, if you want to return in time to snatch up their job position. Though, a passenger boat was scheduled to leave the day after we set sail. They shouldn't be more than a day or two behind us, and they'll turn around much quicker."

The grin couldn't be wiped off Nanuk's face. "Dear Phaedrin, you may call upon me at any time when I return home. I'd gladly play for you again, free of charge for this great news!"

The man chortled, his slightly swollen belly chortling with him. "That won't be necessary. My daughter does miss hearing you play, though. I'll seek you out if I have another event."

Nanuk nodded happily. "I trust she's still growing like a weed?"

"Oh, yes. I wonder sometimes if Ionu adds an inch every time I look away. Her Tenth nameday will be in the spring."

Nanuk chuckled. "Well, call on me at home if you want my services. If I'm to leave in the next day, I've much I need to sort out. Thank you dearly for your help, again, my friend." They clasped arms with strength and respect.

"Of course, of course," Phaedrin said off hand. His employees tugged at him, nodding to some local merchants here to make purchases. "It seems I must also take my leave. If I don't see you between now and then, dear boy, safe journey!"

"And to you!" Nanuk half called over his shoulder as he began jogging back to his apartment. The smile on his face couldn't be dampened by the confused, bitter faces around him. He was going home.

[Vanari]

Nanuk

Observation	+1 XP
Interrogation	+1 XP
Rhetoric	+1 XP
Singing	+1 XP
Interrogation	+1 XP

Lores :

• Rough Winter in Syliras
• Phaedrin: Cloth Merchant
• Syliras: Why So Serious?
• A Traveling Troupe in Alvadas!
• A Decision To Return Home

Notes :

Please don't hesitate to PM me with questions, comments, or concerns! Also, remember to either delete your grade request or edit it as "graded."

Cheers