Open Welcome Aboard

[Kayak]

READ ME FIRST : Timestamp: Spring 59, 517 Status: Open, accepting PCs Rules: Stick to Post Order, Reply to mod replies within 96 hours (4 days). No post means I will skip over you to reply to others. If you're skipped, you must PM me to join back in. If no one replies during that time frame, I will put this thread on back burner. If unable to post in the time frame, provide a PM reason BEFORE the 96 hours passes. I will work with you and the others to make it work Quest Etiquette by Gossamer via Prophet Quest Etiquette can be a real make or break thing in terms of a quest. Players sin and moderators sin. Sometimes I wonder if its because players have no idea what true quest etiquette is? Do moderators? From years of D&D tabletop I've formed what MY OPINION of quest etiquette is. I go by it now on Mizahar. Be sure you review this if your in one of my quests and try to adhere to the basic premise of this post. If your a moderator, make sure you are trying to enforce these things in your quests. Otherwise, your quest party is full of douchebags and you should just run their horses off a cliff and end the bad behavior once and for all. Acknowledge the other people in a quest. Note their actions in your post by reacting to them even if its just a brief line or two. Don’t ignore their presence. It’s rude beyond belief to come into a quest and solo it without paying attention to the others in the party. The same thing is true if people break into subgroups and ignore the other subgroups. Subgroups are fine as long as everyone is a part of one and they note each other’s actions and include each other and everyone else in their posts. Acknowledge the actions of others in the quest. You aren’t in a solo moderated thread. Note others actions as part of your response and put some opinion of the action in there. Do you approve? Are they being stupid? Make that part of your post. Argue with their action if you disagree or try to block it. That’s all part of the fun. Agree with it? Help them do the action! Step up and say great idea and lend a hand. The biggest crime in a quest thread is to ignore a fellow quester. Establish what your PC is wearing/wielding/and has on their person. Magically appearing gear is annoying in any sort of quest. That goes double for the whole ‘its in my bag at all times things’. Please make sure in your initial post to establish to yourself and the others what your PC is wearing, holding, and carrying for the duration of the quest. If your allowed to take the time to ‘gear up’ then go get your full gear and re-establish what you have in a post following a ‘gear up’ session. That way one can avoid the magical bag of ‘everything even the kitchen sink is in here’ and yet your pc moves unencumbered through the quest. Don’t poach information. If one character learns of something by their actions, its up to them to share that information with the party. If they don’t then you don’t know it. So long as they are paying attention to you and acknowledging your actions, its perfectly fine to withhold information. Stick to the posting order. This goes along with information poaching. Try very hard to post in the order the original postings were made. This gives everyone an equal chance to post and react in the order they carried out actions and learned things. Skipping posting order is only okay if a moderator says it is or the moderator is tired of waiting for one slow poster to post. Don’t stand and do nothing. No one likes a PC who’s in a quest just to observe. This is a huge waste of time too. Don’t do nothing and don’t actually join a quest thread if you think all you are going to do on your first post is observe. Moderators hate that and might get spiteful towards your PC if all you are doing is lookilooing the whole time. Perform actions, ask questions, and think heavily about what might be going on. Do things you can do. Don’t do things you can’t do. Are you a fighter? Fight then. Are you a wizard? Perform magic. Healers can heal. Everyone can look and observe for things. But if your unskilled at something like say disarming traps, don’t try to disarm traps. You’re going to get your stupid ass killed and probably those around you. Quest parties form organically and come together in a way where everyone has a role. Play your role. Don’t suddenly think your superman when you’re a three inch pycon. Those roles don’t work. Play roles that work. Make quest posting a priority. If you are in a moderated thread, post to that FIRST before you post to your solos or socials. They are important to the moderators and the players so be sure you make it a priority to yourself as well. Keep information organized in your mind. Understand and keep it straight in your mind what is ‘general’ information that everyone learns and what is ‘private’ information that someone finds out. You can act on general information but not on private information unless it is private information you earned. Know your character limits. What is your characters size and strength? Can you lift that? Can you wield that? Does your character know what that thing is even if you do? Make sure you are aware of your lores and your skills. If you don’t have say a huge physical presence, don’t think you can lift a knight in full body armor as an average female and carry him out of a burning building. That probably won’t happen. You probably can’t even roll him over. Be aware of YOUR location and the locations of the rest of the group members. Describe where exactly you are standing carefully in the scene in relation to fixed objects or things that are the focal point of a scene. Are you right next to another group member? Are you standing behind the group ready to heal them? Are you kneeling in front examining something? Be specific. Remember, let everyone know where you are. Don’t stomp on anyone in making an action. Slide around someone if they are in front of you and what you want to do. This goes back to acknowledging someone is somewhere doing something. Acknowledge them. Just ask and you’ll know. Sounds like a simple thing right? But don’t assume anything. If you want to know more about something specifically examine it in your response. Ask in your post. “John Smith wondered how the man had managed to carry enough water to traverse the desert without dehydration. He should have been dehydrated right? So John decided to check his gear and see if there was any evidence as to how it was done.” Boom. You’ve just asked the Mod how something happened and made it clear you were looking for the answer. Now it’s the mods turn to do their job and tell you in their response to your actions. “After a few minutes of searching, John found a bag of holding that had five hundred canteens, most of which were still full, all stuffed inside it.” Don’t assume. Ask! Let the Moderator know how you’re feeling about their quest. Are you bored? Have your PC yawn in boredom. Are you feeling left out or ignored? Write about that. It’s their job as a moderator for everyone to have fun as they tell a story to you. If you’re not having fun or there’s nothing for your PC in the quest so far, let them know by writing about it. They can and will adjust the story accordingly. Though remember, there are two types of quests. One is a sign up quest where a story should be tailored to every PC that signs up. And there are random posted quests you join. The random posted quests are the luck of who shows up first and its less about the PCs and more about the story in that case. Don't criticize the moderator. They are doing it for your fun and their own enjoyment. Go easy on them. Understand that a good moderator might be flexible with the rules to preserve pacing or flow and add an element of the fantastical to the story. This goes for undermining the narrative, too. “This seems straight out of last months' Letters to Penthouse, Jen. What's the deal?” Note That might not be cool to point out. Just go with it. A good mod will change the ending or the middle and if you hate the quest you can not opt in on another one of theirs later down the line. Also, if you’re noticing inconsistencies, and can’t help it, try phrasing it in the form of a question. E.g., Is this the same begger we met in the last scene? If so, why is his peg leg on the right now instead of the left? Is that really necessary to point out? Probably not. The whole point is that hes a peg-leg dude and leave it at that. It might even be intentional. Is he an illusion that has changed over time? The changes might be hidden clues. Don't engage in non-rewarding conflict or squabbling. Everyone knows that fighting among party members can be hugely distracting. try to limit this type of conflict to those instances which are dramatically rewarding. Contribute to the narrative as a PC rather than distract from it. This game is a social cooperative one. Players forget that. They like to grandstand defiance under the banner of staying true to a character concept. That's bullshit and everyone including themselves know it. The exception to this rule comes when tension or opposition within the party results in dramatic role-playing rewards. In order for the latter to work, remember, all PC’s need to be on the same page and it needs to be fully IC. OOC contempt for another players actions can't creep into the overall narrative or you're violating this rule. Understand your role in a quest as a party member. Your PCs presence in a quest should be to strengthen the bond of the party, support each other player’s character-concept in game, weave your story alongside the other characters’, and finally work together towards your goals. That's it! Everything else like comedic humor or superfluous knowledge is icing on the cake. And finally… Don’t void the social contract of quest fellowship! Remember, when you are joining a quest, you are agreeing to join a group and work towards a common goal for the benefit and fun of all the player and the characters in the group. This is a social contract! Avoid slavish behavior meaning a character acting in a way that makes no attempt at originality, constructive interpretation, or development. We all know the pc types. There’s always that pc who won’t go with the party even though the player has joined the quest because they don’t know the others, don’t trust the others, and can see no benefit in it for them. It’s your job as a player to suspend disbelief and find a reason to go and help and be in that group. It’s not the moderator’s job. It’s your job and your social contract of RP QUESTING that you signed. Follow through. The bright smile of Syna was rising across the sky, bringing the warmth of a new day. Just a bit past halfway through the season, and the pain's of Morwen's abandonment could already be felt by the most ordinary of Ravokians. Some of the very few farmers that lived upon Lakeshore were being hard pressed to make anything grow. A few had even given up the craft altogether, and moved back to the city proper to find new work. The wealthy still had access to the summer crops, beans, melons, cucumbers and the like, but at higher the cost, and certainly much more sparse. But as always, Ravokians would persevere. They would curse those foolish gods who spoiled the world with their selfishness, and speak higher praises to Rhysol who helped them to endure. Many even thought the recent storms were a gift from Rhysol to help combat the droughts and famine brought on by Morwen. So life went on for the average Ravokian, prices a bit higher, some niceties a bit rarer, but life was still good, and Rhysol was to thank for such blessings. As such, today was another nice day, and a new gift from Rhysol had just arrived upon the docks, courtesy of a finely built saique, the Pierskipper, a three masted ship chock full of the carts and goods brought by the latest trade caravan. The ship had docked at sunrise, and the merchants and laborers were unloading the goods at The Docks, just between the Slave Market and the Fishermen's Anchorage. There was a fair bit of space upon this platform, specifically for larger arrivals of goods. And it didn't take long for merchants to set up shop here, setting up tables or selling straight from their carriages. And word spread quickly, for this wasn't the usual caravan from Novallas, Syliras, or Nyka. No, this was an exotic caravan, all the way from Riverfall. All of the merchants were human, of course, but the goods were fascinating. "Getchya finest Rivarian wines here! I even got the famous Rusty Apple Wine, perfect for any fun occasion!" She had many bottles of Rivarian wine, of all grades, made of so many fruits. Apple, grapes, plum, cherry, apricot, raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, strawberry, any fruit that came from Riverfall, there was a wine to match. A small, blond woman, who appeared to already be tipsy on her own product, gladly sold by the bottle or the cup, especially if it brought stories and company to her stall. "I got crumbly Blue Goat cheese, loved by children and pairs well with salads, buy one wheel, get the second half off!" This man sold from a carriage that opened up one side, with a large variety of cheeses, hard and soft, with a cow named Pumpkin that mooed happily at each person that approached. His name was Gorra, and he gladly handed out samples to anyone who asked. Another man stood quietly at a table of gemstones, all brightly colored, and set alone, not yet formed into jewelry, with two imposing bodyguards, a large bald man, and a woman with a particularly alluring and scary smirk. He had no need to advertise, he knew what he sold and knew that those who could afford it would have enough knowledge on the product. Finally, only now descending the gangplank was an impressive haul of slaves, captured from around the city. A half dozen of the monstrous Akalak men, all fairly young, shirtless, clasped in wrist and ankle chains, their eyes still fierce in rebellion and anger were led through the marketplace and led toward the Slave Market. The new goods and merchants attracted all kinds to the Docks, and soon a crowd was growing, buzzing with the excitement. And the prices of the wine, as well as the abundance and generosity of the merchant led to a tipsy and loose crowd. Frivolity and relaxation was heavy in the air, and even with all the hardships lately, it was a lovely day in Ravok, for all. Well, all of the natives.

[Sayana]

The day was fresh and bright and already Sayana was out on the canals. Even in the early morning it was starting to warm up, which was why she had chosen to begin her rounds while it was still cool and she could make use of her cloak to cover her shoulders. The Eypharian’s ravosala was still sluggish as she poled, but she was less in danger of getting stuck in the middle of a canal or tipping the boat over. There seemed to be more of a buzz around the city despite the early hours, as she made her way past the core of Ravok.

With a hard thrust of her pole, she let the ravosala glide along the calm waters as she stared at the magnificent Temple of the Black Sun to her left, as it loomed over another grand building within the city centre.

“Oh petchers…” As she turned to look to where she was going, there was another ravosala shooting directly into her path. Quickly bracing her spare pole in front of her like a lance, she prepared to brush off the collision with a light poke. Except it turned into a ‘jab’ with an accompanying ‘thud’.

“Hey watch where you’re going!”

As she bit off a retort, her boat went spinning to the right from the impact. However, as she scowled back at the ravosalaman, she was pleased to see that it wasn’t just her boat that went off course. As she regained her pride, she found a dock pier to propel herself forwards and soon she was skimming the surface once more.

Just as she thought she was going to reach the far edge of the city, she spied a tall man laden with several wooden crates. For a tick or two, she just stared, wondering how he managed to carry so much with just a mere two arms. She quickly realized she could make use of the situation and gave another push with her pole towards him. As the boat glided in, she stood up and waved a hand at the burdened man.

“Good morning Sir! It is a fine day to be out on the canals. Although I do not mean to pry, it seems as though you could use some help with your burdens. It would be my pleasure to take you wherever you so desire. Yourself and your belongings, all included.”

She chose an eloquent tone to go with the eloquent speech. Even though she had a cloak about her shoulders, it was open enough to view the red and black satin dress she wore.

There was a moment’s hesitation and then the man spoke as he approached. “I don’t normally treat myself to a ride in a fine ravosala, but with seven crates and a smile like yours…” He flashed a grin at Sayana before offering her one of the wooden containers. “My name’s Grayson. Grayson of the Malt House.”

When she didn’t respond immediately to his introduction and instead focused on piling in his crates without letting her cloak slip, he seemed to immediately take her for a newcomer despite being a ravosalman. But instead of scorning her, he started to talk about his establishment, the wines, the beers, the company…

“So Mr. Grayson, where are you headed this morning?” Sayana asked once she had finally loaded all his wares and they were securely positioned.

“Ah! Of course. The beauty wouldn’t know. I am headed to the southwest corner of the city, just next to the Fisherman’s Anchorage. A new shipment has arrived from Riverfall and there are bound to be fine wines to stock up on.” He gestured momentarily to his vast number of crates. “The weather has been poor for wines up here and I can only hope that those down south have fared better.”

Sayana nodded with a smile and soon they were off. However, the mention of Riverfall tugged painfully at her heart and she was reminded of the lacun mark upon her lower chest. Still, she kept up a friendly composure and let the man, Grayson, and apparently a bartender, chatter away as they went.

Guided by his direction, they neared the docking area as people and boats thronged about them. Even as she helped him unload, she was showered with more stories and compliments. However, as they exchanged coin and she tucked the mizas away into a pocket, her cloak slipped. The bartender suddenly pursed his lips with narrowed eyes and in the next tick he had turned his back on her without so much as a good bye.

A soft sigh of disappointment tinged with bitterness escaped her lips. Just as she thought she was making progress with someone.

Well, now that she was here and with all the festivities going on, she might as well make the most of it and attempt to enjoy herself. The Eypharian tied up her ravosala using a wooden pier and adjusted her cloak before setting out through the babble of people. If nothing else, she could blend in with the excitement of the crowd. Hawkers were calling out their goods and she notably stayed away from the calls about wine.

Something else stopped her in her tracks though. Filing out in a single line were several young Akalaks, but despite the fierceness in their eyes, they were all chained at the ankle. Normally the Eypharian slave owner felt unperturbed by displays of slavery. However there were two races she had no intention of enslaving in the future. Her own, and the race of her ex husband.

Credit: Shimoje

[Kayak]

A small tug upon Sayana's cloak was felt just after the Akalak slaves disappeared from view. Standing behind her, a small human girl, with a gap filled toothy grin, presenting her with a waterlily, just like the one in her own straight hair. "I wants hair like yours. So pretty. How come your skin is so dark? Didja stay in the sun too long? I turn red when I do that. But brown is nicer than red. And red hurts. Lots. Didja see those blue guys? Marybelsa, my bestest friend, says theys blue cuz they eat too many berries. I think its paint. Cuz I eat lots of berries and I've never changed colors." The girl stood around expectantly, waiting for Sayana to adorn the waterlily like herself. She couldn't have been more than seven winters old or so. And like with most children, her attention span waned and she was soon looking out over at the lack, just past the boat. Another ship, with deep red sails, surprisingly red, was heading for the docks. Most ships' sails were the color of canvas, some darker from being woven with reed fibers for extra strength. It was a water glider, and a large one at that, built for speed, and comfort of its passengers, for it was only made for human cargo. As with all water gliders, it had two hulls that dipped a bit below the surface of the water, where the cabins were kept, and connected overhead by a large platform. This one also maintained a net between them, below the platform, for relaxing in the surf. The little girl pointed excitedly, "Look how red it is! So pretty!" Other people began to notice the odd ship, and there was murmuring going around as it continued to press forward. Something wasn't right, but the people paying attention weren't the experienced sailors to notice the anomaly immediately. The single main sail was completely unfurled, to catch as much wind as possible, pushing it toward the docks. And it stayed that way as it grew closer and closer, straight toward Sayana's and the girl's position. The dockworkers immediately began shouting and running out of the path of the oncoming boat, panic set into the crowd, everyone began running. Except for the little girl. She just clutched onto Sayana's clothes and refused to move, stricken with fear. With a splintering crash, the twin hulls smashed through the dock, and the ship was driven up onto the platform. Sliding over the wood, smashing everything in its path, boards and debris were kicked up everywhere, people screaming, as the chaos took over the marketplace. The ship didn't seem to show any sign of stopping as it beelined straight for Sayana and the girl.

[Sayana]

At the small tug, the Eypharian turned around and noticed the young girl with a flower in her hair. She seemed to be without any parents but it didn’t strike her as out of the ordinary. The impromptu market place was full of people, young and old alike, and such was bound to be an exciting event for a child.

Sayana bent down and graciously accepted the waterlily from the girl. She tucked it behind her ear and asked, “How does it look? It matches yours.” The young girl chattered away, remarking on Sayana’s skin colour and that of the Akalaks. It was strange to think of a child growing up so removed from other races. In her own home city, she had certainly felt disdain for various two-armed folk, but she had seen such a variety amongst the slaves that she had rarely encountered someone who legitimately surprised or disgusted her.

“See when I was growing up, I stayed out in the sun all day, every day. And my mother before that, and her mother before that… And now I have brown skin. Sometimes the gods grant us beautiful things, whether we want it or not. Like your flower.”

Sayana looked up curiously when the girl pointed out the incoming ship. While she didn’t notice anything in particular with the sails, she did notice the speed at which it was coming in. However, she was half expecting it to swing around to the side with the dexterity of a ravosala.

When the first shout came, that’s when it actually dawned on her the danger they were in. Without hesitation, she scooped up the little girl in her low and mid arms and pushed with the crowd away from the incoming ship. Then she remembered her ravosala. It was docked nearby and could have easily been in the path of destruction. Fighting against the crowd and clutching the girl tight, she forced her way to the canal. With her high left, she drew a dagger and cut the rope tying her boat to the dock. She gave a push of the ravosala, planning to hop in, yet that was the moment when the water glider crashed into the dock.

The noise was shattering and the impact knocked both Sayana and her charge into the water. While boards and wood were splintered above, the sound was deadened as the Eypharian plunged underwater with a sea of bubbles surrounding her. The screech of wood sliding against wood was muffled as Sayana kicked towards the surface. Somehow during the fall into the canal, she had lost her hold on the little girl. Momentarily in a panic, she spread out all her arms trying to find the girl in the sea of white. She hit an arm, and with relief she grabbed it and pulled them both up until her head broke the surface.

Gasping for air, she was glad to see that it was indeed the little girl. As Sayana tried to grab onto the dock with her high hands, she saw that the platform was splintered and broken. A few safe hand holds remained and she grasped them as she tugged the little girl along. So long as the girl seemed conscious, Sayana would wrap her low arm around her little waist to support her.

“It’s okay, everything is going to be alright.” She spoke over the noise and confusion above. But her words were not just regular comforting. They were layered with djed to imbue a feeling of trust and safety. It was the instinctual resort to hypnotism that only an expert would do without a second thought.

Credit: Shimoje

[Kayak]

The little girl calmed only a bit more, feeling the comfort given off by Sayana. She held onto the hypnotist as if she were family, though not quite as she would her mother. More like if she were an aunt. The little girl was looking over Sayana's shoulder as the woman held her tight. The little girl's eyes watched Sayana's ravosala floating away, safe from the initial collision. It bobbed up and down among the shock waves, as it cut through the water, nosing through a particularly shiny patch of water. One that gave off glints of rainbow colorings in a blobular pool that spread out wide across the water, pouring from a large barrel. It wasn't labeled, but there was a large cart of barrels from which it came. The dock creaked and moaned as the weight of the ship shifted and settled. One of the two hulls was cattycornered over the dock, crushing it and blocking any travel up and down the pier. Climbing over it might be possible for one with confidence and sure footing, but not for the faint of heart. The other hull was down in the water, forcing the entire ship to lean toward port. Between the two hulls, as with most water gliders, was a large net, used as a massive hammock for passengers to enjoy the journey while close to water. This net hung beneath the cabin, and it seemed this one was heavy with something, but from Sayana's vantage point, it was difficult to see. The little girl, calmer now, began to look around, when a small plop was heard. The girl flinched in surprise, her hand reaching up to her forehead. When she pulled it back, her hand was bloody, thick, dark blood that was beginning to congeal. She screamed loudly in Sayana's ear as she pointed upward at the sails. The sails weren't dyed red, they were painted and dripping with blood, recently, fresh. "I-I-I-I w-w-wanna go home! Where's my mom? Take me to my mom!" The girl began writhing and flailing within Sayana's grasp, kicking at Sayana's stomach. She fell away, scrambling up onto the wreckage of the deck. Her added weight forced another shifting in the weight of the damaged wood, and a few planks fell away from the upright hull, leaving a hole large enough to crawl through. The inside of most water glider hulls contained the tight quarters for the crew, some minor storage, and ladders that led up to the cabin on the upper platform. The girl, still panicked, looked around, not sure which way to get out of this situation. Further into the lake? Toward the ravosala? Up over the hull? Into the hull? Swim toward the net? Something else? The girl fell to her knees, scared and confused, as more and more blood began to slip free of the sails, raining down all around her and Sayana.

[Sayana]

There was a moment of relief as the two of them clung to each other in the water, while Sayana supported them by hanging onto the dock. It had been sudden, and a close call, but each seemed to be unharmed – a momentary lull in the aftermath of disaster.

As the Eypharian looked for a way to get out of the water and back onto the broken dock, she caught a glint of light reflecting from an oily sheen. Her ravosala had been pushed quite a ways into the canal, but there was a chance that she could still grab the rope that trailed into the watery depths. However, as she was trying to make sense of the situation, there was an audible ‘plop’.

Crimson blood was suddenly on the girl’s hand, forehead, and for a moment Sayana thought she had completely misjudged the girl’s injuries. But when the girl pointed, the Eypharian could see the red sails hanging over them… dripping. When the girl began her fit of fear, Sayana tried to hang onto her, only to get splashed, hit and kicked. For a moment, the hypnotist considered subduing her, but the girl had a right to be scared.

As the girl scrambled onto the broken dock, Sayana ducked underwater to wash herself of the spatters of blood. Then she followed suit, hauling herself onto the wharf but with a little less speed and agility as the girl. Drops of blood continued to spatter on the ship’s deck as well as the broken platform she stood upon. As best she could, Sayana tried to keep her distance from the bloodied sails.

“Come with me and I’ll get you back to your mom.” The Eypharian called and beckoned to the girl. She gestured in the direction away from the broken ship, along the previously intact wooden platform where everyone had ran to. Yet the path was treacherous with upturned planks and nails sticking out. “Take my hand and we’ll get back to everyone else.” Sayana said as she held out her right mid.

The Eypharian had no desire to stick around the gruesome sight. If the sails were indeed covered with fresh blood, then it was more likely to be some obscene ritual to a god rather than any immediate danger. But what if the ship still had living people? Injured beyond mobility? She hadn’t yet heard any sounds of moaning or calls for help, but what if…

Against her better judgement, Sayana paused and turned around to look at the ship in all its wreckage. Could anyone have even survived the crash? With a grimace, she conjured the image of a blackened ring of fire in her mind’s eye. Channeling her djed towards her eyes, she breathed in deeply and attempted to see… to see more. It was slow at first, but she was trying to scan the ship for any auras that were bigger than the inch or so that was associated with the non-living. The wood, the blood, she didn’t expect them to have anything more than a thin haze around them, but if someone was living and breathing and their aura shone out…

Credit: Shimoje

[Kayak]

Deep within the hull nearest to Sayana, to her lesser trained magical eyes, a single living aura stood out. It was in the general shape of a standing person, with arms stretched out to the sides. The aura appeared to be a bit more faded, and dwindling still. There also seemed to be some gaps in the aura, particularly at the shoulders and hips. The aura felt of a swirling maelstrom of pain, fear, and confusion.

There were smaller, faded auras all over the interior around the larger aura. The faded auras of corpses. The thin haze of aura in fresher blood was everywhere. Just how many bodies did there have to be in order to paint the sails and the inside of at least one hull with life giving liquid?

But during the extended inspection, Sayana would feel her whole world shake, accompanied with the sound of cracking wood, splinters flying about. The dock was completely giving way. Sayana's ravosala was far away now, on the other side of the rainbow colored slick, nestled against a distant dock, unharmed and unconcerned with her well being.

The tiny hand that had been clutching at Sayana's was pulled free. The dock lurched downward again, the sound of destruction and splashing deafening. The little girl scrambled through the hole into the darkened hull, screaming in fright and seeking shelter from the splintering wood. The dock was crumbling into the water, and the ship began to level out as it did so, further driving the dock into the depths. This sudden shift in the weight of the ship loosened even more globlets of the deep red blood paint in a crimson rain all over the area.

Shouts from the platform could be heard, and people began to point at Sayana. They were several spear throws away, so they couldn't quite make out that she was anything other than a normal person. Their shouts were those of concern, worried for her safety, and it seemed some people began to try and organize some plan to get a rescue party going. The red skull caps of some Cherries could be seen trying to calm people down and figure out what happened and what was seen.

But the screaming girl inside the hull suddenly went completely silent.

Code courtesy of Prophet the swagnificent

[Sayana]

Her attempt at auristics was certainly not Sayana’s go-to method of inquiry. Her magical sight was limited and her knowledge and understanding of the swirling yet faint colours was even less, but they did provide one piece of information. There was at least one living thing that had been on board when the ship had crashed into the wooden docks. And there was still at least one living thing on board. Bloody sails and all.

The Eypharian’s hesitation was undeniable, even from where the others stood. Although they might have mistaken her use of magic for the lengthy pause. To play the hero, when she knew she was probably better suited for the task than most. Or to make a dash for relative safety. A splash of the gory ‘paint’ landed on her bare shoulders. Somehow she had misplaced her cloak when the ship had crashed.

Cracking and splintering of wood made short work of her indecision. As the breaking platform lurched to one side, Sayana jumped as nimbly as she could to maintain her balance, landing with a squelch from her waterlogged boots. The dock wasn’t going to last many more chimes. Onto the deck, or through the hole? With the way the ship was angled, it would be a challenge to swing herself up, not to mention if she was already intending to get to the hull. Petch it.

*However, instead of going after the girl, she decided she would not play the hero today. Blood, water, and her reputation at stake - at least in terms of getting wrapped up in this mess - Sayana jumped from broken plank to broken plank, nearly twisting her ankle in the process.

"Help! There's someone trapped inside! And this little girl! I tried to stop her, I really did... but but, she climbed into the ship..."

The Eypharian's over dramatization and waving of her arms in distress as an attempt for those around her to under estimate her. She wanted to be perceived as just another bystander, too terrified to do much good and just lucky enough to come out alive.

“Please! Someone has to help. I saw blood. I saw it with my own eyes."

She started to break down into sobs and attempted to blend in with the rest of the panicked crowd. Robed guards seemed to be gathering a force and someone looked to be organizing a boat to cross the perilous distance between the safety of the untouched dock and the bloodied boat upon the wrecked platform.

Speaking of, she started weaving through the crowd to reach the edge of the canal. Her ravosala drifted out upon the waters but it was close enough to one side of the waterway. It would be quite the detour to reach the ravosala, but it was a means of escape from this chaotic event and once she made it to the boat, Sayana was finally able to slip away before things on the platform got worse.

*Edit: Revised ending for Sayana to exit scene. (Nov 5, 2017)

Credit: Shimoje