Closed A New Beginning

[Ebrashi]

15th Spring 523

The boat creaked and groaned beneath the strain but one could scarcely notice above the dull roar that resonated through the submerged hull. The storm had grown stronger and the pitching of the Iron Tiger was certain to test the moniker’s resolve. Deep within the hold, the slaves were tossed against their bindings and cages while the trade goods fought to be free and skid across the deck. Water, like brined fish, would come in blasts down the stairs and then drip from things above until the next wave saw fit to try and fill the ship’s belly once more.

Ebrashi cowered in his corner. Shackles held his right wrist but he clung to the chain suspended to the deck above him with both hands as if his forced servitude would be his salvation. The white hair was bluish gray in the eerie shadows. It was wet and matted to his face in clumps but not all of the salt was from the raging sea. Sweat poured from his brow but desert people do not sweat from heat. This was from fear.

Abarr was not here. He could not for the dead do not sail. The deep voice and dark eyes could not calm the storms or explain away the anxiety like when Ebrashi was young.

“Ben, ben, ben. Where is your shir?” The powerful man would ask. Now, just as then, the young man answered with the voice of a child.

“I do not know my shir, abarr!” Ebrashi called to the crashing waves while the image of his father faded into shadow. No shir- no faith. Another powerful blast caused the ship to linger against the lean of a steep dive which wrested the Benshira’s feet from beneath him. Dangling from his chains, the herder flexed his muscles with everything he had to prevent from being swept away for the few ticks that he was weightless. As the Iron Tiger righted herself, the lanky youth swung as if from a vine and slammed into the side of the hull with a wet smack that sent pain shooting through his left shoulder and down his arm.

“Hik!” He cursed. Ebrashi spent some of his small energy pool to get his feet back below his waist and straightened himself to ease the tension in his arms. Tears welled in his eyes as the salt stung and the fear rose. Higher than the waves he imagined outside the ship, the terror the young man felt had suddenly become palpable. It tasted like clay soured by rotten remains and prevented him from swallowing. His breathing became shallow and slightly panicked amidst a lull in the storm’s heaving desire.

Golden eyes, stricken and bloodshot scanned the deck to the other unfortunate souls like himself. Some prayed. Some wept. One woman sang a tune in a language he did not recognize. It was sad but strong despite being a little offkey. Ebrashi suddenly missed his mother’s voice and he looked away.

Through a crack formed by saturated timbers who have lost some of their splinters, the golden gaze was greeted by slivers of silver light from the smiling face of Leth. He was peering through the clouds just as Ebrashi was peeking through the hull. How strange and comforting to witness a god mimicking a lowly slave! The young man stilled for a tick or maybe a lifetime. What was time to a possession, after all?
“Falim, javeya rapa.” It was a whisper but it came out as a melody. Ebrashi felt his heart quiet its thumping and his breathing coast down to normal. A faint smile broke his dry lips.

The clouds moved swiftly and covered the god’s visage. The world was black once more and the storm returned with all its cacophony but Ebrashi felt stronger than before. He held his chains but did not quiver in fear. A hum like a wave of power washed over the ship. It was not water, it was not like anything Ebrashi had ever experienced before.

A mighty groan accompanied the ship as it was swept away by this mysterious force. It was soon replaced by the explosion of rock coming up through the hull. Boards, splinters, gear, goods, and bodies all went flying as the once potent vessel was run aground. As the deck which held his chains fell away into the frothing sea, Ebrashi cast his eyes to the sky in hopes to see the moon one last time. Salt water blurred his vision but still he dared to keep his eyes open. There, between the crooked fingers of parting clouds, was a dagger of pure silver.

“Falim, mahim.” In the darkness of the water’s grasp, the son of a herder had found his shir.

[/indent]

[Gossamer]

Syka had an early warning system. It had been granted to them by Kihala, the Goddess of Life. There were five stone statues scattered around the settlement that came to life in times of danger. Untested since their gifting, the statues the night of the Iron Tiger ran aground awoke. As the ship wrecked on the coast, it spilled both its dangerous contents and its reluctant cargo. A panther, a barracuda, an elephant, a monkey, and a parrot who were all watchful protective statues scattered around Syka came awake all at once. Their stone forms, looking artistic and eccentric, shuddered, and blinked, morphing into real creatures. They were huge, almost unworldly, and select people in Syka were roused to help assist them. The Guardians came quickly.

The barracuda, enormous, swam through the swells and captured the slaves that spilled into the drink. It swam them close, delivering them to the elephant that waded into the sea and helped drag survivors out. Those that the totems somehow sensed as slavers and dangerous to the Settlement were taken on by the panther who made short work of the half-drowned crew. A few were allowed to escape, and their character was judged as pure. The rest were committed to the sea and the sharks that swarmed close to pick off those that weren’t saved.

The monkey assisted the elephant, scrambling up on its back, acting as a lookout. It directed the huge pachyderm right and left through the waves, helping it to intercept the barracuda in its rescue. The parrot, meanwhile, flew through the scattered dwellings of both the Settlement and the far-flung residents, summoning them to the beach. So by the time the ship actually broke up, a makeshift rescue camp was established and the healers in the clinic were triaging people, setting up a mobile healing clinic, and starting food cooking. Some of the sailors that waded ashore were confronted and there were small battles right and left, though they didn’t last long. People crawling up the sand after almost drowning in the warm turquoise waters – even in the darkness – were exhausted and quickly dispatched if they proved a threat.

Mathias took charge of the chaos and organized people around the actions of the Totem Animals. Tents were erected to help with the sorting of people, and those that were okay physically but just exhausted from the wreck and the extended periods of starvation were left on makeshift cots to sleep and recover while some of the denizens watched over them. After it was clear what the Iron Tiger was – a slaver – the strategy changed and the denizens gathered fresh fruit and made rich broths to feed the recovering slaves when they woke.

Whatever bonds they had were removed with the help of a very drunk blacksmith and the frowning oversight of The Founders. Then, when the morning came and each exhausted prisoner or innocent sailor woke, they were greeted gently and kindly by various individuals. Mathias was overseeing the area Ebrashi was recovering in… and as the Benshira woke, he was gently greeted and offered food in the form of a simple bowl of broth on a tray that also housed sliced fruit – bananas, pineapple, and slices of mango and orange. They were also each given a large mug of fresh water.

“You are safe here,” Mathias said simply, the older man crouching down and laying the tray on the edge of the cot where the Benshira could access it. There was a simple carved wooden spoon and a rolled cloth napkin on the tray as well. “If you are hungry, there is food. Your ship ran aground out on the reef last night. We saved as many as we could.” He added, not elaborating that giant monstrous totem animals helped. “Many were beat up in the waves. You yourself have a few minor injuries we’ve tended too… but you are lucky. There are others with far worse injuries.” He said, gesturing to the slave’s arm which was wrapped in a fresh bandage, and his foot where there was a wicked cut on the man’s ankle.

“This is Syka. We are a settlement in Falyndar. We disapprove of slavery. You are a free man as far as we are concerned. We can get you to someplace like Riverfall if you are displaced from your family or wish to return to your home. But you can also stay if you like. We could use more settlers.” Mathias said, giving the tray a nudge. The man was thin, and he needed to eat.

“Eat. It’s all fresh. But not too fast and not too much at first. It looks like you’ve missed a few meals.” He said softly, concern filling his eyes.

“Do you have a name? Maybe a story? Honestly, we killed most of the crew that made it ashore alive. They were a rough brutal lot and nothing we wanted any part of.” The elder said. “I helped start this Settlement. I am one of the three Founders. We can help you with a camp, perhaps a job, and teach you how to survive here.” He added, knowing it was a lot for the man to take in all in one visit. But he was curious and wanted to know about this newcomer.

.

[Ebrashi]

Cold and dark, the water swirled around as Ebrashi closed his eyes. No longer could he see the light of Leth so he simply gave up. The weight of the wreckage pulled down and the weight of the angry sea collapsed around his body which brought a strange form of solace.

So this is how it ends… He thought. Tranquility despite the chaos felt like a balm against his troubled mind.

You’re not finished.

A voice protruded into his mind and it was not his own. Golden eyes shot open but he was too deep into the storm swells to make out anything but dark shapes. Something large in the water was moving towards him- quickly! Panic and a will to fight churned deep in his guts and Ebrashi struggled with his chained wrist. A soundless scream like a volcano of bubbles exploded from his mouth as the shape, larger than any animal the Benshiran had ever seen, descended upon him.

Not the end, indeed. The shape snagged the wreckage which held Ebrashi’s chains and dragged him roughly in another direction. Holding on was not an option for the speed at which he was pulled was nauseating. The journey was over in a few tones. Something massive loomed on the beach. It stood within the frothing waves irenic but was not inept. As one shadowy beast departed, the one above Ebrashi took action and hoisted him up into the air by wrapping a massive trunk around the young man’s waist. A massive foot crushed the wreckage away leaving only the chain and a splintered piece of post. Now upright, the shaking shipwrecked teenager wiped a hand across his face to scour some of the salt from his vision but it didn’t have the intended effect.

A massive elephant, like something from a dream, was carrying him up the beach while a monkey danced around on the creature’s back. The enormity of both was staggering. Ebrashi could not take his eyes from the constructs before him. No tale he’d ever heard, no song, no legend purveyed any semblance of this majesty. Even after he’d been set down on the wet sands and left behind was Ebrashi able to not watch the massive stone beings.

Ebrashi watched the elephant and monkey continue to pull others from the sea. The beach was chaos - a scene of dizzying proportions that saw nature crossed with magic and mortals alike. The adrenaline faded quickly and the young man simply passed out with his last glimpse of the gigantic saviors lumbering back up the beach with more survivors in tow.

*** *** ***

There was a sweetness in the air. A bouquet of fruit tickled the raw nostrils of a groggy teenager. Ebrashi blinked once and it hurt so he blinked several more times. It was dark but morning. The golden eyes stared up and realized he was under a tent. Without raising his head, he looked around to discover he was on a cot as well. The Benshiran was startled into a slight paralysis. He had no memory of any of this and that’s when he was drawn into the smell of the fruit tray at his feet. There was a bowl of something and a mug of something else as well but it was the man who came into focus most.

An older man but not frail, he had a calming expression and a sort of gravity that allowed Ebrashi to relax almost instantly once he made eye contact.

“You are safe here.” The man said. As the story unfolded from the lips of the stranger, Ebrashi found himself eating at some of the sustenance that had been provided. The broth warmed his body and the water refreshed his spirit but the fruit stole him away for a moment. None of it was familiar so each was sampled one at a time.

The banana was soft but firm and made a paste in his mouth. It left a little bit of a chalky feeling but the subtlety of its flavor was enough to make the small pile disappear. The mango was next with its fiery yellow flesh. It was a little slick but the grainy way in which it was bound was appealing and it smelled even better than the bananas. The texture and flavor didn’t quite seem to match what Ebrashi was expecting but it was good nonetheless and he devoured the fruit rather quickly.

“This is Skya.” The kind man continued on. His words had not fallen on deaf ears but the focus was still on this delightful feast. Moving to the other yellow fruit, the pineapple pieces were slippery, fibrous and teased a sugary flavor that removed any hesitation. The first bite squirted juices into the young man’s mouth and the tartness caught him by surprise. His languid posture fled as greed overtook him. Ebrashi felt his chest tighten as a piece of pineapple slid down his throat without being fully chewed. He looked up to hear his new acquaintance tell him to not eat so fast or too much. The young man decided to take a drink of water that helped to wash the fruit down into his belly. He really liked the pineapple but an inspection with his tongue pondered if the roughness inside his cheek was caused by the tangy treats.

Slowly, Ebrashi picked up the orange slices. His stomach growled and gurgled with the burden of such rich foods so he decided to eat only one at a time. As soon as the cool beads of the fruit’s liquid graced his tongue, the golden eyes closed. Slowly, he chewed so he could cherish the experience. Tiny bursts of flavor with every bite filled his mouth. A tear clung to the corner of his eye as Ebrashi had recalled a moment in the water when was prepared to give up on life. When he opened his eyes and swallowed, he found a look of true concern on the man’s face. Such geniality almost demanded gratitude. When Mathias asked a round of questions of Ebrashi, he nodded and set his fruit down to be eaten later. The orange was definitely his favorite.

“I Ebrashi Malachi Selben.” His Common was chunky but his name flowed in the slurs of Shiber like a melody. His accent might be thick but not hard to decipher. However, his normally clear voice was raspy and wavered with weakness, fatigue, and a scratchiness born of consuming saltwater. “Thank you for Syka.” He motioned to the tent and all of the commotion on the beach. “Your people save me. Your beasts save me.” He lifted an orange slice between them. “This…” A smile crossed his face. “This make me happy. Grateful.” Ebrashi set the fruit back down and lifted the broth for a few tips to help ease the dryness in his throat.

“Story not special.” Ebrashi shook his head as he looked down at the sand. “I come from sand. Far away sand with no water. Family and herd taken. Hurt.” His eyes went wide. There were some Benshirans he knew on the ship and some Oryx as well. The golden rings peered at Mathias with a plea of desperation. Ebrashi started to rise when the wound on his ankle and the bandage on his arm sprang to life. A dull pain in his shoulder and a sharp one from his ankle stilled the uprising. “More people like me?” He tapped his skin and pointed to his eyes. “Oryx like goat but white.” He pulled on his own hair to show Mathias. “Horns like.” The young man used his free hand to simulate what one of the horns was shaped like above his own head.

Ebrashi looked around and defeat settled upon him once more. No one that he could see looked familiar and there certainly weren’t any of his herd within his field of vision. He popped an orange slice in his mouth and chewed it up. They were so good, he simply shook his head and stifled an exhausted kind of laugh. “You good man.” Ebrashi touched his own chest. “Your heart hurt for us.” Next, he widened his arm to encompass the survivors. “I have no way to help you.”

The echo of the voice he heard in the water gave him pause.

You’re not finished.

Ebrashi stared into the cup of water. The twin medallions of his gaze reflected back a hopelessness that gave the sense of peering at a stranger. In a Shiber whisper, he uttered. “I don’t even know where to start.”

[/indent]

[Gossamer]

Mathias smiled at Ebrashi’s statement. “Starting is the easy part.” He said gently. Reaching out and taking the tray from the young Benshira’s lap, he moved it to the side and rested it on a makeshift table – hewn from an exotic hardwood stump – off to one side. “You simply take a step, then another, then another.” He said, and then offered the young man a hand. “Come with me.” He said, not sure if Ebrashi could walk or if he was hurt. Now was the time to find out. If Ebrashi rose, Mathias would lead him from the tent – which had its walls rolled up and tied off to let the sea breeze in – and out into the makeshift camp formed of the wreckage. He gestured to a pile of gear off to one side. It seemed the denizens of Syka had salvaged all the washed ashore wreckage from the Iron Tiger and had formed a massive pile of the supplies which they’d go through later and distribute as they saw fit.

“We salvaged what would could from the wreck. We understand some of you that were in captivity have little to nothing with you. Feel free to go through the salvage and resupply yourself. Some of the things in there might even belong to you. Take no more than you need though, for there are others that got rescued just like you have. I believe there are tents, tarps, rope, bags of gear, even treasure in there. We actually found a few books too and they are drying out. Help yourself.” He said, watching Ebrashi to see if he needed a walking stick cut or if he could even make a tour. “I’ll bring you back here after I show you around a bit. How does that sound?” He spoke quietly. Mathias had a way about him… he was stoic and solid, like he had a lot of experience with crisis and wasn’t moved to excitement into the midst of it.

With an affirmative, Mathias and the newly landed Sykan would be off on a leisurely walking tour of Syka.

The wreck was to the south of the main settlement, so Mathias led Ebrashi north towards The Commons. Along the way, they passed a rather large statue of an elephant, strikingly resembling the creature that rescued Ebrashi from the sea. “That’s one of Kihala’s Guardian Totems. They … come to life in times of crisis to help. We have five throughout the Settlement… a panther, a monkey, a barracuda, and a parrot. The barracuda mostly stays around the dock, but the others move around and seemingly have no set location.” He explained, as he found a cobbled pathway that lead north and set a unhurried pace towards the heart of the city.

Syka, it turned out, had a central hub off a singular dock that housed what could only be described as a community center. There was a lofted gathering spot with tables and chairs. There was a large covered pavilion with seating enough for a hundred people. There were things that Mathias called ‘communal’ such as a kiln, a forge, and even a kitchen. He made it clear to Ebrashi that Syka was a community and everything was open to everyone’s usage so long as they left it in the same or better condition than they found it.

Where he didn’t take Ebrashi, Mathias gestured in explanation. “There’s a dovecote to The Outpost to the west off a trail that leads to our storm shelter, which is a huge series of caves we take shelter in during storms. We don’t often have storms here, but when we do, it can be extreme, especially in a place where people often forgo glass in their windows because the weather is so nice.” He said, gesturing in the direction he was talking about.

“We get rainstorms in the morning and the in the evening, and that’s where most of our drinking water comes from in rain catchments off various roofs. Its spring, so we might have afternoon rains as well, though not every day. Its hot and humid most of the rest of the time. It cools down at night, but only to a more comfortable temperature. We adapt as best we can… you’ll find the dress code here relaxed. In the Settlement itself, bare feet or sandals are fine. Clothing, if worn at all, is light and airy. We cool down in the ocean so you’ll see lots of swim wear and crochet materials that let the fabric breathe. In the jungle, there are deadly snakes, scorpions, and spiders. Tall snake-proof boots, gloves, and long sleeved shirts are best. I would recommend you picking up a machete or a kukri to bushwhack with if you are traveling very far.” He added.

Mathias toured Ebrashi by the Mercantile, where most things could be bought or bartered for. He told Ebrashi his daughter Juli ran the shop there and was open to help newcomers if he needed it. Then he pointed out his own home – a cabana with a porch that formed a dock for easy fishing. He made it clear Ebrashi was welcome to join him anytime for evening fishing and chat. Most of the residents did drop by from time to time so there was always good company at Mathias’ place.

Between his place and the local Inn was a stretch of beach Mathias referred to as “Garden Beach” where which most of the local Ixam spent their time. They saw a few of the riding lizards, some full grown, but most the size of hatchlings or large dogs. They lounged about here and there, doing various lizardly things. They came in all different colors, some bright, some camouflaged with the colors of the jungle. They watched the two men pass, but otherwise didn’t react. They were obviously accustomed to people and ranging free throughout the Settlement.

He toured the newcomer by The Protea Inn, with its newly added second story. “This is an Inn, but the Innkeeper is an amazing cook, so people drop by for meals whom aren’t staying full time. She charges for meals, but the prices are reasonable and she often feeds you even if you have no money. She’ll just put you to work somehow to cover the food costs”. Mathias added. “The Innkeeper is also one of the Rangers, so you can ask her to teach you some of the jungle skills you might need or escort you out into the thick of The Maw without worry.”

Moving past the Inn, they wandered by the Community Pool with its warm water and hot upper tubs. “Everyone can wash here and get fresh drinking water if they require it or don’t have their own catchment system.” Mathias said, pointing at a dwelling that seemed to exist walled into the rock formation that made up the baths. “Duncan lives there. He’s in charge of the water and keeping it functional. He’s approachable as well for his expertise in many things.” The Founder said, then moved on.

They toured by the Overwater Rancheros and the Bungalows, with Mathias explaining how much they cost to rent per season and what they all offered. He stopped there, and gestured down the cobbled pathway further. “This is as far northeast as I’m going to show you. Beyond this point, there’s sharktooth point, swing beach, a saw mill. Lars runs the mill and you can buy any sort of cut lumber from him if you need it for building. There’s also a builders supply up his direction as well. They have everything else you need for building.” Mathias offered.

“You know, Syka welcomes newcomers. If you are going to stay, we can loan you funds to start your own business if that’s something you are interested in. We’re actually eager to attract people with a whole host of new skills. Otherwise, we have jobs available all over the place.” Mathias said, then looked thoughtful and pulled Ebrashi off the cobbled path briefly. Just in time too, a couple of Ashta – small elephants - came rumbling down the pathway pulling a cart of lumber with a grinning dark-haired man perched uptop it. The man nodded to Mathias and the newcomer, as Mathias pointed towards the man. “Lars… he’s also looking for help caring for the Ashta if you are looking for a job. He’ll do some on-the-job training too if you’ve never worked with elephants. Most people around here will take apprentices as well. There are other places hiring too. Tony needs help, out on his Isuas farm, tending the crops. I think The Inn is looking for an assistant Innkeeper too. That comes with housing. Standing Tall, the building supply store always hires new people for loading and delivering too…. and construction. If you have healing skills, The Panacea, which is south of here, is looking for help as well.” Mathias advised, running through a few things he knew were open.

“In terms of places to stay, feel free to just camp too if that’s something you are used to as a Benshira.” He added, knowing he already told Ebrashi about The Bungalows, The Overwater Rancheros and The Protea Inn.

Turning, he headed back south to show the Benshira something of the southern part of the Settlement.

.

[Ebrashi]

Ebrashi watched Matthias carefully. His words seemed genuine and the rough hands of an old settler were sure in their aid to get the young man on his feet. Like cornerstones sunk deep into the sands, the calluses of the Founder made the newly freed castaway believe there might be a way to build a life here. So he took the help offered and rose slowly from his cot. The humidity was already beyond a desert-dweller’s threshold and so it only compounded the lightheadedness brought on by the shipwreck. When the dizziness smashed against the side of Ebrashi’s skull like the Iron Tiger’s hull against the rocks, he leaned into Matthias for support and found the man to be as firm and kind as his words. After a few moments, the Benshiran pushed himself upright and stood on his own two feet. Looking down, his ankle was swollen but he could manage. His arm hurt but the bandage was secure and the stinging sensations underneath let him know the wound was relatively superficial.

Ebrashi followed Matthias from the tent and his golden stare drifted without focus to the scene on the beach. Things were somewhat organized and his guide was explaining some of the process as if it were just another day’s chores. The herder was impressed albeit slightly overwhelmed. The pile of goods seemed like a single organism as flashes of the cargo being on the ship and below decks would splash across Ebrashi’s vision. He was relieved to hear Matthias offer a tour before allowing the teenager to collect some wares and belongings.

The first stop along the way was near a large statue of an elephant. Ebrashi walked to it, his steps ginger as he nursed his ankle. With a reverent hand, the young man pressed his palm against the cool stone and closed his eyes. The sight of the huge beast in the dark lifting him from the waves was fresh and burned like a righteous fire. A shiver ran up his spine and caused his shoulders to tremble slightly.

“Falim, Maskam.” He whispered to the totem. Ebrashi leaned forward for a moment and allowed his body to melt against the rigid form of salvation that stood before him. The safety of the memory was transferred to the present and the Benshiran felt like something was urging him to remain grounded in this place. After a moment, he gently pushed his body from the carved monument. He was weak and his arms flexed and strained with thin sinews of muscle. The food had revived him but his malnourishment would take some time to overcome. Still- Ebrashi used the stone as a platform to hold the strain for longer than was necessary like he was trying to awaken a lost strength. With a loud exhale, he turned and rejoined Matthias.

“That one saved me.” Ebrashi said softly in Common as his host explained about the five totems. The quiet faded a bit as they drew into the city’s more densely collected buildings. Matthias was a wonderful tour guide. He had an easy way of speaking that allowed Ebrashi to follow along without much confusion. Certainly, there would need to be refreshers and the like but the introduction would be more than enough to allow the young man to gain his bearings in a place so different from that of his homeland.

There was a cynical streak born of forced servitude that would stab at the kindness of the stories and explanations that Ebrashi was told. How can everyone be so welcoming and generous? It came up several times as Matthias introduced that shop owner and this facility but Ebrashi forced the doubt deep into himself. It would have to be digested later with all of the rest of the information. Besides, Benshirans were warm and generous people even amidst the barrens of the desert. Why, then, would people be less willing to share in such a bountiful place as this?

“What’s a ranger?” Ebrashi questioned. Something about the jungle’s maw didn’t make sense. He felt a little silly for asking and for interrupting but there was so much coming in that he had to create connections in order to store the more useful parts for later.

Matthias was talking about jobs. Ebrashi felt his chest tighten as he was reminded of the loss of his remaining herd. What would he call himself now? Where would he find his value? He had relatively no skills, especially those akin to a landscape such as this. Did it really rain every day? All of these things fell into a deep hole as Matthias ushered Ebrashi from the path. Several of the great ashta came rumbling by with a load in tow. The golden orbs went wide and tracked every rumbling step the creatures made. Very little was heard from the founder until the ashta had gone a ways further. Ebrashi turned back to face Matthias with a childish expression of delight.

“Could I work with ashta?” HIs head swiveled to catch the beasts rumbling down the path once more. “I work with animals before.” Ebrashi pivoted too quickly and forgot about his swollen ankle temporarily. The shift in his weight caused him to stagger and stumble against Matthias. His cheeks flushed red. The young man slowly corrected his body but slumped a bit in embarrassment which allowed his hair to cover part of his face. He felt foolish but was not so hurt as to keep his gaze at his feet for too long. Slowly, he looked up between pale, sandy locks with his golden eyes wondering if he would get an answer.

[/indent]

[Gossamer]

Mathias set a place that was leisurely and reminiscent of a stroll. He quickly assessed Ebrashi’s handicaps, tallying up what needed to be healed quickly though he said nothing about it to the young man. He spoke casually with a very articulate cadence to his voice that spoke of a lifetime of thought and reflection. This was the second such tour he’d given today, the other one for a young lady with wild hard eyes that had come from the wreck as well. He hoped both young people would stay. Mathias was a firm believe of the Gods and fate. And he knew that living here, in this somewhat enchanted place, that when things were needed, they were often provided. Didn’t the monolith and the guardian statues prove that?

He paused often, usually where there was seating, and made a rest break an excuse for a longer explanation. The Shrine of Kihala, for example, had lovely seating with its fish ponds full of colorful Gem Fish. It was there he decided to give Ebrashi his answer as to what the Rangers were. He first, though, walked to the tree prominent in the center of the shrine and bowed to it before he carefully plucked a fruit from its branches and returned it to Ebrashi. The fist-sized red fruit had a soft hair covering it and smelled delicious… almost like a cross between a peach and a strawberry.

Mathias gestured to the fruit and then said softly. “Eat it… it has incredible healing properties. It’s the first thing you want for poison, for it works first in the digestive system of the body, but if you eat one now… it will bring down your inflammation and speed up your cuts and bruises… at least until a healer gets to you. We have three or four healers here, but most of them were working on those severely hurt that deserved saving. Some of the others – namely the slavers – we just killed outright.” He said softly. “They were not all bad, though. Some have some hope left.” He added, shaking his head. “That’s Marassa Fruit. We have other things here called Marassa. If you meet someone with an odd tattoo under their left wrist, they are Marassa too. They have the ability to summon the Guardian Totems to life and control them as needed. I suspect it was because they were some of the people that first built this shrine to honor Kihala.” He said, gesturing to the woman made of living plants that rose above the pool before the seats. She looked made of earth and vegetation, carefully cultivated so that her hair was flowing vines, and her eyes were blooming tropical flowers. A carved hand outstretched spilled water down into the pool where the gem fish swam. They were giant carp of sorts, colorful though with a translucent quality about them. “Don’t eat these fish. They are sacred. And don’t drink the water from her hand…” He said, gesturing to where a ladle hung from a peg off the edge of the pool. “It’s all a deception. You drink the water, and you become incredibly fertile, or so the story goes. Women come here to help get pregnant. And those that care for animals often swing them by to drink from the pool in the late winter and spring so they perpetuate new life.” Mathias said with a grin. “It’s supposed to improve male virility, but none of us has ever tested that … or at least admitted to it.” The Founder said with a grin.

Then he answered Ebrashi’s question.

“Rangers.” He said thoughtfully. “It’s a complicated issue, Ebrashi. You see, when we came here to start a settlement, we knew things would be dicey… life rough. There is very little support here – no big cities, no roads, no help coming if something happened. So everything we do here has to be self-supported. Syka has a tiny little strip of land next to the sea that we have made safe to live in. We haven’t tamed it, per say, but we’ve made it easier to live in. The tradeoff and price we’ve had to pay to do that is extensive. For one, we have to allow mages to be here and make sure they remain stable. Everyone has heard stories of how mages destroyed the world once… the Valterrian. And everywhere else, but here, magic is frowned on. Here, mages can practice openly. One, Duncan, built the water system that we bathe in and that gave everyone fresh water initially. The ground water here isn’t safe to drink. It has tiny creatures in it and poisons that can wreak havoc on your guts and bowels. You’ll shit for days and perhaps even die from it. We have snakes here, all over… some big enough to eat you, some tiny ones that will kill you in ten breaths after a bite. Our local Innkeeper, for example, discovered a species of snake that eats those poisonous snakes and have bred them and scattered them all throughout the settlement to make things safer. They are black with a rainbow sheen… never fear the Mussurana. But fear the tiny pit vipers in all different colors. Bigger snakes we hunt and eat, so they’ve grown scarce… but there are a hundred other things that will kill you just as quickly.” Mathias explained.

“Syka doesn’t have a military like other cities do. We have something else instead. We have The Rangers. They are people that have learned the skills needed to go out into the jungle and seek new things. They cut trails, hunt, explore, and act as our warriors. You need to learn the jungle like its another of your limbs. You are Benshira. I suspect you understand this in context to living in the desert. No one can just go out into the desert and survive. The jungle is very similar. Everything there is out in it is in a competition to survive. Without our Rangers, we can’t get out of this thin little protected strip along the coast. So we train. We learn. We don’t fight the jungle, we strive to understand it and merge with it. The Rangers do that. And everyone who has learned the jungle expertly are required to be in The Rangers. They are our standing army and our first line of protection. If something bad ever happened here or we faced an enemy we can’t hold steady from, the Rangers are going to meld us back into the jungle and keep us safe. That includes during storms, invasions, even times of sickness and disease. If you want that kind of life, you can volunteer for it… and learn faster among them. The job pays, and is only part time until it isn’t… most of the business owners in town are also Rangers… and that goes for long time residents as well.” He added, not sure if Ebrashi had any questions or wanted to ask for more details.

“The truth is.. .without The Rangers, we wouldn’t have learned what we learned since we founded Syka here. It seems we aren’t the first settlement that has been here. There was once a great city here… pre-Valterrian. It was a hub of science and learning called Pavena. We inadvertently built Syka on the ruins of this center. Have you heard of Kelvics? The man that created the Kelvic race… Marcus Kelvic… had a twin sister and this was his sister’s home. She was a world walker and explorer. Myrna and her brother were the children of Yshul and Grandchildren of Morwen. Gods walked here and the children of the Gods. Magic abounds here… all around us. And you can walk through the jungle and stumble across artifacts the size of your finger or as large as a mountain and be utterly surprised. Not just old swords, or a bit of armor left over like other places…. but things of great power. Because of that… we must carefully cultivate who lives here. The Gods help us with things such as the Guardian Totems. We need the young, strong, brave… people with firm values and spiritual cores. The values don’t have to wholly align. We don’t need to all believe exactly the same thing. But flaws such as selfishness, greed, lack of conscious… all that have to be discouraged. We have good people here with terrible flaws too. For instance, our blacksmith has a heartsore a mile wide and thus he drinks. I doubt he’s seen a sober day since he landed in the sand. But he’s a good man at heart and we have hope he will heal. He’s neither a mean nor violent drunk, so we tolerate it… and give him time and space in hopes that he will come back from the darkness he’s in. He is lazy though… lazier than we like. But we all have flaws, some more tolerable than others. Lazy isn’t a thirst for blood… lazy is just lazy.” Mathias said, taking a deep breath and wondering if he’d said too much.

“Come… “ He said, rising again, offering Ebrashi an arm if he needed it. He hoped the fruit helped, though he wasn’t sure how fast the healing balm it generated actually worked. With poisons, it was instantaneous, but that was life-threatening and what the young Benshira suffered from was far less serious.

“I’ll take you by the Tavern…. The Tidepool Bar… and we’ll see a few things to the south before heading back to the wreck. Ready?” He said, eager to lead Ebrashi back through town and to some of the southern sites if his ankle and other slight hurts would allow it.

.

[Ebrashi]

Ebrashi was caught off guard by so many of the sights, smells, and sounds of Syka. It was an assault to have salty sea air raid his nostrils and remove any congestion then to stroll through a tip of the jungle where clear pools and vibrant flowers created a perfume that was unlike anything he’d ever experienced. In the desert, the loveliness of scent was a purity of sorts. Gentle herbs, spices, and soft fragrances peppered a woman’s neck or coverings. His stomach churned slightly with a longing for home but the youthful wonder and curiosity stifled the sensation almost as quickly as it had risen.

Kihala’s Shrine felt like a dream. A pool guarded by a statue of blooms and life was certainly fitting but the herder knew very little about the goddess. Walking through the space to join his guide, Ebrashi observed the fish as an alien to a new world. There was a great deal of information pouring from the man’s mouth but the teenager was drifting through a languid kind of vision as if he could see Kihala’s flowery form reaching down and blessing the water and giving him a wink with her petals. Could he really belong here? His inner voice, the cynical saint, was not allowed time to answer, thankfully.

Matthias handed Ebrashi a fruit of sorts and instructed him to eat it for its healing properties. The young man needed no such goading. Soft and cool in his touch, the first bite exploded into his mouth with a sweet juice that caused the golden eyes to close. The pulp was thick but tender and it chewed easily with each mashing bite creating a release of more flavorful liquid that was smooth as it went down.

The founder continued to give Ebrashi information about the goddess and her shrine. Eating the fish was not a temptation but the water coming from the woman’s hand had an allure that felt deep and necessary. The desert lad was raised to be reverent of water sources but this was an actual holy fountain. The amber orbs watched as rivulets cascaded over one another in a smooth train of ovate essence that beckoned to be caught as it plunged into the pool below. Ebrashi was leaning towards it a bit when he brought back around by Matthias changing subjects.

“Rangers.”

Ebrashi rotated his neck slowly, a soreness he had underestimated was creeping up along his spine and shoulders with a slow sort of paralysis that had become all-too-familiar in recent months of captivity. Once he was focused upon Matthias, he absorbed the major aspects of the protection force, its purpose, and even gleaned a fair amount of detail that was given to him. A respect for Syka was being birthed out of the gratefulness from his rescue. It felt natural to want to be useful -no, it felt right to want to feel needed. He nodded in regards to the warning about certain snakes but his youthful mind wandered to the jungle and her secrets.

The Rangers take care of Syka. They do the heavy lifting when it's required. This was firmly cemented in Ebrashi’s mind. Could he finally make something of himself here? Was the desert too comfortable? Was his lethargic behavior a manifest of being spoiled?

“We need the young, strong, brave… people with firm values and spiritual cores.”

Ebrashi felt his heart beat faster. He swelled in his chest to think of himself in such a role despite the whispered shadows in his mind of failures -past and future. The golden eyes held the gaze of Matthias firmly despite the slight shudder from his spine. It was a lot to take in but Ebrashi wanted more. He stood without the aid offered to him. Feigned or real, he projected a strength that might not be fully vetted and nodded.

“I am ready, Matthias.” Ebrashi’s accent was still heavy but it seemed to curl around the older man’s name like he was always meant to say it in that way. There was something comforting about it and Ebrashi let a very slight smile cross his lips as a result. He had a nervous excitement about starting his life in Syka thanks to the rousing tales he’d been fed since he’d awoken on the beach.

[/indent]

[Gossamer]

The way the young man said ‘I am ready, Mathias, ‘ made Mathias take a pause. Was he ready to continue the walk? Or was he ready for what life in Syka would bring? It wasn’t all feast and jungle meet sea. There were real and true enemies. But the boy would learn about that later. There wasn’t always a later, but in the case of someone’s first day in Syka, Mathias knew there were such things as too much explaining.

He started off his walk back south, once more through the city core towards the south side of Swing Beach where the Tidepool Bar was. Mathias walked slowly, thoughtfully, and something came to the Founder as they walked. “I should also tell you there are about a dozen off-worlders here. They are mixed-blooded people from another world. And when you meet them, I don’t want you to mistake them for snake people… the Dhani. They are not. They are called Verusk and they are very welcome members of our community. They have one human parent and one Velispar parent. A Velispar is a rather large ancient creature that is scaled like a reptile, but has a far higher intelligence and lifespan than humans. The Velispar can shift shape and have other magics they gather throughout their lifespans which can last for thousands of years. The Verusk favor their human parents in shape, but have scaled faces and skin tones of all sorts like the Velispar… so if you see one, please know they are friendly and welcome here.” Mathias said, certain no Verusk were on the beach at the wreck. If there were, it would be easier to explain. But Mathias thought he should give Ebrashi a head’s up anyhow.

By then they were at the walkway that led out to The Tidepool Bar. The bar was a series of buildings built out over shallow water. Stu, the priest that ran the place, built them strategically there so all the breezes would be caught easily and customers could chat the day (or night) away taking advantage of the breezes. When Mathias came in, Stu gave him a nod then quirked an eyebrow at the young man with him. He stopped chopping the fruit he was working on at the bar and walked over to greet the duo. There were one or two others in the bar that also nodded, most eating a quick snack or plucking at a grilled fresh fish. “Hey Stu. This is Ebrashi. He’s one of the young men off the wreck that might be staying. Can you get us a couple of Stu’s Suprises and a Snack Bar Platter?” Mathias asked, giving the barkeeper a grin.

Stu nodded to Ebrashi. “Nice meeting you. Welcome to Syka. Drinks and snacks coming right up.” He said, pivoting and going to start on their order. Meanwhile, Mathias took a seat overlooking the water next to the edge of the dock and gently kicked out an opposite chair. “Relax.” He said, then grinned when Stu dropped off two drinks. He had no idea what Stu put in them. The barkeeper was always working on new drinks with new ingredients he discovered in the jungle. By ordering a surprise, one was opening oneself to the experience of ‘first times’. The Priest then went back and began putting together a snack bar platter, taking his time and filling it overly full.

“You’ll find time runs differently here. Slower. You look around more and pay attention to the world and notice the passage of time less here.” Mathias said. “Syka time is a thing… you tell someone you’ll meet them at sunhigh in the middle of the day and you have to a lot for the fact that that means ‘around then’ and they might be an hour early or an hour after that. You’ll learn each person’s quirks.” He said softly, laying more out there.

A large platter of what was considered Sykan Forage was laid out before the two men, and Mathias nodded thanks to Stu. He sucked on his drink, looked thoughtfully at it, finally smiled, and took another longer pull. He raised his glass in Stu’s direction, nodding his approval, before he helped himself to slices of fruit, raw oysters, delicious little snack sandwiches, and looked at Ebrashi.

“What about your future? What do you want for yourself in the years to come?” The Founder asked. He was genuinely curious. The lad hadn’t said much as Mathias had given him a tour of the lower settlement. And he’d said nothing about his past. Mathias wanted to ask him about that as well.

“Tell me too… how did you end up with slavers?” He realized Ebrasi might not want to talk about it, but it was important that the Founder knew a little about the young man’s history. After asking his two questions, Mathias deliberately drew out the silence, giving the lad an opportunity to speak.


.

[Ebrashi]

Ebrashi was wearing out. A long night of being shipwrecked, nigh drowned and then rescued was a lot to deal with for a body- even a youthfully resilient one. Compound that with a long, humid stroll through a settlement on a bad ankle and you get one exhausted lad. Despite these things, the golden-eyed young man cocked his head to one side. It was weird how the soreness in his arm and throbbing in his ankle was being less of a bother. Behind ghastly pale locks, the amber stare rolled to his host. Perhaps there were actual healing properties in the fruit that he’d been given. Ebrashi silently pondered how much absolute truth was spoken to him by the founder, Mathias.

These thoughts would have to wait. Food, drink, and a warm greeting were delivered by Stu. The concept of lackadaisical time was glazed over by the distracted mind. Ebrashi knew about approximations. In the desert, so little is exact that timing is more of an artform than a clock or calendar. Where sand shifts by the breeze’s every whisper, there isn’t much one can do but aim for a particular star and pray that Yah’s truth is on your side. In a nervous sort of tick, the young man reached for comfort and ran his hand over the tattooed flames embedded on his arm. The black and gold tongues of fire intertwined and almost seemed to move under the soft passing of his left hand. Golden eyes were fixed upon them for a moment and a calm was restored.

“That is good to know.” Ebrashi filled in a response to Mathias' explanation of Syka time.

The next few questions to address were far more personal. Hestitance on behalf of the young man was clearly apparent as he scrutinized Mathias. Caution was natural for someone who had recently been classified as property. Golden orbs followed the casual actions of a man enjoying his meal. They were accompanied by soft tones and easy expressions. Mathias had given no indications of malice or ulterior motives thus far and had been rather gracious with sharing information and resources. Ebrashi decided he could trust this man with a bit of history.

“My future is easy to summarize, maskam.” The tanned youth began. His accent was heavy over the Common he spoke and gave it a swirl that allowed it to flow lazily from his mouth. “I am to make something of myself.” Ebrashi gave a small smile. “It is easy to go up when you start at the bottom, no?” The smile grew and the childishness poked through for a few seconds. “I have to find my way in the world. So here, now, I will begin.” He gestured around at the tropical landscape. “I shall learn, contribute, grow stronger, hopefully wiser, and one day - maybe- I will be able to extend my story beyond that of a shipwrecked hak tsipor.”

Ebrashi nibbled at a piece of fruit. The flavors of these things were almost overwhelming. He closed his eyes and inhaled, allowing the salt air to cleanse his nostrils so the purest essence of his mouthful would permeate a while longer. He drew into himself and leaned towards Mathias. His shoulder rolled forward as his hands found their way in between his knees. The amber stare locked up with the seasoned gaze of the founder while he drew in a deep breath. His mind prepared the next words carefully.

“I was a herder in Eyktol. My abarr was rapa and maskam to our tribe. It was not the whole tribe but our group. We raised Oryx, which are like goats but not.” The young man chuckled and his eyes stretched into a far away glance that scanned the surf. “They have tall, straight horns but their coats are silky and white -whiter than my hair.” His voice grew as the excitement and love poured from him. Ebrashi’s accent also grew thicker. “They don’t leave tracks in the sand and move so swiftly that rakva tell stories as if they’re ghosts carrying assassins over the dunes. They’re fun to ride but I never took the time to…” He trailed off and realized he may never get the chance to experience that kind of connection with those sacred animals. The obvious shadow closed around his face.

Ebrashi touched his arm tattoo again and continued his story though his eye contact with Mathias was almost nonexistent as he relived and recounted the harrowing experiences. “Abarr traded with Svefra; smoked fish and other exotic things for numbers from our herd. It was a meet like any other until it wasn’t.” A tear formed and cupped in his eye before dropping down his cheek. “So many died. I shamed myself and surrendered.” Another tear but this one came from the other eye. “Pirates are cruel beasts.”

Ebrashi’s shoulder rose and fell as images filled his mind. After a time of this, he closed his eyes and released two more tears before grasping tightly to the two-toned art that decorated his right arm. With a shuddering inhale, he raised his face to Mathias. “As awful as being a captive was, it taught me some things about life, the nature of others, and myself. It also taught me a lot about the gods.” He reached for a piece of fruit and stuffed it into his mouth. This bite was no less delicious than the last and Ebrashi allowed the sweetness to cool his growing temper, his rising emotions, and steady his beating heart. “Mostly, it taught me that I have so much more to do and learn.”

[/indent]

[Gossamer]

The two men nibbled at the food for a while, exchanging glances and tidbits of information. Mathias had a thoughtful probing stare that had the weight of his years and experiences behind him. He nodded to Ebrashi’s explanation of what he had been, what had happened to bring him here, and what he wanted for the future. The fact that Ebrashi wanted to make something of himself pleased the Founder to no end. The young man seemed to have deep rooted core values and a looming sense of disappointment in himself that things hadn’t turned out differently.

Life was like that… people ended up enslaved or thrown half a world away from where they considered home. Mathias believed, being a priest himself, that all things happened for a reason. And as he stared at the young man, his gnosis flared and he could taste the possibilities of what the man’s future could look like. Some of them were already fading, due mostly to the shipwreck and Ebrashi’s abrupt arrival in Syka. He would not be food for some far off Symenestra nest, nor would he be sold to the Myrians as a plaything as sometimes slavers like the ones from the Iron Tiger accomplished. Instead, those possibilities were fading, pulling away, like water running off the well-oiled feathers of a duck and returning to the pond of potential the Anas example bobbed upon.

Mathias studied the other potentials, some newly formed, some only wanting to form, and yet others out in the distance waiting to be invited inward. The boy could go far in Syka. He could go as far as his ambition took him. And with his faith, he could go deep as well. Mathias knew the potential that boiled below the surface and recognized it as something akin to his own. Gods and Goddesses’ would be watching the youth, hungering for his attention, and that in itself would be exciting.

The young man also had bloodlines that ran old and deep, generating a sort of specialized power that only familial lines created. Knowledge of such things would come later after the youth stretched his legs and regained his strength. For now, the strongest line led to Lars and the Sawmill where Ebrashi would connect with the Ashta there… at least for a while. His inner and outer strength would do him good in that direction, the full potential giving the man a chance to rest, explore his new world, and think further about his future.

Mathias shook his head and corrected Ebrashi gently. “There is no shame in living for another day. The others had the same choice. Slavers aren’t killers by nature. They fight to gain product like hunters hunt to gain food, trade goods, and make areas safer. You did what you had to do to survive. If there was a chance of you winning, I’m sure you would have fought on. It wasn’t fear, but common sense. And you are alive today because you made a wise decision.” The Founder said softly, no sense of disappointment in his voice. His tone was respectful and admiring.

“Most people let pride end their lives early. The wrong kind of pride can be a curse…” He said thoughtfully, polishing off his half of the tray, and nodding Stu away with a refill. He wanted no more libation that day.

“There is a great deal more for you to do and learn, none of which has to happen today. Eat your fill… I’m full… and when you are done, I’ll take you back to the shipwreck which isn’t far from here, and we’ll grab you some gear from that pile.” He suggested.

Then, true to his word, Mathias did just that. He was generous with the supplies he helped Ebrashi select from the pile, and even added more of his own when they returned to the Swing Beach where the Founder wasn’t too proud to help the young man pitch his tent and set up his camp. Fresh rope, a tarp, and a few other necessities like lamp oil and a good lantern showed up once Mathias slipped away for a few moments to drop by the Mercantile. He only departed the young man’s side when he was sure the Benshira was set up, comfortable, and could get some rest without too much exertion on his ankle and with his other wounds.

He also brought more of the healing fruit, reminding the lad to eat one before he slept for the night and another when he woke. It was a small thing, having someone look after him and see that he had what he needed. But it saved time, because the Founder even took a moment to gather firewood and start the Benshira a nice comfortable fire outside his tent door.

They would talk again in the days to come. And when Mathias left, it was with a reminder that now the Benshira knew where he lived, that he was welcome to drop by for a chat on the deck or fishing at any time.


.