Risa (WIP)

[Risa Moontide]

Risa Moontide Personality Risa is a driven girl, finding a task she wants to accomplish and then working at it until that task is completed. Her long-term goals are always in mind, though her short term gets muddled with distractions. She also can't help but examine a pattern and pick it apart in her head, she can get distracted for hours. Risa hasn't been around new people much, but has a philosophy that most strangers are only looking out for themselves. It's not that she thinks down on them; she just understands self-preservation to be everyone else's main priority. Risa is also prone to overthink and plan because she's overly cautious, so that when she achieves her goals she leaves little that could go wrong. Finally Risa is an adventurer at heart; she loves experiencing new things. It provides an extra thrill to life that she can get caught up in. Appearance Fala, Her Tavan This small bird is only about half a foot long, with dark feathers surrounding his lithe body with white feather trim. His head feather is crooked forward naturally and he has brilliant blue eyes. Fala is an eternal optimist and Risa's cheerful companion. He always sees the bright side of the situation, and commonly keeps Risa from getting distracted. He loves to fly and swim, but is happy just following Risa around. Fala also seems to have an untold wisdom about him, like he knows more of the world than a regular bird should, bit that might just be his optimism mixed with Risa's wanting for answers. Designed by the wonderful Rosabelle

[Risa Moontide]

Character Sheet   Entrance A young girl reaches the shores, damp from the sea mist, and looks out at the rising peaks in the distance. Kissed golden from the setting sun the peaks rise beyond sight, causing the girl to marvel for a second at the irreproachable beauty. She can smell the adventure before her, the work and excitement and experiences. It's exhilarating and humbling at once, causing her to take a second longer, let the air sit in her lungs a little longer. This is a new start, a new chapter opening in her life, and she is ready to rush forward and fill the pages. First step. Page 1.   Skills Sailing: 28 (Competent) Climbing: 20 (Novice) Socialization: 15 (Novice) Observation: 15 (Novice) Rhetoric: 10 (Novice) Swimming: 10 (Novice) Fishing: 5 (Novice) Morphing: 5 (Novice) Interrogation: 6 (Novice) Herding: 5 (Novice) Slingshot: 5 (Novice) Nari: 2 (Novice) Socialization: 2 (Novice) Theft: 1 (Novice) Foraging 1 (Novice) Debate 1 (Novice) Ammunition Prep: 1 (Novice) Hiking: 1 (Novice) Bird Handling: 1 (Novice) Book Keeping: 1 (Novice)   Learning Starting Skills 28 Points in Sailing 12 Points in Climbing 5 Points in Fishing 5 Points in Morphing Racial Bonus 10 Points in Swimming Learned Skills 5+5+5 Points in Socialization 5+5 Points in Rhetoric 5+1 Points in Interrogation 3+5 Points in Climbing 1+2+5+5+1+1 Points in Observation 1 Point in Theft 5 Points in Herding 4+1 Points in Slingshot 1 Point in Foraging 1 Point in Debate 1 Point in Ammunition Prep 1 Point in Hiking 1 Point in Bird Handling 2 Points in Nari 2 Points in Socialization 1 Point in Book Keeping   Lore Suvas Sea Barter Rates Underwater Currents Gill Structure Failed Morph Claustrophobia Feeling more at home at sea than within stone Recovering from self-doubt Trying to understand a new culture Feeling the sting of a rather un-warm welcome Unafraid to ask for directions Experiencing the intensity of Inclement Weather Drinking alcohol for the social benefits, not for taste Being unafraid to ask for help Having Tavaltia hit on her Meeting Tavaltia’s falcon Kyiri Stepping outside her comfort zone and kissing Tavaltia Staying true to herself and not giving in on the first date Finding comfort in a man’s arms The Intimidating Scale of the Edge of the World The Danger of a Fledgling’s First Flight Being Stared at for Unnecessary Panic Finding a route by watching other climbers Hand wrapping for climbing Climbing fatigue at a height one shouldn’t fall from Dynamic Climbing (jumping from hand hold to hand hold) Weakened and falling while climbing Down Climbing a new route Finding out one isn’t strong or skilled enough to jump from hold to hold on a brand new route Making it down safely knowing she might not have One Edge of the World Route almost to the top The hectic nature of Market Day among the Inarta The sound of Nari Market day is one big party Vala’s trade products Being Walked into by a big guy and causing the destruction of his property Dealing with the intense heat of summer Trying to stay cool Startling a herd of goats Unwilling to help Rista Coming to Rista’s rescue Sending her Tavan where she cannot go A tenuous friendship with Rista Having a Tavan Learning a little about Rista and Inartans Being safe around strangers Sticking to the tenants of one’s faith Being forgiven of one's beliefs Learning the Slingshot Determination Ignoring Archery protocol causes injury Sharing your culture Optimism Feeling like the outsider Unable to read Nari Trying to breach the language barrier Being given conflicting information Awkward encounter with Alstromeria   Languages Common (Fluent) Fratava (Basic)   Equipment 3 Gold Miza's 1 Set of Clothing --Risa is wearing a basic pale olive dress with wavy creases in the seashell-pattern shoulders, with a side cut skirt with waves. She's wearing simple sandals woven of seaweed, and a colorful patterned headband. 1 Dagger (2gm) 1 Slingshot (5sm) 90 Slingshot Bullets (9sm) 1 Buckler (15gm) 50 ft. Rope, Hemp (1gm) Tent, one person (2gm) Fishing Net, 25 ft (4gm) 1 Waterskin 1 Backpack which contains: Secret : 1 Set of Toiletries (comb, brush, razor, soap) 1 eating knife Flint & Steel 7 days fish 1 Deck of Cards (15gm) 1 Ink Vial (1gm) 1 Embroidered Sack (1sm) which contains: Secret : 1 Sewing Needle (5sm) 2 Broad Belt (12sm) 5 Bracelet (5sm) 10 Earrings (20sm) 4 Armband (6sm) 3 Headband (6sm) 10 Ring (3sm) 1 Cotton Pants (1sm) 2 Cotton Cloak (3sm) 1 Leather Vest (3sm) 1 Average Dress (8sm) 3 Average Skirt (12sm) 1 Leather Gloves (5sm) 3 Cotton Sash (6sm) 1 lb. Various Exotic Fabric (1gm) 1 small casinor "The Highest Peak", fully equipped Family Heirloom: A small elaborately designed mirror. The frame and handle are made from bone, the top ivory and finely carved while the bottom is burned black and chiseled into the shape of a raven, wings spread. Throughout the upper frame bits of mica stone have been niched in. The mirror itself is a shining piece of glass.   Ledger Starting Equipment 1 Set of Clothing 1 Waterskin 1 Backpack 1 Set of Toiletries (comb, brush, razor, soap) 1 eating knife Flint & Steel 7 days fish Heirloom Hand Mirror Housing Package Casinor (Svefra alternative housing package) Bought Equipment 1 Dagger (2gm) 1 Slingshot (5sm) 90 Slingshot Bullets (9sm) 1 Buckler (15gm) 50 ft. Rope, Hemp (1gm) Tent, one person (2gm) Fishing Net, 25 ft (4gm) 1 Deck of Cards (15gm) 1 Ink Vial (1gm) 1 Sack (1sm) 1 Sewing Needle (5sm) 2 Broad Belt (12sm) 5 Bracelet (5sm) 10 Earrings (20sm) 4 Armband (6sm) 3 Headband (6sm) 10 Ring (3sm) 1 Cotton Pants (1sm) 2 Cotton Cloak (3sm) 1 Leather Vest (3sm) 1 Average Dress (8sm) 3 Average Skirt (12sm) 1 Leather Gloves (5sm) 3 Cotton Sash (6sm) 1 lb. Various Exotic Fabric (1gm) ------------------------------- 100gm-97gm = 3gm Remaining Summer, 511AV Income: Pending Deposits: 20gm to Sairque 1gm to Vala 135gm Common lifestyle ------------------------------- 3gm-156gm = -153gm Remaining for now

[Risa Moontide]

Questionnaire   Basics General Info : 1. What is your Name? Risa 2. How old are you? 19 3. What is your height? 5'8 4. What is your weight? 150lb. Aesthetics : 1. Describe yourself as you see yourself. Risa sees herself as a person too dependent on the world around her. She's desperate to become her own person, an independent spirit. She sees herself as just normal and yearns to be more. 2. Describe yourself as others typically see you. Risa is jittery and easily embarrassed at her worst, driven and empathetic at her best. Her style includes a lot of colorful bright clothing, which she changes often to give her appearance more of a shifting flowing quality to it. Her hands never stop moving, always like a task. 3. What is your favorite body feature? Risa always loved her red brown hair and loves playing with it or braiding it in the mornings. It's become a tradition since she was a girl 4. How physically fit are you? Risa's childhood aboard her pod’s ship was active and she's spent much of her life swimming and doing work on the boat, leading to her slightly muscular frame and build. 5. How do you typically dress and what is your style? Like most Svefra her dress has the unique cultural taste of her ship, with liberal use of flowing and layered garments and jewelry ordaining her hair and sown in throughout her clothing. She keeps a bag of small objects like headbands or necklaces for quick changes between talking to people to give her appearance a changing quality and see how people react to differences. Traits : 1. Do you have any physical weaknesses (disease, scars, and missing limbs)? Risa is normally healthy, nothing unusually limiting. 2. Are you right handed or left handed? Right-handed 3. What languages do you speak? What do you sound like? Do you have an accent? Risa speaks Common very well and Fravala moderately well, each in a singsong voice with a slight tonal accent that permanently affects her way of speaking. 4. Do you have any odd mannerisms, annoying habits, or other defining characteristics? Her insufferable 'twitchy' nature has caused some to call Risa annoying, as she frequently rings her hands, touches her fingers, and other fidgety behavior. She just doesn't sit still well. Also Risa has a habit to be distracted with patterns and shapes, and she can lose herself for hours. She is annoyed by this as much as other people do. 5. Do you have (or want to get) any tattoos or piercings? Why do you have them (or will get them)? Risa had a piercing on the top of her left ear, but where the ring of metal once stood a thick grey feather grew, undoing the piercing. This was when she received the gnosis of Eywaat, though she’s not completely sure what it does. She also has her pod tattoo, a pale moon overlooking the ocean while the serpent-like leviathan just breached the water in three loops. The tattoo is on her back left shoulder, usually proudly displayed in her dresses.   Background Childhood : 1. What sort of child were you? Risa was a wistful and dreamy child, more often to watch the sky and waves than swim or help out. Many times she would just stare into the ocean and watch the patterns form from currents or winds. From her hovel of ropes up the sails, Risa would escape from the busy and prying ship to peacefully hang above her world, free of the noise. 2. What is your favorite memory from childhood? When Risa was very young she would watch the wings and subtle shifts of the Avikki birds carrying messages from one pod to the next. One day a dark seabird perched next to her. Its eyes were so bright, so insightful. It seemed to be comforting her as it dropped a piece of fish at her feet, as though it were saying 'You can escape.' Then it flew away, seemingly into the clouds. She always held on to that memory 3. What is your worst memory from childhood? Risa wasn't much older than the last memory when her ship was invaded. Pirates crept up in the night, somehow evading the watchful eyes of the night guard until they arrived, and attacked. Risa was asleep at her rope-strung crow's nest until the fighting started. She huddled in the night cold hearing her family and friends fight off the intruders, who must have been desperate to try and attack. She lost a few family members that day. She's always been hesitant to let her guard down since. 4. What sort of relationship did you have with your parents? Risa and her mother had a relationship that became tenser as she grew. While she loved her mom's stories she couldn't stand her mom's stoic attitude or the mysteriousness her mom put into each story, the lack of revelation. Risa was raised by the entire pod though her mother always took special interest in raising her, more so than was normal among the Svefra. 5. Who was your most influential role model? Risa deeply respects her mother, the amount of bravery it took to leave her home and see the world. That's why she left her home, to experience the world as her mother did. Family : 1. Who are your parents and what are they like? Risa's mother Toia is an older Svefra among her pod. Her mother is a 'tough love' kind of woman, eying every action in terms of opportunity. Risa learned the importance of judging a situation and being prepared, but never appreciated how much more serious her mother was than all other pod members. Her mother did like to tell stories on the coldest nights, however, and would tell tales from her travels as a young woman. Risa never met her father, her mother would seldom speak of him. Risa thinks he's not dead and is living somewhere on land, but doesn't know anything about him. 2. Do you have any brothers or sisters? Biologically Risa is an 'only child' in the sense of some of the other races, but she knows all the members of her pod well, as well as a few from other ships she's met. 3. What is your extended family like? Risa's ship was usually filled with laughter, her mother the sentry of silence during the jovial lives of the other pod members. The older members had a penchant for drinking as the sun went down, which only increased the laughter. Risa enjoyed a drink herself, but it was just to be able to party with the others. 4. Do you consider close friends as important or more/less important than family? For Risa, close friends ARE family. For members of her ship they all were close friends. Her interaction with other people never lasted long enough to make close friends outside of her pod. 5. Do you treat animals like family? Her tavan Fala, a small Whiskered Auklet, has flown around her for many years. Risa always had a penchant for birds and used to attract shore birds with her whistling as a girl. She was also taught, like most Svefra, that many of the animals she meets are no less important than the people. Education : 1. What sort of education do you have? Risa was taught by all the members of the ship, as she was raised by them. Most knowledge was more stories or tales rather than important things, but she did pick up the skills the Svefra used most. Other than that she’s had no formal education and can be seen as a little naive as a result. 2. Do you like/dislike learning? Risa liked to learn depending on the subject and her level of interest. She was easily distracted by things, so other pod members knew they had to grab her attention quick or lose it entirely. Topics that were especially boring, like fishing or morphing, would not have been learned if it weren’t for her mother forcing the knowledge into her. 3. Where or how did you learn most of your skills/abilities? She learned all she knows from her pod mates. 4. How do you learn best? The other pod mates learned quick that if you could entice Risa to learn, the learning would go by much quicker. Beads, patterns, and other art could entrance her, leaving her available to learn. 5. What are your educational goals for the future? Risa intends to learn about the world, understand the different cultures that fill it. She doesn’t know of any other learning she’d want.   Ideas Outlook : 1. Are you optimistic or pessimistic? Risa is much more of an optimist. She has a youthful spirit and is very naive to the world. She truly believes everyone is good and treats people that way. 2. What are your religious views? Risa thinks of the gods more like the sky or the sea. They're a constant presence, one that hardly requires much thought. The gods just are. 3. Would you be able to kill? Risa has never killed anyone and probably wouldn't be able to. Of course circumstances could change that, but it would definitely shake her if they did. 4. What are your views on sex? Risa's actually strangely prude when it comes to sex. Like most svefra she doesn't find the idea of nudity offensive, but she has an almost child-like embarrassment with sex. 5. What, in your opinion, makes a successful life? Living your life, experiencing everything, enjoying it all. These are the main things important to Risa and that's why she left home. She couldn't live her life trapped with her pod. Beliefs : 1. What God or Goddess do you find most appealing, if any? 2. Which God or Goddess do you fear, if any? 3. Do you have any Gnosis Marks? If so, how did you receive them? Risa received the gnosis of Eywaat, whose story you can see below 4. What lengths would you go to to please your deity? 5. Where do you draw the line at pleasing your deity? What is too much? Life & Death : 1. What do you absolutely live for? 2. What is the best part of life? 3. What is the best part of death? 4. If you could choose, how would you want to die? 5. What is the one thing for which you would most like to be remembered after your death?   Feeling Emotions : 1. How honest are you about your thoughts and feelings with others? 2. Do you have any biases or prejudices? 3. What makes you happy? 4. Who or what, if anything, would you die for? 5. What makes you angry? Self Image : 1. What is your greatest strength as a person? 2. What is your greatest weakness? 3. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? 4. Are you generally introverted or extroverted? 5. Are you generally organized or messy?   People Romantic Relationships : 1. Do you form close bonds with people? Why? Why not? Risa has very close bonds with her pod mates, but has never had one with anyone else. If she were to trust someone she meets it would begin with a very strong bond, but the trusting process itself could be slow. 2. Do you trust people easily? If not, why not? Trusting people is never something Risa had to learn, so when she meets new people she focuses more on personal safety and goals. She does try to be friendly, but she doesn't know what to expect from anyone who is none Svefra. Her only interactions with the outside world have been generally less than kind. 3. Do you consider yourself straight, gay, bi, or something else? Risa is straight, as far as her curious mind goes, but never met anyone she could connect with or be in a relationship with. 4. Have you ever been kissed? If so, describe the first time. Risa kissed and was kissed by Tavaltia in the summer of 511AV. You can find their kiss here. 5. Have you ever had sex? If so, describe the first time. No, Risa is a virgin. She was never able to get anyone emotionally close enough in her pod or outside of it for that. Personal Relationships : 1. In general, how do you treat others? Risa treats other people like she sees them: that there is good inside us all and people just need to see that. She still has some trusting problems but she will always try to overcome those in exchange to get to know someone else. 2. Who is the most important person in your life, and why? Fala, her best friend, is the most important person she knows. He's loyal ad has always been there when she needed him. She loves Fala more than any person. 3. Who is the person you respect the most, and why? Risa respects her mother for doing everything Risa wants to. She never understood her mother's decision to come back to the svefra life, but at least 4. Do you have a spouse or significant other? If not, describe an ideal lover. Risa doesn't think about relationships like that often enough to come up with a profile. 5. Do you trust anyone to protect you? Who, and why? Fala watches the ship for her when she sleeps, sometimes. She trusts him completely. Risa also trusts her pod, but not any outsiders. Group Situations : 1. Do you tend to argue with people, or avoid conflict? 2. Do you tend to take on leadership roles in social situations? 3. Do you like interacting with large groups of people? Why or why not? 4. Do you care what others think of you? 5. What do you think of others, in general?   Physical Actions : 1. What is the worst and best thing you’ve ever done? The worse thing Risa ever did was steal from a port and got her pod temporarily banished from it as a young child. She still barely understands stealing; she never understood the concept and it never really affected her. The best thing Risa has ever done was save a ship that had gotten away from her pod. It was a newly-acquired vessel with supplies aboard but a storm almost swept it away. Risa managed to get on-board and steer it to safety. She even got to name it: The Highest Peak. 2. What is your greatest regret? Risa hasn't really had a lot of time for regrets. She wished she had left her pod to see the world a few years ago, but she's fixing it. 3. What is your best/worst memory? 4. If you could change one thing about your past, what would it be and why? 5. What are you the most proud of doing in your life? Occupations : 1. What is your occupation? Risa would often help her mom and other members with watch duty and with fishing, keeping her day occupied. She doesn't know much else. 2. Do you like/dislike your work? Why? Risa was satisfied to be contributing to the pod. It was never inconveniencing 3. If you could be anything you wanted to, what would you be? From the few tales her mother told her of the world, Risa desperately wants to just explore and see it all. That’s why she left as soon as she could claim a casinor for her own. 4. What occupation do you admire the most? Why? Risa's favorite occupation was the complex navigation the boat undertook to follow the currents, storms, and prey, be it fish or the hunt of another ship. She tried to learn as much as she could herself of the task. 5. What occupation do you least like? Why? Risa never liked overnight watch, the silence, darkness, and lack of movement become maddening. Location : 1. Where were you born? Risa was born on the ship of her pod. Her mother had been traveling the world but returned to the sea to give birth to Risa. 2. Where do you live now? Risa took a small re-purposed ship to explore the world. She lives on that currently as she travels. 3. If you could live anywhere in Mizahar where would that be? New to dry land, Risa is interested in the mountains. She can see them in the far west but always wondered what it would be like to be that high, much higher than any mast. That's where she's heading. 4. Do you have a favorite place to vacation or spend leisure time? Risa liked to climb the sails as a girl to find some privacy. As she got older she crafted a simple crow's nest, just to spend her time alone overlooking the sea and watching the weather. 5. Where do you fear to be? Tight small spaces scare Risa. She just hates the idea of them and it makes her skin crawl. She was never even that comfortable below deck.   Interests Likes and Dislikes : 1. What are your hobbies? Risa likes to watch the clouds and stars and make shapes from the patterns. She's done this since she was a child and will commonly do so when she gets time. She also likes trying to be creative with ropes and food, tying strange knots or randomly spicing foods in unexpected ways. She's not good at either, however, and only does so recreationally, her food typically inedible and her knots, while looking pretty, fall apart to the slightest tension. 2. Do you like to read? Risa actually doesn't like to read most of the time. If a book can grab her attention quickly she'll get into it but most books seem dull to her. Her favorites are ones she'd read over and over from the crow's nest, but she doesn't have any on her. 3. What annoys you more than anything else? Risa can't stand it when people are abrasive and flighty or when they have misconceptions of the world. The first pair she tends to get abrasive back to, trying to make a breakthrough so they'll treat her like a person and not like an annoyance. The second she gets fairly mad about and will argue her point loudly and quickly. 4. What do you find the most relaxing activity to do? Risa loves to sail a lazy sea, letting the wind drift her along where she can just relax and enjoy the ocean. If she could just relax in the crow's nest and watch for trouble that would be even better. 5. What kinds of things embarrass you? Why? Risa is embarrassed by her mistakes. She hates feeling like a child, like each mistake makes her not good enough to be her own independent person. She blushes often and tries hard not to let her annoying ticks overcome her. Favorites : 1. What is your favorite color or colors? Risa like greens and yellows and wears those in her clothing often 2. What is your favorite time of day? Risa likes midday, especially overlooking the ocean. 3. What is the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen? 4. What do you like to eat? What do you hate to eat? 5. What is your favorite type of weather? Does any kind scare you? Drugs and Alcohol : 1. Have you ever been drunk? If so, describe your first time. Risa has never been completely drunk, for every time she drinks it is merely a swig of rum rather than a whole bottle to her own. She never enjoyed the taste of alcohol, and she only drinks to be able to party with the other pod members late into the night. She is a lightweight however and can show signs of drunkenness rather quickly. 2. Do you like to drink on a regular basis? No, Risa doesn’t drink often. She only thinks of drinking as a way to socialize 3. What sort of alcohol do you prefer? Risa doesn’t find the flavor of rum nor wine appealing, but would probably choose rum over any other alcohol because of how it reminds her of home. 4. Have you ever tried drugs (mood altering substances)? If so, which kinds and what did you think of them? Never tried any, for if they were ever aboard she never noticed. 5. What do you think of drugs and alcohol? Be specific. Risa thinks of drugs and alcohol merely as an icebreaker for socializing, a connection to other people. She never thinks about how it affects her mind, for she usually doesn’t drink enough to notice the effects

[Risa Moontide]

Gnosis Story Risa was blessed by Eywaat with the ability of Tatani. As one of the marked, she can understand the basics of what birds are trying to say. This mark shows on her at a single grey feather growing back from the top of her left ear, which forced out a piercing she had before she was marked. The Story Part 1 : Her world turned violently. The tether in Risa's left hand burned painfully as it slipped free and went taunt. Rain had the tether, her sails, and her clothes completely soaked through. As the ship leveled Risa regained her legs, her heart pumped. She knew she should at least drop anchor and hunker down, but she was driven. I have to at least make it to the cove! The wind was hitting the sails at full force and she could feel her ship speeding up. Risa was trying to follow the current north, get past the storm, but it was quicker than she expected. She tried to reef the sails and slow the speed but it was too late. Her ship crashed into a headlong wave and broached, skewing direction as it plummeted into the waves. The cliffs to the side provided no cover from the western storm. They also gave the ocean extra depth so there was no shallow water to hide in. Risa couldn't escape the ripe tide by going inland for fear of smashing against the cliffs and the deeper sea's waves seemed closer together. She had to act quickly. The wind bellowed again, changing direction. Risa reached for the lines, trying to adjust the sails. The sea was confused, the winds ripped around wildly. Waves attacked her ship from every directions. Soon another rogue bashed the side, causing another rock. She gripped her tether again and attempted to plant her legs, but they slipped and she hit her head on the deck. Risa felt funny, in a different place. Her mother was telling her tales of the gods of the world, and Risa remembered her singing a old song of brother Raven. He would watch over them, her mother told her, protect his nestlings in times of need. She knew he was watching her now. Fala whistled loudly, the small bird nestled safely below the tarp spread out on part of the deck, waking Risa's lost mind. Risa opened her eyes and looked over at her friend. Her mirror had come free from her supplies and slid down the deck from where Fala was nested. Her reflection was haggard and she could still feel the pain from her hand and head. The song rang clearly in her head now. Risa grabbed her tether and began to sing aloud. She was going to make it through. Part 2 : A mad woman! Risa thought to herself. I must look like a mad woman! She was trying to out-sing the roar of the storm, the crash of thunder in the distance. She smiled, grabbing at more rope, pushing her knowledge to get through the next set of waves. It was slow going, she couldn't move too fast or risk letting the waters have their way with the direction she traveled. "Fala!" she cried out as she finished the final verse. "This storm shall not be the one to beat me!" The bird started to whistle in response, but was silenced by another splash on boat, soaking it. The water on the deck was draining quickly but Fala's feathers were soaked and he definitely looked as uncomfortable as Risa felt. Risa ran to the back of the boat and scooped him up, grabbing the rudder line nearby and tugging. She sat the poor bird in the pouch of her cloak, not dryer but at least safe from the waves. "Rest now, my friend!" Risa swore she heard a cawwing in the wind. She knew she should have tried to morph gills, but she could feel the gods' graces on her. The current seemed to turn ahead, but the murky water made confirming it difficult. Risa looked down as Fala's head peaking from her pocket. "Let's risk it!" She smiled and grabbed another rope, twisting the sail. If the winds could just... "Yes!" A slow gust hit the stern and the sail just as she hoped. The ship lurched forward, riding the wave towards the current shift. Risa grabbed the rudder line again, preparing for the right time. SLAM! Another rogue wave hit the side and she fell onto her stomach, rudder line flipping wildly away. Her ship turned wildly away from the current and veered at the looming cliff face. Determined Risa jumped to her feet and grabbed the rudder line, trying to quickly correct the mistake and get back before the boat smashed into the side. But her open sail caught a draft and Risa knew what was coming. Wiping rain from her eyes she grabbed her tether tighter, pushing herself against the mast and holding Fala tight. She shut her eyes; this was going to hurt. The next sound was... impossible. Like... applause, or a ton of waves crashing at once. Risa opened her eyes and froze. Over her ship hundreds of ravens tugged at the ropes and sails in their talons, flapping with a single purpose and direction. Their wings overpowered the noise of the storm and the waves. Somehow these birds were dragging the ship away, pulling it from the rocky doom. It was a miracle. Risa contemplated dowsing the lines or dropping anchor, but she didn't want to do anything to impede the birds. She loosened herself from the tether and grabbed the rudder line again. Risa gently pulled the line to try and catch the current again, make the task easier. At last she felt the current below her and the ravens stopped their task, disappearing into the storm again. The storm even began to die down as Risa began her sailing again, the winds less chaotic as the storm was passing into the mountains and away. She kept her sails from drawing as much and let the current move the ship more slowly out of the cliffs into the bay beyond. When at last the storm was down to a mere trickle Risa let herself rest on the deck, grinning up at the storm clouds. She had made it out, thanks to Brother Raven. She hummed his tune again, letting the rain cool her from the tribulations. Part 3 : Risa was approaching Thunder Bay now.The mountains around her looked bleak and grim from the storm. Fala was sitting on the deck now, shaking the thicker rain from his feathers. At least the rainwater refilled her water barrel, the tarp helping filter the water before it dripped in. There wasn't a fire pit on her little casinor, so the salted fish and hard tack was cold and a bit soggy. She took crumbs from the tack and fed them to Fala, just resting. Risa found herself humming again as she ate. Tap... Tap... Footsteps? Risa thought as the strange sound echoed through the planks. Looking at the bow she saw an attractive man with dark tan skin and long hair, but creepy black eyes. His clothing was fascinating, looking like a simple short garment made of crow feathers. He smiled as he approached slowly, bare feet like flippers against the wooden planks. Risa held up some of the fish in offering, talking quietly and shyly. "I... I think I know you." Fala stood still and silent, looking up curiously at the stranger as well. The man accepted her offer and sat across from her, forming a triangle between the three. "Why did you save us?" Risa asked. He smiled more warmly, comforting her a bit. "You saved yourself." The man's voice was deep, almost gravelly. It was... appealing, she found herself thinking. "But I can say I helped. At least a little." His smile turned into more of a boyish grin, goofy enough to make Risa giggle and cover her mouth. Opening up, Risa asked further, "Why did you help then?" The two ate together a little longer as Brother-Crow seemed to contemplate her response. Finally he turned to Risa and looked her straight in the eyes. "Because you needed it. You are driven to survive. I can only help you, but the path to walk is your own." Risa smiled at this, turning back to the fish. The trio ate and drank for a while as Risa began to tell tales of her past and to repeat tales her mother told her. Finally when the fish was gone and the tales over the man stood and walked toward starboard. He smiled at Risa again and said, "Remember: it is your path to walk. You may fall, but you will not falter." With that he was gone, just a raven flying into the distance. Risa felt him with her still. She would not fail.

[Risa Moontide]

Thread List Spring, 507AV : The Suvan Sea Mother's Favor - 20th of Spring(Flashback) - Complete Fall, 508AV : The Suvan Sea The Fruit Above - 3rd of Fall(Flashback) - Complete Summer, 511AV : Wind Reach Risa Enters the City - 2nd of Summer 511 AV - Complete A New Plan - 2nd of Summer 511 AV - Complete Shining Entrance - 2nd of Summer 511 AV - Complete Dreamscape From Whence Answers Came - 5th/6th of Summer 511 AV Wind Reach Wake Up Call - 6th of Summer 511 AV A Rocky Start - 7th of Summer 511 AV - Complete Transfer of Ownership - 10th of Summer 511 AV - Complete So You Think You Can Swim - 22nd of Summer 511 AV - Complete Tough Hands - 24th of Summer 511 AV - Complete Unnaturally Natural - 38th of Summer, 511AV See, Aim, Fire! - 47th of Summer 511 AV - Complete Off the Trail - 60th of Summer 511AV - Complete Midnight Serenity - 76th of Summer 511AV Silence - Timestamp Pending - Complete Fall, 511AV :