[Regional Quest] Beyond the Waves

[Paragon]

Regional Quest ❖ Beyond the Waves Timestamp: 80th of Summer, 512 AV The horizon hinted of the coming evening and night, but that did not stop the crowd that had gathered at the steps of the Temple of Laviku, to hear out the small group of Regents that now held court. Zeltiva was already in a state of excitement. Earlier on in the day, a band of Knights from Syliras had arrived, filling the inns and taverns, and bringing commerce to the markets and shops. They were bound for Sahova, and they brought news too. The University had jumped on the opportunity almost immediately, assembling a group of scholars and researchers they wanted to send along with the Knights. "Many of you have heard fragments of the news," one of the Regents announced, turning to his colleagues, "but I am here to make it official. The Knights who came from Syliras are headed for the undead isle of Sahova. They are heading there because of an artefact of most intrinsic value. We need to study that artefact, and understand it - it is vital to the University's ongoing research. There are rumours too... of Nyka, and a possible artefact there. We require volunteers to go there too." There were murmurs in the crowd. Perhaps, it could be said, Zeltiva had had enough of artefacts and their ilk. The Obelisks still towered over the bay. They were enough for many. "That is why we need a team of volunteers to accompany scholars and knights, and help with recovery and research in Sahova or Nyka. The journey will not be the faint hearted. I cannot promise your safety - but those who do return triumphant will be rewarded. There is a pool of funding we can access for monetary reward, and arrangements can be made for free study at the University." The man smiled wryly, as if his next words would hold untold snark. "and I have no doubt that those triumphant souls will be elevated in status within the city." One of the other Regents, an imposing looking woman with scraped back hair and sparkling eyes, procured a scroll of sorts, nodding to the male Regent who had spoken. "Those who wish to make the journey, and aid our City's knowledge should sign on the register here. It has a few terms and conditions - and states we aren't liable for any deaths or injuries that might occur in Sahova." The man was frank, and a little like a weasel too. The University would take no liability. "but it also promises reward. The Knights leave in two days time, on the eighty-second. Zeltiva's own party will travel alongside them to Sunberth by land, and then onto Sahova, to the artefact that lies in wait. Good fortune to all, and blessings of Laviku." At the mention of death, many left, sneaking from the crowd and back home dejectedly. Others, however, were lured by the promise of reward and wanderlust. Those brave few moved forward to sign the register, gazing out from the temple's elevated plateau, knowing they would soon travel beyond the waves. OOCFeel free to self-mod socialisation and signing the register, this is just a little flavour to start the ball rolling. You can also now thread from the 82nd onward during the journey - we encourage everyone to thread with one another. To be more specific about quest rewards, those in Zeltiva's party will be able to pick from monetary or tuition based rewards, and will also gain large amounts of Status Points. During the quest itself there will be other opportunities for rewards: from magical items, to Gnosis marks.

[Kaeson Dakano]

The gentle sea breezed teased at Kaeson's hair as the young man walked towards the centuries old temple. The Temple of Laviku seemingly glowed as the last of Syna's light grazed the marine limestone, the various shells and corals that adorned the temple made all the more noticeable.

As the young animator made his way to the temple, his entire being seemed to shake with excitement, mimicking the day's tone. The knights had arrived today, bringing tales of a godly fragmant awaiting in Sahova. Promises of money, glory, and fame were made, prompting several people, Kaeson included, to gather at the foothills of the Sea God's temple.

The last of Syna's light caught Kaeson's eyes, and he turned to face the sea. The sea. If the Knights tales proved true, then they were looking for volunteers and Kaeson would be spending the next season traveling towards Sahova. Sahova and Zarik Mashean. Neither money nor glory served the boy well, but even the slightest chance to rub elbows with the greatest animator to ever exist, at least as far as Kaeson was concerned, was more then enough reason to leave Zeltiva behind.

He could always come back.

Kaeson carefully listened to all the man had to stay, and despite his warnings, Kaeson was one of the first volunteers to sign the waver. He had always been te survivor, despite any skills to prove his worth. Luck and Fate had always walked beside Kaeson, why would they choose to abandon him now?

[Marcus Dymez]

Marcus had known something was happening from the moment the caravan of Knights had made their entrance. Needless to say, it was not a common occurrence. This made no surprise then to find a group of regents pronouncing the type of adventure fraught with death, injury, and perhaps even a vengeful god or two. Naturally, Marcus was intrigued. It was actually quite amusing to watch the crowd thin at the regents disclaimer of liability, and a slight chuckle escaped Marcus' lips. He had once wished he could be like them, eager to preserve his life, no matter how dull or repetitive it truly was. But he had given up on that thought long ago; his curiosity demanded it of him. Without a moment's hesitation, Marcus joined the smaller, but still significant, crowd that waited to sign the charter. Treasure and wealth tended to outweigh death for some people, and Marcus could not entirely fault them for it. He was willing to go to the ends of the world for any artifact that could help him on his mysterious goal, and this expedition was quite the change of pace. As it came to be his turn to sign, Marcus took the provided quill and signed in the most magnificent and practiced manner he could muster. A small, devilish grin came across his face as he appeared to slip on the parchment, offering a feigned expression of apology as he glanced up. He moved to the next line down, appearing as if he had messed up his signature, but it was anything but that. His name was written clearly in the most scholarly of fonts, but the one below it was not a replacement, or a duplicate. It was written in an almost scrawling manner, of no insult to the woman on his mind, but quite different from his own name. Marcus held back a laugh as he walked away, curious how he was going to enlighten her about yet another adventure. The next man came up and signed, right below the semi-legible signature of a woman named Lilium. OOCLilium agreed to this, and we figured this would be the most interesting way to do things. Consider this both mine and her confirmation of the charter. ^^

[Rayage]

Uninformed was a word that didn’t quite fit the nuit. In fact, it didn’t fit him at all. The word was not is style, and for most people who knew the nuit would say that it just wasn’t his ‘color’. The nuit was prone to hearing things, and in fact he liked talking amongst the students and staff. People were interesting things after all, and it was through the chain of hearsay that led the nuit to this very spot. News spread quite fast if one was willing to do a bit of digging. After all, there was nothing more promising than a good rumor. Which, to the Professor, was akin to a mystery that he just had to solve. This, of course, not trying to say that he is a social butterfly, but rather he just has his hand on the pulse of whatever city he is in at the time. It was a great way of staying alive.

Though the nuit was far from alone, with him were two others. One of them, standing to the left and slightly in front of the Professor, was a little girl. Long black hair adorned her back, and messy bangs flung in front of her face. The girl, no younger than seven, no older than nine, had a particular presence about her. The feel about the lass came to an unnatural wariness. Intelligence inhabited the body, one that has been around for quite some time. For some reason the girl didn’t move like a girl at all. The unconscious movement of a young mind, the body language, was off and it was for everyone to see. This girl was Evalin, the nuit that Ray created so long ago. She was his first person who he turned a nuit, and she was invaluable, at least in the nuits eyes.

The second person stood to Rays front right, and together the two stood almost ‘shoulder to shoulder’. One had to stand that close in a crowd like this. This one was a boy, granted an older boy, but a boy nonetheless (to the nuit everyone was young). Again with the black hair, it graced his head, but wasn’t as messy as the younger one. The elder child’s hair fell almost to his shoulder blades, and was ever so neatly tied back in such a way that the bangs didn’t hinder his sight, only falling to either side of his head. There was an order about him, a mental discipline, an air of confidence and security about him. This was the boy Miro who, only eighteen, was already an accomplished wizard, and one that Ray himself respected, for lack of better word.

Ray was in the middle, and it looked almost like one happy family was attending the ceremony. If one didn’t know the three were unrelated someone might think that they were a family. In fact, the way they stood together was signifier enough. Though not everything was as it seemed, and there was a better reason for standing like so. They had come together to figure out exactly was going on, and together they would listen and hear about the adventure that lay before, if they so accept it. Though on the mention of Sahova, the deal was set, the Professor, as a member of the university will so humbly go on the Universities behalf.

Sahova… The name brought back memories of people and things and magic that he could only begin to describe. It was in Sahova where he advanced his studies in homunculi, and it was there where he helped Master Karte, and fought off an army of malfunctioning golems, and it was there which he held some status as an alchemist of great caliber. Surly getting there would be no problem. The gears were already turning in Rays mind as he watched the crowd thin out on the mention of the wavier. Fools! They don’t know what they are missing out on. Sahova is the place for magical research! A return trip there has been long overdue.

”Evalin,” he said, ”I believe this is a chance in which we have been waiting for.” he told her, ”A grab at power. Not for the University, but for ourselves.” he made sure to keep his voice hushed as he addressed the two in front of them. The nuit and his party having a little more breathing room as the remaining people hurried to sign the form, potentially signing their life away. Though, one does not gain something for nothing. He has taught Eva that much, such as the price for immortality. ”Im signing up.” he said with a knowing grin, ”As a Professor of the University of Zeltiva, I feel obligated to help this city.” he announced a little longer, patting Evalin on the head, before briskly grabbing the two people in front of him, Eva and Miro, and gently pushing them along to sign up along with him.

Waiting, and finally it was Rays turn. Ink and quill scribbled across the parchment provided for him. His penmanship showed his apparent age. Having hundreds of years of writing and taking notes, it wasn’t messy, but it wasn’t perfect either. The nuit had developed his own style of holding the quill and swooping with his lines, giving his signature a very distinct feel to it. This was the beginning of another adventure.

[Evalin]

Such noise and commotion... what interest have we to be here? This thought filled the mind of the girl as she walked before the man cloaked in mystery. In her hand she held a staff that was far to large for her now, and about her shoulders was a cloak that drug the ground. Hair of raven black fell past thin shoulders, and cold eyes stared out from skin as pale as winter's embrace, Be it not the greatest folly to be caught within such a crowd, for in such a state as I am now I should fear trampling under heavy, idiotic boots. Absently the girl noted what was being said, noting how the crowd shifted and thinned at the mention of death. A small smile graced those thin lips, What great amusement one has to hear such words spoke, as if death were the greatest of dangers one is to face in this world. The brush of another on her right caused the girl to look up at the man she had met only recently. He was tall, at least to the girl as she was now, and his dark hair and eyes of cold blue drew her slightly to his cause. However, never did Evalin judge on the first, nor even the second of third, meeting, Know I of his true intentions? No certainly not, yet my other speaks highly of him, and so I shall abide his presence for now. In truth, Evalin held a slightly higher regard for the young man's accomplishments given his age, yet even so this did not cause her to act any friendlier. In this life there was little to be had from friendship, and certainly so much more to lose because of it, Let him journey with us then, and if he proves useful and does not perish then, perhaps, I shall deign to learn more. Glancing back at the words spoken, Evalin replied in a slightly bored tone, "My dear immortal, be you caught not drawn in by the prospect of what may or may not be alone? Think you not of the consequences of this little venture?" With a shrug Evalin continued, "Be it so, no matter the outcome, I shall accompany you as well. Though let it be know that if the fragment is to be held by the hands of any, so shall it be grasped by those who stand apart from the flow of time. Duly she noted the man who still lived beside her, yet she felt her words still hung true, For truly none but the immortal could hope to understand the possibilities of endless power and time... From pride falls defeat... From hesitance comes failure... From arrogance comes utter destruction... For a moment Evalin was so stunned by the familiar's words that she could not think of a response. After a moment her hand moved to touch the saphire necklace that shimmered slightly, What mean you this my dear Tsenrika? Have you some insight I know not of? However, the Irylid remained silent, and the girl sighed and shook her head, "Never to speak when asked, yet voice an opinion when none is sought. Be you the most curious creature I have yet to encounter." She felt the hand upon her head, and the worming dread within her stirred. Reaching up she slapped the hand away, growling in disgust, "Be you more wary, for while my body be of this size I am no child to be coddled and fawned over." Her words, however, were obviously lost on the other as she was soon gently pushed toward the sign up sheet. With a huff she shrugged off the hand, grasping her staff and stepping forward after Rayage finished. It was then that Evalin was presented with an obstacle she could never have forsean. A hand moved to brush against her eyes, and she spoke just above a whisper, "Be my greatest wish come true soon, for now I see that Fate has deigned to mock me once more." She could not reach the sheet... The table was too high, coming up to just under eye level for her. Once more Eva cursed this body that had caused her little but angst since it first came to her possesion, Never again shall I take upon my form the visage of a child... The greatest of inconvenience it has been... Suddenly the world moved, and the sheet came within reach of her. From behind she felt the presence of another lifting her up from the ground so that she could reach the pen and quickly scribble her name. In an effort to avoid any further disgrace, she hissed to be set down and once her feet touched she turned and marched from the line, not bothering to thank whoever it was that had aided her.

[Miro]

What a day, what a day. Miro finally felt as if he had a family, though he realized now the horrors of such a thing. Often before, he had seen older boys, forced to be around parent and sibling, dreading every minute. What could be worse for an appearance than what appeared to be a father, too negligent to find properly fitting clothing, and a younger sister, who spoke as if she was a scholar. It was just a lucky coincidence that the people had gathered close and distracted by the man at the fore of the crowd, giving his speech.

It was boring, standing around, but Miro listened to some of what was said. Artifacts, undead, as if Miro hadn't enough of those, and something about knights. The best part came near the end, the part about danger, and status. The former caused the crowd dwindled to nothing more than a few brave souls, eager to sign away their lives to gain the latter. Rayage so boldly and valiantly proclaimed his duty, while Miro could only begin to yawn. He would sign the parchment, but he would not make a fool of himself doing so. In fact, if it weren't for Ray's hand on Miro's back, then he would have scamped off, hiding his affiliation with the man.

First, it was Ray who signed his name. Then it was, Eva who...could not reach. As if having the heroic professor as your father and a sister who less than subtly hinted that she had stolen her current body wasn't enough. She was now attempting to sign her life away, while her 'father' did nothing to stop her. Miro quickly came up behind her and lifted her just long enough for her to sign. She fussed enough like a child when treated like one, perhaps that was the key to hiding her secret.

Last and greatest, of course, was Miro. The man that the public loved ever so much. Well, they had better love him ever so much, lest he earn their approval out of fear. He took pen in hand and signed his name in as fancy a fashion as possible, using the formal name of 'Miro Avain'. He marveled down at the signature, noting how hard it was, even for him to make out the letters. He knew he had done it well.

With that bit of ink, the deal was done. He would depart in two days along with his beloved family, each risking their lives for personal gain. He did wonder what it was that made Rayage so eager to sign. It was obvious that the mention of danger did not entice him in the least. Nor did he seem the type to be interested in politics. Perhaps the reason was some hidden reward. If so, Miro would gladly aid the man, and see what could be so valuable that it could press haste into the man's old muscles. As with all things, only Lhex and Tanroa could be sure.

[Leigo]

The boy and his companion were prone to standing behind the crowd that rushed forward to sign their lives away. In a certain light it was foolish. But he needed money to re-establish his family name. It would require commerce and funding and last but not least – renown. The quest seemed like a good idea to get him all of these things. As the strangers signed their fates away, Leigo waited patiently for their turn. So where are we going? The familiar could be heard somewhere in the back of his head. Sahova. Keeping it brief, the blond didn’t really think this decision needed any explaining. Isn’t that the more dangerous one? Again a stupid question in boy’s eyes – Yes, that’s the harder one. Sighing seemingly to no one, Leigo couldn’t figure out just why was it that Onuo needed to fret at this particular moment. So why not take the easier one? I’m sure it’ll bring all the things you seek as well. Pulling to the front, the boy slowly signed his name below the others already hailing to the isle of dread. What’s Sahova? A deathtrap… Exactly – so the safest trip we could ever make there would be now. Kind of paradoxal actually, but can you imagine any other moment when we’ll have so many able warriors around for protection? I understand. I know. Long before the conversation ended, Leigo and Onuo pulled to the far end of the room. Having no interest in pleasantries, the pair remained simply to observe the events as they unfolded.

[Aehra]

Aehra stood on the tops of her toes, craning to see over the heads of the small crowd while the small speech was given. Earlier, the shop had flooded with activity. Strangers came in, glanced around the shop as though it were some novel creature instead of a general store in their city, and Aehra had constantly been dragged between customers wanting to know prices of this or that or these. Eventually, Mr. Clarke had come back from his errands to assist her, and his comically shocked expression when he saw how busy his shop had gotten in his absence had been just entertaining enough to get Aehra through the rush. When the sudden influx of traffic had settled down to a meandering trickle and, eventually, the shop was emptied, Aehra had badgered Mr. Clarke until the store keeper finally granted her permission to leave and find out what she could about the strangers (under the premise that she would return after to close the shop). Now, she had to keep herself from bouncing foot to foot, trying to hear the words floating in the air. She caught bits and pieces, but once she realized what the man had said-- that this quest, or whatever it was exactly, was vital to the University-- she blocked out quite a bit of what was said. If it was vital to the University, and she helped, surely she would be that much closer to attending, wouldn't she? After a moment, the crowd thinned substantially, although Aehra had been so enamored with her personal realization that she missed what the man had said. She only caught the last few sentences, and was glad to hear that they wouldn't be leaving for two days. That would give her time to talk to Mr. Clarke and bargain with him to ensure that she might have her job back upon her return. Aehra was shuffled forward with the crowd without any thought on her part, and soon found herself signing the ledger marked "Sahova" before being gracelessly ejected from the small gathering. After getting her bearings, she turned towards the sea and sat at an empty portion of the temple's steps, grinning into the late afternoon sun. "Sahova." She liked the word. She tested it again, savoring its feeling, grinning wider at each repetition. Sahova. She was going to Sahova. She rested there for a few minutes more in the waning sunlight before standing up and heading off in the direction of the store, practicing her speech to Mr. Clarke the whole way.

[Wrenmae]

Set in royal blue, the Wave Guard approached from the east of Zeltiva. He'd elected rounds at this time, gazing without seeing from place to place with almost marked tranquility. Inside him, his psyche was a tattered array of hypnotic suggestion and pointless battles. Shroud, or what he used to call himself, now Murdock, swayed on unsteady feet as he approached the square. Words rose over the backs of men and rolled out across the open Zeltivan air. Suffused in Laviku's sea-sweet breath, he almost drank the syllables. On his wrist the manacle only he could see thrummed happily, working is insidious magic to erase what Shroud had-What Murdock had been. The name. Yes, he'd named himself to stave off the effects of the divine tampering. May he be an individual again, not some shard of torn personality but a real soul, a real life. But even haggard with hypnotic attempts, his mind refused to yield the same separation it once had. Each day he could feel the inexorable pull toward singularity. Too much of the coward and the madman in him now. He saw with three visions, four if you counted the whelp, an easily subsumed fear. Quietly the people greeted him, muted only by his dazed concentration. He nodded to them, smiling hollow, a figure of authority and generosity in the city and utterly lost to whatever it was that he could not escape. Could he trust Rayage with this information? No. No more than he had trusted the nuit to wake him when he fell into the coward, Wrenmae. Twenty days had passed, more, till he'd awoken without the damn dead mans help. No what? Was he to say simply to his partner that the man he knew was being forced into a semblance of sanity? Did he explain that the joined pieces of his old psyche might erase him entirely? Did he use his new name, Murdock, hoping it would imprint upon the nuit's mind...that the memory of his existence as an individual would somehow preserve him here? A mirthless chuckle, he pushed past the people waiting in line and blithely took the paper from the man who held it. He paused before signing it, staring at the space his name would fill. What did he write? Murdock was not recognized by these people, but somehow writing Wrenmae almost damned him to this waning, this withering...this appalling Rhysol damned curse. Eyes on him, silence, muffled stillness, the death language of expectation. "My name is Wrenmae, Murdock, Wilmot." He said the words with space between them, naming them all as real names, but trying to note that Murdock was not a middle name, nothing so easily cast away. He was HIM damnit, he deserved to live as much as anyone else, no...more than the coward he could become. What had Wrenmae done? Gotten tortured? Fell into trouble? Assaulted? Without Shroud he was weak. Weak. Like he felt now. "I am a Trident Champion and Wave Guard. I volunteer on behalf of both the University and the People of Zeltiva." There was polite applause, nothing less expected of the favored. He flourished his handwriting, scarcely looking at it, falling back into the crowd and against a wall, sliding down to bury his head in his hands. "Boyo," Zan muttered from within, "If anyone were to ask if you felt as bad as you looked, they wouldn't know the half of it." He didn't have the energy to answer it. "But hey! Brightside time! Looking on the more positive part of today...we're leaving! Hooray! Journies! Remember when we almost went to Sahova? Remember? We almost did but then came here instead, or rather, went to Sunberth, or whatever. Anyways, Adventure right? We'll have a good time, get your mind off the whole mind thi-" A pause "Oh" "Oh indeed," Murdock, once Shroud, cursed, "Petch it all."

[Noaru]

''Sahova...

* The single word he whispered within his thoughts, he could feel the tension and anticipation in the air! ''Oh, the weary hearts of humans'' he thought while hidden , completely unseen to those with ''normal'' untrained eyes; however, he was aware of those capable of sensing him, capable of summoning and those that hunt the likes of him and ghosts akin.


''This little trip sparks my interest! Especially, with these many humans gathering and then some fleeing from the possible dangers, cowards! Such cowardice! How can they call themselves adventures!?''

* He could see the many brave souls who went forward, willing to risk their lives for but a mere fragment, he could respect such young souls and thus wanted to get in gear as well; he vanishes from sight, allowing his presence to fade. *

''There are interesting things to behold here. I mite as well wait for the departure party.''