Closed Lost At Sea

[Davus]

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Timestamp : Morning, 70th of Fall, AV 513

The day had just began yet it already felt like one to relax and savour, the skies were clear with exception of a single cloud that hovered far out to sea, there was no wind bar the gentlest of breezes that reminded people that they weren't dreaming, and the autumn leaves changed into the full spectrum of browns, oranges and yellows as they crunched beneath the feet of workers as they admired the gem of a city Riverfall was whilst they got on with their business at hand.

Davus was no exception to this, even with the heaviest hangover he had been burdened with in his life he could still appreciate the beauty that surrounded him though he doubted whether others enjoyed the view of himself, his once white woollen top was stained a suspicious yellow, his long straggly hair looked particularly dishevelled this morning with a fine coating of sand and sea salt to boot, a heavy stubble had sprouted from his jaw and his eye was adorned with heavy dark rings. The excitement of the past couple of weeks had been more than enough to get the blood of the Svefra rushing; a Zith raid, rumours of the rescued slaves trying to change the status quo, and the Beautyfest party, well when he woke up on the beach surrounded by bottles and unable to remember anything about the night before he assumed it had been a fun one. But with all this recent excitement he was happy to relax and enjoy this fine day for what it was.

He took a right turn as he made his way down the brick path that lead towards the docks, as he went down he found himself twisting and turning through the crowd of dock workers, some like him were heading down to the docks to start their shifts while others brought crates of anything and everything up to market. As the view of sea he felt his heartbeat quicken, he hated the way it did that but he couldn't help it, he was drawn to the sea, he would always come back to it. Today it looked rather splendid, the light blue waters today were particularly calm, the reflection of the bright radiant sun shimmering ever so slightly on the horizon. It wasn't long after negotiating the bustling crowds his foot landed on the wooden docks, despite the multitude of ships that were docked he only had eyes for one, The Evader, in truth it was no faster than any other Casinor found in the Suvan Sea but to Davus it could have been Laviku's flagship with the way he looked at it. On the tip of its prow he even saw Shoal, his tavan huddled up in a deep sleep but he choose not to wake him, he was enjoying the day on his own and so should Davus. He made his way to a group of fisherman who were busy packing away their fishing gear.

"Can I rent that rowing boat?"
"I am afraid not seafarer" A particular large, beer bellied human with a thin comb over and a single rotting tooth said, he rose his hand outwards towards the sea "See that cloud? That means a storm is comin'"
Davus followed the direction of his hand to the cloud, granted it had gotten larger and darker in colour since he had last seen it but it still appeared to be miles away "Come on, even if it is heading this way it will be hours"
The fisherman simply shook his head "I have seen storms like that approach in a matter of minutes, and this little boat isn't build for a storm. I am not willing to risk my livelihood for a few Mizas"

Davus just shrugged and walked off, not bothering to thank the fisherman since he didn't actually help him. He walked away from the docks but not back to the city but on a small rock path that led to the base of the cliffs that stood guard against the sea, always resisting the force of the waves should they ever reach its weathered base. As the docks vanished out of sight round the corner of the cliffs Davus starting to remove his clothes, he had decided to go for a swim if he couldn't get a rowing boat. After pulling off his woollen top he revealed a fairly scarred torso, it was strong and toned, though not like a bodybuilder but someone who had known labour his entire life, also his Oceanus mark had decided to migrate away from his neck and could now be found spouting from his chest in its entire majestic splendour. Svefra were not known for modesty and Davus wasn't going to be the one to break that trend as he pulled down his trousers, exposing his buttocks to the fresh morning air. He was tempted to remove his bandage as well to give the skin underneath some fresh air but he decided not to, the view was already bad enough without adding to it. After hiding his clothes and possessions behind a large rock he turned toward the sea and stared at it, like a warrior staring down his enemy before abandoning all pretences of composure and charging towards it.

[Uleru]

Uleru watches the storm brew from the bottom of the outer cliffs with trepidation. It is an unusual response from her to such an event, and she's not sure what to make of it. Flash storms such as this one have been cropping up for weeks now. A bell of wind and rain and churning currents before hitting the coast and blowing itself out like a deflated balloon. Harmless, essentially. At least for the Svefra's well endowed ships and a city as enclosed as Riverfall.
 
Still she chews fingertips, eyes narrowed as she tries to pin down why she is so tense. The frequency of the storms, perhaps? It is very nearly storm season, yes. But even then... She looks up at the sky over her head suspiciously. It feels like Zulrav is brewing something beneath his benign blue sky. And these little jumps of thunder and rain are nothing more than the opening heralds.
 
"Right, and when have you been so brilliant at predicting Zulrav?" she asks herself aloud, flicking the clinging sand off of her legs.
 
The small dark cloud is still a way off yet, but it's growing like a cancer. She can feel the heavy wetness in the air and the sea retracting in on itself like a cat waiting for a scold. And every once in a while a cold gust will skip across it's back like a trail of icy kisses. And yet despite the feeling of unease over the frequent storms, the Otani cant help the feeling of mounting excitement for the tempest thats gathering right in front of her. She always liked a good storm. Though she used to play in ones three times this size in the outer sea.
 
Teresa once told her that sea storms are a result of Laviku and Zulrav not getting along. She wonders if thats true.
 
"God knows," she mumbles, answering herself aloud again. The words sound oddly literal.
 
Just then a rumble rolls out from the cloud, jarring the Otani's liquid form like she has both hands on a tuning fork. It's starting, she hums, fighting the rather manic smile that threatens to pull at her lips.
 
She carefully gets to her feet on the narrow, rocky ledge. One hand on the rocks behind her to hold herself steady, the other clenched at her side. Her liquid body looking nearly solid in the flat light.
 
"A storm is a storm", she sings, her voice high and undulating like the waves. "And such games we play on the back of a storm!"
 
Then with a cry of delight she dives off the ledge, swimming out to meet the breaking cloud.   

[Davus]

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Davus hit the water head first, a wave of healing rippled over his aching body as he stopped moving, letting his body float along, suspended in the water as its salt purged his most recent wounds. As he drifted he felt the familiar sting of salt water against his eyes, he refused to close them as they adjusted to the light, the sea was remarkably calm this close to the coast allowing the sand to stay on the sea bed, leaving the water crystal clear. He could make out blurry shapes and vivid colours that swum along the bottom of the sea, he stretched out his hand in attempt to hold these creatures but they merely swum around his outstretched palm, not afraid of him because of his blessing.

He dug his toes into the sandy floor, letting it filter through the gaps before he pushed against it, sending himself shooting up through the water. He broke the surface head first, sending shattered ripples off in all direction as he gasped for air. As fresh air filled his lung he couldn't help but laugh for no reason at all, it was one of those laughs that a person couldn't explain they just knew they had to. He ran his fingers through his hair, still laughing, pushing it out of his eyes and washing out the sand that clung to it like its life depended on it. He splashed water in his face to wake himself up; the rings under his eyes looked smaller and lighter already. His laughter faded into a soft sigh as he looked back at the beach, it wasn’t far away but Davus wished it was. He could never understand why he stopped at ports, nothing good ever came from those on land but after too long on the sea something always pained him, pushing him back to land. “Today is not for thoughts like these” He reminded himself as started to wash himself in the sea. He rubbed the dirt off his body with the water, he had no idea how he managed to become coated in such filth, then he proceeded to tear off blackened nails that had grown long from his neglect and splashed water under his armpits, to replace the stench of sweat with the sea, a scent he much preferred.

With a sudden kick he propelled himself through the water, escaping the shadows off the cliffs that loomed over him, the sounds of the city starting to fade as he was given a chance to be alone with just himself and his own thoughts. He muttered to himself “North to Syliras sounds good to me, but it is going to cost us. Five and seventy days at sea will require plenty of food, and fish is in high demand in the inland cities so prices here will suffer because of it” He let out a short sigh, his life to many sounded exciting, with no responsibilities and many adventures but in truth it was one headache after another; never knowing when you will eat next, where you might rest you head next and if you will survive natures wrath out at sea. He furrowed his brow, only deepening the deep set wrinkles he had acquired throughout his short life “My money bag is feeling lighter with each day here” he shook his head in frustration “Bah, if needs be I’ll get a short job in this bloody city”. He spun in the water and set off, away from the city and into the deep blue, paying no heed to the growing cloud and stronger wind.

[Uleru]

Uleru wished for a storm, and Uleru gets her wish. When the storm starts it gains momentum fast. In less than ten chimes the rain starts; thick and heavy, it hits the surface like stones. The fair wind does battle with itself, kicking up impressive white-capped waves and a shreiking howl that Uleru can feel vibrate through her body. The sea, not to be outdone, stirs its waters with heavy currents; the deepening grey colour of the sky reflected in its churning surface.

One Otani swims through, over, and around the deepening waves, though her body is getting beat and tossed about like a duck in a hurrican. Her shreiks of exhilaration are drowned out by the angry wind.

This is all part of the game. She can swim beneath the currents and pass the waves. It's quite a beautiful sight from below too, with towering cathedrals that are the waves and the bright, bubbling chandeliers of the crashing caps. But that is just too easy. So if the current is dragging her out to sea she tries to swim for shore. If she is pulled over a wave she will ride it all the way back down. And if a crash of lightning makes her scream she will not duck down and hide but lie back and dare it to strike her next.

It's not dangerous, not really. She can survive just about everything the sea can throw at her. But it feels dangerous. Much like a prayer she has learned to respect what Laviku can throw out and has meditated on his awesome power. She is small, she cant fight it, and there is nothing she can do about it. It's the ultimate tribute for the most powerful god.

[Davus]

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All Davus remembered was that one moment he was swimming gently through the morning sea, admiring the views that the rising sun had brought him and then next moment he was being thrown around like a ragdoll amongst the crashing waves, with the howling wind that blew around him distorting any noises he might hear this far out to sea. He tried to turn back and swim, which would have been a feat in itself considering how far the ocean current had pulled him out to sea but he could not fight them and win. He was far from the most competent swimmer, despite his Svefran nature; he had always preferred to stay in the boat it was so much more fun to ride the ways than to be dragged through them.

The flash of lightning blanketed across the sky, thunder resonated throughout the charcoal clouds that now swirled around him. Rain started to pour. Fat, cold drops splattered against his paling face as he was dragged further out, he refused to swim against the current; that would be the quickest way to exhaust him and send him to the depths. A huge wave crashed into him, smashing the air out of him and sending him spiralling beneath surface, the now clouded water obscured any vision he might have once had.

His throat burned with what little air remained within him as he felt the pressure of the water squeeze his lungs as he was pulled further down. His ears and heart pounded with the same ferocity, filling his head with their beats. Davus opened his mouth to shout for help but all that came out was a stream of bubbles. Slowly the edges of this sight started to blacken and his conscious started to slip from his grasp but he would always refuse to drown, that was last way he would have Dira claim him. A second current interfered, pushing him upwards as he kicked against the water with what little energy he could muster.

He broke the surface once more and hopefully for the last time today. He took long, deep breaths as he tried to stay afloat, as his vision started to clear and sharpen it soon dawned of him he wasn't out of danger. The currents continued to drag him out to sea, the cliffs of Riverfall appeared to be no more than a thin line on the horizon and the dark, stormy clouds still continued to swirl overhead. But the most pressing concern was the rocky protrusion ahead of him, at its base brutal waves smashed up the rocks, violent sprays of seawater erupting from the collision and every current seemed to be dragging him towards it. He fought desperately against the current as he approached it but all his effort was in vain, with every kick and pull away from it the current just seemed to make it stronger. As he came dangerously close to the outcrop he squeezed his eye shut, not looking forward to the imminent pain "Oh shit" he whispered through blue lips.

OOCI really like the new post template Uleru

[Uleru]

OOCThank you!
 
She didn't see the man until he was almost on top of her. A crashing wave had carried her up and pitched her back down like the most vicious of children playing with an abused bath toy. And as she was spinning beneath the shattering sparks of light from the lightening overhead she catches sight of something that does not belong.
 
The fish have fled to deeper water long ago, and the seals and dolphins are all safely holed up on shore or at least safely away. Only the Otani is stupid enough to brave the storm. So what by Laviku's salty balls is this flailing creature?
 
Unfortunately this is all the time she has to contemplate the creature before being dragged away by the pressure of another wave. "Wait!", she bubbles uselessly, "come back!"
 
As soon as she has a reason to fight the storm -a real reason- the enjoyment of the game boils down into crushing frustration. the view from below is too confusing to really search for the creature, so she suffers above. Paddling hard and switching shape faster than the eye can keep up with, she spits water and tries calling for the creature. No answer.
 
A dark finger of rock protrudes nearby like an Kalvikasi raising its ugly head. More than one current is forced to change direction by its immovable face, making it a swirling maelstrom of confusion at its base. Surely unpleasant, but no problem to survive from one of Laviku's children. But what about that very solid-looking creature?
 
Almost panicking now, she lets herself be carried by a rolling wave and uses the high vantage to take another look. There! Struggling in the valley between two waves is a man, pale with exertion and a look of deepest determination painted on his face. Now the moulding really is panicking.
 
Cursing disjointedly in every colorful sailors tongue from every port, she tries to do the impossible: battle Laviku's realm. He seems to be pulled by a current, so Uleru tries to find the same one. Dropping back beneath the water she finds his legs quickly now that she knows where to look. Snaking her arms around his waist she tries to pull him bodily from the current with strokes of her short, powerful seals tail. But the extra resistance from her body only makes the current grab onto them both tighter, steering them straight towards the dark mass of rock.
 
There's no time! Unable to pull the man from the grip of the current, she grits her teeth and wraps her arms around his shoulders, her legs around his hips, and pushes his head into her shoulder. Using her body as a thin veil of protection as the current smashes them both against the rocks with a crash of thunder and the fleshy thud of bone. 

[Davus]

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Davus clung to the wet, dark, jagged rock like his life depended on it and in truth it probably did. His once dark, tanned skin now looked pale and almost transparent; his largest scars looked taut and knotted as they were stretched across his body. He shivered heavily as he crawled across the rock before he screamed out in pain, his wild eye stared down at the source of the pain; his knee had been completely rammed out of his joint, it looked deformed as disfigured, the flesh sticking out unnaturally as the bone escaped from the joint. This combined with his exhaustion proved too much for the shivering Svefra as he doubled over, heaving the content of his stomach over the side of the rock, his retching was the only noise that could be heard on the rock over the gale force wind.

As the contents of his stomach drained off into the sea he turned back, facing upwards at the sky, light shone on his face as a smattering of sunlight managed to find itself way through the rumbling cloud. It bought him a moment of warmth and relief from the blistering cold and the stabbing pain that run up from his leg before it was obscured by the clouds again. Another flash of lightning blanketed the sky, a crack of thunder followed announcing its displeasure to all. The flash of lighting caused him to jolt, causing him once again to cry out in pain, every movement on his leg felt like a hot iron poker was being jabbed straight to the bone. It was far from his only wound, though it was the most serious; various cuts and bruises adorned his leg, as well as a few scratches had made their mark upon his chest when he had dragged himself up the rock. Though the thought did not occur to him at the time in truth Davus had been rather lucky to escape an impact with a dislocated knee and some cuts, but as he thought about it perhaps it wasn't luck.

He remembered closing his eyes, behind him the current faltered and then it surged, throwing him against the rock with all its strength. Then he felt something wrap itself around him and Davus couldn't explain for the life of him what it felt like and what it must have been, so he opened his eye and saw something looking back "What th-" he was about to say before they hit the rock. He felt natures power in that moment, it rippled through him, shaking his very core. Whether it was the creature, the gods or sheer dumb luck he had managed to survive the first assault unscathed but then a second wave stuck him. It threw him to one side. His leg got trapped in between a gap in the rocks but the rest of his body carried on through the water. Then he remembered pain and a lot of it.

Davus's senses were suddenly brought back to his surroundings, he felt his nail dig into the stone beneath him, his knuckles were white and breathing was laboured. His right leg had turned from a frozen pale to a depending red as the body adjusted to the wound. He looked down towards the base of the rock and shouted over the howling wind and the freezing rain "Who and what in the gods names are you?"

[Uleru]

"Your deliverance, Svefra", comes the sarcastic answer from the churning water.
 
Though spotted easily by the seafaring race, Uleru is still only distinguishable from the breaking water by virtue of being the only piece of the ocean that's not moving. She is wrapped bodily around a thin spire of rock, her lower body flattened to a long, serpentine tail that she is using to secure herself against the ripping current.
 
Though once spotted, it would be hard to look away. Not only is she sporting several flat disks of shale and a handful of crumbling dirt and stone embedded in her back from the earlier collision, she is wearing a look of flashing anger across her liquid face.
 
Just before they had hit the rock, just before her back was ground into minced meat as the wave carried them up the brittle stone, she felt something from the man. Beating between them like another heart was Laviku's mark. It churned and bubbled merrily across his taunt, bloodless skin. Marking him as one of the ocean's children, and gifted by the great god himself in the ways of the sea and the tide.
 
Uleru has always envied this gift in the same way a child will envy their sibling as their mothers favorite. The Otani are Laviku's most loyal servants, bound to him in more ways than can be counted. Living for him, singing his glory. Yet she will never be gifted so personally from the god like the humans are. She will never have the responsibility that comes with power over the creatures or the currents. That is reserved exclusively for the flawed loyalty of the humans. And if Laviku favors them highly, the humans suddenly have control not only of the sea, but of her too. They can call her at will and task her with what they'd like. Just like the Father can.
 
A gift of loyalty and trust envied by the moulding a thousand times over. Did the Svefra, clinging to the rock like a barnacle, suddenly forget that he has this most precious of gifts? Did he forget that he can control the surface currents!
 
Marshaling herself, she takes a deep, cleansing breath as another wave washes over her. The gift of gnosis that Laviku grants is not the most sought of all the gods gifts. Even the Otani, blinded by her love for her one god, knows this. The first mark is not very powerful or flashy, it doesn't create illusion or see the future. It can even be considered common amongst the Svefra. And if it's not tapped regularly it can be easy to overlook.
 
Don't make him pay for your petty jealousies, she reprimands herself.
 
"Svefra!", she calls above the howling wind, "are you alright?" Though she thinks she might know the answer. He is cut up pretty bad, especialy across his legs that she couldn't protect. And there is something really grotesque about the way he is holding that knee...
 
"Never mind", she calls again, speaking between the gaps of the waves, "You cant stay up there, you'll drown", or freeze, she thinks, mapping the blue tinge across his lips and feet.

"Will you trust me, sailor? Would you get back into the water if I told you there is no other way you'll live out the storm?" she asks him blankly. If she heads for the closest shore, where the sheer cliffs meet the water, she might be able to find a cave where she can have the man wait out the storm out of the rain and the water. "Tap your mark, Svefra! Guide us away from here and I can carry you the rest of the way. You can trust me!
 
If you can manage it, her mind supplies ungraciously.