Open They came from the water.

[Marone]

7th Fall 514 AV

Marone job was making weapons in the Knight's Armoury for the Sun's Birth. That was not always the case. Sometimes it could be helping to get some of the items needed to keep things going smoothly. Today was one of those times and Marone was going to have to get some of the raw materials the Armoury needed to make its products. He could only think of one place to do this.

The Bay or one of the many stalls there. If Marone was lucky he knows he might just get a good deal and keep a little of the savings without anyone looking into it too much. A profitable arrangement for everyone involved.

By the time things were starting to get interesting at the Bay Marone had already hit a few of the stalls in search of a bargain. He was already at another one trying to get its owner to part with some of his items at a much more lower price or at least throw in a few other things to sweeten the deal. Marone was no expert negotiator but he was aware of the gossip in Sunberth which he could use to his advantage.

Referring to what happened earlier in the season Marone reminded the man "you know what happened to the stuff here and we don't want a repeat of that. Why waste the goods when someone else could use it?"

"Are you suggesting something sir? Because if you are I don't like it" the man replied suspiciously.

Marone shook his head denying any involvement because "I only overheard about some food and things disappearing. Thought you might need some help selling yours before it happens again."

Glaring the man said "well I don't need your help. Not when your help is taking advantage of me to get my prices down."

"Help has to go both ways especially since we're all from Sunberth y'know?" Marone admitted looking almost a little bit hurt.

It was then Marone noticed that his surroundings have been quiet. Eerie because he couldn't remember the last time he could follow his own conversation in the Bay unless he really paid attention to it or raised his voice. He looked around and saw a lot of people looking towards the same direction. After looking at the source he saw the strangest sight he has ever seen.

He could count seven people maybe. Humans or humanoid at least from where he stood that were strangely dressed and all wet. As if that was not strange enough he could also see a few snakes following them. All coming out from the water and they were only increasing the longer he watched. Spotting some of the strange things they were carrying Marone thought to himself. 'Are these aliens here to trade in the Bay like us?'

"Keep what I said in mind and think on it. You know the Sun Birth's coin is good" Marone said to the man before cautiously heading closer to observe the newcomers. Curiosity and an enterprising spirit leading him on.

[Sh'Ky Naes]

The Man in Crimson

The water-dwelling man... things had climbed up from the bay, scaring the shyke out of everyone. And yes, that did include Sh'Ky. Would you expect otherwise from a native of Sunberth? Come on, they were dressed strangely, dripping wet, and they had snakes petching swimming behind them. Cursing loudly, he dropped the obviously fake bronze vambraces that he was examining, and picked them back up, apologetically. Putting them back into the stack of the merchant's various goods, he turned on his heel and strode towards a lone man, standing on the wooden platform of the pier, not that far from the marketplace. Maybe he could tell Sh'Ky what was happening. Even though he looked a bit... off to the dark-haired man. He could tell, that although he wasn't wearing any disguise, like Sh'Ky could, he would be able to be easily forgotten if one didn't make any special effort to remember him. Such folk were dangerous, in 'Ky's eyes. Of course, half of the 'Berth was full of such people, which probably attributed to his suspicion of most. Kept him alive, at least.

Appearing suddenly at the man's side, approaching from behind, Sh'Ky cut an imposing figure, dressed in crimson and grey. "Excuse me, but could you tell me what happened, from the beginning, please? I'd like to know what the petch is going on here." Sh'Ky's voice took on the accent of a Syliran, yet his tones were gruff, that of a woodsman. Hopefully, this would convince the stranger to forget Sh'Ky, and remember some Syliran woodsman. Although, he couldn't see his face, due to the scarf wrapped around it, and the hat pulled low. Sh'Ky was effectively invisible.

[Marone]

Along with a few other curious onlookers Marone stood and watched the people coming out from the water. He was optimistic about finding an angle to use with their appearance at first but then he started getting second thoughts. It was not as if the man had anything about these new people but caution didn't do anything but good for him so far.

Despite the potential for benefit here, caution wouldn't cause Marone any harm either.

That was probably the general idea had by most of the people that kept a safe distance while they watched. Marone too stood in the middle of them. Wanting to be close enough to not miss anything but far enough to escape in case any surprises sprung out on him. It was a position to be envied for sure because he could hear everything being said around him. The rumors and speculations were quick to come up.

"What are they?"

"Are they even human?"

"They came from the water. Heard no one done that before."

"Those snakes. Why are there snakes around them?"

"They're controlling those snakes. They aren't even being attacked."

"More. More of them. So many shadows in the water."

Marone was in a good position indeed and all the information started coming together. These people. No. Things. They came from the water along with their snakes and that was not the end of them. There were a lot more. Hearing about the shadows in the water Marone looked towards the bay and saw entire blots of black in them.

"One."

"Four."

"Nine."

"Twelve. No thirteen."

"Seventeen. Yes. Definitely seventeen."

He lost count around the twenties but realized the numbers were not important especially when the snakes were adding to that amount. All that was important was there was a whole lot of them both in the water and the growing gathering of those that came from the water. Marone suddenly felt quite unsafe standing out there near them. They were all so similar in so many ways they might as well be a gang.

Gangs in Sunberth? They were never good for anyone. Not unless they were a part of the gang and Marone was not a part of this one.

Then Marone's ears caught what everyone was saying because it was the same thing. "They're coming here."

When they started coming they didn't look that threatening. The only thing Marone felt threatening about them was the snakes around them and the number of those people overall. As he was watching they looked to him like any other person which he might've met in Sunberth. It was during his examination when he spied their hands. All of them were holding something. Normal things. Strange things. Stranger things now that he has a closer look.

Some? They were weapons. Or looked like weapons as far as Marone was concerned. He has made enough with his very own hand to identify the characteristics for them but it didn't really need his expert opinion to identify them. Everyone in Sunberth one way or another would have an experience with a weapon. Which made what happened next no surprise.

"Weapon. Weapon!"

He didn't want to run just because of the presence of a weapon at first but Marone was forced to when the people started pushing him back. Not wanting to be run over he turned around and ran as well trying to outrun those behind him. It was not for the lack of trying when there were some that actually got ahead of him but at least he was not on the ground. He ran and ran somemore even as the crowd dispersed until he was at a safe distance away from that mess.

Catching his breath Marone turned around to see what just happened. The spot he was just in was entirely vacated leaving only the people that came from the water alone and he sat down. Both to rest and so the people wouldn't see him or be able to use those weapons on him.