Quest Red Sky In Morning

[Pulren Marsh]

All the men went about their business as Pulren had commanded. Their calls and shuffling slowly retreated to the background of Pulren's hearing, however. The singing was what he was listening to. While he had no mind to leap into the sea as the myths had directed, he did find himself entranced in a way. Not because of the singing, but because of presence. Looking up briefly at his Zeltivan companion, his hand raised in comprehension as clear waves were reported. His vision also passed along the forms of the great eagles and their riders. As he looked to port and starboard, Pulren's very center and being seemed to quiet in the building storm of tension.

He knew his Father had heard his call.

When the ship leaned with the force of an unseen blow, Pulren took a knee. His trident was still in hand, his shield in hand as well. Unlike the others, he was neither panicking nor fearful. He only awaited judgment. It was clear that the sailors were right. Laviku was angered and sent his cult. Only Pulren felt himself a part of this cult. He felt more alive thean he had ever felt any other day of his life. He slid backward toward the side of the ship as it raised into the air. His head bowed as he thought only of his Father, praying to Him to accept Pulren into His fold. When the ship slammed back into the water and broke into pieces, he smirked a little at the sight of the great blue creature. Only the instinct of survival kept him from reaching out to the harbinger. Praise Be His Name.


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


Water left Pulren's lungs and they burned with the brine of the Bay. He could feel the warmth of fire, the first thing that came into his vision was his hands as the y were spread before him on the cool rock. Falling back to his knees, he rubbed the saltwater from his eyes and tried to focus on his surroundings. He could make out his tridents, shield and helmet near the wall. What was much more interesting to him, however, was the clear realization of his being observed by a group of Charoda from a pool nearby in the same rocky place that he found himself. He had seen a few of the sea dwelling race, the one he had seen in the bar on that misty day in Zeltiva had come to mind. This group, however, was completely different.

He sensed the peace of their natures and felt no fear. He had been spared by his Father. That was the miracle of the day. He watched as the pair of male Charoda looked at his gear and then approached him. He rose to his feet, his hands open to his sides to show no aggression. He listened and nodded as the one chosen as speaker spoke to him. "I understand. Father Laviku has spared me and now He wishes me to prove my salt. Tell me how I can help you, brothers." Was it strange that Pulren didn't care about Holland and Ry, the Endals or the crew? His mind was free of such trappings, of his home and of the mizas he needed to buy a ship. Nothing was of any importance but this moment and the air that passed through his lungs. Father Laviku had chosen him to survive. He had chosen Pulren to step forward and prove himself. He would not disappoint his Father.

A Gossamer Template

[Prophet]

The receptive nature of the human took the larger male by surprise but the older one, the speaker, seemed to understand. What Pulren would never know is that the creature was an aurist who saw the calm that surrounded the sailor. The words spoked by Pulren only verified what was already known. The attitude of service made the old fish feel a sense of hope that he hadn’t for some time. The task he was about to lay at this man’s feet would be no easy feat and the guilt of asking a stranger to help in such a way just seemed wrong. The knowledge that they would not have to bribe, trick or threaten this man for his aide simply made the entire debacle less stressful.

“Kind words. Many thanks.” The Charoda touched his chest. “I, O’Phyeel. This my son, Dyeelahn.” *Names are phonetic. The elder bowed his head and motioned for his people to come out of the water; some came with a knowing curiosity but other lingered in the dark liquid as if unwilling to trust the Sky Breather. After nearly five chimes, almost two dozen Charoda surrounded Pulren though he might feel a bit claustrophobic, there was no malice directed towards him. “These my people.” O’Phyeel continued and after allowing the human a chance to see the small colony, the leader proceeded with his story. As he spoke, the sad faces of the assembled aquatic race illustrated the points that were being made. “Our colony, my…ff-father.” The Charoda struggled with Common but he certainly waded through quite well. “Cult of Kalvikasi trust father with…” His webbed hands mimicked a large orb of some kind. Dyeelahn interrupted.

“Sapphire Pearl.” A reassuring hand was placed on his father’s shoulder.

O’Phyeel continued with this aid from his son. “Yes. Otani…” The word caused a hiss to rise from those standing around Pulren. The speaker gave a gesture to quiet his folk and they listened. “Otani stole pearl.” There was some weeping and if Pulren had eyes enough to pierce the dark and murky colors of the Charodas’ skin, he would see fresh wounds. “Kalvikasi sunk ship. You survive. Friends drown.” The speaker reached out to touch Pulren’s arm in comfort but he soon realized from the man’s aura that he didn’t need comfort. This was puzzling but O’Phyeel didn’t dwell on the conundrum. “My son found Otani. Otani too strong. Killed many my people.” The old merman turned away to hide his tears. No one had explained how many had been lost. After several moments of silence, the leader turned back and moved his gaze to be directly in line with Pulren’s. “We can show you Otani. We can give you power. Weapons.” His gaze was as cold and black as the depths of the sea but there was a light deep within like the bait of an Angler Fish. “My name, O’Phyeel. My word. Your name. Your word.”

Are you ready to learn your fate?

A Firenze Template

[Pulren Marsh]

The darkness of the cave was soothing to Pulren's senses. The sound of the various Charodae moving in the water made for a most interesting background noise as well. He listened to the stories of their plight, his mind and heart remaining open. A touch against his chest of the odd texture of the creature's flesh came with introductions. Pulren simply nodded in return, watching as he was soon surrounded by them. He looked over their bodies, surveying their lidded eyes, their gills, the rubbery skin which would be perfect for swimming. Not to mention the webbing between their digits. He was jealous a bit at their good fortune of simply being born as their species.

He listened closely as O'Phyeel and Dyeelahn painted a picture of words for him. A treasured item had gone missing from the clutches of these people. A Sapphire Pearl. It sounded wondrous in its description, especially with the way that they presented the size with their hands. Even as a kind and thoughtful interloper, one with the concept of monies could easily wonder at what kind of ships could be traded for with such a thing. He had no interest in being a thief, however. It was just the mercenary lifestyle that made him that way. It also had bred some amount of discipline into the Zeltivan. while he was open to helping them, he had to make sure that he truly understood what was going on. It would be too easy to be a pawn in someone's game, his beliefs for his own Father so strong.

A word was spoken. Otani. The word brought a hiss of discontent from those gathered, but Pulren did not recognize it. Nor did he know what or who Kalvikasi was, though he suspected it was the great beast that had taken the ship down. He didn't decide that was the case, simply because they told him so. He just took in the knowledge, his capacity for logic and negotiation as natural as the same source for violence. Nodding and listening, he turned his back to them, a sign of implicit trust in their peaceful natures. He walked over to his items, turning back around as he slid his helmet back on, adjusting the chin strap as he smiled and spoke to the gathered crowd. "I am Pulren. Pulren Marsh." He reached down, taking up the familiar weight of the heavy wood of his shield, heavier with the water it had absorbed in the trip. One trident came as well. He looked at the other in hopes that one of them might be so kind as to carry it for him.

"Yes, show me more. Tell me of this Otani. Tell me of Kalviskasi." He was unsure of if the odd names were the same being but he also knew better than to show complete ignorance. It was just like Sunberth or Nyka or anywhere else. Showing strangers of any kind, even the most doe eyed and pleasant Charoda, that you were an ignorant babe in the woods was as smart as going to sleep in an inn without locking the door. He felt the pull of his Father and he felt that the test would continue. Some choices were not always so obvious and only one who had been tested in the fires of life could say as much. "Show me more."

A Gossamer Template

[Prophet]

The merfolk shuffled about as the human was lead towards the edge of the rocks where the sea’s darkness consumed all. O’Phyeel knelt next to the water as he began to answer the question of the man. His Common was soft but fairly clear though the cadence and grammar left quite a bit to be desired. “Otani. They tricksters. Children of Laviku but trouble. Make trouble. Like trouble.” The stereotype was a bit harsh but it didn’t lack truth. The elder sat down and placed his feet in the water as did several others including his son. The glass-like surface moved and shifted as the old one continued to talk. It was like the water was helping to illustrate his words. “Kalviskasi are holy. Strong. Powerful. Almost gods.” He turned and stared into Pulren’s eyes with the conviction of one who has seen such things firsthand. “They uphold Laviku’s will. True sons of our father.”

O’Phyeel turned to one of his subjects and spoke to them in their native tongue. It and another dove into the water barely making a splash and disappeared for several moments into the inky black. They reemerged and climbed back ashore. The effortless grace displayed in the water ceased the instant they set foot on dry land. It was painfully apparent that these creatures were not only born for the waves but they coincided in such a way that the two formed a symbiotic relationship; the wet world and its keepers. The sorrow on their faces could easily be drawn to connect with a separation from the water. Albeit necessary, almost every glassy eye among them would drift like a piece of wreckage to the cool night of life in the sea. The duo handed a small bag made of compressed and refined kelp that had been woven together in such a way as to resemble armor. The bag was given to O’Phyeel who removed a small pouch from within and held it out in his webbed hand for Pulren to see. “This turn water to air. Give you our father’s blessing, I do.”

Dyeelahn slipped into the water and sank beneath the visibility of the weak fires. He returned with a large blade in his hands and remained several feet off treading water with perfection. When he spoke, his voice was higher than that of his father’s but it resonated with more power; twas either pride or age that fueled this difference. “Pul-ren Marsh.” He struggled to say the name. His common was worse than O’Phyeel’s. “I show Otani. I lead you.” He laid the polearm’s blade over his chest in a form of salute. “We go. Toge-t-ther. End this.”

O’Phyeel slipped into the water and was quickly followed by all of the Charbodi leaving Pulren on the stone slab alone. They formed a ‘U’ around their prince and opened it to the man so he may enter the water and allow the circle to close around him. The faces of the many were brighter in the water than away from it. The old fish joined his son in the center as the rest hummed in deep harmonies a tune that was both slow and triumphant but not exuberant. It echoed strangely in the corridor and stirred something in all of their hearts. O’Phyeel held up the pouch once more as he locked eyes with Pulren. “Will you help us…brother?”

Are you ready to learn your fate?

A Firenze Template

[Pulren Marsh]

As the procession neared the dark water's edge, a very important detail was revealed to Pulren. Otani were Laviku's children. Apparently, they were also trouble. However, to someone who felt that their entire current existence relied on a God, knowing that a group's antagonists were effectively relatives to the Zeltivan cleared things up a little. Next was the Kalviskasi. Spoken of as revered and holy. Also sons to Laviku. It seemed like Pulren would have to discover the truth for himself. He knew where the truth was, his eyes straining to penetrate the sheer blackness of the dark pool before him.

He was the observer, the outsider. All he could do was survey the events until it was his time to interact. Soon, a pair of Charodae slipped away into the darkness, soon returning with items. Pulren's grip on the trident tightened as he was handed the small pouch. The substance inside was a strange and ethereal kind of substance. It had a clear and jelly kind of look to it. Looking tot the others, a few seemed to pantomime the effect of pressing the strange jelly against his nose and mouth. Fear was present as was distrust, but faith had to rule the day. Otherwise, all was for naught.

The pomp and circumstance of those assembled was almost like a cult in way. Pulren felt like there was something sinister afoot, though he couldn't put his finger on it. One way or the other, he would have to trust them enough to use the strange substance. It tickled his nose in a strange and wet fashion when he put it near his nose. He took a breath and it quickly slid up into his nostrils and into his mouth, sliding down into his throat as well as being suspended somewhere in the sinuses. time for talking was over. It was now time for doing. Besides, he could feel a strange pressure building in his lungs and in his head. Air was becoming sparse and the shimmer of the dark water looked more appealing than ever.

With a nod to O'Phyeel, Pulren unceremoniously jumped into the water. Shield and tridnet in hand, the water caressed him and darkness closed in around him. The strange pressure around his mouth an nose seemed to relax as water pulled into his orifices but did not drown him. Whatever the strange stuff was, it was truly allowing Pulren to survive underwater. After a few moments of slow sinking and orienteering, he was ready to proceed.

A Gossamer Template

[Prophet]

The bond between the merfolk was strong. They hovered like a single being in the water as they escorted Pulren down. Dyeelahn appeared next to Pulren while the rest remained in the shadowy depths nearby. If he listened closely, the human would hear a strange cadence of bubbles from the crowd of Charoda at his rear. It repeated two separate stanzas like some kind of chant or song. Regardless, after a steady descent of several ticks, Pulren’s guide gave him a nod and swam ahead through a dark shaft in the rock. The water was nearly impossible to see through with human eyes but once Pulren managed to get into the shaft, a tiny sliver of deep blue could be seen at the far end. The shape and size shifted as the form of Dyeelahn swam ahead of his human companion.

After several ticks, the shaft opened up into the great ocean once more. Dyeelahn was waiting near a piece of the wrecked ship, his halberd grasped firmly by webbed hands. The Charoda was pleased with the man’s ability to swim; most humans could not even feign to be so swift. For a brief moment, Pulren could see a flicker of hope in the creature’s eyes. Dyeelahn motioned with his weapon towards a series of coral formations that could scarcely be seen from this distance. If one were to venture a guess, he might say they were five miles away or more. Swimming that far would render a body useless for any kind of fight and it seemed that the Charodae had prepared for such a task.

Bubbles rose up all around Pulren. It was such a massive amount of air rushing to the surface that it would temporarily obscure his vision though he would a feel a current come from beneath and rush past his body. When the chaos cleared, he would see the fabled giant seahorses of the Charodae. Three of them were harnessed in a single line before a magnificent chariot. The flickering rays of Syna managed to penetrate a bit at this depth and they gave a shimmer to the scales of the seahorses. Two of them were shades of purple and pink with blue and green shining from their oddly shaped fins. The one in the center was almost gold though there were accents of orange and red along the swirled tail and up along its spine. Each one was over ten feet long and that’s not counting how much was wrapped in the coil of a tail which they seemed to bounce upon. Their faces showed intelligence and recognition for the Charoda before them. Dyeelahn swam among them and graced their round bellies with his webbed hand. He then moved to the chariot to which the aquatic steeds had been attached by kelp leads and harnesses made of the same.

The chariot was made of many things; coral, shells, kelp and various other items which may or may not have originated in the sea. Charodae are notorious scavengers and the masterwork on the oblong cart reveal as much. The general shape is like a clam and within it are several partitions; most likely for hauling scrap and treasure. Dyeelahn swims into the vessel and rests his weapon upon the edge then takes hold of the seaweed reins. He waves an arm for the human to join him. With a direct look and slow speech, he tells Pulren to “Hang on!” and pats the rail with his webbed hand. The Charoda gives a few chimes for the champion of his people to climb aboard and acclimate himself to a sturdy footing. With a slight head turn and visual confirmation of this, he whips the reins and off they go with a ‘whoosh’!

Hold on, indeed. The speed of the seahorses working as a team would feel as fast as riding on the back of a wind eagle. In truth, it would be about a fifth of that but considering the resistance of the water one would still feel that rush of excitement and the joy of a child as he raced along beneath the waves. The giant steeds seemed to feel the motions of one another and after a few ticks of bouncing, the cart smoothed when the three began to work as one. In just a few chimes, Dyeelahn and Pulren were at the coral formations.

The Charoda looked rigid as he exited the coral cart, weapon in hand. He swam up a bit and lingered as if peering over the system and debating their next move. The coral looked a lot like rolling hills covered in wild flowers. There were reds, pinks, yellows, greens, blues and every color in between. The guide waved for the human to join him. Once Pulren could see what Dyeelahn was looking at, the merman pointed at a large orange and yellow hill in the distance. Then he pointed to a cave off to the left near some murky water and a second cave not too far from where they hovered at the edge of the reef. Obviously, there was a choice to be made.

The Charoda moved so he was slightly behind Pulren and placed his face near the man’s. This way they could both follow a singular line of sight. Dyeelahn pointed with his webbed fingers at large creatures roaming the tops of the reef; sharks, behemoth crabs and other strange beasts. More hand motions revealed that they needed to avoid entanglements with the sea creatures. The Charoda prince swam in front of Pulren and spoke in Common, slowly but clearly despite the bubbled affect. “Charoda peaceful. No harm animals. Otani-“ He paused to hiss and look over his shoulder. “Otani poison creatures. Make angry. Creatures try stop Dyeelahn and P-Pulren.” It was clear that the choice was up to the warrior. In all likelihood, Dyeelahn had never used the halberd. It was a surface design and probably something he found.

Are you ready to learn your fate?

A Firenze Template

[Pulren Marsh]

As strange and disorienting as the concoction in his body was, the entire experience was amazing enough to give Pulren pause. For once, he was doing the one thing he had always dreamed of. He was one of the sea creatures. Maybe not officially, but he felt as close as he possibly ever had previous. Maybe occasionally before with a second breath from the breath bag, his goggles and fins...

Although dark for his air breathing eyes, Pulren's hands went to his waist, finding the lump there of a rucksack. It had gone mostly unnoticed prior, the whole wonder of breathing water distracting him previously. His hand came up to his current allies as he fished out his fins and affixed them to his feet, his boots going into the rucksack into their place. Next, the helmet came off, dangled buy the strap on his trident tines while he stretched the goggles over his eyes. The helmet was reattached, a clearer darkness now present than before. His sack retied, he rolled his neck on his shoulders and turned headfirst to follow his guide deeper into the same darkness.

The chasm gave way to some kind of rift in the rock, the goggles giving him a clearer view of his guide as the pair disappeared into it, the glow of the sea showing through. Soon Pulren would break through into the ocean, his goggled head turning back and forth to spy the great wreck of his former ship beneath him and to see his Charoda ally pointing off to a distant location. treading slowly with his swim fins, he nodded, looking briefly up at the light playing on the surface of the water above before focusing again on the target location. It was petching far away.

A great wash of bubbles came in a kind of answer to his internal queries of how they would move on. Three great Charoda seahorses arrived, a chariot tethered by harnesses to their magnificent bodies. Such a wondrous sight could never be duplicated on land. This was a special sight for sea dwellers only. Their long, colored bodies, the delicacy and strength of the harnesses, the magnificence of the chariot itself. Swimming up to the chariot, he held on to the kelp wrapped coral of its shell. Reaching out, the flesh of his palm came in contact with the strange texture of the seahorse's. A tear slid from his eyes to mingle with the present salt. From his birth to this day, little could match what Pulren was experiencing at this very moment.

With the command to hold on, he could do nothing but. Smiling ear to ear as the water pushed by him at unbelievable speeds, the majesty of the seahorses pushing their coiled bodies in such a fashion. Nothing could top this to him. Watching the scenery of the ocean floor, the magnificence of the undersea world, it was amazing,. Silver schools of thousands, great creatures moving as shadows. Pulren felt more at home than he ever had previous. He knew he would eventually have to leave but until then, he would live as if he had never breached the choppy surface above. Before he knew it, the ride was over and they would disembark over a new seascape of oranges and yellows.

Following closely behind Dyeelahn, he found his moment of tactical advantage, the reason why he was there. Creatures. Plenty of them. He listened to the Charoda's words. The Charoda were peaceful. The halberd he held was ornamental at best. The parade of carnivores was apparent but it drew no fear from Pulren's heart. He still wasn't sure why Otani would poison sea creatures, but he reserved judgment until he was more informed. What he did do was gently place his hand on Dyeelahn's halberd and push it from his hand. He watched it slide into the darkness below and nodded. "You are peaceful. Don't change that." His words were garbled but he believed the Charoda understood. "Go back to the chariot." He doubted he would, but to test that theory, Pulren began swimming to the murkier and darker cave, the one swarming mre heavily with sea life.

A Gossamer Template

[Prophet]

Dyeelahn watched helplessly as the weapon fell from his hand. He was also slightly taken back by the apparatuses that his human companion had materialized. The Charoda never searched the man’s pack so the fins and goggles were a surprise but both became points of wonderment to the curious humanoid. Ever the student of life and experience, the merman watched how the additions to Pulren’s feet enabled him to swim much faster than a normal human. He was fascinated and frozen in place. As the murky waters swallowed the pale-skinned man, Dyeelahn felt guilty and hung his head in shame.

Pulren would find it hard to see much more than a few feet in front of him. The one thing he did have going for him was that there seemed to be a line of hazy sediment floating a few feet above the reef and this ceiling acted almost as a barrier for the sharks. It was like they waited in the clear water for smaller fish and other types of live snacks to pop up out of the ‘fog’ before they attacked. Below this divider were large crabs that appeared to be about the size of small bear. The prospect for a seafood lover might just be worth the potential for physical harm to see if the giant legs taste as good as the smaller ones.

The closer the crusader swam to the cave, the more he could clearly see the landscape. It wasn’t so much a cave as a tunnel into the reef. The angle and size made it seem very old and it was large enough that Pulren could ride a Charoda seahorse through it if he had the ability. A small clearing had been leveled amongst anemones and kelp stalk that seemed to grow everywhere. Two of the big crabs were feeding on some of the seaweed and didn’t seem to notice Pulren. There was a shelf-like structure made of staghorn coral which ran from the top of the tunnel to a few yards’ swim from his present position.

The ledge would’ve provided an excellent means of transportation to get across to the entrance but closer inspection revealed black and white striped seas snakes. They were matching the coral well enough in color and movement to go nearly unseen; nearly. Not an aggressive species, these snakes have the ability to shock attackers when they feel trapped but will hardly ever attack unless provoked. The wisest choice would certainly be to go straight at the big crustaceans. Perhaps a first strike could even the odds though one could never tell what manner of beast could swim through from one chime to the next.

Are you ready to learn your fate?

A Firenze Template

[Pulren Marsh]

It wasn't a great surprise that Pulren wasn't followed by the Charoda. The danger and mortality of the seaward gauntlet that he was facing was for a warrior. That was all there was to it. As his legs kicked in a low and even pace, propelling the man deeper into the inky blackness, Pulren kept his trident out close and his shield close to his chest, to prevent drag. He was definitely thankful for the jelly that gave him air. Its nature kept him from producing bubbles, something that would be a deadly alarm in the ever encroaching underwater wilderness.

His eyes scanned the options. With his weight and propulsion, he would not be able to slow himself down and then jump right back into escape. If he slowed, he had better have a reason to do so. He could see the thick hazy cloud above him, the barrier that protected his scent and sight from the large and deadly shadows above. The two crabs seemed to be the only direction as he could just make out the slithering coral snakes above among the ledge. If he was going to make it through the coral tunnel, an interaction with the crustaceans was going to happen.

His greatest advantage was his element of surprise. He would get only one chance to make a move before he had to contend with the rock crushing power of giant pincers. Hopefully, the crabs would behave much like their smaller cousins and scuttle backward whenever presented with danger. Banking on this, Pulren ascended to just below the sediment. He got close enough that his movement near it rippled up and attracted the snapping attention of sharks. Once above the larger of the two crabs, as far as he could tell in the murky soup, he let his own weight drag him down until he was on its back.

The slightly smaller crab swiveled an eye stalk toward Pulren and the Zeltivan shot out with the trident at it, hoping to make it move backward and away from him. He was fairly certain that the one he was on could not reach up and grab its own back. If it could, he was doomed. His eyes moved from the crabs to the tunnel. His shield and trident would stay up to defend against pincer attacks until he could find the opening to push off of the beast's back and swim deeper inside the cave.

A Gossamer Template

[Prophet]

The smaller crab flipped its legs inward and down which was something of a jump up into the murky trails. This put it right in the path of the man’s weapon, however and Pulren’s jab actually connected. The creature instinctively latched onto the trident with its big pinchers; one on each of the outer spears. The larger beast on which the crusader sat began to flail and snap about but had no real logic or tactic regarding such a situation and so most of it was wasted energy while the rest was simply bouncing in place. As if providence smiled upon the man, the unrest he had created caused a ripple in the currents enough to reveal a clear shot into the reef’s tunnel. The crab yanked and pulled on the weapon while the other thrashed about in a wild dance. As if sensing the disturbances below, one of the sharks circled down for a closer look. This new presence was unwelcomed and every creature currently near the reef sought shelter.

Pulren’s trident was released as the crab disappeared into a crevice. The sea snake burrowed down and his crustacean mount darted into the tunnel. The shark was too large to follow but it did manage to take a chunk out of the creature that bore the human weight. Like a rock hurled with great force, the crab swam deeper into the reef but was losing its life in the wake and gradually sank downward until it collided with the tunnel’s bottom. There was a loud crack then it pitched forward and tumbled through the water for several more feet before coming to rest at a fork in the way. The left tunnel remained large and inviting but something didn’t smell right amidst the back flowing current. It was as if there was something rotten buried away. The right branch started off large but quickly narrowed and became dark. The current seemed to be driving that direction though the pull was subtle.

Are you ready to learn your fate?

A Firenze Template