Solo Arrival in Paradise

[Larimar Waverider]

Summer 64th, 522 AV



Larimar stood at the wheel of his ship, bright smile on his lips as he felt the sea wind blow across his back. This was the day he had dreamt of for years. The day that he had finally gained the permission of his Lia to travel to Syka alone. It had been a hard fought battle of wills, ultimately only winning out by promising to draw a map to someplace the pod hadn't been before. He had no idea how he was going to accomplish such a thing, but that was why he was leaving after all. To be the one to find something great, and perhaps show off in front of his pod a little.

With an eager hand, he reached to his side where his sail lines were tied off and pulled on one to adjust the position of his main sail to better catch the fortuitous wind. A curse quickly rolled off his lips as the coarse rope slipped from his fingers for a perilous moment, threatening to let the arm the sail was attached to swing free. An embarrassment he wanted to avoid so soon after departing his pod, he was sure one of the dolphins swimming along in his wake would tell his family of such a thing. Imagining the laughs of his family, he quickly grabbed the line again before it could get away and heaved. With a snap, the bright red sail turned and caught the wind driving his small casinor on towards the land he could just barely make out in the distance.

Tying the line off, he locked the wheel in place to keep his course straight as he made his way across the deck to his cabin for a brief moment. If he was going to arrive by himself, he needed to make as great of an impression as he could. Opening his small chest at the foot of his cot, he quickly took the belt that held his newly gifted cutlass out and belted the smooth leather around his waist. While he would never admit it, there was a comfort in feeling the weight of the cool steel hanging at his side. It was a constant reminder that no matter where he wandered, his pod was at his side.

He then touched the waves that were marked on his chest, whispering a prayer quickly as he felt the lifelike waves under his fingertips, "Father Laviku, please make sure I don't make a fool of myself doing this. I'd hate to have to return to the pod empty handed." It wasn't the most reverent of prayers, but it's the relationship he had with the one who resided within him. He offered Laviku a portion of the shiny things he found, and Laviku listened to his wishes, complaints, stories. Really, anything he could think of to share with the god.

Choosing to not wear any clothes beyond the necklace and symbol of Sivah he always had hanging from his neck, it was far to hot for modesty at the moment, he closed the chest and rushed back out to deck and up to the wheel. Bare feet thudding against the wood of his deck, he enjoyed the spray of sea water as he took his position again. A few adjustments were needed to his course as the ship had started to turn with the wind during his time in the cabin, but he was happy to see he was still mostly on course to the settlement he could start making out on land among the trees.

Peaking over the turquoise waves were buildings spread all along the coast and beach. Bringing his ship closer to land, he started following along the coast line, waving to the various residents he saw walking along the beach with a smile. He was unsure of where the dock was, or if this place even had one but he decided he'd just keep following the coast line as long as he kept seeing friendly people and buildings. Careful not to get to close to land, he'd hate to beach himself and have to deal with that, he fought with the sails to keep up the speed of his ship while he studied the people he'd be hanging around the for the immediate future.

It was in that manner he spent his time until he caught sight of other ships along the shore and spotted the signs of a dock. Located just through a pass between land and an island in the bay, he was eager to get their and make his introductions. Loosening the lines on his sail, he let them go slack to start bleeding speed as he sailed into the bay. Finding an empty spot on the dock for his casinor was easy, apparently this place had built the dock for that specific purpose to keep the smaller vessels out of the way of the larger ones.

As he headed for the empty spot, he dropped his anchor. Letting it catch as he drifted the last small distance towards the mooring on the dock. A small bump against the dock and his ship was momentarily stopped. With a well trained hustle, he grabbed his mooring lines and jumped from his deck to the dock, quickly tying the two lines to the posts to keep his ship from drifting back into the bay. It wasn't the best work, he should have dropped the anchor a bit sooner so that the ship never actually touched the dock but for his first time here he thought he did well.

He had made it. He had arrived at the place where he would find what was missing from his life before this.

[Larimar Waverider]

Standing with his back straight, Larimar took a minute to gather his thoughts as he let his eyes wander over his surroundings. People were rushing around him, carrying crates from the large and impressive ship moored at the end of the dock to land, each dressed in their own unique fashion. He saw garbs of every make and style, some wearing bright colors while others were more subdued clothes to work and still others were like him dressed in very little or nothing. No one seemed to bat an eye, the community working together to get the work done quickly and efficiently.

He took a step back to get out of the way of those working as he turned his gaze to the shore. Peeking through the trees was where he assumed was the main gathering point for the town, and closer still was an odd beach filled with swings. Elsewhere as he turned his gaze he saw various homes and businesses poking out from the jungle and out to the water. Just from his spot on the beach, it looked like it'd be easy to get lost here if one didn't pay attention. Especially further away from the main entry.

Just as he was about to make his way through the throng of people working towards shore a voice called out to him, "Hey you, mind lending us a hand?" Larimar turned to the voice and saw a kindly older man, perhaps in his upper forties lower fifties, motioning to him. Rushing over, Larimar quickly noticed what the man wanted of him, as he knelt and picked up one of the crates of goods that had been piled on the dock near the ship, ready to be taken to town. Standing with the load, he looked to the older man with a smile "Sure! Names Larimar by the way. Umm, where am I taking it?"

The gentleman patted him on the back with a firm calloused hand, "James. Captain of The Veronica" James said with a motion to the ship, "and you just come on and follow me with that. We're unloading the latest cargo and then there'll be a party more than likely." And with that, the captain grabbed a crate himself and took off down the dock with Larimar following on his heels. Eager to help the captain of one of the most famous ships on the Suvan, Larimar went along with the work he was given without complaint. Normally he'd try his best to get out of the trudge work of coming to port, but this was his opportunity.

"So kid, what brings you to Syka without your pod? Not trying to cause any mischief are you?" From any other man, the words might have sounded like an accusation but, coming from the kindly captain, Larimar could hear the teasing behind the words. Yet despite that, he could tell it was also a very serious question. He wasn't sure what would happen if the captain didn't like his answer but he sure didn't want to find out. Setting the crate in his arms down as they reached the end of the dock where others were busy sorting them and taking them to their recipients, he gave his friendliest smile and replied "I got permission to come here and learn what I could. I really want to find something no one else ever has, and what better place than here? Hope that's alright."

Captain James gave a friendly nod to some of the locals, issued a few quick directions for what to do with some of the goods, and then turned to head back to the ship to gather the next load. The way he moved made it very obvious he expect Larimar to follow, though he maintained that friendly smile the entire time. "That's the same reason a lot of people came here. Find treasure, a home, a new opportunity. Find something. So you're in good company." The captain started pointing out some of the people around them, introducing and giving names to the faces Larimar saw. Unfortunately, Larimar was far to focused on the captain himself and missed most of the names, though he gave a friendly wave and greeting to each they passed.

"Now, everyone who lives here has to contribute to our city. Its how we thrive here, and if you're going to stay you'll be expected to do so as well. So can you tell me what you're going to do to support yourself and contribute?" It was a reasonable request and standard to set, Larimar thought to himself as James spoke. It was relatively similar to how the pods operated. You couldn't have a successful pod, or town in this case, if you had to many who were but a bit dragging your line down to the ocean depths. It was one of the reasons he was doing this after all. Gathering himself to respond, he lifted a barrel and started carrying it back to shore next to the captain. "I have some skills as a cartographer, it's kind of what my pod does. But I'm not sure how much that's needed. My plan was to offer to ferry people on my ship for a fee, well them and goods. I'm sure some of the expeditions into the jungle would be helped with having a ship ready to carry them back."

Captain James nodded at the young man's explanation as they walked back with the last bit of cargo to the beach. They fell into a companionable rhythm as they walked, Captain James asking innocuous questions and Larimar doing his best to please the older man. Up and down that dock they went until finally the work was done, both men covered in sweat from the work and heat. Around them the rest of the people were starting to make their way to the commons up the beach. Wrapping an arm around Larimar's shoulders, James started guiding him up the beach. "Alright, the hard works over. Now it's time to go meet everyone and enjoy the night. Since you're living in your casinor, we won't need to arrange for a home for you so I think we're good! Welcome to Syka, Larimar, and enjoy your stay. Don't forget, never journey into the jungle beyond our city without an escort unless you want to get eaten by something."

It was with that last warning on his mind that Larimar found himself dragged into the community as they were arranging a community gathering, everyone celebrating the hard work they all just did to unload the latest supplies from The Veronica. Later Larimar would recall having a blast at the party, but have little memories after his fourth cup of whatever it was they handed him.