appearance pic, roughly 5' 7" with a lean build, confident mannerisms, clothing doesn't stand out or indicate any form of wealth/lack of wealth
Ivory woke up when an unidentifiable pull moved past her and into Xen's now open room. She sat up and leaned over to see inside. He had disarmed and removed his jacket and somehow looked even taller than he had before, but somehow less threatening at the same time. She stood silently, aware of a nauseous feeling in the pit of her stomach. Maybe the food the ogre had given to her wasn't as heavenly as she had first believed. She took a few steps forward, assuming Xen would turn at any second to confront her presence. She made it until she was standing close enough that she could nearly touch him and he still didn't give any indication that he was aware she was there. It was then that she noticed the book he was holding. It was...glowing.
"What is that?" she asked, speaking barely above a whisper.
The sound of Ivory’s voice right behind Xen broke his concentration. The glowing pages faded and he snapped the book shut. He responded without turning to face her.
“Let me make one thing clear, my dear. This is my ship. You don’t enter the captain’s chambers without permission, and especially not without announcing yourself first.” Ivory felt a tinge of fear run down her spine. Even though Xen’s voice was calm, she could tell he was displeased.
“That being said,” he turned to face her and followed up before she could respond, “You look pale. Go find Loro in the galley. Tell him you need something without rat in it and that the Cap’n says you’re lodging with him.”
He got up and showed Ivory the door, presenting her with the journal he had been reading. After she took it, he added: “By the way, we don’t tolerate stowaways. We have a small hard working crew. If someone doesn’t pull their weight, they’re a stowaway in our book.”
The door shut. Ivory felt slightly confused as to why she didn’t even get a word in during the entire exchange.
appearance pic, roughly 5' 7" with a lean build, confident mannerisms, clothing doesn't stand out or indicate any form of wealth/lack of wealth
The whole scene had been a blur. Xen was the captain? It suddenly made sense why no one had thrown her off the ship and Grimsley's little act in the Captain's office had seemed so off. It was almost comical looking back on it. She wondered what Xen would say if he knew that one of his crew had tried to pass himself off as the commander of the boat. She looked down at the book he had handed to her. It wasn't glowing now. She briefly flipped through the pages. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary. How odd. Somehow he had gotten one of Celderon's journals away from her without her realiizng it. How did I miss this? She tucked the book away into her cloak, making the decision to investigate it further when she had the time. Before she realized what she was doing, she found herself outside of the galley. She barely remembered deciding to follow Xen's orders. It dawned on her that he could likely influence her ability to comply. She would have to be more of aware of that in the future. As she pushed open the door to find a man named Loro, she remembered what Xen had said about the rolls. "Wait...rat?"
"Hah-hah-hah!" Loro let out a loud, deep, hardy laugh. "I knew when you devoured that vermincake that yore stummick'd be hatin' yah for it."
"It was so delicious, though." Ivory didn't want to offend the gentle giant. "It was the most extraordinary roll I've ever had."
"Glad to hear I haven't lost my touch. It's been a long while since I cooked for anyone other than the crew." His speech was as slow as his movements as he pulled something out of an oven. "You ain't got a taste for rat, though, if that's what yore thinkin'."
"What do you mean?"
"What type of magic user are yah, miss?"
"It's Ivory.... And I'm a healer and apothecary."
"I-vore-ee." Loro tried sounding it out but had trouble. "How about just Ivy?" Ivory smiled. His slow pronunciation was actually kind of endearing. She didn't mind having a nickname; it was a welcome respite from the journey she had been on thus far. "Ivy is just fine."
"Well, Ivy the Healer, I'm a cook." Loro channeled magic through the plain looking bread. Suddenly Ivory was overwhelmed with the smell of fresh bread. Her mouth watered. "Well, Loro the Cook, I think we're going to get along just fine."
appearance pic, roughly 5' 7" with a lean build, confident mannerisms, clothing doesn't stand out or indicate any form of wealth/lack of wealth
Ivory sat on the counter in the kitchen while Loro entertained her with various tales of cooking on the high seas. Its seemed like there was always something dramatic happening at dinner time. She only stopped laughing when he would hand her a puffed pastry to try or a ladle full of a stew to taste. Occasionally he would have her help chop a vegetable, wipe down a dish, or sweep something he had dropped on the floor, but for now her main task was to give him an audience.
Soon her stomach ached from laughter and food. "Xen said I'm to room with you," she mentioned during a lull in the conversation. Loro didn't turn to look at her while he stirred a pot, he simply raised an eyebrow. "What?" she asked, assuming he was thinking more than he was saying.
"Rumor was that you were here for the Cap," he turned his back to her as he grabbed something she couldn't see off of the table next to him.
"For the Captain?" As soon as the sentence finished, it dawned on her what he was saying. "Oh. Uh. No. He's just helping me find...some things for my apothecary. Some more rare...herbs." She wasn't sure how familiar the crew was with Xen's knowledge of Celderon and the blood thistle and she wasn't going to give away what she didn't have to.
"Mmmhmmm." Loro didn't say anything else and Ivory became aware that the good-natured attitude the two had shared was now gone and Loro's wordless demenor was back in its place. Attempting to flee from the now awkward silence, Ivory slid off the counter top, grabbed an apple and walked to the door.
"Would you be so kind as to direct me to your room? I'd like to freshen up before dinner this evening." Before he could answer, the door to the kitchen swung open and Grimsley stood in the doorway. He leaned forward and took the apple from Ivory's hand.
"We've ported. Cap'n sent me to fetch ya." He bit the apple and a bit of the juice ran down his chin.
"Where are we?" Ivory asked, trying not to cringe at the gruff display in front of her.
"We're at Calhearth," he answered. Ivory stared at him, still unsure of what that meant.
"Calhearth? I've not heard of this place and we've only been on the water for a few hours. Where is it?" Loro let out a loud, aggressive laugh. She crossed her arms, unamused at the joked that was lingering in the air. Grimsley smirked, tossed the apple core back on to the table, and leaned down, putting his face mere inches from hers.
"Ah, no worries there, sunshine. It's just a simple pyrat's bazaar." He chuckled as a bright smile took over Ivory's face.
One could hardly call it a city. “Town” would be too gracious, even. Calhearth was a bazaar of scoundrels, filled with criminals of all persuasions. Stolen goods, crafted poisons, medical supplies, weapons and armor, slaves, illicit substances, and sex. If it can’t be found in the cities, it can be found in Calhearth. Lawless as it was, however, it presented a danger to anyone in need of its services. Without the proper protection or reputation, visitors are likely to lose their coin on the best of days, and their lives on the worst. Brawls, turf wars, and the like broke out regularly, but trade carried on.
As the Cerberus came into port, its crew moved like clockwork. The ashen tying up sails, the humans picking up cargo, the naga tying them to the docks, and the pixie already out of sight, having slipped through the crowd unseen.
“Stay close” were the only words Xen said as he walked with purpose off the vessel. The crowd seemed to make room for him, as if they knew who he was. After a short walk through the crowded streets (streets is being generous), he knocked on an unassuming cellar door. The moment after seemed to linger on for too long, with a sense of fear beginning to overtake Ivory, until suddenly it ended and the door opened. He entered the dimly lit cavern and breathed a deep breath, relieved to be inside. Ivory wondered who opened the door, but her attention quickly shifted as she entered the room.
The walls were crystalline, but only just. To the inexperienced mage, they would seem no different from the slick walls present in the Delterian underground. But to a mage, they afforded a type of comfort. Flux echoed between the walls, amplifying itself as the cave deepened. Xen had already disappeared out of sight, but Ivory continued on...
appearance pic, roughly 5' 7" with a lean build, confident mannerisms, clothing doesn't stand out or indicate any form of wealth/lack of wealth
Ivory barely took in Xen's brusque command to stay near him before they were off the ship. She obeyed, nearly clinging to him. The rest of the crew scattered quickly, although Grimsley stayed with them. She didnt even see if Loro had gotten off the boat. The sites and sound of the bazaar were overwhelming. She saw creatures whos races she didnt recognize. The air smelled of a mix of exotic spices and seemed to have its own musical rhythm. She wished it wasnt night time so she could see better, but soon enough they were at their destination. Anxiety crept over Ivory's excitement. She questioned whether it was Xen's doing, still unsure if he could manipulate her in that way. The door swung open with an ominous creak and the trio entered. The second she was in the room, the atmosphere changed. Where there had been an uncertain cloud covering her, there was now a familiar...peace. The flux was in this room and it was obvious. "What is..." she asked, but realized Xen had already moved forward. The room was so dim, she hadn't seen the direction he went. Still, she was unfazed. It was like nothing bad could happen to her at this moment in time. The walls hummed. She reached out to touch them when Grimsley grabbed her hand.
"You interested in explorin' a bit?" He pointed his head back toward the door they had come in. She took only a second to look back at where Xen had gone. Apparently he was apathetic to whether or not she left, so she she nodded quickly and the pair walked outside.
The first setup they came across was a woman selling foods. Ivory didnt recognize a single dish that was available. Coincidentally, her stomach growled. "Do you have a recommendation?" She asked Grimsley, who was eyeing the food just as eagerly. The crew must not have eaten cooking outside of what Loro gave them very often.
"Yes. This." He pointed to a bright red concoction. It appeared fluffy and light. Ivory leaned down to smell. The scent alone left a sweet tingle on her tongue. She instantly craved more.
"Wow! What is that?" She asked.
"Not a clue, havent yet asked." He spoke a brief phrase to the woman merchant, in a language Ivory didnt recognize. He handed the woman her payment and she gave him a tiny glass bowl, mounded with the red dessert, in return.
"Only one?" She asked. She was not the greedy type, but that amount would leave them both still hungry.
"Believe me sunshine, this 'ill do." He held the dish out to her. "Just swipe your finger off the top to taste." Ivory obeyed, tasting the tip of her coated finger. The sweetest flavoring of strawberry cream pie, raspberry truffles, and licorice candy overtook her at once. Her family afforded those delicacies only on special occasions, choosing to save their wealth for contribution to Cynthia's ministry. She closed her eyes to savor. When she opened them again, Grimsley was grinning. "Now do it again." Ivory immediately complied. This time she tasted cinnamon ale, cherry tart, and a flavor she didnt recognize. It was pure euphoria. "Its different every time," he added, tasting the food himself. The two walked and talked, stopping only to try more of their snack or marvel at the various items being sold. There were silks from exotic lands, jewelry made by fairies, potions, instruments, and more foods. By the time the pair had reach the end of the dish, Ivory was so full she was making herself feel sick. "You can even eat the dish," Grimsley said, but Ivory declined. Grimsley ate the entire thing.
They had circled the perimeter of the bazaar and Ivory's head was full of new sites, smells, and tastes. One final booth, however, caught her attention. It wasnt too far from the cellar they had gone into with Xen, so she was surprised she had missed it the first time they passed. It was set some way back from where the rest of the merchants were selling. Something about this particular area called to her. "What do they sell at that one?" Ivory asked Grimsley. He looked just beyond her shoulder.
"There aint no merchant there." He stepped forward a bit, as if to get a better look. Ivory giggled.
"Very funny. Seriously. Its glowing." She pointed again.
"I think you're the one bein' funny there miss. Aint no booth there." When Ivory looked up at his face, expecting a reciprocated grin, she was met, instead, with genuine confusion. Ivory looked back at the booth. It had disappeared. "We need to be meetin' up with Xen about now anyway." He walked toward the cellar door, not bothering to wait for Ivory. She stared at the missing booth space while she followed behind.
Xen walked alone now. The caverns were entirely dark, but Xen found his way through the twists and turns effortlessly. He had taken this route enough times to know it by heart. The caves opened up to a room lit by a soft glowing light coming from nowhere. In the center was an egg carrier, made of ivory, gold, and crystal, expertly crafted in elaborate Fae style. It carried nothing.
He took out a journal, this one his own. Its pages, filled with writings and drawings, were glowing without Xen channeling flux through them. They depicted the nature of Lycans, Vampires, Dragons, and the complex relationship they shared. Detailed drawings of Naga and their eggs were put alongside those of thistle. One depicted a gruesome dissection of a fully transformed Lycan human with the word “Werewolf” written across the top. Another had a map of the maze-like tunnels behind him, not that he needed it. He dwelled on one page, featuring three large, head sized eggs, each with a red, thistle-like structure wrapping around its shell. He sat down at a nearby desk, took out a writing utensil, and began taking notes and adding to drawings. After he was satisfied with their detail, he pulled some scrolls off a nearby shelf, packed them in his coat, and left just as quickly as he arrived.
When Xen emerged from the caverns to see Ivory and Grimsley walking away, talking about getting some food. She’s in good hands.
Mystics, like pyrats, were servants of the underworld. Normally, precognizant mages worked for guilds and royalty, or spent their days writing manuscripts in the Arcane Heights. Some believed mystics had equal capabilities to those celebrated mages, able to sense the future with such accuracy so as to build their lives around their predictions. Others called them frauds. The reality was probably more muddled than either party wanted to admit, with mystics being incompetent individuals, never afforded the opportunity to refine their craft to the same degree as those in the Arcane Heights.
“Oooooh, three of them?” A fae-naga mix looked curiously at Xen, momentarily distracted from her crystal ball. “That’s right. And I know exactly where to look.” “Where-where? Do tell!” She focussed her attention back on the spherical crystal, hands on each side. “Veracity.” The halfbreed froze. “They’ll know I looked.” “I know. I need this as a favor…”
appearance pic, roughly 5' 7" with a lean build, confident mannerisms, clothing doesn't stand out or indicate any form of wealth/lack of wealth
Grimsley and Ivory entered the cellar again. The familiar peace she had encountered before met her again. "Why do I feel like this?" She asked, this time tracing her fingers on the wall around her.
"Dunno. Never bothered to ask."
"You don't seem very curious," she said, with a smile, so as not to offend him. He returned the smile before shrugging with a response.
"Figure the world is the way it is whether I understan' it 'er not. No sense wastin' my time with questions." He tossed something up in the air, catching it without looking.
"Ah, well, I cannot seem to shut my questions off. It often resulted in trouble growing up." She said with a chuckle. As soon as her sentence finished, Xen swooped past her, from behind, seemingly out of nowhere. On instinct, Ivory turned back to look but the area behind her was dark. "Um, Xen?" He continued walking as if she hadn't spoken. "Xen?" She hurried to catch up, met again with no response. "Xen, please!" she called out. He stopped abruptly and faced her without a word. "I have questions and would like you to address them."
Xen emerged from the tent. He was lost in thought at his new revelation. The tent behind him seemed to disappear as he returned to the cellar doors. The sight of Ivory and Grimsley entering the cellar in the distance pulled him back to reality. He cursed at himself silently. He shouldn't have showed them where and how to enter. He'll have to hurry before the time difference becomes too great.
While it felt like seconds to him, the pair had clearly been in the cave for a couple minutes. He rushed past them, then turned abruptly when she called his name. Great, she's getting curious. It was only a matter of time.
"Ask while we walk. We don't have much time. Let's go."
appearance pic, roughly 5' 7" with a lean build, confident mannerisms, clothing doesn't stand out or indicate any form of wealth/lack of wealth
His abrupt pause startled her and she lost her train of thought for a second. His crimson eyes still caught her off guard. His growl was impatient. "Look, I understand that I'm at your mercy here, but I need to know that I'm not waisting my time. Is it still your intention to take me to..." She stopped, still unsure if she could trust Grimsley with the fact that she was seeking out the bloodthistle. She continued, quickening her step to match Xen's pace. "To the location we agreed upon?" They were outside of the cellar and making effortless progress, seemingly in the direction they had come after docking. A quick glance reassured her that the booth she saw had, in fact, disappeared. Xen continued forward, ignoring each of the salesmen calling out their wares. The rush through Calhearth and the mystery surrounding Xen was grating on her patience. He hadn't answered anything yet. Lost in thought, she realized that she had never found out why he had agreed to bring along a stranger after she told him she was seeking for the herb either. "Also, what compensation are you asking of me?" She was exasperated with his silence. "And what were you doing in that cellar!" Her patience disappeared as she shouted.
Xen stopped at one of the stalls. "Three thistle leaves." Xen showed the medallion he had lent to Ivory the day before. The shopkeeper quickly procured three leaves with jagged edges and thick veins still full of some red substance. Xen handed them to Ivory.
"This is what you were looking for. As for compensation, you've got two options." They continued their walk towards the Cerberus. "One, you could leave. Consider it a gift. Getting you out of my hair is compensation enough, and I imagine you'll have a hell of a time finding your way back to your shop in Delteria." Ivory was a bit taken aback. She had never mentioned she was from Delteria, let alone that she ran a shop there. Just who was he?
"Door number two, however, is a continued partnership. I have need a of a healer, and I get the feeling you have need of more information on the content of those journals. You work for me, you get the information you seek." Grimmsley didn't know what Xen was talking about, but he learned long ago not to stick his head where it didn't belong in matters concerning Xen. Maybe he would ask Ivory later. If she joined them, that is.
Xen finished just as they arrived at the Cerberus. He gave Ivory a moment to consider her options, or rather her lack thereof. "What'll it be, sunshine? Want to be a pyrat before returning to that life of faux religious royalty?"
appearance pic, roughly 5' 7" with a lean build, confident mannerisms, clothing doesn't stand out or indicate any form of wealth/lack of wealth
Xen's forthcoming attitude surprised Ivory. Coupled with his immediate bestowement of the plant she had spent countless hours searching for left her in a daze. There was one option he failed to mention, however. She could stay here, in Calhearth. Obviously the bloodthistle was here. It would take her a while to adjust but she had money. She could set up a tent and sell her services. She glanced to her side, just in time to see a man expose the bare breast of a crying woman. He slapped her face and dragged her on to a nearby ship. Ivory turned to back to Xen who, by the look on his face, had witnessed the same scene. The answer was clear. "Alright. You may have my services in exchange for information. But I ask for a private space to room. And I reserve the right to use my services on those who I deem in need as well. I do not want a repeat of the incident in the alley way. Do you accept these terms?" She knew that she had very little space to bargain and she shuttered at the knowledge that he could take her life where she stood but if she was going to remain with him, she needed to communicate that she wouldn't be treated as a dockhand.
The veiled reference to Cynthia made his blood curl. As the progenitor of mankind, she was hailed as a god. The only one keeping her in check during that first Eon was Elk. When Elk disappeared, however, Cynthia went mad. She became a tyrant. The demigod Coyote used her tyranny to his advantage, spreading his lycanthropic disease to Y'vera's new dissenters of all races. Storxx and Rolark, rulers of ithica, united the races of the plane against the demigods, under the belief that mortals should govern themselves. This conflict ultimately culminated in the bloodbath of the Cynthia Wars.
In that Eon, Xen went by Celderon. He worked closely with the guilds and royalty of Delteria, contributing to the boom of technology the Fae had brought with their crystal based machinations. He had stumbled upon the most important discovery of their time on a recent expedition to The Grand Barrens: thistlization. The species there seemed to live forever. He kept it secret, however. He suspected demigods wouldn't like others joining their immortal ranks: it was the most important distinction between their followers and themselves. The truth eventually emerged in the chaos surrounding Elk's disappearance. Mortals rarely noticed Celderon's lack of aging, but to Cynthia it stuck out like the Spires themselves. To say it was the catalyst to her tyranny would be disingenuous. She always had the potential for the vile acts she committed in the years to come; Celderon's immortality simply caused it sooner rather than later.
"No mention of Cynthia. Don't pray to her on my ship, don't bring her relics anywhere near here, and don't herald her 'grace' to my crew. Otherwise, welcome aboard." Xen lead the way onto the ship with a flourishing bow and a rare smile.
"It's a small vessel, but the infirmary is yours. Grimmsley!"
"Yes Cap'n?" He was still nearby, overlooking the crew getting ready to set off.
"Introduce our newest recruit to the crew. And now that you don't 'ave to handle the medical supplies, I expect a bit more from the first mate."
"O'course, certainly Cap'n." He turned to face Ivory. "Knew ya'd come along eventually. Ya like the a'venture a bit too much to resist." He gave a wink before shouting to the crew. "Cap'n's aboard! Pack up 'n' cast off! An' Loro!" The ogre stopped and slowly turned at the mention of his name. He had a large shipping container full of various meats in his hands. "Dinna' for ten tonight! We've got ourselves a new recruit!" Normally Loro would be displeased with extra mouths to feed, but his discontentment changed to a pleasant surprise upon spying 'Ivy' on the deck. "Aye-aye!" he slowly responded as he squeezed through the doorway belowdecks.
Location:the Cerberus // The open seas // various ports Notes:Interacting withGrimley
appearance pic, roughly 5' 7" with a lean build, confident mannerisms, clothing doesn't stand out or indicate any form of wealth/lack of wealth
The next couple weeks passed without incident. Ivory held up her end of the deal - healing pyrats with burns, cuts, and of course, diseases they picked up entertaining the women at each port. She saw very little of Xen but that was fine with her. She respected his distaste for Cynthia, keeping her prayers to herself. In the evenings, when she didn't have a patient to attend to, she would work on experimentations with thistle. It was amazing how Xen seemed to know where it could be located at every stop they made, as if he was hiding it himself. She tried to make notes on the location of each seller but when she returned to her journals to write, her memory was hazy and far off. It was something she wanted to mention to Xen but that, also, slipped her mind every time she thought to do so. Her journals became full of other things instead - stories of adventure at each port, details of exotic foods, and a little pyrat dialect she had picked up with the crew. Grimsley was even teaching her how to weild a weapon, something her father would find appalling. He had started her with sword but she quickly came to like two smaller, offensive weapons they had picked up. Grimsley called them sais and Ivory was quite efficient with them.
On one of the days, when the crew had stopped at yet another port, Ivory decided to use the services of a fortune teller. Her intention was to speed up her progress with the bloodthistle. A rat she had one of the crew members capture had been living in a cage in her makeshift lab. She had injected him with bloodthistle, based on a similar experiment done in Celderon's journal. Every day the rat appeared normal. Ivory was on the brink of calling the experiment a dud when she decided to get advice. "The eyes of a man will always reveal the truth." The words of the fortune teller rolled around in her head for days. Then one night, Ivory dreamed she was running through the streets of Delteria. A mysterious figure chased her. Then out of nowhere, Xen appeared with his crimson eyes piercing her fear. Stunned, Ivory awoke and made her way to Grimsley, asking Xen's whereabouts. When he directed her to the Captains office, Ivory hastily arrived and pounded angrily on the door.
Life on the high seas was nothing to write home about. The oceans of Y'vera were actually fairly calm, with the prevailing winds always going southward. It wasn't until after the Cynthia Wars that the Fae had enough influence to develop the magic-current riding sails in use by a majority of sailors. While winds always blew south, the "Fae Winds," as they've come to been called, have a much more complex pattern. Unfortunately for sailors who often lack magical ability, it's impossible to see with the naked eye. It's difficult to see even for a trained magician. That's where Aspen comes in.
Aspen is a Pixie. Pixie's aren't not Fae, but they're far enough removed that they don't like to associate. A Pixie's had her wings pruned, or even removed entirely. Grinding them up into a dust creates what may well be Y'vera's most potent drug: the effects unpredictable, but always guaranteed to be a trip. The more ruthless and superstitious pyrats of the sea, however, decorate their sails with whole wings intact, believing that they grant them favorable Fae Winds and enhance their sails' effectiveness.
Ivory hadn't yet learned the specifics of how Aspen came to be aboard the Cerberus. The Pixie didn't care to talk about her past, but Ivory gathered that, as with most of her kind, she had been a slave once. Was Xen so kind as to harbor a slave? It didn't seem like it. Regardless, as the ship's navigator she was now an integral part of her crew.
After leaving Calhearth, the Cerberus and her crew headed south to the port of Lothair. They dropped off one of the humans Ivory didn't get the chance to meet, then left to the Fae port-city of Tarver. After that, it seemed a blur with how many destinations they visited in such a short time. Ivory had no idea ships could travel as fast as they were. "It's the Fae Winds, lass," Aspen explained to her in the crow's nest one day, "Not just any ship can do what the Cerberus does." She let the moment linger, a proud look on her sparkled face. Despite her best efforts, she couldn't hide the way sunlight glinted off her body. "Look at the sails," she pointed below, "There's two sets, if you look carefully." Indeed, there were two sets. On the main mast, in front of each sail, was a second, thin sail. Until now, Ivory had mistaken them for tattered damage to the primary sails. "The primary sails catch the wind, as you'd expect. The second set, though, catches the Fae Winds: the flux that flows through our world in a predictable manner thanks to that crystal on ithica." Ivory knew the crystal well, thanks to her heritage. "The Crystal of Balance," she recited the story, "bestowed upon us by The Goddess of Nature, forever watched over by the Archaeon and their Lady..." She trailed off, knowing the risks of mentioning Cynthia to the crew.
"Lady Cynthia," Aspen finished her sentence. Ivory had a surprised look on her face as Aspen attempted to explain, "My kind aren't particularly religious, but we were once. Tarver has churches and idols the same as anywhere else." Moments like this were few and far between among pyrats. It was even a bit uncharacteristic of Aspen. She partook in the same pleasures the rest of the crew did at each port, even using her size to her advantage in thieving and pranking. Xen was awake, but the pounding on his door still startled him from his work. There were maps, floorplans, diagrams, letters, and sketches scattered across his desk and hanging on the walls. He didn't bother putting them away as he annoyedly opened the door...
appearance pic, roughly 5' 7" with a lean build, confident mannerisms, clothing doesn't stand out or indicate any form of wealth/lack of wealth
The aggressive appearance of Xen's face took Ivory's breath every time she faced him. She used to wonder if it was because of a flux ability, but she was starting to think that maybe it was just his presence in general. She dropped her eyes to his chest, attempting to rebuild the courage she had when she disrupted his evening. "Captain-" she had started to referring to him as such after some time with the crew. She didn't really view herself as part of his crew but if she was being honest with herself, its what she was. She had even started going days without thinking of the apothecary she had left in Delteria. "I need to speak with you regarding a fortune teller I went to in Ronnan." Without a word, he motioned her into the room. He turned and started shuffling with some papers on his desk, although he didn't move to put them away. She tried to get a view of their contents without seeming too obvious but a gruff clearing of his throat pulled her back to focus. "I asked the woman about the experiments and research I've been doing with the bloodthistle." He set the papers down but didn't look up at her. "She told me something but it made no sense." Ivory began pacing the room a bit, playing with her hands. "It's been back in forth in my mind as to her meaning. I am hoping you can clear it up for me." She stopped and faced him, dropping her hands to her sides. "Your eyes. They're abnormal, are they not?" Xen lifted his face and met her eyes. "Can you tell me why?" She took a deep breath, awaiting his response.
"Tell me something, Ivory." Ivory suddenly felt more at ease than she had moments earlier. She couldn't explain it. "How familiar are you with the different types of magic?"
"Familiar enough." She could feel her confidence returning. "I know of healing magic, obviously. I know about the cooking magic Loro uses, elemental magic, the golems are an important part of Delteria, then there's teleportation, deception, nature-"
"So plenty. Have you ever seen magic that does this?" Xen's eyes widened and his nostrils flared. They appeared more red than before, and his skin a ghastly shade of gray.
Ivory's confidence disappeared. She instinctively stepped back and looked around her in a panic. Nothing's wrong. Is this...?
appearance pic, roughly 5' 7" with a lean build, confident mannerisms, clothing doesn't stand out or indicate any form of wealth/lack of wealth
Paralyzing fear. She couldn't move and couldn't breathe. It was as if the walls themselves were reaching out to end her life. And yet no danger was present. Then, as immediately as it had come on, it was gone again. Ivory gasped for air, putting a hand on the smooth wood of Xen's desk in order to steady herself. "You're a demon." Her tone sounded more questioning, despite her intention of accusation. "I've never seen flux used in such a way. It's pure evil. I feel its darkness. It's rotten and corrupt." Over time, she had come into contact with many diseases and that's exactly what this powerful magic felt like to her - a disease. "What in Cynthia's name has happened to you?" she asked, not realizing that she had evoked the goddess's name.
