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@Zeroth I have the same issue. DO NOT try to uninstall and reinstall because you'd be blocked from downloading the app at all from the site as well.
1 yr ago
Current
@Zeroth I have the same issue. DO NOT try to uninstall and reinstall because you'd be blocked from downloading the app at all from the site as well.
1
like
2 yrs ago
My back, my back, and my back. They're all in pain.
Time: Late Morning Interactions: @Tae Kalliope; @princess Calbert Mentions: Attire:
(Placeholder until I get a better reference image) Roughspun, blue trousers A shoulder belt and waist belt carrying his equipment Two swords and two pistols, one on either side A woven, conical hat wide enough to shade his entire face
The appearance of the Count came as a surprise, but a welcome one. If nothing else, it served as a much needed distraction for Sjan-dehk from his troublesome thoughts. Although if he had to be honest, it wasnât the Count himself that drew his attention as much as it was his herald. Or perhaps that other man was just an attendant? Either way, Sjan-dehk found the manner in which he introduced the Count to be as puzzling as it was intriguing. Any Viserjantan Count who had themselves introduced in such a manner would have been swiftly chastised for being presumptuous and acting beyond their rank. Sjan-dehk had been present for enough such scoldings â unwilling of a participant as he had been â to know that such a mistake would be at best, an embarrassment, and at worst, an insult to someone of a higher rank.
Sjan-dehk stowed this observation away. The old books and journals that had brought him to these shores did mention that Caesonia had a different method of ranking their nobles. Unfortunately, Sjan-dehk hadnât paid enough attention to them to find out if anyone had actually written down how the ranks worked. A visit to the Sudah and the Royal Tutor later seemed to be in order, and he groaned inwardly as the prospect of a lecture from the wizened, old man.
The Count approached Kalliope after his greetings. Immaculate in his dress and bearings, his words were spoken with the airs of a learned man, or at least someone who absorbed books like a dried sponge. It felt like a refreshing breath after the whole debacle with Layla. The tension emanating from his brief exchange with Kalliope thus came as yet another puzzle. There was nothing in their words, but Sjan-dehk could feel it in her tone, and see it from the shallow smile on the Countâs face. Clearly, there was something here that he was missing.
He caught Kalliopeâs gaze just as the Count addressed him. Sjan-dehkâs brows arched, and his lips curled into a grin, as he heard the familiar greeting. âFair weather to you,â he gave the typical Jafin response, but quickly added, âNo need for that. It is tooâŚImportant? No, formal. Only used for important things. For this, can just say normal greetings. Also, it is old. Not used by most people. Only by bigger nobles.â It had been a long time since Viserjantans visited this part of the world in any significant numbers, so it made sense for the Count to use an archaic greeting. All the same, however, it greatly tickled and amused Sjan-dehk.
âI am Wasun Sjan-dehk, fourth Lesser Marquis of Jafi.â Sjan-dehk introduced himself quickly with a bow of his head as he took the offered invitation. âNo need for anything now, but thank you. We rest on our ships and we buy what we need. But if we need help, then I willâŚRemember you.â The Count stepped away to speak with the rest, leaving Sjan-dehk to examine the small slip of paper in his hand. With everything that had happened, he had almost forgotten about the masquerade were it not for this little reminder. A sinking feeling plunged into his gut as he wondered if he should still attend.
Kalliopeâs warning about the Count was only half-heard by him, and he responded with a simple nod. The Count seemed like a decent person, and Sjan-dehk was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, but he would still treat him like any other noble of a higher rank: carefully, cautiously, and with only the necessary norms and respects.
âHe seems nice enough, but thank you,â he said with a slow nod. Far more important to him at the moment than the possible intrigues a Count might be up to, was the question of the masquerade. Despite himself, Sjan-dehk couldnât help but wonder if he was the right person to accompany Kalliope. Surely, given their relationship, Cassius would be a better choice? Or maybe Sjan-dehk was reading far too much into things, and this was, as she had said the other day, her doing him a favour. The more he thought about it, the more that seemed likely, and really, it wasnât him to pull out of an agreement just because of a bit of discomfort. A word given had to be a word kept, as his father liked to say.
And so, Sjan-dehk gave her a smile and held up the invitation. âItâd be rude not to show up after getting an invite from the Count himself, I think.â There was a touch of playfulness lacing his words. âIâm still willing to accompany you, if youâre still willing to have me. I have to ask, though, how are we meeting? At the estate itself or elsewhere?â
@princess Sure. Ignoring the strait for convenience's sake, how long would it take to walk, say, from Kolonivka to Montauppe? What kind of a land scale are we looking at here? I was thinking of placing the prison where it would be cold, alienated, and inaccessible (ie. near Kolonivka); but not if it'll take me three months IC to hit the scene lol
Is there an established, canonical lore I should be reading up on and strictly adhering to on when I'm invited to the Discord, or are we free to worldbuild?
In the same vein as the previous question, when was the last time this setting was embroiled in total war, or any conflict large enough to upheave power structures, borders, etc.? Anything you can tell me about that conflict, such as numbers, factions, results, famous battles, etc.?
Here in the OOC tab, one GM post says this is a pre-industrial society, while another GM post declares this universe has developed steam ships, dirigibles, trains, etc. Which of these is accurate? If we were to look at firearms as a microcosm of the technological epoch, are people using flintlocks? Percussion caps? Matchlocks? Earlier, or even no firearms at all?
(Placeholder until I get a better reference image) Roughspun, blue trousers A shoulder belt and waist belt carrying his equipment Two swords and two pistols, one on either side A woven, conical hat wide enough to shade his entire face
A faint shade of pink crept over Sjan-dehkâs face â just as a flutter tripped through his heart â as Kalliopeâs soft lips brushed against his cheek. The kiss had come as a surprise, but it would be an egregious lie if he claimed it to be unwelcome. Without thinking, he reached across to touch the spot where she had kissed him, and upon realising what he was doing, swiftly changed the action to a scratch against an imaginary itch before wiping his hand across the lower half of his face. His eyes turned to the sea, the sky, the trees, and even the crowd. To anywhere and anything but the pretty lady beside him.
âI-It was nothing,â he managed to stammer out and pulled his hat lower over his eyes. âNothing you should thank me for, I mean. Anyone else wouldâve done the same. If not to defend you, then to put an end to the shit spewing from her mouth.â He snuck a sidelong glance at Kalliope. With an awkward shrug, he cleared his throat and added, âAnd besides, I couldnât just stand there and let her get away with all the abuse she threw at you. Thatâs not the Way. Not the Jafin Way, or any Viserjantan Way.â
He cast his eyes over his shoulder at the group as he led Kalliope away, but it wasnât the venom-tongued princess he looked at. Rather, his eyes lingered around the man who had initially accompanied Kalliope to the beach. Cassius, if Sjan-dehk wasnât wrong. But that didnât really matter. What did, was that Sjan-dehk was almost certain that the two of them were in an intimate relationship, if Kalliopeâs words were anything to go by. Part of Sjan-dehk didnât want to believe it â for whatever reason â but the larger part of him was occupied by a more immediate concern. He was currently dragging Kalliope away, and she had just given him a peck on the cheek. It didnât take much imagination to see how Cassius might interpret things poorly, and that was a barrel of troubles Sjan-dehk could go without opening.
Thankfully, it didnât seem as if he noticed. The man was far more occupied with Charlotte, and that brought Sjan-dehk even more confusion. Was he so brazen that he would court another lady whilst his partner was within sight? Or was this how things simply worked here? Either way, Sjan-dehk didnât like the look of him, and this was yet another feeling for which he had no explanation. The man looked normal enough, and he seemed polite enough as well. And yet, just looking at him brought Sjan-dehk great unease.
Sjan-dehk pushed those thoughts away â as best he could, at least â and continued leading Kalliope away and further up the beach. There was definitely something wrong with him, and the sooner he could return to his Sada Kurau, the sooner he could figure out what it was, exactly.
âI guess weâve just got poor luck, then,â he quipped in response to Kalliopeâs answer to his question about the princesses of the region. Casting a sidelong glance at her, he continued, âThat itâs the mean cunt that we have to deal with, and not any of her nicer siblings.â He paused for a moment, his mind chiding him for being overly-judgmental of a person whom he had only just met. An unpleasant person, to be sure, but still a stranger, nonetheless. âBut I was serious about my pity,â he said a little awkwardly. âThe Way teaches us that there are very few people that are inherently bad. As much as I think sheâs a little shit, I hope she isnât one of them, and that sheâs just the product of a troubled life.â Even as he uttered those words, he realised just how silly they sounded. A nobleâs life could be hard, he knew, but all the same he wondered just how troubled a princessâ life could get.
Well, that was really none of his concern. He could only react to what he heard and saw, and what he saw and heard was a princess being unnecessarily mean and cruel.
He stopped a fair distance away â close enough to keep an eye on the group, but still far enough away to stay out of any altercations that might arise. âDonât listen to her nonsense,â he said with a sigh and turned to face Kalliope. She did tell him that she was fine, but concern still lingered in his mind. How could he feel otherwise? Laylaâs words hadnât been directed towards him, and yet even he felt their sting. He imagined that they must have left some sort of a mark on their intended target, Kalliope. âAll she did was make a lot of assumptions and attack your character. None of it was worth the spit she spent on them, and definitely not worth the effort of even reaction. Though I guess I failed on that one.â
âAnd maybe Iâm making my own assumptions here,â he continued, giving Kalliopeâs arm a gentle squeeze and offering her a little smile. âBut youâre not what she makes you out to be, if you ask me. If you were that sort of person, you wouldnât have paid your respects to Izahn. That you did makes you better than most in my books. The little princess can say whatever she likes. It doesnât change who you are. It doesnât change that sheâs acting like a cunt, and youâre not.â He leaned in a little closer. âBesides, I doubt she contributes to society as much as she thinks she does. Not as much as you, in any case. You work for a living. I find it hard to imagine someone like her doing the same.â
Then, he stood back, and quickly took his hand away from Kalliopeâs arm. âProbably shouldâve done that a little sooner,â he said apologetically with a bow of his head. Discomforting as it may be, he had to remind himself that Cassius and she had some form of involvement with one another. He had to take a little more care with his words and actions, at least until he became more familiar with local norms. âI, uh, I should let you carry on with your day, I suppose.â
His travelling clothes - Dark, earthy shirt and coat, with trousers tucked into boots A hooded, oilskin cloak His bow, unstrung A musket Two pistols Two hatchets His travelling pack
Of course, it had to be today. Scathael hadnât expected otherwise.
Well, most of him hadnât, at least. It would be a lie if he said that there hadnât been a small part of him that had wished for the rest of his time in the Nest to go quietly and smoothly. And so, he didnât. That part was a fool, anyway; the place was practically a font of chaos. Neither did peace follow him whenever he left the open road for a town or city. With those two incontrovertible truths in mind, it would have been a far bigger surprise had his visit to the Next gone off without any further trouble.
Granted, he hadnât quite expected trouble to manifest itself as a hulking Warforged launching itself through the doors. Flimsy wood burst into a shower of tiny splinters. Shouts and yells of surprise echoed up, down, and across the innâs floors. One tore itself from Scathaelâs lips as he almost fell from his seat. He kept his balance, however, and managed to catch a glimpse of the machine as it went straight for the dragonborn, his elf friend, and the demi-human. A fight erupted immediately, and the rest of the inn went into a riotous uproar, although all had sense and none joined in. âBloody typical,â Scathael muttered beneath his breath as he settled into his chair once more and did his best to ignore the noise. Really, what had he expected to happen, coming here?
At least the Warforged didnât seem interested in anyone else. Scathael just had to wait long enough for it to capture its quarry, or for said quarry to make a clever and daring getaway, and he could continue going about his business and on with his day.
Said business was a feline demi-human seated across the table from him. Her tail swished excitedly, as if it had a mind of its own, as she twisted around to watch the altercation with rapt attention. Scathael sighed and folded his arms over his chest. Up until just now, she had been haggling with him over a good quantity of excess musket balls he had cast back in the village. They had almost agreed on a good price, even. But Fate, as it was wont to do, just had to intervene.
Scathael exhaled slowly though his nose. Things could be worse, he supposed. He could be one of those that were fighting the vicious-looking Warforged, for one.
The demi-human furtively slid a hand towards the pistol on her thigh, and Scathael immediately gave her chair a hard kick. She let out a yelp, and snapped back around to glare at him with annoyance and a touch of embarrassment in her wide, brownish-green eyes. Scathael didnât look apologetic in the least. He didnât even sound sheepish when he said, âAre you an idiot? If you want to do that, do it from the other side.â
âOh.â The demi-humanâs irritation seeped away from her visage. âDâyou think itâs got a sore spot around its back or somethinâ?â
âNo,â Scathael replied, managing to pack the dryness of a desert into that one syllable. âBut I won't be turned into a stain on the wall with you if you're over there and I'm here.â
The demi-human scowled, but returned her hand to the table nonetheless. âI take it youâve dealt with one of those before?â She jerked her head towards the Warforged.
âYes.â
âWhat was it like?â
Scathael shrugged. âI fixed the broken ones and left the able ones alone. Thatâs all. I never stayed around long enough to get to know them.â He never stayed around long enough to know if those in particularly dire straits ever survived long enough to get proper repairs, either, but he kept that part to himself. He recalled meeting some that had â quite literally â been on their last legs. Scathael could keep the mechanical parts running, but their magical components? That was well-beyond his expertise. He could only hope that they managed to find their way to someone who could properly fix them before expiring.
âReally? You werenât curious at all?â
Scathael fixed the demi-human with an unamused look. âYes, yes, you exposed me. I made friends with a few and we had tea parties.â The demi-human rolled her eyes, but chuckled and smirked anyway. Before she could reply, however, Scathael noticed the Warforged doing something strange. An unfamiliar tension gripped his heart as he eyes narrowed. Then, they widened as he saw sickly, yellow smoke billow from the machineâs mouth. He had seen something similar before, and on a Warforged as well. Granted, the smoke then had emerged from somewhere else, and had looked different, but Scathael wasnât about to take any chances. It had been terrible then. He would bet that it would be terrible now if nothing was done.
âWindows,â he exclaimed and shot to his feet. The smoke was still thickest around the machine, but it was spreading quickly. Though the cloud itself was unlikely to reach him, diffusion would ensure that everyone in the inn would breathe some of the stuff in, even if they could detect neither scent nor colour. He looked at the demi-human, still seated. âGet the windows, get the fans, cut a hole in the walls if you have to.â His words came out in a torrent. âThat thing is going to suffocate us all if we donât do something quick!â
He didnât bother waiting for a response, but the patter of feet against wood told him that she was at least doing something. One of the windows on the wall behind him was already ajar, and its old hinges squeaked painfully as he pushed it open to its greatest extent before moving on the the next. âEvery window, every door has to be opened! Get the fans going as fast as they can as well!â He yelled at anyone in earshot, which wasnât much thanks to the din of the fight. âUnless you want bad things to happen to you, do it quickly!â
Time: Late Morning Interactions: @Tae Kalliope; @Potter Layla Mentions: Attire:
(Placeholder until I get a better reference image) Roughspun, blue trousers A shoulder belt and waist belt carrying his equipment Two swords and two pistols, one on either side A woven, conical hat wide enough to shade his entire face
The sincerity in Kalliopeâs words loosened the tension coiled within Sjan-dehk. Somewhat, in any case. He still wished to be elsewhere; he still felt unease roiling in him, and he still didnât understand why he had felt what he had felt. But the urge to excuse himself and return to his Sada Kurau had lessened, at least. And truth be told, he felt more silly than anything else. There was no reason for all this internal turmoil. None at all. Whatever relationship Kalliope had with Cassius had nothing to do with him. All of this was just his own heart and mind being fools and tormenting themselves â and him, in the process â for no reason.
âNo, itâs alright.â Tried as he might, his smile wouldnât appear naturally, and so he forced it out. Likewise for the levity in his words. The strange pangs pricking his chest whenever he looked at Kalliope probably had something to do with that. Once again, their origins were utterly unknown to him. âI was probably being too careful. Because of all the nonsense that happened, you know?â
Part of him wondered if he should thank her, in fact. At least now he had a vague idea as to how he should act around her. Such rules of decorum grated on his nerves and sat poorly with him, but he couldnât avoid the fact that they kept him out of trouble and stopped trouble from finding him. The Mother of the Waves alone knew how much he needed both. All the moreso, now that he was in a strange city far from home.
He cleared his throat. âI shouldââ
That was all he managed to say before the dark-skinned lady returned. Sjan-dehk groaned inwardly â she hadnât exactly made the best impression on him earlier â and hoped for no trouble. It proved to be a foolâs hope as the lady made herself known. Very, very known, and in an exceedingly venomous manner. There was no one that was spared from her cutting and biting words. First was her cousin, then it was Kalliope, and then Charlotte after that â because of course, the poor girl simply couldnât be allowed any respite, and then it was Kalliope again. Sjan-dehk resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Perhaps it was judgemental of him, but she reminded him of nobles who had been allowed to get away with one too many things. Or perhaps those whose grudge against the world became a touch too personal. It was either of the two, and neither were pleasant to deal with, as far as Sjan-dehk was concerned.
He looked away towards the horizon as the lady â Layla, as he soon gathered â continued. Gazing out at the glittering sea and gently rolling waves was a far better use of his time than listening to the venomous words of a spiteful lady. Sjan-dehk had to admit, however, that the amount of spite and venom Layla held within her was very impressive. He thought she would have run out of steam by now â the way his father had dealt with such people in the past was to simply let them talk themselves into tiredness â but she just kept going with no end in sight. Had her words been nicer and more learned, Sjan-dehk didnât doubt that she could give even the best scholars a hard time in a debate.
An amused smirk crept onto Sjan-dehkâs face, and he did his best to keep it hidden from Layla. It probably wasnât going to help with how things were, but he couldnât help it. She sounded as if she was going out of her way to be mean, as if she was really trying to get a rise out of everyone, that it was almost cute. Like a child believing that whoever lost the run of themselves first in an argument was the loser. Or a noble who mocked and offended in an attempt to agitate another. The latter wasnât unfamiliar to Sjan-dehk. Though it had taken him plenty of pain and trouble to learn his lesson, he knew better than to react.
His odd mirth, however, slowly dissipated as Layla continued to tear into Kalliope. Her words sounded less amusing and more offensive â even to him â as she went on and on. Well, if he had to be fair, it wasnât as if Kalliope had been polite either, but at least she didnât disparage Layla in such a degrading manner. Even Sjan-dehk, who had nothing to do with anything, began to feel indignation on Kalliopeâs behalf. He turned back around just in time to see Layla blow him a kiss, and he only replied with a shake of his head and a roll of his eyes. It did get a chuckle out of him, albeit an incredulous one.
âDoubt either of them would get that way over a skank like you.â
She sounded so sure of herself. Sjan-dehk breathed in sharply, and felt a tinge of excitement bubble within him. Proving her wrong was going to be so much fun.
Of course, that didnât mean he interrupted her. Even with such things, one had to be polite and observe all proper forms. That was the Way. Sjan-dehk waited until Layla was done before sidling over to both ladies, standing beside them. âAre you done?â He asked, an ominous smile on his face. It was the same as what he used with unruly crew members awaiting sentencing. Partially assuring, mostly foreboding. âYou speak very well. Good words. It is a shame, yes? That what you say is soâŚâ He paused for a moment to think of a proper phrase. âFull of shitâ and âa verbal atrocityâ came to mind, but he doubted either would do anything to smooth things over.
â...So evil.â
There. That should do.
Sjan-dehk carefully inserted himself between Kalliope and Layla. Though his stance was casual with arms loose, he still made sure to cover the former with his body in an almost protective manner. Though it was up to debate as to who it was exactly that needed protection. Both women seemed ready to turn this fight of words into a physical one at a momentâs notice. If Sjan-dehk wasnât careful, he was going to be the one who needed help most. âKali said things to you, I know. But she did not start this. You are the one who first came here, first started scolding and being such aâŚA bitch to everyone.â
The expletive had slipped out of Sjan-dehkâs mouth, but surprised as he was, he didnât seem apologetic. If anything, he appeared almost relieved. He had already gone that far â even if by accident â so he may as well go all the way. âYou come here, you attack Charlotte. You expect noâŚNo punishment? If we went too far, we say something that make you upset, then fine. I apologise. But why must you be so mean?â There was no anger in Sjan-dehkâs voice. Rather, he sounded curious. âYou say you are a princess, yes? Is that how it is in your land? A princess can be a fucking bitch to everyone, can be so impolite, and nothing can happen to her? Hope not. But if it is, then I pity your people.â
He took a step back with a shake of his head. âBut you, I pity the most. Whatever it is that happened that make you like this, it was terrible, yes? Unless you came out like this. Then I pity your family.â He placed a hand on Kalliopeâs arm, holding it in a gentle, yet firm, grip. "Maybe I speak too much. Guess too much. I apologise. But you must understand, yes? That the im...Impression you give is fucking bad. Hard to keep quiet. Feel like I must say something." He gave Kalliope a surreptitious tug.
âCome on, letâs go,â he said in his native tongue. âNo point talking to people like her. One doesnât chastise nightshade in hopes of it becoming a rose. She wonât change. Not now, at least, and weâre only going to end up poisoned for our troubles.â He glanced at Kalliope, then at Layla. âAnd beating sense into her likely isnât going to end up well for any of us. As much as I would like to.â
With a smile that was likely as aggravating as it was amicable, he looked back to Layla. âAh, sorry for my language. I am a sailor. We speak freely. Sometimes I forget, you know?â He gave Kalliope a little tug and began to lead her further up the beach and away from everyone else. Some time away might help cool her head. Before he left, however, he tipped his hat towards Layla.
âOh. Apologies Forgot to answer.â A smirk played across his lips. He even found the mischief in him to return her gesture from earlier, and blow her a mocking kiss. âYes, I think you are pretty. It is a shame. Great shame that the inside does not match the outside. And my âfucking nameâ, princess, is Wasun Sjan-dehk. Next time you want to fight, pretty one, come find me, yes? Will be interesting. Might learn from each other. Now excuse us. We leave. Have a good day.â
He hurriedly led Kalliope away before anything more could happen. âWhat a bitch. Are princesses around these parts all like that?â He grumbled beneath his breath before casting a glance over his shoulder, then at her. âI didnât catch everything, but I know she said some very nasty things. Are you alright?â
Time: Early Afternoon Location: A village outside Roshimi
It wasnât everyday that Scathael allowed himself a midday nap. Or any sort of rest outside of sleep, for that matter. Industrious dark elf that he was, he usually did all he could to stay busy, even if that meant crafting arrows and casting musket balls until his mind went numb.
But today was different.
Although the late-morning sun still bathed all in its radiance â as it was wont to do â the heat of its rays wasnât as stifling as their intensity suggested. Thatched roofs and leafy branches rustled softly in the wake of a cooling breeze whispering through the villageâs only street. Overhead, bulbous clumps of cotton-white clouds drifted across a sky of clear azure. The long shadows they casted as they floated beneath the disc of iridescent-white provided even more respite â however temporarily â from its rays.
As loath as Scathael was to use the word, he could only describe the weather as perfect. Coupled with the lilting birdsong and vague murmurs of village life filling his ears, it felt as if the world itself was inviting him to rest. And who was he, mere dark elf that he was, to decline such an invitation?
A contented sigh quietly left his lips, barely moving the dirty rag he had draped over his face. Seated on a wooden chair in the front yard of the village smith â the same man from whom he rented a room â he was surrounded by tools and materials of the familiar trade. Leaning back, he rested his legs on a scuffed and battered anvil, and his head against the cold face of an unfired furnace. Bundles of freshly-whittled arrows, all neatly tied with strips of cloth or leather, laid strewn across the table beside him.
He drew in a deep breath, filling his nose with the comforting scent of metals and charcoal. Gentle winds washed over his body and tousled his wiry, pale locks. Memories of better times surfaced in his mind, and a wistful smile came over his face. A twist of pain pinched his heart, but it could neither stay, nor did it last in the face of the soothing calm which completely filled and enveloped him.
Such peacefulness was addictive. Much more than the greatest vice. And so of course, it couldnât last.
The crunch of approaching footsteps tapped on his eardrums. âSmithâs not in.â Muffled by the rag, his gruff words came out as a barely comprehensible mumble. He crossed his legs on the anvil, and his arms over his chest. Quiet, strained creaks ticked from the chairâs suffering joints. âIf youâre here for a delivery, leave it by the door. Otherwise, come back later.â
Silence, broken by the shuffling of feet, was all that answered him. âO-Oh, Iâm not looking for the smith,â a small and timid voice squeaked. It was that of a child, by the sound of it. âI-I um, I was hoping you c-could help me, mister Arash.â
That got Scathaelâs attention. His eyes snapped open and he swung his legs off the anvil with a grunt. His rousing muscles ached, and drowsiness made his head a leaden weight. But he forced himself to sit up all the same. Idle hands were unbecoming of an artisan, and his had been idle for long enough. Granted, he wasnât quite sure what sort of work a child would have for him, but it would certainly be better than lazing around and doing nothing. âYou can drop the âmisterâ. Just call me Scathael.â A muted yawn left his mouth as he rubbed the lingering sleep from his eyes with the back of his hand.
âAnyway,â he said tersely, and spun around to look at the child. âWhat do youâ Oh, itâs you.â
Large, upturned eyes looked back at him, their vertical irises dark against a sea of amber, and their brows knitted in worry. A pair of long, furry ears laid flat against her messy head of saffron-coloured hair, and she hugged a crossbow â which was almost as long as she was tall â close to her waifish frame. Over-patched and ragged, her simple dress hung loosely from her narrow shoulders. Just the thought of her lugging the cumbersome weapon all the way to the smith was enough to bring a snicker up Scathaelâs throat, but that was as far as he allowed it to go.
âYes, itâs me,â the vulpine demi-human girl said, eyes peering over the crossbowâs arms. âI-Iâmââ
âVallana. I know.â Scathael finished her sentence as he stood up. She looked at him in surprise, and so he continued, âYou keep introducing yourself every time I pay your father a visit.â He pushed bundles of arrow shafts aside to clear a space on the table. âAnd I know thatâs his arbalest that youâre holding. Hand it over and tell me whatâs wrong with it.â
The girlâs arms trembled precariously as she lifted the heavy weapon towards him. Her lips were pressed together and her eyes squeezed shut in effort and strain. Scathael sighed and shook his head. âDonât hurt yourself,â he said drily and with both hands, carefully took it from her with a grunt.
Vallana shook away the soreness in her arms. âI-I was cleaning the house, and I-I was trying to get around it and I think I-I ac-accidentally knocked into it and it fell and I heard a crack and it didnât look right and so I brought it t-to you as quickly as I could.â The panicked words tumbled from her mouth like water breaking through a dam. As she spoke, her voice cracked and tears pooled in the corners of her eyes. âPlease fix it, mister AraâScathael! F-Father will kill me if he finds out I broke it!â
âNo, he wonât,â Scathael said matter-of-factly as he hefted the arbalest, wincing as he felt the full weight of it pull on his arms. A cumbersome thing, it boasted two long and powerful steel arms that launched heavy bolts with both speed and accuracy. Great for a hunter prowling the woods not far from home, but not for a wanderer like Scathael. âHe dotes plenty on you. Even I can see that, and I only talk to him when I have to buy hides or meat. So calm down and stop worrying. Itâs distracting.â
The fox-girl stifled a sniff. âReally?â
âYes. Now stop crying. If you have to, do it quietly.â
âO-Oh, sorry.â
âThank you,â the dark elf mumbled. He shook his arms loose, drew in a deep breath, and with teeth gritted so hard that it felt as if he would grind them to dust, he lifted the arbalest and aimed it at the sky. Squinted eyes battled the sunâs glare, and sweat pooled on his brow. Within moments, his aching muscles begged for rest. Scathael ignored them all, and instead focused on aligning the sights of the arbalest. In no time at all, he identified the problem, but still he slowly brought the weapon down onto the table. There were steps to fixing such things â he had made them up himself. To not abide by them was to invite careless mistakes or missed defects, both of which were unforgivable errors as far as he was concerned.
Beside him, Vallana fidgeted. Curious eyes ran over everything in the yard at least twice.
He ran a hand over the stock. A solid piece of oak hewn into something vaguely resembling a stock, it was rough, it looked â and likely was â unfinished, but it could be braced against a shoulder and sat under an arm well enough. Then, he gripped the bowstring tightly and gave it a strong tug. The resistance, the pull against the meat of his fingers, those were all expected. What wasnât, however, was the imbalance he felt in the string. With furrowed brows, he carefully released the string and pulled it again.
Yes, one side was certainly pulling harder than the other. That was all the confirmation he needed.
âFather says youâve been to a lot of places,â Vallana piped up as she stood on the tips of her toes to peek over the tableâs edge. As unwelcome as the interruption was, Scathael wasnât as annoyed as he would be had she been just a few years older. It amazed him enough that the child had held her tongue for as long as she did.
âI have,â he replied simply and brushed Vallana away from the table.
âYou must have seen amazing things.â The awe in her voice was palpable. âBeing an adventurer must be a lot of fun! I want to be one too, when I get bigger.â
Aching legs. Cold Fear. A crack of thunder. Pouring rain lashing his cheeks. A thousand thoughts crashing through his mind. His boots slipping against soft mud. Hanging thorns cutting his face. The sight of a cave entrance through the vines. In his relief, a second wind. The scent of moss. The scent of blood. A body he recognised, trapped beneath rocks. Dead for days. A scrawled apology, red ink darkened to brown. Shock and pain. Anguish and despair. Crushing regret.
Scathael exhaled sharply and pushed those memories aside. âNo, you donât,â he said drily and beckoned for her to stand beside him. âAnd you have bigger things to worry about now. Youâre right, your fatherâs arbalest is damaged.â He dragged the weapon over to the edge of the table and tipped it over just enough, and for just long enough, for her to see the hairline cracks on one of the arms. Terrified realisation came over the girlâs face, and her lips began to tremble. Sighing, Scathael pushed the arbalest back onto the table.
âRelax.â His tone was flat, and not reassuring at all. âItâs not entirely your fault. One fall wouldnât have done this. Not unless it fell off a roof. Damage like this builds up over time. Your father mustâve knocked it about more than a few times.â A subtle bitterness crept into his words, and he swallowed whatever else he had to say about the matter before continuing. âAnyway, Iâll have to make new limbs for it. Not difficult work. All the materials are here already, so I should have it done by this evening.â
Vallanaâs face was still scrunched up in anxiety. âButâŚBut father will be home before thenâŚâ
Scathael shrugged. âItâs the best I can do.â His expression softened upon seeing the girlâs downcast eyes, and her ears lying so flat against her head that they disappeared into her hair. Sighing, he â albeit a touch reluctantly â added, âYouâre welcome to stay and watch until Iâm done, but only if youâre quiet and donât touch anything. Cause trouble and Iâll throw you back home myself.â
Relief flooded over Vallanaâs face, and she nodded enthusiastically. âI promise, I will! Thank you! Oh, and I can payâŚâ She pushed her hands into her dressâ pockets. Coins clinked together, the sound only slightly muffled by the thin fabric. âI-Iâve been saving. It should be enoughââ
âDonât bother,â Scathael cut her off. âI can already hear that you canât afford this.â Neither was this a job so challenging that he felt he needed to ask for payment. Repairing a damaged crossbow limb was about as mundane as jobs went. It almost felt insulting to be rewarded for something he could do from start to finish in his sleep. âIf you really have to pay meââ he grabbed a few bundles of arrow shafts and handed them to Vallana ââyou can bring these to the bowyer and ask for a crossbow string for your father, and a bowstring for me. You know whoâs the bowyer, right?â
âMister Tesh? Yes, I know him.â Vallana nodded as she tried to balance bundles in her arms. Each was the length of her forearm and almost just as thick. âKrawin and I play together sometimes. Thatâs his daughââ
âI donât need to know that,â Scathael interrupted. âJust go to the bowyer and exchange the arrow shafts for the things I told you. One crossbow string, one bowstring. Tell him I sent you.â
âOkay!â Vallana sounded far too excited for the task, but it was endearing, in a way. With the arrow shafts tucked precariously under her arms, she hurried away from the yard. Scathael watched her leave, his face impassive even as she stumbled a few times on the rough and uneven ground. Soon enough, Vallana was consumed by the milling crowd, and he lost sight of the little girl. Only then did he bring his attention back to the weapon on the table before him.
He chewed on his lip. Such peacefulness â such normality â was indeed addictive. A small, but noticeable part of him was already busy weaving fantasies of a simpler life. One where he wasnât on the move all the time. One where he could rest his head on the same bed, under the same roof every night, and awake to the same sights, and same scents every morning. Such a fantasy wasnât one that was strange to him, but it certainly was one he despised. He knew it was unattainable. Impossible, even. Yet, his mind refused to stop tormenting him with imaginations of a life he simply wasnât fated for.
A wistful sigh left his lips. He gripped the arbalest firmly by the stock and carefully unhooked the bowstring from one of the limbs. Perhaps, in a way, it was good that he was reminded of that painful dream. It was a sign that he had stayed in the village for far too long â long enough for him to get comfortable, and for him to start getting ideas. Ideas that were poison to an elf like him.
It was time he left.
Time: Early Afternoon Location: The Nest; Roshmi Equipment:
His travelling clothes - Dark, earthy shirt and coat, with trousers tucked into boots A hooded, oilskin cloak His bow, unstrung A musket Two pistols Two hatchets His travelling pack
A few days later, Scathael found himself in an environment that was the exact opposite of the village.
Cacophonic, musty, and filled to bursting with people who either drunk their inhibitions away, or had drunk themselves insensate, the Nest â to him, at least â truly encapsulated the nature of Roshmiâs slums. Wild, ever-changing, and unpredictable, it was the sort of place most people took pains to avoid. But it was also the sort of place where one could find things â or people â that werenât easily found elsewhere. So long as one was also ready to have the thrill of danger excite their blood. Or have it spilled over the ground. It was a toss-up between the two, really.
Scathael was in search of neither. Whatever items he needed, he could craft. And unless there happened to be someone wandering the dark web of streets with a convenient mithril mine hidden in their pockets, it was highly unlikely that he would find anyone that interested him.
Rather, he was the person who was sought after. A semi-regular at the Nest â he made it a point to pop in at least once every time he was in Roshmi â those who recognised him knew him as someone who would fix and repair weapons, armour, and tools with no questions asked, and all for either just a token sum, or information about â of all things â rare minerals and materials. Those who didnât recognise him, soon did for the arrows, bolts, and bullets he sold at such a low price that he may as well be giving it away.
âTell me again, what did you do with this?â Scathael turned a pitted and heavily-scarred sword over in his hands multiple times. Shadows danced across its dull blade in the dim lantern light, but Scathael could still tell that none of the damage done came from battle. âDid you chop down a tree with this thing? Or did you oil it with butter?â
The light elf sitting opposite him squirmed uncomfortably in his seat, his turquoise eyes averted. That gave Scathael his answer, and for a moment, all he could do was stare at the youth in barely-disguised disgust, and also a modicum of surprise.
âIt was a difficult time, okay? I had no choice!â The light elf suddenly blurted out.
âI understand cutting down a branch, but the butter?â Scathael shook his head and rested the sword upon the table. âDoing nothing wouldâve been better. How long have you been adventuring?â
The light crossed his arms across his chest. âLong enough.â
âItâs going to become âshort enoughâ, if you keep being an idiot,â Scathael said and pushed the sword over to the light elf. âNext time, use animal fat if you really have nothing else. Go buy yourself a new blade. Itâll cost you almost just as much if you want me to reforge the damn thing, and Iâm not wasting my time doing that on a buttered blade.â
The light elf grumbled, but took the sword and walked away.
Scathael sighed and shook his head. That was the price of doing business in this part of the city. Most who came to him were criminals â or at least, they dealt in matters that made approaching a legitimate smith a problem â and for the most part, they werenât the sort to be able to afford to take proper care of their tools of the trade. Granted, this was the first time Scathael had seen a sword oiled with butter, so perhaps it was that particular light elf who was special.
He leaned back in his seat and looked over the crowd. There was still plenty of time left in the day. He just had to be patient, and he would make enough to buy passage toâ
"Who the fuck dared to pour water on me!?"
That shout, so full of rage, put a quick end to Scathael's planning. Casually leaning over to one side, he peered between shoulders and craned necks just in time to see a leporine demi-human turn a table into splinters with her hammer. Her body was soaked, and her hair matted wet. The culprits â Scathael assumed â a light elf woman and a green dragonborn, laid on the ground before her. For a moment, he tensed up, half-expecting a fight to break out. His eyes darted to the various exits and entrances of the Nest.
But it all proved to be unnecessary. For now, at least. The demi-human didn't seem too upset by her rude awakening, and she didn't seem to be in too violent a mood, the table aside. With a shrug, Scathael looked away from the scene and leaned back in his seat. Strange things happened everyday. In the Nest, moreso than other places.
(Placeholder until I get a better reference image) Roughspun, blue trousers A shoulder belt and waist belt carrying his equipment Two swords and two pistols, one on either side A woven, conical hat wide enough to shade his entire face
The mysterious, discomforting feeling festering in Sjan-dehkâs heart diminished slightly as his conversation with Kalliope progressed. How could it have done otherwise, in the face of pretty eyes shining with playful mischief, and in the presence of her amicable warmth? Even the prying questions that had floated through his head earlier fell silent â as they should have been from the very start. Sjan-dehk felt himself genuinely relax, instead of having to pretend to be casual and at ease. He could scarcely remember why he had to in the first place. Not even Kalliopeâs remark to the departing Cassius could rattle him, although that was more because he didnât quite understand what she had meant.
A subtle flutter tickled his heart at Kalliopeâs words. âMy dashing Captain.â There was something about the way she had said those three words that made Sjan-dehk feel happy, yet at the same time, brought him a degree of bashfulness he hadnât experienced in a very long time. He dipped his head ever-so-slightly, and hid more of his face within the shadow cast by his hat.
Nevertheless, he chuckled at Kalliopeâs remarks regarding the stranger-with-the-guards. Sjan-dehk made a note of her name â she seemed to be an important Alidashti, and thus was likely someone he needed to be aware of, at the very least. âLetâs hope the repercussions never find you, then.â Sjan-dehk offered her a grin along with his words. âMakes what you did pretty damn admirable, if I do say so myself.â
And just as he was about to ask Kalliope about her history with Layla, she introduced Cassius to him.
There was nothing wrong with her words themselves, but there was something in her voice, some strange and vague thing underlying what she had said that brought the discomforting feeling back to the forefront of Sjan-dehkâs heart and mind. His brows furrowed slightly.
â...known for his ways with the ladies."
Suddenly, Sjan-dehk started to understand what Kalliope had meant by Cassius uttering the wrong name the previous night, and with it, an insight to their relationship he wished he never gained. Not that he knew why he felt what he felt, and that made things all the more uncomfortable for him. He was, however, very much aware that the unease he felt was etched upon his face, and so he quickly turned away from her. He looked towards Charlotte, but his eyes were, in fact, focused on the horizon far in the distance.
He cleared his throat and tried to sound as normal as he could when he answered Kalliope. âSo thatâs her name? Charlotte? Only just met her this morning. She seems nice enough so far. Reminds me ofââ He cut himself short just before mentioning his sister. âOf people I know. Might be too early to tell for certain, but I canât see any harm in getting to know her a little better.â
Then, he turned back to Kalliope, his face neutral but eyes reproachful. âBut I do know that sheâs had quite a rough morning as it is. Letâs not tease the poor girl and give her any more grief, aye?â He let out a muted sigh as he looked back towards the shore. This was all so very silly, and worse than that, immature. What did it matter to him, if Kalliope was in a relationship with Cassius? Nothing at all, surely; she was merely a friend, if even that. Acquaintance might be a more accurate way of putting it â Sjan-dehk had only known her for all of a day-and-a-half, at most. In a mutter, he added, "Just doesn't feel right, you know? To see a girl like her getting shat upon."
Yes, he was just being silly. That was what Sjan-dehk told himself.
And perhaps, that was why right at the very moment, he wanted to be anywhere else but here. The beach no longer felt even remotely familiar or comfortable. Every fibre of his being told him to leave, to return to the comforting surroundings of his Sada Kurau and lose himself to the monotony and drudgery of the daily routine of keeping a warship running smoothly.
But he couldnât. To do such a juvenile thing was shameful.
Instead, he did something even sillier. âLooks like theyâre having a good time,â he said and tilted his chin towards Charlotte and Cassius. As much as he could, he tried to keep the bite from seeping into his words, though he doubted he was overly-successful. âYour partner seems quite interested in her as well. Should we go join them? Going into the water sounds like a pretty damn good idea to me right about now.â
(Placeholder until I get a better reference image) Roughspun, blue trousers A shoulder belt and waist belt carrying his equipment Two swords and two pistols, one on either side A woven, conical hat wide enough to shade his entire face
The concern written across Sjan-dehkâs face as he watched the girl approach the lapping waves was as clear as the sky he stood beneath. He considered following her, but quickly decided against it. Some time alone might do her some good. Besides, did he really think he had the words to ease her situation? Not in her language, he didnât, and he doubted she understood Viserjantan. His presence would likely do more to confuse than anything else.
So instead, he remained where he was and kept a vigilant eye over her. He might not have understood the full details of their earlier altercation â which, as he thought about it, made his reaction seem all the more silly and reckless â but he caught just enough to know â or guess with some confidence â that this wasnât the first time the girl had been harassed. And judging by her muted reaction, harassment and ridicule were things she had unfortunately gotten used to.
Or, perhaps her parallels with his youngest sister ran even deeper, and extended to a common gentle and forgiving nature. Either way, the abuse faced by the pale girl displeased Sjan-dehk greatly.
He pulled his tunic back on and tied off the drawstrings at his side. It still escaped him as to why he felt so protective about the girl â a girl whose name he had failed to catch â other than that she reminded him of his sister and evoked the same feelings. Beyond that, it was all a mystery to him, but it wasnât one he was going to try too hard to solve. To put an end to unjust acts happening before his eyes wasnât a question of reason. It wasnât even just that it was the Way. It was also the right and moral thing to do, and that was all that mattered to him.
âYes,â he said in response to Romanâs query as he threw his equipment back around his body. âI handed it to Lady Adiyan. She isâŚShe will take more time to recover.â Sjan-dehk winced as he recalled the state of the High Queenâs Voice when he had last seen her. As much as her condition had improved, she was still in quite a rough state. âBut we have others who can talk, if time isâŚNot enough. But not today. That is too soon. Maybe another day?â
Sjan-dehk threw a quick, sidelong glance at the pale girl before turning to John. A slight frown flashed over his features as he heard the doctorâs words. Yes, Sjan-dehk once had such thoughts as well, and it would be a lie if he said that he still didnât find it exhilarating to be at the helm of his Sada Kurau and to have her crush pirates beneath her keel. But at the same time, he was all too aware of bitter reality. The damage a cannonball did to a man was unspeakable, and Sjan-dehk was immediately reminded of decks sticky with blood, and strewn with bodies both torn apart and pulverised into barely-recognisable pulp. And he would have had to keep fighting on amidst such a sordid and macabre environment, and always with the thought that he could just as easily meet such a gruesome end lingering in the back of his mind.
He shook his head slightly, and placed a smile on his face. âYes. Sometimes,â he replied simply. âThis city, it is veryâŚNice? Good place to be, yes.â He left his response to the doctor at that.
Once again, he snuck a glance at the pale girl. And once again, he considered joining her, but those same doubts from before surfaced in his mind. Not that it mattered in the end; while Sjan-dehk was entertaining his thoughts, someone else approached her. It was the man who had arrived with Kalliope.
That brought him to the woman who had been on his mind. Sjan-dehk had, in fact, noticed her before she joined the group. How could he have not? Dressed in an outfit that showed off enough of her physique to be tantalising, but still keeping enough hidden to allow the imagination a bit of fun, and with her fiery hair pulled up and framing her sun-kissed face beautifully, she was an eye-catching sight to say the least. That was in-and-of-itself a problem for Sjan-dehk; he wasnât quite sure where he should look. The slight flutter in his heart didnât help in the least.
âGood morning, Kali,â he said with a tip of his hat that also served to shade more of his eyes. If he couldnât find a place to rest his gaze, then he would simply obscure it. Even so, he made sure to meet her verdant irises with his earthy ones from time-to-time. It would be impolite to do otherwise. And each time he looked at her, the smile playing across his lips inexplicably widened. âYouâve got a way with words. Canât say that I understood enough to say anything more about them, but they sounded powerful to my ears. AndâŚâ He trailed off as he looked over her attire once more, his cheeks tinting red as he did so. Utterly determined to avoid the same mistake as the previous day, he wracked his mind for a good word to use.
Embarrassing as it was, he immediately thought of words he used to describe ships. âYou lookâŚYou look stunning.â That word didnât leave his mouth as smoothly or confidently as he hoped it would, but at least it was an improvement from yesterday. Marginally, but an improvement, nonetheless. He checked on Charlotte once more, but this time, his smile faded as he looked at the man with her. Who was he? And why had he come to the beach with Kalliope? Guilt and irritation flooded his heart almost as soon as those questions entered his mind. Why was he being so nosy? He wasnât some palace gossip with nothing to do but needlessly pry into the affairs of others. Kalliope could do as she wished, and none of it would be any of his concern.
No, it really had nothing to do with him.
And so, that was why instead of asking those questions, he simply nodded to the pair standing not too far away at the waterâs edge. âWhoâs your friend?â He asked in as casual a voice as he could muster, and that alone made him even more annoyed at himself. Why was he acting this way? It was unbecoming and not at all congruent to the Way. A flush came over his cheeks. âI-I mean, I didnât catch his name. Donât want to be rude when he comes back, you know?â
(Placeholder until I get a better reference image) Roughspun, blue trousers A shoulder belt and waist belt carrying his equipment Two swords and two pistols, one on either side A woven, conical hat wide enough to shade his entire face
While Sjan-dehk did his best to take in all of Farimâs introduction â and much to his surprise, he managed to grasp more than just the gist of things â it was the Alidashtiâs mention of a trading company that piqued his interest. A trading company that was owned by Farim himself, no less. A tinge of excitement bubbled in Sjan-dehkâs heart. Assuming all went smoothly, and that Lady Adiyan would be well enough to conduct negotiations within the next two weeks, he might not even have to bother sailing for Alidasht or Varian. Not that he minded the journey; were it just his Sada Kurau and himself, he wouldnât mind making the trip as many times as it was necessary. Unfortunately, he had the Sudah and her obstinate passengers to escort, and he would prefer to spend as little time as possible doing just that.
He willed himself to remain calm, and stifled his anticipation. There were far too many variables, too many things that could go wrong for him to put too much hope into that possible future. Besides, he wasnât sure if Farim was being serious. He looked trustworthy enough â even if his resting eyelids made his gaze one that discomforted Sjan-dehk slightly. The clothes he wore were new to Sjan-dehk; they hugged his body tightly like a second skin, and for a moment the Viserjantan wondered just how comfortable it was.
âYou areâŚToo nice? Kind.â Sjan-dehk bowed his head once more to Farim. A minute smile played across his lips as the Alidashti gave his Sada Kurau a compliment. It took all of sjan-dehkâs restraint not to go on at length about her strengths and virtues. âShe is a veryâŚFine ship. Thirty-four guns. Sails good even into the wind. And fast. Good crew. We fought, we won many fights.â
Well, he tried.
He cleared his throat, and went on to answer Farimâs question. âWe, my ship and Sudah, we came here to trade. Many things inââ half-turning, he pointed to the huge, imposing vessel in the distance, her battened sails swaying gently in the morning breeze ââthe Sudahâs hold. Woods, metals, carvedâŚArt? Decorations, yes, and spices, and more things.â He paused, then shook his head slightly. âAh, apologies. Sada Kurau and me, we haveâŚNot a lot to trade. WeâŚMostly protect the Sudah. Keep her safe from pirates. My ship, she is a warship. Very good at fighting, but not good at trading.â
Whether by intention or by accident, Farim helpfully introduced at least one of the others to Sjan-dehk by way of greeting them. Though the manâs name proved too long for Sjan-dehk to remember, he understood that he was a physician of some sort. He turned towards the well-dressed man. Sjan-dehk wasnât a man of medicine by any stretch of the imagination, but he was curious about how injuries and diseases were treated by other peoples. Perhaps he could learn something that might be of use to Dai-sehk, things that might help the surgeon better treat the crew. Or at least improve his bedside manner.
Just as Sjan-dehk was about to speak, however, someone new arrived.
Dark and pretty, she reminded him of those who hailed from the Commonwealthâs northern territories. He dipped his head slightly towards her and started to offer a greeting, but she spoke first. And as the first of her sharp words flew from her tongue, whatever prettiness she had in his eyes instantly vanished.
To Sjan-dehk, she seemed determined to either offend or wound as many people as possible with scalding words, and even though she never turned her ire towards him, he found himself chewing both his tongue and cheeks to a pulp. Especially when she started insulting and deriding the pale girl. But still, Sjan-dehk kept his mouth shut; Farim seemed to be family with her, and he wasnât about to jump head-first into what could very well be a familial affair. It wasnât polite, and it surely wasnât the Way. That, however, didnât stop him from eyeing her guards. This newcomer had to be some noblewoman â he couldnât imagine anyone else who could be afforded such protection, and who could speak with such venom. Sjan-dehk drew in a deep breath and kept his calm. So long as words were all she threw, he could swallow his rising anger.
The newcomer snatched the pale girlâs ribbon from her hair. Sjan-dehk ground his teeth, but kept calm. He didnât want to make a bad situation worse.
She snatched the girlâs drink from her hands. Sjan-dehk still kept his calm.
Then, she emptied it over the girlâs head, and Sjan-dehk could keep calm no longer.
An auburn-haired lady reacted first, but the newcomerâs guards surrounded her as soon as she rose to her feet, giving her no chance to do anything. Farim dispatched three of them with impressive skill and speed, but left one who stood far enough away to avoid the scuffle. âThis, please hold,â he said in a quiet voice to the pale girl, handing her his drink. Then, he stepped forward to place himself in front of her, at the same time drawing one of his pistols. He didnât point it at the guard, but instead held it out just enough for it to be clearly seen. Despite the indignation burning within him, a grin pulled hard on his lips. With his other hand, he pointed at the guard.
âCome if you dare. Only one of us will remainâ. So caught up was Sjan-dehk in the moment that he barely realised that he had shouted at the guard in his native Viserjantan. Neither did he realise the weight of his actions, nor did he consider the consequences. All he knew was that he saw an injustice happening right before his very eyes, and it had reached the point where he could no longer let it go. And so he had to act.
As Farim accosted his cousin, Sjan-dehk kept watchful eyes on the guard â and as the other three got to their feet, them as well. Only when he was done, and the guards returned to the newcomerâs side, and he felt certain that there would be no more fighting, did he slide his pistol into its holster. He turned towards the newcomer. âYour words, why do you say them? Why do you think it is right?â His voice was light, and his grin still remained on his face. âBecause you have guards? Good that a prettyâŚNoblewiâNoblewoman like you got them. But you are not the only one.â He flicked his eyes up towards his Sada Kurau. âI have two hundred. I look at them in the right way, one hundred will come. Please, do not make me do that. It isâŚA lot of trouble.â
He shook his head as the newcomer turned to leave. âPlease think about what you do. You called her ugly, yes? I disagree. You make her dirty, but that is only outside. Can be cleaned. You are ugly inside. Even if you are pretty outside, you are stillâŚMost ugly here. That is a shame.â
With hands folded across his chest, he watched them leave. One-by-one, they disappeared into the dense crowd. And as they did, Sjan-dehkâs mind slowly caught up with all that just happened. Once he lost sight of the last of them, he let out a long, heavy breath. His hands went to his hips, and he ground his toes into the sand, all the while chewing on his lip until he was sure he would soon draw blood.
âWhat the fuck did I just do?â He couldn't have done nothing, but at the same time, he wondered if he had done too much. Not that he could have helped it; everything he did had largely been on instinct, and those were still very much tuned for times of open warfare.
Well, it was too late. He did what he did.
He took a moment to steady himself before returning to the group, taking care to pluck the discarded cup with the pale girlâs ribbon off the ground as he did. With a hand, he loosened his belts and pulled them off of his body, dropping them onto the sand beside the chairs. âApologies,â he murmured. A flush crept up his cheeks. The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed that his interference might have made a bad situation worse. But when he saw what that newcomer had done to the pale girl, something within him urged him to do something. He couldnât just stand by and watch her be abused like that.
Sighing, he untied the ribbon from the cup and threw the latter away. Then, he took off his outer tunic and shook it free of sand, leaving him wearing only his white and sweat-stained undertunic. He offered both to the pale girl. âYour ribbon,â he said. âAnd my tunic, until you get new things to wear, you can use it.â
(Placeholder until I get a better reference image) Roughspun, blue trousers A shoulder belt and waist belt carrying his equipment Two swords and two pistols, one on either side A woven, conical hat wide enough to shade his entire face
A light flush crept up Sjan-dehkâs cheeks when the pale girl complimented his appearance. It wasnât out of embarrassment so much as it was out of surprise. That was the last thing he had been expecting after he so rudely interrupted her conversation. Though if he had to be honest, he still wasnât quite used to hearing good things about him outside of his martial and sailing skills. Even if just the previous day, Kalliope gave him enough such compliments to last him a year. Perhaps two or three, if his memory retained them well.
For a moment, he wondered what she was up to. And for a moment after that, he found himself strangely looking forward to the ball â or whatever the locals called it â later. Formal events rarely sat well with him, but this particular one? He felt as if evening couldnât come soon enough.
In the space of a blink that took a touch longer than the rest, he pushed those thoughts aside. Wondering about the eveningâs events while it was still morning was just silly. All he had to do later was just meet with Kalliope and attend the ball. Nothing that needed much forethought or planning. And if by then he was still curious about her day, he could just ask her and find out. Not that her affairs were any of his business. Not in the least.
âThank you,â he said with a bow of his head to the girl. âYou lookâŚâ He trailed off as he cast his mind back to yesterday, specifically a lesson he had learned early on. âYou look pri-pretty.â The words tumbled from his mouth and likely didnât sound as good as he would have liked, but he meant them. Looking at the girlâs dainty face, pale complexion, and flowing hair, Sjan-dehk couldnât help but be reminded of his youngest sister, to whom he was closest to out of everyone in his family. He even had to tell himself that she wasnât, in fact, his sister, and thus he had to act accordingly.
Right then, a familiar face appeared. It was the blacksmith from two days ago. Sjan-dehk took a moment to recall his name before nodding towards him and saying, âGood morning, Roman.â It was a shame that Sjan-dehk didnât have the things he wanted to give to the man with him, but he supposed that there was always next time. Romanâs favour with the coin had not been forgotten.
Everyone else seemed to know each other, and being the outsider, Sjan-dehk almost quietly backed away to disappear into the crowd. But he didnât. Instead, he simply stood and watched as the pale girl rushed off towards her friends to ask them what they wanted in their drinks.
A gentle smile came over Sjan-dehkâs face. His sister was similar in that regard, always thinking about the needs and wants of others. According to his brothers, she took it upon herself to keep his rooms neat and tidy even when he was expected to be at sea for months at a time, and she was usually the one to remind their father â and everyone else at court, for that matter â of the plight and troubles of their peoples during discussions of war and whatnot. If every one of his siblings represented an aspect of the Wasun clan, then Sjan-dehk was more than certain that their youngest sister was its heart.
So caught up in the moment and in his mind was he that he merely nodded and followed the group to get their drinks when the girl returned. Before he knew it, he was walking with them back to a blanket laid out on the sand, a thick juice â the locals called it a smoothie, as he found out â of fruits that looked the most familiar to him at the stall. The proprietor had told him their names, but he had either failed to catch them, or he just failed to understand them. It didnât matter; fruits were fruits, and unless he had the misfortune of choosing something akin to a bitter gourd, then he was confident that this smoothie would be, at the very least, refreshing, and that was all that he wanted.
The girl invited him to sit, but Sjan-dehk chose to remain standing. His weapons made sitting down a noisy affair, and he still had some strength left in his legs. Only when she introduced her companions, and asked for his name, did he finally realise that he had failed to properly introduce himself. With a crimson flush on his cheeks, he pressed a hand to his chest and bowed his head to each person in turn. âMy apologies,â he said upon straightening himself. âI am Wasun Sjan-dehk. Captain ofââ he pointed to his Sada Kurau, her hull and sails plainly visible from the beach âSada Kurau. Also Fourth Lesser Marquis of Jafi, of Viserjantaâ
He looked at the unfamiliar faces. âI ahâŚRoman, I saw the other day.â He nodded to the man. âBut the rest of you, I do not know. CanâŚNo, that is not right, yes? May I know who you are?â
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