Haeo

Waterworld

Mongolian throat metal with a bone instrument!

Waterworld

A dock further away from the yimgai than the Jubilee and a mooring further down the line, a man dressed in shark leather sat in the sun on the edge of his raft. Beside him were several jars and a small stack of fish jerky. On his lap were a set of three bone knives, cleanly carved with single edges smooth enough to make some people doubt that it was done by hand. The oddest thing about the knives was their color though, they had a blue-green sheen to them. They also smelled of a couple kinds of oils and a few herbs, strongly enough that he couldn't smell anything else. But, that didn't last.

He picked up the knives so that he was holding them by the handles in his left hand, one between each pair of his fingers. Then he held them over a small oil lamp. They ignited like torches but the man didn't look startled or disturbed, he simply shifted so that he was holding the flaming knives over the ocean and let the drips of burning oil fall from the base of the blades into the water. Now he couldn't smell anything but the smoke. While the blades burned and the drips passed his knuckles, with only a centimeter or two between his flesh and a nasty burn, he took a look around.

The docks were almost always busy here.

He had been gone for the better part of the last month, only coming back briefly once to trade after a particularly large haul. It was common for city's to fish out the best of the smaller fish in their area. But, sharks and other bigger beasties would still wander the waters not too far away. He had made some contacts with traders here in Sigarmyth. If they needed good shark leather, they would pay someone to watch for him at the docks. So, if he had a buyer for his leather, they'd be coming soon to haggle.

His leathers were well known but they weren't his true trade. His name was Darse Finlure and he was one of a rare few who knew how to do what he did with bone. The smoke from the blades changed scent and color and his eyes snapped back to watch what he was doing. The timing had to be right and the technique smooth. There, he saw what he needed to and swept the burning blades down into the sea as though he were trying to slash it with claws. The blades were only in the water for less than a second but it was enough to quench the flames. He gave the blades a moment to cool in the air while he watched them carefully. A small sound drew his eye to the one held between his pinkie and ring finger.

Cracks, tiny and shallow, formed a pattern like a spider's web over a tiny part of the blade. The other two blades remained perfect with a black and grey marbled sheen. The two finished blades soon lay beside him. He still needed to wrap their grips with leather. The damaged blade was only in his hands for a moment longer before he snapped it between his fingers and dropped its pieces into the sea. Bubbles came out of the broken edges as the failed knife began to sink, breaking again and again as it slowly vanished below.

Two out of three wasn't bad. It wasn't perfect but it would have to do. Darse took a bite of jerky and turned his dark eyes on the sky as he began wrapping thin strips of leather around the grips of the finished knives. The breeze was not terribly strong today, barely stirring his rough cut hair, and there were only a few birds on the wing. Every now and then he could get a bird that was feeling bold enough to aim for his meal. After all, if they'll aim for his meal, he'll let them be the next one.

Waterworld

... Things went wrong. But, I've got a good fix on what I want to do and notes about the particulars. It's just a matter of being able to find the alert time to write it. Split shifts devour days...

Waterworld

If nothing goes wrong, I should be able to get my first post up sometime tonight or tomorrow morning.

I, the Demon King, Will Summon My Own Damned Heroes!

@Stabby @Zeroth

Your MP is Full.
You have gained Temporary Extra MP.
Your Mana Density has increased.
...
Skill: Mana Control has prevented Mana Overload.
You have gained Temporary Extra MP. Mana is at Critical Limit.

System:Femus

Femus’s efforts paid off immediately as his Mana Control skill protected him from what could have been a terrible penalty. He could only imagine how dangerous this Mana Overload could be. He would have to make sure that his Mana Control skill developed along with his mana capacity training. But for now, the time had come.

He chose… and the world suddenly let go of him. Or so it felt. His recollection as his eyes opened again was fuzzy and disorienting. However, there were a few parts that he remembered. He heard the Demon King again, though distantly and partly scrambled as though by radio static. He even felt a small sense of irritation, as though he had been compared to a small, fluffy, and temperamental animal. However, that feeling passed quickly. After all, The Demon King’s opinion of him was as insignificant as the feelings that Femus returned.

The only lingering sense from that memory that truly lasted was the sense that he had somehow attracted the Demon King’s interest. It was an irritating feeling. He felt grumpy.

TRANSFORMATION COMPLETE!
(Immature) Wisp > (Adult) Wisp
All Stats have Slightly Increased!
Base HP has Increased!
Potential has Increased!
Special Condition: Mana Overfill has Slightly Increased Base MP!
You have still not reached your full Potential.
You are Well Rested.
Your HP is Full.
Your MP is Full.
Your Stamina is Full.
You are Hungry.
You are Thirsty.

System:Femus

The system gave Femus the answers he needed regarding his evolution, at least some of them. He had managed to increase his MP again. He had also managed to increase his potential, though not to its maximum level. It seemed likely that another form of Wisp must exist after (Adult). However, it would be several more levels before he would be likely to find out for sure. In the meantime, he had an altered body to examine. He could tell that he was larger than before, and brighter. He also felt stronger, though not by a large margin.

More importantly, he was hungry and thirsty.

Just as he realized this, he heard a stomach other than his own complain of the same issue. It was then that he finally looked over and spotted Nira. It looked like his brightness was causing her some discomfort. So, he took control of his personal light and dimmed himself down. They would need food and drink. That probably meant hunting in the surrounding trees. He had a lingering feeling that they shouldn’t hunt near this tree. It… almost felt like not wanting to wake a sleeping baby… only scarier somehow.

Femus softly cleared his throat and broke the silence. “How do I look?”

That sounded lame. But, he still felt slightly awkward. He was aware that he was now larger. Nira looked smaller. But, he also didn’t know how much time had passed.

“How long was I out? Did anything happen?”

The answer was important, but not absolutely critical. His thoughts jumped around as the uncertainty of the experience began to register with him. He would need to tell her about Mana Control and its importance in increasing maximum MP. But, he didn’t know how close she was to getting her own evolution options. He suddenly felt the need to check his own status more thoroughly. If his Mana Control skill had protected him from Mana Overload then it might have crept closer to the next level. The more he learned, the more he could improve his methods and the odds of getting where he wanted to go. Still, he waited and took a breath as he listened to Nira’s response. He could check his status and make other decisions after getting back onto the same page with her… and probably getting a meal and something to drink. Finding out what happened while he was evolving was more critical in the short term with telling Nira to develop her Mana Control and avoid Mana Overload coming in as a close second.

After hearing was she had to say, Femus gathered his thoughts and spoke as efficiently as possible. They were both hungry and thirsty. This needed to be quick so they would have the time and energy to get food and find water. So, he spoke clearly and decisively but with respect. Nira was a partner he relied on, not a subordinate. “Alright, we survived this. And, I learned a couple things. First, I don’t have much of a clear memory of the experience. I know I saw and heard things but I can’t recall them. Second, I was able to increase my default MP by entering the evolution with a Critical Level of Mana Overfill. Third, I avoided suffering something called Mana Overload as a result of using my Mana Control skill to regulate the movement of the mana through my body. So, if you choose to try and increase your maximum MP the way I did, I recommend developing Mana Control and using it at the time you evolve. I don’t think either of us want to find out what Mana Overload actually feels like. Finally… we need to get some basic necessities sorted out if we’re going to stay here for a bit, and I think we should stay until after your evolution. After that… we’ll have to see how things go. What do you think?”

Waterworld

Inspiration is always a fickle thing. I'm working with scraps of a scene at the moment. But... I'm questioning the feel of what I want.

Waterworld

Happy Friday...

Fire Emblem: Ashes of Sacrifice [Fall of the Empire]

Trace Retloth
Inside the Fort

The other lancer was not taught in the same style of combat but did seem to read the situation well enough to take the correct position. The ladies and their mounts were also prepared and beginning to move. It was time. Trace gave a single nod of his head to the other lancer before swinging around the corner of the gate and spotting the locations of the enemy. Sure enough, there were enemies positioned on each flank. Trace also noticed the heavily armored lancer and two other bandits flanking him. However, those three were too far away to immediately be a threat. That is, they wouldn't be able to stop the flanking bandits from being killed. Trace had been holding back before, not a lot... but enough. This was the time to stop doing that. He lead with a well executed Heartstopper. With the number of enemies around and his existing injury, he wasn't in a position to allow unnecessary enemy attacks. After his strike, he kept his feet light. He might need to dodge sooner than planned and wanted to be ready. Unless he was exceptionally lucky, this attack wouldn't kill a bandit. But, it would hurt and distract him enough that the archer coming through the gate behind Trace would have an easy time finishing him off. It might be reckless, but Trace was counting on that. He planned on shifting his target to the bandit that was to the left of the heavy lancer immediately, rather than waiting till the first enemy was dead. Archers frequently filled one of two roles in battles. They could weaken the enemy before the close combat started, or they could finish off the wounded enemies after the initial clash had tired them. Either route was an effective use of their range and a good way to give them combat experience that they might be lacking.

_________________________ Status: Lightly Injured Class: Recruit Inventory: Iron Lance 2/3 Vulnerary 3/3 Exp:85

Waterworld

Name: Darse Finlure

Age: 38

Race: Blue-Blood

Occupation: Bone Crafter/Tanner/Fisherman

Personality: Steady, patient, tenacious, when a choice is made it should be followed through properly. Life is like a powerful current. It's hard if you fight it, easy if you follow it, and it will smash you against rocks when it chooses. A man should be gentle with friends, careful with strangers, and ruthless with enemies.

Religion: Agnostic

Skills:
-Komunaj: Speaking, Reading and Writing
-Engrae: Speaking
-Arithmetic
-Fishing with nets and spears
-Universal familiarity with knives
-Capable with a harpoon
-Bone/Teeth carving/working
-Tanning (aquatic creatures)
-Black Bone Blade Forging
-Cooking
-Fish Processing
-Ocean Product Processing
-Sea legs mastery (He's very sure footed on deck, regardless of weather or surf)
-Navigation (Astral, compass, chart)
-Simple boat repair
-Swimming
-Water Fighting (surface or submerged)
-Reading intent

Weapons: Black Bone Blade long knife (11" blade), BBB spear (6' long, aluminum rod with BBB spearhead)

Items:
-Bushel Bucket of shark teeth & small bones
-Slim drag nets x3 for small-average fish
-Tangle nets x2 for sharks and other large prey
-Hanging net for storing bone fish hooks and decorative pieces made from bone or tooth, 16 pieces ready for sale
-13 tanned shark leather
-Box of simple repair tools: Hammer, pry bar, brushes, sealing tar, etc.
-Leather lined box of mysterious jars (Materials for BBB forging)
-Spare work leather outfit and several simple undergarments

Boat/Home: Darse inherited his master's ship, an unnamed raft/boat that he later called "Memoria". It resembles a raft in the shape of a ray with two aluminum sails that resemble parachutes in shape, standing on poles with a small cabin between them. The deck is well treated shark leather placed with the rough side up and firmly anchored to the metal frame that is welded to the four hulls below. (Do not walk on it barefoot, you'll end up with bloody feet.) It has four strong but narrow hull sections placed evenly in parallel from one side to the other. There are concealed compartments for cargo with water-tight doors in various places on the deck.

Description: Tanned and hardened by years of exposure to the elements, Darse stands at 5'7 and weighs 160lbs. Neither bulky nor thin, his lithe muscle shows its worth in the efficient movements of his well proportioned limbs. His dark hair is crudely cut, shows signs of long exposure to salt and wind and hangs no longer than his jaw which is most comfortable closed. His eyes are a deep brown, nearly black to a casual glance, and are usually shadowed by his thick black eyebrows and long eyelashes. His face is weathered and, along with his worn hands, makes him look older than he is while his movements make one think that he's younger. For clothing, he wears simple and cheap cloth undergarments of whatever fabric was cheap enough at the time with soft shark leather boots, leggings, vest, and bracers. The leather comes from fairly common sharks and has no pattern beyond slight shading, shifting from pale gray to a deep blue-grey.

Background

Background: Born in a community that existed in the gray area between a ship community and a floating village, Darse was the son of a slave woman and the Chief/Captain. Their story was a complicated one but it came and was mostly gone before Darse's time began so it will not be explained here. Those who are truly curious may ask Darse about it. He knows the story and might even be willing to share it, with the right audience.

The village itself was able to navigate well enough to follow large schools of fish, in spite of its ramshackle appearance. It had several sails and three large rudders. The main staples of this village were fish, algae, aquatic plants, and shellfish. All but the fish were raised aboard the village or on 'tail beds' that trailed behind the village like the tendrils of a jellyfish.

Life in the village was hard but not desperate. There was greater variety in food than many floating villages had and the surplus of fish jerky was constant enough to be consistently traded with vessels that the village encountered or settlements they visited. Darse was educated by his mother, like most of the few children in his generation. But, there was much work to be done and Darse was put to it as soon as he was old enough. He got along with the other children but formed no real friendships, in part because of his father's status. But, he worked and grew as life continued uneventfully for year after year. The village lingered around Denalika, Yelldera, and Hilo for much of Darse's youth before turning for more southern waters when the village encountered a run of bad luck in fishing, a bit after Darse turned 16.

He turned 17 in the ocean nearby Yucama and learned a harsh lesson. It was in this year that the last of the eligible girls in the village married other men. Some of them chose others in their generation but a few chose older men whose previous wives had died. He now believed that he had no real future in the village. But, he was about to have a stroke of good fortune.

A small raft boat that had been damaged in a storm drifted into the village's path. The only man aboard was a carver of bone and seller of hides. The man had refrained from giving his name, saying it didn't matter in the midst of the ocean. After simply trading for repairs and supplies, the man was preparing to leave when he was confronted by Darse with a knife of black bone. Darse had found it while he was snooping around on the stranger's boat to satisfy his curiosity. It had a better edge than anything Darse had seen before and he asked where the man had acquired it. Upon hearing that the man had made the knife, Darse immediately asked to learn how to make knives like that one.

Several long conversations with his parents followed, along with conversations between them and the visiting man. Some of these conversations became rather... loud. However, at length, both Darse's parents and the stranger agreed that Darse should become the stranger's apprentice.

He was apprenticed far later in life than usual, leaving home at 17 in the waters around Yucama. From there, his life changed drastically as he traveled from place to place with his master, slowly heading further east with a lot of wandering north and south along the way. His master continued to keep his name private, requiring Darse to address him as 'Master' and nothing else.

The work was much like back home but now it was mixed with lessons on various chemicals and plants, oils, alcohols, and kinds of flame. The years passed and Darse studied hard, developing his knowledge about the world as well as the tools of his trades and the methods of his Master. After years of work, his black bone blade knives were being traded alongside his Master's, although at a lower price. But, as he was coming to understand, the flow of time rarely allows things to remain the same for very long.

The peaceful but challenging life with his master ended in the waters around Aden. He had been an apprentice for ten years and his master had been calling him 'journeyman' for another four. He was 31. In his home village he would have been only a bit younger than the village's oldest generation. But, beside his master, he still seemed like a boy. His master was over 55, though Darse never got an exact age out of the man.

They were heading back to Aden with a load of shark leather, shark tooth fish hooks, and fish jerky for sale. But, they didn't return to Aden in the end. The two were attacked at dusk by an unfamiliar type of fish that was very aggressive, moved in a school, and could glide out of the water like flying fish. Both of them survived the attack itself but were poisoned by the fish. Paralyzed and hallucinating, both Darce and his master suffered for nearly a week before the poison finally lost its potency. After Darce could finally move, a severe fever set in that tormented him for nearly two full days. By the time he recovered his consciousness, Darce had lost his master. However, he quickly discovered that his blood had turned blue and that he didn't take long to heal from injuries.

Unfortunately, he didn't know a lot about such things. He knew that Blue Bloods existed from his mother's stories and what little chatter he understood in the places he visited with his master, but the details were largely unknown to him. What he did know was that strong winds had driven them north by a good distance. He did his best to give his master a respectful send-off at sea and headed for the nearest stable anchorage, arriving in Sigamyth nearly a month later.

It was the year he turned 36 that he finally found news of his birth village. It had drifted up against one of the Dominus ships in the waters between Colexi and Argencagu three years prior. No one was aboard, not even a corpse. The ocean had swallowed another community. The only odd part was that the village was recovered, providing another valuable vessel to aid in that Dominus ship's activities. Oddly enough, the rumors didn't include which Dominus ship was involved.

Since then, Darse has lingered in the area around Sigarmyth, Kechustan, and Elbrooska. He has quietly pursued his true craft while making a living off leathers, bone tools, and jerky. But something is odd about the wind today on the docks of Sigarmyth City. The weather is fine but it feels like a storm is creeping closer.

Waterworld

(The most difficult part of this guy... was figuring out where he had been. He's so much older than anybody else that I had to factor in the years of travel. At present, the uncontested old man of the group...)



Name: Darse Finlure

Age: 38

Race: Blue-Blood

Occupation: Bone Crafter/Tanner/Fisherman

Personality: Steady, patient, tenacious, when a choice is made it should be followed through properly. Life is like a powerful current. It's hard if you fight it, easy if you follow it, and it will smash you against rocks when it chooses. A man should be gentle with friends, careful with strangers, and ruthless with enemies.

Religion: Agnostic

Skills:
-Komunaj: Speaking, Reading and Writing
-Engrae: Speaking
-Arithmetic
-Fishing with nets and spears
-Universal familiarity with knives
-Capable with a harpoon
-Bone/Teeth carving/working
-Tanning (aquatic creatures)
-Black Bone Blade Forging
-Cooking
-Fish Processing
-Ocean Product Processing
-Sea legs mastery (He's very sure footed on deck, regardless of weather or surf)
-Navigation (Astral, compass, chart)
-Simple boat repair
-Swimming
-Water Fighting (surface or submerged)
-Reading intent

Weapons: Black Bone Blade long knife (11" blade), BBB spear (6' long, aluminum rod with BBB spearhead)

Items:
-Bushel Bucket of shark teeth & small bones
-Slim drag nets x3 for small-average fish
-Tangle nets x2 for sharks and other large prey
-Hanging net for storing bone fish hooks and decorative pieces made from bone or tooth, 16 pieces ready for sale
-13 tanned shark leather
-Box of simple repair tools: Hammer, pry bar, brushes, sealing tar, etc.
-Leather lined box of mysterious jars (Materials for BBB forging)
-Spare work leather outfit and several simple undergarments

Boat/Home: Darse inherited his master's ship, an unnamed raft/boat that he later called "Memoria". It resembles a raft in the shape of a ray with two aluminum sails that resemble parachutes in shape, standing on poles with a small cabin between them. The deck is well treated shark leather placed with the rough side up and firmly anchored to the metal frame that is welded to the four hulls below. (Do not walk on it barefoot, you'll end up with bloody feet.) It has four strong but narrow hull sections placed evenly in parallel from one side to the other. There are concealed compartments for cargo with water-tight doors in various places on the deck.

Description: Tanned and hardened by years of exposure to the elements, Darse stands at 5'7 and weighs 160lbs. Neither bulky nor thin, his lithe muscle shows its worth in the efficient movements of his well proportioned limbs. His dark hair is crudely cut, shows signs of long exposure to salt and wind and hangs no longer than his jaw which is most comfortable closed. His eyes are a deep brown, nearly black to a casual glance, and are usually shadowed by his thick black eyebrows and long eyelashes. His face is weathered and, along with his worn hands, makes him look older than he is while his movements make one think that he's younger. For clothing, he wears simple and cheap cloth undergarments of whatever fabric was cheap enough at the time with soft shark leather boots, leggings, vest, and bracers. The leather comes from fairly common sharks and has no pattern beyond slight shading, shifting from pale gray to a deep blue-grey.

Background

Background: Born in a community that existed in the gray area between a ship community and a floating village, Darse was the son of a slave woman and the Chief/Captain. Their story was a complicated one but it came and was mostly gone before Darse's time began so it will not be explained here. Those who are truly curious may ask Darse about it. He knows the story and might even be willing to share it, with the right audience.

The village itself was able to navigate well enough to follow large schools of fish, in spite of its ramshackle appearance. It had several sails and three large rudders. The main staples of this village were fish, algae, aquatic plants, and shellfish. All but the fish were raised aboard the village or on 'tail beds' that trailed behind the village like the tendrils of a jellyfish.

Life in the village was hard but not desperate. There was greater variety in food than many floating villages had and the surplus of fish jerky was constant enough to be consistently traded with vessels that the village encountered or settlements they visited. Darse was educated by his mother, like most of the few children in his generation. But, there was much work to be done and Darse was put to it as soon as he was old enough. He got along with the other children but formed no real friendships, in part because of his father's status. But, he worked and grew as life continued uneventfully for year after year. The village lingered around Denalika, Yelldera, and Hilo for much of Darse's youth before turning for more southern waters when the village encountered a run of bad luck in fishing, a bit after Darse turned 16.

He turned 17 in the ocean nearby Yucama and learned a harsh lesson. It was in this year that the last of the eligible girls in the village married other men. Some of them chose others in their generation but a few chose older men whose previous wives had died. He now believed that he had no real future in the village. But, he was about to have a stroke of good fortune.

A small raft boat that had been damaged in a storm drifted into the village's path. The only man aboard was a carver of bone and seller of hides. The man had refrained from giving his name, saying it didn't matter in the midst of the ocean. After simply trading for repairs and supplies, the man was preparing to leave when he was confronted by Darse with a knife of black bone. Darse had found it while he was snooping around on the stranger's boat to satisfy his curiosity. It had a better edge than anything Darse had seen before and he asked where the man had acquired it. Upon hearing that the man had made the knife, Darse immediately asked to learn how to make knives like that one.

Several long conversations with his parents followed, along with conversations between them and the visiting man. Some of these conversations became rather... loud. However, at length, both Darse's parents and the stranger agreed that Darse should become the stranger's apprentice.

He was apprenticed far later in life than usual, leaving home at 17 in the waters around Yucama. From there, his life changed drastically as he traveled from place to place with his master, slowly heading further east with a lot of wandering north and south along the way. His master continued to keep his name private, requiring Darse to address him as 'Master' and nothing else.

The work was much like back home but now it was mixed with lessons on various chemicals and plants, oils, alcohols, and kinds of flame. The years passed and Darse studied hard, developing his knowledge about the world as well as the tools of his trades and the methods of his Master. After years of work, his black bone blade knives were being traded alongside his Master's, although at a lower price. But, as he was coming to understand, the flow of time rarely allows things to remain the same for very long.

The peaceful but challenging life with his master ended in the waters around Aden. He had been an apprentice for ten years and his master had been calling him 'journeyman' for another four. He was 31. In his home village he would have been only a bit younger than the village's oldest generation. But, beside his master, he still seemed like a boy. His master was over 55, though Darse never got an exact age out of the man.

They were heading back to Aden with a load of shark leather, shark tooth fish hooks, and fish jerky for sale. But, they didn't return to Aden in the end. The two were attacked at dusk by an unfamiliar type of fish that was very aggressive, moved in a school, and could glide out of the water like flying fish. Both of them survived the attack itself but were poisoned by the fish. Paralyzed and hallucinating, both Darce and his master suffered for nearly a week before the poison finally lost its potency. After Darce could finally move, a severe fever set in that tormented him for nearly two full days. By the time he recovered his consciousness, Darce had lost his master. However, he quickly discovered that his blood had turned blue and that he didn't take long to heal from injuries.

Unfortunately, he didn't know a lot about such things. He knew that Blue Bloods existed from his mother's stories and what little chatter he understood in the places he visited with his master, but the details were largely unknown to him. What he did know was that strong winds had driven them north by a good distance. He did his best to give his master a respectful send-off at sea and headed for the nearest stable anchorage, arriving in Sigamyth nearly a month later.

It was the year he turned 36 that he finally found news of his birth village. It had drifted up against one of the Dominus ships in the waters between Colexi and Argencagu three years prior. No one was aboard, not even a corpse. The ocean had swallowed another community. The only odd part was that the village was recovered, providing another valuable vessel to aid in that Dominus ship's activities. Oddly enough, the rumors didn't include which Dominus ship was involved.

Since then, Darse has lingered in the area around Sigarmyth, Kechustan, and Elbrooska. He has quietly pursued his true craft while making a living off leathers, bone tools, and jerky. But something is odd about the wind today on the docks of Sigarmyth City. The weather is fine but it feels like a storm is creeping closer.