Time: 10am Location: Helius - Ironhold to Riverport Interactions: Arn @Omni5876, Rue@Potter Equipment: 1 hunting knife, a flask of alcohol, a backpack, small tent, blanket, waterskin, rope, fire starting kit, lightmaker, cooking pot, a bar of soap, some drugs; skaula (8 grams) and zemak (1 ounce), rolling papers, and 33 amas.
Bowyn only nodded and held back from voicing his thoughts as Rue spoke. Strength in numbers? What a joke. Two fairies and one dwarf weren’t exactly the sort of numbers that really made a difference. He couldn’t even truthfully agree with Rue when she said she was happy to see him again. He’d rather not see Rue here, he’d rather she remain home, and safe, and away from dangerous things, but whatever her reason for being here it wasn’t his job to talk her out of it. So he said nothing because he knew she would be able to tell if he lied and he did not want to ruin her mood, Rue seemed the most cheerful of the group. Even the previously calm and stoic Arn looked exponentially more uncomfortable onboard the Helius. In fact, Arn looked both like he was about to lose his breakfast and like he was embarrassed at the same time.
He noted the bashful eyes Arn made towards Rue and almost chuckled. That was good, if the young soldier liked Rue he’d make sure to keep her safe too. Arn already seemed idealistically noble and chivalrous, and rather than finding such naive behaviors irritating, Bowyn counted on Arn’s nature to ensure the dwarf would make sure Rue’s safety was a priority. He kept quiet as Rue and Arn spoke, watching those around them, breathing in the stale air inside the Helius, and the fingers of one hand drumming against the seat. The Helius was crowded enough that pacing wasn’t even an option and that just made the space feel smaller. Looking out the window didn’t help either, because they were now plenty high up in the air and all he could think about was how out of his control the situation was; it wasn’t like real flying at all, where he got to decide how high, how fast, and when to land.
“You should be afraid. Creatures aren’t meant to fly like this, it’s stupid. Big metal cage being flung about in the air, who even thought this was a good idea? Probably elves.” Bowyn half muttered to himself and half to Arn as the man had voiced his own displeasure for flying. At least Arn seemed to have sense, unlike the baffling majority of the Helius who were all gathering around windows, mouths agape, and pointing as if they’d never seen a damn mountain before. It was almost as annoying as being forced to be still while being hundreds of feet in the air and his fate in the hands of whatever fool was in charge of flying the Helius.
“Any sort of plan for when we get to River Port?” He added looking first at Arn, and then at Rue, who had always been a comforting presence. The two of them both had too many secrets he wasn’t exactly sure what they wanted to talk about but he knew he wasn’t interested in staring out the windows and talking about the scenery as if he’d never seen trees and mountains before. Hearing about a plan was distracting and knowing a plan was comforting.
Time: 10 am Location: Aboard The Harem Interactions: Éliane @Benzaiten, Tigerlily @Potter, Tesoro[@Infinate Cosmos], Lizzie @Tae Equipment: A cutlass, 2 knives and a dagger strategically hidden, a spyglass, a wayfinder, pouch of amas, various jewelry.
Nym didn’t find the answer to his question in Éliane’s words, but he didn’t really expect an answer. Only time could tell him if one was cut out for a life of piracy, the skills could all be taught, with enough time even the softest of folks could learn to kill without remorse. They only had to have the will; to learn, to survive not just in times of feast but in famine as well, to be able to weather the fiercest storms and not flinch. It required will to be as changing as the sea herself, to know when a situation required gentle waves or a violent squall. In time the newcomers to pirate life would either show enough will to embrace the life of a pirate or be swallowed by the sea and forgotten.
As both Éliane and Tigerlily still spoke of swimming the captain returned with a man who he assumed to have been the previously mentioned prisoner. Nym kept his eye focused on the newcomer who had arms like cannons and while the man carried himself with the swagger of success, his manner of dress did nothing to support that notion. He looked as if he’d been scrapped up out of the gutters but might prove useful to have around during a fight at least. His head tilted to the side and he smirked as the captain introduced the man as Tesoro, a recognizable name to most anyone who spent enough time in Port Vanarosa.
Tesoro, as the legends told, came out of nowhere one day, captain of a mighty ship called El Dorado, and a talent for finding gold. To Nym talent was worth far less than hard work, as talent bred fools and hard work bred wisdom. The rest of the legend of the former captain only backed up that belief, as the fool had led his men to a losing battle and lost it all to a mutiny. The man then made himself a frequent fixture of fighting pits, taverns, and brothels. Nym could only wonder if Tesoro even retained his sea legs.
Before Captian Lizzie headed back out with a plate of food he nodded his head to show he understood her orders. They were leaving in twenty minutes, recreational activities would have to wait until the work was done.
“Tesoro? Funny I heard a rumor ye’d given up the seas for the life of a gutter rat. Sill know how to work a ship I hope?” He said as he eyed up the man. Nym finished his rum and slammed the cup down on the table and stood up. “If Cap’n wants us weighin’ anchor in twenty, ya lot best be ready in ten. Time to finally leave this hunk o’ dirt behind and find us a real adventure.” Nym wasn’t interested in any hand-holding, if they’d all sailed before they should know enough to find something that needs done and get work. If they weren’t ready on time he’d be back down to the living quarters to drag folks up deck by the ear.
Nym headed back to the deck and took a quick study of the dock and the movements of the wind. He set to work checking the rigging, readying the sails, and prepping the ship to sail safely out of the dock once they began to raise the anchor.
Time: 10am Location: Helius above Ironhold Interactions: Arn @Omni5876, Rue@Potter Equipment: 1 hunting knife, a flask of alcohol, a backpack, small tent, blanket, waterskin, rope, fire starting kit, lightmaker, cooking pot, a bar of soap, some drugs; skaula (8 grams) and zemak (1 ounce), rolling papers, and 33 amas. Bowyn rolled his eyes and shrugged as both Rue and Arn seemed shocked by his suggestion to threaten the well-being of the Helius. Apparently, he was the only one in their group willing to be more than a little petty. It wasn’t as if anyone would be seriously injured if it broke down before it hit the skies. There was no issue bringing the wolf aboard the Helius and that, unfortunately, meant they were all headed aboard the flying death trap.
“Trying to make friends by buying them, will only gain you leeches, Mister Arn.” Bowyn said to the dwarf as they passed the man taking tickets. He more or less believed the dwarf when he explained his offer was to ensure they remained traveling companions. Not because it seemed like a logical thing to do, quite the opposite, but Arn was so sincere that it seemed impossible to believe the dwarf was able to look someone in the eye and tell a convincing lie. “You’re stuck with us for now Arn, but if you keep calling me Mister, folks might start to assume you’re some kind of butler rather than an important soldier who has business with important elves.“ The dwarf was both a soldier and on his way to meet with a light elf princess, this was more than enough to keep Bowyn interested in what Arn was up to.
Bowyn hesitated for a moment before he crossed the threshold into the Helius. It felt just as cramped as he had thought it would. Too many people. Not enough space. Once the machine took off there wouldn’t be any way back out of it until it landed. More people piled into the machine and then it rumbled to life. The rickety contraption vibrated with the engine, all of its movements were jarring and unsteady. It was nothing like flying with one’s own wings; there was no feeling of absolute freedom, no gentle push from the wind, and it was far from smooth and graceful. The Helius had windows that were kept closed and the air inside was stale. The windows seemed to exist only to remind everyone how high up they all were and that the entirety of their fates depended upon this machine functioning properly.
Time: 10 am Location: Aboard The Harem Interactions: Éliane @Benzaiten, Tigerlily @Potter Equipment: A cutlass, 2 knives and a dagger strategically hidden, a spyglass, a wayfinder, pouch of amas, various jewelry.
Nym ate his fill of the grand feast, unbothered by the rest of the crew’s seeming lack of interest in a good meal. He knew the sea to be unpredictable, while they may be feasting this day there was no guarantee that the next day would not see him picking mold off a stale biscuit to survive. He had no idea where they were headed nor how long it would take, this strange captain had offered no details of her plan or even a direction in which they were headed. Once his mind wasn’t occupied by thoughts of food it was troubled by the uncertainty with this captain. Only time would tell if Captain Lizzie could offer more than just talk and swagger.
Sure it was nice to be aboard a ship again, but they had yet to set sail, and sitting at the dock was only a small step above being onshore. He was more than ready to leave, to travel the vast oceans of Avalia and find himself battling tooth and nail against another vessel whose cargo could hold anything from a few measly supplies to untold riches. That was the sort of thrill he truly lived for, and even while so many dreamed of a score large enough to pay for an easy life, to give up that level of excitement and uncertainty would be akin to laying down and waiting for death.
Eventually, Tigerlily returned from wherever she had wandered off to, but he noticed she had returned without the squawking menace. After the siren had helped herself to the rum, Nym did the same. He had raised an eyebrow when Tigerlily mentioned going swimming when there was work to be done to get The Harem off the island. He wasn't entirely sure if it was a serious suggestion or her way of complaining about the weather here. From anyone else he would’ve taken such a suggestion as laziness, however, Nym knew Tigerlily well enough to know that was not the case so if the siren needed a quick splash in the ocean he would not argue about it. “What can I say, I am the luckiest bastard on the sea.” He took a swig from his cup of rum and casually nodded at Tigerlily. Growing up in a brothel made the very idea of modesty of foreign concept to Nym.
“Certainly would be a damn shame if ya baked in the sun an’ ended up looking like the Sarelion here.” He said, gesturing to the fish on the table. “Wouldn’t worry much ‘bout the war either, play it smart and it’s gonna make us all very rich and keep our voyage exciting for quite a time." Not only would a war give all of Avalia something bigger to worry about than pirates, but with all the dangerous creatures that lurked in the forests between cities, many found the seas a faster and safer voyage for transport, and the war would only ensure more valuable cargo being sent out and about. “Watcha say Éliane, how flexible do ya find that moral fiber o’ yours today?” He asked as he glanced at the light elf. It wasn’t that he doubted her courage or sense of adventure but he wasn’t entirely sure she had it in her to fight and kill for the chance to take whatever cargo might lay aboard any ship that had the misfortune to cross their path.
Time: 10 am, Soller Location: Outside The Nest Interactions: Nabarra @nasty, Kuroi @hide on mana, Mika @Tae, Sivaros @GingerBoi123, Slick @FunnyGuy, and Yuka @princess Equipment: Sword, bow and arrows, small knife, wayfinder, fire kit, a pouch with 117 amas
Orias wasn’t expecting such a direct approach from Nabarra. While he wasn’t surprised that she hadn't earned them an immediate welcome, he could appreciate the fully abrasive honesty of it. The light elf she had spoken to seemed to have better things to do than killing dark elves. As the others of the group began speaking up it seemed like they were all escorting Princess Mika somewhere. Well, two men seemed like they were escorting and one man in a strange hat who called himself Slick implied that he and the princess were about to find private chambers together. Slick seemed far past inhibited and when the man began losing his balance and flailing about ungracefully, a sudden and soft breeze blew through to help right his balance. Interesting. He thought as he kept close attention to Slick.
Then a scream cut the air as a man fell to a wagon from a rooftop and a female demihuman made an overly dramatic entrance followed by a speech clearly meant to stir up trouble. While her manipulation was obvious, everything she said only confirmed what he’d expected from King Kasai. The people of Roshmi should be infuriated, there was no way an alliance with dark elves would benefit them, this was just another instance of a king putting his own well-being before his people. One of the men escorting the young demihuman princess spoke up, a renowned champion fighter named Kuroi, in an attempt to settle the crowd. As Kuroi spoke Orias felt a very subtle push against his emotions, a calming feeling that intruded from an outside force. Interesting. He found himself thinking again.
The earlier breeze, that he suspected Slick of causing, was unexpected but not outside of possibility. The broadcast last night had mentioned humans, and if anyone was capable of summoning them back to Avalia it was Rose. His mask hid a smile as he remembered just how exceptionally talented his sister was with magic. The other force he felt, the one capable of manipulating emotions, was not a type of magic he had felt before. Had it come from Kuroi? That seemed a very unlikely power for the demihuman to have. A demon perhaps, they were said to have unfathomable powers, but this too seemed an unlikely explanation. Surely a demon would want to sway a crowd towards violence and not calm them.
His thoughts on the strange magic ended as Princess Mika spoke, confirming what the feline demihuman had said. He felt a pang of empathy as the young woman spoke of her father who cared so little for his children. It seemed Biren’s did not have the monopoly on royal family dysfunction and he could only wish the young princess the best in her efforts. She would face a hard road, more daunting than his own path had been, to salvage a family name ruined by her own father, and to prove herself worthy of her title in the eyes of her people. He hoped she ran into his sisters, he had a feeling they’d like her.
“Did you think that would actually work?” He asked as he glanced at Nabarra. “Besides this group seems far more interested in starting bar fights and sneaking off for a quick dalliance than fighting a war.” He said as he glanced at Slick and Mika. Whatever the group they had just encountered was truly up to, it seemed likely that it involved both a human and a journey to the Sun Elf Kingdom, which meant it likely involved his sisters. The last thing Rose or Annya needed was a forgotten brother showing up to ruin their plans and he knew his own track record well enough to know he would be no help to them. On the other hand, if Roshmi was aligning with the dark elves then they didn’t need to go anywhere to look for a fight, it would come to them. “On the other hand, she seems to be looking for a fight.” He added as he nodded his head towards Yuka the outspoken demihuman.
Time: 10am Location: Outside Gakhumi’s Tavern - Ironhold Interactions: Arn @Omni5876, Rue@Potter Equipment: 1 hunting knife, a flask of alcohol, a backpack, small tent, blanket, waterskin, rope, fire starting kit, lightmaker, cooking pot, a bar of soap, some drugs; skaula (8 grams) and zemak (1 ounce), rolling papers, and 33 amas. Loss of 100 amas for Helius ticket. Bowyn nodded as if he understood as Rue avoided his question. He watched as Rue looked around as they walked, taking in the sights of Ironhold. Nothing here felt familiar, it was a city so unlike his village, dwarves were less friendly, the buildings were practical and felt unwelcoming, and even the weather was uninviting. Maybe that was why he liked it here, no one cared what his business was and everything was so different and jarring that served as a constant distraction. Uncomfortable was almost as useful as new pain. “It is nothing like home here, but the mountains are nice. Maybe we’ll get a good look at them from the Helius.” Bowyn said, mostly because he didn’t really know what else to say but staying quiet just made the distance feel larger.
He continued to follow Arn who offered to pay for their tickets but Bowyn shook his head at the offer. He placed a handful of coins down at the booth where one purchased tickets to board flying death traps. Allowing Arn to pay for a few drinks was one thing but he did not need to be indebted to a stranger. “Why would it be a pleasure to buy tickets for someone else? Trying to get a favor out of us in return or is throwing amas around a pastime of yours?” Bowyn asked, more mocking than suspicious. He glanced at Moony who he guessed Rue was planning on bringing with her and shrugged. It hadn’t occurred to him that dwarves might take issue with a wolf tagging along, it was never odd to see the occasional animal companion inside all sorts of places back home. “If they take issue with Moony joining us, inform them that an angry wolf and two equally annoyed fairies who could freeze certain parts of a Helius that probably shouldn’t be frozen are much more of a problem than one well-behaved wolf aboard a Helius.”
Time:10 am Location: Outside Gakhumi’s Tavern - Ironhold Interactions: Arn @Omni5876, Rue@Potter Equipment: 1 hunting knife, a flask of alcohol, a backpack, small tent, blanket, waterskin, rope, fire starting kit, lightmaker, cooking pot, a bar of soap, some drugs; skaula (8 grams) and zemak (1 ounce), rolling papers, and 83 amas. Bowyn nodded as Arn answered his questions with a lot of words that really didn’t help him understand what the dwarf was up to. Arn needed to meet with a princess, the rest of the dwarven army was not coming, and he wasn’t going to say why this meeting was important. Or maybe it wasn’t an important reason, maybe the dwarf fancied the elven princess. Bowyn chuckled to himself at that thought; if that was the case he doubted Arn had ever met an elf. Light elves were insufferable enough he could only imagine what their royals were like.
“You say a lot of words, Arn, some of them even make sense. Whatever you're up to, if it involves killin’ dark elves, I’m in.” Bowyn wasn’t interested in pulling secrets out of the dwarf, they seemed to be on the same side of a war and that was enough for now. Arn from the army who paid for drinks and never looked at Bowyn like was a broken thing. Bowyn decided that Arn was alright for talking to even if he was full of secrets.
Outside the tavern, everything was lit up by the harsh light of the sun. He could see the Helius’s from where they were, they looked like big overcrowded cages. Like death traps that could fall right out of the sky at any moment and he had no wings and only a backpack which wasn’t much use when falling. Bowyn said nothing about the unnatural flying death traps, he was not a coward and it wasn’t like he had any other real option. If he was alone he could go back to the forests, where there was space as far as you could see and freedom in all that space. But he was not alone and Arn seemed like he needed to get where he was going in a hurry. And forests were dangerous, and there was Rue. Rue would be alright if the Helius crashed, and that seemed like a good enough reason.
So Bowyn kept walking outside and paused to scratch Moony by the ears to say hello to the wolf. "Hey Moony, learn how to speak yet?" He teased the wolf, although if the animal did have a reply Bowyn couldn’t hear it. Hunting for food was a big part of surviving in the north and talking to animals seemed like an unnecessary complication. He gave the wolf a small smile before continuing to follow Arn. He turned to Rue, planning to ask if she had ever been in Helius before. Except that wasn’t what he asked, instead he blurted out the question he actually wanted to know. "Why did you leave the village?”
Time: 10 am Location: Port Vanarosa-The Ship Interactions: Helio @princess, Barboda @Alivefalling, Éliane @Benzaiten, Lizzie @Tae and Tigerlily @Potter Equipment: A cutlass, 2 knives and a dagger strategically hidden, a spyglass, a wayfinder, a pouch of amas, various jewelry, and an empty stomach. Nym eyed up the parrot that Tigerlily carried upon her shoulder. It would offer no use to them, save for one, it did look rather plump. He got to thinking how it had been a while since he’d had a good meal and if he were a betting man, which he was, he’d wager it wouldn’t taste too much different from chicken. Éliane then went about fawning over the creature, calling it Knuckles of all things.
“Knuckles? Overpriced snack seems a more fittin’ name but even the feathered beasty ain’t gonna cause half the racket as that.” Nym spoke as the messy noise from Helio’s accordion reached his ears. While it seemed it would cause too much of a fuss if he were to eat the damn bird, perhaps later he’d be allowed to take a bite out of the damn noise machine. The crunch would be a lot more pleasing to the ears than what Helio was currently doing with it.
Nym shook his head and followed the others aboard the currently unmanned sailing vessel. She truly was a beautiful boat, and his boots made a heavenly sound as they clunked against the wood. Even the air smelled better aboard a ship like...was that roasted chicken? Nym’s stomach roared in excitement as the smell of a great feast cut through the briny air. He listened to the articles put forth by Captain Lizzie and found no quarrel with any of them. Even as he listened his nose picked out the different scents that wafted in, there was chicken, red meat, and fish.
“Got ‘round forty plus years sailing experience and ain’t a lick of it done without sweat on the brow. Yer terms are fair, Capt’n.” Nym said with a nod, although he would’ve likely agreed to any terms if it meant a seat at the feast he could smell. He followed Barboda until finally, he caught a sight that rivaled even the ship’s beauty. A fine spread of things to eat, and the bounty hunter had even gone as far as to decorate the table with the food that food eats. He eyed the salad with suspicion as he helped himself to a chicken leg, biting into the well-cooked offering, eating both soft flesh and crunchy bone with ease.
“Now this be my sort o’ bird.” Nym spoke as bone crunched between his teeth until nothing remained of the chicken leg he’d grabbed. He may not know much about Barboda but he was currently Nym’s favorite new crewmate. He also couldn’t help but wonder why the man seemed more interested in a fella in a cage than eating.
“Better than the grub on port, sure hope it ain’t poisoned.” He added. It occurred to him only after he had devoured a chicken leg that it might’ve been wiser to let another eat first given that the chef had chosen not to dine with them. Nym only licked the remnants of chicken from his fingers and decided there were worse ways to go.
Time:The previous night Location: Gakhumi’s Tavern - Ironhold Interactions: Arn @Omni5876, Rue@Potter Equipment: 1 hunting knife, a flask of alcohol, a backpack, small tent, blanket, waterskin, rope, fire starting kit, lightmaker, cooking pot, a bar of soap, some drugs; skaula (8 grams) and zemak (1 ounce), rolling papers, and 83 amas.
No, it wasn’t imagined. The distance lingered, vast and uncrossable. Was it him? Was this yet another thing that would always be different? No more perfect days, no more freedom of the sky, and uncrossable distances between him and those he’d felt close to. It felt true. Everything was different, he was different. Bowyn was glad that he had not had this realization in his own village. That he had not been surrounded by everything and everyone he knew when he realized that it would all feel so far away. He could feel the drugs waning, the world dulling in its vibrant colors, the euphoria ebbing into exhaustion. But from Rue and Arn he still felt the warmth of good company.
He kept his focus on Rue studying her, fixated on the sensation of distance. He was cold, and numb, and cracked. And Rue had a warm smile and kind eyes. That’s where the distance was, and he didn’t mind it if it meant Rue remained whole and unbroken, and on the other side of that distance. So he nodded when she talked and smiled as she mentioned Moony. It was an empty smile but he tried.
He also tried to think of an answer to Rue’s question, but he didn’t know exactly what Arn was talking about either. Bowyn hadn’t the faintest clue about how one went about meeting royalty.
“What makes you think either of us knows how to meet royalty?” Bowyn asked. “Or that we even need Biren welcome or permission for anything? Last I checked none of us are light elves and I certainly bow to no royals.” Bowyn took long gulps of what remained of his mead until it was gone. It was a terrible thing to leave a drink unfinished and it sounded like Arn was getting ready to go.
“I thought you were with the army here?” He asked looking at Arn who was certainly dressed like he was from the army and conducted himself with the sort of discipline that made that seem more true. He did not act like the dwarves from the mines, that much Bowyn had certainly noticed. So he had expected there would be marching and camping and traveling with other dwarves. Not a cramped Helius full of people hurling about in the sky with no way out. But even if traveling with Arn meant traveling in a most unnatural way, if Rue was going he was going too, and that he had already decided.
“Better not keep Moony waiting, we can all walk and talk at the same time.” Bowyn stumbled out of his seat as Arn paid for food and drinks and Rue had finished eating. He held the table for stability and kept himself from tumbling to the floor. He shifted the weight of his backpack until it sat as a comfortable weight upon his shoulders. It was easier to have the pack there, focus on it, and feel its weight as a distraction from what was not there.
Time: 10am Location: Gakhumi’s Tavern - Ironhold Interactions: Arn @Omni5876, Rue@Potter Equipment: 1 hunting knife, a flask of alcohol, a backpack, small tent, blanket, waterskin, rope, fire starting kit, light maker, cooking pot, a bar of soap, some drugs; skaula (8 grams) and zemak (1 ounce), rolling papers, and 83 amas. Bowyn nodded and tried to listen to everything Arn said, he caught most of it. Arn from the army, that was good, he knew very well that dwarves knew how to hit hard. Even better than Arn being from the army, he also ordered more drinks. He had been paying close attention to the dwarves' words, trying not to focus on the way the man's beard moved as he spoke that Bowyn had not noticed another entering the tavern.
“You are excellent company, Arn.” Bowyn said as he smacked the table with appreciation.
"Fancy meeting you here."
A familiar voice. It had been a long time since he’d seen anyone from his own village, anyone he would call a friend. He was caught off guard, an immediate feeling washed over him. The same one he used to get back home when the first real day of winter came. The day where it was proper cold again when the first real snow arrived to coat the ground and everything about the world felt beautiful and serene. They didn’t have proper cold and perfect snow like that away from home, or maybe they did and he just couldn’t find the peace in that anymore.
For a second he smiled like a child does on a perfect day and then his happiness shifted into terror.
Why was Rue here? What was she doing so far from their village? The village was safe and the rest of Avalia was unforgiving. It chewed a person up, it hurt, and it took things that no one could ever heal or make right again.
He would not allow Avalia to do to Rue what it had done to him. He didn’t just know that like a thought, he felt it, in the same place that he felt the dangerous cold that wanted to steal the life from every dark elf. The part of him that felt like he could walk through fire and still be cold.
Everything in his head grew too loud to hear what Arn and Rue were saying. There was the cold, and the rage, and knowing that perfect days of winter now felt like nothing. and the fear, and deep dread that something awful could come close to someone he still cared about. There was no more euphoria; there was only a tavern with too many people and too much noise, and he was too far from the door and the outside.
Arn’s voice was calm and even, something grounding to focus on. But Arn wanted basic introductions, and Bowyn only found himself distracted by the strange feeling of distance he felt from Rue. His mind spun trying to figure it out. Was she mad at him? Annoyed? Disappointed that he was different? Or was it more than that? Was it just uncomfortable to be near him, a physical reminder of what many fae considered an unthinkable fate? Bowyn knew of worse fates.
Bowyn once had the kind of hope that overfilled its vessel, enough so that it flowed out of him and into everything he did. The world had not just simply poured his vessel empty, leaving only drops and remnants of what was once there and a vessel that longed to be filled again. It had shattered that vessel, broken that part of him that had ever dared to have hope. A vessel left in jagged pieces unable to hold shape, unable to contain anything. He had been reduced to shattered pieces with more things missing than just wings. There were worse things to lose than wings.
“Bowyn, winter fairy and provider of poor advice.” He said, addressing Arn first with a thankful nod as he gripped the new glass of mead. “If you're going to help the light elves, I wish to join.” Arn seemed more level header than most dwarves Bowyn had met. He seemed like he would be good company to travel with and Arn provided a calming energy that Bowyn appreciated.
“I know what you're thinking. Bowyn’s different.” He looked at Rue as he spoke, his fingers drummed lightly against the table as he thought. Then he snapped his fingers as if it had suddenly come to him. “He’s lost something. His wings, yes, but maybe something more as well. His mind? You wouldn’t be the first to think that. It comes and it goes and then it comes back again.” He spoke flippantly, gave a sad smile and casual shrug. Bowyn was not ashamed that he had changed. He had survived, and it had required him to sacrifice part of himself, but he would make sure that sacrifice was worth it.
“How are you?” He asked, his tone only soft and earnest now. He studied Rue, unsure if he had made things less uncomfortable or more so or if the strange distance had only been all in his head.
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