Time: 7 pm Location: River Port-Tipsy Tavern Mentions: 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 31 amas. (2 amas subtracted for cheap wine)
Bowyn was alone again, and something about that felt right. Not because he liked being alone but it was familiar and that made it comfortable. He was used to it, he knew what to expect and how to get by. He wasn’t used to strange companions with secrets he could barely wrap his head around and whose motives couldn’t be trusted. And he wasn’t used to his head being full of worry for an old friend who trusted too easily.
Bowyn walked around the seaside port until his feet brought him to where they always, inevitably, brought him; a tavern. This one was called The Tipsy Tavern, and the air inside was stale and heavy with the scent of alcohol. Surrounded by unfamiliar faces that paid him little attention, in a tavern that had seen better days, Bowyn felt more at ease. He ordered cheap wine and waited for it, and for the familiar numbness, it could eventually bring. The alcohol made everything more bearable, softened the world's sharp and jagged edges until everything was blurred and fuzzy.
Cheap wine clawed its way down his throat, unsettling his empty stomach. It wasn’t a good drink and it wasn’t strong enough to wash away his thoughts. But Bowyn drank it anyway and gestured for another one. It only sharpened his focus on everything he didn’t want to think about.
He didn't like the feeling of guilt that tore at his gut as his mind fixated on all the times he’d noticed Arn look at Rue with a twinkle in his eye. At the time he thought it was because Arn had a crush. That had made sense; dwarves had keen eyes, known to appreciate things rare and beautiful just like the stones and metals they dug from the earth. What if it wasn’t that? What if the twinkle in the dwarf’s eye was greed? It made more sense the more he thought about it; a talented winter fairy was worth a whole lot more than a couple of meals and a ticket on a Helius. No wonder that Arn had so quickly offered to pay for anything, he was probably thinking of all the profit he would get on the black market. Greed motivating false kindness made so much more sense to Bowyn than anything genuine.
And that was where the guilt came from, because what if he was right. He’d left Rue all alone with Arn. There were a lot of things Bowyn could live with, but letting something happen to Rue wasn’t one of them. And Rue had already made up her mind about sticking with Arn, Bowyn knew there was no changing that. So he had to stay with them, to keep a close eye on Arn and watch out for Rue. Bowyn let out a sigh and pried himself away from the bar and back out into the streets of River Port and towards the inn, he had recently left. He doubted it would be difficult to find them again; a fairy, dwarf, and wolf trio weren't exactly a normal sight anywhere in Avalia and they'd stick out enough.
Time: 7 pm, Soller Location: Outside The Nest Interactions: Nabarra @nasty, Yuka @princess, Aiko @CitrusArms Equipment: Sword, bow and arrows, small knife, wayfinder, fire kit, a pouch with 117 amas
Orias stared back at Yuka, an uncomfortable silence growing between them as the demihuman studied him. For a brief second, he wondered if she’d recognized him, but demihuman’s didn’t have the memories elves had. He was also not his sisters; no list of grand accomplishments to ensure a lasting legacy, Orias was more easily forgotten. When she finally spoke he gave a small smile and nodded. Yuka was making sure he wasn’t a dark elf too. With great effort, he conjured a small orb of light into his palm that flickered until the dull light quickly died out again. A disappointing show of magic but enough to prove him a light elf at least.
“Not a dark elf. And I wouldn’t exactly call it a lie, more like a stretch of the truth. Our races are related and I trust Nabarra enough to call her an alley. I’d go into battle with her and that’s about as close to kin as I have these days.” He kept his reply short, not exactly wanting to add that he’d really only known the other elf for a couple of hours longer than he had Yuka and Aiko.
Aiko, who had left to go downstairs to search for anything of use to help Nabarra returned empty-handed and looked a lot different from when they left. The fox demihuman that reentered the room was dressed the same and looked similar enough to the male fox that had left that he might’ve guessed Aiko had a twin sister. But the truth was stranger because Yuka was right and that definitely was Aiko.
“You’re not really an ordinary fox demi are you?” He said, studying the strange magical being in front of them. But Aiko hadn’t found anything or anyone downstairs that could help and Nabarra was still out cold. If she wasn’t awake, he wasn’t sure the healing potion was going to help. Pouring it down an unconscious elf’s throat and hoping she didn’t choke really didn’t seem like the best plan.
“And I’d love to hear all about what you are but right now I don’t think shapeshifting is going to wake Nabarra up.” He added as he snapped his fingers loudly in front of Nabarra’s face, each snap accompanied by a small but bright flash of light at the ends of his fingers, hoping maybe the other elf would return to consciousness.
Time: 7 pm, Soller Location: Outside The Nest Interactions: Nabarra @nasty, Yuka @princess, Aiko @CitrusArms Equipment: Sword, bow and arrows, small knife, wayfinder, fire kit, a pouch with 117 amas
As the tavern filled with hostile energy and violent mutterings, the strange calming sensation, the same he’d noticed earlier in the day after Yuka had made her speech atop a roof, again took root. Aiko seemed its likely source, but this was not magic he’d think to associate with a creature as mischievous as a fox. There wasn’t much time to think on it, but thankfully it helped to soothe much of the room. Not all though, as a dark-haired demihuman shattered a bottle and wielded it like a weapon. The demihuman followed them up the stairs, his words laced in venom and drunken eyes clouded with hatred. The other man spoke in threats of violence, and Yuka was quick to come to their defense.
Orias briefly wondered if that was how Nabarra had seen him earlier in the day. When his own words had been tainted with hate and he had been willing to wield a sword as easily as the other man had a broken bottle. This was an unexpected place to be caught in; to want to keep a dark elf safe from harm, to see one as his ally, and to still understand the demihuman’s rage for he had felt the same this very morning. It was not a view that would help him in a war, to have the line between ally and enemy become muddled. To think of dark elves even a little less like enemies and more simply as just other elves, would make everything more difficult. His mind was full of questions and doubts but Orias was left with little time to dwell on it. Only the strong desire, that he did not want to be seen in the same light as the demihuman with a head clouded only by hate swinging wildly at anything that looked like an enemy, stuck with him. He had to be better than that.
They carried Nabarra inside and laid her down inside the room. He let out a slight chuckle as Yuka described herself as a heartbreaker, they were all briefly safe and it was nice to release some of the tension. He could only hope the lioness’s attack was enough to deter anyone else from trying to attack. Otherwise, they were all stuck upstairs in a room with one of their party seemingly unconscious. Not a great situation to be in, but he was lucky he was not alone, and these new allies had stuck by them even after discovering Nabarra’s identity. Perhaps Solaris had begun to look favorably upon him, to be blessed with new companions such as these two, for only hours ago Orias knew that he would not have acted as honorably as these two had and aid an injured dark elf.
“Thank you, I owe you both.” He said with a nod of his head. His eyes scanned around the room, before turning back to Aiko.
“Do you have any healing potions? Or anything to counteract poison? I can reimburse you for them, whatever your price.” He asked. Healing was not something he had much training in and so potions or hope there was a fairy around tended to be his go-to answers for most wounds.
Time: 7 pm Location: River Port 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.
“Offended? You, Arn, pretended to be just a simple medic and that was a lie. But Rue makes a point, it is a dangerous time for royalty. Targets of dark elf assassins and all that. But you didn’t think to mention that traveling with you was more dangerous than alone. Because you wanted companions. What does it matter, the danger you put others in, as long as you get what you want. So no, Arn, there is no trust between us.” Bowyn paced as he spoke, agitation growing as he did so. Annoyed that Arn was acting as if Bowyn was overreacting, as if Arn was somehow the one who had been wronged here. Then Arn tried to walk out like he deserved the last word in all of this. And there was Rue. Rue who seemed to think food and fresh air were a solution to this as if that was a solution to anything. Bowyn’s cold gaze turned to her. Part of him wanted to let it go, to just get along with the both of them for Rue’s sake, because she asked, because it was Rue.
But that was such a small part, remnants who was, just a whisper in the back of his mind. Everything that he was now was so much louder, and it screamed at him. Drive wedges. Burn bridges. You don’t need them. Not Arn. Not Rue. You’re better off alone. They’re better off without you. And it felt true. He wanted to make sure Rue stayed safe, he really did, but he couldn’t. Not during a war, not when he’d been unable to keep himself safe. If Arn really was a good man who meant all he said, Bowyn would be no good to him either. Because Bowyn wanted to destroy things, to bring himself pain.
“You think you can tell when a total stranger plans to betray you? That knowing someone for a few hours is enough to trust them? That’s awfully naive of you Rue. How long have been gone from the village, out in the rest of the world? Maybe it’s about time you grew up.” Bowyn stopped pacing and took a moment to calm his tone. His words had come out harsh but he had meant them. You can’t just go around trusting people so easily. She had to know that. Had to know how dangerous that was.
“Maybe you’re right, maybe I do need fresh air. It’s very crowded in here.” Walking away from Rue hurt so that’s what he did. Maybe not the kind of pain he actively sought; not as fun as black eyes and split lips, but it worked just the same. Pain brought comfort, distraction, and it fueled the rage he needed to keep going. He needed to be out of the inn and away from things so far from his control.
Time: 7 pm Location: Aboard The Harem Interactions: Tigerlily @Potter, Tesoro@Infinite Cosmos, Lizzie @Tae, Barboda @Alivefalling, Helio @princess Equipment: A cutlass, 2 knives and a dagger strategically hidden, a spyglass, a wayfinder, pouch of amas, various jewelry.
Nym could appreciate a captain like Lizzie who knew when to put the work in and when it was time to party. He still held some doubts about the mysterious captain who appeared seemly out of nowhere but her confidence held those doubts back, and her efforts throughout the day told him she was a skilled sailor. She knew the life, the work, and it clearly wasn’t new to her and so it still gnawed at him that he’d never heard a word about this pirate. Nym took pride in knowing at least something about everyone worth knowing about in his corner of the world. Enough uncertainty to keep him from being fully at ease. Sooner or later they’d encounter trouble, and it was in those situations, and how Lizzie handled them, that would tell him all he needed about what sort of captain she would make.
Helio, on the other hand, was amusing. Nym was certain the fairy had spent the entire day drunk but still managed to pull his weight. A functional drunk and a fool, someone who could be counted on to keep things entertaining throughout their voyage. As soon as the captain suggested celebration the fairy had scampered off to bring them all rum. Being served rum by a prince was a grand situation to be in. One day, after Helio had tired of adventuring and returned home, as all tourists to this life were bound to do, he’d spin this all into a tale of how they kept a fairy royal as a cabin boy and boast about what great servants royals could make. As soon as the fairy returned with a bottle the elf and the bounty hunter voiced their preference for drinking only water. Nym shook his head with a hint of disappointment.
“Tis a shame we picked up such weak stock. A sailor unable to keep their wits after a few drinks? Awfully sad, don’tcha think?” Nym said his head turned towards Tigerlilly but his eye focused on Tesoro. A crew that drank together, celebrated together, built a sense of trust and comradery. Captain Lizzie had the right idea to encourage this. He could chalk Barboda’s abstaining to him being a bounty hunter, a way of life filled with rules and traditions he didn’t really understand. But Tesoro, the elf seemed to have no interest in being a real part of the crew. Nym could only find that suspicious, but after the elf had insulted both he and Tigerlily, everything about the other man struck the wrong cord.
“At least the magnificent prince knows how to have a good time. Tell us, your highness, have yer treasure vaults begun to dwindle or has a life of balls and tea parties lost its thrill?” He asked of Helio as Nym took the bottle from the mermaid and took a swig before offering it to the captain with a shake.
“Cap’n, I’m sure there’s a fine tale to be told, about how ya managed to steal this lovely vessel. And in the company of a bounty hunter who seems unconcerned with the price we all likely have upon our heads.” He added, hoping for a good story and maybe even some more information about the mysterious woman and the bucket-headed fellow who liked to cook.
Time: 7 pm, Soller Location: Roshmi City-Leaky Tap Tavern Interactions: Nabarra @nasty, Yuka @princess, Aiko @CitrusArms Equipment: Sword, bow and arrows, small knife, wayfinder, fire kit, a pouch with 117 amas
For a second it seemed like things might be going smoothly, the demihumans seemed open to leaving, even presenting a couple of agreeable options. He would’ve thought that for a dark elf who was in a crowded tavern in a city hostile to her race, keeping a low profile would be the obvious choice. Instead, Nabarra seemed intent on antagonizing both Aiko and Yuka. It wasn’t that he expected a dark elf to have the same level of civility as his own people did, but it seemed that even the offer of a place to rest or a silly nickname was enough to cause the other elf to lose her temper. Bringing the quick-tempered dark elf to a tavern to drink seemed like a major oversight on his part, not leaving when she hopped up on the rooftops for a fight at the beginning of the day felt like an even bigger mistake. But mistakes were his forte and he was resigned to live with them. So he said nothing and shook his head a bit in annoyance at petty arguments. Then, just when it seemed like they were all about to be leaving the tavern for some much-needed fresh air, Nabarra hit the floor with a thud. So much for keeping a low profile.
The sound of an elf hitting the wooden tavern was more than enough to draw attention. Nabarra’s mask no longer hid her identity and muttered speech around him signaled that this had been noticed by several others. He stood and quickly removed the cat mask from himself so as not to be mistaken for a dark elf, and noted the labored breathing from Nabarra. She wasn’t dead, yet, but certainly in need of a potion or two if they managed their way out of the tavern. This time leaving Nabarra behind didn’t occur to him as an option, she was an ally now, and one who was injured and currently unable to fight.
“That offer of heading to your room still available?” He asked with a glance towards Aiko. He wasn’t sure how the other two were going to react, but Aiko at least put out a very calm aura. Out of the two of them, they were the one he’d guess to be level-headed about everything. Yuka on the other hand was a wild card, chaos incarnate really, but he hoped to Solaras she’d still be on their side, even if only to satisfy her curiosity. He’d seen her ability to work up a crowd up to a near-riot earlier and didn’t want to have to deal with that as well."Either of you want to help carry her out of here before things get ugly? I'd owe you favor." He added before he crouched down and snapped his fingers in front of Nabarra's face to see if she'd just snap out of it.
Time: 7 pm Location: River Port-Inn by the Sea 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.
As Arn spoke, Bowyn struggled to keep his focus away from the closed door and the way it had made the room even smaller. In some ways, it was a blessing that the bombshell Arn dropped was unexpected enough to snap Bowyn’s full focus back to the dwarf. Arn was a prince, the only prince of Ironhold, and he had lied to both of them. Not an outright lie, but one of omission, and the semantics of that mattered very little to Bowyn. He had liked Arn better when he’d thought him a common soldier and medic, a simple dwarf who couldn’t grasp sarcasm, and who blushed when Rue smiled. That Arn had not been dangerous, he’d been easily understood, and most importantly he was someone useful.
Royals, however, were anything but useful; not for his goals, not for getting as close to violence as he wanted to be. Monarchs wouldn’t be on the front lines; not with hands too soft for hard work, not with lives they thought of as too important to risk death. What would happen once Arn found the elven princess? Would they sit around planning out the war from a far-off and safe location? Sending others to die for them? And then where would he and Rue be? Kept to the sidelines and used only for their healing magic until exhaustion burned them out? Bowyn wouldn’t let that become his fate. He expected little more from the likes of elves and wasn’t sure what to expect of Arn knowing the dwarf had his own legacy and kingdom to think of now. Maybe Arn wasn’t like the whole rotten lot of them just yet, but if you handed a man the world on a silver platter eventually they were going to believe they deserved it, and from there it wasn’t a stretch to see others as beneath them. Royals were dangerous, to be in the company of a prince was not a good thing.
Bowyn had been away from his secluded village long enough to hear how monarchies operated. The flower kingdom had let their heir carry out a murder spree against its own subjects, and when the prince had finished, he walked free with a mere slap on the wrist. The most extreme example, but one that had cemented his views on how cruel and unjust the royal families of Avalia were. Maybe an upbringing away from that life had prevented the worst of royal traits from taking hold in Arn, but it wasn’t something Bowyn would gamble his life on. He couldn’t trust Arn, and he would have to keep a close eye on him until he could figure out if it was worth it to continue traveling with the dwarven prince.
“Well, excuse me for not bowing, your majesty. I would’ve preferred you a flock of pixies.” Bowyn found himself unable to hide the bitterness in his tone. “And after you find this elven princess, what are your plans then? Form an alliance and return home? What use do you have in mind for a couple of winter fae? A place within the dwarven army perhaps? Or maybe offer us up to the elf as a gift?”
Time: 7 pm Location: River Port-Odds and Ends 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 as Arn questioned whether refusing Rue’s offer to buy him something was impolite. “Arn, if you’re uncomfortable with a lady paying your way just say so.” Bowyn said, his tone flippant and teasing. “Politeness is a waste of time. Just be honest, direct, and anyone who holds that against you isn’t worth the time.” The winter fairy had no interest in playing games of etiquette, it wasn’t worth the energy. Certainly not now, not during a war when time and energy were precious and anything less than honesty would make it difficult to trust any ally.
He offered a small and hollow smile as he accepted the clothing from Rue. The clothes were new and clean and felt much nicer than his own. He once again wondered why Rue was here, Rue who was kind without a second thought and who he couldn’t imagine as someone who craved pain and violence. But he had already asked her why she was here, so he didn’t ask it again, even though he wanted to, instead he reminded himself that she would answer that when she was ready to. So Bowyn followed her and Arn to the inn where Rue again offered generosity without hesitation as she rented a couple of rooms there.
He didn’t say anything about how uncomfortable the thought of sleeping indoors made him feel. At least outside, somewhere deep in a forest, despite whatever dangers forests could hold, there weren’t walls closing in and a single door that provided the only escape. A forest always had many paths of escape if needed, they had the endless sky to remind him of better days and to comfort him. But he said nothing about that because he doubted Rue, or Arn for that matter, would prefer to feel the hard ground beneath them over a soft bed. Soon enough they’d be in the middle of a great war and he didn’t have it in him to try to deny his companions a few more days of comfort.
After following Rue to the rented room he found it not too different from what he expected; a modest and cramped room, and a place he quickly itched to leave. He looked over to Arn who had wanted somewhere away from prying ears to speak. “So what’s the big secret, Arn? Are you actually fifty pixies hiding in a dwarf outfit?” He asked, as he wondered what it had been that the somewhat odd and mysterious dwarf had been keeping from them.
Time: 10 am, Soller Location: Outside The Nest Interactions: Nabarra @nasty, Yuka @princess, Aiko @CitrusArms Equipment: Sword, bow and arrows, small knife, wayfinder, fire kit, a pouch with 117 amas
Orias studied his new acquaintances within The Leaky Tap Tavern as the light of day was slowly sapped away by accursed Halastra. Throughout the day and into the evening, Yuka spoke and conducted herself as if everything that was happening was nothing more than an exciting turn of events. Openly spoke against Kasai's regime as if war was but a children's game. The feline demihuman looked young even by the standards of her own race, but to an elf, even the oldest of demihumans was but an adolescent. Maybe that was why Roshmi seemed to lack strong leadership; no demihuman could ever hope to obtain the centuries of experience and wisdom that his people's elders could, they simply lacked the lifespan. He tried not to judge Yuka's immaturity too harshly even as she flirted with the bartender and asked irrelevant questions of the group. Normally he would’ve found another’s idle chatter a welcomed distraction, an opportunity to enjoy the company, but everything now felt too dire to relax. He felt a growing doubt at her ability to aid a resistance, to even understand the weight of such actions, but his memory of the effortless charisma she demonstrated with her earlier speech helped to fight his doubts back.
Throughout the afternoon he kept the cat mask on despite the occasional odd look from other patrons in order to ensure Nabarra did not stand out more. The atmosphere within the tavern was tense after everything that had happened. Nothing good would come of a tavern filled with angry and intoxicated creatures noticing a dark elf in their midst. Luckily most of the creatures in the tavern had larger concerns than elves in strange masks, and he overheard much talk of the coming dark elf occupation of Roshmi City. Those around them spoke of every bit of gossip and rumor they had heard of things to come, most of it had confirmed what they already suspected and some of it ranging to wildly far-fetched speculation.
He studied the reactions, words, and behavior of the fox demihuman Aiko closely, for he knew little of their opinions and motivations regarding the war. Orias kept his answers towards any questions directed his way short and clipped, and he avoided any outright talk of treason in a crowded tavern with acquaintances he barely knew. Strange how the one he trusted most was the dark elf in the group, but Nabarra had made her intentions quite clear earlier that day and he was now confident that her words were honest. He noticed Nabarra had grown quiet and wondered if this was more her nature than the demeanor he had witnessed earlier. It had even been some time since she had uttered a slew of profanity. Was this an attempt to not draw undue attention? Or had the scuffle on the rooftop she engaged in earlier taken more of a toll than he'd realized? The latter seemed likely as it took her several seconds to answer Yuka with her name.
“A meal sounds like a grand idea, perhaps somewhere quieter, where we can more openly converse. He suggested, while much of Roshmi seemed to be against King Kasai you could never be certain just who was listening in. “Or an evening walk around the shops before they close for the night. A Blas Bun and a hot sandwich sounds good right about now. I believe there is an apothecary nearby as well and keeping a few potions on hand would be wise.” He added, a walk would help burn off some of the anxious energy he felt. Just about any change of location would feel like an improvement to the growingly uncomfortably crowded tavern.
Time: Dusk Location: Aboard The Harem Mentions: Tigerlily @Potter, Tesoro@Infinite Cosmos, Lizzie @Tae, Barboda @Alivefalling Equipment: A cutlass, 2 knives and a dagger strategically hidden, a spyglass, a wayfinder, pouch of amas, various jewelry.
Nym kept busy, working alongside Tigerlily to ensure smooth sailing as they left the dock. As they headed in the direction of the Dreaded Isles, he noted Barboda readying the canons should they encounter either monsters or foes. It was a bold choice of destination; one that held the promise of lost treasure and far from the annoying thumb of any sort of authorities. The threat of sea monsters had never bothered him, it was a worthy gamble, and they were as prepared as they could be. He stuck close to Tigerlily, whose unease was noticeable after the encounter with Tesoro. Tigerlily was a crewmember whose experience with the sea and its creatures would be invaluable, and who he trusted more than any other aboard The Harem.
Tesoro’s outburst was not one that surprised him, there were many sailors who feared sirens, and it was fear that he found more cowardly than most superstition. For what made so many sailors fear the sirens was their ability to lure men into the sea, and so to fear the sirens was to also to fear the sea. Tesoro seemed to be in little control of himself, it was no wonder he feared a siren’s ability to seduce and control others. The former elven captain had lost his position to mutiny, he’d been deemed unworthy of his title by his own crew. Even before the man had called Nym fish brain and dared to imply that he was entranced by Tigerlily, Nym held a low opinion of him. Those insults were neither forgotten nor forgiven, instead, Nym held it in the back of his mind, a score to be settled later.
Despite his low opinion of Tesoro, the man’s concerns about Captain Lizzie remained valid. Something seemed off about her, Nym wasn’t sure what to make of her secrecy and private meetings with Barboda the bounty hunter. There was nothing to make him outwardly question the captain, and he was confidant enough that if this was some sort of elaborate trap, there were plenty of ways out of it. So kept his focus on the ship, on work, and keeping any conversation with the rest of the crew on sailing and teaching the greener crewmates anything they wanted to learn. Unlike Tesoro, he would not voice his doubts about the captain without just cause.
Time: 7 pm Location: River Port-Odds and Ends 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.
By some rare stroke of fortune the flying deathtrap managed to land safely in the port town without incident. Even with his feet once again on land, Bowyn did not find himself relaxed in the slightest. Eyes from all around found their way to him and his companions. The tension of being aboard the Helius was quickly replaced with a new sense of unease. As he kept close to Rue he noted the eyes of strangers watching them, and he felt the need to return every gaze that lingered on them with a glare of his own. Bowyn’s eyes darted about, challenging curious onlookers to say the wrong thing, or make a wrong move. Part of him, most of him, wanted someone to accept that challenge, to have an excuse to fight someone. But the folks of River Port continued to carry about their business.
He watched as Rue stretched her wings with pangs of envy. Muscles in his back once used for flight ached to do the same, the empty space where wings had been somehow held the power to hurt and burn as if there was anything there to soothe. Even without Rue, even surrounded by only the grounded races, there was no forgetting what he’d lost. He tried to keep his focus on the strangers, stay alert for signs of danger, and keep his mind occupied. Rue continued through the port town and he followed. As she spoke her voice rang with an enthusiasm to it and so he just nodded and kept quiet so he could not ruin that.
Although Bowyn had turned down Arn’s offer to buy the tickets for the Helius, as Rue asked him to chose an outfit, he gave little thought to it. A gift from Rue held no threat of strings or unpaid debt, only a simple gesture from a friend who had always been and still was, kind. He gestured towards the second outfit and understood that if they were to be meeting some Sun Elf princess it would benefit them to better blend in, and for him to not wear old clothes that made him look like a vagrant. He thanked Rue and pointed out an inn across the street from the Odds and Ends shop. “An inn does seem like a good place to start looking for Arn’s friend.” Bowyn said, although the building didn’t exactly look like the sort of place one would find a princess.
Time: 10 am, Soller Location: Outside The Nest Interactions: Nabarra @nasty, Yuka @princess, Aiko @CitrusArms Equipment: Sword, bow and arrows, small knife, wayfinder, fire kit, a pouch with 117 amas
Orias only nodded as Nabarra replied with anger-tinted words. He was beginning to suspect her rage came from a place of passion, a strong belief in whatever it was she believed in, rather than the unbridled hate he expected of dark elves. He didn’t question her stance against dark elves, so whatever belief system fueled her anger was something he was accepting as a worthy allegiance. As the dark elf let out a sigh that began to transform into a growl he briefly considered reminding her that despite the feline mask she was, in fact, not a cat, and growling was something better left to bestial creatures. Now seemed a poor time to bring up decorum, so he rolled his eyes instead, and followed the dark elf up the side of the building to the rooftop.
As Nabarra continued to speak, Orias could only notice the hostility in her words, the anger that rose and fell and never seemed to fully dissipate. Some indignation on behalf of the demihuman who had been kicked from the rooftop, but he doubted that was the sole source. Still, he found it wildly uncharacteristic for a dark elf to give a second thought to such things. He found only surprises with Navarra, so different from what he expected out of a dark elf. Yuka only seemed to respond with glib amusement. He moved from the edge of the rooftop to place himself between the two of them. While Yuka’s methods were unconventional at best, she was clearly in opposition to King Kasai. Without unseating the monarch they would be no way to either prevent or dissolve Roshmi’s union with the dark elves. That was a task that would take more than two elves and he was in short supply of allies. Working with both Navarra and Yuka seemed the only way to aid his kingdom, and his sisters, in the war efforts.
“Koldar.” He spoke his false name as he lifted the mask and bowed as he introduced himself to the lioness. “Please excuse my cousin’s temper, but in the interest of compromise maybe we can agree to keep our mutual enemies as the targets of any future attacks rather than random citizens. The support of the masses can only serve to our benefit if we wish to undermine the King and his alliance.” He said before sliding the mask back down. He hoped introducing Nabarra as a cousin would lead to the assumption that she too was a light elf. Their races were connected enough that he did not see it as an outright lie, but rather a stretch of the truth. He wasn’t sure how long she sought to keep up the ruse but maybe this would make two masked strangers seem less suspicious.
“Perhaps there is somewhere we might share a drink or a meal and discuss our pans with your companion?” He offered as he glanced at the demihuman fox creature Yuka had addressed.
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. “Our village is like a long harsh winter, often survival is a struggle, it takes work to keep going but the people there are a hearth, a community, that provides all the warmth we need. No monarchy, just a collective of leaders who are no better and no worse than the rest of us. Small enough that everyone knows each other to some extent. We don’t have much, but we make do, ensure that we all survive together rather than compete with one another. A place I never felt alone in, a home that felt like peace.
I loved my home, and I have seen enough of Avalia that I know without a doubt I do not wish for it to spoil my home. You’re not a bad guy Arn, under different circumstances we might have been friends, but that’s not what I’m looking for. If our goals remain aligned we can stay allies, but I’m not here to risk my life for a dwarf, and I would not choose you over myself or my own kind. I’m going to ensure that this war doesn’t touch my home, that dark elves do not remain a threat to my people.” Bowyn spoke softly enough for only Arn and Rue to hear. While he understood and felt for Arn’s loneliness, it was not his problem and he wasn’t interested in making new friends. Speaking about a home that he knew he would never see again only made his heart feel unbearably heavy for the loss of it, but it did keep his mind off the uncomfortable lack of space within the Helius.
“I would neither stab you in the back nor risk my neck for you. Our path is the same for now; I too, wish to get as close as I can to this war, find a place where I can do the most damage and I think you’ll lead me there. If you chose to part ways then I’ll go back to looking on my own.” Bowyn continued, his tone slowly becoming more detached. He saw no point in hiding anything from Arn. He left out how he had no plans for after the war, no need to make new friends when he saw his own chances of survival as nonexistent. That part he simply left out to avoid upsetting Rue.
“If your letter is from the dwarven king, and he is supporting the light elves in the war, why do you need to hide your position in his army?” Bowyn asked, noting how Arn had mentioned the elven princess would likely travel in disguise and that the young dwarven medic felt he would need to do the same.
Member
Tpartywithzombi
PapaOso
CitrusArms
princess
Izurich
Atsushi akajima
Mixtape Ghost N
Tae
pugbutter
Apex Sunburn
