Val'Eltenioujm {val-elt-en-ee-um}
Speckled across the waters of the Garion Sea are the island colonies of the sea nation Val'Elt {as the modern colonists that live there call it}, where merchants, fishermen, prospectors and people gather from other edges of the known world to pursue some calling of theirs. For some reason, many islanders have realized many ambitious people oddly enough get drawn to their shores for little reason at all. Most people have adapted the idea its the scenery and pristine ocean air that brings them to the Val'Elt colony clusters.
Many islanders travel between nearby colonies by ferry and bridges of sand hidden to all until low tide. It's also not unlikely to see the local nut swim between the islands, after all, a fisherman knows the dangerous creatures of Garion sea don't frequent the hustling and bustling boater's route which are fairly thick for about 300 feet off of an island's shore.
Val'Elt is only the name of the nation, each and every island takes pride in naming it's settlement because not man islands are larger than a 2 mile radius, larger islands were snagged by nobility[damn richers].
**Visit details to see what I need from you to start posting here**
[Dueliz] The ocean breeze was a refreshing change from the stagnant breath of countryside air you were probably used to from your travels. There was a multitude of things one could enjoy on their voyage through Val'Elt, the vivid sunsets, the sea life that followed along side the ships, the rocking nudge of the waves massaging the hull and of course the company of beautiful travellers Dueliz was lucky enough to come by. He had been en route to the isle Veracliff for nearly a weeks time now while sharing quarters with a group of musicians and their lovely dancers. Though he didn't see much of the band themselves, he often found their 5 dancers on the deck sipping expensive wines and basking in the warmth of the sun.
Overtime they had each greeted and introduced themselves as Fauna, Gasphie, Asher, Nyrmus and Varelda. They were all fit, beautiful and friendly to Dueliz, often asking him to share a drink with them and tell them of his travels. Asher seemed to be the most interested in him as she would often meet him after breakfast to wish him good morning and gift him with a sweet smile before being wisped away by the company of the other girls. She was shorter than the others but just as fair and gorgeous, it was her job after all to please the eye with red starkissed locks of hair, emerald jewels for eyes and a small hint of freckles.
At the moment, the ship was setting anchor a few hundred feet from shore to port the next day after the fishermen have left for the morning catch. It was mid day and the ship's crew were all settling down in the mess hall for dinner and for the first time the entire trip the band members have left their quarters to join them, with the dancers eating at their own table.
[Bring] Through Bring's inland travels he'd been driven to sea and found his way across the Garion Ocean to Val'Elt on a ship that was sighted and assaulted by the mischievous Stormgoyles which he had heard briefly about. They were magical constructs made for sea war long ago, which took the form of black clouds in the day light only to linger until nighttime where they would attack ships in their true forms which resembled winged masses of electricity with mocking humanoid figures. Unfortunately, hearing about them wasn't enough to stay away from them, they were cunning and invisible in stormy weather. They had all but decimated the ship leaving charred mangled corpses to float the waters of the wreckage that Bring managed to awake floating upon.
Bring had not known any of the crew for very long, a few names here and there were passed but only Vanok survived long enough to accompany him on the floating graveyard that was once the ship. After some long brooding and miserable sobs for his dead ship mates Vanok and Bring discovered the smaller vessels once strung to the ship were still intact. Both Bring and Vanok made shift some oars from wreckage and began paddling to an island seen in the horizon, it took a good full days travel to come to the shores of a what looked to be a temple at the foot of a mountain. Vanok being a Val'Eltian was unfamiliar with this particular isle but suggested paddling ashore to search for a form of hospitality and transport to Veracliff where the ship was headed.
At the moment there were lots of young children on the shore in loincloth staring at the two refugees, a few of them running up the steps of the temple even. One of the darker children cupped his hands around his mouth to shout,"HEL-LO THERE!" at Bring and Vanok
The vacation was an enjoyable one, especially for a man who had struggled to survive and earn enough money to eat, and struggle the next day. A few ideas had sprung into his head about Asher and him, she was near perfect, if perfection didn't exist. He wouldn't let himself get carried away however, their lives were different, he was older. "Oh hell" he thought to himself, "Why not? If there's any place to retire, it's here. I've done enough for everyone else, I've earned my rest."
An aged man's pleasant thoughts wouldn't float about for very long. Once he had been a pirate, the kind of person that turns a place like this into a nightmare. Even with all that he shared with his passengers, there were details omitted from his stories that for the better, should not be told. The gradual process of being a merchant's nightmare to a hero of horror was not easy to forget. Certainly not at this age anyhow. Arriving in a paradise can only put a troubled man at limited ease. Booze could cure that.
Dueliz set foot into the hall, taking whatever seat was available for food and drink. Whatever they had would be fine, he wasn't a picky eater. Up against the table, his fancy weapon would rest beside him, the bladed ends covered up with thick cloth and tight wrappings around them. Days had passed since he last firmly gripped this weapon, or heard the thoughts of the person hidden inside. Tonight should be no exception, wine was the priority now.
Bring turns toward the shouter, and studies him closely. Curiosity and caution warred briefly in his mind. Curiosity won. With a glance at Vanok, Bring called out to the caller. "Greetings! I am Bring Stability. Can you direct myself and my companion to place where suitable lodgings and food might be had? Fate has cursed us most cruelly, and we have need of comfort and the sense of fellowship about us."
[Dueliz] The mess hall alive with talk and jokes, apparently one of the band members were quite funny and quite ably sent the ship's crew into rolls of laughter. While the other three looked as if they were exhausted and trying to make up for it by drinking 2-3 cups of wine in what could have been just under 6 minutes. Three of the four dancers in the mess hall seemed to be talking to Asher about something while she seemed to be a little stand offish as if defending her side of whatever discussion they might have been having.
Nyrmus for some reason was not in the mess hall, who knows where she could be, but alas the girls weren't ALWAYS together, in fact Nyrmus seemed to be the one that split off from the group most often. This wasn't too much of a bother on any level, the food was fantastic, whatever it was--it certainly wasn't like anything Dueliz had tried in land but he may have come across it during his time as a seaman[haha, you were a seaman!].
Without any fault of your own, Asher begins propping her head against her palm and shuts her eyes looking a bit peeved with whatever the other girls are saying to her. She endears for a few moments before opening them again revealing a strong gaze in Dueliz' direction which seems to melt whatever feelings were on her face before she closed them. She runs her finger across the rim of her glass and stands to abandon the table for the door of the mess hall, all the while tossing some cutesy glances at Dueliz before she curls her finger at him to follow with her drink in hand and smile in lips.
With the food being fantastic, even for overseas travel, his mood changed for the better. Wine was amazing stuff from time to time and is working it's wonderful magic yet again. Dueliz had been glancing over at Asher from time to time, even if only for split-seconds at a time. Having caught her smile and suggestive gestures, he knew damn well what that was; an invitation, one he couldn't ignore. One he would not ignore!
With a bit of discretion he stood up from his table taking his staff with him and headed for the door. He was only lagging behind by a few seconds. It was supposed to be more if not for his eager stride. This was amazing, he felt like a child again, thinking to himself "This is gonna be great. She smiled at me, and curled her hair. And she has more wine with her. This is gonna be great."
[Bring] When the dingy Bring and Vanok rode across the sea gets close enough, the children surround the boat to help it along to the shore a bit more hastily. The darker child who greeted you initially helps drag the vessel from the nose while asking,"Yes yes, I'm sure we have a place for you to stay in the convent, our teacher will be more than happy to console you in whatever hardship may have befallen you. For now let me fetch you a meal." he looked at some of the other children before they read whatever he was planning and hurried off up the temple steps like the other children, he seemed to be the 'pack' leader of the bunch as the other children looked to him for the next order of action. Some of the other youngsters pulled the boat up the beach so it wouldn't float away, some of them grunting as it was no easy task for 6 or 7 little bodies less than 5 feet tall.
"My name is Pharis, I am an apprentice of the Guardian here. These children you see around me are to be protectors of our order here which I'm sure you'll hear more about tonight." Pharis looks to Bring and Vanok keeping a steady pace in front of them by two or three steps to show his interest in both of them, his courtesy beaming at Bring quite sincerely as his murky flesh is different than Vanok's and his own. "What might your names be gentlemen?" It was really like speaking to a prince or noble in the body of a child no more than 10 years old, he was rather well mannered and groomed adorning a finely crafted necklace made of glossy neon orange and green stones. He wore no upper garments, just a few brass bracelets and some fine sand colored cloth as a tailcoat over a much high quality loin cloth, he had some laced sandals as well which were made of dark leather. Even though he was dressed better than the other children, none of them looked like they were worse off they were all standing straight and proper and tentively walking beside the three of you rather than tailing behind.
Vanok in the while spectates the environs as they walk up the temple steps, there were plenty of trees and green scaling up the mountain here, it looked to be overgrown moss and what appeared to be dried up seaweed here and there which was rather strange to see on an a mountain of any sort.
"It is a pleasure to meet you Pharis. My name is Bring Stability. My companion is known as Vanok." Bring answers, as he allows the Shift to fade. The strain of maintaining was beginning to get to him. His coloring faded from murky gray to the healthy tanned skin of one who spends a great deal of time out of doors. Bring was never one to sit inside when the sun was out.
He looks about him with unabashed curoisity. Were loin clothes and sandles customary garb in these parts, he wondered. Bring would endeavor to find out as soon and as politely as possible. He was also curious about the Guardians. What were they? Would they be able to guide him to the anwsers he sought?
Bring shook his now sun touched brown hair out of his eyes, and basked in the warmth. "Friend Pharis, may I ask a question of you?"
Asher disappears into the hallway, with wine in hand she moves on ahead down the hall of the lower quarters towards the stairs to the deck. She stops at the foot of the steps to turn back and wave at Dueliz before climbing the steps again without waiting for him just yet. Her feet don't go entirely out of sight as it seems something stopped her before she could fully ascending the staircase. The name of Nyrmus seemed to have been spoken before she continued to climb the steps.