Fantasy Arva: Tides of Darkness [IC] [Closed]

Eida, listen to the man, go and lay dow-. As the music began, Eidunns eyes visibly lit up, as she seivled her head, overwhelmed by the sudden upbust of noise and activity. "Don't tell ME what I have to DO!" she slurred, grinning at Arnas as she let out a loud cheer in response to Valentinas proclamation. "Now stop being such a downer and have some fuuuun." She said, before joining in with the chanting chorus, moving towards the centre of the room. But something about the look she gave, eyes that didn't fit a drunken girl.

Lowering her voice, Eirana studied the young squire for a while. "Do I make you uncomfortable?"
She asked with narrow eyes. Moments later her expression softened as Waylond joined the Utterlins in their dance, followed by the others.

Eirana's gaze returned to Pottrey and she motioned for him to speak his mind.

"Wha-? I'm no downer!" Arnas protested as he finished his drink, now determined in his tipsy state to impress as he joined in on the dancing. He wasn't much for these kind of things in the first place, but he was determined and filled with alcohol-inspired confidence. His moves were obviously one of someone who had no experience in such matters, but were also filled with a liveliness that showed he didn't really care at the moment. Hughin watched as his boy joined on in the festivities and chuckled to himself as he relegated himself to staying in his seat. He does try, I'll give him that. he thought to himself with humor as he continued to enjoy his drink.

Da'Vost was a bit slow to finish eating but he managed to finish as the festivities began to commence. To the Aervis' credit he did stand among the playing Utterlin and with those singing and dancing groups that rocked the barge about for some time, but this clearly was not his scene. Feeling Lanya's eyes upon him, he soon patted at the small pack at his waist before his fingers probed into it, searching about for something. He seemed rather satisfied after rooting around in it for a few seconds, now looking to his pupil.

"Embarrassing as it is to admit there's been little in the way of preparation for this first lesson. If you are fine with doing something a bit impromptu, please get us some parchment and lead me to a quiet place where we may work." he asked Lanya.

Lanya nodded eagerly as she scampered off quickly towards the stairs down a deck, returning a few minutes later carrying with her some parchments before leading Da'Vost up to the main deck. Apart from a few Utterlins manning the helm and overall maintaining the ship's course, it was rather peaceful and quiet save for the small waves of the Great Lake and the deck was large enough for the two of them to get their own relatively secluded space. Zakala in the meantime, was leaning on the ship's railing and looking out over the waters as she was lost in thought as was startled as both the Aervis and Lanya arrived from below deck.

"I take it you don't like the cramped festivities downstairs too?" the demoness asked Da'Vost.

He waited patiently as Lanya got him the requested materials, though when she lead him above the deck he thought that rather curious. Perhaps the young Utterlin thought that they may be slinging spells like mad up here and would need the room, unfortunately that would not be the case. Taking the parchment from her as they came up to the deck, Da'Vost tilted his head slightly upon Invira spotting them and asking her question. "Ah, while I am no stranger to enclosed living conditions I do prefer a bit of serenity to think more often than not. Most celebrations held by my kin tend to be more reserved, though we do have one or two events that are quite... noisy. Nevertheless..." he trailed off while motioning for Lanya to follow him, just a few paces from Zakala so as not to disturb her.

The Fateseeker unclasped the large tome on his waist, flipping it open to a particular page before taking a sheet of parchment from the stack. He set both items down on the floor across from Lanya and sat with his legs crossed, now opening the pack he was looking through earlier to retrieve a piece of thin charcoal. Yet there was something off about the midnight-black stone, as it bore some blue shimmering across its surface. The bird crooned to himself as he tapped it against the paper gently, thinking on what he was to start with. "Magic comes in many different forms, and many more ways to invoke those forms. There exist whole schools of different magic, where studying just one school may take a sorcerer countless years or even their entire lives..." he begins, finally drawing something onto the page, a swooping conglomerate of rather intricate lines and angles - drawn large as his fist so it was easily legible. As the charcoal ground itself onto the parchment, the rune he made took on that strange shimmering the tool had possessed as well.

"That being said - magic is first and foremost an application of force. To most they use mana as fuel for magic, an energy that is latent in the world that a sorcerer may bend and shape to their will. To do so, we often draw focus through runes." the Aervis explains, turning his book to orient it so that his pupil may see what is written on the pages. "Each rune possesses a meaning, and they can vary from being a command or object, element or feeling to even gestures. Spells are but sentences that string together commands and objects, when thought and spoken with the proper amount of energy present to draw on - the spell will execute."

Crossing his wrists over one another, he closed and opened sets of fingers in mirrored unison. As he drew them apart, the rune he drew began to glow a bright, seething blue as the parchment began to move straight up and float in place a foot from the barge's deck. "This is the rune for levitation or literally 'lift'. So long as focus is maintained, the rune will keep performing its action." Indeed, as he spoke the paper moved further and further upwards, soon being grasped in his hand as the spell was canceled. Setting it back down, he looked to Lanya.

"Now, you try. Gather your mana, maintain focus - and lift the paper."

Lanya listened closely as Da'Vost gave his lecture on runes and magic as a whole and tried to pick up and keep as many details as she possibly could. All this was fascinating to her, and she couldn't help but give a small grin as Da'Vost fed her such knowledge. In the background, Zakala was also listening in but in a rather disinterested fashion as she continued to look out at the waters. She was curious as to why Da'Vost was trying to teach Lanya magic, as she knew from common knowledge that Utterlins don't use magic. Doubt she'll get far with it. the demoness thought to herself as she spared a glance towards the two.

In the meantime, when beckoned by her new teacher, Lanya looked at the paper and tried to imitate Da'Vosts actions as best she could prior to his lifting of the paper. Her exertion caused her to make a funny face as she tried to focus on the paper's rune, but only managed to get the rune to flicker ever so lightly in color before releasing herself and breathing heavily. "It's hard..." she remarked with a bit of disappointment in her tone, "Did ye have trouble with it too when ya started?" she then asked.

The Aervis was quiet as she tried to lift the page, clicking his beak as he saw her immediate mistake yet chose not to draw attention to it until after her attempt. Da'Vost nodded about the difficulty of the problem, and tapped the side of his beak with a claw for a second or two. "Some beings have natural affinities for magic. Aervis are born of what we call the Aether, and while not all of us can use its power for our magic it is readily accessible to those who do. I was taught not many years after I hatched, so if I did struggle I cannot quite remember it..." he admitted, though soon shook his head.

"Regardless, you needn't focus on your disadvantages compared to me. Practice and drive is the key to mastery of all things, including magic. You were able to exert your will on a ball of snow, why not lift a thin sheet of parchment with a rune for assistance?" the aged bird asked rhetorically, just to give a smile. "You are going about it as if this is an obstacle to overcome, something to force open and exert yourself on. Mana is like water, it flows... breathes. Concentrate by focusing on nothing else, do not make the task greater than it actually is."

Lanya gave a quick nod as she returned her attention to the paper and looked it over for a moment before preparing herself again. Rather than force herself like last time, she decided a different approach and relaxed a bit more as she raised a hand toward the parchment once more. Her complexion was more relaxed this time around as she seemed almost as if she wasn't doing anything, yet in her mind she was focusing as hard as she could on the parchment. A few moments passed as nothing happened, and as Zakala watched from afar she couldn't help but feel a bit mean in her own mind towards the whole venture. Does the old bird really believe her to use magic? she thought to herself as she questioned the Aervis' judgement.

As nothing continued to happen, Lanya could feel frustration build up in her as she couldn't properly get anything to happen. She didn't want to embarrass herself in front of her new teacher, and she certainly didn't want to look like she was less than what she seemed. But as those frustrations came into her mind, the runes on the paper glowed and the paper lifted ever so slightly upwards an inch. Lanya was about to show off proudly to Da'Vost, but her concentration was broken when Zakala spoke up and caused the paper the drift back down: "I thought Utterlins couldn't use magic." Zakala commented with curiosity as she observed, "What changed?"

If Lanya was looking at Da'Vost she would see an expression that wasn't moving at all, a reassuring smirk that held behind his beak to show that there was no pressure in failing in this situation. For every effort he made to portray himself as a wise, patient teacher he seemed to be doing a great job of keeping up the demeanor at least. He saw how the paper reacted and slowly rose, swiveling his head down to see how high she lifts it with the aid of her magic. Though Zakala's interruption seemed to spoil Lanya's progress just as she was getting the hang of it, prompting the Aervis to frown somewhat.

"She can. The why of the matter is irrelevant at this time." Da'Vost said simply, turning his head to the demon as he clacked his beak a bit louder. A shame that her concentration was shattered, but there was nothing for it now. He extended his arm and placed it on Lanya's shoulder, looking back to her as he nodded with a jerking swivel. "Do not be discouraged. You are advancing very quickly, and I see great potential in you. Keep at it and you may become a greater sorcerer than I someday."

"Uhm no my lady...I'm just not used to...not used to being talked to by pretty women." Pot let it out, much to his own embarrassment. "They usually talk to ser Waylond and I get ignored by them, despite of his efforts to show me in a better light."

Eirana smirked and bowed her head lightly. "I thank you for the compliment, Sir Pottrey."
In a way Pottrey reminded her of the younger warriors of her own kin.
Doubting themselves and their own abilities until they received a gentle push in the right direction, a push to make them realize that all they needed to do was to trust in themselves and forfeit the doubt on their minds.

Eirana decided that it was time for this squire to get that push.

She stood up from her seat and offered her hand. "Now, we can't let Waylond have all the fun, can we? Care for a dance?"

With Da'Vost's encouragement, Lanya gave a nod to her teacher: "I want ta be tha best!" she said with a grin to the Aervis before quickly scampering off to join her siblings below deck. Her eagerness brought out a chuckle from Zakala as she watched: "She's got spirit, I'll give the little rascal that." she commented before returning her attention to Da'Vost. "Not even a day into this job and you catch yourself an apprentice. Impressive if I say so myself."

Da'Vost extended a hand to stop the the Utterlin from leaving but it was far too late, the excitable girl had run off out of his reach. "I was hoping to at least let her leave with some studying materials." the Aervis grumbled, yet soon shook his head. "No matter. We've plenty of time for such things in the future. This voyage shall prove to take quite a while, I think." As he talked to himself he gathered up his tome and the parchment, putting his charcoal away as Zakala spoke to him.

"It is not often that I am in one place for long enough to impart magical knowledge to bright-eyed pupils." Da'Vost replied. "I wouldn't expect such a thing to happen again."

Pottrey timidly got up from his seat to follow after Eirana. He had no idea what he was doing, but his master told him to do more of these things if he hoped to be a full knight one day. Now he just needed to learn dancing real quick.

Eirana smirked as Pottrey got up from his seat. She gently placed one of her hands on his left hip and the other on his right shoulder as the pair entered the fray. She could tell he was no dancer as his less-than-graceful steps betrayed him.

Surrounded on all sides by Utterlins it would be easy to worry or be distracted, something Eirana attempted to prevent.
"Pottrey," she said with a soft voice. "Focus on nothing but your partner. Keep your eyes on mine and mirror my movements."

Eirana got closer to him and motioned towards him. "I'll lead, you follow. Try to relax. Feel your body and its movements. Feel the music and its beat. Combine them."

"And don't worry about Waylond and the others; this is your dance. Let's make them jealous, shall we?"

The mood of the feast changed for the better as the music joined in with the chorus of laughter and camaraderie. Aureal, still influenced by the sea-booze he drank earlier, got up to his feet to join in with the festivities. He grabbed a mug followed Gerwin's rhythm as the Utterlins that surrounded him bursts out with a song. After some time, the music started to pick up and pairs of Utterlins started to dance. Two of his companions also paired up and the Wood-elf gave the squire a cheer as he was led by Eirana to the dance floor. Aureal spent the rest of the festivities with a group of Utterlins as they shared stories of their adventures to one another, occasionally refilling his mug with mead as they continue on their conversation.

"I'll try." Pottrey said as he took a deep breath and tried to lead the dance.

Waylond on the other hand had already finished a dance of his own and was heading back for refreshments. He turned around just in time to see his squire had paired up for the festivity. Now what is that boy capable of?

The duel of drinks continued between Valentina and Krasso as they each downed another mug of sea-booze each, with Valentina now suffering a burning sensation in her throat from the brew's potency rather than Krasso this time. It was beginning to become clear that either could go down soon as both looked like the drink was starting to take a physical strain on them both. A victor should likely be decided within the next drink or two...
While Pottrey wasn't an experienced dancer all things considered, something seemed to overtake him as he moved on his own like never before. The rhythm, the beat, it all seemed so... natural to him. And so, he let his body do the talking as he moved in a similar fashion of the folk dances the Utterlins were engaged in, leading Eirana along as she danced with him merrily. Arnas too had a wonderful surge of bodily movement as he seemed to move effortlessly in his dance, seemingly to impress Eidunn in the moment. The latter meanwhile, was a bit clumsy in her movements and tripped up here and there due to her current inebriation, but still managed to follow along for the most part.

Hughin laughed aloud at this sudden development for Arnas and gave him a not so inconspicuous cheer for him before downing another swig of ale. Meanwhile, as Gerwin sat and drank and cheered with his compatriots, the door the the kitchen swung open to reveal a rather large female Utterlin walk out and head right for him. "GERWIN! YA BE DRINKIN' NOW!?" she yelled out in an angry tone. "WHO BE STEERIN THA' SHIP THEN?"

"Relax luv, I 'ave me brother on it." Gerwin replied casually, "You ought ta join tha fun! Care fer a dance with ya husband?" he then said with a toothy grin. This casualness only enraged his wife further as she pulled him by the ear out of the festivities and up to the main deck, leading to a few of his kin laughing at and with him.

"We don't expect a lot of things to happen, yet they do anyway." Zakala replied to Da'Vost as she leaned with her back on the ship's railing. "So tell me, what do you think will happen on this journey?"

The Aervis gives a nod to Zakala's observation, standing up to move over to the ship's railing as he looked up to the sky with his book and the parchment in tow. "What shall happen..?" he repeats, looking up at the stars as his claws clutched his tome a bit tighter. The calamity he foresaw would no doubt occur soon, if not on this journey than on the next. It was a troubling thought, and it was something that always nagged at the back of Da'Vost's mind. While he was certain that he could trust the vast majority of the company, telling others about a vision such as his could lead to wildly unpredictable results. The timeline could veer off entirely or may cause extensive damage to the future. For the Fateseeker his mission to end this calamity was his burden to bear alone, at the moment.

"... I cannot say." Da'Vost croons simply.

Eidunn let out a loud laugh as she stumbled around on her feet, just able to maintain her balance. Dancing wasn't one of her best attributes, especially not while being incredibly intoxicated. "wow, never took you for the dancing type!" she giggled, enthusiastically cheering him on. Filled by a not so small helping of alcohol, she proceeded to join Arnas, trying her best to follow him.

Zakala raised an eyebrow to the Aervis' response, but didn't press on it further. The two were then interrupted to Gerwin nearly being thrown onto the main deck from down below, who only laughed and waved down below. "Luv ya too Marwa!" he shouted at his wife with a joyous grin as she left back downstairs before stumbling towards the ship's wheel and observing the horizon for signs of the southern river. He muttered something in a slurred voice as he tried to recompose himself now that he was not longer partying. Zakala chuckled before speaking up: "Gerwin, try not to crash the ship before we get out into open seas." she commented as she began to walk below deck, prompting the Utterlin captain to laugh at such a remark. She then turned her head to look at Da'Vost one more time: "You take good care of the kid, yeah?" she said before disappearing below deck.

Meanwhile, Arnas continued to dance as he also laughed aloud: "I didn't know that either!" he yelled out jokingly as both he and Eidunn danced together merrily. Soon enough, the Utterlins began to shout along another shanty for the party:

By now, a few Utterlins were passed out from sea-booze hitting them a bit too hard but not enough to die down the party. The biggest contenders were still Krasso and Valentina, as the two prepared to decide the winner of their little bout. "C'mon lass, ya got this!" one of the Utterlins yelled out to Valentina while another shouted in favor of Krasso: "Ye can do it goatman! Dun let me down!"

The Aervis nodded as best he could to Zakala as she gave those parting words, not paying too much attention to Gerwin's drunken antics. Da'Vost broke away from the ship's railing and moved closer to the center of the deck, crossing his legs as he looked up to the sky. Despite the merriment taking place below deck he had much on his mind, trying to recollect the details of his visions as he meditated.

Eidunn was far more difficult to control than she bargained for and Invira was more than a little grateful Arnas took over Eidunn duty before accidentally dropping the poor woman--thought her intoxication felt different than the other's, though she couldn't quite place it. The music, though. The music made her heart beat loudly but there was no fear-adrenaline, but a desire to try and join the folk whirling about the ship like they weren't possibly going to sail to their deaths either to the sea or an unknown continent.

She stood back, away from everyone, wringing her hands and shifting her feet. The beat was clear enough after a few minutes of observation and her fellows laughing around her meant that surely it was a fun thing, this dancing. This fellowship with the crew-family of the Utterlins. The squire seemed to be learning to dance with one of the elves, and--it was a lot. She found her breath starting to come faster than the situation called for and she looked around for any source of danger. It took longer than she'd care to admit to realize she was being more than a little paranoid and she slipped through everyone to make her way up deck to the fresh air.

It wasn't an escape, not when there was no danger, but it felt like it when the salty air hit her and she felt herself relax.

This was in time to feel the surge of growing--something. It was like the first bits of a breeze drawing gooseflesh along her skin, or the scent of a flame catching on a wick, and she saw the paper float in the air with the watchful Aervis watching his pupil. And this was familiar. A teacher watching over his student, who ran past her in a glowing rush.

She didn't interrupt and stepped into out of the way for Zakala, giving her fellow demoness a nod before looking out at lake herself. It was impossibly flat and wide and beautiful and she'd never been important, that wasn't her fate, but the distance of the sky away from her seemed to highlight it. She crept to Da'Vost, standing slightly behind him. "Is it alright for me to join you?"

As Ediunn felt her energy slowly begin to waver, as the people and sound around her started to grow a distant. Tugging on Arnass arm, the two of them stumbled over towars the table housing a few of their companions. Collapsing onto one of the empty benches, she let out a long drawn out sigh, closing her eyes and taking in the numbed sounds around her. "I'm all spent." She said, giggling to herself before sitting back upright, lazily smiling towards what she assumed was Valentina and Krasso.