Kern River by way of Bakersfield
5–20 Bakemes and onward, 333
Aaren
Aaren waits awhile for Daina settle again and then goes over to talk to her.
They talk about what's going on with Daina (being so stressed over trying to protect the people around her, from her.) and why she reacted the way she did (feeling like Slavina and Aaren were asking her to make sure everyone around her felt comfortable all the time).
Then they talk about why Slavina brought up the Frankie and Estaban thing (because Estaban seeing Frankie was a BIG, BIG DEAL, and not a little scare like Aaren and Daina had thought at the time. Daina feels bad about it, because she had no idea. Frankie as an Omen of Impending Death? What? Aaren agrees, kinda a jump).
Then Aaren tries to figure out how she can help, but comes up pretty blank. (Other then trying to keep Daina informed about changes to what might be really actually super scary.)
Aaren then reiterates how awesome Daina is and how much she appreicates her, and her effort to take care of the people around her.
Daina
Daina seems a little more relaxed after the the talk and thanks Aaren for ya know caring and wanting to help, offering hugs and appologizing for losing her temper. She hmms and looks around. "I probably should appologize to Slavina too, let her know I didn't realize that Frankie would be seen .. quite that way.. I mean he's such a good wolf ya know?" she scratches the back of her head and wonders. "can you sing Frankie another color or to look like a regular wolf? Then people don't have to be so afraid... I mean if Frankie wouldn't mind it.
Aaren
Aaren laughs. "I doubt it. We could try though, I guess! It would be nice to be able to ask him to come out whenever without having to think about it."
"Why don't you let me talk to Slavina first?" She sings it to Ash's song, automatically taking on the dad-role of going around after the tense conversation and listening to everyone's concerns. "I don't really know how she and Janin are feeling. Do you think they might want a little more time to unwind?"
Daina
Daina nods her head. "You know I never asked him if he can change how he looks.. he can do so many things maybe that's another one." She laughs a little "I should ask to see his like power sheet" a reference a character sheet but like what she remembers of it being the abilities the characters had.
Aaren
"That might actually be a good idea." Aaren sings.
Then she excuses herself and heads off to Slavina and Janin.
Daina
Daina hums an agreement and pauses "Frankie, hey woof, you busy doing shadow things, I've got a question." she'd listen for Frankie and question him about if he can change his appearance, or if he'd let Aaren try, just when they're going to be around people who don't know what a good woof he is.
Fate
Frankie stays put in Daina's belly. I can.
Daina
Daina nods some, "Would you mind doing it terribly much? I don't want you to do something that hurts or sucks cockatrice eggs, not if it's not totally nessicary."
Fate
Do you wish it?
Daina
"Only when needed, like around people that might be afraid of you. Not you know around family and friends" she clarifies.
Fate
What do you wish me to look like?
Daina
Daina ponders that "um... you know what.. let's ask the party, I'm sure they'll have good ideas that will fit in the most places.. you know?" She perks an ear listening for where the group is.
Fate
(Kelly is asleep in the hold. Janin can be heard near the prow, stifling laughter at a casual, low-stakes insult skirmish between two crewmates.)
Daina
no sound from Aaren or Slavina? are they hiding from me?!
Aaren
No, they are right next to him, having a really deep conversation about what you should expect from goddess and behavioral norms for the Ludzi.
Aaren, meanwhile, has gone to speak to Slavina and Janin, who are glued together.
She starts by drawing them out on what's gong on with them.
Slavina is resgined because she saw Daina, an extremely powerful being, not recognize how scared Estiban was and then, later, blow off his fear as his problem. (Resgined because Daina is a goddess and this is how goddess act.)
Janin is scared because, from what he knows of Daina so far, she is very powerful, and also impulsive, not good at imagining the consequences of her actions, and bad at seeing things that are outside of her experience or world view.
(Basically, Daina is eighteen, but they feel like she is acting like she is five. That'd be okay... except she's a goddess.)
Slavina is also confused, because having to restrian and change yourself to make others comfortable has basically been a way of life for her since before she was walking.
Janin is also disturbed by Daina's lack of willingness to give up (or surpress) her great, overwhelming power. (He's seens Daina as treating her powers, a luxury in his view, as a neccesity.)
Aaren acknwoleges these concerns as valid. She offers up two ways she thinks she can help.
- Provide a safe channel of communication between them and Daina if things get scary.
- Help keep Daina up to date on how the people around them are feeling.
From Slavina and Janin, Aaren asks for help understanding issues that might come up when they move to new areas.
(For example, she explains that neither she nor Daina had realized that seeing Frankie would be so frightening for the people of Bakersfield.)
Aaren makes sure to explain to Janin that Daina associates her powers, and her freedom with them, as a core part of her identy, very wrapped up in her mourning of, and her continued connection to, her lost home.
Aaren then goes for a brief, refreshing swim in the river.
Slavina
Now that Slavina's part in the conversation is over (as far as she's concerned), she curls back up into ball-form leaning against Janin with her face buried in her knees.
Daina
Daina gives them some time to talk and leans over to peer over the railing "Heeeey water puppy lady, you hanging out?" she calls out lightly. Resting her folded arms on the rail and then chin in hand as she frowns a little and her brows furrow over her troubled eyes. Possibly as close to brooding as Daina has been seen.
Aaren
Aaren surfaces. "Wait, which water puppy lady?"
Daina
Daina pauses "Hey.. uh you know the one who was in the Trout?" she lets her lips flex slightly in some semblance of a smile. "We know another water puppy lady?"
Aaren
"Oh. No. I just thought maybe you were talking to me." Aaren goes under again to breathe, briefly. "She's around, but I think she's fishing by the banks right now. She probably can't hear you. Sorry." Aaren dunks again. "She said she'd come back at moonlight though." The late afternoon sun catches on the glittering water.
Daina
Daina nods some "sure .. gotcha.. thanks for the update" she murmurs before straightening. "So should I go talk to Slavina or .. just give her some time.. it's a little hard to get used to the years on her.., she's different and I should have expected that I guess, with the disapearing and all.. Though even if I expected change, how would I predict what kind of change, not knowing the story.." she reasons aloud, mostly to herself.
Aaren
Aaren ducks under again and then climbs up the side of the ship, her gills vanishing. As she pulls herself up onto the deck she sings, "Well, you could ask her about the story."
"I understand what you mean about her the years. She's a different person now." Aaren makes a face, indicating her own feelings about getting to know people again.
Daina
Daina hmms "I could, I didn't want to bring it up.. has to be a sore spot doesn't it?" she purses her lips to one side.
Aaren
"Well, yeah." Aaren sings the water out of her hair. "But if you don't know, you can't avoid it, right?" Aaren wrings water out of her clothes. "Besides, she can always say no. Or, well, you know, change the topic pointedly."
Daina
Daina nods her head a little in agreement. "All good points" she rolls her neck and tries to be less tense. "OK.. after I talk to Slavina... for a little while or a long while, I wanna have a group meetin' about Frankie and what we went him to look like.. if you've got a bit for it at the time that is." Her wolf ears tilt and twist listening for Slavina's location, nose twitching as she sniffs, and then sort of wriggling as she processes the derth of information
Slavina
Slavina is exactly where Aaren left her, curled up next to Janin near the prow of the boat. Not really a surprise given her recent sluggishness.
Aaren
Aaren nods. "Alright, although we may want to wait until tomorrow for a group meeting. Slavina will be tired out from all the talking and I don't want to get her over extended. Especially because I would really like her opinion on the Frankie-looks issue."
Daina
Daina nods her head a little. "Sounds sensible" she agrees "gonna go do the thing" she gives Aaren a smile and before parting sings a little song about appreciating Aaren and her priestly council. Mostly sincere but with a little bit of younger sister teasing around the edges.
Aaren
Aaren "Yees." Aaren sings, stroking her 'wisdom beard'. "You are quite welcome, young one."
Daina
Daina snirks softly and is smiling more sincerely as she heads off to find Slavina, a slight straightening of her spine as she approaches. "Hey.. Slavina... I wanted to say.. sorry I scared Estiban that badly, I didn't realize the beliefs held about Black Dogs extended to Frankie.. he's so much a part of me after all these years, it really didn't occur to me." she pauses "I'd have been more careful had I gotten that part, or at least appolgized to Estiban once someone put the peices together for me." She says in someone of a Daina blurting wanting to get it out there.
Slavina
Slavina makes a small noise of acknowledgement that gets badly muffled by her knees.
Daina
Daina pauses a moment. "So ... when you're up to it I've got an idea for fixing that part of the problem. Just ya know find me when you're ready ok?" Rubbing her arm and looking to the side, Slavina's depression harder to be around in some ways as she had no real idea how to help. After a moment... "It seemed to bother you... a good bit.. and it made me think I don't really know all about what's happened to you... for instanse why that bothers you so... If you feel like.. telling me you know.. your story.." she trails off.
Slavina
Hearing the uncertainty in Daina's voice, Slavina makes an effort to be more comfortable for her. She uncurls most of the way so Daina can see her face and shifts to sit in a more vertical position - albeit with her arms still wrapped around her middle and her knees still tucked up to her chest. She looks at Daina with blank confusion. "Huh?"
Daina
Daina clears her throat. "I mean, well you're a new person sort of and I don't know your story and .. if you wanna tell me, I'm interested." She explains as she folds herself down and pauses. "What's your personal space situation right now, how do you feel about hugs or.. even wolfy hugs?" Her wolfy ears flick a little, she hadn't bothered to return to her usual not extra parts dimentions.
Slavina
Slavina has to work through the concept of a wolfy hug before answering, "I don't really... have personal space. Hugs are fine." She's quiet for a while longer while she tackles the bigger topic. Finally she replies (in that same rough monotone), "I don't know. What part are you interested in?"
Daina
Daina pauses "I always like to start stories from the begining but .. maybe just... for now at least.. are there parts that you think I should know.. like.. so we can get on and hopefully more smoothly from here out. I'd much rather not upset ya" she offers. "I like when we're getting along much better.. " she plunks down a bit more carefully than usual and scoots over to Slavina, and reaches out to give her a squeeze, resting her chin on slavina's shoulder or upper arm and giving Daina puppy eyes, trying to lighten the mood a little bit. Ears relaxing and eyes going all big and soft with a tiny little dog like whine.
Slavina
"Okay." Slavina says. She neither flinches nor reciprocates the physical affection, but stares straight ahead as she considers Daina's request. Her expression smoothes itself into something blank, stone-like. Her voice is similar: grating and without the emotion one would expect. "You should probably know that I killed my first child and sacrificed the second as an offering to She-Who-Hungers."
Daina
Daina grows serious and settles in to listen. Her body stiffining a little. "I.. ..ok.. " she seemed about to ask why but she decides to let Slavina share as much as she's willing to rather than press. Clearly activingly listening.
Slavina
Slavina seems a little lost after that. She leans into Janin a little closer, being careful to not seem like she's pulling away from Daina at all. "Not really. Killing babies is bad."
Fate
Janin is quiet, still matter-of-factly going about his tasks, but still affording this conversation the solemnity it is due.
Daina
Daina clears her throat and tries to keep her own.. strong disaproval at bay, seems like Slavina already knew it was wrong, what would her railing at her about it help. Nope now was a time to listen, though she does encourage with a question. "Was it.. somethin' you had to do... for the greater good?"
Slavina
Cracks begin to creep through Slavina's poise. "I... I don't... know."
Daina
Daina hmms softly to that and nods carefully in understanding, being sure not to dig her chin into arm fleshyness. "Is there.. more you want to tell me about that then? You can ... skip some pages if you want to.. "
Slavina
Slavina shrugs, ever so slightly. "Just..." she swallows so she can talk again. "...you probably shouldn't trust me. With. You know. Anything important."
Daina
Daina considers that a few moments. "Well .. how about.. if I ask ya for something and you don't think you can do it we can talk about it?" She hesitates. "For what it's worth you've been pretty clutch so far, and I trust your intentions are good. I think the Gods trust you too, or you wouldn't be on this quest.. " She falls quiet not sure what more she can say, feeling a little sick to her stomach as the idea of killing a baby willfully starts to seep into her mind, from just hearing the words to really taking in the idea of it beyond the initial shock. She swallows thickly and stretches her neck lightly to one side, her ears sort of pivoting and her tail curling tightly against her side.
Slavina
The cracks widen enough that her emotions start leaking through as pieces of her outer face crumble away - Slavina is shaking a little, and her eyes are wet. "I... I...." After a few false starts, she grips Janin's arm a little tighter and gives him a look that all-out begs for help.
Fate
Janin's hands settle as his eyes slide downward as if searching for his thoughts in the grains of the deck. His jaw shifts and he sets down his work to hold Slavina's hand. As he does, he takes a breath, slides his eyes over to Slavina, and asks, "Can you explain to her why you think you shouldn't be trusted?"
Slavina
Slavina forces herself to breath in a slower, more even pattern. She nods. "I get... erratic, sometimes. I do things without knowing why I did them. Or... or the reasons don't make any sense anymore?" She pauses to take a few more breaths.
"With the first one... I don't even know why I... I thought that my family had poisoned my milk somehow. So I... fed it water instead." She curls up again, resting her forehead on her knees in a way that obscures her face. "That doesn't make any sense. They couldn't have if they wanted to. And my family would never want to do that even if they could." Her voice breaks a little and she swallows, and wipes at her cheek with one hand. "Whether or not you doubt my intentions, you shouldn't trust my judgement."
Daina
Daina hmms softly and listens nodding a little bit as her brow furrows, sort of taking it in for a moment. "I'm not sure why you .. were tricked somehow into thinking that.. but.. I'm sorry. That had to be.. agonizing and terrifying to say the least." she hesitates before offering. "If you start to think stuff that seems.. unreal, maybe ask us? At least.. if it doesn't concern mistrusting us because then I guess that wouldn't help but.. I mean .. sometimes we all need that kinda double check.. to some extent anyway."
Slavina
"I...." she curls in a little tighter. "Yeah. Okay."
Daina
Daina pauses a moment before questioning. "Do you want to be done for now?"
Fate
The muscles in Janin's jaw flex and shift again. He looks up to Daina, pinning her with a direct look. "The point is she wouldn't have done it if she didn't think it was a reasonable thing to do at the time." Then he takes a deep breath and straightens. "It's not going to seem unreal to her until after the fact. What she's saying to you is that she doesn't know when she can or can't tell the difference. So she's begging you not to trust her with anything important because she doesn't want to risk putting any of us in peril."
Slavina
Slavina stifles her nod in response to Daina's question - she definitely wants to be done, but clearly she's not quite. She sits, still and quiet, through Janin's explaination, affirming it simply by lack of objection.
Daina
Daina's brow furrows a little bit and she questions internally how exactly they can .. do the things .. if Slavina may or may not be seeing things or thinking things that are.. a little lolo. She worries her lower lip some and is quiet, sensing more words wanting to fill the space around them and in her silence trying to make room for them.
Fate
Finished, Janin slowly works his hand free from Slavina's, leans against her a little, and continues his potato peeling.
Daina
Daina sits for a little while, unless Slavina seems to want less peopling around her. Thoughtful and humming a quiet thinking song perhaps though not very loudly.
Slavina
Slavina is doing a very good impression of an extra-large, extra-sad potato.
Aaren
So what are we discussing OOC?
Slavina
I believe we were discussing water-puppy lady
Fate
She shows up after dark, as instructed. What do y'all want to know about her/want to tell her?
Slavina
Most important, we need to officially induct her into our travelling unit.
Also, does she have any immediate needs? Food, water, shelter, spiritual cleansing, etc?
Aaren
Any interesting virus or health problems? Does she want to keep swimming, or does she want to hang out ont he boat? How did she get into a gaint trout?
Daina
brb again just cause I need to update my tablet something fierce so there will be a restart
Slavina
okay, good luck
Fate
-
No immediate needs. She is quite self-sufficient. Although... she'd rather not eat fish for a while.
-
Her body has a different way of dealing with things! It's hard to say if she'd get the same diseases as any of them could get—certainly she doesn't have any, and none of the immunities that Aaren's encountered thus far. A couple of her ribs have been broken and set slightly incorrectly but this doesn't seem to cause her any immediate problems. (It is present in both shapes.) However, in water puppy form her skin is irritated and forcefully abraded in places. (This is not present in both shapes.)
-
Though she wouldn't state it outright, it'd eventually become clear that she'd prefer partially to hang out on the boat (if only for relief) but she's wary of the sailors and just generally unsure of how to proceed in this strange new world.
- She didn't sense it soon enough. Giant trout are apparently pretty stealthy.
Slavina
For 3: Slavina can make her effectively invisible to all the sailors. Would she be more comfortable that way?
Aaren
- WE HAVE VEGETABLES WOULD YOU LIKE SOME? Also goabbit milk.
- Fixing that if she is okay with that! :( :( OH NOE!!
- She could also hang out on the turtle lime tree raft.
- Gooood to know.
- Or just hide behind someone.
Daina
turtle lime tree raft can be her new friand
Fate
-
She will accept the food very trepidatiously. This will turn to relieved gladness, which she will fail to hide (in varying degrees, depending on the person).
-
She asks what sort of favor she'll have to give in return for being healed.
- Invisibility isn't an appealing idea, but she can't quite (or won't) articulate why. She opts for switching between hiding behind someone and sitting on the raft.
Daina
Daina would assure her that she'll do her best to keep her safe.
Aaren
- Aaren will explain that the favor will be that she gets to heal her— she likes learning about bodies and songs, and she learns by listening and healing bodies with songs.
(Note to GM, Aaren is really listening to the whole dealieo. She's very curious about this woman having two bodies and the skin thing and stuff. Is the skin damaged when she isn't wearing it? Will it heal when she isn't wearing it??)
Slavina
Slavina would also (after making sure the others are okay with this) explain what they want in exchange for escorting her home: a short period of service upon reaching Tir na Tearmann as a sort of native guide.
Does that sound legit to the rest of you?
Aaren
Aaren's not okay with that.
Daina
Daina kinda looks confused at all the quid pro quo, she thought they were making friends not doing business?
Aaren
It'd be nice of water-puppy lady decided to help, but we take her home for free.
Slavina
Gotcha. Slavina's line of thinking is that by naming an expectation they may make her more comfortable, since she'll know what's expected of her. Versus worrying that she may have a surprise obligation later.
Aaren
Aaren likes making her feel comfortable, but would argue that if that is the goal then we should name something she can do immediently. Like catch us a few fish.
Slavina
Slavina will leave that decision to Aaren and Daina. She'd make the suggestion, but she's not invested enough to follow through with any particular ideas.
Daina
Daina wants info about where they're going but not sure she'd want to like trade for it.
Unless that's the most comfortable way for our new friend
Slavina
Slavina thinks Water-puppy will be very uncomfortable unless we name a "fair price" for our services. She's not comfortable accepting "favors" from us, although I'm not sure if Slavina can articulate why.
Maybe if we don't want it to be an all-or-nothing thing, we could give her some kind of assigned work to do every day she's travelling with us? That way if she wants to cut and run she deosn't owe us anything.
Daina
also er do we have a name for her?
Slavina
We have two :P
She told Slavina her name is Vivia.
Daina
Vivia that's right, I was struck by another V name after Daina's sis
Aaren
Kay, I vote we have her tell us stuff about where we are going every day. That way we get info, its a fair trade, but she doesn't have to obligated to stay (or, worse, to stay with us later when it might compromise her) if she doesn't want to.
Slavina
Plus, language lessons!
Aaren
Weee!
Daina
That sounds pretty fair .. and can Daina try to be a .. water puppy, might she wanna help?
Fate
After some consideration, she agrees to the stories. And Vivia isn't going to stop Daina if she chooses to shapeshift, but she's unwilling to offer any information about it or be studied or anything like that.
Daina
Is she offended by the idea?
Fate
Of the shapeshifting itself, you mean?
Daina
of trying to shape shift into the animal form of her kind
Fate
Not offended, no. But definitely... weirded out? Not in a surprised kind of way.
Daina
XD okie
Daina is gonna low key check out the animal form a bit over the next few days
Slavina
So... that basically covers it, right?
Daina
I don't remember is she lost or do we know that?
Slavina
She's super lost.
Fate
Yep. This is no secret.
Daina
ok do we know how she got lost?
Fate
She was swallowed by a giant trout which somehow ended up here.
Daina
ah ok
Aaren
Curse those world-traveling teleporting gaint trout.
Slavina
Note to self: don't get eaten by a fish
Daina
yeah I was gonna avoid that anyway m'self :p
I think I'm good for the most part, my questions involve details of our desination
Slavina
Same here. Slavina will also want to know more about our new companion, but she's not going to try and learn it tonight.
Daina
yeah same
Fate
Brujames 6-20
Day after day, Angel rises through the sky upon her shining steed and races her way across the vast sky, her exaltation filtering to the world below, causing flowers to bare their petals and encouraging creatures to emerge from their dens, homes, and burrows. Night after night, as Angel stables her steed for the night, the Moon Boy tries to roll his snowball bigger and bigger, only to have She-Who-Hungers eat it away bite by bite whenever her eternal hunger gets to be too great. Meanwhile sailing proves smooth—Lake Isabella's hair must have recently been well-brushed and no news of Coyote's or her children's recent exploits must have reached her, as no temperamental tangles of currents or eddies complicate the journey.
Routine is not hard to come by aboard the trade ship—always there is something in need of cleaning, waxing, maintaining, repairing, tying, untying. Though most often put to less skilled work, Janin still learns the basics of knotwork, netting, and line fishing, and even a little navigation. Kelly, on the other hand, takes up night watch, as well as odd jobs here and there (it turns out that he's also a killer hand at card games thanks to his unique insights, although he's lost a number of his necklaces and his spare, Jerri-forged spear-head on the journey to getting there).
Shipwork is not the extent of Janin's new skills and knowledge. He learns the horrors of body hair in places he'd never realized could grow hair, the joys of peeing off the side of a boat, the embarrassment of a voice which cracks at the most inopportune moments, the awkwardness of learning about a new center of gravity, and the strangely alluring practice of trimming/shaving facial hair into different styles (this one in particular is thanks to Kelly, who had requested Aaren stop singing his facial hair off once they had left Bakersfieldian waters). A new peace settles into his song; and the strains of gratitude play strong and certain whenever he addresses Aaren.
(He also learns a little bit how to speak Esta's language, thanks to a great deal of practice with Slavina and Daina.)
The most recent addition to the party (named Esta, not Vivia, as it soon comes to light she'd been lying) proves skittish for the first week or so of travel, spending time in human shape on the foodbargeturtle which trails behind the ship proper only for relief from the irritation that the water causes her animal-self. (Although throughout this time Kelly tells a different story if/when prompted—apparently she's been coming by every night to hang out with him, and by the end of the week is singing, dancing, and gambling with the night crew. Perhaps this is what precipitates further change.) But soon she begins spending more and more time on the ship proper. By the end of the month, she moves freely about the deck, helping with various chores (even teaching some new knots and techniques for catching fish) and can communicate fairly effectively with gestures and expressions and a heavily accented, very patchwork version of Bakersfieldian.
News from Hometown
With lots of love and support (and a very touching surprise ceremony put on by the rabbitiers), Tris has come to terms with Ulysses's sudden death. She was already on that road, of course, but now it's not so hard to deal with on a daily basis. Mom and Dad are discussing the possibly making the strict three-rabbits-ever limit into more of a no-more-than-two-rabbits-at-a-time limit.
Mom's spending more and more time in the forge again. Lindsay came to her, worried about Felix, because he'd broken down a couple times after coming home from the forge. He's really stressed because he's less than two years away from becoming an adult and he takes criticism pretty hard and Lin's—well, not critical but... not a very patient person, which isn't helped by her additional irritability due to the various discomforts of being pregnant. Mom is actually enjoying herself, and Felix is an apt student and a good kid. Jesse misses being able to randomly play with Gramma, though, and vice versa.
Dad is a little concerned about Maria. On a day-to-day basis he seems to be fine, but he hasn't been interested in making any of his usual trouble since he returned. But Dad's gonna wait to see how Mischief Week goes before he talks to Maria about it.
Vanya and Vir teamed up to educate Dragomir on proper Hometown etiquette! It even worked a little! Enough for him to be bearable, anyway.
Lovrenco has finally managed to find a way to get his Stick Men to work with the blackberry wolves without things going disastrously wrong! They even go on patrols together now! Of course, this is leaving the hunters with little else to do but... well... hunt. And explore, a little bit. With permission from Vir and Vanya, Auntie Harley and a few more hunters commissioned Noi-Noi to lead an expedition in two weeks into New Territory. They plan on being gone for an entire season. This was a bit of a controversial decision. Aya reports that Auntie Jordan's actually pretty upset about it, but she doesn't really care to address that fact.
Overall, though, things are going okay. Various family members (including basically all the babies) are getting over an outbreak of the most recent trendy crud (which entailed rashes, a fever, nausea, and diarrhea but nothing too horrifying). No one's died! (Although old age making its presence known among the elderly folks of Hometown again.)
Stories from Tir na Tearmann
Among the many tales Esta has shared are the following:
There's a fearsome creature known as "Tookllawy" who guards the riches and secrets of the ocean floor. Every so often he emerges from the murky depths to eat. His breath is known to spread disease, and he eats anything that has the misfortune of being around when he's hungry, from plankton to whales. He can be pacified only by his mother's call.
It is said that witches are the female descendants of a goddess known as Mab the Mad. They are born with a hunger for power and an affinity to chaos, bear a strange sense of manners, and try to trick people into eternal servitude—but their cures and spells are unmatched. They also tend to like riddles and games.
Once a man fell in love with a land-dweller, and together they had a child. But the man's lover lived in a very poor family and they were about to cast her and their child out to starve. The man took their son to live with him in the sea so that his lover might continue to have a place to live. She left their son with her necklace—which was made of beads and bones and shells and bore a single pearl. The man promised that he and their son would return in ten years to live with her once more. Indeed, ten years passed and the man and his son returned to the land with a purse full of pearls. But the land-dweller had forgotten her love and her child and was set to be married to another land-dweller. As this fellow was walking the beach one day, he saw the man and his son in their seaskins and sought to possess them so he might give them as a wedding gift to his bride. Such was his cunning that he came upon them unawares and killed and skinned them, taking the boy's necklace and the bag of pearls too as a richer gift. Indeed, the groom presented his bride the gifts. She found the bag of pearls a delight, but upon seeing the necklace remembrance struck her and her heart wavered—and then, when the groom gave her a coat and hat made of seaskins, the bride knew at once what had taken place. In her grief, she flung herself off the bluffs and drowned in the sea.
Slavina
I'm assuming that by now, Slavina is fully fluent in Esta's language and Daina is no longer rusty?
Aaren
Aaren had decided that traveling on a boat is great! It has all the advantages of traveling AND all the advantages of staying in one place! She sings Janin's song, learns more about the river, the fish, the weather, the sailors, continues experiments with trying to hear the difference between Esta's two forms, and generally has a good time learning all kinds of things. (And she gets back to work on making herself wings, listening, rocks, and her various other projects.)
She also enjoys the regular news updates, and the new stories.
And teaching Esta how to sing a song which will help her water-skin be less irritated.
Fate
Aye, Loral!
Slavina
Slavina spends the majority of the journey asleep, invisible, or glued to Janin's side like a strangely-shaped snail. She becomes (very gradually) more energetic as the weeks go on, by the end of the trip spending up to a couple hours a day doing actual activities. Mostly talking with the crew - which, in typical Slavina style, involves pretty much whatever type of interaction will get the reaction most beneficial for her little "family."
As she gains the energy for it, Slavina makes a point to practice Esta's language, making the not-so-gradual transition from barely functional to floridly idiomatic. She also spends time conversing with Janin in Kalba, honing her accent(s), idioms, and intonations.
Daina
I was just wondering just now, if I can make a 'memory roll' to see if the stories I'm hearing jog my memory about anything I might have heard when I was little?
Fate
Sure.
You'll take -2 successes, though, 'cause it's almost been 80% of your life ago.
Daina
yeah makes sense uh knowledge backstory and what other thing?
Fate
Either Int or Wits. Up to you.
Daina
welp I don't remember squat XD
Fate
Yeah. -1 success right there. XD
You probably forgot shit trying to remember!
Daina
[><}
Fate
"Fuck. Bogulya. Who was that again?"
I jest.
Daina
Daina spent a good bit of time making sure her plant turtle child will be fine when they leave. Glad for the interest Slavina shows in the language as it helps her practice. Her work is pretty normal stuff on board aside from that. Helping Frankie blend in better and making sure repeatedly that he's ok with changing up his appearance for this. One more task being trying to be whatever water creature Esta is.. puppy, dolphin sort of..
Slavina
After seeing the teeth, Slavina nominates "river-panther" as a name for this creature.
Fate
I support this. Personally. So hard.
Aaren
Agreed. Aaren is going to transcribe the song of the river-panther for Aya and send it home. I think Quin and Logan the Famous Hero Duet def. need to have one in their adventures.
Fate
Hell to the yes.
Daina
animal perc roll or just have to practice for weeks?
Fate
Oh, Daina can do that pretty quick. We established that last week, I believe.
Daina
[ah ok I musta forgotten my bad
Fate
Soon, the port city of Upesdārgakmens emerges on the horizon, heralded by the passage of other vessels, fishing boats, and then some. The docks, from the planks to the cobbles, are painted in an array of vivid colors and eclectic designs. It looks almost Bakersfieldian, save for the prevalent floral and faunal motifs and nigh Chlovak-esque fractal patterns. Market stands and awnings also bear these design choices, brilliantly distinguishing themselves from the streets with bold, solid colors, starker geometric shapes, and absolutely gorgeous wares. Absolutely prevalent among them is the presence of amber, ranging from rich yellows to deep golden-browns, and honey, taking various guises of raw or colorful confections or mead. (Indeed, some mead stalls offer their mead in tankards crafted of amber or some material like it, and some honey candies bear within them insects or flowers.)
The buildings, likewise, are a similar strange synthesis—tall and narrow, but relatively fresh-looking and made of plaster and wood rather than baked clay and metal and glass. Signs and similar lettering are painted right on the walls (save for the ones that have been carved out of various materials and bolted up), unlike in Bakersfield, and murals are only found every so often rather than on the side of every building.
Here people seeming to be from many walks of life can be found (although the walks are not as varied and the streets are by far not as crowded; also the people are by far more clothed). Popular among the fabrics worn by the people is a strange, soft, furlike fabric that bears two colors at once, the display changing depending on which direction they're beheld or pet. This is not entirely new material—some Bakersfieldians had gone around wearing it but it hadn't reached much past the elites of Bakersfield's Old Town.
This grand, strange, young city is where paths part from the gout-less, scurvy-free, well-fed, well-partied, and very happy captain and sailors—and from Kern River as a whole. The journey leads onward and inward, though exactly to where and how remains to be seen.
Slavina
On the Day Of Arrival, Slavina begins rearranging herself into a presentation more suitable for this particular town: adjusting the fall of her skirt and the drape of her robe, doing her hair and makeup "properly" (by her own rigorous standards of proper) for the first time in over a month, and picking fresh fragrant sprigs of fennel and tansy from the plurtle to weave into her wreathes. She gives Vivia/Esta a similar treatment, though with substantially more attention to the wreathing and less attention to the hair and makeup.
By the time they disembark, she floats and swishes through the streets in a colorful flow of fabric and flora, once more adopting her more expansive, broader style of town-walking. Slavina stays aloof though, speaking only if spoken to and not lingering in front of market stalls or hawkers. She leads them away from the most bustling portion of the port, into a only-somewhat-crowded plaza with indoor shops and a large marble statue. She stops in the statue's shade.
"What now?" She asks.
Daina
Daina bids Plurtle a fond fair well and makes sure they will be a good friend so long as they're treated well. She shows them how to break the tie to the ship, should it become needed. She is somewhat enamored of the color shifting fabric and pauses at a market stall to try and barter to get some for the future. Getting left behind possibly but trying to get some purple and some red fabric.
Aaren
Aaren comes off the ship singing, but quietly, most the harmony for Esta. She's trying to keep a low profile. She will wait for Daina, to make sure the (okay, really actually only slightly) younger girl doesn't get lost.
When they get to the fountain, Aaren will say, "I'd let to get a place to stay so I can get to work. Lots of tooth decay and I'm not sure why."
Fate
Janin follows, quite distracted by the various strains of Kalba that drift from numerous conversations, and a little dazzled by the new sights and smells and sounds. He sticks with Slavina for now, though, because she's the one who knows what she's doing.
Kelly, meanwhile, has prepped, humming his learning song... and relaxes once they set foot on the docks and he can actually see more than a few feet in front of him. The odd fabric catches his attention too. (Luckily the stall owner seems quite used to requests to pet his wares.)
Esta attaches primarily to Kelly, wide-eyed and alert, but unafraid to urge him to someplace or another that draws her attention, ( which in very short order includes colorful confections, sweet-smelling mead, and a very skilled street performer playing a strange stringed instrument) but never long enough to lose sight of Slavina, and never long enough to allow for someone to address her directly.
Once they're gathered in the plaza and Slavina poses her question and Aaren offers her answer, Kelly asks, "Weren't we off to get the thing we were sent to get?" (Yes, his skill at oblique references is in fact as stunning as it seems.)
Slavina
Slavina takes a few mental steps back, and explains, "I'll need some time to find the next leg of our route and we'll need to get supplies. We're looking at a few days in town at least." She lets her eyes linger on Daina and Esta and says, "You both want to go shopping, I assume. Let's arrange accommodations and then I'll take you out." Slavina spins away from the statue and, with a flick of the arm to clear her sleeve, motions them onward.
Daina
Daina shrugs a bit and follows after so they can get settled in. Eyes out for anything cool warmth wise or any new plants she's never seen.
Slavina
She takes them a to the local version of a swan-maiden's-house, a tall building with a flat facade a few minute's walk from the market plaza. There were four on the street, but she used the magic technique of asking a sailor which one to stay at in order to make the best pick. Apparently, this one is a little grimy on the outside, but has very good mead and private saunas!
Slavina makes her way to the clerk's booth and asks (in Kalba) for two rooms and an open meal-tab at the attached restaraunt.
Fate
The lady at the booth nods and begins making notations in her logbook. After a moment, she asks, also in Kalba, "Where are you from?" Her tone is friendly, making conversation.
Slavina
Slavina tilts her head ever so slightly and twists to glance at her companions before turning back to the clerk. "Most recently Bakersfield. Before that...." she flicks a hand forward and back over her shoulder in a here-and-there gesture in lieu of listing all the various places. "This is our first time in Upesdārgakmens.," she adds, giving it a curious and slightly-eager inflection just shy of an actual question.
Aaren
Aaren is listening to the building to learn about how they get water to the private saunas!
Fate
She brightens and says, "Oh! Well, if you get an opportunity, you'll want to visit the glassblowers. They are incredible to watch. Tell them I sent you —" she flashes her nametag, which reads 'Katryna', "— and they'll even serve you some tea and cakes in the break room." She turns around to gather up some keys. "Also, if you can, go eat a meal at 'The Honey Pot' sometime. It's on the pricey side, but the food is very hearty and the performances are always amazing." She scans over everyone, opening the question. "Are you looking to settle and find some work?"
Slavina
Slavina brightens at the information. "Ah, what a treat! We'll have to check it out." At the question, she chuckles. "Settle? No, no, we're just passing through. But if you know someone that would hire for one or two nights?"
Fate
She's speaking in Kalba, to clarify.
Slavina
As an afterthought, she adds with a sweeping hand towards Aaren, "My cousin Renina is a very good healer-sorcerer."
Aaren
When Aaren hears Janin's translation of Katryna's suggestions, she starts to hum her 'interested song' with a fourth voice. "Glass blowers? Why do they blow on the glass?" She asks it in a quiet undertone so as not to interupt the conversation.
Fate
This afterthought makes Katryna's chipper demeanor falter a little, due to startlement, but she picks it back up again and considers.
Meanwhile, Kelly pulls away from craning his neck over Esta's hair (for sniffing purposes) to regard Aaren and Janin, suddenly curious himself. This in turn gets Esta to look between Kelly, Aaren, Janin, and Slavina, finally resting her gaze on Daina, wordlessly asking to be let in on what's going on.
"They blow the glass into shapes," Janin explains.
Kelly's intentness grows.
"Well... um... Sella Endziņa's—that is, the midwife for one of the neighborhoods in the city center—been looking for a doula for a couple of her clients." She gives this some more thought. "But I think that might be a commitment of more than a couple days. Maybe a week or so, depending on when they go into labor." Then she adds, "But if any of you can read, either Bakersfieldian or Kalba, Edvardas Sinkunas over at the haberdashery has been looking for someone to read texts to him throughout the day, last I heard." Katryna returns with the keys but doesn't quite set them down yet. "And there's always loading and unloading to be done on the docks, for you two strapping lads." She offers a friendly smile and buck of her chin. "It pays... less then well, but there's free food and drinks, and if you make a good impression you can get sailors to spring for more drinks for you after hours."
Aaren
Aaren opens her mouth. Aaren shuts her mouth. (This has no real effect on the singing.) "While it's solid?"
Fate
Janin hurriedly finishes up his translation and says, "I think. While it's hot, though. Like welding." He falls to silence uneasily, however, as his lacking explanation only serves to illustrate a lapse in comparison (after all, welding still requires a lot of strength and handiwork and even some hammering, and cannot in the least bit be shaped by blowing on it).
Daina
Daina helpfully translates into the new-ish language she's gotten into the swing of and is curious about the glass blowing stuff as well. Half an ear listening to this.
Aaren
"Okay, lets go see that soon then." Aaren sings smoothly, making shushing motions (apparently to her absent younger siblings) so that Janin and Daina can get back to their difficult jobs unhindered.
Fate
Just as Aaren sings that, Esta suggests the same thing.
Slavina
"Thank you!" Slavina says, gathering her skirt up in one hand for an embelished bow of thanks. "Ah... one more question - what is the name of the city's god? We need to pay our respects..."
Fate
"Bangpūtys," offers Katryna. She sets a big key down. "Room." Then a smaller one next to it. "Sauna." She looks up at them. "There's a charge for lost keys, so keep these close. Kitchen opens at dawn and closes at dusk. Please don't throw litter in the pond in the back, or dispose of cigarette butts or pipeweed in the plants." Then she offers a broad smile. "Welcome to Upesdārgakmens. Enjoy your stay!"
Slavina
Slavina tucks the keys carefully into her sash. She then snaps the threads holding a bracelet-length section of colorful carved-nut beads from her overskirt (one might suspect it had even been designed to be a bracelet). This she presents to Katryna, along with enough coins to cover the first night's stay. "Bangputys," she repeats, as if memorizing the name. "Thank you for your advice. If I may offer some to you: it is an auspicious time for you to offer him a few roosters."
She then says in English as she leads them down the hall, "You got all that, yes? Who wants to keep the keys?"
Aaren
Aaren holds out her hand for them.
Slavina
Slavina passes them over.
Daina
Questions Esta if she's heard of this Bangputys guy.
Fate
Katryna nods to Slavina in gratitude, before they head down the hall.
Kelly also offers a nod to Slavina, in answer to her question.
Janin rubs a hand over his mouth absently (a habit he developed to check for stubble which just kinda stuck). "Yeah. Basically it's heavy lifting or reading or looking for jobs, then." Then he pauses, suddenly struck, stopping short and half-committing to looking over his shoulder. "Did she... call me a 'lad'?"
Esta shakes her head. 'I know nothing here,' she says in her language.
Just then, Kelly takes that opportunity to ask her, 'Understand?' and then motion pointedly to Slavina and the front desk.
To this, Esta pauses, comprehends, and then nods.
Slavina
"No, she called you a strapping lad." Slavina replies, absolutely deadpan.
Fate
A smile blooms over Janin. "Cool," is all he has to say, but there's a bit of a bounce in his step.
Daina
Daina hmms softly and rubs her cheek as she considers. "Ok .. before we go shopping I want to find like..the priests around here.. I want to know more about the gods here" she murmurs.
Slavina
Slavina takes a turn and heads up two flights of stairs, the hallway getting dramatically dimmer as they exit the lobby. Once they're out of public view, her stride settles into something much more subdued and her expression fades into the oddly-empty one she wore for most of the river voyage.
"I think we passed an outreach office on the way here," she says to Daina, using the chlovak term for an official government information office for newcomers. "They could probably tell you where to find a priest."
Aaren
Aaren settles everyone into the room and then generates a quick plan for the next couple of days. (Or however long it takes Slavina to figure out where they are headed next.) Then she allows everyone to move off in their various directions.
She personally joins the information seeking brigade to get questions about local health answered.
Slavina
Slavina - after some nudging from Janin - says that she's very tired and would like to start the wayfinding stuff tomorrow if that's okay pretty please. And suggests that maybe today she could just tag along and translate for them?
Fate
Janin starts by asking what the group as a whole needs. Esta, on the other hand, suggests they go see the glassblowing, like, now. Oh, and get some confections. Oh, and maybe a drink. Or two. After errands, of course. And then find somewhere to dance after nightfall.
As others answer, Kelly merely sings his alert song to keep from completely zoning out (as he's awake in the middle of what's been his sleep cycle for the past month or so).
Slavina
Wayfinding Questions:
- how long till our next stopping point?
- what are the biggest dangers along the way?
- Who should we petition for protection/guidance while travelling, and how?
- What kind of weather should we expect?
- Uh.... insert intelligent question here?
I may have more, but I'll wait for these answers first
Oh! - What route should we take? (I don't need an actual answer for this, just as long as we know Slavina knows)
Aaren
- About the god:
Who is the local god? What is their deal-o? Are they related to Daina? How do people do priest-ing here. - About the fabric:
What is it? How is it made? What kind of thing does it come from? Is it warm? How is it to work with? What colors does it come in? - About birds:
Which is the smallest and least aggresive? What does it eat? If it escapes, will it be able to survive? If it escapes, will it ruin the local ecosystem? How do you take care of it? Can you eat them? How are they best slaughtered and prepared?
4.About health:
Sooo..... is it surgar? Do they have teeth problems because surgar? - Glassblowing:
Aaren just wants to learn about it for a few hours and also listen to the music, no actual questions here other then Aaren is now studying it.
Fate
Slavina
-
A month and a half.
-
Wild animals. Wild spirits. Getting lost. There's also that threat of death on the threshold of your destination, which Slavina already knew from the outset.
-
There's a powerful, utterly wild presence waiting on your journey ahead. She will not guide you or protect you, but, so long as you leave the forest undisturbed, leave animals alone—wolves and hares in particular—and create no fire, she will not cross you either. There's a presence at the edges, too, a flitting, ephemeral, capricious but at the same time rather imposing figure. If you bury a meal of roots and berries and mead or wine at the start of your path, he may help you should you start going astray. There are, also, goddesses of fate and fortune which it can't hurt to petition. They favor the saunas.
-
Mystic signs point to rain, but it's perfectly sunny where you are now, with no sign of rain on the horizon.
-
Slavina knows.
Aaren - Bangpūtys is a stern fellow, cold and uncaring, who doesn't often meddle in any sort of affairs, mortal or divine. He has four sons, each of which are different winds. He also has a daughter, whom he trapped eternally under the sea for falling in love with a mortal.
They don't appear to be related to Daina, but it's hard to say.
Priest-ing here isn't much different, I guess? There are prayers and offerings, priests are called upon to beg favor or forgiveness depending on the situation. I don't know what sort of answer you're looking for.
Of note is that there are plenty of Bakersfieldian priests and temples around.
-
Basically woven a special way, in two thicknesses, with very fine threads (sometimes of two different colors) loop-stitched on every part of the fabric, and then the threads are cut. It simulates fur, basically. It comes frequently from spider silk, and it is reasonably warm but certainly not winter gear. It works like silk usually works. It comes in any colors.
-
It depends on what you prioritize. The smallest birds actually tend to be incredibly aggressive. From there it fluctuates. If you prioritize small, then the wren. If you prioritize non-aggressive, then the finch.
-
Yes. It's sugar.
- Okay, noted. It's super cool because glassblowing is super cool.
Slavina
Cool! Follow-up question: Is the next stopping point on our journey before the "gate" (i.e. death-place), or after it?
Fate
Just before it.
Slavina
Okay. Prior to leaving town, Slavina will petition the goddesses of the sauna with offerings of mead (they like mead, right?) and suitable singing/dancing performances with Daina and Aaren's help. She'll also make sure everyone is aware of the info.
Fate
Alrighty.
Slavina
I'm trying to think if there's any last things to ask on behalf of Mel and Elena.
Fate
They can ask later if they like.
Slavina
True!
Daina
- Daina wants to buy some fabric but isn't sure about it, weight during the journey etc?
- Does the purple crystal produce any noticeable reactions from folks, beyond the usual Oh that's pretty? Just curious.
- If the local god doesn't do much.. why do they worship him?
- Who needs plants grown, is anyone having a hard time providing for themselves etc?
- maybe do a performance while we're here?
- Ask casually about local recipes.
Fate
-
Kelly would point out that Daina can always have Frankie swallow it.
-
It depends on how Daina presents it and to whom, really.
-
Because they want his sons, the winds, to favor them on their journey down the river. Because they want him to notice and bestow favors upon them. Because they want him to remember to spare them if/when he does act for some reason. Because if he didn't exist, they wouldn't exist either so they're grateful. Any number of reasons, really.
-
There's probably a fair number of folks Daina can help out, sure. This town is primarily commerce, trades, and crafts—most of the food is imported. Gardens are primarily for aesthetic pleasure, although a restaurant will occasionally grow their own food.
-
Up to you guys. Neither Kelly and Janin are performers. Esta is mostly going along with everyone else because she wants to be low-key. The fact that she's at risk of being watched by a god makes her nervous.
- Noted.
Slavina
As for 5: Slavina will perform if requested, but only because she doesn't really know how to refuse her "family" asking her to give a performance. I don't think Daina would pick up on that but for sure Janin would.
Daina
Daina is ok with Slavina sitting it out, she should rest up if she needs ta
Aaren
Aaren says hard no to performing. We're supposed to be undercover here, and Daina's dancing has attracted devine notice on several occasions.