Fenna tries to help Kari resuscitate the fisherman.
Kari paused her CPR attempt and tried to use her control over water to remove some of the liquid from Jim's lungs.
Kari places her hand on Jim's chest, the water covering his body shoots off violently in all directions. For a few tense seconds, nothing seems to be happening. Finally, a slow trickle of seawater begins to flow out of Jim's mouth.
He sits up suddenly, coughing violently as he does. Lyra breathes a sigh of relief, before swimming away from the canoe to the skiff Jim was using.
Urram, still in the water, also makes his way to the skiff, arriving some moments before Lyra. He worms his way up onto the small boat and leans down to offer Lyra a hand before looking around the skiff. "Grindlyows." He says in the common tongue. "Attacked the boat. Is this a problem?"
"Probably," Lyra answers curtly. She turns in the water before swimming back to shore without climbing in the boat.
Urram rows the boat slowly back to shore and heads back to the house he shares with Fenna and Kari. He doesn't re-emerge for another hour and a half, when he emerges with Five floating above him, mask firmly in place.
"Grindylows. Not good for colony. What should we do?" He asks his companions, before speaking again - more quietly. "May I ask other question?"
Kari signed with relief when Jim started breathing again. "That was a little too close! We thought we'd lost you there."
When she had a chance to talk to Fenna and Urram togerther, she said, "We're going to have to do something about those Grindylows. Does anyone know what language they speak? If they won't stop attacking people, we're going to have to kill them or drive them off!"
"I can try." Urram offers, although without much passion. "I speak much under the sea. Unless they speak like goblin. I cannot master the sounds of that."
As Fenna and Kari return to the dock with fisherman Jim (who confirms the grindylows tipped over his boat to steal his morning catch) a crowd has gathered. They cheer and clap as you draw near. Alba is there to see to Jim, and takes him away to see to his health. Seeing Urram, still behind the canoe thanks to his single oar, Ramona corners Fenna and Kari. She requests the two of them join her, without the Spire elf.
When Urram finally arrives at the dock, the crowd has mostly dispersed, but there are a few who thank him before he retreats to the Levin Farm.
Kari waved to the crowd as they approached the dock. She disembarked from the canoe and praised Hrolf for waiting patiently.
When Ramona asked her and Fenna to join her, before Urram had made his way back, she wondered what was going on. She followed the colony leader and waited to find out what she had to say.
Fenna is too busy with Fisherman Jim to notice the odd exchange between Lyra and Urram.
When they're back to shore with Jim out of the canoe, she goes with Ramona when asked. "Shouldn't we wait a minute for Urram to get here too?"
Ramona returns the question with a stern gaze, shaking her head. As she turns and begins walking back to the colony, Carver Hastings falls in with Ramona. It's clear she wants to speak privately.
Inside the Government House, Ramona wastes no time. "Carver here has some questions about our friend Urram," Ramona speaks suspiciously. She folds her arms and regards the man. It's finally clear that her intense frustration seems to be with Carver.
Alone with three upset women and a wolf staring him down, Carver suddenly looks worried.
"Look, I just think we might want some answers, that's all," he stammers defensively. "The Mordant Spire does NOT want us here. They have agents all over the Inner Sea whose only goal is shutting down expeditions exactly like ours."
"How did he know where to find our colony in the first place? he continues.
Kari tried to remember what she knew about the Mordant Spire.
"I've had no reason to question his motives so far," she said.
Fenna doesn't quite know what to make of the conversation. It seems out of nowhere, something that she'd figured would be hashed out a couple of days ago rather than now. Why is he bringing this up?
"Well,... Urram seems very sincere, and he's been nothing but helpful. The mask makes it hard to read his face of course, but there's nothing in his voice I can hear to suggest he might be lying about anything, or holding something back."
"I can't I know much about the Mordant Spire, or the elves there, but I guess I don't see what they gain by trying to be clever and deceptive. If they want us gone badly, honestly can't they just come and wipe us out?"
"I've just assumed he's has some contact, or will be in contact again with the Mordant Spire. He's said as much when he told us he was sent. But what's there to find out by spying? The veggies we'll be planting? What we'll repair next? Even if he's telling them about us, it's not necessarily threatening, and he's been good to have around."
"Is that sort of thing what this is about?"
"This is... This is about answers," Carver retorts.
"He thinks you're under his spell," Ramona admits for him.
"I said they might be," Carver concedes.
Ramona rolls her eyes. "If you're satisfied, then perhaps we can hear from Urram himself." She moves to the door, and calls out to someone to go bring Urram into the discussion.
Urram comes when summoned.
"You want to... talk to me?"
Kari was confused by Carver's allegation. "What do you mean, 'under his spell'?", she asked. "Are you suggesting he's conning us, or do you mean that literally?"
"Well, whatever it is," Carver is getting defensive now, "he appears to be quite the talented magic-user. I asked Lyra last night if she knew anything about the elf, but she didn't have much to say."
"You went to Lyra with these accusations?" Ramona, already upset, takes a step toward Carver like she might strike him, but restrains herself.
"I thought she might offer more insight about him," Carver responds. "I didn't know everyone would be so upset that I'm concerned about an outsider in our colony. Especially with everything else we don't know about the last group."
"Urram will be here shortly," Ramona says dismissively as she rubs her brow. "You can ask him yourself."
"The first step to finding out about Urram should be talking to Urram," Kari opined. It seemed to her that Carver was making assumptions about the elf's motivations based on suspicion, rather than facts.
"I haven't seen any indications of him trying to magically influence us. My impression is that Urram is a young elf looking to make his own way in the world. I don't think we should assign malign motives to him without evidence."
She saw Urram approaching. "Hi Urram, come and join us; we're talking about what's on the minds of the colonists. The mystery surrounding the previous colonists is making people uneasy, and fueling wild speculation."
Urram looks from one to the other, his agile mind putting the pieces together swiftly. "You think... I am part of it?" He asks. Walking over to Carver he leans in close to the older man, staring deep into his eyes. "We all have secrets... Mr Hastings." Stepping back he looks to Ramona. "Do you know my tongue? A vow sworn in it is... the most strong... none from the Spire make false promise in the old tongue."
Leaning against a desk, his arms crossed, Carver is doesn't respond to Kari's chiding remarks. When Urram enters and Kari explains to the elf the purpose of the meeting, he is likewise silent. His expression changes to a smug grin as Urram comes in close.
"Vestrum lingua loquor, elf," Carver rudely responds to Urram's question for Ramona. Ramona looks a litte surprised, but doesn't appear to understand the language.
"Mirari te scire scit et vetera plurima," the old man seems to have found a bit of confidence. "Scio populum tuum, ut sciam meus. Scio quod dryadales in vi metuve seu concupierunt agros his et illis dici quod praecepta decalogi."
Ego sum curiosus quod facit unique tibi in populum, Urram," Carver's voice turns sarcastily inquisitive, which sounds unnattural in the Azlanti tongue. "Quare observare nos offerret adiutorium sicut insidiatores."
"I speak your tongue, elf."
"And you'll be surprised to know this old man knows a great many things. I know of your people, as you know of mine. I know that the elves of the Spire covet these lands, and claim them as theirs."
"I'm curious what makes you unique among your people, Urram. Why would you offer aid to us as others conspire to keep us away?"
"Scio autem vestrum Carver Hastings." Urram responds, his tone dropping low and threatening. "quid nunc te melioribus offer dico si quis vobis vere cognovi quia laboravi? Praeclarum est enim invenire possit ex propriis cum instrumenta et non opus est ut nota ut dormiam. pulcherrima orbis habes. Azlanti puto."
Behind the mask Urram's eyes are cold and he suddenly does seem alien - different from all the others in the room. "Verum ipse, antequam alia consilia disputare."
Suddenly he switches back to the common tongue, which suddenly sounds even more biting. "I help because I am better than those others. Some of you are worthy of my aid, and I do not want them to die. You though..." The air thrums around Urram's hand, a wavering that sets teeth on edge. "You are not worthy."
He turns and walks towards the door, before turning back. "Kari, Fenna, Ramona. I speak with you again. To know me, ask Lyra - before he gets her again." With that Urram sweeps out, he marches straight down into the water and vanishes from sight into the waves.
"What would your masters say if they knew who you were really working for? It is remarkable what one can find out with the proper tools and help that doesn't sleep. You have a very pretty compass. Azlanti I believe."
"Tell the truth yourself, before you lecture others on their secrets."
A crowd is gathered outside the door. Startled, they part for Urram as he walks through the congregation down to the beach.
"Intense guy," Carver remarks, gloating at Ramona as he goes to leave, shutting the door behind him as he does.
"To think how hard I fought for this job," Ramona sighs as she circles the desk to sit. "Sorry to ambush you guys with this. Carver's been in here all morning with his 'questions about the outsider'. He insisted it was a 'matter for the colonists to decide'. I appreciate you standing up for Urram."
Kari felt blindsided by the intense drama that had occurred. She asked Ramona, "I'm feeling at a disadvantage here. Do you know why Carver is so suspicious? I'd also appreciate it if you could fill me in on what you know about Urram's background, and how he came here."
Fenna loses track of the conversation entirely when it switches away from Taldane. She can tell Urram's and Carver's exchange isn't cordial, to say the least.
In any case, she decides it's better if she stays out of things and remains silent. She's already decided more or less what position she will play in the little drama, and began staking it out when giving her opinion of Urram.
It had been immediately obvious that Ramona didn't have patience for Carver's conspiracy theories. But, she is also ultimately responsible and must be cautious if there are possible dangers.
Kari had shown no reservations speaking in favor of Urram. Fenna believes this puts Kari in line with Ramona's feelings.
Carver is more difficult for Fenna to figure out. It's clear he's certain Urram has malicious intent, but the way he's argued seems to hint at more to Fenna. It isn't an objective conclusion regarding the safety of the colony, it's also personal in some way. Carver is making a play of some sort. He wants to accomplish something for himself. The first thing that comes to Fenna's mind is jealousy. But there are many, many more possibilities. He could want to displace Ramona, or maybe he just hates elves.
Whatever it is Carver is showing passion, and he's also isolated. Without polling all the colonists she can't be sure, but Carver seems to be alone in his opinions. He's not going to win the debate, and is no threat in that way to Urram, but shutting him down totally won't make the problem go away. There's enough documentation from the earlier settlers for Fenna to know there had been a serious split among them over something. It may not have been the reason for their disappearance, but Fenna worries it may not have helped them when faced with whatever did cause it. She's not anxious for history to repeat itself.
Fenna decides her job will be to prevent divisions. That starts with giving Carver a little credit so he can save face. She doesn't know much about the subjects in question, the Mordent Spire and so forth, but from what they do know about the colony's brief and disturbing history so far, prudence isn't unreasonable anyway.
"Sorry, are those layabouts still out there?" Ramona stands up and goes to the door, flinging it open. "I know you all have jobs to do," she calls out to the stragglers. She finally shuts the door and returns to her desk.
"Urram, yes. That was unexpected..IS unexpected," Ramona's voice finally calm. "We after we dropped you off, we made our way up to the rendezvous point. I went ashore with a couple of the gaurds. We found some fresh water. On the third day, I sailed back with them early, hoping you two would show up, and Urram wandered up out of the jungle. He said he was here to help, and he had that stone with him, the one he calls Five. This was maybe a few hours before we spotted you two walking up the beach. I certainly never met the guy before."
"I certainly can't deny that he's an odd sort, but seems genuinely helpful," she picks up absentmindedly picks up and drops a stack of papers on her desk. "Carver at me with this morning with this 'outsider' business. Apparently, he accosted Lyra last night with all this. Who knows how many others? I've got half the colonists I'm supposed to have, and we still don't know why. And to top it all off, I hear we have an issue with the local goblinoids."
Hrolf rounds the desk to set his head in Ramona's lap.
"So, wow, that just happened" Fenna says with surprise.
"Like I said before, I don't think there's anything to Carver's suspicions. Urram is a bit odd. But then he's from some ancient, isolated, mid-ocean elven enclave so I guess that's to be expected. He's done nothing but be helpful, hasn't even asked any prying questions as far as I know. And I personally suspect he's a terrible liar, so not a great choice for spying if the Mordent Spire folks were sending someone for that."
"But, aside from three bodies accounted for so far, everyone here from before is gone. Carver's concerns aren't irrational, he's just over overly sure I think. A certain amount of caution isn't a bad idea."
Fenna considers for a moment and continues. "Ramona, if you want to placate Carver some, show him that he's taken seriously by you, tell him you asked me to keep an eye on Urram. I'll do it too, just for the sake covering all the possibilities. Maybe Carver will change, soften on this some given more time. At the least it should keep him quiet for a while."
Ramona is deep in thought as she rubs Hrolfs head.
"Okay, that's...that's a great idea," she sounds relieved. "Maybe you guys make yourself scarce tomorrow and see if you can make any headway on the grindylow problem. Maybe just find out where they live. I'll get out there and get some work done while I find out if Carver's in anyone else's ear."
Kari replied, "I think we've got a good idea where some Grindylows live. We saw one yesterday near the waterfall! Lyra said there was a sea cave nearby.
"Speaking of Lyra, I'm going to see if I can find her, and get her take on what Carver said to her."
She bid Ramona farewell and went to collect Hrolf, before setting out in search of Lyra Heatherly.
Under the waves Urram seethes and, for the first time, begins to feel some sympathy for the attitudes which have isolated his people for so many centuries. Foolish human! To have the arrogance to think he knows best, he is a child, a babe compared to the youngest of the antiquissimi, and he thinks I mean him harm? With his azlanti bauble and the 'great knowledge' his finders scavenged from these lands? Well - i shall show him!
Urram swims smoothly away from Talmandor's Bounty, curving around the island towards where they saw the grindylow yesterday. I will find their lair - let us see what he says to that.
Urram goes for a swim to cool off. He spots a bit of tackle resting atop the corral near the place where Jim was attacked. As he exits the warm water of the bay, he's greeted by the deep expanse of The Shattered Conitinent, the once glorious civilzation now just spires rising from the depths.
After swimming angrily along the coast, Urram suddenly realizes he hasn't been tracking his own progress, and has seen no signs of grindylow.
------
Kari and Hrolf search for Lyra for a good while, finally stumbling upon the half-elf on the far northern edge of the beach, staring out into the bay alone.
Kari could tell that something was bothering Lyra. "Mind if I join you?", she asked. She sat down beside the half-elf; after a moment she spoke again: "I wanted to ask you about a comment that Carver Hastings made today. He said that he had talked to you yesterday about Urram; he seems to think that Urram has been sent by the Mordant Spire to spy on us or something! I don't quite understand what's got him so worked up."
Lyra sits quietly where the sand of the beach meets the grass. She is holding her knees to her chest, and her face has streaks of tears.
"Carver...uh, he found me in my tent last night. He had a bunch of questions about Urram." She speaks very calmly, and Hrolf moves over to sit with her as she talks, which instantly relaxes the half-elf.
"He said the elves of Mordent Spire, have controlled Azlant for centuries. That they prevent expeditions here by any means necessary. I told him Urram wasn't like that at all, that he was here to help, but he wouldn't believe me."
"I really screwed things up," she sighs deeply.
Kari was pretty sure there must be something that Lyra wasn't telling her. She replied, "Why do say that? I can't see that you've done anything wrong."
Far out in the ocean Urram, finally calmed by the long swim, floats underwater for a while as Five pulses gently in front of him. With a long sigh he admits defeat and turns back the way he came, swimming slowly and feeling the currents - letting them draw him back to Talmandor's Bounty.
Fenna doesn't go with Kari to find Lyra. She has a feeling that something else is bothering Lyra, doubting questions from Carver would upset her as much as she seemed to be earlier.
Instead she finds some things to do at the colony while she waits to be able to talk to Lyra in private.
"I told Carver he was crazy, that Urram wasn't trying to hurt the colony," Lyra tenses. "When I saw Urram this morning though, I was overcome. I said some terrible things Kari...I ruined everything."
-----------
Fenna's hunt for some work to help with lasts less than a minute; the colonists are working on raising more posts for the palisade on the western edge of the settlement. It's grueling work, but she's able to keep an eye on the beach. Eventually, Lyra joins the team raising posts, but she seems to be ignoring whatever was bothering her. "Later," she says simply when Fenna tries to speak to her. When Urram finally returns late in the day, Fenna quickly spots him.
-----------
The draw of the cool sea waters combined with Five's rhythmic pulses bring Urram into a familiar meditative state. As he draws nearer to Talmandor's Bounty, he can see the light of the sun fading, even from below the surface. He emerges, seeing a crew of workman on the western palisade, and clearly spots Fenna's red locks shining among them.
Urram comes out of the water dripping wet and grows as he heads up the beach until he stands well over ten feet tall - with his added size he easily pulls the logs into the proper place in the palisade and holds them in place as the others drive them into the ground, silent all the while.
He catches Fenna's eye and nods shortly without comment.
"Is there any way I can help? I could speak to Urram if you like," Kari suggested to Lyra.
"You've helped," Lyra says with a sincere smile. "Thank you."
------
As Urram exits the water, using his magic to increase his size, he is met with gazes of shock at first, but the workers fall in and help him set the posts, albeit hesitantly. After a couple minutes, Urram shrinks down to his normal size, and the workers thank him before continuing. Urram sees Lyra among the workers, smiling kindly from a few feet away.
Kari returned to the colony with Lyra. She and Hrolf helped out with raising the posts; Kari tied a rope to the harness, and Hrolf pulled.
When the work was done, she congratulated her companion, "Well done, Hrolf. You were a big help!" She reached into her pocket and gave him a special treat.
Hrolf wagged his tail; he liked treats.
"Tomorrow I will help again." Urram offers, before returning to the house he shares with Kari, Fenna and Hrolf.
There he does very little - staring off into space as his hands assemble and disassemble components without conscious thought.
After the work was done, she talked to Fenna and Urram. "I spoke with Lyra this afternoon. She said that when Carver talked to her about you yesterday, Urram, she told him that he was wrong, and that you weren't doing anything against the colony."
Later on, Kari talked to Urram privately.
"Lyra said she talked to you this morning. She didn't say what it was about, but it sounds like she said some things that she regrets. I just thought you should know that."
Fenna returns Urram's nod with a smile. Whether he's thinking of it or not, that's some very good public relations. Very helpful.
After work Fenna doesn't go back to the house right away. She stays on in the compound area for a while, chatting and socializing so Lyra will have ample opportunity to find her if she wants.
She isn't sure whether Lyra meant her "Later", or if was a way of dodging a conversation all together. Either way, Fenna decides she won't push the subject any further.
After the work was done, she talked to Fenna and Urram. "I spoke with Lyra this afternoon. She said that when Carver talked to her about you yesterday, Urram, she told him that he was wrong, and that you weren't doing anything against the colony."
Later on, Kari talked to Urram privately.
"Lyra said she talked to you this morning. She didn't say what it was about, but it sounds like she said some things that she regrets. I just thought you should know that."
"Thank you." Urram looks up, his face covered by his mask and his voice quiet. "That is helpful." He doesn't seem inclined to discuss the matter anymore than that.
"I'm going to turn in," Kari told the others. "See you in the morning."