Nempura's hair rests loose this day, cascading long down her neck and to her lower back. Like a scintillating show of lights, it blows in the breeze behind her like some creature rising from deep recesses unknown. While the image of her on the water might seem serene from a distance, there is worry on Nempura's face the further along she goes. It is a silent ride this morning but for her song and the occasional squawk of a bird above.
"Can it be because of the Pilgrimage? No...it still should be busy here. Where is everyone? Some event?"
That silence is broken when in almost a mournful cry that threatens to drop her to her knees, she mutters the words "Turin?"
Deep confusion sets in on her face and when her boat needs to be maintained by song, she refocuses and strengthens herself for the sake of her allies.
"He's...It can't be him..." Staring hard as they approach, she seems to relax as it turns out to be Burne.
"Oh...it is his brother. This is the Chord's son. Be respectful my friends. He is an important figure here."
Awestruck still she answers in song still, "I came from Vi Thanh after pilgrimage southbound when troubles struck there. Burne, these are my friends and companions, Freya, Badbhb, Kapelo, and Ohkwarikó. What is going on here?" she gestures to the mystery of the empty River lanes.
The travelers approach the bank of the river and as Nempura's craft draws up Badhbh lands, transforming a few feet off the ground and dropping nimbly onto the balls of his feet on the riverside.
His hair, in contrast to Nempura's, seems to fall in messy slow motion around him, caught in eddies that no-one else can feel.
"There are fewer boats than I expected." He seems to finish Nempura's last sentence.
"Did you see anything coming your way that might explain this?" Kapelo eyed the newcomer warily, but if Nempura knows him he suspected a certain level of trustworthiness was reasonably expected. He shivered once more at the thought of more of these boats, but if this is a pilgrimage or trade lane, surely there should be something more here.
Burne's brow is heavy with suspicion, ignoring the questions for now. In Undine, he says, "Why did you bring so many outsiders with you, chi?"
Nempura will answer Kapelo with a shake of her head, "no", and it clearly worries her. At Burne's address, she shifts uncomfortably but hides it behind bow to him.
"We are heading Northbound to Hearth. A sinister foe has betrayed us to the Dark. My allies and I here have come to speak with your father and mother to inform them of what troubles have fallen on the land south. To warn them of this foe..." she voices softly.
Her tone, gentle and almost weak, is the result of not knowing what to say to someone who probably cares greatly for her. Burne is like a brother to her. She has been raised up alongside him, but now all she can see is Turin when she looks at him and it hurts. Since that fateful day, she has been inconsolable; especially in his presence. Although those feelings have calmed in recent months of solitude, travel, and her recent adversity, even now he would hear the pain in the subtleties of her song and words. Once upon a time, there was delight and laughter around him at all times from her. Now, she is reverent and respectful--as one paying homage to his position--instead of an attitude as one would have similar to a sister.
Burne nods at Nempura's words. He seems sad, or resigned. Still in Undine, he says,
"Yes, we've had our own troubles here. A foe of our own. Just answer me one question, chi. What was my brother Turin's favorite book?"
For those who cannot understand Turin, you can read his stern facial expression easily enough. This is not the welcome that Nempura told you to expect.
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Hrm, what is happening here? Kapelo muses, trying now to size up the undines, sword hand now off the hilt of his blade, for to draw it such would be a dishonor, palm turned towards the unknowns to show them that it was empty to his side.
He glances at Nempura, as if waiting for her to show a sign to attack.
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Nempura will look a bit red in the cheeks for a moment. Then, turning to her companions, she explains, "There have been troubles here too. We are validating who we are to each other."
She then will mutter something more in Undine:
"Who was the one who had that book before him?" "And probably bought it himself!"
A small smile begins to grow on her lips at whatever it is that she says to the el before them.
Sensing Kapelo's readiness for action, she glances back in a way that says "no" again in answer to his non-verbal desire for a cue. With Badbhb onshore, she angles the boats to move a bit closer to him.
Badhbh hops back from the el. Not wanting to seem to intimidate him or force action.
"Curious"
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Freya stays quiet, letting Nempura do the talking. The less attention she drew to herself and what she was carrying, the better. The paladin gives no indication if she understands what the undines are saying.
Burne blushes at Nempura's question, the effect a slight purple on his already dark blue coloring.
He stammers, "Did, did he tell you I bought it? He swore he would not...!" He shakes his head, laughing a bit. "But I suppose he could never keep anything from you, chi." Sighing, he says, "It does my humors well to see you again, Nempura. We had feared for your safety. But I will say no more for now. The Chord will surely wish to see you."
The tension is suddenly broken when Burne laughs after answering Nempura's question. In Common now, he says, "I apologize, friends of Nempura. Rudeness was not my goal; I invite all of you now to round the bend and see the splendor of Gấp Gáp Thác Nước, if you will forgive my discourtesy." He bows, but only slightly.
"You invite us to go 'round the bend'?
Badhbh smiles wryly and hops from one foot to the other before cocking his head and flitting off in the direction the el indicates, he does not return the bow.
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Freya's only response is a slight nod. The paladin visibly relaxes, but still keeps her bag close to herself. If Nempura knows this el, then he's probably not working with Ky La. Still, seems this place is not as familiar to the Princess as she'd like.
Freya peers over the waterways and notes the lack of traffic with suspicion. Concerned, she focuses her senses for the presence of Dark and slowly inspects her surroundings.
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"And I wish to see him too...," she replies in common, "And it was good to see you again, Burne." There is something there in the tone of her voice. A certain warmth that has not been there for many moons.
She will gesture to the, now flying, Badbhb, with a delightful chuckle.
"He is like that."
Badbhb will see the magnificence of Rushing Falls in its whole glory, even in the likes that Nempura has not seen. His eyes will pierce the depths of River and see the Abyss and the mighty schools of fish being farmed, as well as seaweed beds being harvested near the shores. It also sits on a pearl beach, so there are many shimmering things there to catch his eye. Beautiful jewelry is often cleaned and polished in the flow of River, but Nempura wonders if such an action will be being carried out right now due to their own troubles.
When Burne leads the way, she will follow behind in song, pushing the boat onward.
"You seem focused," she comments to Freya. "I hope we have not arrived into similar troubles as before."
"Hrm," Kapelo snorts at the el's words about splendor, As if it can hold a candle to Hearth itself!
Then he says at a low volume, not a whisper as some might errantly make, the whisper and hush straining their voice and making their utterance more noticeable, but an ordinary spoken word at as low volume, "Is there anything we should know of this place, Nempura?"
Nempura, Burne's mind is seemingly elsewhere; perhaps he also sees the ghost of Turin beside you. As Badhbh takes a lazy, wheeling turn, Burne calls out, but the impulsive Magpie is far away from the concerns of the ground.
Badhbh, Rushing Falls begins above the eponymous waterfall. You appreciate the sheer scope of the spectacle: all of River flows and leaps downward in a wide series of showering cascades. The whole view is wider than three brutbreve fields combined, all roaring with River's might. You see a raft-town right on the edge of the drop, swarming with undines. Away from the River bank now you see great houses, built right upon the edge of the cliffs, surrounded by walls like small cities, commanding a grand view of the town below. You count eight in all, four on each side of River.
After the drop, you see the sprawl of the marketplace, stretching for miles. You see a pattern - clusters of permanent buildings made of wood, likely inns and taverns catering to travels; and scattered about these are woven huts, and carts, and wagons, the temporary dwellings of merchants. Your sharp eyes pick out more dense crowds of elens here as well.
Nempura, Burne growls to himself and speeds his iceboat on with a crescendo. "Bird! You are not go on without an escort!"
Seen from below, the cliffs of Rushing Falls tower above you, the eight houses like dignified old els in peaked hats glancing down at you, amused. The spray from the cascades falls in a strange manner, obviously magical; it is watersung toward the far fields of rice and grains, an invisible irrigation system to feed the vast population of undines.
You get some sense of the scale of the marketplace - the grand welcoming gates, done in the ancient serpentine style, by themselves seem to support an entire neighborhood of guards and smiths and cooks. Burne waves at them, and they let both the boats through without delay.
Freya and Kapelo, glancing over the side of the iceboat, you get a small taste of the true depths of Rushing Falls - you see no bottom, simply a fading into darkness and deepness.
Badhbh is already a fair distance away when he hears Burne's words, clearly carried on the wind.
Plausible deniability
Freya shivered, and this time it had nothing to do with the ice boat. Water this deep was one of the last places the paladin wanted to go. If times were in more calm, she'd be walking on the road instead. Probably would have avoided the city altogether.
Badhbh is drawn to the abyss below.
Only the perpetual waves and surface currents from the awesome falls broke the illusion that he could drop and fly and keep on plunging through air...
His reverie is broken when the unthinkable happens, Air catches him off guard, punishing him for his dalliance with the water below. He had strayed closer to the cliffs than he realised and a huge updraft momentarily rocked him. He adjusted quickly but was forced to resign himself to the currents and quickly ascend.
He takes the opportunity to assuage his interest in the citadels at the top of the falls, swooping as low as he dares over each in turn.
Badhbh, before you look too closely at the house closest to the shoreline, a shard of ice flies at you from below, missing by only a few feet. You hear angry voices and see undines assembling, watching your flight, yelling, and pointing.
"Ahh, home..." she mutters to herself as she sings the boat further on. To Kapelo, she shakes her head. "Just as in any unknown city, be respectful of what you don't know. Try your best not to do crime, and seek to appease those in power over you. Believe it or not, underneath us are many dwellings. See these pipes over here? They go down to these homes and give them air and channels for fireplaces in submerged rooms. It is beautifully quiet there."
She considers restricting Burne from calling out after Badbhb, but it isn't her place. She has no authority to ask him to calm down and to trust her. She just moves to the gates. She does, however, catch up to him and will speak humbly:
"His actions are on my head."
Perhaps that would get him to trust her? She can't be sure, but she will direct her boat to follow him. Her eyes go to Freya for a moment to ensure she's alright.
"We'll hopefully get that room for you soon, and a nice warm fire. Believe it or not, though we don't experience the cold like you, some of us do keep fires for cooking and other tasks such as lighting. Not everything is freezing like River."
Nempura, Burne looks at you coldly for a moment. "You might not speak so glibly if you knew what the penalty could be." The undine, still piloting his iceboat toward the gates, dips his hand in the water - a maneuver you know well - he is sending a brief missive upRiver, through the current itself.
Being educated in matters of the law, especially regarding times such as states of emergency, Nempura knows what she has said.
"I'm aware. Please, be merciful. Sylph are not like us. I am certain he is unaware and not malicious at heart."
She knows that he could easily command many to bring down Badhbh (not including those who are already alerted and shooting at him) with extreme prejudice, but she asks Burne in a tone that hopefully will appeal to him.
She will pilot her boat to the dock that Burne would be escorting them to so that her companions may disembark her vessel for "dry" land.
Nearly the second the boat touches the dock, Kapelo leaps the side onto the firm ground. It is not the ground I may wish to tread, but anything to be off these accursed boats and waters.
"A fire would be nice. To scare this chill from my bones. Surely our friend means no harm? He is only embracing the nature of his kind."
Burne says nothing to Nempura's plea. His eyes averted from her, he simply dips his hand in the water once more. You can almost sense the speed of the message as it zings upRiver even scrambling up the distant, thundering falls. In less than two heartbeats, the missive has been sent and received.
The attacks on Badhbh cease.
Nempura, after disembarking, Burne walks over before you have a chance to step onto the land directly. He addresses you in an overly polite way, almost the feel of a ritual. Using your most formal of names, he says,
"Lady Lảm Nhảm Suối, while your father is away north at the behest of singer and siren alike, your safety has been placed in the care of my family. Do you accept our hospitality?"
Kapelo, with the flick of his hand, Burne silently commands several nearby undines, clearly servants, to tend to your needs; all this without missing a beat of conversation with Nempura.
Speaking in Common, the servants, ele and el, ask if there is anything besides a fire that you need. Food? Wine?
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Kapelo bows to their host, giving a side eyed glance at Nempura, "No, no, that is most gracious- most gracious indeed. A fire to warm my bones and somewhere I might make my toilette to present a better face when we speak again than this travel worn outfit you find me in now and I shall be satisfied."
I will trust Nempura might gain more information from our host without my clodding around in the way, better to let her try before doing any. . . direct observation of my own
"I will await hearing from you," her says to his companion, "perhaps later we might undertake a tour of this marvelous city." Though compared to Hearth, what city could hold even a candle? Compared to the wonders of the Duke's palace, and the beauty of the duchess. . . as Kapelo lapsed into musing on his past, he allowed the servants to lead him away, "On second thought- wine would be nice. Or spirits."
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Shockingly, perhaps to him, a look of fondness passes over Nempura's face as Burne reaches into the water once more. The others here do not realize the kindness he has shown or the rarity that he would have changed his orders. It is purely because he cares for her--she is certain.
He then reveals her father has gone north, which seems to trouble her more than he would realize that it would have. Whatever feelings of adoration, warmth, or even perhaps a degree of attraction fade within her and are replaced with situational dread. Despite this, she replies with a bow. Her reaction perfectly a fitting response to a royal from one of her position to him.
He will detect a slight wavering in her tone of worry for a moment. She is willing to follow him and will hand her gear over to one of the servants with a kind smile.
To Kapelo, and with a glance to Freya, she responds, "I promised you a nice bath and massage, entertainment and relaxation when we arrived. These will be provided to you in excess, I'm sure. Enjoy yourselves. I will speak with Burne and learn what has happened."
Kapelo, you (and Freya, Badhbh, and Oak together) are taken to a nearby waystation that is tavern, inn, and teahouse all in one - you are nearly smothered with pleasantries - compliments from the servants ; lightly enchanted robes that grant water breathing for a short time ; hot baths; fireplaces within your bedrooms; and an odd crystal-blue wine that you at first disdain...then try. It is to the blueberry as a light red wine is to the grape. Regardless of the taste, and more to the point, it is potent, and even a few sips grant a hint of euphoria and mild relaxation.
Badhbh, flying down to land on Kapelo's shoulder, says nothing, and takes no wine. Plausible deniability.
Yes please...share with us all that has transpired here, and why my father has unexpectedly gone North."
Nempura, Burne frowns at you, resemblance to Turin fading into a stern patriarchal expression. In a tone of finality, he says,
"I will not speak of your Father's business in front of these đấtđai."
"Please stay safe, Lady Nempura. There have been so many strange things in our short journeys so far. We shall talk soon, I believe." His eyes are far away, as if he is already seeing your next conversation.
***
Oak takes one very small taste of the blue wine. "Ah. Well, I will be keeping watch tonight anyway, so it is just as well the drinks are not to my taste." Reaching for the sole oread fare in the room--polished beachstones piled in a large earthenware bowl--he grabs another handful of smooth stones, throwing half into his mouth, crunching, saving the other half in his fist for later.
Freya's intrest is piqued by the offered drink but only samples the wine. I'd have thought they would use sea grapes?
When the lot of them are gathered, Freya voices her concerns. "The city seems locked down, something's been going on. Apparently Nempura's father has left town and that she's now under the care of that puffed up pogona back there. They seem intent on keeping us in the dark about it too."
The paladin looks to Kapelo, with mixed feelings. "You're the one with the most experience with these noble types, what do you think we should do, Kapelo?" The inflection on the word "noble" is not a flattering one.
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"Perhaps we should start by getting heartily drunk? It wouldn't hurt, at least," Kapelo says as he downs his second glass of the wine-like drink, "Best to let Nempura learn what she can tonight. Get a good night's rest in a warm bed, and then see what the lay of the land in the morning."
Kapelo scratches his chin, "Nobles rarely make decisions too hastily, if they make decisions at all. If we can find out who the true movers are- the ones whispering in the official leader's ears, then we could treat with them, perhaps."
"Lady Nempura does seem quite adept at charming information out of people. I have every confidence in her success."
Rising from his loud meal, Oak says, "If you will excuse me. I feel a dream calling to me." He yawns, and stretches. "I will take a watch in the late hours."
"Yes. We will Ohkwariko. Enjoy yourself."
She will bow respectfully to him and will ready herself to leave. Saying farewell to her companions, she will follow Burne.
As she leaves, her companions would note that she is walking very close to him; not as a subservient follower, but much like family would.
She disappears with him away from even the servants. Gently, she will place her lithe hand upon his shoulder pleadingly and will look up into his eyes.
"You have my soul troubled...," she will state with a sharp intake of breath. It is clear that she has tried to stay "strong" up until now. Having never seen him or her home like this, and with her father heading toward the north, she is devastatingly worried.
Nempura, a pained expression crosses his face. He stops walking, away from the shore for now. "I would not see your soul troubled, chi. If I had answers in my net, I would give them to you, but my own father is keeping his own counsel currently. "
After a moment of silence, Burne looking distantly at the roaring falls, he seems to change the subject saying, "There have been...false elens. People that look like a family member, or a friend, but are treacherous lookalikes. There have been two discovered just in the last week. There is paranoia, accusations...just the suspicion alone is an enemy."
A deep sigh. "So if my father seems angry, or rude, just know that that is the reason, not anything that you have done."
"I need to speak with him regardless, Burne." She will take in a deep breath. "I know the man behind it. He must have become more powerful than we knew. We seek to stop him...my companions and me. Though it seems a hopeless task..." she considers given the doom that has just been revealed to her. On what scale has Ky La become? Could Yorse help them defeat him? Perhaps like in Vi Thahn, there was a presence of Dark here helping Ky La?
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Freya does not feel particularly threatened, but she takes the precaution of observing the surroundings and servants with her Detect Evil ability. She feigns interest in the servants indivdually, asking them basic questions about themselves and their master all while scanning them for corruption. These are unfamiliar lands, the last thing I need to do is get lax when Yorse needs my protection.
Despite her usual terse manner, Freya is capable of conversation and actually cracks a smile here and there. One might even call it charming.
Once she's satisfied with what she's discovered, the paladin will reconvene with the others to discuss what she's found.
As Freya begins moving about the room, Kapelo orders another drink. Then another. Then another, slowly sinking into his shame and drunkenness.
Kapelo, you have lost track of time, and suddenly your companion Oak is gently shaking your shoulder with one hand, large and gnarled as his namesake. "Master Kapelo, your distress awoke me from my dream walking." He says this with concern, not reproach. "I believe it is your turn for sleep, and preferably a great deal of water before that."
He offers an arm for you to steady yourself, if need be.
Freya, the servants at first treat you politely enough, but you can tell they regard you and Kapelo as curiosities - even in a trading city this size, the vast majority of the population and the travelers are undine this far south. Your fiery skin sets you apart in these calm, blue, aquatic settings.
Curiosity soon turns to delight, as you return their politeness and good humor in kind. Quite a few of them laugh at your jokes, and once smiling, they continue to do so.
As you continue your conversations through dinner--lightly cooked salmon, flavored only by lemon juice and River--you notice Kapelo taking enough wine for two, or even three, elens. He is, at least, quiet and only a bit unsteady, despite the quantity of alcohol consumed.
Common knowledge, you easily get the following information -
---This is well-respected inn/tavern, often used by guests of the important figures of the city.
Chord (male leader of Rushing Falls) Rendos Swiftstream
married to
Maelstrom Mother (female leader of Rushing Falls) Cambris Swiftstream
-----
Since you also got a very good roll, one of the servants, a middle-aged ele, lets slip that Nempura was once deeply in love with one of the Chord's sons, by the name of Turin. She explains quickly that Turin died in a spawn attack, and hurries off, embarrassed, before more questions can be asked.
Nempura, Burne nods. "Very well. Come, you know the way." He walks over to the rushing banks, and you see the coils of sinkrope anchored to the shores. He leaps into River.
Burne kicks downward strongly, holding onto the sinkrope line and using it hand-over-hand to propel himself even faster. You recall with a pang this is a favorite trick of all the Swiftstream boys.
In the cool water once more, there is the familiar sense of safety and relief, but this is cut short when you observe your surrounding more closely: where the markets and streets were overcrowded and restricted, underwater it is empty and clear, like a dead lake. None of the usual bustling, trading, swimming, singing, bubbling, gossiping, cavorting, arguing, and dancing that you have come to expect from the vibrant life of Rushing Falls. Just a few guard patrols, unsmiling and armed with spear and trident.
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With the servants carrying her equipment, Nempura is feeling light as a feather and more than eager to swim. For a moment she watches him descend rapidly toward the dark. At that moment she looks at him as fond and yet painful memories float upward. They are held in her heart for the moment as she desires to be at one with the Whirl Mother and River once more. For too long now she has been devoid of River, and his currents tug at her, waking her from her thoughts.
She jets downward and if Burne looks back toward her, he will notice she swims with joy, as one who has been on land too long. She will ride the currents partly, drift a moment, and then power swim back to the sinkrope in an twirling display. While Burne's methods may be moving like a powerhouse downward, hers are more like a glorious ballet--her dance partner, River. As she does, her long, dark purple hair will stream far out behind her, catching the light. The slits in her noble's outfit allow her to kick strongly with her legs without interference.
Her sense of safety and relief is upended as she begins to notice the differences in her home. It takes her a full minute to take in what she is seeing, or not seeing. Slowly her hands creep up to cover her mouth and she cannot swim further. There she will cling onto the sinkrope while she takes it all in. Several minutes will pass if Burne does not collect her, but if he doesn't, Nempura will begin to feel a sense of urgency seeing the disparity and will continue on.