Fantasy RPG Forum - Standing Trials

Location: Qit's Rendezvous Point

It was probably the worst idea he had ever committed to. Sailing into the open waters beyond Scalvoris was something he dreamed of for the longest time, and now it seemed like that dream was going to become a hellish nightmare of a reality. Enrick honestly questioned his reasoning for deciding on this, particularly with the weather not being entirely agreeable as he would've preferred it to be. The tumultuous thunder rolls and barreling waves made him feel unusually queasy, as the fisherman felt himself completely uneasy over the fact they were sailing into open waters... in this weather.

He was mad. Clearly mad. He could already see the strain his sails felt as the winds whipped against their fabric, eyes a deep bronze color as he steered his baby closer to the shore. This had to be the place right? Qit made it clear to meet him here on the southern shores, right near the river's mouth as it gushed into the sea. Concern of the winds led him to worry less about finding her, and more on furling all the sails the closer his ship traveled to shore. As strong and mighty as he liked to believe himself to be, pushing a sloop wasn't exactly in his range of capabilities exactly. Particularly during a storm such as this one, even if it seemed tamer than the ones they would surely face out at sea.

Enrick quickly turned with a hand still kept on the wheel of the sloop, while his other hand moved to reach for the spare rope near the cabin. He had been lucky to consider necessary essentials for this trip, considering before he hadn't the slightest clue what to buy. That had been twenty trials ago he went out to purchase everything they would need, and now that it was mid-season finally the time had come to set out for Desnind as they planned. Whether they would be successful or not he doubted, but crazier men had done greater things in their life before... He hoped. With the rope coil in hand he quickly loosened his grip to just one strand, and allowed the coil to unravel out next to him as the rain pounded on his form.

The shoreline was getting too close for comfort now, thus he quickly turned his wheel sixty degrees to the left. The Windrunner pivoted in response as the ship's body turned slightly angled against incoming tides, and shortly afterwards he proceeded to run the rope through a part of the wheel. Several times in fact. With enough of the rope fed through to wrap a part of his wheel, Enrick attempted to tie it in place with the base as to avoid it turning on it's own. This took him a few tries as the rope failed to be tight enough, but once he finally managed to tie a sailor's knot tight enough; he moved from the wheel towards the main sail first. The jib definitely needed slack.

Thus he worked as fast as he could without being thrown overboard, his hands struggled to undo the knot a couple of times however. Finally when the knot came loose, Enrick gripped the rope to the jib as it pulled against his form menacingly. "Mot'er o' fuck!" He swore loudly in his mind although part of it probably sounded vocalized as well, with a few heaves however the main sail started to give way and rise. Until at last the sheets were furled to where no winds would tear at them relentlessly. After he had enough rope pulled through Enrick quickly reaffirmed the knot he used before, his hands used to hold him steady against the rail as he finally searched the shores.

There she was.

"Well, ain't we 'ff t' a good start." He attempted to muse himself as he quickly turned to move back towards the wheel, a little regretful that the rope he used to tie it in place became the very obstacle he needed to remove. It took him another Bit or two before the rope seemed to slip out of it's knot finally, and he could at last turn the wheel eighty degrees to his right to redirect the ship. Now she turned to face the river, able to ease on in as the waves thrust her closer to the shoreline. Finally after a bit of time and work spent making sure he had a solid 'exit strategy' to use, Enrick moved from the wheel towards the bow of his ship. After a drop of his anchor at a timed manner, Enrick immediately felt the damn thing hit shallow parts within the water. Yikes...

Too close for comfort considering, he may very well have miscalculated the berth of his arrival. Still he managed with what he had, and now all that remained was to move the gangplank to where Qit could board his boat from the shallows. Again he had to heave this large wooden plank just as he did with the anchor, a little surprised to find out that at least landed somewhere easy for access. "Ho'kay Qit!!" He called out to the huntress. "What all d' ya gotta bring aboard?!"

Just after he called out to her it would seem she decided to greet him as she would any other man. A display of her savage ways prompted for a spear to hit his deck, the blade rested firmly into the planks as he looked from her direction to the weapon. Now... was that really necessary? Red hues slightly emanated from the pupils of his eyes, as he turned to yank it from the wood of his deck with a bit of a scowl. Sure enough after he propped it against the wall of his cabin he just about attempted to hop down and help her, since hoisting her belongings would probably- yeah you know what. Nevermind.

The fierce huntress seemed to be doing more than manage on her own, as she got everything hauled aboard well enough without his help. Part of him felt awkward as he wanted to offer, but knowing Qit the way he did such an advance would be untoward for her to be sure. "Everythin's loaded ten? Aight." He called out above the whirling rain that pelted against them loudly, already he felt quite unsure he could pull an exit strategy as well as he arrived. He looked from Qit towards the mast first with a squint in his eyes, a hand used to shelter his eyes from the rain as he thought on it for a moment. Right now the drafts were too chaotic to predict but maybe... just maybe... at the right angle the Windrunner could get enough pull. Too much could ruin the sails however, so it required him to be ready to furl the sails once more once they were in deeper water.

Sure enough after Qit deposited all her belongings in the safety of the cabin, she returned to commend the fact this nasty deluge was a blessing. Yeah. Right. If anything this was nothing more than Chrien's own way of testing both Enrick and his ship, something he didn't outright feel he could live up to considering the size of the waves beyond...

No... This was what he prepared for! He wouldn't let something as terrifying as this keep him trapped any longer. To-trial he was leaving Scalvoris and setting his sights beyond it's shore, he was going to brave those chaotic waters and learn to master them in turn. He looked down to Qit next intending to ask for her help at least, but with the loud roar of thunder came a flash of lightning in the sky above. That's how he caught a highlighted glimpse of her frame, as the light of the flash made it quite clear that she was showing. The turquoise hues of his eyes darkened to a deep jet black at the sight, as he immediately connected one thing and another at the realization.

Her swollen belly... The Trial he was persuaded to... Somehow the pit of his stomach twisted nervously, as he didn't want to suspect anything since she'd just boarded. "So t'ey do." He murmured with another look up to the mast, just before he moved to the wheel of his sloop. He stared hard as turquoise seemed to return into his irides, watchful of the direction the wind whipped the ropes of his ship around. They were naturally pulled almost every which way, except their tugs were strongest towards him rather than away. He held a hand out into the air to try and catch the wind some, positive that it was going against him in that particular moment. And then the current shifted. He remained still however as he felt the direction had changed Eastward, and blew in that direction for a good few Bits before it finally went back North.

So Eastward with two clicks drawn South should suffice. "Got a present fer ya Qit," He called out as he gripped the wheel with both hands, the wooden pegs gripped firmly as he heaved his arms counterclockwise. Quite slowly the sloop turned as he felt the bottom scrape sand, his jaw clenched as he pushed for it to angle further towards the direction he required. "First 'afore y' git it Oi'ma need yer help. Keep te wheel steady! Tis'll be a rough ride until we're outta te shallows." He instructed in the event she'd listen to him, albeit he didn't know for sure if she'd agree to pitch in.

Enrick probably was considerably crazy when one considered the current situation, they were adrift in shallows during a nasty storm no less. One wrong turn and a nasty wave sent their way could very easily topple the whole damn sloop over, that is if he didn't consider the off chance that this risky attempt at sailing to begin with. Hence why he turned the Windrunner first before asking Qit'roa to have a firm hold over the wheel, while at the same time making it clear to avoid letting it turn too much. He watched her at first and while she definitely held an awkward position, she quickly developed a steady hand and touch posture in her form at the wheel. Already he felt the sloop slowly loosen thanks to the drift of the tides that pulled her out, but even then there wouldn't be much force in his sloop's direction.

At best the vessel merely cruised along the rolling waves as they coaxed her back out to deeper waters, hence why he relied on Qit to make sure the ship's wheel remained straight and true. If it were to turn during his attempt with the mainsail then they'd only linger in place, waiting for some godforsaken wave come bounding into the Windrunner. That wouldn't do. Since he had plans to keep her afloat longer than to-trial anyways. Thus after he felt sure Qit seemed more than ready to handle her task, he quickly moved towards the center of the deck and past the mainsail towards the rig he'd adjusted before. He grabbed the rest of the rope's coil and bound it around his forearm first, before shifting attention towards the knot that kept the sail furled.

Almost immediately as he felt the knot loosen and the rope had slack, he checked to make sure his forearm with the rope was snug and secure. By then with the release of the last section of the knot, that same rope quickly rolled through it's hoop to feed the line back into the sail. Enrick grasped that same rope and prevented it from going any further, as the mainsail bobbed and whipped about in the air without opening any further. He had to put his whole figure into it to keep the rope from pulling him into the rail, as a sternly placed foot against the side kept him from reeling with the pull the rope made on his arm. Now he just had to time it...

With his other hand used to loop a little more of the rope around his wrapped arm, Enrick placed free hand back into the air once more like before. Two... Three... Four! At that last number he relaxed with the rope released some, the line whirred wildly as the braided fabric dropped the mainsail's rig. Right as this happened the current of the wind shifted erratically just as it did before, the direction of the gale a full burst hit that gushed into the sails. Immediately as this happened the Windrunner responded with a dramatic pull that nearly sent Enrick and other things on deck toppling forward. Yet he remained steady. With the rope still wrapped securely around his arm he hopped up onto the rail of the Windrunner, the line used to keep him aboard as he partially dangled off the ship.

And over the roaring waves of the torrential sea.

"aaaaaaaa'hooooooooo!" He roared as he pulled on that line tight to keep himself aboard, his lips curled into a howl as the brine pelted his entire form. They were steadfast bound for the open seas now as the Windrunner seemed to tread deeper waters once more, while the rolling waves started to grow bigger and bigger the farther out they traveled. One of the waves felt so enormous that the Windrunner itself bounced and maybe even flew in the air for a few trills, before more of the salty water sprayed aboard the deck Enrick finally hopped back onto. They were almost in the clear now, so he needed to be ready to furl the main sail once more...

Just a little more... The shores of the island almost looked to be enveloped by the sea because of how large they appeared, by now he felt sure that it'd serve better to furl the sails. Thus he did. He propped a foot against the rail once more and started to yank repeatedly, the rig on the sail of his ship slowly on the rise until it finally reached the top. Once more with the rope coiled around the loop, he retied the knot that kept it in place securely. As crazy as he would've believed himself for trying that, somehow it actually worked far better than he anticipated! And while his throat certainly didn't appreciate the rebellious scream he indulged, the scratchy irritation was a small price to pay for the pride he felt in comparison. Thus with a look back from where they were heading towards Qit, he moved back towards the helm where the wheel was located.

"How's she holdin' Qit?!" He bellowed loudly as he rested a hand on the wheel, inclined to take over if she felt tired of holding it in place.

Enrick had to squint a little to keep the brine from stinging his eyes when he looked at her, as it remained difficult to tell as to whether or not he really saw blood. Once he realized he did see it trickle from her nose he considered taking action, unsure if whether or not she needed it inspected or not. Had she broken it somehow? See was just fine moments ago, so unless she'd just received it at the wheel... oh gods. He was probably going to hear about that one later wasn't he? Did Qit break her nose due to the pull of motion after he released the sails? It made sense when he looked at her and then wheel, maybe if he'd been a bit more considerate and warned her about it; then perhaps she wouldn't have hit her nose altogether.

Nevertheless she seemed vividly invested in the aspect of steering the ship, as she already proved on the verge of a snarl when he placed a hand at the wheel. Rather than show any signs of reluctance towards her he merely grinned, with eyes alight in turquoise and cyan hues as he looked ahead. "Carry on ten." He mused with his lips still caught in a wry smile as he stood close to her, a bend of his knees went mixed with a lean as they collided against another wave. If this were a means of the spirits or greater powers beckoning them for a strong journey, then Enrick would meet the challenge with more fervor for sure. He'd sailed the waters between Scal-town and Almund for arcs, so how hard could it be for them to breach the greater waves?

He'd see soon enough. The further out his ship treaded the greater the waves started to rise, almost to a point where they could've enveloped it entirely. The fisherman moved to lean against the rail with a look back towards the island, surprised to find it barely recognizable since the waves almost looked to mountain it. At least the shore anyways. In truth it unnerved him to be heading out this deep into open water, as for him it was practically uncharted territory they went into. But he wasn't alone here, therefore he needn't to be afraid. So long as he had someone here with him, he felt less afraid of whatever waited in the water's depths. He turned to look back to Qit as she seemed to remain focused on the wheel, determined to pilot the Windrunner steadfast into the waves that battered the shores they left behind. Good.

Enrick could tell she'd make a fine sailor if she really wanted to, Immortals knew he wanted to be one when he was younger. Once. That was before his father abandoned him though, before Enrick learned of a whole new world on his own. That was then though, now he was headed to brave a new one. Idalos. And while he felt excitement develop at the thought of it now, somehow one other thing seemed a more pressing thought. He could see how she acted aside from driven, how careful and maternally she'd protect her belly with each brush against the ship. He knew what that meant and he connected one thing to another, but whether or not that was the case was something he didn't actually know. Yet he wanted to. Therefore with steady grace against the rise and bow of the ship, Enrick moved towards the hold of his cabin where the presents for Qit were.

First he grabbed the harpoon he knew she'd appreciate more, and then the ginger root which she'd definitely appreciate later. After his slight reprieve from the rain, he shuddered briefly once he walked out back into it. With each hand possessing his 'gifts' for Qit he moved to stand at an angle where she could see him, yet still be able to focus on steering the ship as well. He propped the shaft of the harpoon down against the board, with his hand several inches from the bladed end. Enrick expected her to be happy to see it naturally, but also used it as the kicker for the conversation he wanted to have. "Got it just fer ye. As well as tis also, he called out to her over the roaring deluge with a flash of the ginger root in his other hand, "fer when y' get seasick later on."

The grin on his face diminished however at his next statement. "We need t' talk."

Enrick knew that the things he had to give could potentially warm Qit up a little, but he didn't expect her to be as polite about it as she presented herself. Truly. His eyes distilled to a brief bit of black before regaining their original highlights, which then consisted of a mixture between green and cyan. What did he call her? Friend? Strange coming from someone much like Qit, Enrick didn't expect that out of her at all. The word she used before it sounded Xanthean to him, something he figured since he had never heard it at all before. But he knew Qit was Sev'ryn by now and that the Sev'ryn folk talked the Xanthean language, therefore it stood to reason that she called him 'friend' in their language.

He somehow couldn't help but grin a little at the compliment, since coming from Qit that had to be relevant to one somehow. "Figured Oi could at least manage it." The fisherman remarked with a shrug as they both grasped forearms with one another, still a little baffled by the fact Qit'roa the savage huntress called him friend. That had seriously wasn't something he saw coming, nevertheless he wasn't going to make a big deal out of it either. More so when he saw the balled form of her fist soar through the air towards his nose, which caused him to blink with a minor flinch once it stopped a few inches away. The hell? Clearly she had the strangest idea of treating her friends. His eyes moved past from the crevices of her fingers to her face as he gave a wry slight smile, hardly amused with the stunt since he remembered last time she hit him square in the jaw.

This time however? It was to merely warn him to avoid chance of breaking her nose again, a sentiment he half-heartedly agreed with in all honesty; since the bloody nose look didn't suit her very well. "Roi, should probably warn y' next time." He mused with a soft chuckle as his hands rested on his hips, the green in his eyes darkened to a turquoise while the black brightened into silver. Now came the time to ask her about the... The... Oh fuck this was going to be strange. Were it anybody else Enrick would find it a little more easier probably, but with Qit there was no real way of knowing how to talk. Bring something to light and if she didn't like or agree, then she might as well just as punch him over it. Enrick didn't want to create that sort of tension anyways, but that seemed to be what he was naturally good at with this woman.

He stared hard into the sea and storm overhead as the ship bowed into the next wave, his hands pressed on the rail to keep himself steady as he hollered. This damnable overcast with it's turbulent wind already didn't help with the situation, so he needed to make it loud and clear with what exactly he was concerned with. "Oi noticed yer swollen belly earlier, so Oi need t' know roi now; 're we expectin' a child t'gether?" He looked from the head of the ship to Qit, his eyebrows slightly sullen as he looked at her hard in turn. Silver and bronze were the hues that took place now, and he genuinely felt his heart palpitate at the mere chance that the answer... could be yes.