The Sandy Beaches to the West (Open)

[Goldstein]

Timestamp: pffft. I have no clue.

As spring came to be the sand that felt like chilled class underfoot once again became independant grains, absorbing the wash off of the melting snow. Soon the sun was warming the sandy beaches once more. But with the change in season came storms, and the storms of the area take down some of the smaller ships that sail the sea. In the distance a looming cloud could be seen, and a small row boat heading for shore. However the sky above the beaches shines a briliant blue.

The beach, no longer a barren land left only to the harbor men, was gaining more and more life. The plants turned green, blosomed with brilliant yellows, pinks, and purples, and the citizens started to go to the beaches for more recreation. Though the wind still carried the razoned bite of the past winter, the beach was a nice little spot to spend the idle hours of the day. Even if the water was still cold, and could carry a giant out to sea.

OoC: do as you wish here, this is an open thread. Interact with other PC's if you want to.

[Argon Gruven]

The sun heated the brilliant shores of Arios. The once cool sand was now turning hot and it was relaxing to Argon. Fore it was the perfect temperature and felt good on his bare feet. The waves were rushing into the shore making the same familar sound that cleared Argon's mind. When he looked out over the water, the whitedcaps of the waves looked beautiful as the sun shined down on them. As he walked along the beach he sank into the sand after each step. Then while he was walking he spotted a stick on the shore and picked it up and tossed it into the water that lay in front of him.

Right now the beaches were perfect for Argon, it was not just the brilliant look in which was taking form as the spring sun shone off the waves, but also the sounds that the radiant beaches of Arios gave off. The sound of nature itself soothed Argon. He then layed down in the warm cushon of the sand and looked up at the clouds above. He watched as they passed by and out of his view, and he was amused when he saw shapes in them. As he layed there Argon almost fell asleep but was awakened when the cool water from the ocean touched his bare feet and startled him. Although he was now awake he scooted back a little bit in the sand, just far enough to where the waves couldn't reach him, and stayed there focussing once again on the clouds that lay overhead.

[Tiarela Iceglitter]

Change was in the air. Relentless waves became peaceful sand dampeners. Chilled winds became temperate marine climate. Flowers bloomed, people smiled. It was Spring in the Empire, and Tiarela Iceglitter could feel it. The cool sand radiated it's heat through particles as she closed in on it, meandering around the flowerbeds and sniffing a few of them as she went. They were all so pretty!.. No wonder so many of her folk had a love for nature. Tiarela could understand it.. But she would never guard it with her life. Trick people out of hurting it, sure, but guard it, no. See, Tiarela Iceglitter was of the mind-over-matter belief that using a quick wit with a quicker wingbeat was much better than the hack-and-slash way of beating the bloody snot out of someone to achieve the ends. Spring reminded her of how right she was, with all the lighthearted feelings and such.

It was ominous, the looming cloud in the distance.. But the area above her own head reminded her that rain had not settled into the island yet. Therefore, the little faerie was.. as of yet, safe from the rain. Besides, these flowerbeds were looking mighty thick and tall, and with her stinted height, she could probably shelter herself under their magnificent petals. The little faerie dipped lower and lower, until finally she found herself amidst the base of these flower basins, and peering around in them like a little kid lost in a corn field. It was spring.. Definately, spring.

The little faerie peered out at the people in the sand, taking note that some sprite that oddly resembled the rather dense one she'd seen a few good number of times in the winter. They looked kind of alike, at least, but not totally. Well, facial features and the fact that they were both ugly, horrible Sprites that were almost three times her size. The bigger they are, the dumber they are. Tiarela reminded herself, shaking he head. The sand felt cool to her miniscule feet, and she revelled in it. Kel'rondar had never had really pretty beaches, as faerie towns tended to be rather on the small size.. and all beaches were in the wild, so they were rampant with wild things that scared little faeries.

After assessing the fact that Argon must have been a silly, rather unintelligent sprite like the previous sprite she'd met, Gareth Gruven, Tiarela contented herself to flying through the maze of flowers, bursting through their tops and diving back into their bases. It was great fun, weaving through leaves and petals. Felt like a forest to her, only, Fae sized. Spurts of giggles filled the air around her as she continued to play with the flowers, perfectly happy with them as her only companion at the moment, even if she was alone. Having wings was so much fun!

[Gareth Gruven]

Time passed slowly for the Ranger, fully fledged now with his newly acquired skills. The Sprite was now Druid and Archer, Protector of Nature and Sniper of the Sun. Titles were to bear, but actions were to use. Gareth had discovered it was not the titles that made the difference to a person's speculation of you, but the actions of the mind that you chose to do or perform in front of them. It was with this spark of knowledge that Gareth had covered the last cycles of his life smoothly, carving out for himself a clear and precise path to follow, completely in contrast to his past.

And so as time passed, so did the seasons with it. Winter grew suddenly dull and blunted, the endless cycle of time slowly wearing away the snow and ice that accompanied it. Plants were beginning to twinkle again with reborn life, it was shown in the Astral Planes to Gareth, not to mention he could feel it when he called upon the Druidic manipulation of Nature. It was like massaging one's limbs after having been bound, life was slowly being rubbed back into the trees, the plants, the earth...the ground itself was turning a lighter color, finally visible from underneath the heavy piles of snow that had formerly occupied it.

It was perfect days like these that Gareth enjoyed going to the beach. Not the docks at the harbor, which were constantly empty save for travellers coming off of the pier. Not in the city, where the loud noises of the crowd continuously chattered away without a care in the world. Not in the forest, that, in Gareth's opinion, was equally as interesting and intriguing as the beach itself. No, it was the beach that gave view to the rolling turbulent waves of the sea, the beach that commanded the sun's radiant rays of light, the beach that furnaced the hot grains of sand beneath your toes. It was the beach, that day, that Gareth had decided to visit.

Well, not exactly the beach, but directly right next to it. While Argon was down aways lounging in the hot soles of the sand, and Tia close to the beach zooming in and out of the flowerbeds, Gareth was down a ways a bit seperate from both, lounging in a grove of bushes and trees that marked the final sentinels between the beach and the forest. He had clear view of his younger brother from here, yet had decided not to make himself present or known, at least not yet. He also was able to pick up upont he small Faerie's giggling and laughing about admist her fun and play with the flower petals. Such a peaceful atmosphere...serene, calm, joyful.

Gareth lounged himself in the nook of a tree branch, right at the particulary thick part where the limb connected itself to the trunk. It was an Oak tree, not as tall as most, but it provided enough of a high ground to give the beach it's proper justice, as much of a graceful view as the waves themselves as they rolled into the sand. Underneath Gareth was a few secluded bushes huttled around the roots of the tree, lush green grass growing around them, surrounded by splots of golden-grained sand. Behind Gareth was the rest of the forest, trailing off in the direction of the center of the island.

Gareth the Sprite leaned back against the trunk, emerald green cloak equipped with embroideries and all snugged tight about him, slender arms crossed in front of his chest. Platinum-silver hair rested messfully upon the young Sprite's head, dark-green almond-like eyes closed peaceful in a meditative trance. Pale luminous skin was visible around plush red lips formed in the crooked shape of a self-conscience smirk. Strapped to his back, leaning sideways, was the emerald quiver which held the arrows and bow that Gareth had requested, customly forged to fit the Sprite's build and size. Underneath his cloak, hiding behind the green and tan garb of a ranger, was the cleverly concealed glint of mesh mail armor, an alloy of Damascus and Elven-steel providing light flexibility, however packing the neccesary powerful punch for suprise. Gareth's legs were crossed at the ankles in front of him, black woven pants carefully balancing the soles of his brown leather shoes on the tree limb.

The Sprite opened his right eye lazily, checking upon his younger sibling and the musical giggles of the small Faerie. He saw and heard both, and smiled in acknowledgement. His emerald piercing gaze turned from his brother to the waves, silently admiring their tactics, each one formed like a calvary regiment charging to take over the banks and hills of sand, each one trying to ocercome the other by combining in a flush and ending in spurts of foam. His gaze travelled from the waves to the crystal-pure sky, noticing the faint cloud of misfortune looming in the distance like a sore thumb. Slowly, Gareth's eyes fell downcast to the small tiny wooden rowboat coming closer to land. An intrigued and curious eyebrow quirked as he sharpened his gaze...trying to make out the figures within the boat. Pirates? One could only find out...

[Goldstein]

As the day progressed Argon started to doze off watching the clouds come over head, and as he dozed on the warm sand under the golden sun the large ominous clouds came closer and closer to the beach.

Tia danced about the flower stems as happy as could be, when suddenly her giggles were matched with a little more masculin of a laugh, it was a male fae who happened to be in the same patch of flowers for a while. The male fae seemed to fallow her every move like fish in a school.

All the while the only one wise enough to see the impending row boat sit up in a tree gazeing off into the distance. The wind suddenly picked up speed and the waves became larger. The large ominous cloud picked up speed and soon was over the beach.

The rain came down in sheets and waves cascadeing accross the sand, trees, flowers, rock, house, and ship alike. The wind whipped the rain around the stalks of the flowers leaveing no spot dry. Argon was shocked awake by the sudden pelting of rain, the giggling was drowned out by the rumbling thunder, and the surrenity of the day was stattered by the lash of the lightning strike.

But no matter the weather the little row boat came closer and closer to shore, it was as if the storm had centered it's self around the lone man on the boat. What ever it was that this mystery of the sea had done to anger the lord of the storms must have been pritty bad, for this storm was just shy of pure hatred from natural nature.

[Argon Gruven]

Argon began to doze off but was soon awakened when the rain came flooding down seeming to drown the whole island of Arios. Then when Argon got up to seek shelter he looked out across the once beautiful ocean, that was now a turbulent swirl of rushing waves, and saw a rowboat coming straight towards the island and the storm didn't seem to bother him one bit, fore he never seemed to slow down. Even after the storm began the boat kept chugging along towards the island.

Pirates...? Argon thought to himself. Then right after this thought he went over to a near by tree to seek a little shelter. Fore the giant tree blocked some of the rain that came cascading down from the once blue sky, but much of it still poured on Argon as it dripped off the new bright green leaves that covered the intricate branches of the beautiful oak. Then Argon was again looked out across the ocean and saw that the rowboat was still coming strong. "Who's coming..." Argon said in a low tone in which only he could hear.

As he watched the ocean, Argon reached for the hilt of his custom sword which lyed in its sheath that ran from his waist down to his ankles. Fore it was customized to fit his size and was the longest a sword could be for a sprite to be able to control it. It had wave designs on the hilt along with twin aquamarine gems at the bottom of it. The blade itself had wavey edges...much like a kris and it was beautifully crafted with perfect balance.

He also had a quiver and arrows along with an elven-steel composite short bow (much like the one Gareth uses) , but for Argon that was his last resort. Fore Argon had never been taught for a short bow and the little he knew he had learned himself. He carried it around just in case he would ever need it, but he usually kept it put away in its proper resting place...its quiver.

[Gareth Gruven]

Gareth allowed himself a slight smirk. His gaze fell over the lone seaman, and silently the disturbing thought of where he had been probed through Gareth's mind. 'Well, looks like he's brought a pretty good storm with him...' Gareth mused thoughtfully as he leaned his back against the trunk of the tree. Gradually the storm came closer, moving swiftly upon the breeze and winds that bore it. Before Gareth knew it, the steaming yellow sound was quickly becomming blotched into a greyish blur, the pelts of raindrops falling upon the golden grains and leaving it's mark.

Without a word, Gareth drew up his hood well over his face, casting an eerie shadow over his innocent eyes. With his half-grin smirk continuing, Gareth clasped his cloak around him a bit more, and settled himself in to a comfortable position. His curiosity had got the best of him now, and there was now way escaping it's grip. With a sigh, Gareth shifted his weight on the branch.

And waited.

[Tiarela Iceglitter]

Poor little Tiarela's laughter was cut short as the skies began to pour their tears down onto her and the rest of the inhabitants of Telath. She squealed and darted back into the flowerbeds, trying to hide under the pedals of the flowers.. However, she was pretty sure this was so not going to work. Tiarela clung to the flowers, and, when she finally realized that wasn't going to work, she tore out of there and towards the closest tree, hoping to find a crevice or hole in it that would be big enough for her to squeeze into. After all, animals sometimes slept in hollowed out sections of tree. Perhaps this was also true in some of these trees! Tiarela could only hope.

As she searched around the tree-trunk for a hole to climb in, the little faerie remembered the male one that had been following her, and decided that all good faeries were kind to one another anyway, so.. If he was stuck out here in the rain just like she was, she was going to offer him the ability to share.. well, wherever her hiding spot was going to be with her. After all, Tiarela knew that if she was caught in the rain, she'd want someone to offer her shelter too..
Wait, what was she talking about? She was caught in the rain!

The little faerie shook her head in irritation and continued to look, hoping she wasn't going to be too sopping wet. Flying in the rain just didn't do too well for little faeries and their beautiful wings. Waterlogged faeries had the darnedest time getting airborne again until their wings dried out, they did. If she couldn't find a hollow trunk to hide herself in on the first tree, Tiarela would of course, continue to look around each tree she could find -- even the ones the sprites were near -- until she found something. If this wasn't going to work, she'd think up something else soon. Like, maybe using one of the sprites for shelter. Especially that one that was leaning against the tree.. The place between his back and the tree trunk would make a good shelter for a faerie!.. Hmmm..
Well, hopefully it didn't come to that.

She, unlike everyone else, was not worried about this boat that was coming inland. Tiarela's main concern was getting herself out of the storm.. She was little, and thunder scared her lots indeed. Poor her, the entire storm was frightening. Best get out of it as soon as faerie-ly possible!

[Argon Gruven]

As Argon sat ducking under the entangled branches of a magnificent oak tree he looked back across the forest and stared there for awhile. What was that... Argon asked himself as he saw something flying through the air. It was a poor little faerie, zig-zagging in every direction as if in a sense of urgency, trying to dodge the drops which flowed down from the sky over Arios. Oh no, she's caught in the rain... Argon spoke to himself again. Then he thought about how he could help and realized that he could put here in his hood...or maybe even in his pocket. Fore Argon knew that they were very frail and one drop of rain hitting them could end their days.

"Hey there...faerie, I shall help you in your search for shelter," Argon continued, "You can seek shelter under my hood. Fore I am over here under the giant oak tree." Argon wanted to help and hoped that she would trust him. Did she hear me...? Argon spoke in his head. Then as he awaited a response he looked out across the ocean and as it had been the boat a kept on coming. Fore Argon had no doubt that the whoever was on the boat had obviously caused the storm. Argon then looked back across the forest hoping that the faerie would answer back, not wanting her to get trampled by the pouring rain.

[Goldstein]

OOC: Argon, you posted out of turn, for that you get smited. *starts the smiteing*

IC: As Tia fluttered about she found a hole in one of the trees and flew in. Inside she found a matt of leaves and old dried grass from the beach, so everything was nice and dry inside. Meanwhile the storm raged on. No longer was it just thunder comeing from afar, now the thunder came from over head, and strikes of lightening came jolting down bashing into the sand.

Sand exploded every whare as blinding bolts of lightening easily a foot wide erupted from the heavens above. As the storm progressed the bolts got more agressive, strikeing at the mystical trees. Sending splinters everywhare, and a bolt struck the tree just next to the one Argon was near. The splinters went everywhare stabeing into trees in the surounding area. One splinter, nearly a foot long, was left stiking out of his left shoulder.

Then Suddenly the storm stopped; the rain, thunder, lightening, wind, and all just stoped. And as fast as the the storm had moved apon them the storm disappeared. Had anyone been watching the boat they would have seen that it stopped as soon as the boat hit shore.

[Argon Gruven]

The storm soon began to pick up, and became very aggresive and violent. Now lightening was also pouring from the heavens. BOOM!!! Then sound startled Argon and then he felt a strong sense of pain in his left shoulder. "Ahh..." Argon said out of pain while looking to see what was causing him his grief. Then he looked around as if to see if anyone had done something, even though he knew nobody had. He slowly reached for it and when he grabbed it he started to gently release it, careful not to break it or leave anything left in the wound.

Then seemingly out of nowhere the storm stopped abruptly, and if one hadn't been in the storm they wouldn't have known it had ever accured. After Argon was done with the splinter he looked up across the ocean and it was restored to its usual beauty. As he was looking he noticed that on the shore the boat had come to a stop and Argon thought about making a move towards it but decided against it. So he sat there waiting wondering exactly what had taken place, hoping that it wasn't what he thought it was.

[Gareth Gruven]

Gareth glanced about as the storm continued, his concentration momentarily breaking away from the boat to the others that had been out here earlier. Where was the innocent giggling of the small Farie he had heard? Where was his brother taking shelter? Knowing emerald eyes glanced about sharply at the flowerbed where the laughing girl-Fae had once been. She was no longer there. Gareth's emerald gaze followed from the flowerbed to the tree in which Argon was taking shelter. He watched solemnly as lightning struck the tree and caused splinters to shower everywhere. From the light of the bolt, Argon was temporarily lost from view, and so Gareth turned his attention back to the progressing rowboat. His brother would be fine, that, he knew.

Gareth watched with renewed interest as the boat hit the shore, crossing over the salty waves and coming to a stop as the sand rose before it. His almond-like eyes sharpened as the sky suddenly returned to it's bright sky blue color, and the storm overhead went deathly quiet. And then it all began to fade, the lightning booming, the thunder cackling, the wind howling in fury. All of it had left the moment the boat had hit the shore. 'It's time...' Gareth thought as he pushed himself upright upon the thick wooden limb, '...to begin once more...'

With that, he heaved himself off of the wooden tree branch and took to flight, his foresty-green wings flecked with spots of gold taking him through the air. His hood was still drawn over his head, and he adjusted it even more so to ensure the shadow that veiled his eyes from view. A slight grin still flickered across his facial features, before dissapearing into no expression at all. Gareth formed his face into a blank, causing himself to be as neautral as can be.

He glided towards the wooden rowboat that had landed, like a solemn sentinel that watched over the land, coming forth in greeting to welcome the new stranger to the island of Arios. Gareth flew forward, his small and slender pale hand extended forth in greeting as he spoke softly, "Welcome stranger, to Arios. Do you need any assistance?" In the back of his mind, Gareth kept consciounce of the fact that the storm had stopped the moment the boat had hit the shore...perhaps to conceal the man's approach. In that case...Gareth kept his guard up.

[Tiarela Iceglitter]

What in the name of all that was good and holy! Tiarela shivered inside the little hole, glad that it was all nice and warm and apparently never heard the call of the kind Sprite. Just as well, she didn't really care because.. well, she never heard. That, and she didn't really like Sprites. Too big, too like humans. Who were, of course, very dense and dull, and all around rather annoying.

The little faerie poked her head out when the storm finally stopped, having been huddled in the back of the tree hollow when she heard the exploding trees. Tiarela had wimpered rather loudly and wrapped her wings around her, trying to crawl under the beach grass that had gathered inside in fear.

With beach grass mangling her hair, it was then the littlest of the three present faeries finally decided to venture out of the place she very well could have called 'home'.. But instead called 'Shelter'. Her eyes wandered towards that acursed rowboat that was apparently the bringer of such a storm, cursing it's existance. Tiarela tenatively hopped out of her hole and towards the sand, starting her pitter-patter of wings as soon as she left.

To be honest, she was apprehensive of the weather turning bad again, and thus hovered for a moment before gathering up her courage and speeding towards the boat. She had half a mind to tell off whoever was inside for bringing such a storm upon the shores of Arios, which had been peaceful and quiet before their arrival. How rude!

When Tiarela reached close to where Gareth was, she crossed her arms and gave a loud "Hmph!" before deciding to prattle off into a little irritated bit of ranting.
"What in Orod's logic is all this!? A Storm and a rowboat. The rowboat hits Arios and the storm stops. Some freak storm of nature my Kel'rondarian wings! What exactly was all that? Why, the gods should smite you for wrecking such havoc on the innocent! Probably a Elementalist having a bit of fun, aren'tcha! Big people.. Good Athernia." Tiarela had muttered it all, but it was probably auidable to whoever was in the boat, as well as to Gareth. She was done though, said her peace and was at a good enough distance to where if something lurched out of there and tried to eat someone, Gareth was closer and therefore the designated dinner sprite of the evening.

[Goldstein]

OOC: sorry for the delay, I suddenly had a rush of apathy for everything, and now I am back. yey!

IC: As Argon pulled the splinter from his side he could feel the pain flood his sences, and he could see the blood seep out of the wound. The large whole would let out alot of blood if it wasent healed soon, and such a lose of blood could be fatal.

Meanwhile as Gareth and Tia fluttered towards the boat, a fair man stood up and stepped out of the boat onto the sand of the tormented beach. The mans face was old an weather, and he wore a blue captians uniform. A thick white beared, that was well kept, lined his jaw line and upper-lip, and his eyes shines an icy blue.

"I am fine, but I could use your assistance. My ship was taken apon by a storm. Tore it to shreads. My crew all died in the storm, trying to stay with the treasure on board. Which is whare you come in. While I was wise enough to leave it behind, I hope for some one to assist me to get it back. People such as you. If you help me, I will allow you to keep an item of your choice from what you return to me. Are you interested in helping?"

[Argon Gruven]

As Argon sat there in pain he say his brother approach the boat and then he looked towards his shoulder which was throabing with pain and he could feel his heart beat in the wound. He too, decided to head towards the boat, so he got up and walked towards his brother. Then he heard the man from the boat begin to speak and so Argon began to jog up not wanting to miss anything.

When he did reach the man and his brother he finally got a good look at hte man standing in front of him. He was old and weathered and he seemed to have a sense of worry on his face. Argon listened as he spoke.

Argon heard what the man had said he thought about it for a moment and almost yelled out that he would do it, but he decided he would wait to see what his brother's answer was. He did not want to go if Gareth didn't and so he decided he would wait for his brother's answer. So there he Argon stood with his shoulder pumping with his heart beat and then he felt a sudden rush of pain. "Gareth..." Argon said in a voice which expressed his his angush. "Could you give me a hand," Argon finished saying while awaiting his brothers assitance and response to the nameless man's question.