Kel'vek's Tale chapter 2
He awoke with a start. His eyes searching the dark room, trying to remember where he was. Rising to a sitting position, he relys on his senses to tell him where he is. His feet touch the polished wood of the floor and a slight tingle tells him that magic has been infused into the grain to make it stronger. He pauses his breathing to listen, a distant yet powerful hum is coming from outside of his room.
Standing, he feels a burning sensation in his side. Using his finger to check, he finds that he has been bandaged and his wound has been stitched closed. Letting out a hissing breath, he walks over to the nearby lamp and lights it. The warm glow of the candle fills the room chasing away the shadows. Looking around, his eyes take in the room. It is all wooden, from the floor to the walls and the low cieling with it's beams running accross.
Glancing around he finds his bloody clothes in a pile in a nearby corner. Limping over, he dresses himself as quickly as possible. After tugging on his boots, he walks over to the window. Opening the rounded portal, a small breeze flows into the room. The smell of sea salt stings his nostrils, as he peeks out the window.
It is dark outside. Five moons glow cheerfully in the distance, their brightness not enough to lighten up the area. He looks towards the bottom of the ship, but instead of seeing water, he is met with a fine mist that shrouds the ship a few feet below his window.
Am I at sea?
Walking over to the door, he takes the handle and gives it a twist. The door swing open with barely a sound.
Well maintained, at least.
Stepping out of the room he finds himself in a long corridor. Several doors line the hallway, which leads up to a set of stairs. Moving slowly down the hall, he pauses at each door to listen for sounds from the inside. Hearing none, he continues on until he reaches the stairs. Taking a deep breath, he begins to climb up. As he nears the top he can see the starry sky above. Peeking his head out of the frame work, he quickly looks around and sucks in his breathe.
The humming sound earlier came from the twin fiery rings that surround the ship. Their flames swirl and dance, casting a flickering light about the deck. As he stepped onto the deck, his eyes allowed him to see the construct more clearly. Walking over to the nearest rail, he ran his fingers down the delicate scroll and ivy work that was carved into the wood. Each piece was crafted to match and flow into the next, giving the illusion of a single piece.
This has to be elven craftsmanship. Only elves can create...
Looking over the railing he catches a glimpse of the space beyond the ship. What he took as fog before became clear to him now. The grey mist was clouds and the light of the moons caused them to glow with a faint silvery radiance. He stood transfixed as the answer came to him. His voice squeaked as he stated the oblivious.
"I'm on a fucking airship!"
As his mind whirled at those thoughts, he never heard the foot steps behind him. Nor did he notice that he was no longer along on the deck of the airship. He turned around to return to his cabin and that is when he saw the man. Not a man, but a half-elf. In the dim light of the moons, he noticed that he was wearing fine clothing made from glimmer weave. His breeches and vest were dyed a dark blue, the shirt he wore was billowed in the sleeves. A long silken cape, the color of midnight, and a wide brimmed hat, which had the brim folded on each side coming together into a point in the front. His face was smooth and tanned from the sun. Long scarlet colored hair fell down past his shoulders and was bunched in a tail by a piece of leather. Strangely, his eyes weren't the normal green of a half-elf, they were a deep shade of grey and seemed to catch all with their gaze. The strange cleared his throat and began to speak, the rich baritone of his voice carried easily in the night
"Well, it seem that you are finally awake. Symbol was worried when he returned to your room and found you gone. So, what do you think of my ship?", he asked.
"I have no words to describe it. Tell me, is this really an airship?", he replied.
"Yes it is. The Emerald Raven, be her name. One of the fastest ships that House Lyrandar has commissioned. It was a joint effort of Zilargo, Lyrandar and the Wayfinder Foundation. Paid for by yours truely.", the half elf says with a sense of pride and confidence.
"Strange that those three organizations would come together in such a way."
"Oh, where are my manners. Call me Marcus Elgrest, Captain of the Emerald Raven, scion of House Lyrandar and former lieutenant colonel of Aundairian navy, at your service.", he says with a deep bow.
"Well met sir, my name is Veldryn d'Koverius.", replies the dusky skinned man.
"So, since you are feeling better shall we retire to my quarters for a glass of Bluevine and an explanation of why members of my crew found you laying near death in a gutter in Stormreach?"
Sighing aloud, Veldryn smiles and states, "My tale will take more than a glass, better make that two or maybe three."
"Well then, I guess we should get started, eh? Oh, sorry I forgot something.", Marcus stops and begins a short arcane chant, his hands glow in the darkness. As he finishes, a small bubble of light floats in front of him.
"Symbol, your patient is with me in my cabin. At your first opportunity report to me and you can futhur examine his injuries.", he says.
The bubble flashes and quickly speeds off in the direction of the warforged. Clearing his throat, Marcus looks back to Veldryn and says, "Be glad I found you and not Syxx. He takes the defense of the ship to a, sometimes, unwanted extreme. Well now, shall we go?"
Inside the cabin was as well crafted as the rest of the ship. A small fireplace, an unique feature onboard an airship, was set into the corner. Deep in the heart of the flames was a small crystal shard. A round table was in the center of the room, it was half covered in charts and maps. Three chairs were placed around the table, each had a small cushion in the seat. In the back of the room was a small door, presumedly were the captain slept, beside of a small cabinet filled with bottle and glasses. On each wall were works of art from all over the five nations.
Veldryn walked over to the table and sat down. He watched as the captain walked over and ran his finger across the bottles, until he found the correct one. Sliding a short wooden lock bar to the side, he took out the bottle and two glasses. Replacing the bar, he moved to the table and set the glasses down. After fighting with the cork, he pours the light blue liquor into each one. Replacing the stopper, he sets the bottle down onto the table and removes his hat, placing it onto the soft rise of the chair beside him.
"To fallen Cyre, may she rise from her ashes!", raising his glass.
Veldryn returns the gesture and swallows a bit of the liquid. Setting it down, he looks up at Marcus, waiting for the beginning of the many questions he would have. He notices that the captain had swallowed his drink in one gulp and was refilling his glass. Here he took a small sip and leaned back in his chair.
"So, where should I begin? Tell me your full name, please? Your parentage, I can easily tell and know that I have no prejudice against any of your people. The drow of the jungle and I have had several dealings before and I find they have a shrewd sense of buisness.", Marcus started.
Veldryn raised his hand and said, "First off, I am called Veldryn d'Tauran'ar and I am not a drow. My father was, but my mother was a human. So, I am a half breed, like you I presume."
"A half-breed? I have never heard of that before, tell me are your abilities similar to your full-blooded kin?"
"Well, I do share some traits, I have been told. As to my 'breed', they are a few of us. Not many, mind you, since most drow either refuse to bed anything other than their own kind or many females refuse too go outside the norm, so to speak. However my mother was different. She came from Sharn and was known as a talented scout during the Last War, in the service of Breland. After the war, she came to Stormreach to start a buisness in selling herbs and medicines. She met my father on a trading mission she took into the jungles. I am a little fuzzy on the details, but I was told that she became a member of the tribe and took a husband."
"So was you born into the tribe? Was happened to your father then?", asked Marcus.
"Well, during a skirmish with another tribe, he was taken prisoner. She escaped back to Stormreach and even though she funded many rescue parties, he was never found. The tribe, thinking that she was cursed, refused to acknowledge her as a member anymore and sent word that she should avoid them for the rest of her life. A few weeks later, she discovered that she was pregnant with me."
"A sad tale it seems. Is she still alive, now? I would like to meet a woman with such strength to survive on her own in that rowdy city."
"No, she passed away when I was twelve. I lived on the streets of Stormreach afterwards. There is not too many who would take in a drowling child.", he answered.
Before Marcus could begin again, a knock came at the door. Without getting up, he called out, "Enter."
As the door opened, Veldryn could see a large armored figure standing in the doorway. A pair of glowing crystal eyes pulsed breifly and then the warforged entered the room. Veldryn looked into the eyes of the 'forged and he was strangely beginning to feel at peace. Thinking it some kind of enchantment, he kept his features and voice nuetral.
"Veldryn, may I introduce our resident cleric, Symbol.", stated Marcus.
"Cleric! This is the first I have heard of this.", looking skeptical at the warforged cleric Veldryn studies it in greater detail. Heavily armored, adamant? Close combat judging by the spikes and oversized shield. Divine abilities would make the thing a dangerous opponent. Strange that this one seems to be in perfect condition, nary a scratch on it anywhere.
The warforged walked over to the seated half-drow. It's soul gem pulsed again as it seemed to study him intently. In a commanding voice, Symbol began questioning the dark skinned man.
"Feeling better now are we? Your midriff injuries, how do they feel? Any tearing of the stitches or swollenness arround the wound? Here lift up your shirt."
"Now, now Symbol. You call check on him later, allow him to enjoy his glass."
Glancing back to the doorway, Marcus noticed another figure standing there. This one of his other warforged crewman, Syxx, master at arms aboard the Raven and known to take his job very seriously. He needed to cut him off before he started interrogating the half-drow, but he wasn't quick enough.
"You were confined to quarters. You are not a member of the crew and not allowed to wander the ship without an escort at all times. Judging by your actions, it may deem nessesary to treat you as a spy and wither confine you to the brigg or toss you off the ship.", this warforged's voice was cold and mechanical. The typical sound they were known to make.
Veldryn stared hard the the construct. He noticed this one was in rough condition. Small dents and scratches could be seen all over it's frame. The blue-silver metal bespoke of mythril in it's construction. A large greatsword was strapped to it's back and even though it made no threateding gestures to him, it crossed it's arms and stared deeply at him, The crystals glowed a deeper azure the longer he took in answering the forged. A slow sly smile crossed his lips as a minute passed, then two. He never broke his stare with the construct.
"Syxx, this man is injured and under the healer's care. I am sure that he will be able to give you some answers later, after he has rested fully.", interupted Marcus as the contest had continued on well into five minutes.
"Sir.", barked the one called Syxx. Before turning to leave, it flashed a look filled with annoyance at the drow spawn.
Symbol stood and nodded to the ship's captain. With a glance and a reminder that it would tend to him later, the large 'forged left the cabin closing the door behind it.
"Welcome to the ship, Veldryn.", stated the well dressed half-elf raising a glass in toast.