The arrival
My father used to tell me stories of the sea. Years of fair weather and profitable trading. The gleam in his eye always set my imagination alight when I was young and unencumbered by life’s worries and trials. Unfortunately neither the stories nor my grand imaginings were destined to last, Lady Destiny is a relentless force and suffering is the most recent path given us.
Lylian looked over the fittings for the instruments aboard the Anogra and tightened one final strap, and finally finished she gazed down at years of planning, testing, and sacrifice that now amounted to the largest technological leap since automation. “Hey Lylian, git down from there, yer father’s soul would never let me rest if I let his precious little girl perish before her time.” said Turp smiling in that fatherly way she had come to depend on.
“He’d be gloriously furious over that, but perhaps even more so at me, he’d say don’t daydream while at risk, it’s a sure way to cut yer life short as a knot.” she retorted as she started down the central ladder shaft. Lylian pondered the inconvenience of traveling from the command deck to the lower decks through a single ladder shaft in the case of an emergency. I suppose we can’t foresee all dangers. Turp embraced her warmly as she stepped off of the ladder.
“I hate seein you up there on the command deck” Turp said shaking his head, “You deserve to be up there seein as you have done more than most to get this ship sail worthy”
“Her maiden voyage will be a test of our people, it doesn’t belong to any one person” Lylian said as they walked towards the ramp that would become railing when not in use. Finally stepping off she turned to take it all in.
“A man like me is meant to die on the job, pits I’ll likely die on this voyage but why must you tempt Lady Destiny so?” Turp said
“Oh quiet uncle, don’t ruin this moment with death and foolish fortellings.” Lylian retorted. Her tone was harsh but it was a falsehood, Don’t ever change you old zorse, don’t ever change.
“Just look, once she has proven herself, they will make it all pretty like the old ships.” she said, then more quietly, “it will never be the same.”
The Ship was not beautiful but she was functional, Lylian considered every step of the design, the mistakes, the innovations, the loss, and now finally the triumph. Her fellow builders and her had landed on the name with little pain and no fighting whatsoever; unfortunately when time came to assign the Anogra a class the real war for creativity began.
“I can’t believe of all things that they could’ve called our beautiful ship, our Anogra the first of the Bloatship class.” Lylian said exasperated.
“Odd thing thah” Turp said scratching his neck in an unconscious gesture that is rarely acknowledged but often done.
“How did the commission land on such a name? I know thah the blowfish was what you were drivin at but it seems to me people who make things don’t know the first thing about naming their works. Look at the armorers with their bastard swords and their lady nail knives; If you all weren’t so smart an capable I would assume you all to be a group of those futile nameless.” Turp said with a good natured smile. He would always joke with dad that way.
“Well once we’d found a way to steal the blowfish’s method of motion both in the sea and in the air, that foreigner Melbeon suggested that we should call in a blowfish class ship but mind you that he was simply bitter that we wouldn’t name the ship after him.” Lylian said in answer.
Lylian sighed and reconsidered, “Perhaps I’m being to hard on him, without him and his way with mathematics and calculations this journey would’ve likely ended just like the last one.” she said glancing at Turp. As unsophisticated and spindly as he was, without him Lylian would’ve been lost with her parents dead and a young brother to care for in their absence.
Turp turned to her, “I know you’re worried, just because the group originally commissioned to make a flying ship failed doesn’t mean that you will, you’ve poured every bit of you’re mind and your heart into this. You got that wonderful mind of yours from your mother but ye’ve made better use of it, and you have that bravery and spirit of wonder and exploration proves you your father’s daughter as much as thah fire roasted red hair of yours.” he said, expression far off.
Maintaining her composure She turned towards him, “Uncle… without Yo—-“ “shhhhhh don’t say it love.” Turp said cutting her off. He embraced her and held her for a long time. “Don’t be goin and getting all weepy on me, Tomorrows your big day and you’ve always had what it takes.” He whispered to her wiping a tear from her eye. No I didn’t, but I became better because i had you.
“Thank you, lets head to bed I don’t want you falling asleep while securing the ropes or the flaps.” Lylian said smirking. “I’ve never fallen, well not very far anyways, don’t let your tongue sail ahead of you.” He replied, an incredulous expression resting on his face. She smiled as they walked down the stone hall towards their rooms.
Shorecanti’is have always been a nomadic race with what I’ve heard described as a fluid soul, becoming what the world was in desperate need of; or at least tolerated. We were once performers and artists traveling all of the known world in search of patrons and adventure, as nations kings discovered new and exciting ways to wage war and espionage. Our people chose to change rather than become loyal to a kingdom or a region as we were nearly persuaded to do, we became traders and caravaners who maintained our neutrality throughout many decades of conflict. Years later mountains flattened and peace negotiated between the nations. The Trade and Seller’s guild became our competitors and eventually our rivals, our hunters, our doom.
The day had finally arrived, the day that would prove their theories true or false. How has it come to this? A great crowd had gathered to see them off and Lylian suspected that if the Families had allowed it that the cavern would’ve been full to the point of bursting. Despite Lylian and Melbeon being the primary force in design and fine construction both declined the opportunity to speak on behalf of the voyage leaving the responsibility to Family head Sulvan. Lylian’s eyes followed him as he jumped atop a tall stone. He’s tall enough he doesn’t need a stage.
Lylian considered the unusual circumstances that had forced the Shorecanti’i, a nomadic people historically, to both be imprisoned in a small isolated environment and to conduct their business in such secrecy. We aren’t meant to be confined, we were born to fly across the land free of politics and scandal. The crowd was swelling and Lylian could see the growing anticipation on the faces of her fellow shipmates and voyage companions. Her fingers were trembling, she hadn’t realized how much nervous energy she had built up until now, am i nervous about dying, or about the ship failing after I’ve given it my all.
Boooooooonnnnnggggggg…..the bell sounded. Here we go, the onlookers pressed in gazing at the crew with the larger cave containing the ship serving as a backdrop. The gray stone cavern system over the course of the project had been well lit by every light source imaginable, the Shorecanti’i had long been world travelers and had clothing, tools, and blood from all over the world. With all of that in mind Lylian wished both the crew and the ship could’ve been done up in the typically artistic and boldly colorful fashion of her people. Unfortunately the crew was dressed and equipped in a practical manner mirroring the ship, muted colors and quality utilitarian tools enough to forgo most disasters. The Shorcanti’i’s chosen Realdrom (Leader for large group or specific mission) was the Family head Colel Sulvan, previously one of the wealthiest leaders of an Elder family and had done little to prevent their banishment and imprisonment during the Shorcanti’i civil war, and despite that, Lylian couldn’t bring herself to hate this man and against the consensus of her people, she respected him. With the crowd gathered, silence taking ahold of them like a fierce lover, his time to speak had finally arrived.
Colel Sulvan with a loud and dignified baritone started in, “Today is a day that will be shared by our story weavers for future generations alongside tales of our legendary ship the Sea Reaver and her crew that threaded the needle of the shark tooth islands upsetting the efforts of the navies of Bastion and Teorn. Alongside the tale of the Burning Silk Dragon and the Jester Emperor of Fa’aieten. But those are tales of the past the story you will tell your children and their children and all who will hear is the story of our people conquering the sky and building a new kingdom in the clouds far beyond the reach of our enemies and all who would do us harm. You will witness the greatest leap in technology in the history of human kind and you will know that was accomplished not with mage craft, not with the gift of a God, but through the innovation, ingenuity, and the unparalleled courage or our people, the Shorecanti’i.”
The crowd cheered with a vigor Lylian had not witnessed, throwing their hands into the air whooping and shouting and stomping fiercely enough to shake the stone walls of the cavern. Could anyone else among our people pulled this out of our people? Suddenly Lylian felt herself pulled into a tight and sudden hug by her assistant Jisserai who herself was laughing with a grin to split worlds.
“Lyl we can do this, the spirit of our people is with us my mother kept on telling me that they would believe once they saw the ship an the can hardly even see it.” Jisserai said her words chasing one another as if in a race.
Lylian smiled in return, “to tell you the truth I thought that Colel would give a speech like that and that they would only jeer.” Lylian said. “No Lyl our people have been hopeless for sometime but all that they needed was something to believe in and a path forward, Gods my mother was right as usual.” Jisserai said laughing to herself. What would Mother think of all this? Just then Jisserai was picked up from behind by the giant Abbaian as he laughed.
“Come on Jisserai enough chirping we can celebrate after we land but first we must help Lylian get her Anogra soaring through the skies.” Abbaian said as he walked down the stone stairway towards the ship.
“Come on Abbaian many of the families gave the bare minimum support and more than a few of us have more than our share of injustices with our Realdrom. It’s not as if our onlookers couldn’t have chastised us for wasting precious materials and labour to build our ship.” Jisserai said indignant.
“Between Lylian’s cloudy attitude and your inability to celebrate—- Ahhh.” she said as Abbaian swung a mighty hand down flat across her backside laughing all the while.
“I’m having fun now and I’d bet a weeks building wages that you don’t mind it.” he said while laughing his customary laugh. Lylian noticed a blush cross her assistant’s olive toned cheeks. If he ever knew how she fancied him he would be the happiest man to ever live. Lylian smiled to herself as she followed the ‘indignant’ Jisserai and chuckling Abbaian to the staging area of the Anogra.
Lylian noticed Turp and several other ‘deck’ hands discussing who will take the first rest shift as they were loading food and hanging bunks onto the Anogra. She shook her head was just about to double check all of her belongings and tools when she heard that voice, the voice that had so heavily criticized her ideas, that voice that had provided innumerable calculations and solutions to design problems.
“Lylian are you positive that all of my weather measuring devices have been loaded, I assure you that without my equipment that I am, what is the word?” Melbeon questioned.
“Frustrating.” she suggested.
“Very humorous, ah there it is, I will be helpless and this outing will be doomed from the very start.” Melbeon said his stern expression unwavering. Lylian was often at odds with him and neither of them would likely have spend much time together if not for this venture but Lylian had to admit to herself. We couldn’t have done this without his help.
“You are aware of your precautions as well as mine, between the two of us and our assistants I doubt anything will be left undone.” Lylian said
“No no, don’t you give me words to trick me out of my guard, as intelligent as I am I simply can’t do all of this work by myself.” Melbeon said, He’s just stressed the same as I am
As Lyllian opened her mouth to answer when Colel answered him, “Come now Melbeon between you and Lylian here I seriously doubt that our preparations have been mismanaged.” Colel met Melbeon’s gaze and then his intense eyes fell on Lylians.
“Are enough people trained with the gas chambers and the crystals?” He asked
“Realdrom Sulvan, each person trained on the essential mechanisms has a trained apprentice and a partially trained crewman as an understudy, beyond that Melbeon and I are rather intimately familiar with each piece of this ship. If you truly doubted our ability to fly the Anogra through the skies then this little trip wouldn’t be underway.” she said. Lyllian was rather defensive when questioned by authority figure though she didn’t mean to be.
“I have unending faith in our crew Lylian but you of all people must understand the importance of prudence.” Colel said giving her a look that cut straight to her center, a place inside her hollowed out by pain and loss. With a nod to each of them Colel walked towards the ladder shoot that would bring him to the command deck. Lylian left Melbeon there and headed towards the rigging harness station. The rigging harness station had been a safety precaution made to replace the rigging of ships born for the sea, while dangerous while on open ocean the risk was typical for sailors but a fall from a bloat ship would mean certain death without this precaution. Uncle hated it at first, until he realized he could be lazy.
Lylian attached the leather harness around her waist and then with help from Jisserai it was secured around each leg as well. She checked her whisper shells (Shells broken in half with a link for communication) and nodded to crewman Henrian who was much shorter and quieter than Abbaian.
“Alright let’s this ship in the air” Lylian said giving Henrian the lift signal indicating her desired elevation with her fingers.
The crystals were burned in their stoves bellow and made the Anogra lift into the air to the cheers of the gathered crowd. Lylian waved at them with the rest of the crew, a smile breaking her face in half.
“We are off to our old allies the Grenadians in their capitol city with the hopes of you all, Pray for our safe return.” Colel yelled to the screaming Shorecanti’i. Here we go.
My mother often spoke of songs and legends from those days when magic was lesser known and our people flowed with song and weaving and dance, she didn’t share my father’s perhaps slanted view of the great sailing empire that the Shorecanti’i enjoyed for the better part of 300 years. With fiery passion she told me of the persecution brought on by the merchant guilds and the hatred they inspired in the upper crust of many kingdoms. Mother had told every tale worthy of a curious young daughter’s attention and retold them often enough that I could likely recite them word for word to this day. Towards the end of her short life she chose to focus on the most important history of our people as my primary learning knowing that without these stories our people would be lost to a new identity, slavery, or death. It was as if she knew Lady Destiny had dealt her a final card, and that card was death.
When the Shorecanti’i were exiled and deemed traitors by their brethren they had lost their connection with the outside world, this flight for the Anogra and her crew would be their chance to reclaim their nomadic nature and perhaps much more. Lylian had observed the gas levels and helped to direct and communicate with the different crews needed to fly their bloat ship, their initial obstacle had been following the natural path of the cave system until they entered the ‘harbor’ chamber that stood unencumbered by a roof and it allowed them rise into the future.
After they had determined their heading Lylian yelled to burn more crystal until they reached the desired elevation and they released enough gas to maintain their altitude but not enough to drop. With the wind blowing in her face she felt that she finally understood her Father’s excitement and satisfaction to be free from the world, this is it.
Reaching down she grabbed the shell out of the holster and lifted it to her smiling mouth. “Jisserai give the signal it’s safe to come down now” Lylian said.
“Alright Lyl, give us 10 seconds.” Jisserai replied.
Lylian grasped the wooden pins out of their lockers that kept her from swinging about too on the side of the gas chamber and was lowered down with the pulley system occasionally jerking about, we’ll have to smooth that out if a system like this is to last. Landing on the lower deck she stared up in longing, the air was much more open feeling up there without being surrounded by the crew.
“How was the up there, It is fine an all up here but up there it musta been somethin to look at little miss barnacle.” Turp said, greeting her as a crewman and Jisserai helped her out of her harness. “Here is somethin to help your thirst. I noticed you didn’t bring any water with ya.” he said, handing her a clay cup.
“Thanks uncle.” Lylian said as she drained the cup only now realizing how thirsty she was, at first she had been hyper focused on observing the crystal gas levels through that glass opening and communicating with the burners, then she had let go and closed her eyes feeling the breeze and the sunshine on her tanned skin and flowing hair, now reality was settling on her once again.
“Is there anything you need Lyl, I can run a message to the commander up stairs or bring over some of the weather equipment for you.” Jisserai said cutely and eagerly, Lylian suspected her offer of help came one part from her desire to be a great assistant and one part wanting an excuse to go see Abbaian.
“It’s fine I don’t want to keep Melbeon from his instruments.” Lylian answered. She told Jisserai to go up to the command deck and tell the Realdrom that the gas level was stable and to have her understudy check it in an hour. Jisserai left with a shy eagerness that brought a grin to Lylian’s face and finally finished with her current duties she went down the stairs to the lowest level that contained the sleeping quarters for much of the crew and the dining hall. She did a quick visual check on the crewmen handling the crystals while passing, do we have a large enough crew or do we have too many, finding the balance of people that would be strictly necessary to safely fly the Anoga but not overtax the space aboard the limited bloat ship. Melbeon had argued for many less people and a smaller overall design but the sailors they consulted told them that having too few people was a sure way to ensure disaster and they had compromised. Lylian couldn’t take her eyes off of the horizon as they soared over the beautiful landscape of clouds and water.
The dining hall was up to the gills with hungry crewmen waiting for rations so Lylian used her station aboard the ship to skip the line while assuring the men that she wouldn’t steal their seats, instead the grabbed a small loaf and sliced salted fish and chose to eat her supper in solitude towards the front of the Anogra. Beautiful, She ate her food quickly and enjoyed her view of the sunset. When she was nearly finished with her meal she felt rather than saw someone join her and catch the final rays of the slowly sinking sun.
“What i said this morning before the launch was certainly true, but it was an obvious and unkind thing to say, I apologize Lylian.” Colel said in his deep commanding tone, despite his choice of words Lylian thought that he sounded sincere.
“You were within your right to question the preparedness of the ship and the crew Realdrom, and if you’re under the impression that you unsettled me with your comment then I will not allow you to live under the incorrect impression.” she said levelly, craning her neck to look him in the eye, “I’ve poured my heart and soul into the Anogra and as ugly as she looks I have faith she will stay in the air.”
“Lylian you are aware of the first attempt of our people to fly a bloat ship.” Colel said flatley, “We couldn’t take any undo risk, and you are aware of that.” he finished.
Fire burning in her soul and in the hole left in her heart she finally felt the damn of emotions that had built up inside split open and she for once didn’t attempt to contain them.
“I am aware of the risk Colel, I’m sure that my father understood the risk when he volunteered as captain aboard the Family’s little secret project.” She was practically spitting the words filling them with the venom of her loss. “And what’s worse is that you and the other families LIED about my father and what really happened to the crew. You just could STAND the Loss to your REPUTATIONS. Aware of the risk.” She scoffed, “ I full well understand the many risks involved Realdrom Colel Sulvan.” She said the hatred changing her voice into something she didn’t recognize.
She stood up abruptly and left the Realdrom where he sat perfectly still. She quickly wiped the tears from her eyes and waved off Turp when he tried to ask her what was wrong, she told the proper crew members in the dinning hall who was on the first 4 hour night shift for gas and crystal observation and she tuned and went up the rope and wooden ladder to the hightest deck below the ‘body’ that was reserved for the few women among the crew. She kissed the ring on her right hand twice, once for her mother who had been dead since she was 9, and once for her father who flew out of her life at 14. This is for you , she let sleep take her.
Our Nautical way of life was destroyed not from malevolent forces from the many nations or even the ever changing economic current of the world which our way of life so dearly depended; it came from within our own people, a growing discontentment was exploited both by the radical dividers, and by those seeking their own advantage in the chaos. Those violent factions believed that we would fall into line or be gutted for our resistance. They were wrong.
Lylian awoke not in her bed but on the floor, a girl named Clairy rolled off of her bed and landed on Lylian with a groan. “What’s going only Miss Lylian.” She said as the untangled their bodies and tried getting up.
“I’m not sure Clairy, lets go che—.” they were tossed together towards the door. After hitting it Lylian opened the door to reveal a dark sky and a terrible howling wind that seemed to suck them out of their sleep-filled safety. Lylian managed to grab hold of the door and push Clairy hard back into the room. “Stay safe!” Lylian yelled as she slammed the door.
The wind finally died down enough for her hear the yelling of the crew below and above, she rushed for the ladder and started rushing down, halfway down the wind picked up and flung her from the rope ladder crashing her to the middeck. Her leg gave a crack like a splintered log when she landed and her vision went red. Laying there in mortal agony a crew man tripped over her cursing.
“What in the Sea wolf.” He yelled over the gail. Getting back to his feet he still couldn’t see her for the lamp that had illuminated this area had either gone out or been blown away in the storm. “Help ME!” Lylian screamed, the crewman stared through the darkness, “Lylian, is that you?” He yelled, what’s his name?
“Here you go Miss.” He said pulling her up by the arm, “lats get you to the dining hall it will be safe there.” He said loudly, he said something else but it was stolen by the storm.
“No, I need to talk,” She stammered, breathing heavy, her words were falling apart in her head, she could hardly concentrate. “Realdrom, get me to him.” she managed to say.
“Alright Lylian, just come this way.” He said supporting her with an arm, they managed a few steps and were nearly tossed from their feet when the wind caused the Anogra to twist and turn suddenly. “We’re nearly there to ladder shoot but I can’t ta— ahhh nooo—-!” He yelled as the ship tilted violently and suddenly they were in the air, when they hit the railing it was with such force that he flipped over the edge and was pulling her with him. It was the end for her when suddenly she was gripped by an enormous arm and pulled back to the deck. When she looked up she realized that it was Abbaian, suddenly she turned her head back, he’s gone.
“Help me Abbaian I need to check the gas levels and talk to Colel.” Lylian screamed over the wind and prayed that he could understand her desperate cry.
“Lylian I will help you but we need to hurry, we will not last much longer.” Abbaian yelled, he held her hand. “What can we do in this?” He asked just as lightning shot across the sky, “We need to release the gas or the storm will tear us to bloody shreds.” Lylian answered she tried to stand and immediately collapsed when she put weight on her leg. Black.
Blury colors and shapes moved across her vision, sounds that didn’t make any sense sounded in her ears and then she passed out again.
When she opened her eyes again, there was daylight, she was bundled in a blanket with a coat supporting her head. Jisserai saw that she was awake and rushed away, before she and several others returned to Lylian she noticed for the first time that she wasn’t aboard the Anogra, sand?
Realdrom Colel Jisserai and several others including the ship’s medicine man approached her. She sat up, “What happened, ouch.” She groaned laying back down.
“Lylian 3 days ago we were caught by a storm that surprised everybody including Melbeon. The ship crashed landed in the night, 11 almost one third of our crew was lost in the storm and several more are injured.” Colel said his face grave.
“The gas was trapped. How did we descend?” Lylian asked, licking her dry lips, “Lyl you told Abbaian what needed to happen before you collapsed, he he told Turp and Turp used the shell from your gear to speak to the Realdrom. They we–were able to get enough crew to open the hatches that we were able to descend, but…” Jisserai said trailing off.
“What is it? Where in the bloody sand are we?” Lylian asked, why is she so hesitant she never is with me?
Colen gave Jisserai a look and continued in her stead, “When we were descending at too great a rate we secured all of the hatches. One would not close and we were falling now at a dangerous rate, we could not close it. Turp muttered something but the wind was too much I couldn’t make it out, Turp cut a rope above on the command deck and told me to burn the crystals before he jumped over the edge.” Colel said his eyes turning sober.
“Your uncle managed to close the hatch but he was lost to the storm and the night, I’m very sorry.” He said, Lylian turned her head, NO no nonono NO!!!
She was under the influence of something that was helping her with the pain and she simply asked, “Well did his departure mean bloody something? Did we make it too the city?”
“No the storm took us off coarse, we crashed into the sea and managed to get airborn. But the Anogra was damaged substantially by the storm and we made landfall here. This land is unfamiliar to us but alas.” He turned his eyes towards hers, “We have Arrived.”