Welcome to Gaia! ::

Viira had dressed in her captain's garb today for she was feeling home sick. It was all she had left of her homeland, bloodstained and worn in places but she couldn't repair it without the proper materials and she refused to stoop to the simple cow leather people seemed to make use of here. Shark leather was so much more durable and effective... and non existent.

Upon her head sat her captain's hat with the feather and the curled brim, keeping her wavy mane of hair only moderately tamed. Her attention was turned inward, tongue pressed against the gem in the roof of her mouth out of habit, and she looked up as she padded down the stairs, noting the other's conversation...

And sighed. Another victim, hm? She'd learned quickly enough that talking to oneself often meant some godly rock had staked a claim. However, it wasn't that that made her pause in her steps... it was the mention of a ship. Nobody had mentioned ships in the time she'd been here.... but the man didn't look remotely like a sailor. "Did you say ship...? What kind?"

Ashanti, who had been mostly drifting in his own thoughts while Viira wandered, stirred when she spoke to someone. The feeling of his attention shifting always left her with a frown as it was not her own thoughts that changed, leaving an echoing impression that was both distracting and mildly disturbing... she had gotten used to it soon after their union but there times, like now, when it made her shudder.

Making a face, she closed her eyes and tried to shrug off the sensation. "A tall ship...?" Viira's expression turned quizzical and she shook her head, "No, I've never manned a 'tall ship' or a 'flying ship' either. I hail from a city ship, the Storm Seed. A beautiful vessel with a full fleet of Shadows." Her voice dipped at that, the frown tugging at the corners of her lips.

And entirely too much water. Your ship is lost and gone, woman, do not linger. Impatient as always, Ashanti scoffed and made his own attempt at soothing Viira, though it really only riled the woman up.

She stood a little taller when Ashanti reprimanded her, pursing her lips at the jab but she spoke to the stranger, "Are there not supplies available? I have found nautical wares to be few and far between... I would not surprised if they lacked the materials or ship repairs as well.

"Ah... that is a small ship..." She replied with a smile, "The Shadows are small ships, like your tall ships. They guard and supply the city ship. I am Captain Viira Kavan of the Storm Seed." Stepping forward, she gave a bit of a bow in greeting, "Are you a shipwright then?"

It had sparked hope in her that she might have stumbled across someone of similar background to speak with. The variety and strangeness of the people here still left her feeling lost at times. Something familiar would be pleasant.

Ashanti sighed as she spoke, sensing the stirrings of interest in his host and grumbled about getting this encounter over and done with. There were more important things to do - like assessing the mortals that made their home here for appropriately malleable followers.

Viira didn't know what a mechanic was but the image of working metal made her think of blacksmiths and inventors from the continent, people famous for their skill at turning rock or fire into useful things. An approving nod followed his admission of piloting the craft, "A good sailor knows the workings of his vessel."

She paused, however, at the question of her ship and inhaled, the set of her jaw indicating it struck deeper then intended. Oh, spit it out, woman. You've keened for your fellows long enough. You are my vessel and your actions reflect on me as well as you.... as I am your better, you must strive to glorify me.

"Oh shut up you miserable, misbegotten rock." Her outburst was sudden and full of the fire that had carried Viira through many an encounter in the past, and it flowed into her conversation as smoothly as if it had not happened at all - she'd learned not to apologize, "My craft? I... Is that what the even was called? The ocean... it disappeared, stranded us in the muck and debris.... I lost most of my crew, civilians and officers, when we were forced to ground, lost the rest after we ventured into the cave and the entrance collapsed. We spent weeks in those tunnels... Avalin is all I have left." The haunted look in her eye spoke of the horrors she'd endured.

Seething at her willful refusal to behave, Ashanti was forced to remain in the back of her mind, a hot coal burning in her thoughts.

"Avalin is my adoptive son... the only other survivor from our crew and the subsequent journey through the caves." She replied, "I do not know how we ended up here, but it is where the caves lead. I have never been on land as long as I have been here.... it is, however... promising that the Korinthian name does not paint targets upon my head - that I know of, at any rate."

Viira scoffed and shook her head, "Host would imply I wish to carry the vermin. A woman who called herself Winter cursed me with a rock in my mouth and now I carry the voice of--"

I will introduce myself, woman, let me speak! Ashanti surged forward, like a sandstorm, abrupt and abrasive, to catch Viira off guard.

"The Voice of Desert. Ashanti, master of the wastes." Viira inclined her head, her mannerisms shifting to reflect the god's own... though the eyes, which were hers alone still, flashed with the fire of someone unjustly pulled from control.

"Alecto? I have not heard of any kin named that..." Ashanti's eyes narrowed, unwilling to admit the title was not familiar either, though he scoffed the second time James spoke, "My vessel often sees fit to try to suppress her betters... stubborn as a mule and tough as sun-dried leather, which is useful at times, but mostly incredibly irritating.

I have interrupted nothing. The city ship is dead and gone, in a world eaten by Gehenna. What more is there to say? She cannot return." He gave a dismissive shrug as if the matter was obvious. No sands had run over the world, to cover and uncover the mystery of ancient tribes... no trace remained. It was a world gone dark, from what he'd gleaned from her memory, "And I will not allow her to return to the World Tree, either."