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 Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2020 8:41 am
 (Art by Scarlett Arbuckle)
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Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2020 2:09 pm
♡.❤.♡ Table of Contents ♡.❤.♡
❣ Table of Contents
❣ Ephrym
❣ Relationships
❣ Rps & Adventures
❣ Inventory & Art
❣ Reqs
❣ Extra
❣ The Story So Far
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Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2020 2:40 pm
♡.❤.♡ Character Information ♡.❤.♡ Name: Ephrym
Stage: Stage 4 [Captain of the Misty Maiden]
Race: Geian / Lightning
Status: w/ Chrysanthe
Gender: Male
Base Traits: Hedonistic || Fanciful (Deceptive) || Captivating
Personality:
Ephrym as an apprentice is very devoted to chasing pleasures and fantasies. Rather than pushing himself for the benefit of the future the boy would rather just live in the moment. Instead of thinking about what would happen if he eats his sisters chocolate he would rather just enjoy it now and face the consequences later. If someone sneers at him for dancing in the rain then he would shrug that off as well because it is personally something that he enjoys and all Ephrym cares about for the most part is himself and how he feels. Though he is not completely selfish as sometimes feeling better about himself includes assisting others in need. That is if they fit into his current schedule and he feels so moved to inquire about their needs.
Obviously this means he lives a bit of a fanciful life and he enjoys spinning stories. Living in Talrise has always made him wonder about the great ocean and the adventures that are awaiting him on it. While he may not be able to set sail just yet the boy does spin stories about those that have and what could happen once their people manage to make a vessel that sails just as far as any airship. Dreams are what he thrives upon and the way he spins them is captivating for others. His fanciful ways are also beneficial for him because when he does get others caught up within his own dreams the boy can use them for himself. It's easy to get someone to go along with some plan if they can envision your fantasy after all. As a child for example he could convince others in the neighborhood to go along with his 'adventures' for the thrill of excitement, but would later get chastised by his family for not only leading the others into some playful chase along the shores but for also using the other children to get some snacks from their parents. After all if he was "captain" of his crew then should they not give him treats as well?
As he gets older he'll use his captivating looks and charisma to spin even more stories. These will get others to forget for the moment what wrong he did or even convince them that him pocketing their piece of bread was for the greater good. It can also be a hassle, however, when he wants to lay low since he does have such memorable features. For those who don't get captivated by his tales then this could mean trouble for the whimsical man who will later be remembered for his mischief.
Appearance:
History: Ephrym was raised by his mother who worked in the sector of Agriculture. Years ago, as he was told by an Uncle, his mother was apparently one of the charms of Talrise. There she was chased by many young suitors, but she was a dedicated woman who was too focused on helping with the ships and working with the water to help out farmers in the area. She would often refuse to go on dates and would prefer to instead work side by side with her parents as they were from a simple family who believed strongly in hard work. Lylia, therefore, did not want to be distracted by romance and continued to push it off as a thing to deal with later. Her brother, Vyn, was already playing around and dating so she felt that it was best for her to take up more work for his slacking off.
Eventually something changed and it came in the form of a young lightning entertainer from the capital, Valmon. Young and eager to explore the world Tyrin went on a journey with an acting group who spread gossip and stories across Belrea. What he was not expecting was the form on an angel that came up from the docks one morning. Determined from that point on Tyrin would linger in Talrise so that he could shower the girl in compliments and gifts. Eventually her walls would wear down and the woman agreed to date and later marry him.
Since Lyria was dedicated to Talrise and her family there Tyrin agreed to settle with his wife in the city. His work, however, could constantly have him running between the cities of Belrea as he would travel for new acts that traveled through the major cities. When he did come to visit his wife in Talrise the man would make certain to spend as much time with her before having to travel once again. It was during such visits that both of their children were born. For a little while, until their oldest was about eleven, Tyrin would work locally and with Lyria's family. He would only travel if absolutely needed so that he could help his wife raise their children.
Ephrym was barely seven when Tyrin started travelling again and so most of his childhood would have his father only in brief moments. Even now the last Ephrym heard of his father was that the man was in Zenner acting out the newest big play. Despite this Tyrin's influence is obvious on Ephrym as the boy has dreams of adventure and loves to act while spinning a good tale. His older sister, Alizeh, on the other hand is a lot more like their mother and prefers hard work to whimsical tales.
As a youngling then it was often Ephyrm who would play pretend while his sister instead studied what their mother did for a living and attempted to help out more with it. Ephyrm would then play more with neighborhood children and spin stories from them and lead them on adventures during the day only to be later chastised by his sister who had to act as mother and father for when both of their parents were busy at work. She is one of the few to not fall prey to his stunning tales and would instead drag him by the ear home or have him apologize to other children for tricking them into giving him snacks and other goodies. And while Ephrym isn't as bitter about their father's on and off presence Alizeh has a bite when talking about the man and often blames him for all the tricks that her brother pulls.
Despite her bitter attitude Ephrym is fully convinced that his older sister still adores both him and his father. But he also cannot deny that in a family full of hard workers that both him and his father are oddballs. While they may not be the most suited to working in agriculture he does belief that in their own way they are hard workers. It's just not what his mother's family are accustomed to. He respects his father's work and that understanding keeps him from hating on the fact that he didn't have a father for most of his childhood. Instead he spends as much time as possible with Tyrin when he is home and enjoys listening to all the stories that his father brings with him. And at the moment while he is older now and less prone to leading children around in mischief the boy is still figuring out himself and exactly what he wants to do in life.
Recently: Ephrym has matured and become captain of The Misty Maiden a merchant ship that sails between Belrea, Matori and Kahi regions with an occasional stop in Yael. He barters with local merchants, acquiring trades that may benefit him more than others because of his sly bargaining, and is focused on keeping his crew safe while exploring the open ocean.
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Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2020 7:07 am
♡.❤.♡ Relationships ♡.❤.♡
❣ Family ❣
-Chrysanthe - a talented sniper and his partner.
-Imani & Endellion - his children with Chrysanthe.
❣ Friends / Foes ❣
Yokka - his first mate and the lead carpenter for the ship.
Emiyn - navigator and close friend.
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Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2020 7:08 am
♡.❤.♡ RPS & Adventures ♡.❤.♡
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Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2020 7:09 am
♡.❤.♡ Inventory & Art ♡.❤.♡
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Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2020 7:10 am
♡.❤.♡ Reqs ♡.❤.♡ Stage 3-4 Growth Form Character Name: Ephrym
Class Promotion: 4 (Assassin)
Current Location: Belrea
Journal: [X]
Growth Point Links:
75/75
[Games of Chance RP] - 5 pnts
[Preparations Rp] - 10 pnts
[Hitchhikers RP] - 5 pnts
[The Voyage Begins] - 5 pnts
[The Return] - 5 pnts
[Treasure Hunter WE] - 5 pnts
[Date WE] - 5 pnts
[Restless Waters] - 10 pnts
[Important News] - 5 pnts
[Arrangements] - 5 pnts
Solos
[The Storm] [3626 - 12 pnts]
[Home] - [1000 wc 3 pnts]
Growth Blurb: After finally acquiring his own ship Ephrym has returned to Belrea successfully and set himself up as a merchant. While his ocean adventures are far from over this is the setting point that establishes him as a successful captain who is even starting his own family, something which he is confident with considering the stability his recent travels and wealth have brought to his life.
Physical Description: Ephrym would keep his accessories, windswept hairstyle with curls for the most part. You can feel free to alter it a bit like the references. Feel free to give him any accessories that are ocean based and mark him as a captain. Any additional accessories are welcome and a golden ring with gemstones would be nice.
Feel free to take inspiration from the following:
[Outfit 1] // [Oufit 2] // [Outfit 3] // [Outfit 4] // [Outfit 5]
[Accessories 1 - Dual Blades, Rapiers] // [Hair 1] // [Hair 2]
Body Type: Lean muscle, slender.
Preferred Artists: Kana [Full or Collab] Fee [Full or Collab]
WIPs: Sure!
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Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2020 7:10 am
♡.❤.♡ The Story So Far... ♡.❤.♡
❣
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Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2021 8:33 pm
♡.❤.♡ Catching Up Solo ♡.❤.♡ “Jerid!” Ephrym grinned happily as he darted towards the older man. “Do you know what’s happenin’ in the next few days?” He was bursting with energy as he reached out a hand and escorted his old friend along the docks. It was fairly obvious what Ephrym’s news was considering the ship that was anchored nearby, her sails primed and ready to sail with a crew moving about the upper decks like madmen in their final efforts to prep everything for the long voyage to Kahikina. The patrons had thrown them a major curveball by making demands which led to Ephrym promising to move even quicker than scheduled. Three weeks had quickly turned into less than one and so now here they were prepping the best that they could without much sleep at all. Thankfully Ephrym had some seriously good companions to rely on and he was especially thankful for the head carpenter who would not dally nor allow others to slack off. If he wasn’t captain then he was certain that even he would have been on her chopping block several times by now and as it was he had already taken some heat whenever he tried to pass some jokes around the crew under her watchful gaze! Still it didn’t stop him from making a few final stops in town, his shopping for a few touches here and there helping with the ship and also allowing him some fresh air away from the bustle of the crew. Ephrym was on a mission to visit his lightning friend but was delighted that he ran into Jerid along the way. It was always worth the time to speak with the older man who had gifted him the dual blades that hung at his side after all! Without his support Ephrym wasn’t exactly certain of how those teen years would have gone so smoothly while he worked nights along the docks to gather enough money for his vessel. Truly he would be forever grateful to the older earthling who had done so much for him and had spent so many nights keeping Ephrym company with a steaming cup of tea before he found himself racing off to beat the dawn on the way to his family home in the outskirts of the city. While the others thought him lazy, only his sister knowing the truth, Ephrym honestly worked until almost dawn before returning to catch a few hours of sleep and going into the fields to help his mother and sister. His sleeping in habits had often gotten him an earful from his mother but it was always worth it when he knew that there was the kind old man who helped give him a place to rest in the evenings whenever he couldn’t find much work to pass the time. At least with Jerid’s help he could snag a nap or two in between grabbing jobs from crews working the docks. Ephrym definitely was determined to do his best to make Jerid proud and to bring him back some fine souvenirs from overseas!
“Ephrym!” The old man chuckled at Ephrym’s enthusiasm. “How could I not know? The docks are abuzz talkin’ about you and your crazy plans to go sailing into Kahikina. Not many have dared to venture over there, especially no merchant ships yet.” There was just so much that wasn’t known about the new islands and their strange underwater races. Academy members and some bold cartographers perhaps had ventured overseas but other than that there truly wasn’t much known about the islands and their people. Would Ephrym truly be okay and would his findings be worth all the trouble? Jerid could only hope so. “You better be safe out there, kid.” He poked his cane towards Ephrym. “I worked hard to get those swords to you and it would be a shame if you died out there and lost them.”
“Fair enough.” Ephrym chuckled. “I’ll keep that in mind.” As he walked with Jerid he continued talking with the older man and filled him in on all the details of the ship. He had a growing crew with various members, some even from outside of Belrea, and his ship was definitely beautiful with spirit. He could feel how powerful she was whenever she cut through the waters and my oh my how she shined in the sunlight while on the ocean! The silvery wood also shimmered almost like a polished pearl and he couldn’t help admiring how gorgeous she was. His averin chirped happily from his shoulder as if adding to the story and supporting every one of Ephrym’s praises about his ship and crew. Even if they were all fairly new to sailing, some never had even been on the ocean before, they had the spirit of champions and he was certain that they could learn quickly! They had taken several smaller trips already around Belrea’s coast and Ephrym truly felt like they were prepared to take on anything. “When we come back I’ll give you something amazing from Kahikina. Maybe some rare pearls or something? I heard that they have piles of rare treasures like that since they don’t have to worry about losing air.” There were divers around the coasts of Belrea but even they had their limits. Imagine being able to actually thrive beneath the ocean’s surface? Honestly Ephrym was slightly jealous. If anything he would adore being able to swim for hours and had once even bought a potion from a merchant when he was just a lad with the promise it could do the same. Obviously that hadn’t worked out exactly as planned but it had been his first major learning experience in how to work the market. Ephrym would never make that mistake again and instead found ways to spin his own tales when selling and making deals to earn coin over the years.
“I’ll hold you to it.” Jerid chuckled before they turned towards his humble home nestled along the lower area by the docks. “Are you comin’ in for tea?” He quirked a curious brow before gesturing for Ephrym to follow him. “If you’re looking for Sulien he should be coming by soon enough. I’m guessing you’re trying to con him into this venture as well?”
“Perhaps.” Ephrym grinned playfully before following Jerid inside. “I’m sure your grandson will be fine if he comes along. It would be nice to have someone good with metals joining us but we’ll see.” His teal gaze studied the familiar room and he found himself holding a chair out for Jerid. “Let me brew the tea. Something dark like usual with honey?”
“Sounds good to me.” Jerid nodded as he settled down and watched Ephrym bouncing about the kitchen. It had been far too long since they had spent time together and Ephrym was glad that he could catch him like this. “You’re lucky that you caught me. I don’t think Sulien is at his forge today.”
“Oh? Then I really am lucky.” Ephrym grinned as he waited on the water to boil. “Have you both been well? I see Sulien on occasion, especially since I ordered metal work from him for the Misty Maiden but I haven’t seen much of you lately Jerid.”
“It’s a bit harder for me to get around.” Jerid admitted with a nod. “Sulien does good to come and visit me but I don’t wanna move in with him just yet. I prefer my little home here.”
“So you’re stubborn as usual.” Quipped Ephrym as he sat down the tea cups and started pouring the hot water over the packets of tea leaves. “I’m taking quite a few boxes of these with us. I’m hopin’ it’ll be enticing for some good trades with Kahikina.” There were of course all sorts of Belrean metals and trinkets going on board as well but Ephrym was taking a bit of everything just to see what would work best for their next trip. Some of it was based on his patrons’ desires while others were his own personal items that he had gathered thanks to his own savings and donations from his own father’s savings.
“Good. If they haven’t experienced the joys of tea then I hope that you enlighten them quickly.” Replied Jerid before the door opened and a familiar lightning man with vivid purple eyes came into the house. “Ah, Sulien.”
“Gramps and….Ephrym?” Sulien laughed. “I see you beat me home even, Ephrym. I can’t escape you, can I?”
“Never!” Ephrym winked towards his friend and gestured towards the table. “Come sit and I’ll pour you a cup as well while I’m feeling generous. We have some business to discuss, Sulien.”
The lightning mage grinned. “Yes, yes. I suppose we do.” He placed a hand on his grandfather’s shoulders before settling into the chair next to him. An earring glittered in the sunlight as he glanced out of the window. “I found a bit of security for your trip. A pretty foreigner none-the-less.”
“Oh?” Ephrym raised a brow. “What are they like?”
“Ah, she’s a spitfire but I’m certain she’ll liven up your ship. Can cook as well which is a plus to being able to shoot a target from far away.” Sulien grinned almost mischievously. “Makes me tempted to come along so I can keep flirtin’ with her.”
“Boys.” Jerid coughed as he finished off his cup of tea. “I suppose this old man better go and retire for a bit while you waste time talking nonsense.” Despite his chastizing words there was a small smile on his own lips as he retreated from the room and both Ephrym and Sulien found themselves chuckling at the sight.
“Think we made him flustered?” Ephrym joked lightly as he raised his own cup for a drink.
“Possibly! But either way let me talk to you about this upcoming trip….” Back to business again...somewhat.
[1655]
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Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2021 9:34 pm
♡.❤.♡ Growth to Stage 3 ♡.❤.♡ It was Sulien who brought Ephrym the unfortunate news. The lightning mage had appeared at his door early in the morning before the dawn and Ephrym had struggled to comprehend the letter in his hands at first. “A ship went down?” He repeated as he stared at the parchment in his trembling hands, his teal gaze narrowed thoughtfully as he continued staring at the writing as if in disbelief. “Why would you bring this to me?” He finally asked as he went to sit down at the meeting table, the parchment crumbled in his fist as he placed his elbows against the surface to support himself.
“Well as your friend I wanted to offer support but also remind you of the dangers of the open sea.” Sulien started as he sank into the chair across from Ephrym. “Are you certain that you’re okay sailing so far away?” He began slowly as he studied his friend, a worried look crossing his features. “I just want you to be safe.”
Ephrym knew that much was true enough. Sulien was supportive but also one of his most cautious companions and he wouldn’t bring up something this important out of spite. No, his friend was truly worried about him and the realization made Ephrym let out a loud sigh. Still, was it even possible to stop their plans now that everything was in motion? When everyone was relying on him as captain? But the temptation of running was definitely there especially now that he had proof that disaster still could strike when they left for Kahikina. Would he be able to handle losing someone out in the ocean? What if a storm hit, could he protect everyone? His stomach knotted in worry as he imagined the horrible scenarios that had randomly crossed his mind in the last few weeks. Could he do it? “I can’t…” He whispered at first before memories of his crew surfaced. They had always supported him before and so why would he ditch them now? Emphrym took a deep breath before tossing the crumbled parchment to the floor. “I should be wary but I can’t be afraid of the ocean, Sulien. I’m captain now and I’ve got to step up to protect my crew.” They had faith in him so why didn’t he?
“Aren’t you afraid of losing someone?”
“Of course I am!” Ephrym admitted his fears as he slammed a hand against the table. “I’m not callous! But they’re relying on me and I can’t be fearful. The ocean is my home and I won’t allow some accident to deter my own ambitions. I’m not alone either.” He had learned it through the recent weeks spent with the rest of his crew, but they were all just as determined as he was about going on this adventure. There were so many hopes and dreams invested in this journey! Emphrym found his hands stilling, the nerves slowly calming as he regained his resolve and faced the hidden fears that had haunted him since realizing how close they were to their voyage. It would be easy enough to run away now, to sell the Misty Maiden and to return home where he could pick up farming or acting with either of his parents, but Ephrym didn’t want that and speaking with Sulien like this reminded him of his passions. He had grown so much in the last couple of years and he had worked so hard over the past decade to get to this point. Why run away now? It was silly! If anything Ephrym should be proud of his accomplishments and ready to face the adventure waiting around the corner. He could face these fears and rely on those who had gotten closer to him within the past few months. I can and will do this. Ephrym smiled before giving a nod to Sulien. “Thank you for the concern but we’re still going, Sulien. I hope you can change your mind and come along as well.”
“Fair enough.” Sulien gave a small smile of his own in return. “I trust you to make the right choice, Ephrym. Why should I try to argue when your mind is set?” He stood and straightened his jacket. “Just stay safe, friend. We’ll see if I’m here or not in by tomorrow.” And with that he was off to leave Ephrym to his thoughts, his resolve slowly but surely lifting the shadows that had been lurking around the edges of his mind.
Ephrym has always had a deep fear of not being good enough to protect others and is terrified of losing someone on his watch. After a discussion with a friend Ephrym must face his fears now that he is about to set sail as captain of his very own crew. This is the moment where he reflects on his growth over the years and finds his resolve to prepare for the next part of his journey overseas. (748 WC)
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Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2022 12:01 pm
♡.❤.♡ The Storm ♡.❤.♡ Ephrym remembered getting the crew caught up in a storm. They had just arrived in Kahikina with beautiful clear skies the day before but as soon as the first island came into view everything went wrong. The skies had roared with thunder while the previously calm ocean now violently crashed waves against the sides of the poor Misty Maiden, her groaning echoing throughout the hull. If one could even take a moment to hear about the cries of the ship then they could hear the yells of the ocean which sounded in chorus with the howling of the wind. There was no silence, no peaceful respite that could fill the air where some sort of noise was constantly happening in the explosive weather surrounding them. As the clouds continued to gather above the crew a dark shadow stretched across the previously gleaming beaches of white sands which had seemingly been greeting them only hours before. Now it was more like a trap, an illusion to grab victims such as the crew of the Misty Maiden whose hopes of a quiet arrival were dashed the moment the skies ripped open above them and started pelting them with heavy rains. Ephrym was running about to help with the crew, giving orders to pull down the sails and anchor in an attempt to stay in place without having the fabric ripped to shreds in the raging winds and to keep the Misty Maiden from spiraling out of control and further into the unknown. They finally had the islands in sight and he refused to lose them! Even Emiyn was trying to help though Ephrym could not help worrying about him since the summoner was obviously struggling against such a monstrous storm. Was there some sort of protection keeping them away from these islands? They did not mean any harm and simply wanted to explore and trade with the natives! Ephrym wished he had some sort of magical connection to nature so that he could yell such thoughts into the dark clouds surrounding them, but all he could do was try to keep his crew in some sort of order while chaos broke out around them.
“Tighten the sails! Keep the ropes secure around the mast!” He yelled towards Neil and Jeros who nodded before running about, their clothing soaked with seawater and clinging to their lean forms. Ephrym was in a similar position and he had even ripped off his outer vest since it was just weighing him down because of how much water was soaked into it. He truly wished he had kept his leather coat on now since it was more waterproof but there was simply not time to waste! He could not go into his cabin now for such luxuries, not when his crew needed him! So he endured with the wind whipping against his face, cuts slowly showing up along his bare arms as he helped the crew tie down important crates and the like. It was at times like this that he did somewhat regret not having more fighters like Adenah who he had met in Matori before they came this way. Having someone who could toss knives with ease could prove handy since surely moving about in a storm like this would not even bother them. Though Ephrym had to acknowledge that most of his crew had fairly good reflexes and so far he hadn’t seen many stumble while most were quickly going about their duties to help keep things going despite the storm raging about them. He just had to hope that also included the golden sniper who he looked for during the chaos, his emerald gaze flashing with worry every moment that he didn’t see her in the crowd.
Still, he could not linger about when there was so much going on! Ephrym took one final, desperate glance around the back decks before moving forward. I’m sorry Chrysanthe. We’ll find each other soon enough. He promised silently before turning towards a group of men who were slipping back and forth across the deck, ocean water and rain splashing in deepening puddles across the polished wood. “Lock down the cargo! No one should get crushed by that!” His fingers ached and felt raw but he tightened the knots while the others surrounded other pieces of cargo and did the same. Ephrym refused to lose the goods he had gathered in Oba and Matori for this trip. They had to come here with something! How else could they trade? Certainly, he was shifty at times but he was not a complete pirate! He was a merchant ship and not a reckless privateer! None would disgrace the Misty Maiden with such a title. She was glorious and pure and definitely not going down in this wretched storm! Nor would Ephrym resort to outright stealing to make ends meet. He was here for peaceful business and not to ruin any potential relationships between the Kahi and earthlings. There would most definitely be no theft, maybe some good haggling but nothing other than that. Ephrym grit his teeth at the very thought before noticing a couple of the crew holding onto a mast for support instead of moving about like the rest of them. Rarely one to show anger, Ephrym actually cast a narrowed glance at the pair before shouting firm orders their way, his authority openly showing for once instead of hiding behind the facade of a light hearted prankster. At times like these it was nice to remember that he was indeed the captain and despite common teasing actually had the skills to match the role. “Stop slackin’ already! You’ve seen far worse storms before this one even thought about comin’ through!” He commanded before moving ahead to help out with the front of the ship, the cargo being left to those who were following his orders to tie down everything during the raging storm. Of course this was actually the worst storm he had ever witnessed while out on the ocean, but Ephrym wanted to keep up the crew’s morale. Cowering because of mother nature throwing a fit around them would definitely not boost the drive they needed to get through this mess!
“Gonna have a fun time, boys!” He added to the rest before going back to try to find Emiyn. The petite Matori summoner made him worried. Even if the man said he was a powerful summoner there was no telling with this storm! Was he truly capable of such feats? Magic truly was something that Ephrym would never fully understand, that much was for certain. He just had to have faith in the Matori while doing his best to support him in this troubling time. Ephrym had promised to help Emiyn out and losing him in such a mess would be the last thing he wanted to happen. Surely Yokka was beating up some of the crew as well and Ephrym worried less about the strong first-mate who could easily hold her own. She was ready for such a featEmiyn however…what if the winds swept him away? Already the ship was rocking back and forth while the waves pressed against her from all sides. The ocean definitely was trying to claim her bounty today, but Ephrym was not going to let her get away with it!
This was mostly his fault though. Emiyn had tried warning him about the damned weather changing and the Matori had requested to go around the side of the islands rather than straight through. But Ephrym’s desire to beat the rest of the merchant ships in this race to Kahikina had made them risk this path and for once Ephrym regretted his decision. Emiyn would probably bother him later and chastise him for not listening….if they should survive this fight. I’ll take all of the lectures as long as we see the next dawn. Promised Ephrym as he continued looking for Emiyn in the chaos of the crew. It was crazy to imagine that much power radiating from the petite figure who Yokka had brought to him. He had been much more ragged at the time and not the finely decorated lad who was now standing at the front of the ship with a staff, his gaze blazing with magic as he tried to quell the storm around them and keep the ship from being thrown upon the dangerous rocks jutting out before them. He had grown up well indeed and Ephrym was happy to see it. Or more so very thankful especially when he realized the storm could have already taken down the whole ship if not for the summoner’s interference. He just prayed it would be enough to get them safely to shore without falling to pieces first. How long did nature want to keep fighting with them? Shouldn’t the storm be passing within the next hour or so? He just hoped it wasn’t one of those lingering coastal storms. Those hurricanes could rip apart a whole village if given a chance and took a day if not longer to finally move onto the next target. Ephrym had witnessed such a thing when he was a youngling once, but thankfully his family had retreated from the village and went back up to live closer to the mountains during that time so they were not completely devastated by the damaging winds and rains that had harmed so many.
“We’re almost at the center!” The statement which distracted him from his more troubling thoughts was a much welcome relief. Even Ephrym understood that if the ship could stay in the center then all would surely be well with time. Even if the storm wanted to rage for hours then they could just keep pace with the center of the great beast where the waves were far calmer and not trying to drag them under. It was far quieter in the center of the storm instead of being caught along the edges where the ocean raged the loudest. The crew just had to stay within the eye of the storm and then when the ocean was finally done with its tantrum they could rush through the edges and back into safety, hopefully anchoring along the shoreline so they could seek better shelter. He could already imagine the destruction they would find and hoped that the storm only brushed the edges of the islands instead of going straight into Kahikina. It appeared that the clouds were heading away from the islands and more towards the open ocean that they had just traveled through. There should not be any worry for those living within the new lands, including his crew should they finally dock, since the storm would be heading away from the islands. Any worry about racing other merchant ships was gone from his mind because Ephrym had the feeling this storm would be hitting their way soon enough and it was more a matter of survival and keeping his crew safe at this point. Any rival merchant ships behind them would be struggling with rough waters for the day while his crew was already at Kahikina…as long as they made it through these crucial moments.
Either way that was a worry for those other boats and not for his crew and ship. They had no time to worry about others when they were in such dangerous waters themselves! Ephrym caught sight of Emiyn slipping backwards before ripping his sandals off so that his bare feet could dig into the deck. A sigh of relief escaped Ephrym’s lips as he turned his attention elsewhere. So far he had not caught sight of Yokka again but he could only hope that meant she was working on the other side of the ship, keeping the crew focused there as they fought against this storm. Another crash of thunder caught his attention and Ephrym frowned as he watched lightning flash across the sky. Thankfully though it didn’t get close to the ship and nothing was on fire. He had heard stories about terrible storms that not only jarred the ship in turbulent waters but also managed to set fire to the sails with bolts of lightning. Thankfully whether it was simply luck or Emiyn their ship was currently fire free and Ephrym could only pray it would stay that way. The last thing the crew needed was a fallen mast or a raging fire on the upper decks. It was hard enough to keep the ship on course, the waters and wind trying to make the poor maiden spin out of control where she could easily be swept back up into the worst areas of the storm. “Take this rope to Emiyn!” He instructed Vance as they ran past, Ephrym tossing a coiled rope he had picked up from a nearby crate Vance’s way so that the sailor could carry out his orders. Hopefully that would keep his friend from getting knocked away by the winds as they continued whipping around the ship, threatening to toss any unanchored cargo into the ocean below. At least Ephrym could trust Vance to carry out the orders since the older man was obviously fond of ‘their little’ Emiyn and one of the most reliable in Ephrym’s crew. While a lot of the crew were younger and a bunch of mismatched people, some hybrids and even some foreigners from the main continent, the older sailor had been hooked upon Ephyrm’s tales of going to the new islands. Honestly anything with tales of adventure had the old sailor’s heart and he was admittedly jealous, as he often exclaimed over a pint of ale when he spent evenings in the pub with Ephrym and Emiyn both, that all of these people had decided to go out and explore the world after he had settled down with a family in the city. Thankfully his wife was open to allowing her husband to explore now that their children were old enough now to take care of their own so Vance had joined them to explore the unknown. Plus the promise of bringing back riches to help support his family was plenty of incentive for his wife to agree with the voyage. After all, why not let her husband live his dreams during these peaceful times? After surviving over twenty years of marriage she was quite ready for him to explore indeed! If anything she would pay Ephrym to take him along! Please do! Ephyrm had laughed along with the joke since he knew it was all teasing, that much he had learned from spending some time with the family while scouting potential crewmates, but none of them would openly admit to it even if all the jabs were accompanied by laughter and playful grins. It was reminiscent of his relationship with his sister and her husband who often had to endure Ephrym’s own teasing and pranks. Ephrym was just thankful to have someone older who knew the ropes and had plenty of experience to deal with situations like these, something he acknowledged as Vance darted away to help more of the crew and make certain everything was secured during this storm. “Thanks, Vance.” He murmured as he passed and continued on to check on the rest.
Still, even as he held his ground and continued serving as the capable captain to his frantic crew, Ephrym could not help reflecting upon the news that Sulien had given him before they set sail towards Kahikina. The memory was still vivid and haunted Ephrym some nights when he felt especially restless while they sailed through the unknown waters. The lightning mage always appeared in a fog, his vivid purple gaze piercing Ephrym’s soul as he handed the letter to him once more. A ship had gone down along with its crew during a horrible storm similar to what they were experiencing now. It was honestly hard not to think about such a memory when his own reality reflected the cursed nightmare. The dangers of the open sea that he had fought against were coming full force against him and Ephrym had to make certain that he would not regret his decision when speaking with Sulien that day. The mage had just wanted to warn him and to try and keep him safe while Ephrym refused to back down from the challenge of this voyage. What was the point if you never took risks in life? How could he expect anything if he simply stayed in safe waters and kept away from the unknown where surely treasures awaited him and his crew? Such logic had emboldened him but it did not completely destroy the fears that haunted the back of his mind whenever the darkness threatened to overcome him, the deep worry keeping him on his feet and hiding beneath his constant jokes with the crew. Now that worry resurfaced and had his hands shaking as he fought with yet another knot, trying to make certain it was properly tied. Was this how their story ended? A tragic storm right at the beginning of the next chapter which they had all long waited for? There was no adventure here, just endless despair as they sank to the bottom of the ocean to be forgotten with time…No! Keep calm, focus.
Ephrym simply had to remember what he told Sulien. He could not ditch his crew who relied upon him as captain, not now when they had put their lives in his hand. Ephrym had tossed the letter and gathered his courage in that very moment, something that always brought him out of the nightmare. “I should be wary but I can’t be afraid of the ocean, Sulien. I’m captain now and I’ve got to step up to protect my crew.” He always informed the mage before turning away from the mage and the ghostly figures that reached out for him in the fog of the nightmare. His crew had faith in him so why didn’t he? Even if he was afraid of losing someone they were a team! He was not alone on this voyage and they would face this storm together! There were so many hopes and dreams invested in this journey, that much was obvious in the determination shown by the crew and Ephrym. Now there were others that he was even closer with who he refused to lose in this moment, no matter how much the ocean fought them. At the realization Emphrym found his hands stilling, the nerves slowly calming as he regained his resolve and studied the storm around him. This was not time to reflect upon his fears and nightmares. They were already in the middle of this and there was no running away now. Ephrym grit his teeth before going back around the deck to check on all the crew. “You okay? Need a hand?” He continued asking as he helped to tie down pieces and get anyone with injuries down below so that they could get taken care of. He ignored his own slight injuries, the blood from the cuts getting smeared across his dark skin before the wind and water washed them away once more. Everything stung and his body was weary but Ephrym refused to back down, not even when some of the crew tried to get him to rest and get treated below deck while they handled things.
His momentary distraction, however, could prove to be fatal for the captain and crew. Ephrym watched in horror as one of the knots he had not secured slowly slipped away, the rough winds destroying the fragile threads of rope and knocking a crate across the deck. If he had just focused and moved quicker instead of letting his fears take hold of him! His gaze widened as he realized it was headed straight towards Emiyn who was fighting off the storm the best that he could. “No! Watch out!” He called out as he raced to beat the crate and knock Emiyn to the side. He was not going to let someone get hurt, not on his watch! He had promised to keep them all safe and he was determined to see that promise through no matter what! Air escaped his lungs as the crate knocked into him instead and Ephrym found himself falling away from the Misty Maiden, the figurehead almost seeming like she was crying as his body was pulled beneath the raging waves. Ephrym was a strong swimmer and did his best to fight the waves but more debris was being tossed around the storm and his strength was slowly slipping away as more things slammed against him. Darkness slowly enveloped him and his hand reached out towards the ship a final time before he lost consciousness…
While Ephrym had to wonder if this was the end of the line for him, the throbbing headache and brilliant sunlight that made him wince the next morning was a painful reminder that he had indeed survived. Injured but still breathing, the hybrid found himself washed up somewhere in the islands, the strange landscape greeting him with clear skies almost like the storm had never happened. The debris surrounding him in this lagoon, however, stood as proof that he was not completely insane and had indeed survived something disastrous. “The crew.” Ephrym weakly managed with a groan. Everything ached and he certainly had a busted rib or two from the impact. Hopefully everyone else was alright and the Misty Maiden was still standing when he got knocked into the ocean…he could only pray that nothing else happened once the sea took him hostage. But now came the true challenge. Could he find his way back to the ship without falling to worse things?
3626 wc
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Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2022 8:24 am
♡.❤.♡ Home ♡.❤.♡ To think just over a year ago Ephrym had darted into this dockside house to talk about acquiring the Misty Maiden. Now he was actually here to share some of his profits from his voyages on her with the older lightning and his son. “Jerid! Sulien!” Ephrym grinned as he knocked loudly on the door, the faded wood panels engraved with ivy as familiar as his own home.
“Ephrym. Isn’t it a bit early in the morning?” Sulien was the one who greeted him at the door, the lightning mage’s orange hair frizzy and unbound where it curled down along his shoulders. It was rare to see Sulien so unprepared, but Ephrym could only chuckle as he pushed past his friend and entered the home. “Oh sure come on in.”
“Oh, stop teasing.” Ephrym chidded, “You are happy to see me in one piece, admit it.”
“I suppose.” Sulien chuckled before the creaking on the stairs announced Jerid’s entrance to the room.
“Ephrym!” The old man smiled as he recognized their visit. “How could I not know it was you? I’m glad to see you came back whole!” The blacksmith finished hobbling down the steps so that he could pat Ephrym’s back and lead him towards the table. “Sit, sit. I’ll brew some tea while you youngins catch up on things. Shame Sulien couldn’t make this voyage, but hopefully the next!” It was true that Sulien was going to come along before summons from the Academy kept him in town, his expertise in smithing and the magical arts had been needed to help prepare with a few experiments so he could not refuse.
“So how much did you bring back?” Sulien asked as he slipped into a seat next to Ephrym. “Looks like you had more fun than me. The Academy is driving me batty with these ridiculous requests. Does it look like I’ve slept in days? If so I’ll be surprised since I haven’t had more than a few hours over the last week.” His typically vivid gaze even seemed devoid of life, his words more a sigh as he batted an apple back and forth to stay awake. Ephrym would believe it if the other man sat still long enough that he would fall back asleep, the exhaustion was so painfully obvious.
“We brought back plenty. There was a storm when we first arrived but thankfully the crew managed to keep everything together minus one box or so.” Ephrym admitted. “I’m visiting the patrons with Chrysanthe over the next few days to deliver our promised goods and get the rest of my pay. I brought a box of things for you and Jerid. There’s some interesting foods to try and I brought you some of their precious jewels and metals to work with. The amount of pearls so easily available along with some of the deeper ocean rocks are truly astonishing.” It was nothing for races that could easily breathe underwater and gathered those for fun and for simple trade whereas back home many would pay handsomely for a fine pearl or gemstone in their jewelry collection.
Sulien perked up immediately, his expression brightening. “The pretty foreigner? So she’s working out well then? You should have brought Chrysanthe along to see me.”
“Well, I’m sure you’ll be seeing plenty of her in the future.” Ephrym admitted almost sheepishly, his gaze flickering back towards the apple in Sulien’s hands.
“Oh? Did she decide to stay on as crew? Is this another attempt to get me to join when you already have a capable carpenter and mage in your ranks?” Sulien teased lightly though his gaze did gleam at the idea. “I wouldn’t be adverse to another meeting at least.”
“Well you can sit back in your seat.” Ephrym replied without missing a beat, surprisingly somewhat jealous of the attention towards Chrysanthe. If Sulien had managed to tag along would things have played out differently? Would he have been the one to keep her interest and form a relationship with her while Ephrym was distracted with the voyage? Would they have had a full competition vying for attention? I’ll be glad for the Academy this time. He thought with relief before staring at his friend, his expression serious for once. “You’ll be seeing more of her because I’m going to propose. Things got a bit…complicated when we were sailing.”
“You didn’t.” Sulien breathed in astonishment. “Not that I blame you but really? She’s the one you finally let snag you?” The lightning mage groaned and leaned back, his hands running down his face as if truly distraught though Ephrym hoped it was mostly a ploy. “You come back with treasures and now tell me that you caught the attention of the girl I was hoping to take on date.” Suddenly his hands went back to the table and the mage leaned forward to study Ephrym. “But did you say propose as in you want to marry her? Is it really that serious?”
“Yes.” Ephrym nodded. “I had the feeling she was the one, but things are a bit more now that we….well we’re expecting.”
“I’m sorry what.” Sulien blinked at Ephrym and blinked some more. “No way.”
“Ye-yeah.” Ephrym actually found himself flushing even though the idea was actually something he was looking forward to the more he thought about it. He was actually excited at the concept of being a father, especially now that the Misty Maiden was set up as a successful merchant ship. He had the means for a family so why not? It wasn’t as if he wanted to flirt about, not with Chrysanthe holding him so firmly.
“Oh my spirits. I cannot believe this. You’ll have to show my grandfather everything and then slowly introduce him to the idea of you actually having children.” Sulien let out a sigh. “I guess at least I know it’s safe to introduce you to girls from now on since Chrysanthe got you. Shame though since she’s really pretty.” He shook his head in jest before his grandfather rejoined them, the trio sharing morning tea and swapping stories while Ephrym showed everything he had brought back for them.
[1032 wc]
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