Welcome to Gaia! ::

❣ Stage 2 ❣
[Treasure WE]
[Deep Diving]
[Initial Encounter]
[WE - Disaster]
[Take on the Beast]
[WE Crossing Paths]
WE - Lost in Translation
[WE - Harvest]
[WE - Potion]

❣ Prentice Stage ❣

A gentle ocean breeze brushed Noelani’s wavy hair back away from her face, the hybrid sitting along the cliffs as the amber sun disappeared over the horizon. It was a peaceful time, she had recently returned from an excursion in Oba and now the children were being tucked into bed by Nanami while Noelani waited for her beloved to arrive so that they could stargaze together. Evenings like this made Noelani reminisce about her time out in the ocean, even more so now that she had another ocean journey in the works. While her trip to Kahi had resulted in so many changes, finding the love of her life and her courage for adventure, the journey back had been just as eventful when she was forced to deal with pirates and steal away with their treasure. It had been a blur of events, landing on the beach of what she had assumed was a deserted island with her travel companion at the time before being attacked by a gang of rowdy pirates who were determined to enlist their help in some sort of expedition. Of course said expedition had been for a dangerous area where a notorious pirate had hidden gold decades ago, the entire island covered in hidden mysteries and traps for whoever dared venture that way. It was her first time truly experiencing the dangers of a treasure hunter since she was not simply exploring an area but instead solving puzzles and trying to escape dangerous pirates at the same time.


Even now she could still remember how the fresh scent of salty air tickled her nose as she woke up that morning, the feeling all too familiar after months out in the ocean and around Kahi. It had been a welcome feeling, a reminder that she truly was on a journey and not simply dreaming about one at home like before. To think that she had spent so many years in seclusion with only her family to keep her company for fear that something bad could happen! And now here she was years later, a seasoned treasure hunter who had survived many adventures. Though now that Noelani reflected upon the events of that day she did realize there was some truth to their worry. Things could have gone horribly wrong had she not been fortunate enough to slip away, a last minute dodge saving her from losing her own neck. That particular morning, the one where she first encountered the pirates….well it had definitely been a surprise, that was for certain. The very memory made her chuckle now even though at the time her own heart had been racing in her chest while her hands shook with anxiety. At the time they were on their way back home towards Matori with quite an impressive haul of things that they had gathered from the locals while exploring the islands and trading whatever they could. It wasn’t exactly the grand treasure that Noelani had envisioned whenever she first left home, but she had encountered some profit from before when she discovered all of that gold and gemstones in the river with Theriar before leaving for Kahi which kept her pockets full despite their travels. It was a bit more meager at the point, just a trifle compared to the treasure she could only dream of finding, but it was still something that she would proudly show her family to prove that she could be just as capable as them when it came to adventuring. It had also been good to trade some of those gemstones for the rare items she had picked up while in Kahi, some local artisan pieces like pottery and jewelry that caught her attention in the markets being a large portion of it. Still, one could only sail on the ocean for a few days at a time before getting restless and the sight of an island was a perfect opportunity for them to stretch their legs before settling in for the long ride home to Matori.

Noelani had noticed the strange island on the horizon last night during dinner and convinced her companion to travel that way, their ship veering off course a bit to hit land instead of simply sailing back to Matori. It would be nice to stretch their legs and maybe they could actually find something interesting here? That had been Noelani’s hope at the time and spirits did she only wish that she knew what she had asked for back then! Talk about finding something, alright! Noelani wondered if they should have had more caution in approaching the island. To be fair all the other isles they visited along their way to Kahi had been simple beaches with only some wildlife nearby, even the deep diving lessons had been fairly calm with nothing more than a rogue octopus to scare them that one occasion. Other than that they had just seen some wild islands without anyone there and then they had been through Kahi without much trouble, minus you know some fires and wildlife that tried to destroy them but never anything from the Kahi themselves. So who would have expected this to be so dangerous, especially when the island looked so pleasant in the distance with its pristine beaches and colorful trees hugging the shoreline? Pirates were the very last thing on her mind, especially out here. Though by the time they got all the way to the island there had also been the morning fog hugging the cove, the dense air seemingly thicker the closer they approached and masking the other vessel docked nearby and just out of sight. The growing fog had given her a moment of apprehension before she shook off the feelings and continued forward. Later Noelani would see the vessel, a dark wooden ship with lighter spots bleached from years under the sun and yet stained by blood and other grime that had accumulated since the pirates had taken it under their charge. A tattered flag was on the mast, a pair of grinning skulls greeting anyone foolish or bold enough to venture closer to see it. The crew would look similar to their vessel, a group of rough looking individuals who were desperate and greedy for treasure and had obviously cut down others before to get whatever they could.



“But there we went despite everything.” Noelani smirked as she leaned back against a large rock, her gaze bright as she watched the sinking sun and continued thinking about that day. Along the horizon she swore she saw something bouncing up and down the waves, envisioning it as their little rowboat bouncing up and down as it rode the waves towards the island that morning. A small thing, steady and stable, but risky none-the-less considering how they had approached basically empty handed with Noelani only carrying a hunting knife and dagger back then. Even her supplies had been miniscule, that’s how little she thought about their stop as a dangerous idea and rather viewed it as a simple break to stretch their legs and gather some fruits or such. Needless to say the treasure hunter had learned her lesson that day and always carried some form of defense along with a satchel of items crucial to exploring, just in case. The mist had only been there for a moment, Noelani taking no time to jump from the little row boat once they hit shore so that she could walk into the warm sand. It had given her comfort in a moment of unease, Noelani trying to be optimistic despite the strange feeling she had ever since arriving at the island and breaking through the fog. What had possessed her to think this would be such a simple trip? Or better yet at the time she had been curious about why she suddenly felt so fearful. Instead of lingering on her fears, Noelani had opted to be optimistic as she faced her companion with a smile. “We made it without any problems!” She had yelled with a laugh to break any tension that the fog was creating. Of course it was at that very moment the fog decided to continue rolling across the shorelines, the mist dissipating to reveal larger forms looming behind Noelani who had accidentally grabbed the attention of others who also were wandering the very same beach. The pirates. Those nasty bastards. Oh what a fool she had been to call out like that! Of course she had no idea that there were others so even Noelani couldn’t be angry at herself forever, especially considering how things had in the end worked out in their favor.

Still, knowing that she was safe now did nothing to stop the shivers from the memory of that oily voice which had been so terrifying at the time. The very thought made her rub her hands against her arms, Noelani trying to wipe off that feeling again as if the pirate’s greasy hands were still there. “We got company, oiy!” Raunchy laughter and then rough hands had reached for Noelani, their fingers digging in painfully into her skin as they dragged her across the beach. She had kicked and fought against it, even biting one of those hands before a cutlass stopped her in her tracks. “Strange ta see foreigners here. What’s going on, hmm?” The fog lifted a bit more, just in time to reveal the hideous faces behind the unnerving laughter, and then she saw him. A tall, gangly figure with a plumed hat who approached from the side with the others taking a step back to give the Kahi space, a surprising twist when she realized the crew was a mixture of races and not simply a group of earthlings as she had expected. It made sense considering that they were in between Matori and Kahi at the moment, but it didn’t make it any less unnerving to stare into those brightly colored eyes that were somehow also so very cold. Even as his voice rang out playfully there was nothing but emptiness in those words, a cruel edge hanging onto each syllable as he urged Noelani to join in on a treasure hunt. She had been dragged across the beach, forced to reveal that she could read maps easily and solve puzzles with her training as a treasure hunter and then taken along to join the crew whether she liked it or not. It was just convenient that she could read a map and prove herself useful, else Noelani was fearful that she would have lost her head at that very moment. It also was in her favor that the captain found her cute and fun to tease, preferring to mock her instead of killing her in the very moment when he learned she could be of use.

But it was also the pirates’ mistake to underestimate her and her resolve to get away.

She had managed to read the map and skewed the directions at a crucial moment when the treasure had been located a few days later. It had taken days to hike across the island, figuring out the cavern system where the old pirate leader had spent years gathering and hiding treasure there behind a series of locks and traps that cost several their lives over the years while others searched for it. Poisonous darts, spike pits, complete collapse of cave passages, terrifying shadows that made others think the spot was haunted and even wild animals didn’t give them any peace as they continued looking. The captain was mad intent upon finding the treasure even at the loss of his crew and it was only a miracle that kept Noelani from being included with the others lost to those challenges. There was still a faded scar along her hip, the edges jagged from where she had nearly been pierced all the way through by a wall spike when a trap surprised her. Another scar along her upper back where a dagger had cut through her clothing when she had tousled with the pirate captain to emerge victorious with the chest of treasure so that she could load it up and take it with her to fund her new life in Matori. Even now Noelani could remember the scene clearly, the frantic captain fighting against his own crew that had turned against him in favor of trying to fill their own pockets with the mountain of gold and precious gemstones waiting for them in that cave. They apparently hadn’t been the only ones to feel such a way as other skeletons lingered around the loot, older pirate crews who had decided to fight to the death instead of sharing the bounty while Noelani also had to wonder if something else was the cause. Poisonous gas that caused delirium had been the final trap at the location of the treasure and while it was not as dense as it surely had been years ago the noxious fog still had an effect on the crew who began swinging at one another. Thankfully Noelani had wrapped a bandanna tightly around her mouth to avoid any substance from fogging her mind and making her go berserk like the others who fought around her, there had been something about the way the chambers connected and the map which had given her hesitation and the fact that she was tossed aside once the loot was revealed only worked further in her favor. The captain had somehow managed to keep his mind, digging into Noelani as he struggled against her before succumbing and leaving her to carry away what she could before deciding to leave the rest to rot in the island. She had emerged victorious, carrying enough gold and such to fund her return to Matori where she could set up and begin her life as a true treasure hunter. She hadn’t talked to her travel companion for years since then as they went their own ways, the chaos separating them and the return to their lives keeping them apart, but Noelani was just thankful they both had managed to get home in the end.

The money had allowed her to fund her own journey into Oba, starting up work with Omari on Oban artifacts in the desert and then even another map had given her treasure in Matori when Kaimana and Kieran had convinced her to tag along with them for that adventure. Diving for ship-wrecks still happened on occasion along with diving contests for pearls though most of her family had an advantage thanks to their Kahi heritage that kept them in the water far longer than even Noelani could hold her breath. But overall such things were not a necessity, she was established and her family well off thanks to the treasure they had found over the years and the funding from Omari’s academy. Those were some of her favorite explorations, the hybrid finding a deep appreciation for history more so than the simple thrill of finding treasures. Noelani wondered if she should have moved to Oba at one point with how often she stayed in the desert city, but even she knew that Matori would always be home. Where else could she linger on the cliffs and watch the ocean at sunset? Though there was the appeal of Kahi since such views could be even more beautiful there in those islands, even Nanami seemed more content with Matori after living here with Noelani for a time. They had built a home here out of all the funds she had gathered, a small manor nestled along the cliffs that combined natural beauty with crafted designs. Nanami had been the one to inspire Kahi accents to their home using the cave within the cliff as an extension of their home like the one she had grown up in as a Kawena. From an ocean manor with large arched windows that had fluttering sheer curtains that allowed in a fresh breeze to longer hallways that gleamed as they transitioned into crystal walls with nothing of the outside world to be seen. It was strange to see, but not awful and over time Noelani grew to love the uniqueness of their home. It was peaceful here and even more so when they managed to find this path up the cliffs so that they could stare at the ocean in the evenings, enjoying moments like these where everything seemed just so perfect. The pirates were gone, the treasure found and Noelani hoped to never have to do an ocean encounter like that again. She enjoyed her puzzles, finding treasures that had been lost, but did not particularly wish for any more fights for her life against ruffians. Though now she was far more confident, knowing that she had grown stronger since that day and more so now that she had companions and family to support her whenever there could be a fight. Nanami, especially, was truly terrifying whenever someone dared to threaten a loved one. Noelani had never known the Kawena to be much of a fighter until one incident in Oba completely corrected her and she watched a group of bandits flee the other way after the fighter unleashed her skills on them. She would never doubt Ami’s skills again, not after witnessing that. A true defender of justice...the very thought brought a smile to Noelani’s lips as she looked back down the path to see if Nanami was near. “Should I go get her or wait?” She tilted her head thoughtfully, deciding to stay still until her beloved joined her. Surely she would not be much longer, as long as the little ones behaved and crawled into bed as promised. Like most nights in Matori while their younglings slept the pair would spend hours simply talking under the stars, enjoying a late night snack perhaps while making themselves comfortable on the quilts that Noelani had already spread out along the smooth rocks. Truly, she was living the best life possible and one that she had only dreamed of as some impossible fantasy before finally leaving Matori all those years ago on her first adventure.

[WC: 3000]

Others may have been more distraught to find out that their mother had some hidden life before her current family, but Noelani was actually touched by the revelation. For years they had all worried that her mother would never know the true reason behind her appearance in Matori and if she had family or connections out there worried over her. The Elaria at Zinris hadn’t seemed to give many answers when she had asked for a bloom, Noelani being the result of the blessing, but that was apparently because Ocayle had been from Kiros not Zinris. No one had thought about the island hidden in the Kahi ocean, the Elidae being such a new and mysterious race that even her Elaria mother never expected to be told that she had an Elidae daughter. Someone who had been wondering for years what had happened, a toddler when her mother disappeared never to return again. Noelani was surprised that Quiana didn’t hate her after finding out the truth, admittedly emotions had been heated at first but in the end when all was revealed including her mother’s amnesia it appeared there was hope for peace after all. Now they were planning on even going to Kahi to visit Noelani’s grandmother, an Alkidike elder who had been in the war against the Extremists…or rather she had been an Extremist? Noelani frowned as she reflected upon that, trying to piece together what Quiana had told her the story was. Thyra apparently had participated in the war but was not as hateful as Elu, her lover and Noelani’s other grandmother. An Extremist who was so bitter that she refused to live on Zinris and opted to simply pass away instead, leaving Thyra all alone until she accepted a bloom which turned out to be Noelani’s mother. The pair apparently had lived on the edge of the encampment, Thyra considered soft in comparison to her deceased lover and not truly fitting in with many of the Extremists who wanted to raise their daughters to be warriors ready to take revenge upon the world. It was strange to think that she came from such roots, all things considered, but the Elaria did come from the Extremists so it was not impossible to believe Quiana’s words whenever she told them the family history. It was admittedly hard to stomach, but it was something they would have to learn to accept this concept of an Extremist grandmother who had destroyed so many lives because of her hatred against anyone that wasn’t pure Aishan. At least her living grandmother was not like that based upon Quiana’s description and Noelani had to hope that it was not a mistake to trust in her reassurances that Thyra wanted nothing more than peace, hence why she left Zinris to go to Kiros where Quiana had been bloomed right before losing her mother. Their mother, that was. Noelani shook her head at the thought. A simple desire for adventure, an accident at sea and a very fortunate encounter between her Matori grandmother and the Elaria had allowed her to exist in this world as Ocayle had fallen for their son, her Matori father. Noelani felt horrible that Quiana had lost her mother, but at the same time she was thankful that her mother had managed to come to Matori so that her life could play out the way that it had. Now here she was the mother of four younglings, partly Aishan earthling and Kahi. “I’m sure you would be such a proud grandmother.” She mocked the air, immediately tensing as if fearful the Extremist would somehow come forward to strike her down for such words. She just hoped that her living grandmother in Kiros would not be terribly disappointed with her existence, the very thought making her fingers tighten around the quill that she was currently using to jot down the list of items they would need for their overseas journey. The whole family was going to visit Kahi so that Noelani’s mother could reunite with her own and finally fill in the missing pieces of history that had been lost for so many years. Kiros probably wouldn’t easily welcome such a mixed family so they planned on staying on the outskirts while Quiana led her mother into the community to greet Thyra. After that initial meeting then they would see what could be done so that Noelani could meet her grandmother, hopefully before it was too late. Apparently the older Alkidike was ill, her health slipping away over the last couple of years which had prompted Quiana to seek them out despite having met Noelani so long ago when she initially visited Kahi. Once again just one fateful encounter had allowed a string of events to unfold for their family that surely would have never played out had they not stumbled into each other giving Quiana hope that her mother was actually alive and not simply lost at sea. And now here they were planning for a family reunion of sorts, one that made Noelani’s stomach twist with nerves despite everything. At least it was a chance for the children to see the Kahi islands, the home that her beloved had known for years and always wished to visit once more. And now after all this time it was finally happening. They would leave the children at the nearby dock city while visiting Kiros, her father staying with them while Noelani and Nanami went with the others to visit her grandmother. That was the current plan because even Quiana didn’t know how to approach Kiros with such mixed younglings, fearing that the nearby area and some of its occupants could be a bit too dangerous for them despite everything. It was best to stay with the Kahi who she trusted to be courteous hosts to the traveling family, Quiana having lived there apparently for a few months in the past before venturing overseas to Matori. There was so much to her older sister that Noelani was curious about but she supposed she would have to save it for more fireside chats, the pair spending a couple of evenings bonding whenever her mother wasn’t stealing all of Quiana’s time for herself with nonstop questions about Thyra and life on Kiros. If she had been her younger self, a flustered teen not knowing how to handle the world then Noelani would assume she would have been fairly jealous of such attention being given to the Elidae but now she was mostly wanting to take some time for herself so that she could grow closer to Quiana too. Rather than being jealous or upset, she was excited to know that she had an older sister now. Quiana was a bright energy, somehow playful and free spirit in comparison to the other Aishans that Noelani had ever encountered and she enjoyed every moment of it. Such a spirited person fit in easily with the others, making dinners entertaining and enjoyable rather than tense and awkward as she had originally feared. Even Nanami didn’t seem to shy away, the usually reserved Kawena loosening up around Quiana as they swapped stories about life on Kahi. Nanami had never heard about an Elidae actually daring to live within a Kahi settlement before and hearing about her life with the hapuna had stirred a conversation which lasted for the entire evening, the rest retiring as Noelani rested her head on Nanami’s shoulder and listened to the pair as they discussed everything that they could about life on the islands. Of course it wasn’t hard to keep Ami’s attention, especially once romance was involved, and there was a disheartening moment as they learned about one of Quiana’s love interests who had been a hapuna. A fateful encounter but one not meant to last, at least that was how she described it when she explained how they couldn’t make things work and separated to take their own paths. Though it looked like she was recovering based upon how she spoke of another, a hybrid earthling apparently making Quiana’s smile brighten as she explained her initial landing in Matori and how she had danced the afternoon away before continuing on her search for lost family. “We must be fond of finding crushes before actually encountering true love. We learn from those bumps along the way and then we grow for those we are meant to be with.” Teased Noelani as she curled up closer to Nanami that night, thankful that she had found her true love after that one bump in the road. She had built so much with Nanami, her heart swelling with love at the very thought of all that they had accomplished together. And now here they were planning on a trip that would surely be full of adventures and learning experiences, Noelani just hoped they were prepared to protect their family from any potential dangers as they finally crossed the sea to visit the home that Nanami had known for so long which apparently had also been her own family’s home before her mother washed ashore so many years ago and fell in love with a Matori.

[WC: 1500]

Noelani’s hand hovered over the piece of parchment, the hybrid seriously considering her words as she started the letter to Kieran. The older Yaeli had been a mentor to her when they met in Matori for the first time, working with him had enlightened her so much when she prepared to go to Oba for digs and she always appreciated his advice. Now that she had learned about Quiana, the family preparing to go towards Kahi for a period of time, Noelani was making every preparation possible to cover things for her absence. Trips to Kahi were not simple weekend excursions, after all, and it would not surprise her to be gone for a year if not longer depending on how everything played out after Kiros. She had a grandmother to meet, her children had Kahi relatives to find, and there were so many islands to explore while they simply took the time to bond with family and see what there was to see in Nanami’s homeland. She just hoped that her family would be willing to leave once they arrived and if not then that would be a whole twist of events that she would have to deal with until they figured everything out. In order to do that though she would have to call for help since she refused to leave Omari in the dark, especially not when he had helped her out so much over the last few years while she explored the Oban deserts and helped gather artifacts for his museum. So now she was studying a piece of worn parchment, the material faded from being unused for so long and then from being rubbed over and over as Noelani tried to think of how to address things. Her fingers would sweep up the parchment, tracing out words before reaching for the quill, only to retreat again as she placed the quill down and reconsidered her options. Was it fair to ask him for his help when he probably was enjoying retirement in Yael? Then again did Kieran ever truly retire? That was like asking a bird to stop migrating when it was simply its nature to wander the world throughout the seasons. The very thought brought a chuckle to her lips as she finally picked up the quill again, shaking off the ink and finally placing it against the parchment in a true act of commitment. There was no way that Kieran was out of the game, not after his last correspondence when he mentioned some ancient flowers hidden in Jahaur. It would not surprise her if he was already preparing to leave for Yael to go visit the jungles, seeking out some plant that others had long forgotten about.

Dear Kieran,

I know that you have been resting in Yael since our last excursion into that underwater cave but I have an opportunity for you, should you be interested. I have been working for the last few years in Oba, as you know, but a recent family event has uncovered some new connections which I must pursue all the way into Kahikina. My Alkidike grandmother apparently resides there in Kiros, where the Elidae are, and I have recently discovered I have an older sister from said community who sought us out so that she could reunite my mother and grandmother after decades apart. Nearly twenty four years sounds like a long time, but then again our lives are seemingly so quick with so many unpredictable events keeping us on our toes that I should not be surprised that such a twist occurred in my own life. The next thing I know my own younglings will be walking out the door to find their own partners and adventures, so it is important that I don’t delay now and venture to Kahi quickly to reunite my missing family before it is too late. Typically one would consider the above unnecessary information but I understand your concern for my well being and wished to let you know that I am in fine health, so there is no need to worry about why I have to leave my position in Oba for a time. While I am gone the research and digs must continue so I proposed that Omari accept your aid should you be interested in venturing that way. He is a good sponsor, one very interested in history even if he is not the best at getting his hands dirty to do the discoveries himself in the desert. Not that he hasn’t tried, he simply is not certain of how to handle the threats in the desert when he was raised in comfort. Dancing and noble affairs are more of his strengths, even though such events can make one nervous he acts as if all of these things are easy as child’s play when it comes to hosting and gaining support for our endeavors to discover more Oban and Matori history. He has an academy in Oba for the arts which you may find interesting as well, so I would greatly encourage you to at least inquire and check out everything for yourself. He will need someone to help supervise the treasure hunters as they recover artifacts from the desert and I immediately recommended you to take my place while I’m away visiting family. Do not worry I plan on returning so it would not be a forever abandonment of my post, unless something drastic occurs in Kahi. Also, feel free to take Kaimana with you as I know he will be delighted to have something to do instead of simply lazing about Matori. Just promise me no more treasure maps for at least a couple more years? Surely we’ve all taken home plenty of loot from that encounter to last a lifetime. These Oban excursions are more for expanding our knowledge, something I know you are dearly invested in. As it is I trust the pair of you to take over without any difficulties. And in the situation that I cannot return to my post I know you both will take care of things until it is all settled so that Omari will not be left on his own for these projects.

I truly hope you and your family are doing well. Nanami also sends her regards along with some enclosed gifts to share with your family at home, teas and medicines for their health along with some trinkets we have picked up in Matori. A bribe of sorts so that your wife will not be too angry if you leave Yael for a time again. And if it happens that you need to take some time in Matori then feel free to use our residence, my grandparents will be nearby and they will recognize you should you ask for shelter. My home is open, it is only fair considering we will be away and have asked for you to take over in my place. We will be departing in a few weeks, I’ll send you another letter with our destination so hopefully we can keep some form of correspondence even when I’m in Kahi.

Take care and surely we’ll see each other again soon enough.

Best wishes,
Noelani

After the first letter, the second one came far easier as Noelani sat down and wrote to Kaimana next. As silly as it felt to write a letter to someone so close, the hybrid did not wish to risk leaving without giving him some notice. It was also hard to pinpoint Kaimana with how often he traveled around as well, the Matori sometimes at his nearby home while other times gone for weeks without notice. Worst case she would leave a basket for him to find when he did return or she would simply talk to him in person instead of leaving behind a note.

Kaimana,

I sent notice to our mentor asking for his aid in Oba and felt that I should send a separate note to you, just in case I cannot visit before my own ship departs for Kahi. I have a family matter to attend to and I am hopeful that Kieran will want to participate in some Oban digs while I am away. Please go with him if you can and keep him company until I can return to take back my place. You’ll enjoy the sponsor, he’s a gentle sort who hopefully you won’t tease too horribly. Despite our differences, I do trust you to do a good job so I’ve recommended you if you are interested in working with Kieran on this. There will be no treasure map shenanigans, only artifacts as they look for missing pieces of history out in the desert. Maybe you can go fight some wild janarim if that makes the idea more appealing, alright? Nanami, being as considerate and loving as she is, did include some medicines just in case you do get into any fights.

In all sincerity though take care, I’ll see you when I return.

Best,
Noelani


[WC: 1500]