Diving for Realms (Dignitas)

[Ilista]

Third of Ponutis
the Season of Winter
Era XV

Today Ilista was on her own, the twins had given the slave a choice that morning to go with them to look for the market, or to go off on her own. And strangely, as much as the telera enjoyed the company of the children of Haya, the woman was aware of their lack of finances, and while the sea elf was still looked down upon the concept of trading coins for items, she was still a trades woman.

Her time in Iefferon had given her this idea, there was telera had used her natural abilities to survive and move under the sea to salvage items that those of the surface who could not, for a price it was assumed, and while the weather here was mild, she had no idea of what the sea held to assist in their small groups' survival. Either something to sell, or if luckily, something to eat, but to these waters, the slave knew not what bounty the waters' held.

So this led to the small woman weaving through the bodies that moved upon the docks, her eyes were curious, and sweeping, no downcast glances, or fearful eyes would betray her. Ilista moved without touching a soul, aware of those around her and her own body, the gentle sway and motions of her body, a grace that had been lost, that was fast returning in the anticipation that raised the beat of her heat in her chest at this private reunion. Her traveling clothes and stolen, founded, borrowed blade were all but forgotten to the sea elf as she neared the secluded end of a dock. The bustle of life behind her was drowned out by the call and beckon of the ocean, shining eyes the color of the sun looked to the salty water and for a moment felt forlorn, unworthy, tainted by the lands and its people.

She had done wretched things that she never would have time ago, but to be so close, and be denied, brought the sheen of true tears to the lost elfs' eyes. She had exiled herself from her home once, and it had led to to this fate, but to do it once more, Ilista did not believe she could bear. While she accepted the Hayan worship of her Keepers, the dark goddess of lust, disease, famine, want, she was no priestess. It had been so long, since Ilista offered praise or prayer to the first mother, almost as long since she last seen the sea. But Materna like the sea, is said to be unbiased, and boundless in her love.

With that thought and a smile to curve gentle lips before the woman stepped off the docks into the swirling waters.

Ilistas' body sank below the waves, the cold waters did not affect the woman, she watched calmly as air bubbles drifted to the surface, and watched, with this indescribable emotion the dancing light from the sky above filter through the cold waters she allowed the water to tug at her form, her surface clothes, her hair. Reaching back the sea elf undid her fastened hair, and could simply feel this forgotten melody, forgotten song pulsing in her chest, on the fringes of her mind. While she had loved her Elensar, and perhaps still did, the memory of the child she knew, the sea was... all. It was what she was made for, to feel the water touch her skin, all over, no a handful at a time, or in the small confines of a tub. To taste the salty water on her tongue, feel the cooling sweep of the water on her gills and being filtered. This was heaven, this was rapture, this was paradise, this was home.

For a moment it was all she needed.

Ah but now to find something of value to pawn.

[Ilista]

The telera was fond of rough waters; it had been her private thrill in the innocent hum drum life, to venture from the safety of the coral reefs, or swimming near the rocky shores. It was something that proved she was strong, proved she had the power and the strength to compete with anyone.

Her slender form while still clothed and weighted by the wet flimsy clothing, was still fast, her feet coverings dropped at one of the wooden logs that made the docks stand, the webbing that she had hidden, and kept so for so long, due to firstly the severe sensitive, and easiness to give harm to the thin sheets of flesh. While her gills could not be hidden those can. But in the water, with those membrane stretched and open to their fullness, coupled with her own body and strength for swimming, the slave was propelled through the rocking waters. Ilistas’ gaze was on the sea bottom where the ships of man did not touch, her mouth opened and the clicks that came fourth moved through the water and came back to the telera painted the sonar image of the sea bottom in her mind.

At the moment the telera was interested in something of value, to someone, she could borrow from the crab and lobster cages in the distance a bit later, gather mollusks, and if need be she can rise before the suns and be with the fishermen on the sea and take a few fish that happened to escape their nets. There were only the three of them; surely the three or six fish from full nets would not be missed. That did however raise the question; did the human’s fish form the sea in the cold? Surely they did as this land was not covered in snow as had the others Ilista and her Masters’ traveled through. That was a question to be answered at another time now was time for searching.

Forcing her body lower, Ilisas’ foot almost brushed the sea floor bottom, while she started close to the city and its man made wooden harbor, the sea elf flitted forward with caution to the open waters, looking for something if interest, a box, a glimmer of light, a sunken ship, something, anything would be a grand start.

[Dignitas]

The waves she heard first. The indescribable power of Markalin's waves pounding relentlessly in near perfect intervals the shore and docks of the city. It was hard to describe indeed, the soothing and exhilirating sound that was so familiar but over the last few weeks and months grew somewhat distant in her mind. The sea elf knew of course, instantly when she heard them. The sea was calling to her, pleading for one of its children to return home, return to where she belonged. Return to the source. And when she first saw those silver covered waves, such majestic and beautiful crest of powerful waves it was as if she had found a dear old friend or lover again. The picture couldn't be more perfect down here in the secluded stretch of ocean front. For milles and milles nothing but the ocean appeared on the horizion save for the small distant shadows of ships of commerce, the sweet whip of sea wind blowing through her, reminding her of what she had missed since becoming one with the people and land of the earth.

And the wading into the shallows and finally the depth of the ocean itself. Like a sponge that had been dry too long, the ocean water flowed not merely around her but perhaps in a deeper sense, into her. Renewing the bond of ocean and body, revitilizing the telera. A small fish swam past underneath, brushing lightly over her legs, for even for such simple creatures it was indeed easy to differentiate what belonged to the ocean and what did not. This was where she belonged, without question. But this wasn't merely a chance to renew old connections of such profound importance, but a part to explore the bounty of the sea itself. For even as the son of man, sailors and captains of war and commerce alike cursed the fickleness of the sea it did infact provide for its own. Opening the treasures and bounty of its heart to her children, those that could plumb the depths of her kingdom.

Moving from the surface, a place she had experienced enough for one of her kind lately, she moved lower past the blue-green allure of the top down further towards the dark and murky depths. Almost immeadiatly she could pick up the remains of many, many scuttled and unfortunate ships on the bottom of the harbor floor. Although perhaps she did not know of it fully there had been a disaster of great consquence not so long ago. One of the hardest hit areas had been the docks and many ships of the sea meet their end that fateful day. There had been a Salvage operation back then that had done its best to clear the sea lane and harbor but even the extensive efforts of its men and resources had proven not enough to completly recover everything lost that day. Ghosts of hulls and sterns peaked out of the algea and schools of fish there on the bottom of the floor, most of its goods haveing been simply written off as they were unrecoverable to all but the sea kin. Here, in the harbor proper where ships and boats overhead moved like large clouds in a bizarre green-blue sky many possibilites awaited.

Further out in the open sea would likely reveal potential incomes, but whether Ilista, now truly as she should be, wanted to explore further out or here in the harbor was up to her. And for this moment in time, without her keepers and surrounded only by the gentle current of the ocean, the decision was hers alone.

[Ilista]

There was joy in her heart as the sea elf flitted through the water, every wave was like a caress and just being there in the water again was a returning to home. It was curious, never before had Ilista seen so many ships below the waves, and she did spend quiet a bit of time in the harbors of man. The open waters beckoned her like a teasing scent to go off and be lost in her explorations, or just the joy of being so see what the sea there, held but with this valley of death, it was like coming across one after another of skeletal whale or sea serpent remains. That expanse of open sea called, the woman to leave her task and play, but with so many remains, how could the telera leave the harbor just yet.

Were she able to recover something lost from the air breathers, it was likely she could get coin or bank notes from them in exchange.

Ilista darted forward through the water, toward the nearest ship remnants, a bundle of giddy energy circled the dead ship she wanted to get closer, get inside it and explore yet, but she would hate to run face to face to some creature that had made the wreckage its home. Ilista sent out her sonar near constantly, keeping a most accurate image of her surrounds , she trusted her eyes, but there was only so far a telera could see, and in these new waters she would not risk being someone else’s meal.

Yet still despite her caution the curious telera was beginning her first explorations of the first ship hull.

[Dignitas]

The Son of Man was a funny race, they sought sometimes to dominate and control not only the earth of which their footing was meant for, but indeed the skies and ocean too. Everything below Aetherian they sought to explore and make home, even open seas that were so long ago promised to others. This was their folly and habit, and below in the murky depths of the once ill fated docks of Imperia were the consequences for such arrogance and pride. Like rotting statues covered in the algae and flora of the sea, the once proud symbols of power and commerce laid bare on the floor of the sea. Here in the inky depths of waters were strewn about wreckage and carnage, a physical flashback in time of the day of death. Skeleton remains mixed uncerimounsly with timber, stone, and trash. Only the uncaring schools of fish and urchins were the owners of the once vast and wonderful man made structures.

There was much lost here. Luckily for the brave Illista, there was much here to gain now. The only question that remained was if the sea borne Illista truly had the right to pillage and raid this grim graveyard of yesterbrightening. Was it right to do so? Did it matter? Only herself and the very Gods themselves knew now.

The first ship she came to was a large one. Likely one of their trade ships, judging by the size of the gaping and fractured hull. A lack of cannonade slots on the starboard side (Which was facing up, as it currently sat on its port side) indicated the owner cared much more for profit and maximized capacity then protection. The irony was that no amount of protection could have protected the ship during her last candlemarks. Coming closer through the scattering bright orange and dark brown fish, an opening near the stern appeared, a gaping hole no less then the size of ten shields worth. Inside Illistas sonar showed no movement in this liquid eternity. Floating peices of wood still slowly waltzed by, strewn by the soft currents of the ocean.

Should she venture inside the would be able to explore the ship and whatever treasure it had to offer. If her sonar could be correct, and if her general knowledge of ships of man were up to speed, it appeared the galley would be a little down the man hall that appeared in front of her. The cargo would likely be in the rear-to middle lower levels which would be down the sideways stairs on her right. Likely, the stairs to her left going down would take her to crew quarters. It was her choice now, whichever way she went it appaered the ship hadn't seen visitors before to raid her. Steel fashioned lanterns swung lazily on its chain in the water, and decaying waterlogged heavy fabrics such as rugs still adorned the ship here and there, complete with broken crates still filled with misc items of seafaring.