[The Nagri Shipyards] A cry in the darkening (Wilhelm pls)

[Lyssoryl]

First Brightening of Ponutis, Winter, Era XV (pf)
The suns were setting, and Wilhelm had just finished his work at the shipyards. The weather was fine, and a satisfying fresh breeze blew in off the water. Somewhere a seagull was crying. Or wait a minute, perhaps it wasn't a seagull afterall.

When he turned to look, Wilhelm could make out a small shape standing on top of a derrick used to haul large ships into drydock, a child perhaps. Below the derrick, two large feral dogs paced back and forth, snarling and barking. The figure drew back an arm had hurled something which struck one of the dogs in the head. The object was light, and caused the dog more anger than dismay.

[Wilhelm Rochester]

A sparkling purple sun faded into the distance. Rolling waters glimmered with the less traces of sunlight that dipped into the distance horizon. Faints sounds of the end of a day's labor rolled from one man to another. Flapping sails, and moving wooden sentinels the only guardians of this place at the late hour. A lone ship worker having worked a extra long evening strolled himself a long.

Wilhelm rubbed his neck, thick with sweat from a full day's labor. Blue eyes washed over the sight of the young child fending herself from two
dogs. For a moment the young man's feet seemed to carry him the other way, to a small bench. Then a thick sigh, followed by a rather masculine
grunt.

He had been a child of the city once. Though he was kept under eyes amongst the inner city most of the time. He remebered the nights
he used to sneak out to go see the ships at night. Sails against moonlight as men would laugh and talk of tales and the ways of the sea.
It had brought him many tired nights and many strong lashings from his father, but it had been his choice.

Wilhelm pulled out his crafting hammer and made his way over to the hungry dogs. His broad shouldered form cast a rather towering form in the dimming sunlight. His shadow almost twice as large as Wilhelm. As he clenched his hammer he yelled at the hounds,

"Scat you mutts."

He was not the bravest man around, but he wouldn't let them harm the young child. He prepared himself for whatever was to come.

[Lyssoryl]

Fortunately for Wilhelm, the dogs did not have a great deal of fight in them. They were not above picking on a creature smaller than themselves, but when confronted with a man weilding a weapon they retreated, barking at first, and then trotted away in search of better luck.

"Thank you so much! How extremely lucky for me to meet you." the girl called down from her lofty perch. As Wilhelm got a closer look, the girl, though small, showed a full allotment of womanly curves. That, and her lack of footwear despite the winter season indicated that she was in fact a Cether, rather than a child.

"How do you suppose I got up here?" she asked with some evident embarrassment. "I did not pay good attention when I was doing it, what with all the snapping teeth at my heels."

[Wilhelm Rochester]

Faint breezes gusted upon the air as the last few traces of sunlight peered beyond. A lulling wave crested upon the docks, washing up foamy water along the long wood planks of the docks. The tree rustled as a few leaves scattered down to the ground below. As the dogs whimpered off into the distance, Wilhelm was as visble as the woman was now.

A young man who was dressed in rather loose workman's clothing. White shirt, blue slacks though he wore them a bit unnaturally, more like a middle class man in a laborers outfit. Broad shoulders outlined his form. The shipman's belt that hung to his waist seemed comfortable enough. Bright red hair glanced upwards followed by a sparkling pair of sapphire eyes that washed over the young woman.

From Wilhelm's particular angle at the bottom of the tree it was hard not to notice that the young child was in fact a woman. Her volptous figure cast a rather attractive silhouette in the dimming sunlight, for a Cether. As she
called down to him he seemed to shake from his thoughts, whatever those were on Cethers, curves, children, and women.

"Give me a moment miss, I'll come up and get ya."

There were very few things Wilhelm could do. He couldn't fight to save his life, he had no truly magical abilities, and he was only a compotent shipwright. Climbing tree's though, was something he was fairly good at.

He had done it as a boy, when he used to sneak out of his parents house at late hour, and climb the oaks by the docks to view the ships at port. The tree's were almost as familiar a part of his childhood as the port.
As Wilhelm kicked off his heavy work boots he began to make his way up the tree, keeping his hammer at his belt side, just incase he needed to latch into something quickly. He began to make his way up the tree, to help out the young woman.

[Lyssoryl]

OOCTechincally, she's up a derrick rather than a tree, but it's all wood to me

Lyssoryl paced back and forth on her perch waiting for her rescuer to arrive. Had she been thinking clearly, she would have realized that the setting suns casting light from a low angle illuminating her white and red peasant dress suffeciently to display the ruffled bloomers she wore underneath to those who were below.

"Do be careful!" she called down to Wilhelm. "I shouldn't like you to break your neck trying to save me. Or for any other reason, come to think on it."

When he arrived at the top she attempted to give him a hand with the last step, although she did not weigh much and did not provide a good anchor for his weight.

"Thank you again, I really don't know what I would have done without you!"

[Wilhelm Rochester]

As the the sun ebbed behind a last few rolling waves the glimmer of sunlight was more and more replaced by darkness. A faint orange moon lay hidden behind a sheet of clouds. It seemed eager to pounce into the star filled sky of the late night. Lamp posts had all been lit early, giving a candle light glowto the docks that mixed with the late evening light created a rather appealing glow.

Wilhelm slowly made his way up the tree. His sapphire eyes at first seemed to scatter about, noticing the woman's bloomers were quite viewable. Eventually though his eyes focused on the tree as he made his way up. Strong arms, strengthed by days labor and his broad shoulders pulled him further and further up the tree. He reached the branch, with a little help from the woman. As Wilhelm dusted his pants off his looked down at her.

Wilhelm's height once again made for a awkward viewing angle, and he tried not focus on her buxom features, but rather on the sitaution at hand. He offered her a hand, and lowered himself into a seat on the branch as he faced his broad muscular
back to her.

"Not a problem miss, just latch onto my back and we'll climb back down."

Luckily for Wilhelm she was a bit lighter in weight then a normal human or even elven woman would have been. Such weight might have pulled him down rather then let him climb. Though she was light enough that he could make his way down without to many worries. His sapphire eyes focused on his hammer to make sure it was good and tight just incase. He blew up some of his bright red hair and prepared to make his way back down the tree.

[Lyssoryl]

Lyssoryl clung gratefully to his back, taking care not to apply any sort of distracting stranglehold. She indeed weighed very little, Wilhelm had worn backpacks much heavier than her.

Now that safety was in sight, Lyssoryl began to relax into her more usually chattery ways. "Where this a fairytale, I should turn out to be some powerful entity in disquise and grant you a wish for your kindness. In that spirit I shall do the best I can, especially if your wish is a mug or two of ale in a tavern and some lively conversation."

Her body radiated a pleasing warmth as she clung onto him, her toes hooking into his belt for a more solid purchase.

[Wilhelm Rochester]

Faint traces of distant sunlight beamed warmly on the two as they made there way slowly down the tall oak. A few leaves rustled, the only eventful incident as the two shadows shimmied down to the soft comfortable
cobblestone paths below. Faint noises of the local crown in fluttered off in the distance. As her comments chirped Wilhelm had little choice but to listen, not like he was going anywhere with her on his back.


Wilhelm's back at first was slightly uncomfortable with her pressed so closely, his back muscles rippled a bit at first. Slowly though he seemed comfortable, and made his way down the oak, she could feel his back ripple as he did. Her toes swung in his belt as his hips swayed as he moved down. He was fairly graceful at tree climbing for a human, not a professional but not to bad. As he set the woman down he brushed a bit of bright red hair back.

At first his sapphire eyes peered down at her, then once again. Then recalling the awkwardness of being able to view her figure in her loose clothing, they again darted away to a local ship coming into berth. His voice was pleasant enough and Wilhelm did offer her a small smile,

"Well a drink would be most welcome miss, thank you. I'm Wilhelm"

He figured introdcutions was probably as good a place to start as any. He wasn't going to ask why she was up in a tree,or her past, for now a drink and some relaxation was all he really wanted. She did seem polite though, and with his days of late a polite new friend was most welcome.

[Lyssoryl]

The woman beamed up at him. As a Cether, she was quite short, standing an even 3 feet tall. Her head supported an impressive mass of blonde curls, and her eyes were large and gray.

"Serale Wilhelm! I thank you again, because I cannot thank you enough. My name is Lyssoryl by the way. I grew up here in Prime, but I've been out traipsing about the empire most recently. I forgot how big the street dogs get here. Perhaps you can recommend a nearby tavern which is not too well encrusted with belligerant sailors?"

[Wilhelm Rochester]

Wihelm nodded at the Cether's comments as she looked up at the larger human. Wilhelm was not the prime specimen of his species to be certain, a few pounds on him and a bit broad in the shoulders, he wasn't much more then average craftsman. There was a certain salty smell about him though, a habbit of working long hours by a port side. As he rubbed a hand along his brow he pondered a few moments,

"Pleasure miss, I suppose Crown's as good as it comes."

One of his fingers wandered and pointed to a tavern not to far in the distance. Long regal wooden pillars posted it up. Bright glowing windows filled with candlelight glared out onto the cobble stone streets. Faint laughter and merrmiment echoed down the streetside.

His sapphire eyes wandered the cether woman and smiled,

"Can't promise you won't run into a sailor, but it's safe enough place."

Wilhelm understood her hesitation, he judged that no matter the a race, a attractive woman was likely to get heckles and jarring that usually came from sailors. Still the sailors didn't care to much for the Crown, the prices were to high, and the brothel girls did not frequent it often enough for thier liking. It was nothing regal, but it was a nice place for a drink. As he began walking with his new friend over to there,

"Trapsing hmm? Can't say I do much of that. Must be nice though."

He was happy to have a drink and some relaxation. It had been a long work day, and even longer after climbing a tree to rescue his new friend. It would be nice to have company though, and pleasant attractive company was all the better.

[Lyssoryl]

"Are we near the Crown?! Goodness, I have been away for a long time, and have forgotten all the things I used to know."

She considered a moment. "I don't suppose there is too much harm in that since mostly what I knew was nonsense. By all means, let us go there."

Lyssoryl had recovered from her fright with admirable speed, and was in good spirits as she walked along beside Wilhelm. "Oh yes, I am now a veteran traipser. Rare is the day in which I don't get in a good couple hours of traipsing before lunch, although sometimes I take afternoons off. I'm a bard, you see, so the traveling life comes naturally to me. At least it is my plan to become a bard, though my training is as yet minimal."

"What brings you to this part of prime? You don't quite look like a sailor, and surely you don't come down just for the rescuing of maidens, which cannot be steady work."

[Wilhelm Rochester]

As the sunlight faded into the distance the last few squawks of birds chimed in high above the ships that pulled into a lonely harbor. Large sails gleamed with brights crests and high flying flags that shown the heart of each vessel. Waves rushed and gushed up onto flat docks, as they splashed there foamy sea water along. The laughter and merriment of the crown growing closer to the two strangers, now friends as they edged ever closer to the tavern.

"Well Crown's hasn't moved much, didn't know bards had trainin, do you try stories on each other?"

He chuckled a hearty laugh as they grow closer to there destination. His bright red hair seemed to almost glow in the firelight. Sapphire eyes gazed from her to the tavern, and occassionaly about. He smiled as she kept up with his steps, which was not a easy thing for a cether to do with a tall human. Still she seemed to do so aimably,

"Well your only maiden I've rescued i'm afraid, I'm a shipwright by hand. Work over in the yard."

He hitched his thumb back as he pointed to a line of empty ship hulls, and half made sails that made up the foundations of Nagri shipyards. As they approached the door he held it open for her. Partly to be polite, and partly because he wasn't sure she could
reach the handle. The large open space of the tavern crackled with firelight and merriment, a fine establishment of polished wood and old memories.

It was from a time when Prime had meant something grander, a time long since past.

[Lyssoryl]

"Well Crown's hasn't moved much, didn't know bards had trainin, do you try stories on each other?"

Lyssoryl chatted merrily along as she walked, her past difficulties largely forgotten.

"Oh yes! We make sure to have a full course of nonsense every day just to keep us in our groove. Of course, there's more to it than that. We, or at least I, also sing and play the violin. Also I know a bit of magic from the bardic school, although it's mostly to enhance other people and not make dogs mind their manners."

"Well your only maiden I've rescued i'm afraid, I'm a shipwright by hand. Work over in the yard."

"I see. Well it's probably best to break into the rescue business with a small maiden such as myself, so that your muscles are not sore in the morning. Stilll, I suppose a shipwright has to be in fairly good shape. I've no idea how those things are done. Do you make the plans for ships or does someone give you the plans and a bucket of nails and you go from there?"

As the pair entered the crown, Lyssoryl looked around the place, feeling a small helping of nostalgia. "I've eaten here once before, at a table with Elmaryia Leonard, who is now Governer of Carmylen. At the time she was a diplomat. She was very nice indeed."

[Wilhelm Rochester]

A tray of forthy ales, brimming with golden foam and soft amber liquid wandered by the two new friends. It tickled thier noses as the delightful smells of fresh bread, and cheese filled there other senses. Flickering candles illuminated the well maintained establishment, a sign of the old Glory of Aelyria, long since passed her by in the recent years. Gorgeous pictures lined the mantleplace to a bright fireplace that roared and cackled eagerly for new patrons to come and dance by it's light.


Wilhelm took a small table towards the back. The bartender seemed to know him, either that or the waitress did, for before he had even uttered a word a large mug of ale appeared before him. Even the least of ale conesseurs could quickly tell by the large amount of froth and deep color it was a dwarven ale.


As the young man brushed back some of his bright red hair he chuckled,


"Well guess that's my regular, what you having miss?"


After the curvy chatty cether had given her order he smiled as he leaned back in the small booth.


"Well sounds like a useful trade, ships are hard work lot of thinking while you work, you get to the mast and you forgot to put in the rutter and you've got a long week ahead of you. It's all about schedules, meet em or break them."


As he talked he held some of the terminology of a sailor though captured in a more casual and perhaps refined manner then most who lived down by the docks.


Either he didn't hear her comment on Elmaryia Leonard or he didn't have a comment on it. Truth was though Wilhelm couldn't stand politicans, at least the new breed of them anyway. He hadn't met any of them, and he viewed it as best to stay that way. He wasn't much of a fighter but some things just got in his blood better then others.


A hand fresh with cuts from wood and a days labor brushed off his end of the table slightly as he set down a elbow. Sapphire eyes watching the small bard,


"So what brings you to prime? Just waiting for a strapping young man to climb up a tree and save you?"


He chuckled slightly at the thought, he wasn't exactly a shining knight or a great physical speciemen. Wilhelm just was, and he liked it that way.

[Lyssoryl]

Lyssoryl ordered a mug of ale for herself. It seemed the most affordable choice, but the mugs were much too big for a person of her size. Still, one must do what one must.

"Goodness! It's a good job that you have your job and I have mine. It isn't that I can't be organized, it just has always struck me that organization is a form of hubris. 'Here are my plans,' you say to the gods. 'I dare you to foul me up.' I believe I might also design a ship that looked like a butterfly and no one would buy it just because it wouldn't float. People are always busy seeing forests when there is a perfectly good tree in front of them, I just don't know what to make of it."

She paused to drink ale and consider. Why was she in Aelyria Prime again?

"Much to my shame, I must admit that I did not come to be rescued by handsome gentlemen, although I find that I quite like the experience and perhaps next time I shall mark it down on my itinerary. I suppose that when you get down to it, I came for nostalgia. I grew up here, and it is nice to see my old haunts, even if some morally defecient dogs have taken up residence nearby."

"I do have something that sort of approaches business to attend to as well. I wish to start up a guild of traveling performers, and if we are to be taken at all seriously we'll need to have a presence here. I am still in early stages yet, but things are moving along nicely. All I lack is funds, members, and notoriety."