Board Thread:Roleplaying/@comment-25828117-20190905141956/@comment-25828117-20190911123155

As the night set in properly and most went to bed, either in their rooms or in a hammock among the purring crew, somewhere in the east where the night was darker still, a lone dark elf named Worm bowed slowly but deeply before his better.

"My lord desires my presence?" The dark elf imparted in a defeated voice.

He looked down towards the floor like a beaten dog, his heart was racing. Dunmer often had gaunt facial features but this mer's seemed particularly severe. He moved his thin body slowly and with uncertainty since grabbing or brushing things with your hands often hurt if they lacked fingernails.

The lord Imcuthal, a blue-haired mer with a full beard sat behind his desk with a frown indicating crisis.

"Have you made progress on the dig?" His voice was matter-of-fact and emotionless. Worm was a tool, not a person. You wouldn't present emotion to a lamp, It is simply there to be used.

Worm's head remained still but he brought his hands together in a delicate manner.

"I regret to info-"

Imcuthal groaned and stood up from behind his desk, causing Worm to keep quiet, praying he wouldn't be beaten.

The lord's office was of a bizarre alien architecture with his desk's legs made to resemble the curling tenticles of a kraken. Moonlight turned a blue hue through the glass stained window.

"Well go on. I didn't tell you to stop speaking." The lord said as he stared outside; his accent was thick and his tone, annoyed. He hated the fact they had to use this barbaric tongue to get things done. But as things stood now, with the drowned gods and the war, it was easier to use their language than it was to force the slaves to learn ours, it was of course, well above their pitiful capabilities, and time was of the essence.

"I regret to inform my Lord that the work has... stalled."

"Stalled?" Rage bubbled under a barely held veil of calm.

"Y-yes. The workers c-can't pierce the hard bedrock with the tools they have an-"

"Stop speaking."

Worm did so immediately.

After the blessed night so unceremoniously ended the high cleric of the drowned discovered in horror that the Lau'ada's prescence had gone with it. Madness took many fellow Laumer as they thought the gods had abandoned them or, at least, were cut off from them... Who knew exactly? All Imcuthal knew for certain was that it has been a distaster these last few months. They had lost land and men in the chaos. Traitors had deserted, the highest sin imaginable. Weak-willed blood traitors that had given up on their kin because their faith was being tested. If there was one consolation it was that the barbarians they fought didn't really care for laumer deserters and swiftly killed them.

"Tell them that they cannot have other tools, because there are no other tools." Imcuthal explained. He didn't need to raise his voice.

He sighed.

"This whole endeavour's a waste of time if you ask me. Digging a new link with the drowned, it's a long shot and everyone knows it, they just don't want to admit to it to themselves. The clerics are getting desperate."

Worm said nothing.

Imcuthal turned around and returned to his desk.

"You know why I speak candidly with you, do you not, Worm?"

"Yes, My Lord."

Imcuthal's expression made it clear he wanted to hear Worm say exactly why that was.

"Because you know Worm will not tell anyone, because if Worm tells anyone, his family will be tossed into the new pit."

The Laumer smiled.

"Exactly."

-

5th of Last Seed, The Niben Bay

The Hellcat had sailed smoothly these past few days. The Niben river was divided by the great Bay in the Nibenay Valley. It was a bit before noon but out in the distance, the city of Bravil could be soon on the west banks. It looked more like a wooden fort. Like a bigger version of the Waterfront district of the Imperial City, and just as poor, if not poorer. They would not stop there but it was perhaps the first landmark beyond the great bridge that marked their journey.

Alvoran was once again trying to deduce the location of Valenwood from where the sun stood in the sky.

Garren was playing a game of Doparr, a stones game, with a member of the crew and he had lost every single time.

Shrava was still annoyed by everything.

Helian checked to see on Mozu,

And Lysilde was sitting in her chambers, reading a book.