The Storm After The Calm

[Shabuto Venkage]

A piercing dawn cut through the darkness that the dusk before wrought. Signifying the start of a new day, a fresh beginning, and the continuum of the many lives here. The light illuminated the town of Erosia the hub of Rudral that was etched into the many sturdy roots of Azlan the Great Tree. Here many folks from all over made their home and place of business. It was a bustling place with myriads of lifestyles, personalities, and experiences. The tight-knit bond amongst the commit was the grand contributor to its well-being. People stuck their necks out for each other and supported one another to navigate the only life they've ever known. Over the past few days, Shabuto had become slowly enamored with the peace here. It was so vastly different than the life he knew—the vicious hell on an island he was born onto and the even more devilish torment he was sold into. His eyes were fixated on the ceiling of the tavern he had been staying in.

Since joining the Nightmare Wolves Shabuto has been plagued by a repetitive nightmare. A feeling of falling into darkness perennial, and a horrifying voice admonishing him to "Remember the pact...". He whispered into the empty room. He shifted his medallion between his fingers. The only keepsake he held from the hermit who raised him, was a man he knew nothing about. In truth, the man rarely ever treat Shabuto with kindness but he taught him a great many things. Crafting, herbology, how to fish, how to fight how to use his very rare mystical abilities, rare even amongst the Venkage as a whole. "The Old man was the closest thing to family I can remember...and even he...". Pawned him off, selling him to the Nightmare Wolves for a relic. Changing the course of his life forever. The only family he ever had discarded him leaving him only this stone and a final set of words.

The window was cracked and from it, a warm breeze carried the smell of baked goods. He gripped his stone remembering the words the man told him. " Shabuto, you were the closest thing to a son I've ever had. May Judei shower you with love eternal..." And yet he couldn't even remember the man's name. Now here he was on an Island he couldn't escape from. A large part of him didn't even want to return back to the world outside of Rudral. Here he was a slave to no one, here he could live, breathe, and think. However, Mara and Zane were still missing and after they save his life he promised he would help them all get home. Shabuto didn't classify himself as the noble type. In truth when it came down to it he would choose whichever route that would best benefit him with little concern for those around him."Guess they grew on me...hmp".

He said as he got out of bed making his way toward the window. Just as he was about to open it further he got a sudden chill up his spine. A nagging, clawing feeling drew his focus to the Abyssal staff. A weapon teaming with an insidious presence that he kept wrapped up in a set of bindings given to him by the hermit to keep its malice at bay. He stole the weapon from a powerful Venkage on their isle before he was shipped off and hasn't been able to get rid of it since. Despite its malefic aura Shabuto was unaffected by it until he met Grixas which is when the nightmare started and even more so since his meeting with the Witch of Erosia; Beneva.

He walked closer to it, the binding felt like it'd snap at any moment. Those sensitive to naten could tell something was off about it and most folks kept their distance from him because of it. That he didn't have a girl scout personality to boot. Something told him though, there was more to this land and Grixa's interest than he was letting on, which wasn't much to begin with. He wasn't the ask and give a reason type he had a more voluntold approach. Always giving the illusion of choice. As he reached for it another chill down his spine.

"The pact...The pact...remember, the pact."

Shabuto recoiled as the voice echoed in his mind. Again about this damn pact! This is what happens when you go around touching shit that doesn't belong to you. There was little he could do about it now. Beneva reaction to it still played in his mind. She knew of the staff and made promises that by the time he returned from retrieving the relic deep within the shrine, she would have the answers he sought as well as the key to his freedom. She would seem to know what this "pact" was."Tch I need to stop wasting time, Dawn has finally broken the meeting time is not too far away." He said turning from the staff and throwing his clothes on. Solid black attire. A cloak black as midnight with small accents of sapphire and amber. Laced with knives created from mistral embedded in his bone. He went without his mask, he figured he was already a stranger here he didn't wanna alert the townsfolk as much as he probably already did carrying around the freaky staff, which he grabbed before heading downstairs.

As he made it to the downstairs of the tavern he could see the place was packed. The owner Terra did tell him their breakfast was a pretty hot commodity. He supposed he better have some, it was no telling when he'd get another hot meal once this job started. He made his way over to the table towards the back end, feeling the pricing glare of some of the tavern's regulars. He shrugged them off, he was here with a goal in mind. This was the area he desired in his posting. He wondered what kind of person or persons would show. He hoped for at least two others to replace Zane and Mara. A two-man party might have a tougher time but considering the fact he was still green to this land he wasn't even sure that three would be enough. From Beneva's warning, no one has ever made it back alive...

[Haylin Gafren]

“So you’re just gonna get your food everywhere, huh?”

Haylin sat at the end of the bar going at a bowl of salad adorned with local fruits and veggies next to Cass, his feathered friend who enjoyed their own bowl but shared it with the bar top beside them. Since they’d found themselves on the Isle of Rudral as the locals called it, Erosia seemed to be the only place Haylin found that allowed him and Cass to rest. At the base of Azlan, the Great Tree, the mangroves provided ample space for the sparsely populated village to gather and commune, a respite from the storms encircling the island and the treachery afoot almost anywhere else.

Cass, with its long neck and sleek beak, side eyed Haylin the only way a bird-like creature could before digging into the rest of its salad.

“You’re in SUFFERABLE!” Haylin said, chuckling and ruffling the feathers on Cass’s head as it nipped at the bowl in front of them. Haylin slipped more of the greens into his mouth, munching down happily. He lost count of the days, months, maybe even years since the Fall sent him to this far flung beach in the middle of a storm that might as well be the middle of nowhere. Luckily, he found himself washed up with Cass as well, if they hadn’t woken up first, the pair might have found themselves a bit worse for the wear now. Between the two, Haylin consistently showed himself to be the more laid back individual while Cass’s natural sensibilities made him a more vigilant and discerning creature and that discernment pulled them from the jaws of danger more than a few times. The team was inseparable and always had each others’ best interest at heart, their bond made sure of it.

Cass turned their head, munching on the last of the salad, gulping it down and scanning the rest of the room. Although Erosia was relatively safe, the frame of reference for the rest of the island meant that danger still could burst through the door at any time. They sat in a corner away from others, as most other people in the area belonged to some sort of organization. They happened to be an outlier on the island, making their way as a duo through the ups and downs that plague the island. They rarely came across a new face that lasted more than a week. Eventually they all turned up dead, mangled, or not at all. Some of the lucky ones that still crossed their paths were changed irreparably by the influence of the powers that plague the island outside of Erosia. Haylin had a decent sense for danger, but Cass kept their head on a swivel. Constantly.

“You see something?”

Cass cooed gently and settled back into the seat, chirping and trilling quietly to Haylin.

“Someone new? Welp, good luck, heh…”

Haylin took another good chunk of salad and kept munching on.

[Shabuto Venkage]

His hand is firmly on his medallion, watching how it glistens through the windows' beams of natural sunlight. Shimmering with twinkles of sapphire crystals the leafless tree etched into the stone. What it symbolized Shabuto still wasn't sure of. A crest of some sort? The hermit gave it to him when he mastered the basics of his mistral training saying that only someone with naten like his could hold onto it. Never once did he explain its purpose never once did he reveal much of anything really. He always spoke in riddles and parables. The only time he actually was direct was when he was telling Shabuto off about his attitude. "Guess I was a bit of a brat. Before the old man, I was completely alone...". That all soon changed however and not for the better. The Nightmare Wolves became his new family but love and affirmation were not the core of work. Not by a long shot. Mara and Zane though, were different. For the first time, he had met people who also understood the life of enslavement. The loneliness that claims you, the wall you build to keep everyone and everything out. The feeling like all you'll ever be able to do is cause pain. Whenever he thought about how the weapons created from his very bones were being used. How his life revolved around creating instruments of malice and pain he could help but blame himself for the darkness he was bringing to this world. "How long... before I am the center of ruin for this place?" . Even though here Grixas seemed to hold no power Shabuto could not shake the subtly gnawing sense of dread ever since he came here. Perhaps it was just the uneasiness around finally having freedom. But something else was bothering him he just couldn't put his finger on it and honestly hoped that by the time whatever darkness might befall this place he would be long gone.

Cass, with its long neck and sleek beak, side eyed Haylin the only way a bird-like creature could before digging into the rest of its salad.

“You’re in SUFFERABLE!” Haylin said, chuckling and ruffling the feathers on Cass’s head as it nipped at the bowl in front of them. Haylin slipped more of the greens into his mouth, munching down happily.

"Azlan's tits Haylin how many times am I gonna have to tell you to clean up after that damn bird er yours?!"

Said a robust-looking woman with teal skin. She appeared to be of orc descent clad in an apron with all kinds of gunk on it. Myra keeper of this tavern. She was cleaning a glass after just serving up breakfast to the first part of the rush they tended to get around this time and also just happened to finish cleaning the tops and floor before he and his dusty avian friend came in mucking up the place.

“Someone new? Welp, good luck, heh…”

"Hm? That guy? he's been staying in Erosia for about a week now. Tends to keep to himself not really the talkative type. Unlike you and the chattering chick over here."

She said tossing the bird brain another snack while she began wiping down the space it had made a mess of.

"Most of the locals avoid him, not too quick to make friends especially one with a creepy aura hanging around dem"

She snapped her finger for the guy going around serving the tables to catch his attention. She nodded over to the stranger in the corner. She always made sure the boy got a meal, he seemed too timid to ask for himself. The guy rolled his eyes before making his way over.

"Yo kid, what're having today?"

The man is a pretty easy-on-the-eyes half-orc name, Brom. His deep voice shook Shabuto out of his trance-like space instinctually stuffing his heirloom under his shirt. His hood covered his face to which Brom sucked his teeth.

"C'mon kid how many times has my sister told you, lose the hood."

Shabuto's body language oozed irritation. What was the big deal anyway, obviously he didn't want to be seen. If they weren't housing and feeding him he'd swear they just liked picking on him. Truth was, they actually treated him with great kindness and gave him space to be. Maybe one day he'd ask what their deal was. For now, he did as asked and removed his hood revealing a fluffy plum of coarse hair that look soft to the touch. Small indications of crystalized fragments littered it giving the impression of a sky filled with stars. Shabuto though human, bore features that almost seem ethereal. None of the other Venakge had hair like his and most were taller than he. His peculiar hair was mostly the reason he chose to wear a hood. He didn't want to be ostracized for his hair not fetishized either. "Brom, why are you always so much nicer to me when your sister's not around?" Shabuto said with a scowl turned slight smirk when he saw it fluster the half-orc a bit. Brom was typically solid a stone but Shabuto had a way of throwing him off with his candid insinuations and jabs. Brom popped him on the backside of his head with his notepad glaring down at him with a slight blush on his face.

"Order. Now."

Shabuto rubbed the back of his head still smirking. Anyhting that doesn't involve vegetables" Shabuto absolutely hated vegetables. Brom wrote down that he wanted the carnivore special. A platter of different meats and sauces.

"Whatre you a toddler, matta fact keep shrugging off your veggies and you'll be pint-sized the rester ya life"

He teased before going handing it to his sister. Shabuto sucked his teeth. He was used to be mocked for his height but Brom was a professional at getting his lick back. As Brom walked off Shabuto got a glimpse of the massive bird that was sitting next to a guy he hadn't seen in his time here. He hadn't scoured even a fraction of this island and couldn't speak to the variety of its wildlife but he had yet to see any of the natives interact with animals in the way that man casually did so. Shabuto's curiosity might have actually gotten the better of him causing him to stare a bit before going back to his business. "I sent the notice to meet up at this time... where the hell are they?" He thought while he waited for his food. He was a bit peckish and couldn't have to chow down. It was gonna be a while before he was able to eat like this again.

[Haylin Gafren]

"Come on, Myra, you're not serious, are you? Four out of five of your patrons carry a foreboding aura of some sort, thats the nature of this god forsaken island."

Haylin spoke candidly, waving his fork aimlessly in the air. He humbly took himself for the most lacksadaisical individual within the city's limits, carrying an air of joviality with him to contrast with the typically horrible weather and complementary social settings they found themsleves in often. At any given point in time, someone might be robbed. At another, probably right behind it, aother completely uninvolved individual might be shanked and sequestered in a dark comer of the mangroves. For most of his time as a newcomer to the island, he didn't even think they had a city on the island that wasn't some secret hub for some organization vying for total control of the island by almost any means necessary.

"You and Brom run a tight ship, but your clientele is 100% questionable 100% of the time."

Cass squawked and cooed in agreement, finishing his food and sliding the bowl back to her gently.

"And that's coming from the guy eating with a bird."

Haylin belched deep, finishing his food and picking the last slice of pickle from Cass's bowl before it was conferred to the trash gods for good.

"No soldier left behind, my guy."

Haylin looked over his shoulder, and he and Cass caught Brom applying some proprietary pressure to the back of the newcomer's head. Hoods were frowned upon, but not necessarily forbidden. The only enforcers were Brom and Myra and the Occasional volunteer who wanted to keep Erosia's one public house just that, a public house. Haylin appreciated the sense of camaraderie among the few patrons who didn't make trouble nor interacted with one another unless under dire duress There were no friends on this island, just associates with common goals, Haylin and Cass learned that the hard way shortly after their arrival on the island still reeling from the Fall of Arcturus. Beaten, buttered a bit, and ruffled, they leaned on their natural generally positive disposition when meeting the first residents two weeks after they washed up on the shore. One week later, they had broken out of a stone holding cell someone tossed them in and spent the next weeks recovering from poison somewhere in the woods. The island was rife with danger and friendship was a luxury the Gafren duo couldn't afford.

"How long do you think they're gonna last?"

"I ask myself that about you every day, bird-boy," Myra responded, moving the bowls from their bar top and getting to work elsewhere.

"Hmph, oh ye of little faith," Haylin said, leaning back in the stool for a good stretch.

As Brom walked off Shabuto got a glimpse of the massive bird that was sitting next to a guy he hadn't seen in his time here. He hadn't scoured even a fraction of this island and couldn't speak to the variety of its wildlife but he had yet to see any of the natives interact with animals in the way that man casually did so. Shabuto's curiosity might have actually gotten the better of him causing him to stare a bit before going back to his business.

Then the new guy's eyes caught theirs. Haylin just gave a wave and a nod, mouthing 'Sup' to the newcomer, Cass shook itself, beginning to preen it's feathers and settling into the chair, satisfied with their meal. The new guy looked like he was waiting for something, or just spooked by spontaneous eye contact. Whatever it was, he was standing out trying not to stand out.

[Shabuto Venkage]

"Come on, Myra, you're not serious, are you? Four out of five of your patrons carry a foreboding aura of some sort, that's the nature of this god-forsaken island."

Haylin spoke candidly, waving his fork aimlessly in the air. He humbly took himself for the most lackadaisical individual within the city's limits, carrying an air of joviality with him to contrast with the typically horrible weather and complementary social settings they found themselves in often. At any given point in time, someone might be robbed. At another, probably right behind it, another completely uninvolved individual might be shanked and sequestered in a dark comer of the mangroves. For most of his time as a newcomer to the island, he didn't even think they had a city on the island that wasn't some secret hub for some organization vying for total control of the island by almost any means necessary.

"You and Brom run a tight ship, but your clientele is 100% questionable 100% of the time."

"Heh Guess you've got me there."

She didn't even try to deny it. In fact, she found it a bit flattering. She and Brom were the only two actively keeping the tavern a generally safe space. Most folks in Erosia came here to escape the tumultuous nature of the island abroad. Being it was one of the few peaceful places the community did fairly well at keeping stable.

Haylin looked over his shoulder, and he and Cass caught Brom applying some proprietary pressure to the back of the newcomer's head. Hoods were frowned upon, but not necessarily forbidden. The only enforcers were Brom and Myra and the Occasional volunteer who wanted to keep Erosia's one public house just that, a public house. Haylin appreciated the sense of camaraderie among the few patrons who didn't make trouble nor interacted with one another unless under dire duress There were no friends on this island, just associates with common goals, Haylin and Cass learned that the hard way shortly after their arrival on the island still reeling from the Fall of Arcturus. Beaten, buttered a bit, and ruffled, they leaned on their natural generally positive disposition when meeting the first residents two weeks after they washed up on the shore. One week later, they had broken out of a stone-holding cell someone tossed them in and spent the next weeks recovering from poison somewhere in the woods. The island was rife with danger and friendship was a luxury the Gafren duo couldn't afford.

Brom passed Myra elbowing her in the arm and stickered as he went past. She grabbed the ladle next to her and faked throwing it at him, he flinched before rushing into the kitchen for cover. Myra smirked and shook her head. She turned back to Haylin and Cass. Looking out at the modest tower before her Myra caught herself in a bit of a trance. One of pride no less. Life in Erosia wasn't easy but it was simple enough. Just a place where people wanted to find even a sliver of peace in this chaotic prison.

"I ask myself that about you every day, bird-boy," Myra responded, moving the bowls from their bar top and getting to work elsewhere.

She walked over to another table and began servicing a small family.

Then the new guy's eyes caught theirs. Haylin just gave a wave and a nod, mouthing 'Sup' to the newcomer, Cass shook itself, beginning to preen it's feathers and settling into the chair, satisfied with their meal. The new guy looked like he was waiting for something, or just spooked by spontaneous eye contact. Whatever it was, he was standing out trying not to stand out.

Shabuto was wearing his usual scowl when their eyes met. It didn't reflect his true feelings. He came from a world where scowls were worn as masks to keep people at arm's length. Hurt people hurt people and Shabuto had had enough of hurting everyone around him. Seeing Brom and Mora tease each other though brought Mara and Zane to mind.

*Flashback*

Zane: Geez we've been here for four days already and haven't gotten a single person to talk to us!

Mara: Well I've been having great luck when you two sour pusses aren't around.

She said jumping in front of Shabuto who had been so focused on trying to interpret his vision he barely noticed her his face casually scowled. Mara stood form and Shabuto crashed into her armor plate. He stumbled back a few steps while rubbing his head. Mara stood about 2ft over Shabuto dwarfing him like a sun would a moon.

Mara: Shabuto listen to me...seriously.

Shabuto looked up at her and saw her bear the most stalwart expression he's ever seen her wear. One that conveyed the belief in her next set of words.

Mara: We've all seen it, the hellish side of life. I'll admit this island still feels like another chain in our fate. However...

Her face began to soften and relaxed into a warm smile.

Mara: Here we can smile and have friends. We're friends.... right, Shabuto?

Zane with his arms folded was looking over his shoulder giving a slight nod and smirk.

*Flash back end*

Shabuto found his scowl had melted into a friendly smile. He threw up a peace sign before rising from his seat. He'd never sat at the bar top. Supposed today was as great as any. Here his chains were only as real as he saw them to be. Here, he was free to make his own choices. So he'd choose to introduce himself."Mara, Zane... of course we're friends. I will save you." He made his way to a seat down from Haylin. "My bad, didn't mean to stare. I've never seen a bird like yours before." He said as he sat down. They were massive compared to Shabuto, yet his usual air of not being intimated remained unbothered. "Shabuto, Shabuto Venkage".

[Haylin Gafren]

"It's all good. Unless you were still feeling hungry..."

Haylin shot an ice cold side eye at Shabuto, being fairly certain that he indeed was not hungry, but just to make sure that whoever he was and from wherever he hailed, Shabuto saw no easy meal of Cass.

"Then you should get their roasted chicken, it's great."

His frosty gaze elted away to a gentle smile and thumbs up as easy as the suns rise. Cass cooed, doing its thing and enjoying the relative quiet. Of course they stood out, most places they visited previous to the accursed Island of Rudral saw Cass as the largest creature room far more often than not. They were used to stares, but Shabuto's felt a bit different, at least on Rudral

"I'm Haylin and this is Cass. Most people haven't seen a creature like him, but we're just your normal two peas in a pod. You're looking more like a solemn onion.

A quick glance over of Haylin's attire and demeanor gave the impression that the Island introduced itself to Shabuto. The myriad dangers and rampant treachery that infested this stand has taken something from him, something he looked like held considerable value.

"You holding up out there? It takes a while to grow to appreciate how fucked up this island is."

[Shabuto Venkage]

"I'm Haylin and this is Cass. Most people haven't seen a creature like him, but we're just your normal two peas in a pod. You're looking more like a solemn onion.

Shabuto found himself smirking a bit. Haylin had an uplifting aura about him, traces of something hidden underneath but overall his spirit was like a breeze. Cass had a similar energy the two really were a pair of a kind. Shabuto himself had always known loneliness and even in a room full of people always found himself the odd man out. Until he met Mara and Zane, two people who slowly but surely began chipping away at the loneliness of his heart. "Well yah know what they say about onions, layers, and all that". Underneath his hard exterior was a young man trying to find his way through a vast sea of uncertainty and secrets. No horizon awaited him only a longer journey ahead. Someday he hoped to find the path that would lead him to the joys he saw the people around him share with one another. Until then, he would continue to take things a day at a time.

Brom returned with Shabuto's order. A smorgasbord of different meats and cuts saturated in a sauce that smelled like bell peppers. Brom had secretly been sneaking vegetables into Shabuto's food for the past week now. Creating a tasty sauce was the only way to get the brat to eat any. Goes to show the true nature of the tavern owners. Shabuto's eyes widened as the grub was placed in front of him, his mouth watering at the mere thought of how good the food must taste based on its smell. He'd never known cuisine like this. The rations they were provided in his guild were merely focused around nutritional value enough to keep you from collapsing so that the flow of work was never impacted. Just enough sustenance to keep you holding on, to keep you able to fight. Shabuto immediately began digging in, throwing caution to the wind and gorging himself like a beast catching its first kill of the day. Brom smirked before walking off Shabuto quickly drank down what was in his mouth.

"You holding up out there? It takes a while to grow to appreciate how fucked up this island is."

With a deep satisfied sigh of relief after nearly choking on his food he turned his head to Haylin. " Huh...questions' a bit more loaded than it sounds.". At least the wellspring of different emotions that came up in his body. It was similar to someone asking how you doing casually in passing. The standard is to simply say "I'm good" or "I'm fine" because no one truly wants to know the darkness of your heart. The shadows that play in the crevices of your mind. Haylin though... for some reason Shabuto felt that was not the case. Perhaps...just maybe he."It's a strange place for sure. It's like every time you gain something you lose something as well. Like you caught in a cycle of cat and mouse with your freedom hell...you sanity even". He said taking another bite out of his meal.I believe that I might have found a silver lining in it all. Just as soon as I found it though, I lost two important things as well." He wasn't really sure if that answered Haylin question but it's what came out as his response. His entire life he was always chasing the things just beyond his grasp and when he finally got a sliver of what it was he was chasing he lost something else in return. Never truly gaining only ever chasing the the thoughts of what could be...of what should be.

[Haylin Gafren]

"It's a strange place for sure. It's like every time you gain something you lose something as well. Like you caught in a cycle of cat and mouse with your freedom hell...you sanity even". He said taking another bite out of his meal.

"So you didn't find a silver lining," Haylin scoffed. "Zero-sum games are no fun. You need a REAL silver lining, other than this rund- lovely establishment in the only silver lining on this goofy island."

Haylin side-eyed Shabuto while he watched to make sure Myra and Brom were still out of earshot. He enjoyed their food and the fleeting sense of safety they built, but nothing assuaged the fact that they were all locked on this island with dangers run amok.

"But, for you to have lost two things, you came here with a lot. Chalk it up to horrible luck, am I right?"

Upon closer inspection, Shabuto, although looking fairly sad, wasn't much worse off for the wear. Or, at least he didn't look half as bad as the rest of this crowd. Most of them had very identifiable scars, as unique as their fingerprints and their experiences. Others were clad in rough, tattered uniforms from some of the gangs roaming the island eyeballing everyone like they owned the place. Shabuto's reservedness and otherwise unassuming demeanor confirmed Haylin's assumptions a decent person who was dealt a bad hand. He had a lot to lose by coming to this island and still found a little bit of hope to hold on to, a sign of a strength of character that would definitely be a useful tool in his coming excursions. Cass couldn't care less and settled into a nest, cooing itself softly into sleep, full and content.

"We're all pretty unlucky to wind up here."

[Shabuto Venkage]

"So you didn't find a silver lining," Haylin scoffed. "Zero-sum games are no fun. You need a REAL silver lining, other than this rund- lovely establishment in the only silver lining on this goofy island."

Shabuto sucked his teeth lightly as he began fumbling through the inside of his cloak. He stopped for a second, thinking to himself if Haylin was worth trying to prove a point to. As it stood now, whether he was or not was kind of a moot point. He was the only person who'd talk to him and considering that Shabuto's contact he was waiting on seemed to have stood him up he was running out of options. Then Haylin said something that sweetened the deal for Shabuto a bit.

"We're all pretty unlucky to wind up here."

Shabuto's hand rested still in his cloak. He didn't even think about how suspect it must've looked but he bore no ill will to anyone here. He was just caught a bit off guard by Haylin's revelation."So not only are you not native to Erosia. You're not from this island either, are you? ". This began to deepen Shabuto's curiosity about this mysterious island. How was it that he even came to be here? That thought alone brought into question the cyclne3ss of the storm itself. How exactly was it that he and his people survived the storm? If it was so impenetrable how did they have a shipment of slaves commissioned through the nightmare wolves to arrive here? Indeed, the plot thickens. As Shabuto asked that question he sat a small box given to him earlier on the counter.

[Haylin Gafren]

Shabuto's hand rested still in his cloak. He didn't even think about how suspect it must've looked but he bore no ill will to anyone here. He was just caught a bit off guard by Haylin's revelation."So not only are you not native to Erosia. You're not from this island either, are you? ". This began to deepen Shabuto's curiosity about this mysterious island. How was it that he even came to be here?

"Absolutely not. This place sucks majorly." Haylin's voice gruffed at the thought of being an Rudral native. Everything good that happens here is followed up by an even worse stroke of bad luck, multiple times over for a lot of the native communities. The Akuma showed to be most involved in some of the worst rights violations across the island, routinely used as a personnel resource in the depraved games of the oppressive elite of Rudral. Haylin and Cass meet their fair share of people they intended to help but at no benefit to themselves, all they walked away with was a thank you and some nature scars often.

"If I could just warp off this island and back to the Jaida Coast I would. I've been trying to get back home since The Fall... I definitely didn't wager being marooned on an outpost of despair for 10, 11 years now? I guess it's been that long..."

Cass cooed in it's sleep, drowsily confirming the approximate timeframe for their stranding. Haylin shrugged and took a sip of his drink.

"Keeping count is more trouble than it's worth. Then again, so is this island. And you'd do well to keep to yourself, I wouldn't give this place a chance to catch me lacking. It's hard to trust the natives."

The island introduced many people to it's shores over the years, but people rarely departed alive. Shabuto looked like he could handle himself in a pinch, but the treachery of Rudral worked in mysterious ways, mostly through misplaced trust and misinformation. One moment you're eating dinner, the next you're face down in a bowl of soup and someone is dragging your body elsewhere. Haylin watched it happen too many times and often with some of the usual suspects. He wondered what Shabuto could have been waiting on by himself if he was down two important items already.

"Were you waiting on somebody?"