After Lia walked out abruptly the rest of the party decided that was a good sign it was time to adjourn for the night. Rijin took a trip around the ship for a bit before heading down the multiple floors to his room that had been laid out for him. As Rijin began to sort through his belongings and things he felt a strange sensation in the room. A chill of sorts, as if he was close to the touch of death. He looked around the room and saw no one, no reaper, nothing. If he was to believe his perception then there was no one around but something told him differently. From the faint quiet of the room, almost mistaken for a hum, he heard it; an ever so soft voice.
"Randorin," it said to him. Rijin did not recognize the voice but knew what the voice was, a Thestral.
"What is it?" Rijin said, trying not to change his actions. Rijin did not know if Prometheus had some way to monitor the rooms and needed to make sure his guard was not spotted. Thestrals are almost completely undetectable by any normal or magical means but Rijin opening talking to one would give him away quickly.
"The sentinel sends a message," the voice said still quietly, as if it was in the back of Rijin's mind rather than a real voice.
Rijin tried to look busy rummaging through his things, "what message do you bring?" Rijin asked
"There are reports of a door that leads to the lowest level of the ship. This door has more safeguards than any other room on the vessel," the voice said.
"Yes, Prometheus claims it is a storage area guarding magical focuses," Rijin replied.
"I have been able to get into every part of this ship except for the last floor. In some of the storage areas I found magical focuses locked away, but not of them enchanted to the level in which that door is enchanted," the voice said.
"So then my suspicions are correct," Rijin said, elated but trying to contain his excitement, "whatever is behind that door…"
"Is being safeguarded for a reason. Reason enough to make it the most heavily fortified room on this ship. The Sentinel wants you to find a way in," the voice said.
"That is tricky," Rijin replied, "the council is fragile and new, also I am not made for stealth."
"But I am," the Thestral answered. Rijin understood what he was trying to say.
"I will see if I can find the way to get inside. This is a large ship, there is sure to be many ways to achieve our goal," Rijin said, "Where will you be?"
"Closeby," the voice replied, "I will make contact again once you have found a way inside." And with that the pressure was gone, Rijin could tell he was alone in the room; or at least that is what his perception told him. Rijin sorted through his things a little more before leaving his room.
It had been many hours since the party disbanded so Rijin knew that it had to be nightfall by this point especially with all the revelry coming from a few floors up. Rijin ascended the stairs to Thalassa's beard, still bothered by the name, filled with drunk sailors singing tunes and drinking heavily. Half the crew if not more had to be here as well as the artisans on the lowest deck of the ship. Rijin was much taller than everyone else here so seeing the party from his point of view was quite the spectacle. There were sailors laughing and toppling over, sailors crying and complaining, sleeping sailors, fighting sailors, pretty much every stage of drunkenness was displayed. Rijin moved through the crowd a bit, most moved out of the way of his hulking figure, but occasionally he had to step over a sleeping sailor or a stubborn one who wouldn't get out of the way. He looked around, trying to see if he could find Prometheus but he was hard to find in the large crowd. Rijin had already found Qrow, slinging drinks from behind the bar and taking people's money to give them special drinks in return. Garus was on the far end of the room singing a diddy about the vastness of the sea with a large crowd that surrounded him including Daedalus who was singing almost as loud as Garus and was spilling his drink all over the people who sat at the table he was dancing on top of. Lia was also drinking and being merry, which surprised Rijin given the days affairs, but she seemed content to be surrounded by a group of other Penzamites that came with her. Prometheus was nowhere to be seen.
"He must be on another floor," Rijin said to himself. He walked through the crowd and ascended to the main deck. The stars showed beautifully in the night sky. Rijin had sailed around the coast of Midoku many times enjoying the beauty of the stars above. He smiled a bit as he looked at them and enjoyed the peace around him compared to the chaos just below. The deck of the ship is a large area with only a few sailors walking about at this point. Closer to the stern of the ship was Fuju, just looking off into the night sky. Standing next to the captains quarters stood Varithorn who was focused on something he was carving into a small piece of wood he held. Rijin walked to the door, reaching to open it, that is when Varithorn spoke up.
"He isn't there," Varithorn said, "I came looking for him as well. Figured I would wait here until he comes back.
Rijin turned away from the door and noticed what Varithorn was carving. It was a rune of some kind but one that Rijin did not recognize.
"Mind if I wait with you?" Rijin asked. He tried to be as cordial as possible. Varithorn looked up at him, Rijin could not see his eyes under the hood but he could tell his gaze was on him. Varithorn did not say a word, but gestured towards the wall as if to say "do as you wish". Rijin nodded and leaned against the wall as well, he stared out towards the dark sea. The stars showed upon the water in a beautiful yet ominous manner. Upon looking out it would appear as if the boat was on a sea of nothing, a black abyss that went as far as the eye could see. Every once in a while the water would make itself known; a wave would come up and the stars would be reflected off of it giving a glimmer of light. Rijin watched the waves and was reminded of the first time he met Thalassa. It was a night very much like this night.
"While standing here is nice and all," Varithorn said, breaking the silence and taking Rijin from his thoughts, "I have wondered something for a while and given that the Prince of Midoku is here this might be the perfect time to ask."
Rijin Perked up at this, "ask what you will. I am all ears."
"Why are Midoken's such assholes?" Varithorn asked. Rijin was thrown off by the question. Rijin thought it might be a joke or a bit of banter but Varithorn gave no indication of humor, he was intently waiting for an answer.
"I believe every nation has its fair share," Rijin answered.
"Sure, sure…but Midoku is the only country who thrives on it ya know? Every other country at least tries to mitigate it but what is it about Midoku that makes the lot of you want to?" Varithorn said this as if he was asking a sincere question which only made Rijin more angry. He could feel the rage rising inside of him but focused on his breathing to calm down. He and his father and talked about the fact that there would most likely be many members of the council who had ill will against Midoku and would seek to take that anger out on Rijin, but it was better for Rijin to take it in stride rather than start something. Rijin remembered the words of his father, "temper your anger when among the weak, they are not worthy of your strength."
Rijin let out a deep amount of air, then laughed. "I agree, we Midoken's tend to have an issue with pride. One the people of Niepe have felt for a long time," Rijin laughed it off. Varithorn began to laugh as well.
"We have a saying in Niepe," Varithorn said, "'never give a Midoken the benefit of the doubt,' it doesn't ever seem like you people are worthy of thinking higher of you. Even though you like to place yourselves on such a high pedestal."
"Well us Midoken's have had to overcome a lot, like dealing with an entire wasteland of reavers thanks to the plagues your country unleashed on us," Rijin said still in a cheerful manner but his words were more poignant.
"I think it is only justified for enslaving my people to work in your mines. A couple of Midoken's turning in reavers is nothing compared to the thousands you have tortured since the white walls came down…" Varithorn's voice changed to be more angry. More harsh. There was a viciousness to it. "I bet you my ancestors would have welcomed losing themselves to the reavers curse over spending another minute mining those star fragments for you."
There was a silence between the two men. Rijin could tell Varithorn had no love for him or the people of Midoku. Their countries had done horrible things to each other, but hearing the cruelty that Varithorn spoke with made Rijin's blood boil. "I understand your frustration but I am not here to be a member of Midoku, I am here to be a member of this council," Rijin said, trying to defuse the tension.
"You know there is one Midoken that I respect," Varithorn said, ignoring Rijin. "Your sister."
Rijin's eyes narrowed onto Varithorn. "At least she had the sense to try and get away even if it meant…" Varithorn could not even finish the sentence before Rijin's hand was around his throat. He was heavier than Rijin expected. A small part of Rijin's mind told him this was a bad idea, but it could not hold a purchase with everything else going on. Rijin picked him up and threw him ten feet across the deck. Varithorns back hit the deck with a loud clang, Rijin believed he must have been concealing a weapon.
"If you wanted a sparring partner then you got yourself one," Rijin said. He punched his hands down towards the ground, loosening his muscles. Rijin reached out to the air next to him and a glimmer appeared in the air. From the nothingness of the night a trident came into being within Rijin's hand. Rijin felt a surge of strength from the trident, he could feel the pulsing of the waves and the winds of the sea did his bidding.
Varithorn laughed a little and stood up. As he stood his arms began to glow, one by one runes began to light up in different colors showing underneath his black sleeves. Strange illuminated lines glowed white on his chest all the way up to his head leading to his eyes glowing as well. He looked at Rijin and held his hands out in front of him, getting into a fighting stance. Rijin did the same, he lowered his hands to near the bottom of the hilt on the trident, letting the head touch the ground behind him. It was silent for a second, both men waiting for the other to make the first move.
Rijin decided to push his advantage. In one fluid motion he swung the trident like a baseball bat towards Varithorn. As the trident gained momentum, wind from the sea was pulled onto the ship forming a ball of wind around the head of the trident. At the trident's peak, the ball of wind shot off like a cannon making a loud WHOOSH. The force of the wind traveled towards Varithorn, causing parts of the deck to break and splinter under the pressure. Just as the wind makes contact with Varithorn, Varithorn crosses his arms and one of the runes on his forearms glows white. The wind immediately stops, the force completely gone.
"You dispeled my gust," Rijin says in anger.
"Well when you are going to make your spell so obvious," Varithorn says in a cocky manner. Varithorn sends his palms forward, from underneath his gloves two runes glow yellow. An instant later, two yellow arrow-like lines of energy shoot from the palms of Varithorn's hands. About a foot away from Rijin each line of energy separates into two lines. The arrows try to pierce all sides of Rijin. Rijin quickly swings his trident around him, allowing for three of the arrows to hit the trident with a loud clang and dissipate, but the last one pierces his side. A warm pain swells up in his side, the light stabbed into him but also burned the flesh it made contact with.
"ARRGGHHH," Rijin cried out in pain. Rijin grabbed his side and stumbled to the side. As he reeled from the pain, a yellow glow came towards him once again. Rijin narrowly moved out of the way just enough for the bolt of light to caress his cheek. Rijin went into action. He covered the distance between him and Varithorn in an instant. Rijin's eyes glowed white as he let his momentum flow into another swing of his trident as he closed the distance. Once again a gust of air swirled around the trident and once again Varithorn prepared to block the blow by dispeling the gust. But when the gust hit Varithorn this time, he was able to get rid of the wind, but not the trident coming right for him. The trident slammed right into his side, causing his body to contort to deal with the blow.
Varithorn grunted, and was thrust into the air from the hit. He flew another 15 feet back before making another collision with the deck, making a dent in the wood and breaking a barrel that was in his way. Rijin readied his trident for Varithorn's next attack, but noticed that the head of the trident was a little off. One of the points on the trident was a little bent as if it had hit something hard. Rijin inspected the fork, he thought it might have been messed up by hitting the deck, maybe from force of wind, but nothing like that had happened before. Out of the corner of his vision, Rijin saw a glimmer of blue light that lasted for a second and then was gone. He looked up towards where Varithorn had landed but Varithorn was nowhere to be seen. Rijin began to look around, observing his surroundings frantically, when he heard footsteps behind him. He extended his trident and began to swing it around him. As he spun he saw Varithorn, arms extended, his fist balled one on top of the other, and his eyes glowing bright white through the darkness of his hood.
"THUNDERWAVE" he yelled. Electricity conducted itself between his two arms coming forward until it reached his fist. His fist glowed white for a moment before everything seemed to move in slow motion. Rijin's trident struck Varithorn in the head, hard, but at the same moment Rijin felt himself lifted off his feet and thrown through the air. Rijin hit the side of the boat causing a wave of pain to trickle up his spine and he began to tumble towards the dark water below. Rijin hit the water with a loud thud, knocking the wind out of him and definitely breaking a few ribs, he slowly began to sink into the water falling deeper into the abyss below. The shock from the hit disoriented him enough that he couldn't think straight. He just slowly drifted, letting himself be taken by the embrace of the ocean. Rijin could feel his consciousness slipping from him, the cold embrace of the deep felt comfortable and inviting, Rijin felt the urge to give in, he slowly closed his eyes.
"Is this all you have to offer?" A voice said transcending from the deep. Rijin's eyes began to open ever so slightly.
"I thought I had taught you better," the voice said once again. A cascade of bubbles rose up from the deep. Each one that burst against Rijin provided him with a bit of warmth, making Rijin feel strong as it washed away the cold.
"Prove to me that you deserve to be my champion, or I have no use for you." At this, Rijin opened his eyes fully. He understood his patrons' message clearly now. Rijin put his hands together in front of him and once again his trident materialized in front of him. He held it in front of him and whispered and spoke into the water, letting salt fill his lungs.
"There is no power, no dynasty, no rule, that will not surrender itself before the deep. The deep has taken the world, and Thalassa has taken the deep," as Rijin said this water began to swirl around him. Rijin felt in tune with it, as if it was an extension of himself. He pushed his trident upward and with it pushed the water underneath him towards the surface. He shot up with great speed, coming out the water with such force that was propelled 30 feet into the air. He looked down upon the deck of the ship to see Varithorn holding his head and stumbling along. Rijin commanded a gust and was pushed forward as he descended, landing on the deck and tumbling to break the force of the fall. As he rolled back onto his feet he put his hand behind him and began to force it forward. While in principle it seemed a simple motion, in actuality he was pulling the ocean with his hand. A wave of water rose up from the side of the ship. Rising to well over 20 feet above the deck. Rijin began to move it forward, ready to clash the wave with the ship and Varithorn in turn. Rijin blinked and when his eyes opened standing before him, just below his chest, was Fuju; looking up at Rijin's hulking figure as he carried the ocean with him.
Fuju smiled at Rijin, "this has been an interesting bout but I think hitting him with the ocean might be a bit much." Fuju touched Rijin's chest and a wave of peace came over him. Rijin no longer felt animosity or anger, he felt calm, a stillness had set in his soul. He lowered his hand and with it the wave as well. Fuju nodded his head at Rijin. Varithorn was still stumbling around holding his head. Fuju walked over to him and grabbed Varithorn's head in his hands.
"What are you…" Varithorn started to say.
"It looks like you have been damaged quite a bit from that last blow," Fuju said.
Varithorn shoved Fuju's hands away. "I'm fine," Varithorn prepared another rune on his arm as if he was ready to resume, but the glow flickered and Varithorn winced in pain.
"Yes you are clearly the picture of health my friend, but it might be best for you to get taken care of before resuming your sparring match. Tussling with a goliath is one stupid idea, continuing to fight when he just threatened to throw the ocean at you is another," Fuju said. "Go see Lia on the deck below. Her and the other clerics can patch you up."
Varithorn seemed to resist for a moment, he still stood ready to engage Rijin, but then after a moment he sighed and began to walk below deck. Rijin finally began to think about the encounter after Varithorn left. The audacity of Varithorn to antagonize Rijin did anger him, but also did not surprise Rijin.
"You are not very popular on this ship, Randorin, it might not be a good idea to start unwanted fights," Fuju said to Rijin. Randorin, his official title. Before Rijin had left Midoku his father told him that anyone who referred to him by his title was someone he could trust. He thought his father was referring to the Midoken's being the only one he could trust, maybe he meant there was someone on the inside to help.
"I agree," Rijin said, "it was a lapse in judgment on my part. He said some things…some things I could not let slide."
"Did they have to do with our sister?" Fuju asked.
"I prepared for insults against me but I was not prepared for insults against her, especially from him. I know Varithorn knew my sister but how did he know that she was missing?" Rijin asked.
Fuju looked puzzled, "he mentioned that she was missing?"
"He said that my sister had enough sense to get out of Midoku," Rijin said. Fuju pondered this information.
"I will do a little investigating. I may be a Penzamite but as an archmage who was trained in Midoku I honor my oath. But in the meantime, try not to start anymore fights. This journey is going to be dangerous enough without in fighting." Fuju said.
"Thank you Fuju. I will certainly try my best," Rijin said. Fuju began to walk away. "Before I forget," Rijin called out, Fuju turned around. "I have been looking for Prometheus. I did not see him at the pub nor could I find him in the captain's quarters, have you seen him?"
"I saw him a little while ago having a pint with Daedalus," Fuju answered. "He left abruptly though. One of his sailors came and said something about Prometheus's lab."
"I see. Do you know where his lab is? I don't remember it being a part of the tour," Rijin asked.
Fuju shrugged, "how should I know? It is my first time on this ship as well." With that Fuju continued below deck.
Rijin dusted himself off and smiled, "A lab." He took a step towards the stairs to the lower deck, "I better report this in." He felt pain going through his body. He could not help but hobble a bit but the sense of pride he felt out measured the pain immensely.