"Tefin Meets the Captain"

Log Date:
	6/11/2002

Log Cast:
	Wayfound, Vardeus (emitted by Wayfound), Tefin

Log Intro:
	Wayfound, once of Willowholt and more recently more or less of 
Lostholt, has spent the last ten turns of the seasons wandering alone by 
herself in the wild--but in the last many recent moons, she's made the most
astonishing discovery of her life, a band of strange humans from a distant
land who are stranded with their broken "ship" on the beach beside the Vastdeep
Water. Of these humans' number, one in particular, the Wordgiver Arnos, has 
been instrumental to her in learning the Tall Ones' language and sharing her
own language with them. It's been so incredible a wealth of knowledge that
the young huntress has been loath to leave it--but a sense of responsibility
nags at her that she should really carry word of the Vraeyan refugees to her
own tribe at Lostholt.
	Fortunately, her having held back from leaving has given her a chance
to make an even more startling discovery: the Go-Back Tefin, who has proven to
share her very own way of looking at the world, and who is soon invited forth
to get a look at the Tall Ones himself. And especially their captain, Vardeus
Alirreus....

----------
Beach on the VastDeep Water
The pale sand is full of river-born crystal and gleams with tiny rainbow 
  lights in the early morning light. Wide and inviting, the sands stay warm 
  long after sunset. There are drift logs here, and a large boulder pushes its 
  shoulders above the surface of the sand. You can see footprints, small bare 
  footprints, leading into the water and out. There is dense foliage to the 
  north that follows the coastline closely where it bends to the northwest.
The starry outlines of the Human Hunter begin to come out as the dimming red 
  light of sunset fills the cool autumn skies.
Contents:
Tefin
Blizzard
Salmakis
Raven's Tent(#6222Je)
Yellow
Campsite <CS>(#691AJLe)
The Windrider(#1655AJae)
Seasong's Tent <SST>(#6051JUem)
Obvious exits:
Along the Beach<S>  Forest<NE>  Up the Shore<NW>  Water<W>  Great River<E>

Wayfound had not been lying or mistaken -- not that a she-elf as devoted to 
  the acquisition of facts as she is could easily have been thought to have 
  done either. But the camp that sprawls across this stretch of beach, 
  centered around the increasingly sparse wreck of the great raft-thing that 
  was once a sailing ship, is nevertheless still bigger than many elves' eyes 
  might find within easy belief. The place smells of humans and cookfires 
  along with the scents of sea and sand, and even as the sun dips down and 
  swings time around to that of a Wolfrider used to being up at night, activity 
  still buzzes about the place. Several of the younger humans are engaged in 
  finishing off the night's dinner -- but Wayfound has found one of the biggest 
  of the lot, the Captain Vardeus, who's come with her up a ways from the main 
  camp and has settled down in conversation with her by a driftwood log the 
  waves have recently tossed up onto the beach.
"You sure then?" the human rumbles, elfin words coming less awkwardly these 
  days, as he eyes the far smaller being who has clambered up next to him on 
  the log that serves them both as seat. "You go soon, to talk to tribe and 
  chief? Say we are here?"

A long conversation the night before leads to a long nap and a late start the 
  next morning. Tefin normally rises with the sun, but the sandman and a 
  comfortable place to curl up and sleep conspired to keep him dozing until at 
  least mid-morning. He could not see Wayfound, but the signs of her being 
  around were evident to even his untrained eye. Perhaps she was letting him 
  know, albeit unconsciously, that she hadn't left the area yet. Besides, he 
  was sure that she wouldn't have left without saying goodbye at least! Still, 
  it was getting late in the evening and Tefin was a shade curious about this 
  tribe of humans that Wayfound spoke of. The few that he had seen evidence of 
  seemed to be horribly primitive and very xenophobic about the presence of 
  elves, but if Wayfound has been spending time with them, they must not be 
  all bad...right? he would go and look for her, but unfortunately there's a 
  whole camp to search. While Tefin is a brave one, he's not one who would go 
  wandering into a camp of humans, alone. So he sits on the beach, watching 
  the bustle of activity surrounding the camp and not paying attention to his 
  surroundings....

Fortunately, the inquisitive little Go-Back doesn't necessarily have to wander 
  too closely to the humans -- and fortunately, Wayfound has certain 
  acquaintances who can help prevent him from doing just that should he choose 
  to do so. Even as Tefin emerges from the forest, a small purple streak wings 
  down from somewhere above, resolving into a Preserver who flutters 
  cheerfully about two feet in front of his face. /HelloHELLOhello highthing!/ 
  it squeals. /You new manywords highthing! Findaway highthing say new 
  highthing come! You look for findaway highthing?/

"You..." he says more to himself than the preserver, remembering the 
  conversation from the night before. "Must be Fallberry." He has never seen a 
  preserver in the flesh before, so he takes a short time to observe the 
  little creature for posterity's sake, of course. "My name is Tefin, by the 
  way...and yes, I am looking for Wayfound."

The winged creature puffs its tiny chest up proudly, agreeing, /Am Fallberry! 
  Findaway highthing there--/ And it whirls in mid-air, wavewavewaving a 
  miniscule hand in the direction of the small pale-haired she-elf and the 
  large-framed human conversing with her, several yards away on the log. Past 
  them, the ocean sprawls under the sunset, the Daystar setting the waves 
  afire. /Findaway highthing make muchtalk with skyeye seabigthing! Say we go 
  hometrees soon! Fallberry go! Fallberry say new highthing come!/
And with that, the bug zips promptly towards Wayfound's tousled mane, making 
  her start as well as the human at her side. Even from several yards away 
  their expressions can be noted, and so can the high-pitched enthusiastic 
  babble of the Preserver. Then the Wolfrider's gaze swivels back from the 
  log, seeking out the Go-Back. And with it, tentatively, comes a rough, rusty 
  sending:
** I know you said you don't send... but do you hear me? **

He didn't say that he didn't send...he just was unable to very well, as much 
  as he tried. Perhaps with diligence he can eventually send words, or even 
  pictures. But now, all he can send is ** ... ** and that is with great 
  difficulty and not a little bit of pain. More of an "I'm here" than anything 
  else. Very slowly he edges his way into more open area, leaving the relative 
  safety of the trees behind. The Preserver, of course, has already announced 
  him, but caution is something that Tefin is not lacking.

Wayfound is a bit more practiced at it -- and so, as she gets the 
  acknowledgement back, she crinkles her brow and sends as clearly as she 
  possibly can a sense of no-threat-safety-to-approach. She hops down off the 
  log from the back as Tefin comes near, while the human turns around where 
  he's sitting, bringing a curious blue gaze to bear upon the newcomer... but 
  he stays carefully put, perhaps as if he's been advised that to move too 
  quickly around a strange elf is tantamount to a bear risking startling a 
  wounded elf.
"Hello, Tefin," comes Wayfound's spoken greeting, then. "Would you like to 
  join us?"

"Y...yes. I would very much enjoy that." His eyes glance from Wayfound to the 
  very...large human, then back again quickly, as if to ask "is this allright?"

The Tall One takes the opportunity to speak up, then. His elfin is heavily 
  accented, his words uttered in a strange broad, rolling fashion -- but if 
  one is willing to take the necessary time to adjust the ear, he is 
  understandable. "I willnae harm ye," he swiftly assures, a slightly sheepish 
  lopsided smile quirking one corner of his mouth. "Dinnae worry."

Wayfound inclines her head, solemnly, earnestly, understanding the look that 
  Tefin shoots between her and the big sailor. Her voice much softer than the 
  human's rumbling baritone, she affirms, "Vardeus will not harm us. He is the 
  chief of the Tall Ones camping here, and they have no ill will towards our 
  kind."

"Well then..." Tefin says softly, steeling himself a bit before making his way 
  over to where Vardeus sits, standing a little bit out of arms reach. The 
  elfin language that comes from the large sailor is a bit hard to understand, 
  but teaching kids to talk'll do wonders for your listening skills. "My name 
  is Tefin. It is...interesting to meet you." He waits for Wayfound to 
  approach again before sitting...

Vardeus towers by two good feet over the Wolfrider -- and make that closer to 
  three, for the little Go-Back. The intimidation factor of his size is 
  apparently not lost on the big sun-bronzed human, either, and he holds 
  himself extremely still, hands easily in view, relaxed and noticeably far 
  from his weapons, at least until one of them lifts up to slap a palm against 
  his own chest. "I am Vardeus Alirreus," he introduces himself, and even as 
  Wayfound jumps nimbly back up to reclaim her place on the log, he nods over 
  at her and adds, "Wayfound say... said, she found new elf in woods."
"Vardeus' people have proven extremely interesting," Wayfound notes to Tefin.
And this makes the human snort, but not unkindly. "Is easy, for your say. You 
  are not in land with brand new Little People."

Tefin swallows a little, not used to having to crane his neck up to even catch 
  a glimpse of the person's face he's speaking to. It's very intimidating to 
  stare up at someone almost twice your size. He takes a step back at the 
  movement of the hand, but stands his ground when it is proven to only be a 
  greeting. "Yes, she discovered me as I stumbled ober her campside in the 
  middle of the night." 
 Now that introductions are taken care of, Tefin seats himself on one end of 
  Wayfound's log glancing up at her and nodding at her assesment. "Apparently 
  so. Vardeus's dress and decorations are on the same level as some of the 
  finer elven works." 
 He chuckles softly, looking up at the tall human. "Look at it from our side. 
  We discovered a brand new human."

Not only is the man wearing cloth, he's wearing beaten metal as well -- and 
  carrying metal weapons at his waist. Not brightmetal -- not the shining 
  stuff that the trickster Two-Edged used to fashion the armor for the Palace 
  War, but definitely metal. A bit of the blades, even sheathed, can be 
  glimpsed shining dully against his leathern belt, even now. "Elfs have 
  sa-said," agrees the human, scowling lightly at himself as he mangles the 
  verb; apparently, he's not exactly comfortable with the words of the elves, 
  not quite yet, understandable though he's managed to be. "We still learning. 
  Nae know 'elf' and 'human', before we come here. Elfs tell us, and humans 
  too."
"Three humans of our own land are camped here as well," Wayfound adds, for 
  Tefin's benefit, "in addition to the twenty of Vardeus' people, including 
  Vardeus himself."

"A great number of humans, to be sure. I hope that the raft tribe is aware of 
  them. A misunderstanding is the last thing that we need." Tefin regards the 
  human again, curiously, noting that this human's tribe has discovered the 
  secret of metal while the humans of this land still use stone. "I have a 
  question, VardeusÉ Did you and your tribe all arrive on that large raft on 
  the beach,?"

"Aye, Raft Elfs know we are here," Vardeus begins, and then quirks his head 
  and half-grins at Wayfound. "You tell, maybe. My elf words still not good 
  for long story."
Nodding her assent, Wayfound explains gravely, "That great raft is called a 
  ((ship)) in the words of Vardeus' people, Tefin. They have told me that they 
  were travelling upon the ocean, and became lost in the midst of a great 
  storm, which eventually led them here. However, their ship was attacked, 
  given great damage, and caused to crash here upon this shore. The Raft Elf 
  tribe is aware of them, yes; Vardeus and his young companion Maerro were 
  initially washed up upon their island, and some of the Raft tribe have 
  accompanied them here to be rejoined with the rest of their number."

Tefin tries to tangle his tongue around that new word, but unfortunately, as 
  learned as Tefin is, linguistics still aren't his strong point. "An 
  interesting story...." he murmurs softly, looking back over the beach with 
  it's bustling community. His simple statement barely hints the amount of 
  questions bubbling up inside of Tefin...how was the ship made? who attacked 
  the tribe? What land did you come from? Probably the same questions that 
  Wayfound had when she first arrived on the scene. "I have so many 
  questions..I hardly know where to even begin."

Wayfound's eyes lighten significantly; she recognizes the look upon the 
  Go-Back's face. It's _exactly_ the same look she's certain she must have 
  had, the first time she laid eyes upon the Vraeyans and their wrecked ship. 
  And the first time she heard the music made by the wordgiver Arnos. Looking 
  between both of them, the big human who calls himself Vardeus lets out a 
  gravelly chuckle. "Ye look like Wayfound," he remarks wryly. "She stay with 
  my ((crew)), many moons now. Ask many things, and help other elfs and 
  huimins teach us new words. Though now--" And his blue gaze slants sideways 
  to the she-elf, again. "Wayfound say, she go. You come, to go with Wayfound?"

"I...I do not know." Tefin stammers. "I hadn't even thought about it. She and 
  I have only just met."

The she-elf blows out a soft breath, then, and although she doesn't actually 
  bother to glance at the Preserver, she reaches up deftly to remove Fallberry 
  as it attempts to burrow thoroughly into her hair; this, apparently, is a 
  gesture born of long habit. Foiled, the bug looks as innocent as it can 
  while Wayfound does then give it a look -- and with that, it zips down to 
  investigate something promisingly shiny at the foot of the log. The 
  distraction of the Preserver attended, Wayfound glances up again, to the 
  others.
"I do need to return to Lostholt soon," she says then, for Tefin's benefit. "I 
  have been away for some time -- even aside from the time I have spent here 
  with Vardeus' people. Cutter and my tribe... my mother, my fathers... need 
  to be told of what I have discovered."
"I try tell Wayfound," Vardeus adds, a look of part disappointment and part 
  determination on his broad rugged features, "we go to village of other 
  humans, need Wayfound if see elfs while go. Elfs with us, talk to other 
  elfs, maybe say we no hurt elfs."

"Then, the solution is obvious." Tefin glances over at Wayfound and offers one 
  of his characteristic smiles before looking up at Vardeus. "I have been 
  wandering for several moons, looking for adventure and now, I seem to have 
  found it. It seems that you are not like the humans that we have known, and 
  because of that, if you need assistance...I will be honored to help you."

At this, Wayfound finds herself seized with the impulse to concede, 
  "Perhaps... Arnos and I can delay, at least a few days more, if Tefin wishes 
  to join the camp in my stead. A bit of settling time might not be untoward, 
  and you will not be leaving, at any rate, before you finish building the 
  ((wagons))." Another unfamiliar word, this--
--And it makes Vardeus hmmm thoughtfully, half-turning where he sits towards 
  the half-finished pair of constructs his crew have been making from what's 
  left of the ship's devastated hull. "More days needed, is slow to build 
  without right tools," he agrees.

Tefin nods once at that in agreement. "Yes, at least give me a few days to 
  pick up the basics of the language...and at least get to the point where I 
  can undestand them, or they can understand me. It would cause fewer 
  headaches in the end. Will you make another..((sh..p)) when you arrive, or 
  will you stay with that tribe?"

A good question, and one which Vardeus hasn't exactly been able to answer 
  himself. His gaze goes up to the broken hulk of what used to be the 
  _Windrider_, and when he finally looks around to the two curious-eyed elves, 
  a bit of a plaintive shadow has come over the human's features. "We probably 
  not make new ((ship))," he rasps. It might be concluded that this is a 
  course of action that pains him, by the astute -- and the two elves here 
  both qualify. "We go to huimins who nae live by sea. Is hard, make ((ship)) 
  away from sea, but we need help. Other huimins here say, will help us; we go 
  to honor gods for Xhosa and Shelbor, and Coralfire. We say then, what we do 
  after."

Tefin nods, understanding the plight of the sea-eyed human; the desire to 
  honor the fallen of his tribe, the desire to find something that is a bit 
  familiar in this unfamiliar place. This human is different than the others, 
  to be most sure. He is careful to couch his phrases, even in an unfamiliar 
  language, about what he will do. "Perhaps the tribe you will visit can 
  assist you with the manufacture of a new ((sh..p))."

"From what I have observed of the humans of our land who live here," Wayfound 
  says to Tefin, crossing her legs where she sits upon the log, "and who are 
  camping nearby, they are as baffled by Vardeus' people's ((ship)) as we."
"Wayfound say right," Vardeus is forced to agree, reflexively shoving one big 
  hand through his hair, trying to push tousled locks of sun-gilt brown out of 
  his line of sight. "Elfs and huimins here nae know ((ships)), only rafts. We 
  may not be able to make new ((ship))... not like ((Windrider))." He casts 
  another almost wistful look up at the broken bulk huddled upon the sandbar, 
  murmuring to the elves as he does so, "We nae have enough ((crew)) now, for 
  ((ship)), anyway."

"Then the only action we can take is what has already been planned...go to the 
  Human camp and make a decision then on what to do." Tefin knows better than 
  to say that these humans are stuck here, and he would be lying if it did not 
  worry him just a little. "It is an interesting vessel, to be sure. It is 
  saddening to see it in it's damaged state. Out of curiosity, Vardeus, if 
  the materials and the workers were available, would you be able to rebuild 
  your...((sh..p?))

"Ye should hae seen 'er, when she was whole," Vardeus murmurs, gazing up at 
  the ship as a Wolfrider might the flood-destroyed remnants of her former 
  Holt... or perhaps as the Go-Backs might have done, when first they beheld 
  the Palace anew, in all its faded glory. Then his attention swings back 
  around to settle upon Tefin, as he seems to take a bit of time to do some 
  observing of his own; his ocean-colored gaze flicks back and forth between 
  the pair of elves, thoughtfully. And then he admits, "Maybe. Maybe nae. We 
  nae have any left who make ((ships))... nae ((shipwrights)). Many ((crew)) 
  dead now. We left, we know how to ((sail)) ship, nae much how to ((make))."
"((Sail))," comes Wayfound's murmured clarification, "is their word for 
  travelling in their ((ship)) upon the water."

That is saddening, that the knowledge of this vessel may be lost due to the 
  death of the few who could build it. "I would have liked to have seen it in 
  motion. It looks as if it would cut through the water like a knife." Tefin 
  says softly, looking at the desiccated hulk of the ship. Wayfound's 
  clarification is noted and filed away in memory...that will be useful.

That the Go-Back seems to clue in quickly brings up a sudden broad, lopsided 
  smile upon the visage of the human; it doesn't quite completely lighten his 
  eyes, which seem almost as solemn as Wayfound's as long as the state of his 
  beloved vessel is under discussion. "Is why we named her..." Vardeus pauses, 
  trying to think of how to render the name properly into the tongue of the 
  Little People. "Wind-rae-dur? Windraydur. She rode wind, long time, while my 
  family ((sail)) her."

"Windrider?" Tefin corrects, more to get the name into his head than to 
  admonish the human who could snap him in half without too much effort. "It 
  is a good name." He can almost picture it now...if the holes in the side 
  weren't there and the planks were still in place, the outside would be 
  totally smooth...much better than a raft from what he can see, and a lot 
  more sturdy. "I will join your tribe for a time....it will be very 
  educational."

[End log.]