lordagaming

[lordagaming]

The Chronicles of Estuary

This is the start of a back-story I wrote for a DnD campaign but once I started writing it became more of a story! I welcome constructive criticisms and advice (as I am a physicist and we are notoriously bad at writing). So without further ado The Chronicles of Estuary (TCE): Chapter 1, A Small Island in the Jade Gulf

Flying through the air I watch as the wooden hull shoot upwards beside me, I feel a large crash as my body folds on contact with the ocean’s calm waters. I struggle to gather my bearings thrashing around wildly, the burning in my chest ever increasing in intensity as my body fails to get enough oxygen to function. As my eyes started closing and my world going dark I see a flash in the water as a green light cracks, arcing from the surface down into the fathomless depths like a sort of underwater lightning and suddenly I felt calm, welcoming the end. I open my mouth to take a final gasp of salty ocean water, closing my eyes smiling. I wonder what happens after…

A moment passed…then another… and another I open my eyes water still surrounded me. “Is this what the end is?”  I try to say but all I hear is the muffled noise. I am inhaling and exhaling normally but I am breathing water. It feels odd, like a heavier form of oxygen. All that previous panic faded, gone to nothing, I am left with the silence of the deep and the warm embrace of the currents. And then I wake, it is always the same dream.

Quickly stretching, I get myself out of my simple bed greeted by the light of a dawning sun passing though the windows. I put on some ragged shorts and run through the door at the back of the small shack that I call home. The door swings open, I take a couple of steps on the wood supports and then dive into the sea.

The village Hyrai is a unknown gem of the Jade Gulf. A small fishing village built on wooden jetties and supports built on and around a colourful reef. Outsiders see the village as a random structure in the middle of a large space of ocean about 6 kilometres from the mainland. The channel is often gentle and calm but can be a challenge if a storm hits. I spend 2 hours swimming to the mainland and back, making the last few strokes I hear a familiar voice.

“You seemed faster than you were last week” a soft voice said as I look up, I see two beautiful emerald eyes gazing back at me, Sera, her pale freckled face, beautiful smile and gorgeous scarlet hair that curves gently coming to an end half way down her torso.

“Really? It felt longer” I muscle my way out of the water standing up on the platform outside of the house.

“Or you’re just getting better?” she says as she places a towel over my shoulders and, in the process, embraces me into a hug. I lift my hands and place them on hers holding on to the hug for every second possible. She leans in more resting her head against my shoulders, I close my eyes to enjoy the moment for one second more. Then with a mischievous grin I quickly grab her hands and throw her over my shoulder into the water, her scream is cut short as the water quickly engulfs her. In no time at all Sera’s head breaks the water followed by a shrill “Hey!” although her sweet smile returns and she starts to giggle splashing water at me. She swims up to the edge of the platform and places a hand up for assistance “Okay, very funny… Now help me up Estu”

I reach down and grab her hand, but I notice her cheeky smile too late as a strong tug comes from her, I try to shake my hand free but her other hand has grabbed my arm and my balance wavers, I fall into the water less than gracefully. I break the water and Sera has the biggest smile I’ve ever seen across her face and it’s not long until I also smile and laugh. I swim my way close to her and pull her close and place my forehead against hers, the laughs fade and all that’s left is the sound of the water lapping against the supports of the village. The sun’s reflection in the water adding to her already very beautiful glow, we stay in this embrace until the beautiful moment was cut short by my mother’s voice.

“Ehm, Kids I do believe we have some work to do today” she said with a sly smile

I look up at my mother and then a long glance at Sera, closing my eyes I let out a big sigh “Yes mother”. Sera and I make our way back to the jetty as we climb ourselves up onto it and follow my mother, I am almost pulling Sera along by the hand. We carry on until we reach the jewellers hut of the city before I kiss Sera and head to the docks.

“See you at lunch” I say as I turn and leave

The work day in the village is very much routine, the men head to the West Fishery in the morning and the East Fishery after lunch. While the woman of the village gather coral and pearls in the morning from the shallows around the village and make jewellery from them in the afternoon . The fish the men caught is usually used to feed the village with the large surplus being shipped into the mainland and sold at market. Though, typically the work was divided into men and woman it wasn’t law, often there would be some fisherwoman helping in the fisheries and sometimes more artistically inclined men would help create and sell jewellery. This village was a very welcoming and happy place to live even if occasionally I find it boring.

I make my way weaving through the platforms between the buildings to the West Fishery where the other fishermen greet me. With most of the small boats set up and ready to leave. “’Ey Blue! How you doin’ today?” A large built sailor calls across the docks, Kahir, not the smartest tool in the shed but he makes up for it with his dedication and determination. I do spend a lot of time with him away from the fisheries considering that he is the brother of my girlfriend Sera. His hair is dyed black hair with some scarlet roots. Built like a tank he has no issues with physical labour, although the fact that he is rather short often grounds his ideas of grandeur.

“I’m not too bad, yourself?” I reply

“You know what I’m doin’ swell,” he says while lifting nets and Boomstones onto the boat that he mans “So well, I’m gonna catch more than you today” he says with a stint of competitiveness.

I look around and see the faces of the other fish workers who collectively chuckle and exchange looks, these types of bets are rather common around the workers, but no one smart challenges me, I simply don’t lose in water based competition. In fact, I even met Sera as a consequence of Kahir loosing after betting that if I won he’d arrange a meeting with her, although as it turns out she was secretly hoping I won as she was too shy to approach me normally.

I smile a cocky smile “Okay Kahir, what’s the wager? Drinks? Money? Or pure embarrassment? No one will judge you if you back down, I mean there’s no way I’ll lose but I can give you a chance” I stride towards him standing my full height until I’m centimetres away from him looking down waiting for his response. To his credit he plays it off cool and stands up as tall as he can although he is still no taller than my shoulders, at least he tried.

“All right Estu, the bet is….uh…uh” He says and pauses as the cogs in his head try and work.

“Remember you can’t use your sister again we all know how well we get along” I wink purposefully trying to rile him up. I wait for his response but do tune in to what the other sailors, who have now gathered around us, say

“Money, yeah don’t do that I lost a weeks wages last time…” one said below his breath

“No one can beat Estu at anything water based…” Another said with annoyance in his tone

“I’ll be surprised if Kahir doesn’t bet something with that girl he likes” A third starts a conversation up with her friend

“Yeah… Alora right?... I hear that Estu and her are good friends” the friend responds

“What do you expect he flirts with everyone…”

“True but the only girl he really has eyes for is Sera”

I hear enough to give me plenty of leverage I turn to Kahir and say “You know what, how about this. If you beat me I’ll tell Alora how great, strong, and smart you are and say I had no chance ever beating you. However, if you lose you buy me and your sister drinks for the whole night.” He looks up as soon as I mention Alora and his cheeks get slightly redder as I continue to talk about what I’d say to her “and you’ll be the first person in the world to have beaten me at a water-based activity, now that will probably also boost your rep around here. I’m not going to lose but you can at least try to impress the lovely Alora” An arrogant smile creeps its way on to my lips.

“A’ight, that’s the bet then!” He said aggressively throwing out his hand for a hand sake to confirm the deal. I match his hand grasping his forearm as he does mine and we shake.

Almost as if on que the head fisherman emerges from the quartermasters building “All right boys, lets go catch a fuck tonne of fish! To sea!”