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A trip to Laraybis - Heart of sea
This is a "short" story I made because I got bored in the bus one day which spiraled out as much as the protagonist of it did.
It's split in several smaller sections as each was written at a different time and was shared on discord for friends to enjoy.
This story contains a lot of information about my lore and worldbuilding through subtext, you should be familiarized with a few of the concepts in it to fully understand everything in it, but can be enjoyed without it.
You can find some information about these things in the dawlf index repository.
A few concepts you may want to know about are:
- Affinities
- The barrier
- The general layout of Laraybis
- Who the emperors of Laraybis are
After a couple of hours at the dock, checking in, boarding and being seated, the vessel left shore slowly, floating into the sea from the northernmost part of Armatreus.
A woman steps in between the rows of seating, well dressed and with her hair tied to a bun, other dawlfs that are riding alongside you seem somewhat surprised of her appearance in this boat ride, looking at her as if she were a celebrity.
You feel confused, but too embarrassed to ask.
— Hello and welcome everyone, I'll be your guide for the duration of the boat ride across the Vileria Lizem and it's surrounding regions, please keep your arms legs and heads inside of the vehicle and especially those of your children. We have life jackets underneath the seating and floaties tied to the outside of each row in case it's needed.
She walks across the deck
— While we get there I'd like to thank the team who helped make this vessel as it was the first of these "boats" to be built and sailed in well... Ever!
— As you may have learned in class, dawlfs made use of rafts and other wooden vessels to travel and explore Laraybis since much before the queen's times, but the ships were kept small and too dangerous for trips like these to happen
— Since the recent connection made with Terra, we proudly opened the first shipyard in a century!
She seemed overjoyed telling this milestone, her passion was contagious and made you feel just a little giddy, although some of the people seemed bored by the history class.
— But I digress, the ship is directed to the Vileria Lizem...
She turns around, rolling down a map poster in the back of the cabin, it had a map of some islands and a route through them, looks just like the pamphlet back in the dock.
— Here, our aquatic peers decided to migrate during the queen's times and despite hardships and isolation thrived in these small islands
They're dawlfs, like you and me, but the conditions of the islands made them look quite different over the years
She continues to explain the route...
Some time passes, people even starting to sunbathe and fall asleep in their seating
That is until a kid started pointing out land
The ship was entering the small archipelago between two islands, roots from mangroves making it equal parts gloomy and mystical, unlike anything else you saw in the rest of your vacation here
— Ahh, this is what they call the Paratuska swap, in their dialect is means mouth since the roots looked like sharp teeth with the murky waters around here.
The murkiness is caused by the plants and algae here, so it doesn't actually smell like anything particularly special
— Here you may find small fishes nesting among roots, or large ceziars gliding over the water with their special capillary claws
You see a flock of large, flamingo-like white birds, their necks dashed with black feathers.
They're seemingly standing on the water, gliding like those bugs that you can never recall the name of.
— There's a flock of them! — She exaggerated her excitement for the kids who were currently looking in awe — But please don't try feeding them, they only haunt specific kinds of fish here and they could bite you if you get too close.
The trip goes on....
After what felt like thirty minutes going at a decent pace through the swamp, it finally gave way to some wetlands. The ship slowed down as the water got shallower, and clearer
She stood up again clearing her throat, it was time for another speech
— We have entered the island proper, although it may not look like it since we're still in water.
This part floods in high tide and turns into these crystal clear wetlands
For many years the locals here have fished, washed and socialized on their own
— However, they know we're coming, so they're probably preparing a welcoming party
We're the first batch of dawlfs to make it here after many years and uhm..
Her demeanor shifted, looking guilty about it
— I'm quite honored to be here, that is
She sat down, thinking to herself, some audible comforting was felt from both assistants and guests
As an outsider, you're afraid to say something wrong, so you remain silent
The trip goes on...
The crystal clear waters from the wetlands gave way to a bay and river delta.
You could see wooden huts dotted about the place near the palm trees, a pile of sticks where an open fire burns.
Many dawlfs, gathered near it playing music and leaving things in open tables.
You could hear music in the distance.
She got up, walked towards the edge of the vessel, as excited as the rest of the visitors to step down on the island's ground.
She started speaking again but you didn't pay attention, something else called your eye beyond the bay, the open blue waters opposite to the islands.
A curiosity took over you as you caught a glimpse of what looked like a darker blue linger at the horizon in that direction.
Then the ship stopped abruptly, shooting you forward and snapping you off that trance.
It got stuck in the sand as it approached the shallow bay, the crew explained, guiding people off the vessel and onto the freshest water you ever felt on a beach, rushed outside so they could move the ship away.
Disappointed, you got off the water, getting away from the crowd and towards the music you were hearing, the rest followed. All but her and part of the crew as they discussed the situation of the ship and bringing it back afloat. You were looking from a distance until she noticed you, then you looked away embarrassed.
Back with the crowd, there was a celebration set by the locals to welcome the crew and tourists.
Tasty food with plenty of fish and some meats and vegetables being offered in wooden bowls and edible leaves. It was, for once, as foreign to you as to the rest of the attendants, and really, really good.
The trip was... over?..
No, it couldn't be over, you still had questions, you were still being drawn by the dark blue horizon in the distance, looking off into it as you got closer to the shore.
— Hey, are you ok?
It scared the hell out of you, jumping back as the was right besides you, barely muttering a word out.
She smiled.
— I'm sorry, I had to. — She giggled.
— I know you're an outsider and probably have many questions, so I figured I could answer some while I'm here.
You breathe and, in a lapse of judgement you mutter out...
— W-well... Who are you?
She looked the slightest bit of shocked by the question.
— Hm, I'm so used to everyone knowing who I am that I forgor to say... I'm Lappopi, the empress of machinery.
— If I may, why were you staring at the beach?
You're too embarrassed to answer honestly, and yet the words slipped off your mouth.
— The horizon... — You mutter again.
— It's quite beautiful, isn't it? Especially in the afternoon... Not that I'd know, it's my first time here.
You play along and nod.
Unfortunately, the moment was cut short as she was called by the crew, who just dislodged the vessel.
You walked back towards the fire and tables, there was dancing and singing and some games along the coast, people were speaking in a dialect you couldn't fully understand. It was quite a fun time.
Then the night came, you sat down again to witness the sun setting and night falling, stars lighting up the sky and the many dawlfs retired to the communal beds you just can't get used to here.
But the waves, light breeze, and the smell of charcoal from the burnt embers was soothing your soul, calming body and mind as you laid on the sand.
You overhear from a distance her voice alongside the head of the village, formalities and cordialities that went over your head as a tourist.
You focused on the sound of the waves, washing away those worries, and you tell to yourself, in a moment of determination...
The trip must go on.
You wake up suddenly, realizing you fell asleep by the sound of the waves.
It's dark, in the dead of the night, you see the embers of the now extinguished fire glowing with a faint orange.
You sit up, dazed and still adjusting to the darkness, a shadow meeting your sight.
Sitting, with the knees against the chest, sitting by the coast not far from you.
Your eyes adjust, it's her again, and she's looking at you from a distance.
You try getting up to ask, but it was too soon so you end up falling forwards.
The waves sound brightly, she chuckled.
— Are you ok? — She asked with a teasing tone.
— How long have I been out?
— About 4 hours. You had me quite concerned. — She said on a much more serious tone.
The waves crash again in the moment of silence.
Then she sighed.
— I couldn't sleep anyways, with everything going on in the trip.
— What got over you since we got here? You've been staring right into the distance since we've stepped out the ship...
— There's something that... Forget it.
— If the barrier really caught your eye like that go fetch a book at the library about it. Don't get yourself killed sailing there.
She stood up and stretched, the silence once again filled by the sounds of the waves.
— I'm heading back to bed, and you should too.
She walked out, leaving you alone by the sea again. You considered getting up and following her...
But the trip had to go on.
As you saw her go back into the dormitory hut you got up and ran to the nearest wooden canoe, starting to push it into the water, getting on it and pushing yourself away with the paddle.
A golden shine in the distance and the fire in your heart being your only light and guide among the endless waves jostling you around.
This was stupid, you knew it was, and yet you couldn't stop it.
Paddling forward, giving your all in every swing, your exhaling drowned by the crashing waves and the horizon just as far.
What was it that called you? Is there something waiting for you there? What was that golden light?
The questions rushed in your head with the same intensity of the waves yet your determination didn't diminish or tumble.
You felt the waves grow stronger, alongside your will. But something changed, as they now pushed forward instead of the coast. Driving you closer instead of pushing back.
You paddled and paddled, the golden light revealing the shape of a golden bird in the firmament itself as you got closer, it's wings spread and light radiant in the dark of the night.
"Have I gone insane? Am I still dreaming?"
The answers didn't matter, all you wanted to know now is- HOW THE HELL DO I STOP THIS THING?!
A wave hit your side and toppled you over, knocking you out as you approached the bird.
You wash up on a small shore, a wall of firmament before you, the golden bird on it towering above.
You try walking forward, the water is holding you back.
You pushed harder, it pulled harder.
You raised your arms, the tide rose with them.
You yelled out as you pushed again, the golden bird smiled.
The waves let go, you fell into the wall.
...
You wake up on shore again, in a shock. The waves crashed in tune with your breath.
It's early in the morning, you see clouds passing by over your head.
Then you hear chattering and muttering in the distance as the other dawlfs woke up and made conversation.
— Did you really slept here? — Her now familiar voice felt as comforting as it was confusing.
— T-the bird... — You muttered.
— What?
The trip was over.
It's split in several smaller sections as each was written at a different time and was shared on discord for friends to enjoy.
This story contains a lot of information about my lore and worldbuilding through subtext, you should be familiarized with a few of the concepts in it to fully understand everything in it, but can be enjoyed without it.
You can find some information about these things in the dawlf index repository.
A few concepts you may want to know about are:
- Affinities
- The barrier
- The general layout of Laraybis
- Who the emperors of Laraybis are
After a couple of hours at the dock, checking in, boarding and being seated, the vessel left shore slowly, floating into the sea from the northernmost part of Armatreus.
A woman steps in between the rows of seating, well dressed and with her hair tied to a bun, other dawlfs that are riding alongside you seem somewhat surprised of her appearance in this boat ride, looking at her as if she were a celebrity.
You feel confused, but too embarrassed to ask.
— Hello and welcome everyone, I'll be your guide for the duration of the boat ride across the Vileria Lizem and it's surrounding regions, please keep your arms legs and heads inside of the vehicle and especially those of your children. We have life jackets underneath the seating and floaties tied to the outside of each row in case it's needed.
She walks across the deck
— While we get there I'd like to thank the team who helped make this vessel as it was the first of these "boats" to be built and sailed in well... Ever!
— As you may have learned in class, dawlfs made use of rafts and other wooden vessels to travel and explore Laraybis since much before the queen's times, but the ships were kept small and too dangerous for trips like these to happen
— Since the recent connection made with Terra, we proudly opened the first shipyard in a century!
She seemed overjoyed telling this milestone, her passion was contagious and made you feel just a little giddy, although some of the people seemed bored by the history class.
— But I digress, the ship is directed to the Vileria Lizem...
She turns around, rolling down a map poster in the back of the cabin, it had a map of some islands and a route through them, looks just like the pamphlet back in the dock.
— Here, our aquatic peers decided to migrate during the queen's times and despite hardships and isolation thrived in these small islands
They're dawlfs, like you and me, but the conditions of the islands made them look quite different over the years
She continues to explain the route...
Some time passes, people even starting to sunbathe and fall asleep in their seating
That is until a kid started pointing out land
The ship was entering the small archipelago between two islands, roots from mangroves making it equal parts gloomy and mystical, unlike anything else you saw in the rest of your vacation here
— Ahh, this is what they call the Paratuska swap, in their dialect is means mouth since the roots looked like sharp teeth with the murky waters around here.
The murkiness is caused by the plants and algae here, so it doesn't actually smell like anything particularly special
— Here you may find small fishes nesting among roots, or large ceziars gliding over the water with their special capillary claws
You see a flock of large, flamingo-like white birds, their necks dashed with black feathers.
They're seemingly standing on the water, gliding like those bugs that you can never recall the name of.
— There's a flock of them! — She exaggerated her excitement for the kids who were currently looking in awe — But please don't try feeding them, they only haunt specific kinds of fish here and they could bite you if you get too close.
The trip goes on....
After what felt like thirty minutes going at a decent pace through the swamp, it finally gave way to some wetlands. The ship slowed down as the water got shallower, and clearer
She stood up again clearing her throat, it was time for another speech
— We have entered the island proper, although it may not look like it since we're still in water.
This part floods in high tide and turns into these crystal clear wetlands
For many years the locals here have fished, washed and socialized on their own
— However, they know we're coming, so they're probably preparing a welcoming party
We're the first batch of dawlfs to make it here after many years and uhm..
Her demeanor shifted, looking guilty about it
— I'm quite honored to be here, that is
She sat down, thinking to herself, some audible comforting was felt from both assistants and guests
As an outsider, you're afraid to say something wrong, so you remain silent
The trip goes on...
The crystal clear waters from the wetlands gave way to a bay and river delta.
You could see wooden huts dotted about the place near the palm trees, a pile of sticks where an open fire burns.
Many dawlfs, gathered near it playing music and leaving things in open tables.
You could hear music in the distance.
She got up, walked towards the edge of the vessel, as excited as the rest of the visitors to step down on the island's ground.
She started speaking again but you didn't pay attention, something else called your eye beyond the bay, the open blue waters opposite to the islands.
A curiosity took over you as you caught a glimpse of what looked like a darker blue linger at the horizon in that direction.
Then the ship stopped abruptly, shooting you forward and snapping you off that trance.
It got stuck in the sand as it approached the shallow bay, the crew explained, guiding people off the vessel and onto the freshest water you ever felt on a beach, rushed outside so they could move the ship away.
Disappointed, you got off the water, getting away from the crowd and towards the music you were hearing, the rest followed. All but her and part of the crew as they discussed the situation of the ship and bringing it back afloat. You were looking from a distance until she noticed you, then you looked away embarrassed.
Back with the crowd, there was a celebration set by the locals to welcome the crew and tourists.
Tasty food with plenty of fish and some meats and vegetables being offered in wooden bowls and edible leaves. It was, for once, as foreign to you as to the rest of the attendants, and really, really good.
The trip was... over?..
No, it couldn't be over, you still had questions, you were still being drawn by the dark blue horizon in the distance, looking off into it as you got closer to the shore.
— Hey, are you ok?
It scared the hell out of you, jumping back as the was right besides you, barely muttering a word out.
She smiled.
— I'm sorry, I had to. — She giggled.
— I know you're an outsider and probably have many questions, so I figured I could answer some while I'm here.
You breathe and, in a lapse of judgement you mutter out...
— W-well... Who are you?
She looked the slightest bit of shocked by the question.
— Hm, I'm so used to everyone knowing who I am that I forgor to say... I'm Lappopi, the empress of machinery.
— If I may, why were you staring at the beach?
You're too embarrassed to answer honestly, and yet the words slipped off your mouth.
— The horizon... — You mutter again.
— It's quite beautiful, isn't it? Especially in the afternoon... Not that I'd know, it's my first time here.
You play along and nod.
Unfortunately, the moment was cut short as she was called by the crew, who just dislodged the vessel.
You walked back towards the fire and tables, there was dancing and singing and some games along the coast, people were speaking in a dialect you couldn't fully understand. It was quite a fun time.
Then the night came, you sat down again to witness the sun setting and night falling, stars lighting up the sky and the many dawlfs retired to the communal beds you just can't get used to here.
But the waves, light breeze, and the smell of charcoal from the burnt embers was soothing your soul, calming body and mind as you laid on the sand.
You overhear from a distance her voice alongside the head of the village, formalities and cordialities that went over your head as a tourist.
You focused on the sound of the waves, washing away those worries, and you tell to yourself, in a moment of determination...
The trip must go on.
You wake up suddenly, realizing you fell asleep by the sound of the waves.
It's dark, in the dead of the night, you see the embers of the now extinguished fire glowing with a faint orange.
You sit up, dazed and still adjusting to the darkness, a shadow meeting your sight.
Sitting, with the knees against the chest, sitting by the coast not far from you.
Your eyes adjust, it's her again, and she's looking at you from a distance.
You try getting up to ask, but it was too soon so you end up falling forwards.
The waves sound brightly, she chuckled.
— Are you ok? — She asked with a teasing tone.
— How long have I been out?
— About 4 hours. You had me quite concerned. — She said on a much more serious tone.
The waves crash again in the moment of silence.
Then she sighed.
— I couldn't sleep anyways, with everything going on in the trip.
— What got over you since we got here? You've been staring right into the distance since we've stepped out the ship...
— There's something that... Forget it.
— If the barrier really caught your eye like that go fetch a book at the library about it. Don't get yourself killed sailing there.
She stood up and stretched, the silence once again filled by the sounds of the waves.
— I'm heading back to bed, and you should too.
She walked out, leaving you alone by the sea again. You considered getting up and following her...
But the trip had to go on.
As you saw her go back into the dormitory hut you got up and ran to the nearest wooden canoe, starting to push it into the water, getting on it and pushing yourself away with the paddle.
A golden shine in the distance and the fire in your heart being your only light and guide among the endless waves jostling you around.
This was stupid, you knew it was, and yet you couldn't stop it.
Paddling forward, giving your all in every swing, your exhaling drowned by the crashing waves and the horizon just as far.
What was it that called you? Is there something waiting for you there? What was that golden light?
The questions rushed in your head with the same intensity of the waves yet your determination didn't diminish or tumble.
You felt the waves grow stronger, alongside your will. But something changed, as they now pushed forward instead of the coast. Driving you closer instead of pushing back.
You paddled and paddled, the golden light revealing the shape of a golden bird in the firmament itself as you got closer, it's wings spread and light radiant in the dark of the night.
"Have I gone insane? Am I still dreaming?"
The answers didn't matter, all you wanted to know now is- HOW THE HELL DO I STOP THIS THING?!
A wave hit your side and toppled you over, knocking you out as you approached the bird.
You wash up on a small shore, a wall of firmament before you, the golden bird on it towering above.
You try walking forward, the water is holding you back.
You pushed harder, it pulled harder.
You raised your arms, the tide rose with them.
You yelled out as you pushed again, the golden bird smiled.
The waves let go, you fell into the wall.
...
You wake up on shore again, in a shock. The waves crashed in tune with your breath.
It's early in the morning, you see clouds passing by over your head.
Then you hear chattering and muttering in the distance as the other dawlfs woke up and made conversation.
— Did you really slept here? — Her now familiar voice felt as comforting as it was confusing.
— T-the bird... — You muttered.
— What?
The trip was over.
Category Story / Fantasy
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 120 x 120px
File Size 59.6 kB
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