The Founding of Shellknight Lodge

[Kisaik]

41st of Ymiden 721

Professor Widget T Gubbins was having an aside with Reese and Shon, Vega's cousins. Kisaik let them have words, likely Gubbins would have his own thoughts on what kind of structures and habitat might need to be fixed for the turtles once they arrived. At times, Kisaik caught wind of a catch of conversation, often with Gubbins' voice rising above the twins. "We'll need to make sure the turtles can get in and out. We're not constructing a zoo, lads, but a home for these turtles. They know when they need to leave and when they need to burrow into the earth for warmth... These caves, they are a marvel, and will do well to serve as a habitat for turtles! Amazing."

Kisaik smiled to hear that, as he mixed the alchemical paint that would be needed for the roof of his lodge. Not only were they building infrastructure and surveying a spot for the turtles to live in during the colder months, but they were also setting up what would be Kisaik's home, right outside of Hopetoun Hole.

Reese had already laid the foundation and groundwork with the help of a few workers hired on from nearby Hopetoun, and a few from Saoire's school. Kisaik had spared no expense in getting his Shellknight Lodge set up. Preferably it'd be large enough to accommodate tall folk, but with facilities that allowed shorter people like Tunawa and Cadouri to find it accessible. This Kisaik had stressed on Reese, as much as he felt he could, and the man was reasonably accomodating.

Kisaik was busy, however, mixing the alchemical paint. He had several buckets ready, each of them a different color, but all with the fire-warded ingredients ready to be added to the pigments. The charwood bark he'd saved from early Cylus would do for creating a powerful fireward, and ensure that the lodge was well protected against Faldrass' ire, should it flare up again.

He had some light greens, some lime greens, bright greens, forest greens, all kinds of greens mixing in several buckets. They only needed to add some suet to the paints, to ensure they withstood the weather as well as any fire that rained down upon them. The oil from the animal fats would see to it that the roof was well insulated against any moisture pouring through and over. And he had every confidence in Vega's expertise when it came to crafting those wooden panels, and the overall structure of the Lodge.

He hadn't yet added the fire-ward ingredients to the paint. He wanted to wait for Lady Vega before doing that part, so she could learn how to alchemificate paint. It would surely come in handy with her woodwork, he thought, for her to learn to make such paints, and he figured she'd appreciate the opportunity to observe.

The tunawa had his wizard hat on, with all the collected tools pulled from it in order to do his magic with the paint. Before long, the foundation of the building was set, the ditches dug, and the ground claimed for how much room they'd need to construct this grand lodge. Kisaik was excited!

[Vega]

41st Ymiden, 721

The Hoptoun Hole. It was a great place and Vega liked it. She also very much liked that Sir Chip ~ her name for Kisaik ~ was bringing turtles to Hopetoun. Vega and Arlo had been to the Golden Cliffs and to Ol'Tucks Run many a time, and she had an emerald turtle shell in her treasure chest - the place where she kept things which held memories for her. She had left Joy behind in their camp, as there was work to do and she didn't want the child to get bored. She and Arlo were cooking together, when Vega had left.

"Hey, Sir Chip, what're you up to?" Vega asked as she walked ~ not yet waddling, but it was getting close ~ in. She was pregnant all in the front, as her father said and indeed her baby bump was obvious. "I'm sorry I'm late, but I've been makin' these benches for Devin, an' I was hopin' that you could help me a bit with those in a while? When we're done here?" She wanted to get them right and Vega thought that maybe this paint he was making would be good for the benches too. But, she'd have to see.

Looking around, Vega beamed. "It's lovely in here," she said, and she grinned as she pointed up at the ceiling of the cave. "I love those worms," she said, cheerily. "They're like little stars. Hello Professor, I don't reckon we've met, but I'm Vega Creede, an' it's right nice to meet you." She looked around and then turned her attention to Sir Chip. "You're goin' to have a right lovely place to live, here, so you are. I'd like to help, if I can?" Putting her hand on her stomach, she added the caveat with a slightly lopsided grin. "As long as I don't need to squeeze myself into any tight spaces." Or, come to that, see her own ankles, Vega thought.

"An', I wanted to let you know that, long story short, Arlo an' I have got a daughter. She's little, jus' about four or five arcs, an' her name is Joy. There's a longer story, an' I'll tell you if you'd like to hear it." After all, Vega was not a natural secret-keeper, instead she was happy to just get on and deal with everything straight-talking.

"So, what's the plan?" she asked and she gave her friend a grin.

[Kisaik]

Kisaik saw Vega coming and grinned widely as she approached his workplace, with the various wooden buckets full of paint. There was lumber nearby, for the carving they’d need to do and designing the sample panels. He didn’t want to overwork Vega by making her do every single solitary panel, and anyway, that wasn’t necessary. He really needed her to help though with designing the basic pattern for the panels that would consist of the ‘turtle-shell' roof, which would be enhanced with weatherproofing and fire-warded paints.

He looked up at her as she got closer, and smiled again, ”Come and see, Vega! I’m mixing some fireward into this paint here! You’ll find this interesting I’m sure.” Kisaik explained as he worked, adding a binder to help maintain the fire-ward as he added ingredients to the paint to make it resistant to the elements. ”See this?” He asked, showing her some ground-up bonemeal. ”Ground up chicken bones with belladonna flesh and spores… Mind that it doesn’t get up your nose or in your mouth, it’s quite hazardous!” Kisaik went on to add the bonemeal first, ”See I add the binder first to any sort of paint I’m using when I’m wanting to add another property to it. It’s already got some weatherproofing to these paints, now we just need a fire-ward, for when Faldrass gets angry.”

Kisaik winked at her, and then got to mixing in the binder nicely until its particles more or less sank into the paint. ”Next, we add the fire-ward materials… I’ve ground up some charwood bark, and added some charwood sap as well. This will make for a very very good fire-ward. Of course, the phoenix wood we’re using will be already resistant to heat but the Charwood bark is far more concentrated in its fire-warding capabilities, I’ve found. Phoenix wood will resist burning, but Charwood bark will very nearly reflect and repel it!”

He went on to mix the ingredients into each bucket of paint, the buckets were sized for tall-folk of course, as they would be helping with the bulk of the painting. But Kisaik wanted to be useful, and so he set up a small alchemy lab next to it, with tools and small implements pulled from his wizard hat.

”Say, can you hand me a mixing spoon over there?” Kisaik pointed, and if she complied he’d take it, ”Thank you. The timing is very much a sensitive matter with alchemy, sometimes. Especially when you want to maximize the potency. The ingredients have a way of reacting in a way that needs to be acted upon!”

He went on to mix the paint and listen to what Vega had to say about Hopetoun Hole as well as her request to aid Devin with his benches. He nodded, ”I’d very much enjoy working on the benches with you for the Baron von Smooglenuff! Have you considered planters for the bench arms and backing? It seems a waste not to utilize the space for gardening, wherever we can find it! Some herbs are as hardy as weeds and can grow from any kind of soil, deep or shallow. Chamomile for instance…”

Kisaik trailed off as he had to concentrate now on the mixing of the paint. Which was just as well, as Widget T Gubbins approached, curious about the newcomer to the lodge in its fledgling state of construction.

”Hullo there, Miss Vega. I’ve heard a lot about you, and it’s nice to meet you in person. You’ve done a lot for our people, and I am very happy to make your acquaintance.” Widget bowed a little, ”Oh where are my manners? I’m Widget Tucker Gubbins. Turtle expert, agricultural planner, and builder.”

So saying, he bowed one last time to Vega, and excused himself to speak with Shon and Reese, ”Please, if you’ll give me a moment, I need to have a word with your very capable cousins.” So saying he backed away from Vega respectfully and headed back over to the cousins.

Kisaik looked up at Vega as she began to address him again, ”Oh I hope so! It’ll be a nice place with plenty of room for me, and also I’m going to make it with tall folk like yourself in mind as well! The loft will be for smaller folk like me, but there’ll be plenty of space for everyone in the Shellknight Lodge.” Kisaik sighed happily as he daydreamed about what it would look like when finally finished.

He continued mixing the paint, examining the color and the consistency as Vega went on to reveal that she had a daughter. ”Oh! Did you have your sprout… oh no, four or five arcs, that’s a good age. And I see your burl is showing even more now!”

Saying this, Kisaik reckoned he was done with the paint mixing, and ready to get on with the designing of the panels with Vega’s help. So he wrapped the buckets over with a large leafy wrap, to keep the moisture from escaping. Once these were tied and secured, he went along with Vega, waving her over toward the lumber supply. ”I’d like to hear about how you came by a daughter? What an unexpected blessing? Joy is the perfect name for a little flower.”

So saying, he began scratching his chin as he regarded the flat boards of wood in front of him. ”Let’s talk as we draw out patterns. You tell me what you need me to do?”

Kisaik had to admit he was looking forward to learning more about woodworking. His experience was a bit lacking in that area, which was shameful for a fully-fledged tunawa, mortalborn though he may be!

[Vega]

41st Ymiden, 721

Vega looked at what Sir Chip was making and she raised an eyebrow. "Ground up chicken bones? Why in the name of Pier 'n' Pre's pink parts are you doin' that?" But he explained it and showed how it was acting as a binding agent for his firewarded paint and Vega nodded. "That's well clever. But why Belladonna, Sir Chip?" He explained about the Phoenix wood versus the Charwood in terms of what he was trying to achieve and Vega understood that well enough. She watched with interest and didn't interrupt when he was alchemificating, her focus on him and what he was doing.

When Sir Chip said that he'd like to work on the benches with her, Vega grinned. "You know, I were thinkin' of some boxes an' growin' on the back, but I hadn't thought about the arms. That's well helpful, thanks, Sir Chip, you're a peach." She would have said more, but there was Widget Gubbins and Vega held out a hand to shake. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr Gubbins," she wondered if he was named after the word for things and stuff - or whether in fact that word for things and stuff might be named after him. It wasn't something she could ask, though, so she kept her thoughts to herself. She glanced over at her cousins and gave a wave, then turned her attention back to Sir Chip.

He commented on her baby bump - her "burl" as he called it and Vega couldn't suppress the beaming smile."Yeah, I'm well excited," she said. He wanted to hear about Joy and Vega nodded. "Right, well first things first, Sir Chip, is that we want to cut this wood. The trick with cuttin' wood is simple. You can take more away, but you can't stick it back on." That was very true, "an' so what we need to do here is to measure out the size we want. Make markin's with a pencil, an' measure twice, then cut." Looking at Sir Chip, she grinned, then rummaged in her bag and handed him a pencil. "Draw onto the board, an' then you'll be able to erase or correct if you need to, yeah?" So saying, she made a start, demonstrating to Sir Chip what she was doing.

"Joy hasn't got any biological parents livin'," Vega said. "Because of the war an' the Slag's Deep stuff. So, Arlo an' I went to a feast in Saoire's realm, to celebrate those heroes who were there - who did the Forgin', an' I got all bossy an' then, the Immortals gave her to me an' Arlo, so that we can be her parents. She's had a rough time, an' she needs people who'll be feisty an' passionate an' stuff. Parents. So, that's what we are." Vega smiled slightly and then spoke in her usual, matter of fact manner.

She looked at Sir Chip then, and she explained. "In biqaj society, we have clans, yeah? Like - your clan is your family, even if you're not related. When a child is born, you ask three people to be Hope an' Faith an' Safety for that child. People that are family, even though their blood isn't your blood." She put her hand, briefly, on her stomach. "Would you be one of those three people for my children, Sir Chip? Because whether they grew under it or not, they're in my heart, an' I need to make sure that they're surrounded by love." And then, because she was who she was, she looked down at the wood. "Look out, that bit's not straight. We can't be havin' wonky wood, Sir Chip, what'll the turtles think?"

[Kisaik]

"Belladonna doesn't look like much, and it's quite poisonous to tall folk, so don't inhale or touch or eat it, but it's also very magical. I'm using it to enhance the effect of the fire-ward paint while binding the two ingredients to form an even more effective fire-ward. As for why Belladonna is useful in that way, I'm not quite sure! It's what I was taught when I started learning Alchemy, and it just works!" Kisaik smiled up at her apprehension. It was good she was asking questions and wondering about what he was doing, though. Perhaps he'd have mastered Alchemy faster if he'd asked more questions.

Gubbins returned the shake of Vega's hand when it was offered in turn, of course, before returning to his work albeit an eye open if any one of them wanted to offer a hand. Gubbins had things well in hand, however with his apprentices, the brothers Arcio, and the laborers that had been hired from Hopetoun and elsewhere.

Then they got to cutting wood.

What Vega said about wood is easy to take away from the material, but not to put it back on. Yet the way Kisaik's mind worked, when he heard 'impossible' his mind often went toward how it might be made possible. He cocked his head up at Vega, and asked, "You know, I think it might be possible? I can think of some ways to put more material on... Through alchemy! Maybe mixing some wood dust with glue or some such... You could even make a wood filler that acts as sort of mortar, as in stonework!" Kisaik was pleased with that idea and determined that he'd explore it in detail on his own.

For now, he focused on making the marks as she said and doing things the way she told him.

Kisaik drew the lines on the board and then visualized how it'd fit the roof shingles. He made a few mistakes along the way, drawing the lines out of angle or out of shape. He listened quietly as he worked, listening to her talk about what it meant to be parents to Joy, and why they were chosen. It all seemed to make sense to Kisaik, and he couldn't think of better and more appropriate parents for a divine Orphan. No longer an orphan, though.

Which brought them to the topic of clans. Kisaik was still correcting the lines in his wood panels, drawing them out as carefully as he could. He was a bit blind-sided, but in a good way, when Vega offered to make him a clan member. Kisaik stopped drawing his lines then and looked up at Vega, a very serious expression on his face and the twinkle of a sappy tear at the corner of his eye.

"That's a very important role, and I'm happy to be considered. I accept!" Unfortunately, he was caught up so much in the deep emotion of the moment, that his hand went astray and he mistakenly drew out of line with the wood.

He was swiftly brought back to the task by Vega's words, however, when she told him he wasn't drawing straight. He set it to rights though, quick enough, erasing the mistake he'd made. "Oops!"

[Vega]

41st Ymiden, 721

There was something about Sir Chip that Vega liked, very much. It was no surprise, that, because she'd thought about it, considered it; despite appearances Vega was a woman who considered things quite a lot. She just didn't waste time faffing around or pontificating (as she saw them) and, instead, she got on with what needed getting on with. In the case of Sir Chip it was the fact that he had all his morals in exactly the right places and he acted on them. Vega liked both of those things, very much, and that was why she had asked him what she had. She'd listened carefully about Belladonna and made a mental note - much more effective than physical ones for her - and then they got to talking about wood.

When Sir Chip said that maybe they could put wood back on, once cut, Vega looked at him and she laughed. "I reckon you're right, Sir Chip. It's jus' how my papa explained it to me, an' is usually true." It was a good point, Vega thought, and she wondered how long it would be until Sir Chip did exactly that. He accepted her offer and Vega's face broke into a wide smile. "I'm well glad. That makes you qy’akot to us. It means 'family of the heart', so the family we choose." She had a serious expression on her face, for all that she was delighted. "I'm right glad, Sir Chip, I really am."

She watched him as he worked, keeping an eye on him in order to make sure that he was doing alright - and he was. "You're good at this," she said. Then, she was quiet for a while until another thought made its way into her head. "Oh, I meant to speak to you about somethin', Sir Chip. I was wonderin' if you know about the Forged? I'm Songforged of Sweetwine Induk, an' Arlo's Soulforged of Scaltoth." Vega held out a small woodworking tool, motioning to the one that he had, "this will be used to smooth the wood, an' it helps to make it rounded, not sharp angles. The trick is to make it roll evenly. Like this," she showed him, using a circular file to give the wood a pleasing and smooth finish.

"Whichever type of Forged you are, it's about protectin' Scalvoris an' I were thinkin' that, with all this stuff for the turtles, it's especially true for Sweetwine, an' that's what I am. If you wanted, I'm sure that the Induk Sweetwine would be well happy an' proud to have you in their numbers. You're good people."

A small diri, a strange looking creature indeed, appeared on Vega's shoulders. "This is Jeff," Vega said softly. "He's my companion an' friend, since I bonded with Sweetwine, an' he thinks you'd make a right good Songforged, too," Jeff nodded, eagerly and enthusiastically. "Oh! Oh, how it would be wonderful!!" Jeff exclaimed. Tears poured down his cheeks. "To add another to our numbers, to swear that we will always work together for the good of Scalvoris! Oh! The honour!"

Vega smiled, slightly. "Jeff's totes emosh, Sir Chip," she said fondly. The diri let out a small wail of emotion. "But he's also right," Vega continued, determinedly ignoring the weeping. "You do so much for Scalvoris, it'd be right an' proper for you to join, if you wanted."

[Kisaik]

"Qy'akot? Qy'akot O'Creede? I like it! Another lovely honor and a title to go with it, how fantastic!" Kisaik beamed with pride as he continued to follow his friend's instructions on carving wood. There probably would be a way to create more material, and Kisaik was now determined to figure it out one way or another. But for the time being, he followed her directions and did it the way that worked for her. There'd always be time later for him to find his own way around problems.

When she said he was good at the carving, he looked up briefly and smiled, "Carving wood is in our bark, if you'll pardon the expression Lady Vega." Kisaik chuckled, "You know, we carve our deceased when they grow old, and such pieces of woodwork become treasured family heirlooms. But I've never learned, so this is a very big favor you're giving me, teaching me to carve wood. I'm glad it was you who taught me!"

So Kisaik continued to work at it, following the lines in the wood and removing materials down to the line. Sometimes he mucked it up, scratching a bit too much off, but he usually corrected the next time he came around to the same corner on another panel. All in all, he was figuring his way forward pretty well, like Vega said.

Kisaik listened to her speak about the Forged, and was rightly intrigued. Afterall, spirituality and spirits, in general, were the purview of his patron, Ashan. He wanted to become more connected. Plus like she said, he was always eager to help around Scalvoris. He loved this island. "You know me very well, Lady Vega! I'd be honored to become one of the Song Forged."

Kisaik smiled as Jeff showed his self, a little giraffe-shaped creature. Kisaik had seen giraffes in his time in Yaralon, and knew them to be spirited and interesting creatures. He'd even come face to face with a few, while out exploring the trees... "Can you make me a Song Forged, Jeff? I'd be very pleased to be a part of the Forged with Vega and the rest!"

The tunawa giggled as Vega confessed that Jeff was a bit emotional. "Very well then! I'll join, certainly. By Ol' Tuck, it'd be an honor!"

[Vega]

41st Ymiden, 721

The thought of carving a dead relative gave Vega what she would call the jeebies. It seemed horrifically cruel to ask someone who was grieving to turn their relative into a .... well, that thought stumped Vega completely. She thought that maybe one would turn a beloved grandparent into a hair piece or a fork, but then she realised that the tunawa carving the person was of the same size. So, it would be like trying to make something out of another biqaj corpse.

It boggled her mind.

"I'm right glad that we don't have that tradition in biqaj society," she said, continuing to work as she spoke. "it would involve slicin' an' then curin' meat an' carvin' bone an' somehow that don't seem very pleasant to me, Sir Chip." Lifting her head, she looked at him. "Yet, the way you describe it, it sounds like a right nice way to honour an' remember your folks. It's a good thing that we're all different, Sir Chip, innit?" But then, they moved on to talk about the Sweetwine Induk and the Songforged and Vega listened and then nodded her head. "You know what, Sir Chip, we have to sit somewhere quiet an' meditate, an' I can't think of a better place than right here. Will you sit with me?"

Gesturing to where they should sit, Vega minimised the amount of moving she had to do and then she looked at Sir Chip. Jeff, her diri, watched him with emotional eyes which brimmed with tears and then, Vega spoke. "So, we sit together here, an' we meditate. Think about what you will bring an' how you an' Sweetwine will be a force for the betterment of Scalvoris an' all that. Jeff then will change, an' you'll feel a wind whisperin' aroun' you, like a gentle breeze. Jeff will be a string, a cord of wind between us, an' he'll connect you to me, an' me to all the other songforged." She paused, to make sure that Sir Chip understood. When he did, she carried on.

"Then, at the moment when you know it's right, an' you'll know cos Jeff will tell you, even if he don't use words, then you speak your vow. Jus' speak from your heart, Sir Chip, an' vow what you will to Sweetwine. Sweetwine will hear you, the words of your vow will be a song what Sweetwine hears. An' then, Sweetwine will answer." Vega looked at Sir Chip and back again to Jeff, who nodded.


"You'll see the link between us, Sir Chip. It'll leave my chest an' go to yours, an' that'll be Jeff." She smiled at him and raised an eyebrow. "You got any questions?" If he did, she was more than happy to answer them but, if he did not then she was more than happy to get going.

[Kisaik]

Kisaik didn’t mind Vega’s confusion about the tradition of carving one’s dearly deceased relatives. But he would try to explain, without rancor or upset that his friend didn’t quite understand it. ”Aye, it’s good that people are different. What makes sense for tunawa may not make sense for tall folk such as yourself. And it isn’t the easiest thing to do, but it’s important for the spirits of the deceased.”

Having explained as best he could, as much as he understood of the tradition, he nodded to Vega when she invited him to sit by her. It was very peaceful in this place, by Hopetoun Hole, and it would forever remain that way while Kisaik was there.

’Thank you Vega, I think I understand…”

Kisaik knew something of meditation. He nodded to Vega’s instruction, and began his intonation of an oath to Sweetwine, to Ol’tuck and Scalvoris as a whole.

”Sweetwine, this humble knight pledges himself to your service. By the roots of the First Tree, I vow that I will always protect and defend the people and lands of Scalvoris. By the winds that blow through the boughs of the First Tree, and the Naficula Adanu, I will not falter in my duty. Even should I fail, I will never give up, and always do my best!”

So saying, he felt the wind as a song between Vega and himself. It was a pretty song, one full of the rhythm of life and wild places of the world. It reminded him of Desnind, of the under network of plants that underpinned all of Idalos, that road which he’d traveled tirelessly, between Melrath and Rharne, between Desnind and Scalvoris. Between Yaralon and Ne’haer. All those places he’d been in time, and came home to roost in that one, wordless song.

He felt elated suddenly and more alive than he had for many a season. He hopped into the air, feeling the wind in a way that he simply hadn’t before! ”Vega, that was amazing! Is it done!!?”

”Did you hear that song!?” Kisaik asked, wondering if she had the same experience as him, initiating him into the fold of the Song-Forged.

”I will most certainly hold to my oath to Sweetwine! Thank you Squire Vega! Now… what shall we do?”

[Vega]

41st Ymiden, 721

Vega was more than proud of being Kisaik's friend and, here in the place that would become Shellknight Lodge, she looked at him and felt an enormous feeling of pride in him and for him. "Congratulations," she said softly. "Sweetwine accepts you, an' that's because you're worth it." She was more than pleased for her friend, she was pleased for herself too. It was a strange and mixed emotion, in truth, but all very positive. "You'll need to meet your companion, now, an' that's a private thing. You'll meet your diri an' you an' they will start to develop a relationship. The more you do for Scalvoris, for Sweetwine, the stronger you get."

For herself, Vega was of the opinion that Sir Chip was a real asset to Scalvoris, to Hopetoun and Faldrass and now, to Sweetwine. Saoire had given him tasks to do and he was obviously an action tunawa. "I'm goin' to go an' lay down for a bit," she said, her head thumping slightly post-initiation. That was to be expected, though, and she knew that. But before she did, she looked at him and spoke in a serious voice. "I'm glad you told me about tunawa rituals about death, Sir Chip," she said. "It means that if that awful thing happened to you an' I was the only one there, I'd know a bit better what you'd want." That sort of thing was uncomfortable and tricky, but it was also important.

"I'm goin' to get off," she said, standing and looking at her friend. "Thanks, Sir Chip. It's a right honour to be the person what initiates you into the Forged." She was tired in her bones and she started to make her way back to the camp where she would drink some cool water and then lay down a while and rest. But, she was able to do that happy in the knowledge that she had helped Sweetwine and, in doing so, made the world a little bit of a better place.