Patchwork Universe

Avinneyya

In the dying light, Avinneyya read the sign posted on the driftwood, and blithely disregarded it. He wasn't even sure of his age anymore-he could well have been under eighteen in this life. While Paul marveled over his own work, Avinneyya's tested the sand.[/i]

Avinneyya · Posted: Sun May 02, 2004 8:45 pm Post subject: Avinneyya's castle

Avinneyya's hands dug deftly into the sand, shaping it into a neatly rectangular base. As the sun faded beyond the horizon, A palace began to take form: an elaborate, rectangular building with conch shells as minarets and polished stones as steps. A pair of neatly molded elephants stood, one on either side of the palace, bearing little tents of sticks on their backs. Avinneyya stood back and looked over his work, then took out a handful of gems, irregularly cut and mostly unidentifiable, and began to poke them into his structure-a pair of what could have been badly cut opals for the Elephants' eyes, yellowish, not-quite-garnets to adorn the walls of the temple, and clear, pointed gems for architectural embellishments. Avinneyya stepped back once again, and admired his work. It seemed to shimmer and glow in the twilight.

Captain Isobel DeRainault · Good Joined: 20 Jan 2004 Posts: 186 Location: HMS Justice

Having noted with excitement the seemingly permanent nature of his sand fortress and ship, Midshipman Paul Langford had excitedly began creating an entire fleet of sand ships, adding small sloops and great ships-of-the-line in addition to further frigates, arranging them in various patterns. When he paused in his labors, considering whether to extend and expand the Fortress of Janina, he noticed that the strange boy, with the funny name, had begun to build something as well - a strange sort of castle with pointy towers, and odd looking beasts. It was uphill of the sand harbor, however, and Paul concluded that it could easily fit into the landscape as the Palace of Ali Pasha, a place separate from his armouries and battlements. Noting that Avinneyya had paused in his labors, Paul darted the boy another grin, and nodded his head at the exotic palace in slient acknowledgement and admiration.

John Angelis · Posted: Mon May 03, 2004 11:09 pm Post subject:

With a splash and a thrashing about, John Angelis entered through the northern border. He quickly righted himself, and using a rucksack as a flotation device, swam towards the small island.

Though bedraggled, he was clearly pleased about something, perhaps that he'd planned for the worst and had his fears confirmed. In any case, this calm sea and tropical island were a vast improvement on the last squall he'd dropped into.

Lying on the beach, he took stock of the scene, his clothes quickly drying in the sun.

Walking over to the scene of the sandcastle contest, he addressed the two builders.
"Hello there. So what's this place all about?"

Captain Isobel DeRainault · Good Joined: 20 Jan 2004 Posts: 186 Location: HMS Justice

Midshipman Paul Langford had been so engrossed in his task that he had not noticed the approach of the oddly dressed young man, who had washed ashore far down the beach, just out of sight of the marines. Now aware of the stranger, Paul scrambled to his feet and hurriedly brushed the sand off his breeches. Assuming his most authoritative stance, he saluted. "Midshipman Paul Langford, of Her Majesty's Ship Justice. This is Arvrin-, I mean Avinya." He gestured at Avinneyya, his tongue stumbling over the foreign name. Trying to remember what Lieutenant Staves had asked earlier, and regretting that he had not paid better attention, Langford continued "And as for you, sir, I must ask you your name, your point of origin, and your intentions here."

Midshipman Langford nervously eyed the strange man. Obviously, the man was bigger than he was, but he didn't look like a trained fighter. Paul had his midshipman's dagger, not to mention some reasonable experience with hand-to-hand combat, and better yet, the marines were stationed within calling distance - he had only to shout. But, then there was the funny white haired boy as well, and there was no telling whether he would help or hinder in a fight. All in all, Paul rather wished that Lieutenant Staves and Lily would return soon.

Avinneyya · Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 12:00 am Post subject:

"Yes...I am curious..."Avinneyya said, seemingly to himself, "Have you come from the great City? Do you know Ki...ah...Quickgrip?" he seemed to actually notice John for the first time. "Oh, I am very sorry. It was rude of me to greet one with such questions. Have you fared well within the ocean, Traveler?"
Avinneyya extended a slightly sandy hand to the visitor in an odd gesture of greeting. "Midshipman Langford has told you that I am called Avinneyya. I am the Caretaker of the Temple of the Birds to the South. I hope I can ask you whether you have heard of it?"

John Angelis · Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 7:31 am Post subject:

"My name's John Angelis. I'm from the 'patch' that's curently that way." John pointed.

"I've not got any specific intentions here, I'm really just exploring, and trying to work out what's happened. But pleased to meet you, Paul." He offered his hand to the obviously nervous lad.

John turned to the white haired boy.
"No, I'm afraid I've not heard of the Temple of the Birds. I'm from the Underground station, and I've really not had a chance to see a lot of what's out here yet."

"And yeah, I fared pretty well with the ocean this time, although I think it's pretty irresponsible to leave them lying around like this."

John grinned.

Captain Isobel DeRainault · Good Joined: 20 Jan 2004 Posts: 186 Location: HMS Justice

Midshipman Langford looked baffled. John was common enough, and Angelis might be foreign, but his few scraps of latin indicated it was at least a European name. But why was the man dressed so oddly? And how could he come from underground, when it was clear that he had just swum across the ocean? Paul's face creased with suspicion, and looking at the man's proffered hand, he hesitated.

This was just sufficient pause for Second Lieutenant Susan Staves and Midshipman Lily Bayfield to emerge from the forest line, followed by half-a-dozen sailors dragging a large tree trunk. "Mr. Langford!" Lieutenant Staves' voice was sharp, as she saw the lad standing with not one, but two strange men. "Please introduce our new...visitor." The marines had been alerted by the return of the officers, and the sailors, too stood looking at the collection of foreigners now on the beach amidst the sandcastles and the sand armada.

Langford saluted. "He says his name is John Angelis, and he's from, um, underground. Ma'am. He also claims to be exploring, without specific intention." Staves gave the young man an assessing look. Another vagabond, like that Quickgrip chap - just as wet, just as bedraggled, and if anything, more oddly dressed. And with a more fantastical tale of where he was from, in addition. "Well, Angelis, I don't know what part of Moahu you claim to come from under, but you're clearly not a native here. I'd like a better explanation of why you are here, for we've had word of pirate activities in these waters, and it may not be safe." Her suspcious look suggested she suspected that John might in fact be a pirate, and indeed, it would *not* be safe for him, if he were.

Patchwork Universe · Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 2:23 pm Post subject:

Paul had begun his line of ships and Avinneyya his palace further up the beach from Paul's initial construction.

The tide had now completely covered the Battle of Janina and the first little sandship had floated far out to sea.

Staves and Bayfield had not noticed it but John could see the tiny defences standing proudly beneath the surface of the water. Even the little flag was not sodden, as it should have been. Instead the sand castle seemed to have been all but cemented in place.

But the tide had stopped before reaching either the ships or the palace and it was beginning to look as if it would not make it that far up the beach.

John Angelis · Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 4:17 pm Post subject:

John raised an eyebrow.

"No, I am not from here. And I am just passing through, unless I find something useful to do here. Which doesn't seem likely, since this is a three mile square of sea, with a small desert island in it."

"Now, if you're feeling protective about your three mile square of sea with a small desert island in it, then I'll gladly make my way out of here."

John noted the brass sign on the island.

"That way looks as good a way as any to go. Perhaps these signs mean something, and if so, I'd like to know what. So if you'll kindly give me a lift in your boat to the fog bank over there, I can let you go back to defending your three mile square of sea from 'pirates''" John failed to suppress a giggle at the word "Pirates".

Captain Isobel DeRainault · Good Joined: 20 Jan 2004 Posts: 186 Location: HMS Justice

"Indeed, there *isn't* much here, Angelis, except for the island, the ocean, and oh, did you happen to notice the 48 gun frigate anchored off shore, there?" Lieutenant Staves had caught the insolence in Angelis' tone, not to mention his casual dismissal of the pirate threat, and was herself somwhere between annoyed and amused by the man's total lack of perception and comprehension. Not to mention that he was coming off it extremely high-handed, giving orders as if he were a Captain or a Lord. "And as a matter of fact, in the matter of transport to the fog bank, I'm rather disinclined to acquiesce to your request. As you can see," she gestured to the log that the sailors were now tying to, no under the boat, "we have materials to get back to our ship, and we've no time to give free passage to strange visitors. If you swam in, you can bloody well swim out - unless you care to ask the old gentleman there for assistance." Staves nodded at Avinneyya.

"On the other hand, if you're prepared to answer questions honestly and mannerly, we could bring you back to the ship, offer some victuals, and deliver you to the western shore in due course, once the First Lieutenant has had a chance to interview you." Staves' expression was part dismissal, part challenge. "The choice is yours."

John Angelis · Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 5:04 pm Post subject:

"Fair enough" said John. He wandered over to the white haired gentleman.

"I see you have a boat here. Is there any chance I might have the use of it to reach the border over there?"

Avinneyya · Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 8:42 pm Post subject:

"It appears as though the tide is receding without having reached my Boat. " Avinneyya said, "If you would be kind enough as to help me to take the Boat to the water, I would be glad to help you to continue on-" His voice grew louder here-"Your Adventure Through The Mist..."

John Angelis · Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 9:26 pm Post subject:

"But of course!"

John helped Avinneyya carry the boat to the shore, and when Avinneyya was ready, made sail for the mists.

"So, your temple is to the south, you say? If I happen that way, I shall be sure to visit."

Captain Isobel DeRainault · Good Joined: 20 Jan 2004 Posts: 186 Location: HMS Justice

Pleased to see that the rapscallion was going to depart with the old man, Lieutenant Staves motioned Midshipman Langford over. "Midshipman Langford, come and assist the sailors in securing the spar. Midshipman Bayfield, get us ready to make way. We will wait to make certain the strangers have departed the area, then return to the ship. Look sharp, now."

With a last longing look at the odd palace, his sunken fortress, and the currently beached armada, Paul Langford hurried over to direct the securing of the log under the boat for transport. As he went, he idly wondered at where the other little ship, with the Rose flag had got to, and whether it was still floating out on the ocean somewhere, or if the tide had taken it to the depths.

Midshipman Lily Bayfield, who had watched the conversation between her Lieutenant and the foreign young man with interest, continued to sneak glances at the two strangers as they began to prepare their own boat for departure. He had been a bit odd, and certainly quite sarcastic, but the man Angelis didn't look like a pirate to her. Lieutenant Staves was never one to have patientce with backtalk though, so she wasn't too surprised that the man had come off the worse for it. A pity - it might have been interesting to know more about him.