A Shadow over Reza

[Valannor 6405]

A Shadow over Reza

 

[Ambience]

 

John sighed, the smoke of a cheap cigar rolling into the darkness of the night before him, as he sat there as he always had; watching the waves. It was only in the past few years that he had taken up the ritual, sat upon his chair at the docks, but the benefits of such couldn’t be denied… or at least, that’s what he told himself, scratching the scraggly and ill-shaven beard he’d grown in the recent chilly months. 

 

“‘Allo there, Skipper!” A cheery, rumbling voice called out from behind the sailor, akin to a rock tumbler. John turned, quirking a brow as a familiar face deigned fit to grace him with their presence. 

 

“Now, what in the name o’ GOD do you want at this hour, Scup’? Ritual’s already been done, now we just gotta wait.” John drawled out, staring at the tall, limber man with lidded eyes. ‘Scupper’, as he was known by his compatriots, was a working man. A thick beard, wild hair and stormy blue eyes accompanied a smile about as wide as the Crownlands themselves; an unusual sight, especially for Scupper, John noted.

 

The docks were quiet, still, the very image of tepid tranquility as the two men stared at each other. The soft squeaking of the vermin who made the area their home was ever-present, and the harsh calls of Reza’s signature bird could be heard for miles, but this was nothing new. A soft fog creeped its way along and over the city, rolling in from the frigid northern expanse. “Oh, y’know… Just admiring the view!” He’d chuckle; an unsettling sound, like gravel being crunched underfoot. “‘T’ain’t often that we do this, y’know. It’s a er… special occasion, Skip. Glad to see yer’ so vigilant, makin’ sure I ain’t up to nothin’. Cap’n oughta be proud o’ you.” His tone was snarky, and patronizing; an image of a man who needed a swift kick in the ass, if John had ever seen one.

 

John scoffed, shaking his head as he turned back to his prior occupation. The river ran down south, off in the direction of Sutica, and was Reza’s only direct point of access to the vast blue ocean. “Oh, up yours, sharkbait.” This was a normal bout between the two of them. It’s not that the two men hated each other; Scupper was just the oil to John’s water. They were best described as ‘natural frien-emies.’ “Now, sit yer’ ass down and watch, ‘fore I get an itch to sen’ you out to pasture.”

 

Scupper complied, though in his own way, seating himself on the arm of John’s chair. The two of them sat there for a time, the thick clothing typical of a Haenseti mariner keeping them warm in the frigid breeze. As the sun peeked its way over the horizon, the duo placed their enmity aside as nothing arrived. Scupper would laugh, clapping John on the shoulder. “An’ our blessin’s continue… See, ain’t so bad, now is it?”

 

John would smile, taking another drag off of the cigar. Dubois, he thought, but he couldn’t tell the damn things apart. A cigar was a cigar to him. “Yeah, right as ra- wait…” He’d cut himself off, his eyes widening as he saw something that shouldn’t have been.

 

Their canoe had returned.

 

All the color drained from Scupper’s face, as the realization of what had happened set in on both of them. “Skip… We need to tell the others.” He’d stutter out, his hand like a vice grip on John’s shoulder. John wouldn’t reply, watching the canoe smash into the shore, sprawling its grisly contents across the ground. As the two watched in horror, a scant few, final words would escape the confines of John’s mouth, uttered out of instinct. 

 

“We need another.”

 

 

 

Spoiler

OOCly: This post announces the start of the Shadow over Reza D.I.Y Eventline! 

 

I would like to extend a special thanks to Bubby, for allowing me to run this eventline for folks, as well as Spoons, Nick, and a few others for being absolute legends to bounce ideas and builds off of. This will be my first legitimate event that I’m running, but I hope that whoever participates has a damn good time!

 

[HurferDurfer1 2978]

innsmouth 

[gavyn 1362]

@HurferDurfer1 got them

[HurferDurfer1 2978]

27 minutes ago, SomebodyHelpMe said:

@HurferDurfer1 got them

Shadow over INNSMOUTH

 

[Valannor 6405]

59 minutes ago, HurferDurfer1 said:

Shadow over INNSMOUTH

 

 

I've got my own twists and such that I'll be adding to it, and due to the nature of D.I.Y events, there will be no legitimate supernatural elements to the eventline. 

 

I just want to run an event for folks who may be a bit tired from all the craziness, and let em chill as they investigate stuff.