[P] meet at the sea

[Charlotte]

Tell everybody I'm on my way
New friends and new places to see
With blue skies ahead
Yes, I'm on my way

“Let’s go!” Charlie had shouted excitedly at her companions as she raced away from the fields and the rows and rows of stones. After Commander Marisol had read the clue they’d found, she had started thinking. She’d started thinking real hard about what it said, and to be completely honest she hadn’t really understood most of it.

Who was Juliet? Why were lovers leaping from things? Commander Marisol had explained a lot of things to her and her new friend Sirius about the weird poem thing. But Charlie had been most interested in the picture and the one line that, to her, had been clear as day to understand: “Just as it divides sea and city.” The picture had been of waves, and chains.

Charlie knew all about waves and chains. Ships had chains on them, and she’d spent a lot of time on the ships down at the docks. They had chains on the anchors that held them in one place so they wouldn’t float off in the waves.

It must have something to do with the ocean.

And the only thing Charlie could think of that kept the city from the ocean was the cliffs.

The cliffs, so high above the sea that you’d have to jump to get down.

Charlie bounded along with endless energy, her wings flapping at her sides as though it would help her run faster. There was a determined spark in her fiery eyes and a focused scrunch to her brow as she thought and went at the same time. ”Do you think we’re going to the right place?” Indy asked from her place on Charlie’s poll. “Yes,” she says, undoubtful of her abilities.

Truly, the filly’s confidence was enough to bolster an entire army.

As she reached the cliffs, Charlie came to a stop. This was close to the place where she first found Indy. The fallen tree had long been removed, probably broken down for firewood or something. But even from this height the girl could hear the waves beating against the wall of stone. She turned to her companions, “There's gotta be something here.”

"Speaking."

@Sirius @Marisol

[Sirius]

Sirius had not been able to decipher the mysterious note carved into the bottom of the grave marker - he had been trained as a weapon, a homing hawk, and hawks did not need to read. He had had to rely on the dark pegasus, the “Commander Marisol”, to read the note to him and his friend. But he was trusting, and her words seemed to match image of the shackles and the wave, and so, when Charlotte had laughed and called for him to follow, he had. For a while he had run alongside her - but his legs were weak, and his wings were strong, and before long he had taken to the sky. His only disappointment was that the hatchling could not do the same.

The miles of the court slipped away from him as he lifted his wings in tandem to his heartbeat, the air coursing along his feathers. He twisted through the air alongside the foal, and for a while he did not think of the strange clues or the urgency of the commander. He thought only of the eddies of the wind, and the crash of the waves on the horizon.

Charlotte’s energy was contagious, and Sirius laughed as he dove through the air, the ground rushing up to meet him.

He raked back his wings and landed with a heavy thud, the impact reverberating through his bones. Slowly, with all the caution of an inspective mouse, he crept to the edge of the cliffs and peered down.

Far below him the waves roared, sending up sprays of water to kiss his brow. One slip and he would tumble through space, tumble down to where the jagged rocks waited. But he knew already that he had nothing to fear - only the wingless could not save themselves from a fall.

”There’s gotta be something here.” Charlotte’s voice shook him from his thoughts, pulling him away from the cliff. His pale eyes scoured the grassy bluffs - although he was not sure what he looked for. Sirius half believed he would find a treasure chest, or perhaps they would need to dig to uncover it (did not pirates bury their treasure? He had heard they did, so perhaps other hidden things were also buried.) But only the grass and the sky smiled back at him.

He snorted.

”What’s so special about this armor, anyway?” he asked, nudging an oddly shaped rock with his muzzle. It seemed strange to him that a pegasus would don armor to begin with - wouldn’t it slow them down in flight, or interfere with their wings? Were not pegasus skilled enough to evade any attacks that might be directed at them? He couldn’t say for sure - he had only ever chased grounded prey - but the concept was difficult to accept.

”And why is no one wearing it already, if it’s so important?” Surely such a treasured shield would not be discarded so easily.  

hearts are breaking
wars are raging on
you’ve got me nervous
i’m at the end of my rope
hey, man, we can’t all be like you

i wish we were all rose-colored too
my rose-colored boy





@Charlotte @redandblack !

[Marisol]

THE ARCHIATER.

This morning, for the first time in her life, Marisol had not been ashamed to read in front of other people. Normally it’s a secret talent. And in the back of her head it might have stung, just a little—she is a warrior, after all, and what purpose would poetry serve her country?—but she had noted them struggling with the words on the stone and couldn’t keep herself from assisting. She’d dragged her feet, maybe kicked herself for it, but didn’t let her voice shake when she read the thing out loud for them.

Just like Juliet it’s morning again.

And lovers leap…

It had felt a little foolish. Romeo and Juliet? A poem about love, leading to a set of armor? But the more people on the job the better, and anyway, there was something about the little girl that had made Marisol smile. That in itself was unusual. Most kids were whiny, sticky, and obnoxious, but this one had eyes like a wildfire and wasn’t lacking for enthusiasm. Marisol had been more than happy to accompany her and her unnamed friend to the cliffs after they’d discussed the clue.

Now they’re cantering from the fields to the sea, Charlotte at Marisol’s side and Sirius soaring overhead. Marisol finds herself watching him with upturned eyes, envying his wings. They are beautiful in a way that she’s never seen before, a way that speaks of the place where the sky meets the earth and all the spots of stars inside it. It must be nice to be beautiful. And inarguably so. The sound of Charlie and Sirius’ laughter clanging in Marisol’s ears sends a soft joy soaring inside her chest, and though worry still tugs at her as she thinks of Senna, and Elif, and all those other predators, she feels lighter. More hopeful. The cool, salty wind ruffles her hair as she runs, and each breath feels brighter and brighter.

They come to a stop at the edge of the cliff. Sirius soars down to meet them on the bluffs, and Marisol peers toward the sea as they talk to each other, one ear flickering as she processes it. They’re good points. Prudence should be being worn, and its special charm… well, those are both questions Marisol can’t answer quite yet. “It’s been missing so long… we would wear it, if we knew where it was.” She laughs just a little. Her head drops, closer to the ocean. “Someone older than living memory hid it. And it’s special—mostly to Terrastella—because it has Vespera’s blessing.”

Not that anyone knows what that particular blessing is. This whole debacle would be a lot easier if any of the old notes had survived—if the Ager was still in use, or if Marisol had found the first clue before it became headline news.

But for now searching is enough.

@isra <3

[NPC Account]

The ocean roars and spits up foam as if in protest of the people who have flocked to its shores. The sand is dark and wet, and the wind is awfully loud, roaring forward like a lion. Those who are brave enough to follow the narrow, winding path that leads down to the beach from the edges of the bluffs, its steps cut awkwardly into the rock, will be among the lucky few to find the next clue.

There are many caves carved into the side of the cliffs. Some have been etched out by hands and tools, others by the beating of the waves and the song of the wind. Some are wide and shallow, some narrow and deep, but one in particular stands out for its crushingly narrow though obviously man-made entrance. If you squeeze inside, you’ll find that after a few meters it opens up into... 

A prison.

The dust and ash on the floor has been recently disturbed by two sets of hoofprints, leading out of the cave. Otherwise it lacks any sign of life. The air is stale and the bars of the cells have dwindled to the thinnest of pillars after years of erosion.

Written in some dark liquid on the inside of the last cell at the back of the cave is another message.

One great eye gazes out from the ocean.
Laid to waste by that which eats but has no mouth,
Always hungry, fed by those black of heart. 
Roman greensward west by south.

---

This is a place that may only be accessed by flight or a magic that offers a similar transportational ability. Feel free to work with other characters to get there! Please PM me (RB) here or on Discord if you’ve got any questions. 

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