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+---- Thread: When does a ripple become a tidal wave? (/showthread.php?tid=10808)
When does a ripple become a tidal wave? - Hadama - 03-04-2025
What words could salve a mother's grief?
Difficult enough to find words for his own, and Seren had been his friend, not his child. But while the gods were often called upon to offer comfort in times of mortal troubles, there seemed to be few who could offer comfort in return.
He swam deep, away from the light and glory of the shrine at Aumakua. Memories played along its shores, achingly close to the surface, and he would need to sit there with Seren's ghost for his own heart's sake. But tonight he swam in his mer form for the Underwater shrine, and the altar that was tucked amidst the waving seagrasses and darting multi-colored fish that swirled through the water in his wake. Here there were fewer memories of Safrin's eldest daughter. A blessing and a curse. But here, too, tears could flow freely without loss of pride, washed away even as they fell to join the countless tears that filled the world from shore to shore.
Hadama put his own thoughts in order as he cleaned the small shrine and its ancient altar, filling it with the reflected starlight of his own scaled tail and a single large underwater lantern, the kind he crafted from glass fishing buoys filled with bioluminescent plankton. This one had a frosted white surface so that it glowed like a gentle moon beneath the sea. He anchored it to the shrine and then spread his arms wide, bowing his head.
Safrin, he rumbled, his mental voice quiet with mourning. I am here, if you need me.
Regional Score bonus: +13 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +13 should be included)
RE: When does a ripple become a tidal wave? - Safrin - 03-06-2025
The deep blue of the underwater shrine pulsed with a quiet melancholy as Hadama finished arranging his offerings. From the dark embrace of the sea, Safrin emerged—not with her usual incandescent radiance, but with a subdued, mournful glow that betrayed her heavy heart. The familiar shimmer of her divine form was tempered now by sorrow, and her eyes—normally mischievous and alive with cosmic fire—were clouded with grief.
Gliding gracefully toward Hadama, she noted the humble offerings he had made: the underwater lantern, the careful cleaning of the ancient altar, and the silent tribute to Seren. With a soft, tender movement, she reached out a hand, her touch cool and gentle as it brushed the water around him.
[say]Thank you, Hadama,[/say] she murmured, her voice echoing quietly through the watery expanse, carrying both gratitude and a mother's unspoken ache. [say]"Your thoughts honour Seren's memory, and I know how dear she was to you.[/say]
RE: When does a ripple become a tidal wave? - Hadama - 03-09-2025
That she answered him when her own heart was breaking was a gift beyond words, and Hadama bowed his head deeply, humbled by her compassion. Her touch may have been gentle, but it caused a fresh ache in his own heart at her loss. Their loss. The loss to Caido, that it would never now know what Seren would become, and the great things she would have done.
He did not usually reach out to Safrin, content to let her choose when to bestow the touch of galactic fingers upon his mortal flesh. But he was less mortal than he had been, and there was no solace to be found in distance now. So he reached out to her, to try and touch the hand she had extended. To fold it within his own, offering his warmth if she allowed him.
To pull it closer, to press against his chest over his heart, which beat blood blessed with starlight through his veins. She was a gentle soul. Full of light, and kindness. She had been his friend. One who would have become family if they had been allowed the time, bound by their connection to Safrin and their love of Torchline. I cannot return her. But I can share my memories of our times together with you. I do not... His thoughts paused, hesitated as plans yet half-formed drifted beneath the surface.
Seren's death could not go unanswered.
I do not wish them to be lost. If anything should happen to the Tidebreaker in the coming weeks and seasons, Seren's mother should have all that remained of her daughter. He would not be so selfish as to take those precious memories into danger without ensuring their protection. That someone else would carry them on into the future.
RE: When does a ripple become a tidal wave? - Safrin - 03-10-2025
Safrin’s sorrowed gaze softened as Hadama reached for her, his touch warm even beneath the cool embrace of the sea. She allowed him to fold her hand within his own, her fingers brushing lightly against the place where his starlit heart beat steadily in his chest. For a moment, the vastness of her divine grief found a quiet solace in that simple connection, in the unwavering devotion of one who had known and cherished her daughter.
His offer—so humble, yet so deeply meaningful—caused a flicker of something indescribable to cross her features. Gratitude, perhaps. Or the sharp ache of knowing that, even in death, Seren had left pieces of herself scattered in the hearts of those who had loved her. [say]You honour her, Hadama,[/say] she murmured, her voice low, carried through the water like a whispered lullaby. Her thumb brushed absently over his knuckles. [say]And for that, you honour me.[/say]
She closed her eyes for a brief moment, as if drinking in the offer he had made—his memories of Seren, the time they had spent together, the laughter and quiet moments of companionship that even she, for all her power, had never been privy to. [say]I will keep them safe,[/say] she promised, and for the first time since she had arrived, the sorrow that dimmed her light brightened, if only slightly. [say]But, Hadama—[/say] Her voice grew softer, threaded with something more than just grief now. [say]Do not speak as if I will lose you as well.[/say]
There was a warning in her words, but more than that, there was a plea. Hadama was hers. He had been since the day she had chosen him, since the moment she had given him her light to wield in the world. She would not—could not—lose another. [say]I have lost too much already,[/say] she whispered, her fingers tightening slightly in his grasp.
RE: When does a ripple become a tidal wave? - Hadama - 03-10-2025
Neither could mend the other's heart when their shared sorrow was so sharp and new. But it was shared, and there was a strange, wistful solace in the knowledge that they did not mourn alone. That Seren had been loved, and would always be loved, whether she walked beneath Safrin's sky or the roads of the spirit. Hadama bowed his head in gratitude at his lady's words, sharing all that he held of the time that had been too short for his friend. Her daughter. And then he raised his gaze once more, seeking the infinity of her eyes.
There was danger there. An eternity no mortal mind could encompass. But he trusted her implicitly to keep him safe within the sea of stars her gaze contained, and he pressed her hand more tightly to his chest in reassurance.
I will not go willingly to Mort's Halls, he vowed to his goddess. He could not control the future, and would make no promises he could not keep. He was Safrin's, body and heart, mind and soul, with the quiet, constant loyalty that the tide had for the moon. But for all his strength he was aware that the threat they faced was stronger still.
Knowing that changed nothing for the Tidebreaker.
Seren... would not have wanted revenge. His fingers tightened around hers in turn, emerald gaze dark with sorrow and a quiet implacability. But I cannot let this pass. Even his patience had limits, and the Family had found one of them. But even in his grief her light shone brightly within him, unquenchable. She would remind us that it is against the void that stars burn brightest.
RE: When does a ripple become a tidal wave? - Safrin - 03-11-2025
Safrin’s fingers curled more firmly around Hadama’s, the quiet steel beneath her sorrow tightening as he pressed her hand against his chest. The steady rhythm of his heart beneath her touch was an anchor, a promise of endurance that she could not bear to lose—not again. Her expression flickered between grief and something deeper, something that simmered beneath the weight of her mourning.
[say]"I know you will not,"[/say] she murmured, her voice threaded with a quiet, solemn pride. Hadama had never been one to falter. He was steady, unshakable as the tides he commanded, and yet even the ocean could be swallowed by darkness if it was not carefully guarded. Safrin’s gaze lingered on him, drinking in the unwavering certainty in his emerald eyes before her expression hardened with resolve. [say]"You have always been my Tidebreaker,"[/say] she said softly, her fingers trailing briefly over the scaled shimmer of his arm. [say]"And now that tide must rise."[/say] The void had stolen from them both, had reached into the heavens and plucked one of their own from the sky, and Safrin would not—could not—allow it to happen again.
Her voice, though still low and intimate, carried the unmistakable edge of command as she continued. [say]"You are so much stronger now."[/say] There was no questioning in her tone, no room for doubt, because Hadama had proven himself time and time again. [say]"And I have need of that strength. Torchline will always be your home, but you must look beyound it."[/say] Her free hand gestured subtly outward, the water around them rippling in quiet response to her will. [say]"Seek out those who stand against the void. Those who carry my light and Vi’s alike."[/say] A pause, her voice turning wistful. [say]"Seren would have done the same."[/say]
Hadama's demigod quest is:
1. Complete threads speaking with the other Safrin/Vi demigods (and those clearly favoured by those gods) regarding the void threat and how to eradicate it.
2. Explore all areas of Stormbreak to fully understand the Family's influence on the region.
3. Host a ME in a region of your choice demonstrating the most effective means to dispatch void creatures. (I.e. Air Manipulation / Gravity Manipulation)
4. Complete three (3) PQs in areas not yet protected against the void, focusing on fighting back the void.
RE: When does a ripple become a tidal wave? - Hadama - 03-16-2025
Hadama had never feared the darkness in the ocean. He had dived deep into that endless black and returned too many times to shy away from it. But always, always there had been the stars above, present and accounted for even if they couldn't be seen in the depths. The Voice and her Ascended had once tried to lock that light away from the world and been thwarted. Hadama would not truly rest again until the Void had been similarly dealt with. Beneat Safrin's unwavering gaze he renewed his own resolve, both giving and taking strength from his goddess as his heart was pulled into alignment with hers, riding the same wave.
My strength is yours, he vowed, his own gaze unflinching as he reaffirmed his devotion to the one had remade his soul in starlight and moondark, granting him her blessing and her trust. His grief remained, but he folded it gently back into his heart against the weeks and seasons to come. There was a great deal of work to be done, and he would rise like the tide to the challenge she gave him. For her, for Torchline, and for Seren, who watched over them now from Mort's Halls.
I will. Already his thoughts were shifting to plans in motion. Currents that braided together, slender threads of force and growing momentum that would become a wave. I have been speaking with Deimos. We have left Starfall alone for too long. Seeking flowers that seemed more mythical than real, given how difficult they were to find. If we attack Starfall directly, even without a flower to gain ground, will it weaken the Void's hold?
RE: When does a ripple become a tidal wave? - Safrin - 03-19-2025
Safrin’s expression darkened ever so slightly, a flicker of disappointment tempered by understanding. [say]An attack on Starfall will be just that,[/say] she murmured, shaking her head, the water around them rippling with the faintest disturbance. [say]You could carve through its depths, burn through its creatures, but the moment you withdraw, it will be as though you were never there.[/say] Her fingers, still lightly touching Hadama’s arm, trailed away as she tilted her head, eyes glinting with something sharper than sorrow. [say]The void does not merely yield to force—it consumes, absorbs, and regrows.[/say]
Her gaze lifted slightly, as if peering through the dark waters to something far beyond. [say]You know the nature of the sea, Hadama. It will reclaim what is left untended. The void is the same.[/say] She let a brief pause settle between them before continuing, her voice laced with quiet authority. [say]The flower already placed upon the shoreline has created a foothold. You will be able to land without the island turning against you. But should you venture deeper without another flower to anchor your progress, you will lose every inch you gain the moment you step away.[/say]
Her lips pressed into a thin, thoughtful line. [say]If you wish to truly cleanse Starfall, then every advance must be secured. Each flower you place will push the void back, creating pockets of safety. Without them, your efforts will only serve to stir the waters without changing the tide.[/say]
RE: When does a ripple become a tidal wave? - Hadama - 03-21-2025
Her explanation was absorbed with solemn acceptance, though it brought no solace and nothing in the way of hope. He did, indeed, know how powerful the sea could be. Yielding as it ebbed only to flow back and devour anew what had been temporarily lost. It was not a comparison he particularly enjoyed, but it illustrated the nature of their foe in a stark light that left no room for misunderstanding.
He made no move to hold on to her hand as it left his skin, though the memory of her warmth and the soft hum of her power remained. The water moved around them and Hadama shifted, his tail flicking slightly to maintain his position before her. Then we will find more flowers, he promised, resolute in the glow of her light. And see them planted on the island. The press of time upon his shoulders weighed heavily, however. They could not afford any more mistakes. Any more losses. Safrin, especially, could not afford to lose any more. Not now. And his own strength, though great, was a reason for confidence but not overconfidence.
My armor will protect me when I am hit. But it would be better to avoid taking damage from the Family, he said slowly, thoughts already drifting to what he would face in the coming weeks. Dangers in Stormbreak no less than Starfall. Would you teach me how to... Hmm. To misdirect them? Make myself more difficult for them to target?
RE: When does a ripple become a tidal wave? - Safrin - 03-24-2025
Safrin’s expression softened at Hadama’s question, not with indulgence, but with something deeper—approval tinged by caution. Her eyes, still dark with grief, flicked with a faint spark of her usual starlit brilliance as she regarded him. [say]Not every strike needs to be parried, Tidebreaker,[/say] she agreed, drifting closer once more. [say]Some are best avoided entirely.[/say]
The water around them pulsed in rhythm with her voice, shadows flickering like whispers of distant galaxies. Safrin's fingers lifted, brushing faintly across Hadama’s brow, and in her touch bloomed an image—rippling light refracting through water, illusions dancing over the seafloor, a predator’s eyes passing over prey cloaked by shifting currents.
[say]What you seek is not to vanish, but to mislead. To move like the moon through clouds—there, and then gone. You must become a false current, a mirrored wave, so that when their wrath falls, it lands on the space you left behind.”[/say] Her hand drifted away, and with it, the illusion unravelled like smoke in the deep.
[say]I will teach you,”[/say] she said at last, voice lowering to something more intimate as she whispered what it was he would have to do to learn such a thing.
Hadama has been given a quest! He must
1. Encounter and consider some sort of optical illusion
2. Encounter and consider some sort of aural illusion
3. Try and create a practical illusion (does not have to be successful)
4. Complete a training thread focused on obscuring his opponent's view of him
RE: When does a ripple become a tidal wave? - Hadama - 03-24-2025
She knew his heart as no other did. Her light was in his veins and her stars were in his soul, and even when he had difficulty finding the words for what he desired she saw through him and grasped the truth of what he meant. What he needed, in order to survive the battles ahead.
He closed his eyes, a subtle tilt of his head into her touch as her fingers stroked light through his thoughts. The sea was cool around them but her touch was warm against his skin, starlight through silk. Moon and shadow. Mist and light. The flicker of motion a second after it had already passed. All of these things and more, he could become.
Yes, he agreed quietly, but with a hunger in his heart for this skill.
And he listened to her lessons well.
~Fin