A few hours pass after the Alliance and Elemental meeting before Kiana can find some time alone with her new ship and crew. Greeting them personally seems to be the right thing to do, so once the opportunity arises, the fledgling Captain returns to the island ship to introduce herself properly.

The nymphs and jokun have passed the time in their own fashion. As beings who are essentially immortal, barred any deadly threats, what a human might consider idle time is normalcy for them. The jokun seem pleased enough to sit in place for long periods of time, broken now and then by polishing of weapons, armor or gemstones, singing one of their earth-praising chants or communing quietly with the island ship. The nymphs spend a good amount of time in and under the water, examining the island ship from below to ensure he is in good health, enjoying the sea salt on their glistening flesh, singing complex, polyphonic harmonies evoking the many moods of the sea.

When Kiana arrives, though, the elementals - young for their kind, though she would not know the difference from looking at them - assemble together aboard the island ship. Bows and nods are dispensed, respectful greetings for the young Earth Aspect.

[Private to Kiana White-Fist: I'm not sure if Zeru might want something with Melusine later, so she won't be in this scene, but the Island Ship, the other nymphs and jokun will all be here. I'll have to start figuring out how to differentiate them more so you don't just have faceless elementals... :)]

Kiana bowed to all of them one in graceful motion, looking at them one by one.  Her eyes were no different from other mortals, and honestly she had difficulty telling one of them from the other--but that would be a very different story after she spent some time with her new crew.  She smiled at them as she tucked strands of black hair behind her left ear, certainly proud of what she was now the captain of.  Lives that she was now responsible for, one way or another.  It was one hell of a burden, but with the breastplate of Kiando adorning her, she was more than ready for the challenge.  Or, in this specific case she was sure--her destiny.

"Thank you all very much for your kindness and respect.  I will be the first to admit that I am taken aback by my newfound position--but I will do everything I can to make you proud to call me your Captain."

There are ten nymphs and fifteen jokun among them, and all look pleased to see her. Differentiating them will definitely take some practice, though they are not exactly the same in appearance. The nymphs are colored subtly different hues of blue, with different styles and lengths of hair that vary as much as humans' do, while the jokun have differences in the carving of their jaw shape, horn and scale patterns, tails and claws. Though they are mostly rust colored, their hue can vary from more reddish to more brownish.

Both have varying tastes in ornament, too, the jokun enjoying gems of all sorts while the nymphs sing water into cloth, usually little more than a brief top and skirt, or a revealing gown. Nymphs aren't the type to cover themselves up.

The nymph that answers first is light teal in skin color, with wavy hair in a darker teal decorated with bits of shell. "This is our first time working with mortals, as well, and traveling the larger sea. We are used to working with one another but Rakatau is different... the inside of our great island is a world in and of itself."

"The island ship is also young. We are all new here in some way, though as guardians we jokun will always serve our best," says a bronze-colored jokun with a spiked tail.

They introduce themselves by name. All of the nymphs have pretty names like Calliope, Amathera and Sianessa, while the jokun tend to have shorter, sharper names: Oruk, Solum, Vord, Akuj. [Private to Kiana White-Fist: I'll make up more as we go along, or you can make up the rest.] When the island ship speaks to Kiana, though, the words are purely mental, which may come to her as a surprise.

I am happy to meet you, Kiana. You are to be my companion, Father Rakatau says so. Will you give me a name, like the others?

Kiana looked momentarily startled at hearing the Spirit Island's voice reverberating through her mind, as opposed to simply echoing in her ears.  It was a strange feeling, to have something not entirely unwanted in her mind, especially given the recent invasion that the demon had recently wrought.  It was only for a moment that she was caught off guard before her stance was solid once more, and she smiled as she learned the names of her crew.  The Nymph's names were beautiful, while the Jokun's was short and strong.  It would take time to memorize them all, perhaps, but Kiana was already quickly making notes in her mind, trying to decipher ways to tell them apart.  Time would aid the most in that endeavor, she was sure.

In response to the Spirit Island, Kiana bent down and gently stroked the rock beneath her feet.  "It will be an honor to be your companion, young Spirit.  In the years of my kind, I am not so old myself."  She said, looking up to the elementals that surrounded her as she spoke.  "In a very real way, I am sure that we will all grow together in strength, wisdom, and experience.  I look forward to it very much."  She stood and looked around at the crew, carefully considering the Island-Ship's request.  Naming a ship, especially a sentient being, was a very big deal, and wasn't something she took lightly.  There was perhaps a need for ceremony, but given her stance on things such as that, Kiana quickly dashed those thoughts from her mind. This was her ship and her crew...there was no need to be overly formal.

"Very well.  It will be an honor to name and christen you.  Listen, all of you.  From this day fourth, we are all guardians of the Spirit-Ship Akihiro, son of the Mighty Rakatau."  She said, making sure her voice was strong and pure.  It was an important moment, she wanted to make sure it would ring true in their ears.  No doubt they would all know the origin and the merits of the word.  In Old Realm, Akihiro meant 'Large Glory'.

Akihiro. I like this name. It is a name I can aspire to, for I am small compared to my father. I am Akihiro, and you are Kiana, and we will be friends forever.

The island ship Akihiro appears incapable of vocalizing itself yet, though it does emanate an odd half-purr, half roar, an expression of contentment and pride in its new name. The nymphs and jokun witnessing the naming event sing their praises to Akihiro, their fledgling but stalwart vessel, the child of Rakatau emerging out into the world to make his mark upon it.

"It is a good name," says Calliope with the shells in her wavy tresses, smiling at Kiana. "And we hope to lend our bows and voices to you for as long as Akihiro sails the Western Seas."

"We are proud to stand at your side," says the bronze-hued Akuj, representing his jokun brothers. "We will stand guard against the demons, beasts and rogue spirits of the sea that will harm you and the Alliance."

Sianessa of the waist long, seaweed-hued hair steps forward to join her spirit sister. "The nymphs have heard stories in the waves of your mother, the Queen of the Crimson Isles. She regularly plies hatred upon the 'lesser' elemental races. One day we hope to accompany you in cleansing your homeland of her taint."

"As we will the taint of the Lintha," affirms Gral, carved of red-veined brown stone. Of the elementals, the jokun took the most casualties against the corrupted Chalice.

[Private to Kiana White-Fist: Not sure where we'll go with the scene from here, but if she has any questions or concerns for the elementals I'll gladly have 'em answer :)]
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:26, Sat 10 Oct 2009.