The beach, just an hour past dawn, glows with a quiet warmth. The first light of day has taken hold, casting long, honeyed shadows across the sand. The sharp chill of night has lifted, but the heat of the day hasn’t yet arrived. It’s a moment suspended—fresh, clear, and untouched.
The sand feels cool underfoot, firm where the tide has receded, loose and dry higher up. Tiny dimples and ridges left by last night’s wind still cling to the surface in places where no foot has passed. Closer to the water, the beach glistens—dark, smooth, and reflective—like wet parchment kissed by light.
Waves roll in with steady grace. Each one breaks with a low, resonant rumble, spilling white foam that reaches just a little farther before sliding back. The sea is active but not urgent, its motion steady, like breathing.
Above, the sky has shifted from dawn’s rose to a pale, growing blue, streaked with high, thin clouds catching traces of gold. The sun hangs low but confident, glinting on every damp surface, turning pebbles and shells into scattered sparks.
Wind moves through gently now—not the desert’s harsh gusts, but a coastal breeze, salt-laced and cool, fluttering the few hardy grasses growing in clumps at the edge of the dunes. A pair of seabirds skim the water’s surface, their wings catching the light. Farther down the beach, the faint prints of a crab or fox trail like a secret map between rock pools.
Salty breathes in deeply, sighing softly as the scent of the ocean breeze settles into his very being. He stops near a rock, sitting for a moment to remove his boots. His gaze seems fixed on the horizon, lost in the gorgeous hues of pink and orange that herald the rising sun. Steadily he walked, feeling the sand transition beneath his feet, becoming damp and more firm as he neared the surf. His arms raised, open to the sea, as he stepped into the edge of the waves. His words with Valkur were his own, his prayer a silent conversation, mostly one sided, with the Son of the Sea. When the sun began to peek over the horizon he turned, smiling serenely, and returned to retrieve his boots.
"Valkur's fer smilin' on us this day, don't ye doubt," he said as he knocked sand off his feet and put his boots back on.
Lucan examines his food and finds nothing suspicious.
Once the party is ready to head to the beach
The beach, just an hour past dawn, glows with a quiet warmth. The first light of day has taken hold, casting long, honeyed shadows across the sand. The sharp chill of night has lifted, but the heat of the day hasn’t yet arrived. It’s a moment suspended—fresh, clear, and untouched.
The sand feels cool underfoot, firm where the tide has receded, loose and dry higher up. Tiny dimples and ridges left by last night’s wind still cling to the surface in places where no foot has passed. Closer to the water, the beach glistens—dark, smooth, and reflective—like wet parchment kissed by light.
Waves roll in with steady grace. Each one breaks with a low, resonant rumble, spilling white foam that reaches just a little farther before sliding back. The sea is active but not urgent, its motion steady, like breathing.
Above, the sky has shifted from dawn’s rose to a pale, growing blue, streaked with high, thin clouds catching traces of gold. The sun hangs low but confident, glinting on every damp surface, turning pebbles and shells into scattered sparks.
Wind moves through gently now—not the desert’s harsh gusts, but a coastal breeze, salt-laced and cool, fluttering the few hardy grasses growing in clumps at the edge of the dunes. A pair of seabirds skim the water’s surface, their wings catching the light. Farther down the beach, the faint prints of a crab or fox trail like a secret map between rock pools.
Salty
Salty breathes in deeply, sighing softly as the scent of the ocean breeze settles into his very being. He stops near a rock, sitting for a moment to remove his boots. His gaze seems fixed on the horizon, lost in the gorgeous hues of pink and orange that herald the rising sun. Steadily he walked, feeling the sand transition beneath his feet, becoming damp and more firm as he neared the surf. His arms raised, open to the sea, as he stepped into the edge of the waves. His words with Valkur were his own, his prayer a silent conversation, mostly one sided, with the Son of the Sea. When the sun began to peek over the horizon he turned, smiling serenely, and returned to retrieve his boots.
"Valkur's fer smilin' on us this day, don't ye doubt," he said as he knocked sand off his feet and put his boots back on.
“Let him not vow to walk in the dark, who has not seen the nightfall.” — Elrond