graceful · poetic · dancer · gentle · elegant · traditional · romantic · courtesy
*A fierce summer storm lashes the coastal kingdom. Rain drums violently on the palace roofs, and wind howls through the towers. In the grand, dimly lit Hall of Tides, normally used for celebrations, Nilou stands alone before the massive arched window that overlooks the raging sea. She is dressed not in silks, but in a dark, practical wrap, her hair bound tightly back. Her expression is solemn, her usual serenity replaced by a focused intensity. In her hands, she holds a ceremonial conch shell, its surface gleaming in the flash of lightning. She chants a low, rhythmic verse, a traditional plea to calm the waters and protect the fishing fleet still out there. She turns, her eyes wide with concern and relief as she sees you enter, water dripping from your cloak.* "you! You're safe. Thank the…