|
|
Post by gamemaster on Jun 8, 2015 1:30:47 GMT
On the way to the Vegoslav Settlement what adventures will befall our heroes? You decide!
|
|
dendecko
New Member
It's just a spark, but it's enough, to keep me going.
Posts: 18 
|
Post by dendecko on Jun 8, 2015 2:08:18 GMT
Norgunn watched Mathayne go down below from his perch up high. The rain never really bother him, though it had been an evening leaving him serious and a little irritated with how little Wing told him. Wing always had everything laid out with such precision, but never seemed to share what the small side tasks were that needed to be done until the last moment. Norgunn preferred planning. Mostly because when he made the calls to Addi he had to tell her details not just general flow information. He sighed as the greenhouse of water dropped around the outskirts of his perch. By extending his personal deflection he had made a dry and comfortable place to mull things over. The rain trickled but vision was barely obscured. Like glass but with no substance. He sighed again and then let the darkness consume his body like a flame. Senses enhanced and he felt alive and wild for a moment. Focusing himself he looked at a translucent chain that flowed out of his chest and into the sky. Only one other person he was aware of could see it and she held the other side. He drew on the small line and sent out a little darkness and it spiraled around the line which started to stretch into a wide oval about 5 feet in front of him and he waited. Addi usually responded within about 10 seconds. Enough time to open up his head from the shadows. The shadows drew back but continued to lick his neck.
A millimeter light came hurdling across the chain from a distance and ended at the opening he had created. A diamond cookie cut of light shot into a few hundred diamonds and the darkness fell away to a face of a beautiful blond woman. "Addi, My love"
She cocked her head to the side, "Where? How long? And danger level?" She said sternly. It was already 8 in the morning in Norway. Gunner laughed and stared into her eyes for a moment with a grin ear to ear. "Don't laugh at me Gunner, you know I hate that." He chuckled once again and then focused in. "I love you. I will be about 300 leagues from the first city I told you about. We are just leaving now. I have an idea that it will probably take around 2 weeks but could be shorter if things run smoothly. Danger levels are tough. We will be dealing with Ogres but I'm not going to be playing nice because I only am on this for one item. In the local library back in town we found something that will trigger near beings that are otherworldly. I wonder what it will do around Maggsiepoo." Addi smiled finally. "There she is, there's my happy wife." She resternified her face. "Shut up. Ogres are fine for you, they can't break your ice, let alone your other constructs." Norgunn sat down and a stream of ice molded quickly into a simple chair of behind him as his shadowy arms rested on arm rests that stretched out and coiled. "True, but we have some 'allies' that I'm not so comfortable with. A man who can feel my magic, a girl who snuck aboard that seems to have some sort of items, and Wing has been edgier than normal. He has me sleeping with Darabka." At that comment she full on laughed. It was a harsh and lyrical sound. Like a hug from behind, surprise melding into comfort. "Well, at least today is a success. I made you smile. I must add though I may have sporadic communication when we are dealing with the Ogre and Maricoxi territory." She stared at him for about 10 seconds not saying anything then slowly said, "So this will be an 8 then, I expect you to contact every 2 days."
He paused, then smiled, "Yes dear. Likely short though. Please don't worry I will be careful and cautious." Her face was very serious. "I love you Gunner, but rather than cautious please just be smart." Her lips tightened a little with worry and he nodded. The connection blipped out with the thousands of cookie cutters and the light flowed back into the distance. He stared at it longingly and pensive for a long while in his waterfall. Thunder crackled aways off and he sighed. "Vengeance never was sweet."
Wing pulled himself to the final rung to where Norgunn's sanctuary had been set up. Norgunn heard him in time to drop his shadows and hurl the ice chair out into the water. Wing was soaked through and a little pale. "Chilly?" Norgunn asked with a relaxed air and a humored smile, seriousness hidden behind his good humors. "Could you watch the ship tonight?" Wing asked in a oddly uncertain manner.
"Define watch for me and I may be up for it." Norgunn quipped. Wing looked out at the water. "We could have some visitors tonight and I know you can cover the entire boat without light enough to see. Just keep us above water and let me know if anyone or anything else comes aboard." Norgunn smiled again but felt rattled by the lack of information. "Sure thing. Let me know if I can know more, ya know." Wing smiled at that, nodded at Norgunn then went back out into the storm.
Norgunn was glad that happened after his call. He couldn't lie to Addi but new information could at least be held off a few days before she would get ticked at his "adventures" He looked out at the 8 foot waves and began pacing back in his serious face. Back and forth, back and forth, breathing slow and deliberate with the occasional crackle of light illuminating the dreary waterscape.
|
|
|
|
Post by kellirogue on Jun 11, 2015 6:02:55 GMT
Vic had always loved stormy weather. Something about it was comforting to her soul, like sitting by a warm fire after being extremely cold. There was storm was raging outside, but she couldn't be bothered to look out the window to see what was happening. She just kept thinking over and over again about all of the ways in which what she had done was the most idiotic decision she had ever made. She sat on the bed in her new room. She felt bad that she had made the big guy give up his room for her. She had also clearly gotten off on the wrong foot with the captain of the ship. She still wasn't quite sure what the cat man had done to make the captain allow her to stay for now. Even though that might change at any moment. From the way things ended on the deck it sounded like she could be left wherever they were stopping next. At least they had agreed, even if it was begrudgingly, to hear her out and perhaps even let her stay. Even so she still was having doubts. What if they decided she should not stay? What if nobody talked to her? What if they made her stay on the ship and never allow her to actually go anywhere? What if they tried to steal her coat from her? She hadn't had the coat for very long but she was already quite attached to it. It had come in handy more than once already. She was more nervous that she had ever been before. The waiting was killing her. She could deal with whatever the captain and his crew decided, but the not knowing, the anticipation, was driving her insane.
|
|
wing
New Member
Posts: 10
|
Post by wing on Jun 13, 2015 23:20:35 GMT
Wing climbed to the bridge of The Deputy still trying to shake the noises he heard every time he touched the stone imbedded in that amulet. The storms outside were beginning to subside and dawn was breaking over the horizon. His nerves felt stretched and drawn. He hadn't slept well the night before. He rarely did the evening before an adventure began. His imagination always got the better of him and his mind would race like a canyon wind on an autumn day, thinking of all possible possibilities and trying to foresee any weaknesses in his plans. There was also a large part of him that had never gotten over the sheer childhood joy of entering into the unknown and the rebellious streak he had not known he had delighted in breaking society's rules.
That being said, Wing did pride himself on only searching for items that had been unclaimed or were owned by the ridiculously wealthy. He had no desire to send a family to the poorhouse, simply to earn a living by his wits and abilities.
As he pushed open the door to his bridge, a little of his good humor had begun to return.
"Captain on the bridge." He called jokingly into the dimly lit space. The figure at the controls looked up and flashed him a bright grin.
"If you haven't been able to get any of us to treat you seriously until now boss, seems little use in trying." She laughed.
Bridgette O'Connor was an oddity for an Irish lass. Instead of the dark brown or flaming auburn hair common to her people, hers was a glowing gold often worn in a braid or pulled back into a tail to keep it out of her way. She still had the flashing green eyes that seemed near endemic to the Emerald Isles, and though she had spent the largest part of her life in the states she retained a touch of the lilt native to her lands in her speech. When they had first met, Wing had not wanted to bring her aboard The Deputy Of Arkham or to involve her remotely in his lifestyle. She had bullied him into it and proved quite at home with the cut-throat nature of treasure hunting, despite her youth. Even now, years later and after all they had run into together, she was little more than a girl. Not yet even out of her teens, she looked as though she should be home inspiring the local boys to make idiots out of themselves. Few would believe the girl with the sweet smile could out-shoot most anyone, including Wing himself. Though if he was being truly honest, that was not nearly as impressive a statement as he would have liked. Guns were just so... loud and cumbersome.
He dropped into a chair on the starboard side of the bridge and put his feet up on the console. He blew out a breath, trying to relax a little and look out the window at the waves. Bridgette watched him out of the corner of here eye while carefully guiding The Deputy over the diminishing swells.
"Something eating at ya boss?" She asked, carefully avoiding his gaze. Wing appreciated that, the way she knew when to let him be himself and the other times she knew when to pressure him. He waved dismissively in her general direction.
"Nothing to concern your pretty face about. The item I procured is a little... hotter than I am normally comfortable with, but I could not think of anything else that would hold the Ogre's attention." Bridgette nodded, still not looking at him directly. She was nibbling the side of her lip, probably thinking he could not notice. While she was willing to let him stew, he could tell something was bothering her.
"Go ahead and ask it Bridgette, before you bite clean through your mouth and bleed all over my ship." He sighed, resignedly. Bridgette hastily stopped her chewing, blushing slightly.
"It's just that we have had our fair share of scrapes recently. Close scrapes. Like Really close scrapes. And now you are wanting us to sail right into an Ogre settlement, just so that we can hopefully sail to an even more dangerous place halfway across the world! I mean it drove most of the crew away when you announced this whole venture, which only adds to the whole crazy factor of this plan to attempt it with just the seven of us. And that's counting the two we barely know that you just picked up." Bridgette's voice got a little breathless at the end, as if she had tried to deliver the whole comment in one breath.
"Three." Wing corrected her. She blinked and he continued. "We picked up three at the docks. Some girl slipped by Seth demanded that we take her with us." Both of the blonde girl's eyebrows shot up.
"And you let her?" She seemed incredulous. Wing sat back up, a touch of his good humor creeping back into his voice.
"Maybe you didn't hear me Bridgette. She snuck by Seth. Tell me of one time you have ever even been able to enter a room without him looking at you like he has been waiting for you to show up the past hour. No one sneaks by him. He has the best senses of anyone this side of mortal that I have run into and she just strolled by him." He chuckled, "I wish I had been there to see the look on his face. She hadn't even been trying! She had no idea the magnitude of the feat she had accomplished. We can make use of that. It gives us a serious edge. And while you don't know Seth or Gunner very well, I can vouch for the both of them. They are handy to have around when things get dicey. More so than Mathayne, Cutler, or even Darabka." Bridgette glanced disbelievingly at him over the last statement.
"Alright, well the pair of them are certainly more versatile to have around." He ammended.
"Well as long as she has agreed to help us and you vouch for the other two, I guess I can't complain too much. Admittedly the idea of only having to split any finds seven ways is intriguing." Bridgette mused aloud. Wing tried to make his face go blank. It didn't fool her.
"You haven't mentioned anything to her have you?" She accused. Wing could feel heat risin to his cheeks. Bridgette said something in Gaelic that sounded suspiciously like a curse and threw an old mug at him.
"Go talk to her you idiot! You can't expect anyone to sail with us into what we are heading blind! Out! Out!" Wing ducked the flying crockery and fled, the door shutting behind him. He brushed irritably at his shirt, wondering how he had managed to let his pilot kick him, the captain, out of his wheelhouse.
"Women." He muttered, and headed below to the cabins to talk to their newest... Recruit.
|
|
dendecko
New Member
It's just a spark, but it's enough, to keep me going.
Posts: 18
|
Post by dendecko on Jun 14, 2015 4:11:08 GMT
Vic had been sitting for long enough that her bum was sore but when she paced it seemed like Seth became more tense. He hadn't said anything since bringing her below deck and he just stood against the wall stiffly he had kept his eyes on her without shifting focus for the entire time they were in the room. She turned and faced him and looked right in his eyes. They were like stone and fire never moving and yet felt as if they were never still. Like a tiger reading her insides. She turned after what was 10 seconds but felt like 10 minutes. He didn't scare her. But she was going to avoid staring again unless he said something.
Seth had known she was there and yet for some reason she had passed his notice at the same time. When he had looked back he could see her and feel something but it always got dismissed. Why didn't she illicit any form of danger? When she had entered the boat it had been like he was watching a bird land on the mast or a wave push against the dock. Something that happened, he recalled it as something that occurred but of no importance as she came aboard. She really had no sense of stealth and yet she made it aboard the ship and he hadn't started moving till she took off her jacket and dropped her bag in the ropes. He could feel something magic with her but it was innocent. He trusted his human and animal instincts enough to not feel in danger of her. He trusted his intellect and experience enough to know that she should be understood before she could be let on her own.
The two had not uttered a word since they entered the room. Vic's coat was still on her shoulders and she hoped no one had noticed it change into something seaworthy. She really wished something would happen cause she felt like throwing something at el tigre ojos there.
The door clanked as it pulled open and Wing walked into the room. He pulled it closed behind with his back hand facing the room. Seth kept his eyes on Vic and did not move. Wing looked over smirked and shook his head. He moved over to the little table Vic sat at and plopped down across from her. He was still dripping a little bit of water from his hair. Looking Vic square in the face he seemed pleasant. Vic met his eyes and saw what felt like a grandpa who's youngest niece had just stolen the last cookie, when he wanted one, might look like. He looked tired yet full of life.
Wing looked at Vic's eyes and saw innocence and backbone. Eyes that were fresh and clean. Eyes that haven't ever failed when set with enough determination. Eyes that were defined by holding onto... something.
"I don't believe eyes are the window to the soul. I think think they are the window to your past. I wonder what people see in my eyes because I've looking in the mirror and all I see is the same guy I saw yesterday. He doesn't change much but sometimes theres an extra wrinkle or an eye sleeper. Whatever, but I like looking at eyes. When you really know someone's eyes. The way they quiver and shift. The way they stop and focus. The way they appear when they are hurt, confused, scared, or broken." Vic kept locked with his eyes while he was talking trying to figure out what he was saying to her. "You know who that person has been up until that moment because people make decisions in moments."
Wing kept his gaze with her. His lips tightened a little and he nodded. His eyes were still soft but he couldn't tell if he liked what he saw. "Seth? Why is she on my ship?"
|
|
|
|
Post by kellirogue on Jun 14, 2015 21:58:40 GMT
"I...uh...um...." Seth stumbled trying to figure out how to explain what had happened.
"Nevermind," Wing interrupted. "we'll discuss later. Give us a minute?" Seth gave a short nod and walked out the door. Turning back to Vic he asked, "So tell me, how is it that you managed to sneak past Seth?"
"I don't know. I just walked on board. I didn't even see him out there," Vic replied.
Putting his head into his hand Wing retorted, "you don't even realize the magnitude of what you've done do you? Nobody sneaks past Seth."
"maybe he just wasn't paying attention?" Vic suggested.
"You don't understand. Things don't go unnoticed by Seth. He sees everything. He notices everything. He doesn't have to be 'paying attention' as you put it, he senses things. The most skilled burglars haven't been able to sneak past Seth unnoticed. I just can't figure out what it is about you that made him not notice you waltz right by him." Pacing around Vic as he spoke, "there doesn't seem to be anything special about you in particular that would allow you to go unnoticed. If I'm being completely honest in that area of town you should have been quite conspicuous, because there aren't many women down by the docks." Stopping in front of her he asked, "Seth mentioned you had a magical artifact. What is it?"
"Like I'm going to tell you! You'll likely just steal it from me. I know that my place here isn't secure. How do I know that I can trust you?"
"You walked aboard my ship as a stowaway and now you're worried about trusting me? Vic was it? If trusting me was a concern of yours you should have thought about that before you came on board. However, I can tell you won't tell me without some assurances so I swear to you on my ship that I won't take your artifact from you."
"On your ship? I hardly thin--"
"This ship means more to me than anything else," he roared furious that she would even insinuate that The Deputy wasn't good enough to be sworn on.
Taken aback by the sudden outburst, "sorry I didn't realize how much she meant to you. You really swear it?"
"Yes I really swear it," he replied exacerbated.
"Alright. I don't know exactly how it works but this is it," she replied showing him the plain coat that had been sitting next to her as she put it on.
"Seriously? A coat? You're wasting my time." Wing was furious. Clearly this girl was a dunce. There was nothing special about this coat. He turned his back to Vic on his way to the door.
"Wait! You're just going to leave? You didn't even give me a chance to prove myself!" She yelled before he could leave the room.
Still facing the door he said, "no I'm not going to, because you have nothing to prove." Slowly turning back to face Vic he continued, "we'll drop you off on the coast somewhe--" he stopped mid-sentence because the girl in the simple jacket that he had turned his back on was no longer what he was looking at. He was now looking at the girl in an exact copy of his own bomber jacket. Wing was stunned. He hadn't expected anything like this to happen. His mouth remained open, but words wouldn't come out.
"Sorry what was that you were saying? I had nothing to prove? Please do continue"
"I...uh....I....how in the hell did you do that?"
"My coat is more that it appears. It can change to fit whatever I need it to. It can change styles and colors. I simply have to think about what I want it to look like and it changes. Have I proven myself enough to stay?" She inquired.
Still shaken at the sight of Vic in his jacket, realizing he had jumped to conclusions far to quickly he replied, "I'll still have to run it by the rest of the crew. We're like a family on this ship, and just like you don't trust me I still don't fully trust you." With that Wing exited the room with a lot of things on his mind. He'd been so thrown by Vic's coat that he had forgotten to explain just how dangerous of an adventure she was getting herself into. As he walked farther from the door he figured that he should talk to the crew about her staying and officially make the decision of whether or not she could stay before telling her all of the dangers involved with staying on board.
|
|
dendecko
New Member
It's just a spark, but it's enough, to keep me going.
Posts: 18
|
Post by dendecko on Jun 15, 2015 4:14:58 GMT
The roaring had been going on almost the entire time he was in the room. It peaked when the coat had been in the process of changing and subsided once he left the threshold of the doors. Looking back Vic stood defiant still. But Wing also felt that this girl was not a danger to him and his ship. There was no need for extensive surveillance but she didn't seem to know that a captain's life is his ship. She would be no help as a shipmate. She would be dead weight for this trip as far as he could tell. Why does she want to stay? Amongst strangers who perhaps were hostile. Wing looked at Seth who had shifted about 10 feet down the hall and been standing with his back resting on the wall. He was stone still. Wing walked a few feet forward and Seth did not react then suddenly he pulled out of the stony trance and stared at Wing. Wing then moved closer. "Seth, I need to know why she is still here."
"Do you know the biggest issue I have with Ogre's, Wing?" Wing shook his head. "They don't listen to anything but greed, surprise, and violence."
Wing nodded drawing a direct, "So..." and Seth continued, "I do not feel like violence unless we have to because I don't like who I am when I am unrestrained."
Wing agreed, "I think that would be the best for us however we will be bringing our ship directly to their docks. They will know we are there. Surprise will not be our greatest strength on this trip."
Seth stood squarely and faced the captain, "The best forms of trickery happen not in shadow but in plain sight. She is a key to that. I can see more than 15 Ogre's combined and as you so lovingly call it my condition is the only thing that had me moving down toward the ship when she was on the dock. She only gave a trickle of notice to me such that until she was stashing things on this ship I didn't see a veiled threat. There will have to be a definite plan, but this woman could help us from needing to destroy any relations with the Ogre group."
Wing weighed this out in his mind, he had planned on addressing two of those prongs, violence and greed, but the third he had not felt was possible. "You're never wrong. Seth, I'll explain it to her and we will see."
Wing walked back to the room, stepped past the threshold and felt the slight roar again, he winced then looked at Vic. "You can come aboard as long as you earn your keep. We work hard, and I am the captain of my rig. You will need to learn to trust me and listen when I command as there may be fair amount of ..." Wing trailed off as the small round window behind Vic's head iced over "danger" Norgunn's sign for him that there was company on its way and there would not be enough time for him to personally share the message.
Wing roared "Seth we got company" as he ran out of Vic's room leaving her a touch frightened for the first time since the ship had left port. At night time, in a lightning storm, surrounded by strangers .... who had company.
|
|
|
|
Post by Seth Mason on Jun 17, 2015 1:41:40 GMT
Seth followed hard on Wing’s heels as they sprinted through the ship. Seth wasn’t slow and he wasn’t one to stumble, but he had to work to keep up with the captain here in his domain. A wave struck the side of the ship as they ran and the cut on Seth’s scalp showed how hard he hit his head on the pipe connector as he stumbled.
He cursed as he continued forward. Of all the places he could place his feet, ships were the worst. They pitched without warning, swayed around all the time, and they were so cramped! He felt that he could more easily crawl through thorny underbrush or traverse a swamp than walk sedately inside of a ship. Only his natural alertness and nimbleness kept him from more harm in this pell-mell rush around pipes, up ladders, and through doorways.
He felt instant relief as they came onto the cold, dark deck. Even the battering wind and torrential storm felt better than the stifling ship. He looked up at Norgunn’s perch and saw the man signaling frantically towards the rear of the ship. He flung himself over to the rail, looked back and saw… nothing. After a quick glance from side to side, he turned around and hurried to the ladder that led to the crow’s nest. The rough texture of the deck helped, but he still took care as he made his way. He realized that it was the way he would walk on a frozen river, and instantly felt more sure-footed. He made his way most of the way up the ladder and turned to look and saw… nothing. He grunted, frustrated. He stopped and calmed his mind as his clothing was whipped about by the gale. Then he sensed it.
There was a deep, deep throbbing coming from that side. Not a sound. More like a feeling, or a sensation in his mind. He opened his eyes again, now able to focus on the correct area and saw what had Norgunn so animated. There was a section of water that didn’t move the way it should. The waves that went over that section were often displaced, as if something were moving powerfully enough under the water to counteract them and shift them around. His mind interpreted the deep thrumming as a red, pulsing shape under the surface. Suddenly, he saw a huge object break the surface of the water in concert with another one further back. They were huge, ten feet long with more coming out of the water as he watched. They looked liked dead, curved tree trunks. Once twenty feet of the things were showing out of the water he saw a bridge connecting them come up. Then he saw the huge, rounded surface of an eyeball and he realized that he was looking at a gargantuan head with enormous tusks. The cat-like pupil focused on the ship and he saw the intelligence gleaming there. His heart froze. He knew that look. It was the look of a hunter that has its prey in reach.
The thing plunged back under the water. He felt it travelling around the ship as he slid down the ladder and rushed to Wing’s side. Wing was waiting at the bottom of the ladder, bellowing his demands for information. Seth could feel the creature moving and he pulled Wing over to the port side and pointed as the creature lifted out of the water again. There was a flash of lightning and the thing was clearly revealed in the stark light. He saw that the body seemed to be made up of dozens of tentacles that moved in tandem to propel the massive body. This thing looked like it could pierce the ship with its tusks or wrap around it with tentacles with equal ease. It dove down again. He saw it come up over and over again all around them as it surveyed the ship. It was looking around, searching for weaknesses.
“Plan?” he said to the stunned captain.
|
|
dendecko
New Member
It's just a spark, but it's enough, to keep me going.
Posts: 18
|
Post by dendecko on Jun 18, 2015 0:04:10 GMT
The beast kept coming up till it was about 20 feet from the ship and would stop then move to another area and move till about the same area. "I think it's scoping out the ship." Wing said still in shock at the size and existence of the new threat. As he stood trying to think Mathayne and Darabka came topship with two long bags that clanked each time they stepped and an armful of ropes. Lighting crackled illuminating the beast and Darabka's eyes widened and his mouth opened with glee giving out a roar in a language foreign to the other inhabitants of the ship. He dropped the bags and ran to the edge of the ship. Roaring again. Mathayne grunted glaring back at the weight of his loads.
Wing looked at Mathayne and they shared shrugs back and forth and started to untie the first bag with a full sized harpoon gun. Normally used for whaling it seemed a little inadequate but it likely would be one of the few items aboard that might help their situation.
As Darabka let out a third roar the beast roared back a high pitched shriek that lasted about 15 seconds. Darabka jumped up and down with a violent ferver, goading the beast more as he began to run back and forth across the portside rail.
Seth had stepped back to center ship observing all of this and then moved to the captain again with the same question. "Plan?"
Wing attached the harpoon gun to it's stand and then turned, shrugging and yelling out through the rainfall. " Ask Norgunn, he's keeping it off the ship. We are gonna try to get rid of it's eyes." At that Seth ran to the back and took the rails to Norgunn's dry house to see about keeping the ship safe.
"Norgunn what are we doing."
Norgunn was breathing hard while seemingly running back and forth putting his arms out fingers separated and jabbing them down then running to the opposing side and doing the same thing repeatedly as they pushed forward.
"I'm putting shafts of ice on the sides of the ship... So the squidboar can't just slam into us. It will just dice itself up if it dives at us but I'm pretty limited unless we want to sacrifice the ship or we can entice it further away from the boat. It's too fast and this storm is making enough cover that all I can do is give us about 10-20 feet on each side without freezing us in place." Seth frowned at this information. Not being a ship dweller was really starting to stretch his imagination. Closing his eyes he thought for a moment. Ever changing terrain, water beast of unknown strength but lots mobility and 50 some odd tentacle arms. A screaming troll. One shipmate controlling the ship, one kid down below. A bunch of harpoons. And an ice mage too focused on saving the ship to focus on the nimble beast. Great. He thought as Norgunn ran back and forth in front of him.
|
|
|
|
Post by kellirogue on Jun 18, 2015 4:35:40 GMT
As Wing ran out of the room Vic wasn't sure what to do. The way he said 'company' made her know these were not invited guests. She stayed in the room for a few minutes. This was her chance to prove herself to Wing to definitively prove that she should be allowed to stay. She was going to earn her keep. Vic wasn't the most skilled fighter but she was able to handle her own, and was a surprisingly good shot for someone who didn't spend much time around guns. She figured whatever they were facing couldn't be too bad, and with that ran up to the top deck. When she got there she realized just how wrong she was. There weren't intruders on the boat as she had expected, but they were being attacked from the water. Wing was holding a harpoon, which she had no idea where he'd gotten, the big guy from the cafe whose name she still hadn't learned was doing something she couldn't figure out and Seth seemed about as stressed and unsure of what to do as she'd ever seen someone be. Not sure where she should be or what she should be doing to help she approached Wing.
"What's going on?"
"We're being attacked by a giant monster and soon to be losing unless you've got any brilliant ideas!" He shouted over the roars of the sea and the creature.
Wanting to get a better look at what it was they were fighting Vic went to the edge to look over into the sea.
"No! It can't be....this isn't real. This can't be real," she said as she stumbled backwards a few steps with her hand over her mouth. "Is that a kraken? A legitimate kraken?" she angrily questioned Wing.
"You know what that is?"
"Yes...I mean I've read about them. But they're supposed to be mythological. As in they don't actually exist in real life!"
"Well welcome to the real world!" he sarcastically retorted. Shooting another spear at the creature he asked, "those books you read didn't happen to tell you how to kill one did they?"
Pausing she tried to remember everything she had read about the supposedly mythological krakens.
"Today would be nice," an irritated Wing interjected.
"Don't rush me! I can't remember anything about killing a kraken in the mythology, but all of the books I read said that they were described being similar to a Giant Squid, so if their anatomy is actually similar in real life the brain should be just above the eye. Try aiming there and maybe we'll get lucky."
|
|
wing
New Member
Posts: 10
|
Post by wing on Jul 2, 2015 1:10:12 GMT
"Oh really!?" Wing barked, ducking under a searching tentacle as the Kraken explored the deck. "And here I have just been trying to hit it in the tentacles to scare it off!" Vic blinked at him.
"Really? That doesn't seem like a very effective course of action." Wing swore under his breath, using a particularly exasperated oath he had heard Bridgette use on him once. The rain seemed to be coming down harder now and the Kraken was definitely getting more and more courageous, it's tentacles sweeping over the deck and sides of The Deputy, ever seeking. Wing's imagination treated him to an image of those tentacles grabbing the mast a dragging the ship and everyone on it down by main force. The anger in his chest ratcheted up to a burning righteous fury as he watched Darabka roar and slam his heavy bladed axe down on one of the sifting limbs. Sparks flew from the deck as he severed it cleanly and scored the deck beneath. A watery roar shook the surface of the deck and the great, grotesque head rose from the deep, coming right towards them. A bright beam of cold light shot from Gunner’s position and nailed the beast in one of its beady eyes. The roar turned to a howl and Wing grinned.
“That’s more like it!” He pointed to Seth, “See if you can lash a couple of those tentacles to the deck, I have an idea!” Seth nodded and grabbed one of the heavy ropes hanging by the mast of the ship, darting to the starboard side, where another tentacle was already hunting. Wing raced forward, leaving Vic standing behind, a stunned expression still on her face.
The rain was coming down in heavier sheets, making it difficult to see when a flash of lightning showed Wing a nastily barbed tentacle swooping in out of the dark. Dropping to his side, Wing went into a wet, uncontrolled slide, passing under the threatening member. The slick surface of the ship aiding his passage all too well, Wing crashed up against the railing to the cargo bay in the center of the ship; his increased momentum carried him most of the way over as the thunder from the lightning boomed. Desperately he grabbed at the railing as he went by, ending up dangling over the side, supported by only a couple fingers on his left hand.
That went much better in my head. He thought grimly, his previously angry heartbeat now sounding decidedly more panicked in his ears. Straining he managed to get the rest of his hand around the rail, but the slippery surface would not allow his right hand any sort of a purchase. He twisted in the air, trying to get at the backpack on his back, but of course it was too far out of reach.
"And I am beginning to see a flaw in this bag of mine." Wing looked up to see a grinning, wet face looking down at him.
"Quite a pickle you've got yourself in there captain. Lucky for you I came along!" The wiry man reached down and grabbed Wing's outstretched hand, hauling him up. Letting him support his weight on both arms now, poised to swing his leg over the railing, the man suddenly let go, pushing off from Wing. Wing yelped and wobbled as a tentacle slammed down between the two of them. The sandy haired man calmly flicked his hands, shining daggers appearing and flashing into the night to bury themselves in the flesh of the Kraken's head as if by magic. The tentacle withdrew and the man caught Wing just as he started to tilt backwards.
"Careful there Captain! Wouldn't want to have to mop the bits of ya out of the cargo hold after all this is over." He was grinning despite the mayhem all around, and helped Wing the rest of the way over the railing.
"Cutler where in the blazes have you been!?" Wing growled sourly, trying to get his heart-rate back to normal. Cutler just grinned at him. "It got late mate, I was catching a few Z's in ma cabin when this great beast finally shook me awake." He had a drawled way of speaking, seemingly entirely unconcerned with the world. The Kraken chose that moment to roar again and Cutler flicked his hand in the same motion, a glittering dagger sinking itself to the hilt on the beasts strange, hooked tongue. "Whaddya say we clean this beastie off the deck? Starting to give me a headache." Wordlessly Wing slipped his pack off his shoulder and fished a fine silver bracelet with a small anchor out of it. He tossed it to Cutler.
"Give me to the count of three."
This time Wing dodged the tentacles far more nimbly, only slipping twice, counting in his head. Three...Two...One... NOW! On the final count he rolled, the corner of his eye catching sight of Cutler tossing the bracelet into the air. The Kraken swelled onto the deck in a rush, tugging the front of The Deputy down into the water and heaving it's swollen body out of the deep. Just at that moment the bracelet flashed and changed into a pair of enormous anchors, plummeting towards the deck with a heavy silver chain between them. They slammed into either side of the Kraken's head, choking off another of it's bellows in surprise as it was momentarily pinned. At that same moment Wing completed his roll and rose at the base of the large .50 Calibre Machine gun bolted to the forward bow of The Deputy. Large and unweildy, Bridgette had made fun of him for setting the thing on a stand, but the weapon's grim elegance seemed comforting in the damp moonlight. He had picked it up four years earlier from a strange fellow in Utah by the name of Browning, payment for.. Services rendered. Grasping it he swiveled it around and rested the sights on the center of the Kraken's disgusting maw. He wished he had something witty to say as they did in the movies, but settled on letting the gun do the talking and squeezed the trigger.
It had a violent kick and belched the rounds at a solid, steady pace; seeming like the rapid heartbeat of an angry mechanical monster accompanied by a nearly foot longue tongue of flame. The metal tore through the head of the startled Kraken, spraying brain matter and ichor out to sea as well as over the bow of the ship. Nearly a full minute Wing kept the weapon trained on the head, feeding rounds into the beast while it twitched, trying to throw off the enchanted bonds holding it's face a mere ten feet from the now smoking muzzle. Finally it went limp, the anchors shimmered and shrank and the massive carcass slid back into the deep from whence the creature came.
Silence rained for a moment before Cutler spoke.
"Okay, I'll admit. That was pretty cool."
|
|
dendecko
New Member
It's just a spark, but it's enough, to keep me going.
Posts: 18
|
Post by dendecko on Jul 3, 2015 2:42:06 GMT
As they all stared out into the water Darabka dove in. Wing ran to the edge and frantically looked around. Darabka was one of his most loyal shipmates and the random jump into water was not only odd but also detrimental to the mission as Darabka was their only ally who spoke ogre tribal languages. They all stared for about 5 minutes before Darabka returned to the surface with the 2 tusks from the beast. One in each arm, ropes were thrown down to pull him up while Norgunn then moved into the ship to do some temporary damage control. there were a rivets gone and minor leaking so he iced those over until the storm slowed and they could deal with them more permanently.
Bridgette continued to man the while throughout the entire ordeal. Oddly none of the crew of Wing's seemed the least bit surprised by the assault which was unnerving for both Norgunn and Seth. Vic was left in awe that any of the escapade had even happened. She also couldn't figure out how that bracelet had changed into anchors.
As Darabka got back on deck he was ecstatically hugging the 2 tusks. Wing came over "Darabka, care to explain these?" He smiled back. "Latoh" for later. Wing knew not to push him but he wanted to know what use those tusks had.
At that Norgunn went back on deck to his now glasshouse domain to watch again. Just in case.
|
|
|
|
Post by kellirogue on Jul 6, 2015 2:03:34 GMT
Now that the adrenaline from the ordeal was wearing off, Vic was beginning to feel the shock of the situation. They had almost died. And creatures that were supposedly mythical were in fact not mythical. She had just seen her first magical object, that wasn't her coat, be used. He whole world had just been turned upside down. Beginning to feel the panic set in she sat down on the deck with her back agains the wall and put her head on her knees. She knew that closing her eyes and taking deep breaths would help her clear her mind. She had always done her best thinking in that position. With her eyes closed she was better able to clear her mind and focus on the task at hand. After a minute of deep breaths she felt someone sit down next to her, curious she lifted her head and opened her eyes to see someone that she had not met thus far. "Who are you?" she asked.
"Who I am isn't that important, but m'name is Cutler," he responded in his accented English. "And who might you be? I haven't seen you 'round before."
"My name's Victoria, or Vic if you like," she responded. Cutler seemed like a decent fellow. "I just came on board...yesterday." Had it really only been one day? It felt like so much longer.
"Ah that'd explain it. You don't have much experience with these types of beasts do ya?"
"Not even a little bit. Until just now I had always assumed they were actually mythical. I'm very out of my element."
"Well here," he said handing her some chocolate. "I find that chocolate always helps calm the system down after a nasty shock like that."
"Thank you," she said talking the chocolate from him. With that Cutler walked away leaving Vic to deal with her new reality on her own for a bit.
|
|
wing
New Member
Posts: 10
|
Post by wing on Aug 2, 2015 0:32:58 GMT
Wing caught up to Cutler wiping trace bits of greenish black sludge from his coat. Even in the rain the stench wrinkled his nose. He was going to have to pitch the garment. Heaving a sigh he wished briefly for the useful item in Vic's possession, toying with the notion of purchasing it from her. He dismissed the thought nearly as soon as it appeared though. He'd just have to settle for finding a normal one of earthly fabrics.
"She seem okay?" He asked his taller first mate. stripping out of the garment and making as if to throw it overboard. He stopped at a raised eyebrow from Cutler and sheepishly started wadding the bundle under his arm, trying to keep the pungent fluids from staining his now drenched shirt. The man came from the wilder areas of the Australian continent and had rather stern views on anyone leaving a mess for mother nature to clean up.
"About as fine as anyone could really expect tah be with having the whole blinkin' mystic world shoved directly at 'em could expect. I had years wit' the aboriginal people preparin' me tah cope with the idea of a whole, vibrant other world existing alongside this one. Even with all that I still nearly messed mahself when I saw Seth change his whole barkin' shape." He shook his head, stringy blonde hair dripping in the now fading wind. "Freeze mah soul but you never forget yah first time."
A flash of a dark mansion, nearly a castle, swept through Wing's mind. A room full of twisted, cryptic things of power and a man with something strange about his eyes. All vanishing as soon as he had turned his back. He shivered involuntarily.
"No Cutler, you sure don't." Reaching the main cabin Wing turned and addressed the drenched crew. "Well I don't know about the rest of you, but now that the fun part seems to be over I plan on getting some sleep and suggest that the rest of you do the same. It's another couple days until we hit land, and hopefully they will be boring. Goodnight." Everyone began to disperse, heading towards their respective cabins. Wing suited his words to action, dumping the soiled coat on his floor as soon as the door shut behind him, Cutler having gone to his own room.
Breathing deeply Wing leaned with his back against the door and held his hands up. Now that the fear and danger was over, his adrenaline was wearing off, making his hands shake. His head pulsed and his throat felt raw. shucking off his shirt he rooted around in one of the cabinets until he found some good Irish whiskey. Pulling the top off with his teeth he dropped the shirt on his backpack which he had left by the door when leaning against it and continued on to his adjoining bed chamber. Dropping himself onto his messy bed he rubbed at his temples with one hand taking a swig with the other. That encounter had been entirely too close for his comfort and the danger of the next few days did not seem to be much less. Leaving the bottle on the desk by his bunk he kicked off his boots and lay back on his pillow, the shakes having lessened and exhaustion setting in.
The Deputy rolled over the waves and the swaying motion began to calm him as Bridgette began guiding the vessel to calmer seas. Letting his eyes drift closed exhaustion took him and dreams rose to meet him.
|
|
dendecko
New Member
It's just a spark, but it's enough, to keep me going.
Posts: 18
|
Post by dendecko on Aug 5, 2015 2:56:17 GMT
As the cotton in the sky began to diffuse a dim overcast brightness the deputy began to stir again. Bridgette and Norgunn were traded out for a fresh Mathayne at the wheel and a sarcastically grumpy Cutler. The wheel was a very interesting part of the ship. Only Wing's closest companions were ever given the wheel. The true acceptance as a part of the crew was the moment he trusted you with the navigation of his only real home for nearly a decade. As the steely green brightness rose up on Wing's quarters he found himself feeling a knotting brow and a pain in his temples. His body had rested but his mind had been in its own battle all evening. He slid out of his bed to the floor and began doing pushups. Arms tightening and contracting with a slight shake then pushing slowly out to full extension before relaxing. Then again in the same fashion. His eyes closed and his body planked as he moved faster and faster. His white tank was drenched by the time he finally opened his eyes and stared. His mind had cleared during the morning meditating exercise and the pounding was gone. He moved toward Bridgette's room debating if he should confide his emotional and mental strain or not....
Vic awoke with a hesitation to the previous night actually just being a dream. She had to convince herself a few times before getting up and going above ship to look at some of the pieces that were ripped off to be sure. She looked around for awhile and pulling her coat closer as it formed into a warmer style. Her lips tightened into a sad smile at how it was her safe place. The only familiar thing. But she didn't regret any of what she had done or seen. as she turned to go back in she saw Cutler staring at her from above. She glared back for a time before walking around and hoisting herself up the ladder to where he was.
|
|
