It does not take long for Lasuri to find conflict... Or rather, for conflict to find him. No sooner has he put a foot on board of the enemy vessel that four of the yacht's crew fall upon him, ready to take him on. A bit too close for comfort - But hey, if I manage to attract attention here, then Miss Dove can actually get some of her work done...

And at that, the first moment of danger, something seems to change in the Captain.

Still recoiling from the effect of the previous attack, Lasuri seems to fall to one knee, almost as if he had lost balance. Faltering so soon after the first strike would be a telltale sign of weakness - but soon after his 'collapse' the Captain rises again... Different. His back arches in an almost unnatural angle, his motions  fluid like that of a stream flowing past rocks in a riverbed - continuous and mercurial.

His right foot plants firmly upon the deck as he remains half crouched, his left leg bent at the knee with his toes barely brushing the deck. He raises his right hand above his head, the curve of his black jade Wavecleaver facing upwards with its point straight ahead, almost at the Captain's eye level. The axe in his other hand remains low, its shaft parallel to the ground as its wicked edge shifting slightly in an unknown rhythm. As the sea breeze shifts, sending droplets around his form, it almost seems, for only a fraction of a second, like another form is about him - a serpentine shape, coiling about his body, slithering around his torso and limbs while its elongated face rests just above his shoulder...

The Sea Drake.

And then, just as suddenly as his stance and attitude shifted... He strikes. It is an odd sight, his footing changing in a strange and unusual cadence, gliding across the deck without so much as a worry about the shifting of the ship on the wave. Indeed, it is almost as if, in that instant, he has become the waves, and his movement have become akin to rhythmic, heated dance. But it is not like the graceful and demure dances practiced in the courts of high societies and prestigious receptions. It is an involved, feverish dance, like that of the tribal nations of the far reaches of the Threshold - primal, and uncompromised.

The strikes themselves come, and they are just as unusual as the dance itself. In fact, they are very much part of it, each fall of the twin weapons an extension of Lasuri's body. One, two, three, four... Once for each of the men surrounding him, each strike coming at an odd and jarring timing, coming at a rhythm only the Captain himself can figure out. And with each strike, his dark eyes almost seem to flare, sending a clear message to each and every one of his opponents...

I will not be defeated.

[Private to GM: 4 attacks, one on each sailor, with the melee excellency powering each one with two motes (adding 4 to each). Also channeling Conviction, for an added +3 to each attack.]
This message was last edited by the player at 03:35, Wed 05 Nov 2008.

Jadira notes with satisfaction the ruin of the second corsair. It will take time for the crew to even reach the yacht, and so she does not pick them out of the water as they swim. Seeing that Treon is already taking matters well in hand on the merchantman, she concentrates her shots on the men attempting to block Lasuri and Dove from reaching the enemy captain and his cannon.

"To your posts!" she shouts, rousing the men who fell in the last cannon wave to pick themselves up and renew their positions. "Artillerists, aim for the sailcutters! Archers, support fire on the merchantman! We can't rest until our mission is done and dealt with!"

Three more arrows are propelled from the armswoman's massive strongbow, rippling with verdant tendrils as they fly toward the elite crewmen surrounding Lasuri and Dove. Sharp enough to sunder armor, they would penetrate those flimsy defenses, burying their thorns in the hearts of lesser men.

Tageru's quick thinking keeps him on his feet, and the enemy archer's arrow shaves close but misses. He snatches the projectile nimbly, and while he prepares to fire...

The Dryad pulls away from the cannon's projectory, its path arcing back toward the merchantman. Aiming at an angle to the yacht's bow, Jadira and the gunnery crew let loose their next volley. All but one of Jadira's arrows miss, but the corsair she hits howls in pain as her dragon graced target arrow tears into his insides. One of the ballistae score a hit on the yacht's starboard sailcutter, damaging but not destroying it. The fang or so of her bowmen still upright coordinate their shots in pairs, sending two corsairs to their deaths.

The attacking corsairs, as their once-certain victory dwindles into a blistering defeat, very nearly falter and run. They make one last desperate surge to beat back the Tya: one tattooed woman falls dead, gutted by three blades at once, and two more are struck and wounded before Treon and his men can press the offensive.

The touch of Warm Caress is deceptively gentle. The tip of the twined jade tendrils that make up the blade trace nimbly the flesh and armor of three healthy men. A second later, all three of them collapse, blood streaming from fatal wounds. The five Dryad crewmen accompanying Treon push through in the wake of his artful carnage -- "For Cobalt!!" they cry boldly as they cut down two more corsairs with ease.

Lasuri is in his element, assuming the signature style of the Sea Drake: mercurial and insurmountable, the fluidness of water and the force of a tsunami. An opportune thrust of his wavecleaver plunges deep into the ribcage of one, driving him back. His boarding axe bites into a second man, leaving a nasty wound. The other two get away with relative scratches, but by no means are they taking the Cobalt captain lightly.

Tageru and the enemy archer fire at almost exactly the same time. His well-placed shot digs into a weak spot in her armor, piercing through for 2L damage. She glows with pulsing blue-black Essence, her aura like a driving rain as she looses her arrows, desperate now for even a slight advantage. But even her best effort only barely harms Tageru, nicking him for 1L. The wound heals almost as soon as it's made, mended by the Wood Dragon Form.

"So, the Sea Drake," growls the enemy captain to Lasuri. "Yer more bloodthirsty than they say. If Cobalt would have our blood, it's no different than we preying on our lessers. Retreat or die!" he calls to his men, letting out a raucous, half-mad laugh before leveling his red, bloodshot gaze at Lasuri. "Mark my words, ye'll regret our meeting. Siakal rewards those who feed her -- even you."

The 12 corsairs remaining on the merchantship are now fighting to flee and rejoin the yacht, some of them attempting to drag their scorched, stunned lieutenant with them. The men in the yacht rigging prepare the sails to catch the wind and flee, while the 5 crewmen still standing and bearing weapons crowd in to support and defend their captain.

"I'm Captain Char Kossuth... Bloodeye to some, but that don't matter now, do it?" The bearded man leaves the cannon untended, drawing his daiklave of incandescent red jade and a firearm: not a flame piece, but a rarer prize, a plasma tongue repeater. "Your trigger happy bowman there will get me first, eh? Or will you be the one, o noble Captain Blue?"

"Y'see... there's only room for one captain on this here ship."

---

OOC: Going to start abstracting things more. There's 13 Tya left + leader, 5 Dryad men + Treon on the merchantman. They pretty much have the ship safe and secure, and can either decimate the fleeing men, or let them run. (Even without help from the Tya or Jadira, Treon and co. would slay the 12 remaining corsairs down in two turn cycles or less.) Merchantman and yacht are still adjacent to each other at this point.

Kossuth would duel Lasuri, but if he accepts the duel right away he'd leave Dove to fend against 5 men... on the other hand, Dove will have cover fire from Jadira and her crew. Dove can still attempt to mess with the cannon, of course.

Zeru and his courier can pretty much do what he wants at this point. :P Tageru's soulmarked both the Essence users on the yacht so he can shoot either one.
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:05, Wed 05 Nov 2008.

Tageru feels the quick sting of the arrow, but he laughs it off as soon as it hits. A monk knows better than to let such a small thing as injury impede him in combat! He fires two more arrows at the glowing Essence-user, and his anima flares into a great green tree, with beautiful thorny flowers flying around him like they were caught up in a whirlwind. The arrows shoot out of that brilliant green cloud of flowers and fly toward the enemy archer, leaving trails of purple petals behind them. The first arrow hits her in the thigh, and she bends over from the pain, and then the second arrow hits her straight on the forehead, knocking her out.

[Private to Storyteller: The first arrow is lethal, the second is a fowling arrow that does bashing damage-Tageru is a compassionate man, he would rather capture her than kill her. I use soul-marking on both the attacks, and 1 wp on the first for 1 success. So, to sum it up: that's 2 attacks, the first one has +2 automatic successes, and the second one has 1 automatic succ., but it will be 2 if he hits with the first...

Also, you didn't tell me what armor she is wearing, whether Tageru thinks it would be better to use target arrows or broadhead arrows... :) ]
This message was last edited by the player at 12:03, Wed 05 Nov 2008.

Treon nods to the Tya Captain, "You don't need any more help here?" he asked.  He was referring to martial aid, since he was no doctor.  When she nodded he looked around to his five men.  "You did well, all of you.  Now let's make sure they don't have any delusions of rallying," he says to the men and then runs with them, chasing the pirates off the vessel and onto their own.  He isn't particularly bothered about cutting any more of them down, but if they do anything other than run, they will feel his Caress.

He made a momentary assessment of the situation on the pirate deck.  "The sanctity of a duel is an important thing," he notes.  "Make sure they don't get any ideas about violating it," he gestures to the men which look like they might mob the Captain.  Not that they should attack immediately, but definitely get ready to defend against them.  "I will help miss Dove," and then with a leap which washed the deck momentarily in flame, scorching but not firing it, he leaps over the assembled mass of pirates to place himself between them and the Air Aspect.

"Miss Dove," he says with another combat bow.  "Please, do what you will do, and don't concern yourself overmuch with the pirates.  Though it occurs to me that we have the advantage.  Instead of sabotaging it, would it be possible to take it?"

Anyone looking at the Essence cannon fixed to the yacht realizes two things: one, it will take quite a bit of effort to actually remove it; two, it's much too heavy to be carried without a team of lifters or a couple exceptionally strong individuals (equivelant of Str+Ath = 12).

(Just a quick post so Dove can have a better idea of what to do. I'll post the results of the next actions when I get back home!)

[Private to Cynis Tageru: Oh, sorry. She has a jade breastplate (it's 6L). I assumed you'd do target... unless you think differently.]

The arrival of the enemy captain so soon worries him, for sure - with Platinum Dove uncovered, it is likely she would not be able to properly take care of the canon for some time, after all. The situation happens quickly, bit for a split second, Lasuri hesitates.

The hesitation, however, is cut short by Treon's arrival, and the man's statement brings a faint smile to his lips. He sends a short, sharp nod Treon's way, and turns back to regard the enemy Captain.

"Thirst for blood's not the only reason to fight. Though I don't expect that to make much sense to you, Captain." He takes a step forward, then lowers his weapons slightly. "You and I've different beliefs, but if we're gonna do this, we'll do it by the rules. You and me, and no one else, as it's custom. No henchmen, no allies, no interferences. If you can agree to that, then we can settle this." There is a certain seriousness in Lasuri's voice and mannerism as he speaks the words, and he readies his weapons as he waits to hear his adversary's response.

"The answer's yours, Bloodeye. Then we can figure out how to get rid of that excess of Captains we have here."

Zeru eases the ship to a stop... and heads below deck, to check on what they may have missed. Moving easily to try to avoid notice by any strays.

After dipping below deck he comes back out and faces his group.

"Alright men, we have only what is on this deck to help us in the coming battle. We did our job and I'll leave it to you. Do you want to help the merchantman, or help Miss Dove take on the essence cannon."

"Ha ha..." Bloodeye replies, "ye think I would want it any other way? Siakal hungers, and we feed her. But my pride be mine to uphold!

"Ye hear that men? FIGHT! If they'll not let us be, we'll go down with bloody sword in hand! Blood and meat for Siakal, my friend!" As he lunges blade-first for Lasuri, commencing their duel, the crew continue their retreat from the merchantman -- almost herded there by the five men accompanying Treon, who leap not nearly so spectacularly as he onto the deck of the yacht.

Beside the captain and his archer, there are now about 15 combat-ready men left on board the yacht (5 of which are elites), and 5 more being hauled up by other crew members (the remains of Courier 2 crew). The elite crew face Treon and Dove, while the 5 Dryad men tangle with the remaining who still dare fight, leaving Lasuri and Kossuth alone. Even Jadira and her crew hold their fire, though with her bow at the ready she makes it clear that she will shoot anyone on the enemy side who intervenes.

Cinna speaks up at Zeru's question, shrugging; "Looks like they're finishing it up without us eh? But we can go meet the Tya, make sure they stay safe if those bad boys over there got any more tricks up their sleeves."
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:27, Thu 06 Nov 2008.

And the battle on the yacht continues!

Dove leaps onto the yacht deck hurling bolts of ice wind at the elite crewmembers in her way. She misses the first, but after Treon joins her on the boat she blasts a second, sending the man reeling with an unnatural chill. He is still standing, but barely (3L, this last fang of elites is slightly sturdier than most extras).

The men try to retaliate -- even the chilled man. Three attack Treon, while two face Dove. All miss, though some just barely, and they are now desperate to at least save the ship from being robbed. Dove takes the next opportunity to start tinkering with the cannon, while Treon has an opportunity to attack!

The enemy archer pours more Essence into her attacks, watery tendrils rippling around her slender form, but the arrows fall short of Tageru's flourishing anima. She musters another flare of Essence to defend against his shots, but it isn't enough -- he hits her with both. She staggers, but does not fall as he'd anticipated (2L, 1B more damage for a total of 5 HLs down).

Captain Kossuth strikes at Lasuri, two strong jabs with the daiklave followed by a blast by his firearm. The first attack misses, while the second collides in a shower of Essence sparks with Lasuri's wavecleaver, forcefully shoved away. The shot from the plasma repeater just barely misses clipping the Cobalt captain's left ear, and Bloodeye swears at his shoddy aim!

---

OOC: OK, next action everyone. The mortals are going to start channeling virtues, they're fighting for their lives and their loot, after all. BTW, while Dove or Treon mess with the cannon they will have -2 to DV for that action on top of any other actions they take.

The Water aspect archer is definitely low on both ess and HL now. You still notice that the yacht, though not First Age material, does not seem to get damaged by animas.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:35, Thu 06 Nov 2008.

"Better surrender now, while you still have the chance, child!" Tageru shouts at the water aspect. "I don't want to kill you, but I will if I have to!"
He walks toward the wounded archer and quickly, but casually, fires two more arrows with blunt tips to knock his opponent out, his arrows guided by his knowledge of her soul. As several arrows fly toward him he merely grabs them mid-air and throws them to the floor, without even looking at them.


[Private to GM: So, since both previous arrows hit, I have automatic +3 successes on attacking her, and I regained some motes! :) I use soul's mark on the first attack, as well as 1 wp for 1 success, and nothing on the second, unless the first one misses (in which case, I use the Charm again)

So, in total, 2 attacks, split action, +4 successes on first attack, +3 or +4 on second, depending on whether I hit with the first. I won't attack the second time if I KNOCK HER OUT the first time (this was edited). I also won't attack at all if she surrenders and drops her weapons, I'll just grapple her and tie her up.]
This message was last edited by the player at 00:27, Fri 07 Nov 2008.

"Don't you know it is the height of rudeness to attempt to stab someone as they're working on something?" he remarks to the quintet of men around him, before the blade strokes over one who had attacked Dove previously, moving as he drew the weapon along to place himself between the pirates and the Air Aspect.  As he strokes the blade, the red jade strands of the Caress glow with the essence he channels through them, taking on the appearance of embers from a fire.

The blade continues to glow, and to move, drawn over the next of those who had attacked Dove, the smell of burnt metal filling the air as the blade glows ever hotter, before finally he turns to the injured man and simply pressed the Daiklave forward in one perfect stroke, stopping as it touches but barely, over his heart.

Treon nods his head as the wounds he inflicted on the three men suddenly manifest themselves simultaneously.
[Private to GM: 3 attacks, 1 m on each, for 12 11 10 before stunt.  My DV is now 3.  I'm willing to spend a mote on each attack, unless I've taken 2L or more, in which case, spend 2.  Delaying damage for a few instants, just so they all damage simultaneously ]

"Shame." Kossuth is fast, and his attacks force Lasuri to take a step back in order to retain his footing. His left ear still rings, testament to how close the last shot was. But even through the bleakest of the onslaught, the fluid dance has not been broken, mercurial steps still flowing seamlessly into one another, even with Lasuri on the defensive.

"You would expect blood-crazed freaks to actually put more value on what it is they're trying to take, wouldn't you? Unfortunately, all that blood's not yours to spill, nor is it Siakal's to claim. Someone taught me that much, a while ago - your blood's not your own, it's only passed down to you."

He flows back into his initial stance, shifting slightly in circular motions, seemingly refusing to stand still. Like the tides that are so reminiscent of his current state, he continues to alter his motions and actions, two otherwise similar stances never truly remaining the same.

And then, as he switches his footing and crouches low, the Sea Drake lunges forward once more. The strikes that follow are savage, gritty, and unrelenting. And yet, even though some might dismiss them as 'crude' at first glance... They are far from it. There is a strong sense of rhythm in them, and there is a deadly grace and assurance that permeates each and every motion that Lasuri undertakes.

The axe comes down once, aimed at the enemy's shoulder - and yet, it is little less than a destabilizing attack, aimed to push the enemy captain off-balance. Lasuri keeps the axe forward, using the weight of the blade to push the man backwards, while his other arms arcs gracefully - three times, it aims at cutting the man called Bloodeye, the last cut sweeping low as the Sea Drak crouches close to the ground...

[Private to GM: Four attacks, one with the axe first, then three with the sword. Again, channeling Valor (for +3) and using 2 motes to gain +4 on each attack (for a total of 8 motes spent on this attack).]
This message was last edited by the player at 22:51, Thu 06 Nov 2008.

Treon's blade languidly traces the three men with deceptive gentleness... and brutal results. As soon as the Fire Aspect nods, the first man staggers back in a spray of blood, torn open from shoulder to hip; the second man looks down in shock at the gaping wound on his torso. The third, perhaps more mercifully than the others, falls instantly dead as his heart is neatly pierced.

On their respective vessels, Tageru and the enemy archer trade one last round of arrows. "N...never..." the Water aspect replies to him from a distance, seeming to speak through her anima, so her voice amplifies but sounds distorted by the roar of rushing water. "I won't give up... as long as my Captain still fights!"

Despite the agony she is in, she is still faster than Tageru is. She pours her entire will and determination into one more shot that pierces Tageru's defenses. [Private to Cynis Tageru: your DV with anima is 8, but you're at -2 from last actions and she rolled 8 sux.] Again, the arrow just barely nicks him for 1L, but once more the wound is immediately regenerated!

Tageru's returning shot is swift and would have been brutal, if he had been going for a kill. Instead the fowling arrow slams hard into the enemy archer's forehead and she collapses, spent of Essence and endurance.

The crewmen still fighting on the yacht realize this is their last stand. The two that Treon injured use the last of their strength to strike at Dove. Rather than be gutted, she interrupts her work, spreading her black wings and launching into the air to avoid them. The two healthy men team on Treon, but their blades cannot penetrate his blackened buff jacket.

"Foolish girl..." Tageru says quietly and turns on the rest of the pirates.

"STOP!" his voice booms like thunder. "SURRENDER NOW OR YOU WILL ALL DIE! THROW DOWN YOUR WEAPONS AND YOU MIGHT YET LIVE TO BREATHE ANOTHER DAY! YOU'RE OUTNUMBERED AND BEATEN! DON'T THROW YOUR LIVES AWAY FOOLISHLY!" His anima glows a brilliant emerald, and his eyes burn like two green suns. He looks terrifying and, for a moment, fear passes through the hearts of all the pirates as they waver for a second.
[Private to GM: I want to intimidate them, so roll some  charisma+performance to look scary or something :) Tageru sees no point in further bloodshed so he wants to spare the lives of those that surrender.]

And the pirates do falter, but the duel still rages: a last ditch struggle for survival.

Captain Kossuth takes a nasty bite on the shoulder from Lasuri's axe, and musters the Essence to deflect the wavecleaver's path -- but only for an instant. Lasuri's primal dance sends blow after blow after the enemy captain, and two more nimble cuts slice him open on the arm, on his side. Straightening despite the pain, his crimson eyes regard Lasuri grimly. "I know how this'll be, Sea Drake. I'm going to die here. A son of Siakal I'll always be, and I'll die at sea a fighter."

And Bloodeye lurches forward again, haloed by an incandescent aura, the shark's maw rising behind him in rolling sheets of flame as he attacks Lasuri with all the fury of a cornered man. His daiklave sears two paths, seeking Lasuri's throat and chest, and the final shot from his repeater aims recklessly, point blank at his opponent's head. "But I'll take you with me!" he roars.

---

OOC: Gee, the dice were REALLY not nice on the ping for Bloodeye. But Lasuri's second attack actually missed -- since it only got in with 1 he used an Excellency to fend it off.

Anyway, I just need Lasuri to defend against the Captain's last ditch attack. I more or less believe this battle is all but won, just remains to be seen if Cobalt has a crispy scorched captain or a healthy one ;)

[Private to Cynis Tageru: I rolled for you, +1 stunt.. you botched the first time, but I just rerolled it, mostly because at this point the pirates already ARE thinking surrender might save their lives. So a botch wouldn't have any effect anyway.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:20, Fri 07 Nov 2008.

The attack had been strong and swift, but Bloodeye is no ordinary opponent - even in the wake of the blows that have rained upon him, he still musters enough strength to strike back in full force. With more force even it would seem, judging from the powerful display the Siakal worshiper manages in what might be his final hour.

In a brilliant display of roars and flames, his opponent comes for him... And for a single moment, it almost seems like Lasuri will falter, swallowed in by the enemy captain's last attempt at burying him. A fluid sidestep, and he raises both of his weapons at once, facing the dangerous onslaught with a grim look on his features. Droplets of seawater continue to gather around him, and as his eyes meet that of his opponent, and what once seemed like a spectral shape around him finally takes form.

With a burst of highly concentrated Essence, the dark shape of the Sea Drake manifests itself physically, its almost black body seemingly made of a long coil of flowing water. On the beast's back, cobalt scales briefly reflect ambient light. Around the mythical creature, mists seem to coalesce, tinting the surroundings in a dark grey fog heavily tinted with the blue-green of the oceans. The leviathan-like beast opens its mouth in defiance, while its pure black eyes watch intently at the coming danger, its roar the thunderous clash of waves during a violent storm...

It is a display to match Kossuth's fiery anger, and in but an instant the two clash with crimson and cobalt sparks.

"You've lived your life a fighter, and that's how you'll die... But you've wasted your existence." He grits his teeth, and as he matches the attacks with his weapons, he feels his limbs numb from the constant efforts this combat required, and the continuous Essence discharges he had to weather. And yet, despite the tiredness, despite also being almost at his limits, despite the protests his body makes... Lasuri does not yield. The Sea Drake about him roars and coils with each of the Captain's movement, almost as if the great creature is not only a manifestation of Lasuri's power, but also his very will.

The surge fills his body, and he pushes himself beyond his own limits, suddenly dashing out of the way of the repeater with inhuman speed. He crouches and strafes to one side, then regains his footing almost immediately, the flowing motion bringing Lasuri on the offensive once more. His dark eyes meet with Kossuth's and when he speaks again the rolling of great waves seem to punctuate his speech.

"You'll take no one with you. Not 'cause I'm so superior to you. But because I have something to defend and protect, a dream to see realized. Because of that... I won't die."

The Sea Drake roars, a sound not unlike a tremendous waterfall. Despite his weary features, Lasuri's eyes shine with indomitable purpose.

"... No matter how hard you try."

[Private to GM: Channeling Conviction another time, spending 6 motes to get 5 dice to parry for the two first attacks, and then using second dodge excellency to nullify the third attack - for a total of 10 motes spent on this attack. I've got 6 motes left, outside of those regained form this stunt, if applicable.]
This message was last edited by the player at 02:34, Fri 07 Nov 2008.

Lasuri meets Bloodeye's attack and withstands it, fierce flames crashing over malleable water. But will and determination are not enough to avoid harm altogether. He feels the twin sting of his opponent's daiklave, nicking just short of severing his throat, stabbing past his breastplate to bury between his ribs.

The wounds are immediately cauterized by searing flame as his body is engulfed by Bloodeye's blazing anima. As the agony tears through him, Lasuri realizes just how close he has brushed with death. He finds himself recalling everyone and everything that brought him to this day. His childhood in the Realm, his dream to sail the high seas... the fateful adventure that severed his ties with his home and left him a fugitive... the old and new faces that make up his intrepid crew... and Jadira, for whom he promised he would build a new life and home in the Threshold. She, most of all, is his reason for defying even death.

But Bloodeye is also engulfed, in turn, as the Leviathan in Lasuri's anima surges in defiance at the flames. Water Essence ripples outward from the Cobalt captain, forcing Bloodeye to take the brunt of the anima flux as he futilely crosses his arms before his face. It smothers him, nearly drowning him as he struggles to remain upright.

When the clash of elements settles down, the two combatants face one another, dripping blood, sweat and sea water... and Bloodeye, drained of even a single spark of Essence, falls heavily to one knee. "Go on then. Finish it. Ye may say my life is empty, but I've enjoyed it all. I'm a killer. I've no regrets."

He grins, spitting blood. "Do ye?"

---

OOC: Lasuri's taken a total of 5L, but unlike Bloodeye he still has Essence left. :P Honestly, Bloodeye can probably still fight. But Lasuri has the next action and I'm pretty sure he can take him out.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:55, Fri 07 Nov 2008.

"You know..."  Dove muttered, settling down carefully on a rail, and bringing one hand forward as she looked at the two attackers.  "I'm not a violent woman by any means...  But attempting to stab me in the back?  That's highly inappropriate for you--though I suppose rabble like yourselves can't quite help it..."

She sighed, and held one hand up, Air Aspected Essence crackling above her outstretched palm as she leveled it between the two attackers.  "I'd appreciate it if you'd take a nap then and leave me in peace... Please?"

Then with a sudden blur of motion as she leapt off from her position, wings flapping to help her spin out of the way of a stray arrow, she gained a few yards of altitude in a hurry...

Then suddenly dropped back down on the two still giving trouble at the cannon, firing off a pair of focused lightning bolts, hammering down into the two attackers, as she gracefully set down on the main weapon's barrel.

"Now will you permit me to work in peace?" she concludes, as the two lightning bolts--seemingly frozen in position for a moment, suddenly detonated in a certain degree of force--she didn't think she threw in enough power to kill them...  But sadly to say, if they couldn't take the heat, then they had no business being on this boat to begin with...

----------------------------------------------------

OOC: Two Elemental Bolts on my two attackers, before adding stunts, I got 5 and 8 successes respectively--spent 3m on each, so base damage should be 12L

The two harrying Dove are blasted by lightning. One of them stumbles back, stunned by the blast, while the second one is electrocuted so severely he cooks in his armor and slumps over, his heart stilled.

By now the rest of the pirates have dropped their weapons, their hands raised in surrender. There's twenty rank-and-file, three elites remaining in various states of injury, and the unconscious first mate. The rest have been picked off in the meantime by the men that accompanied Treon, or Jadira and her archers.

Nonetheless, there are still casualties among the Dryad crew. Alves is dead, and the other four that fought with him are at least minorly injured. On the deck of the Dryad, Jadira has lost one artillerist, Gatti, and 4 more crewmembers are injured. Antov (one of the men with Zeru) is injured as well.

The pirate crew has lost a total of 46 men (ouch).
Of 40 Dryad crewmembers, 9 are injured, 2 are dead.
Of 25 Tya, 12 are dead (not counting the leader).

The fate of Pirate Captain "Bloodeye" Kossuth and his ship is in Lasuri's hands.

"Antov get yourself looked at... we are going to see about the Tya." Zeru tells the wounded man. "You've done a good job sir" Zeru salutes him, before turning around. "Remember what the captain said. These sailors fancy themselves men, so treat them as such..."

"No... I don't." Lasuri speaks, and for a moment the weight of his fatigue and wounds shows both in his expression and his demeanor. He raises his chin only slightly, looking back towards the man who faced him with such fury.

"I've ensured I wouldn't. I've still things to do, and promises to keep... But if it became completely unavoidable, if I just couldn't wiggle my way out of death's grip anymore... Then I'd rest knowing there's people around to carry on the fight. That's how I chose to live my life, and I've no regrets. No matter what - the Alliance will live, because it's carried on by people with good, strong hearts."

He casts a glance aside, watching the scene of their victory - and the reason for such a victory. What he sees are good, hardy people, each willing to push forward even when the odds are bleak, and fight for a future that is, at this point, uncertain. In that moment, the Captain cannot help but feel a great pride at what was accomplished, and a great sense of approval for those that keep the banner of the Cobalt Alliance alive.

"As for me finishing it... That's not really my place. You'll receive judgment, but not at my hand. You'll face judgment at the hand of those you preyed on - they're going to be the ones who decide your fate, Seashark." The sentence is only barely finished that the wavecleaver strikes again, this time with the flat of the blade - a sharp and powerful hit that knocks the enemy captain unconscious with a sound like the pounding of waves on a great cliff.

He lets out a breath, then turns towards Treon and Dove. "Splendid work, both of you." He grants them a weary smile, then nods towards Treon. "You're used to military vessels, aren't you? I was under the impression that was your specialty. So this ship is yours to commandeer, if you want it. It's fate's up to you, I leave that in your hands." He nods, then straightens his shoulders slightly. "Now, if you'll excuse me... I have to announce our victory to the other ships."

He bows his head slightly, then grabs the prostrate form of the enemy captain by the collar of his shirt, lifting it from the ground just enough for those on the other ships to see. Quietly, he raises his Daiklave upwards, standing in this position for a moment. And then, with a sudden burst of enemy, he shouts.

"The Alliance prevails!"
And his voice, as it echoes over the vast expanses of the Western Seas, carries all the strength and hardships of their struggle.

OOC: Thread end. +5 xp for all.