3rd Day of Ascending Water, RY 768
Mid-Afternoon

The combination of Zeru's skillful navigation and Lasuri's tried-and-true experience at the wheel brings the Spring Dryad II and its crew towards Dove's coordinates in good time. Most of what they sail through is not purely unbroken blue -- there are many small islands dotting the way there, some of them too small to even be called livable.

Breaking past the bulk of the island chain, the Dryad sees smooth sailing for about a day. The sun has passed its zenith when the lookout spies something worthy of reporting.

"Looks to be a battle on ahead, sirs," calls out the plucky young man from his vantage point topsail, lowering his telescope briefly. "Dead ahead, but a ways away. Maybe 10 minutes at our current speed. I can make out four ships, maybe five... it's hard to tell from here."

Zeru, having plotted the course personally, is pretty certain that what they want to find ought to be quite close to where that battle is currently raging.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:21, Mon 24 Nov 2008.

"Hmm..." Zeru says thoughtfully. "If there are several ships, then there are at least two factions. Hopefully more." He adds with a grin "If we wait until the battle is over, the remaining forces should be weak and we can strike and catch them off guard. Captain, any thoughts"

[Private to Storyteller: How much experience are we currently at? I'm saving up for the first DB sailing charm, it'll let me tell the weather and whatnot.]

"Would you like me to take a quick look ahead?"  Dove asks, coming up onto the deck with a slight yawn.  "I can likely outdistance the ship quickly, and I should be able to manage long enough to get a good look at what's going on...  Besides, my eyes..."  She tapped the side of her head.  "--Are a bit better then average to begin with, the eyewear's mostly for something unrelated to my actual physical perceptive abilities..."

"Mister Donnegal, take the wheel please. Crew! Slow down the ship for now, and prepare for engagement! We don't know what's out there, so stay on your toes! And stay in battle positions until I lift the order!" Lasuri calls, watching ahead while furrowing his brow. He listens to both the opinions, clearly pondering carefully before rubbing his chin with one gloved hand.

"If you could do that, miss Dove, that'd be highly appreciated. I'd like to know what are the makes of those ships ahead, if possible, before I make a decision on how to approach this." He turns to Zeru, and nods.

"There's a reason why I want to know who's out there before I let them slaughter each other - there's not only enemies in these waters. There's potential friendlies as well. If we're serious about starting our own surviving nation, we'll need allies. No way around it, and no way it should be avoided. So if we can avoid being lone wolves and can actually gain strength from other people that also believe in building a better West, then we'll do that." He smiles, then turns back to Platinum Dove.

"So I'd ask you to check it out for us, Miss Dove, and report the results as soon as possible. I'm sure I don't need to tell you but... Be careful out there. We don't know yet what sort of heat they pack in there."
This message was last edited by the player at 10:56, Mon 27 Oct 2008.

"Aye aye, cap'n," says Donnegal spiritedly. The older man takes Lasuri's place at the helm, while several limber crewmembers start climbing up the rigging to reef the sails. The ship is still moving forward, but at around a fourth of its top speed. (OOC - 7 miles/hour. You would rendezvous with the battle ahead in about 40-45 minutes.)

Even winged as she is it would still take Dove 20 minutes in normal conditions to get close enough to the ships to identify them. Faster if she tries to push herself.

[Private to Platinum Dove: Ok, here's how we'll roll. I'll give you a couple ways to speed up the journey if you wish. 1. Roll Stam+Res. If you succeed at this roll I'll let you double your speed without gaining fatigue from it. 2. Roll Dex+Ath, high amount of success means you use the winds and currents to your advantage and get there faster. 3. you could potentially do both! But keep in mind if you fail the Stamina you will get dice penalties for the scene.]

[Private to Peleps Zeru: You can see your experience in the "Experience!!" thread :) but you currently have 6 xp, so not enough for a charm yet.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:08, Mon 27 Oct 2008.

"You heard 'im, battle stations!" Jadira barks to the crew manning the catapults. "Those of you with hands free, ready longbows!"

She herself is armed to the teeth: besides the twin flame pieces at her belt, a portable Essence cannon rests heavily between her feet. It is well polished and maintained, and she stands over it protectively, obviously claiming it as her own property. Since the cannon is not made for long distances, the armswoman compliments her firepower with a monster of a composite bow, its complex array of pulleys and cords maximizing both range and power.

While the gunnery crew scurries to take their positions, Jadira has settled into an almost meditative state, checking each and every joint of the strongbow, testing its formidable pull. She draws it with enviable ease -- the weapon looks unwieldy, but in her hands, very nearly a masterpiece.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:26, Mon 27 Oct 2008.

"Well, if we are going to talk I would quite like to be there for it," Treon interjects into the command discussion after Platinum Dove has started to wing her way onwards.  "Of course," he remarks as he puts the heavy and heat blackened overcoat back on.  "If it does come down to fighting, I'll be helping as well."

He had no bow to ready, though he did make sure that the daiklave he wore was buckled in a position for easy drawing.

"I'll get started immediately then"  Dove replied, removing the spectacles, tucking them into a pocket on her robes, then taking a moment to untie them, tossing the slightly clunkier outfit to the side...  Admittedly, the form-fitting silken underlayer was a bit embarassing to wear--but she didn't intend on sticking around terribly long, and the usual outfit would simply slow her down.

Taking a few tentative steps forward, then breaking off into a full run, taking off from the ship's deck, and skimming across the waves for a moment before rising to a slightly higher altitude, Dove made her way as quickly as reasonably possible, to get a first look at the battle and whatnot...

[Private to Storyteller:

08:37, Today: Platinum Dove rolled 1 success using 3d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7. Sta + res.

08:37, Today: Platinum Dove rolled 4 successes using 8d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7. Dex + Ath.

Success on the Sta + Res, and 4 successes on Dex + Ath, this all before any potential stunt bonuses come in...  Additionally, does Dove's Enhanced Eyesight help reduce the distance she needs to get to see what's going on?]

"Ah, a battle already?" Tageru says, appearing at the deck already in his resplendant jade armor and with his powerbow in hand. There is a menacing glow coming from the bow, a small oval stone that pulses green and red.

"I didn't expect it this soon, but then again, one doesn't need to expect battle for it to happen, right? So, who are we fighting? And are we fighting at all, or just getting ready, just in case?"

He flexes his muscles and readies himself quickly.

"Ah, captain... There is... one thing I forgot to mention... I was blessed by the Dragons more than is usual, which can be seen in my hair and eyes, but the blessing came with a curse. I cannot prevent my anima from tearing up my environment. If I use the slightest bit of Essence, My anima starts raging. Now that I think of it, I probably should have mentioned it earlier, but then again, this is a sturdy First Age ship, it should take it well. Also, as long as no one comes too close, they will be alright."

"My work gets started as people board." Zeru says, a firey grin creeping onto half his face. "If you need me yell, I'll be in the rigging." He whistles, and the white cat appears silently at the door to the hold. "Keep inside, do your job and watch out for cannonballs you hear me?"

"Mau!"

"Good. Go ahead coral, I'll whistle when we're done." As the cat turns around and stalks back into the hold Zeru flicks the end of his chain. It unwraps around his as he spins in a complete circle catching the middle of the chain and setting it spinning. "I'll see you when they start to board." With that he throws the end of the chain into the air. As it flies it seems to stretch beyond it's length before wrapping around a spot in the rigging about 15 feet up. He leaps into the air and it seems to draw him closer. Pulling him to it. He clambers up the rest of the way with amazing speed and disappears amongst the sails, ropes, and masts.

Toc walked forward with a shrug, emerging from below decks while clasping the deep black weapons to his forearms. He inhaled deeply as the cool metal slid against his skin, almost reveling in the chance to arm himself.

"Allies are overrated. They'll only help if it's in their best interest and won't help if the odds are even slightly unfavorable."

With his weapons on he moved toward the middle of the deck to look back at the Captain, ignoring the soft hum of the pitch metal.

"But, Captain, if you want to gain allies, I think it'd be smart to approach both while they're still fighting. A third opponent will balance out the battle between the two and slim down needless casualties. When they realize they have to defend themselves on two sides they'll be willing to talk, and you'll find your allies."

[Private to Platinum Dove: I've taken the distance issue for sight into account already. I'm actually being kinda generous, considering the distance you'd actually have to fly. :) There are currently miles between you and the ships in combat.]

Dove is, of course, a natural flyer. Pushing herself takes a little exertion, but with the aid of her aspect element, she comes within sight of the battle in a little more than 5 minutes.

What she sees is a desperate one-sided struggle. Three ships versus one, and the loser -- in a two masted merchant ship -- has been surrounded and very nearly boarded. The beleaguered vessel's flag flies colors Dove knows are associated with the Tya, a society of tattooed women who choose to live as men (as Western culture typically does not allow women to sail).

The aggressors in the battle are all sailing ships built for speed. Two fast corsairs and a sleek, larger ship--obviously a prize vessel, a large yacht customized with superior armor and weaponry. They do not bear any flag Dove recognizes, but the color is a crimson red.

[Private to Platinum Dove: Now give me Perception+Awareness. This is to see if you will be able to glimpse any further details than that. Once you roll that you can fly back, I won't make you roll for the flight twice.]