He considered.  "It's not as bad as all that.  As long as the Lady Thornbloom can include their location and course in her missives and you in yours, then with some consideration of geography many of the messages should arrive," he says.  "Of course storms and diversions for pirates might make this harder, but for scheduled communications we should be fine."

"What have you managed to discover about Hobnail?" he asked Jadira.

"It's as Treon suggests, Darel." Jadira confirms. "I can't send messages through the wind, but I've recently studied and acquired a spell that will achieve similar results, without the need for position. I can send messages your way when I know that we are resting or at a regular course, so you will be able to reply with accuracy."

That said, she addresses Treon's concern, not excluding Darel from this topic either. After all, the Air Aspect will be giving Treon counsel on occult matters from now on, at least while he remains aboard the Hammerhead. "Oh, yes, about Hobnail. Darel, you will be meeting the crew of the Hammerhead very soon, and Hobnail is one among them. Captain Treon has asked me to conduct some research about this crewman's condition, as he has suffered from insomnia and anxiety for an extended period of time."

"I made my research over the week and I've confirmed a couple of things. First of all, don't take my first suggestion about the ghost flower tea. That would as likely kill him as help him. Second, I am certain now that Hobnail is haunted by some form of ghost -- but to understand their connection you must have Hobnail's cooperation. You'll need to coax him to tell you what he can about the identity of this entity and what hold he or she has on him."

"Unfortunately, I don't know I'll have the opportunity to aid in the exorcism before we depart. Really sorry for not bringing this news to you sooner," the brunette apologizes sincerely, shaking her head at her ill-timed omission. "Darel, if you think you're up to assisting when the time comes, I can explain it to you instead... otherwise you may wish to leave Hobnail with us, or wait."

Folding his arms across his chest, Lasuri leans back against the railing, and listens to the various talks exchanged around him. If one was to take a guess, one could say the Sea Drake looks... almost pleased. And one would not be far from the truth, either. There is a certain sense of appreciation that wells up in him when he listens to the men and women of the Cobalt Alliance discuss with one another, forging connections and alliances with one another, sharing plans and projects.

One could also wonder why the captain even takes a step back in this moment - and the answer to this question is rooted in many things. The most prominent one, however, is anchored in Lasuri himself, and his role as the Sea Drake; many seek the seas in order to gain fame and fortune, or to make a name for themselves upon its cruel waters. But the Captain has never desired fame or glory. As a youth, he was more muted and plain, always seeming to edge out of notice. Years later, he is now struck in a position of leadership - but to Captain Lasuri Leomaris, the true stars of the Alliance's story are its members, and not him.

And in this moment, it is with a certain sense of pride that he watches the group of people ceasing to be an amalgam of individuals, and slowly but surely grow into an alliance. But now, the time for contemplation had reached its conclusion. It is time for him to step forward again, and have some work done. After all, that is his role, is it not?

"You're welcome to move to the position you with to, Miss Tethia. As I've said to you, you'll find no locked doors with us now." He turns towards the dark haired sailor, speaking as if he had been doing so all along, stepping back into the conversation as if he had never left it. "All you need is Mister Treon's permission, and all will be done. You're used to the Hammerhead and her working, and I know that any help and input your bring is going to be greatly appreciated. It's been a pleasure having you aboard the Dryad... I only hope it's been as much to you as for us." He turns towards Treon then, and smiles. "Take good care of Miss Tethia, Captain.

Stepping away from the railing, he steps forward, peering at both Jadira and Darel. "Well, that settles it then. Miss Thornbloom and Mister Darel will be our temporary communication officers. Given the logistics issues stated here, we'll make sure to plan our courses accordingly, so we can facilitate a good communication between the vessels. That's going to be mine and Mister Treon's responsibility. The rest, Miss Thornbloom and Mister Darel can arrange themselves."

"Allright, is everyone clear on the new objectives? If anybody has questions, it's time to voice them now. Otherwise, we'll start with our preparations, since we've got our work laid out ahead of us."

"Ah, that will make things easier if you, at least, do not need to know our precise location," Treon confirmed.  The danger had they both been using the Wind Carried Words was that one storm could blow both of them out of easy communication.

As Jadira began to speak about Hobnail he listened carefully, nodding at appropriate places.  "I will speak with him then," he nods.  "Try and find what particular spectre from the past is haunting him, perhaps in more ways than one.  Thank you for taking the time to look into this," he says, gratefully, glancing across to Darel to see if the man had any input.

"I believe I already said that you were welcome to return to the Hammerhead any time you wished," he said as the water aspected woman approached.  "I'm glad you decided to join me on there, Miss Tethia."

"If you want to, a sparring match would be welcome. I'm always in the mood for a bit of training. Honing one's skills brings that one closer to the Dragons. But, you've only just arrived. We'll have plenty of time when at sea. I'm sure you've already noticed how boring travel is, most of the time. We'll practice and discuss the techniques as we travel." Tageru bows and smiles at the young Dragon Blood, a creepy smile that doesn't seem too friendly.

He turns around as he hears the other conversation "Exorcism? While I'm not precisely an 'exorcist', I might be able to help. I can both see and touch immaterial spirits and ghosts. If there is need, I could try and banish the ghost you are talking about. Speaking of which, what are you talking about? If you don't mind me asking, of course. I'd be willing to help, but I don't know anything about the situation."

Jadira nods affirmatively to Lasuri; she does not have to voice her understanding, it is all but assumed.

"Oh, Tageru." Jadira glances at him in surprise at his interjection, stepping back slightly when Tethia is addressed. "We were discussing a member of Treon's crew who is apparently being visited nightly by some ghost or spirit."

"As it's his ship, I'd leave it up to him to decide who should be involved in dealing with the situation," she adds mildly. "But there's still many hours from now until the next opportunity comes to do so, and we're setting up to embark by midday. Treon and Darel will be leaving us for a time."

Tethia bows her head silently at Lasuri's assent, and moves toward where Treon, Jadira, Darel and Tageru are gathered. "I remembered, and I thank you for your consideration," the Water Aspect replies to the Hammerhead captain.

"I admit I had expected to rest for longer. But the Alliance has impressed me thus far, and I do not feel right leaving without the Hammerhead. Captain Lasuri has treated me well, and Mister Tageru, I appreciate your medical aid." Her aquamarine eyes flick briefly toward the Wood Aspect, acknowledging his presence. She hardly spoke to him after the day he confronted her, but whether she likes it or not, he had some impact in her decision to stay and rethink her path in life. "But the Hammerhead is where I belong."

"You, Captain Treon, are Kossuth's successor, for better or for worse. I will be there to see his legacy rise from the madness that claimed it. I would be part of that."

Another respectful nod, and Tethia crosses the plank over to the Hammerhead, so as not to interrupt any further. They would have more time to talk on their next journey, after all.

"Apologies captain, I might have been trying to listen to too many conversations at the same time... but was a decision actually reached? I must have missed that part." Zeru says sheepishly rubbing the back of his head. "I'd like to have a destination to give to the Marlena, before we set sail. She helps me navigate."

[Private to Storyteller: I would like another conversation with the Marlena before the crew leaves, and to give her her gem. If it's not too much trouble.]

Kareth's repairs continue to progress at a surprisingly swift pace. At his direction, the cleaning crew partially dissembles the paddlewheels, allowing them to extract gunk and debris that must have been caught in the mechanisms of the wheel for years without a proper mechanic on the ship. Several key components are, of course, missing, or damaged beyond repair; he salvages what he can, and bypasses the rest with some innovative reuse and recycling.

Meanwhile, the Seahaven dockworkers have awoken with the dawn, while intrepid traders prepare to embark on sturdy merchantmen, carrying the bounty of Wavecrest's teeming farmlands toward less fortunate nations. Fishermen have completed their morning ablutions, prepared to pull in enough fish and shellfish to feed the thousands that live in and visit the city.

Amidst the usual harbor excitement, a Wavecrest Navy courier sails in at speed from a roughly southeastern direction. Moments later a resounding horn call heralds the departure of a small fleet of Navy ships -- warships, apparently pursuing whatever target the courier reported on.

The remaining Cobalt crewmen pass the time idly, eyeing the Navy ships enviously. Black Reed keeps the ex-corsairs on the Hammerhead on a tight leash, but the men are clearly unhappy with the delay. The small crew on the Marlena have long since been prepared to leave, and amuse themselves with card games that Sunden appears to be winning consistently. "He's cheating!" Cinna huffs, tossing her cards down and smirking at the mute man, who... of course, says nothing. Toying with her crimson and gold scarf, she sighs and peers at the Dryad, where Zeru is addressing the Captain. "Boo-o-o-ring," she opines. "We don't have to hang around for the repairs, do we?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:32, Tue 13 Jan 2009.

"I must confess having only the base notions regarding spirit possession and haunting," Darel said. "I can... ask a spirit servitor to detect and interact with another spirit if need be," he pondered with a brief look to Kathleen, "but I am likewise no exorcist."

A pair of figures hurry up the pier the Cobalt ships share, recognizable to those who sailed with the Dryad before docking at Seahaven. They are Captain Tya Rothalga and her right-hand man, Tya Niakuni.

Those who have not met them before see two women: the older one is taller with cropped blue-grey hair, the younger has green hair in a multitude of braids. They are both marked with the whorled tattoos that Westerners (or well-read foreigners) would recognize immediately as the markings of the Tya, who avoid the social stigma that most Western folks have about female sailors by living as men.
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:23, Thu 15 Jan 2009.

Zeru caught sight of the Rothalga and waved to them "Good afternoon friends." He calls out cheerily. Still uneager to call them gentlemen or sirs.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:26, Tue 13 Jan 2009.

"I am not either, not technically," Jadira replies to Darel, "but as I understand it, general occult knowledge can still aid the process if you've learned the proper procedures needed to accomplish it. I can lend you my notes if you are interested."

(OOC--ok, going to stop the marathon posting now! :P just trying to help move things along.)
This message was last edited by the player at 15:18, Wed 14 Jan 2009.

"Good, that seems like a plan to me." Nodding sharply, Lasuri takes another step forward, his tone distinctively more commanding now that a consensus has been reached. "Mister Treon and the crew of the Hammerhead will be heading northwest in their investigation, around the main Wavecrest island and onto its western waters. The Dryad and the Marlena will be heading southeastwards, around the main island and into Wavecrest's southeast archipelago. We'll be on almost exact opposing sides of Wavecrest, at that time - I want no actions that will disrupt our communications at any time. It's highly important that we keep each other informed and that we keep in touch." He nods, then smiles once more. "That said, I implicitly trust all of you with the tasks you've been given. Just be careful out there."

Lifting his head slightly, Lasuri then catches sight of the two arriving Tya, and salutes them before gesturing for them to come on board of the Dryad. "Oi, Captain Rothalga, Mister Niakuni! Step aboard, we'll share a few words."

"I look forward to it."  Kiana said happily, though she was a little taken aback by the creepy smile.  His words were not malicious, however, and she couldn't fathom a separate meaning for them...she she simply shrugged it off as one of his mannerisms that she wasn't familiar with as of yet.  That would surely change as the journey went through its paces.  Then at the mention of ghosts and spirits, she turned at roughly the same time as Cynis.  She listened to the Monk's words, and though she could do much the same thing, she wasn't entirely sure what good it would do.  She could see and touch spirits, but aside from simply provoking and attacking the apparition, she didn't see how she could aid an exorcism.  However, if Cynis was to under take such a thing, she would offer her assistance to him.

Then she waited.  She had no place to go aboard the ship as of yet, and would wait for the Captain, or Jadira, to require her further.

Treon returns Tethia's nod with the same respect that she had shown him, before he turned his attention to Tageru.  "It is a shame that we are to part company in just a few hours, or I would certainly ask that you take a look at his condition.  If the situation is not resolved then when we next meet, I hope that you can do something for him."

"Greetings, Captain," he says as the Tya boards the vessel, inclining his head in greeting.

"Aye sir," Zeru responds with a salute. "My crew will be most anxious, they were growing a little bored with waiting."

The armswoman (and apparently part time sorceress) raises her arm to hail the Tya captain hurrying their way, then takes the opportunity to briefly rejoin Kiana. "If you don't mind, could you give me a rough idea of what specialties you have to offer? We'll have more time to speak in detail about it, and you have a place on the Dryad regardless, but... for now, I'd like to know what sort of tasks you'd be most comfortable with."

"Thank you, Captains," Rothalga says smoothly, stepping aboard the Dryad and acknowledging Lasuri, Treon and Zeru in turn -- eye-to-eye, Captain to Captain. "I certainly hope you are well, and that the fickle sea will favor you."

"We'd heard you were set to depart today," adds green-haired Niakuni. "It dawned upon Captain Rothalga and I that a parting gift would be appropriate, as without the Cobalt Alliance our bones would be at the bottom of the sea, picked clean by sharks."

Rothalga nods at her companion, and Niakuni extends an ornate box carved of soapstone, large enough to fit on two palms. She offers it to Lasuri first, as befitting of the Cobalt Alliance's leader.

[Private to Peleps Zeru: As soon as you post you're going to go and commune with Marlena I'll post you a new thread.]

"They would, Mister Zeru. It's the same for everyone who chooses to live on the sea, I suspect. Shore leave is really nice, but more often than not, it's kinda like spices - better in modest doses, so it doesn't overpower your meal."

Turning toward the Tya, Lasuri can only give a warm smile of gratitude followed by a shake of his head. "That might be so, but we wouldn't be here in Wavecrest if that was the case - and we'd not have met the great people with did, some of which decided to join our cause. All in all, I'd say we won big too... But that's the law of the sea, it seems."

Eying The present handed to him, Lasuri looks suddenly very much humble. Custom dictates that a gift be accepted when given, however - as a show of respect for the thought of the giver, and the sincerity of the gesture. The captain bows gracefully, and for a moment the fluidity of the gesture and the humility of the man gives a very different image of the Sea Drake. As if, another time, another when, the gentlemanly rogue might have had much nobler trappings.

"On behalf of the Cobalt Alliance, I give my thanks to you, Captain Roghalga, Sir Niakuni. For that gesture, and also for having crossed our paths. We're not such a big organization by any stretch. Every friend and ally is a precious commodity to us." He inclines his head once again, then sets to carefully open it - it only makes sense that everyone assembled could see the gift bestowed to the Alliance, after all.

Anyone expecting jewels or artifacts may be disappointed to see what lies inside: several individually wrapped portions of a glossy pale mint substance. Gum? It very much looks like a fancy box of very mundane candy.

"This may not look like much," Niakuni explains, "but it is the secret of our guild of divers. Miss Thornbloom made good use of it during the Chrysalis excursion and we thought it would be useful in larger quantity for your crew."

Rothalga inclines her head. "Indeed, and as previously stated, you will have the trust and aid of our guildhouses, should they be able to provide it." Her gift to Lasuri is even smaller in size: a medallion of nacre and ivory that fits into the palm, bearing a carved image of a woman surrounded by storms. "They will know what this means. Carry it with you as a reminder of our debt."

"Thank you once again, sailors of Cobalt..."
"...and safe journeys to you all," Niakuni concludes.

---

OOC: As said in Announcements, new threads coming Friday. Any unfinished business at that point stays unfinished! [Private to Cathak Garel Treon: Let me know whether you'll have Darel take care of Hobnail, or just interrogate the crewman for now and leave the 'cure' for when you can reunite with the Dryad. It's also possible we could start a mini for Hobnail with Jadira etc. assuming it happens while Kareth finishes repairs, if you want.]

Kiana moved a piece of hair out of her face as she looked at Jadira, easily busy work for her hands now that the topic of the conversation had moved to herself.

"Ah, my strengths?  I'm afraid my upbringing hasn't prepared me well for life at sea.  I'm a fair craftswoman, though by no means an artisan.  I can do basic repairs and such.  I know a few languages, and I was heavily schooled up until I left the Isle.  Some of my studies involved the occult, but it was not my specialty.  I am used to hardship, of course, so weathering the sea won't be much of a problem for me...my eyes are ever sharp, as my other senses as well--and my Father's training has left me 'capable' in a fight, if need be."  Of course, until they saw that last part, one could only guess how well she could use those white jade arms.

"Is that a good start?"  She asked Jadira.

Zeru smiled at Captain Rothalga and Niakuni. "Thank you friends. It was an honor to have fought beside you in battle," then he looks at Niakuni, "And it was an honor to dive with the best." He bows low and sweeps off his hat as a show of respect.

He straightens quickly. "And now if you'll all excuse me, I must return to my ship and crew." and with that he walks off the gangplank and back to his home on the Marlena.

"More than enough, for now," Jadira replies to Kiana approvingly.

She pauses to offer the Tya a bow and a word of thanks for their generosity. "We will remember this," the first mate says simply, then returns to showing Kiana where she will be stationed, and where her quarters will be.

"Your keen senses will be welcome aboard the Dryad, and I or Lasuri will incorporate you into lookout duties when you are not assisting Kareth." She points out the dour dark-haired man still deep into the paddlewheel repairs. "I am unsure you are familiar with ancient machinery as he is, but if you were assisting Captain Blackblade, your work with Engineer Kareth may be similar."

"During boarding actions, you will of course join the offense, or aid in defending the crew should we be boarded in turn..."

(OOC - We can just assume Jadira continues talking with Kiana till the departure.)
This message was last edited by the player at 18:00, Fri 16 Jan 2009.

Captain Rothalga and Niakuni leave the Cobalt Alliance to their final preparations, confident that they have done all they can to make up for their generosity, for now. Perhaps they will meet again some day.

The Hammerhead is free to depart on its own, headed northward from the Seahaven harbor to skirt around the Abalone landmass, and further westward from there. The nearest island to the Black Rock Chasm goes by the name of Nkiru, and will be their next immediate destination.

The Dryad and Marlena depart two hours after the sun hits its zenith, when Kareth puts the finishing touches on his repair work. As the region southeast of Abalone hosts an innumerable amount of small islands, it is less certain exactly where they may encounter the Lintha. But they are well stocked and equipped for most any possibility to come.

With Wavecrest's capitol behind them, the Alliance returns to the sea, and all the perils and fortunes that await them.

---

OOC: Closing this thread... New ones are coming by this evening!