22nd Day of Ascending Water, RY 768
Early Evening

About a week ago, Xander found passage aboard another vessel leaving Wavecrest even sooner than the impressive Dryad. The Hirdu's Ambition is no ancient warship, but a sturdy two-masted exploratory vessel, escorted by a pair of armed couriers. The captain, Loukan Hirdu, was the sort to ask few questions, and in record speed Xander left his home island on his very first adventure at sea.

The Ambition, Grace and the Promise sailed south-southeast with Xander aboard, intending to skirt around the landmass of Abalone through the Wavecrest islets, seeking uncharted islands. The journey started smoothly, deceptively so -- up until an evening when the mists hung thick around them, and the ships were forced to slow their pace or risk running aground on rocky shores.

By the time the ships' crew noticed the black and silver sails coming for them, it was already too late to get away. The Lintha pirates struck swiftly and brutally, their monsters controlling the mists to their advantage. Xander realized from the start that they would be grossly outnumbered and overwhelmed, but the crew of the Ambition and its couriers fought bitterly, refusing to give up their precious maps and hard won artifacts.

Suffice it to say, the Lintha triumphed that day. Xander, however, managed to use the mists and his skills in stealth to his advantage, and remained unnoticed up until now by the demon-bloods. He is hidden on the deck of the Ambition, listening in while the imposing figure of the Lintha Father interrogates the captured human crew... the remaining crew, that is, after the Lintha gorged themselves on the lesser crewmembers, and fed their sea-demon siblings.

"You WILL answer immediately," spits the demon-spawn captain, "or join the the others as fodder! What is it that you seek in Nevermoor??"

[Private to Xander Lucian: OK, well, I hope this isn't too open ended, or that I made too many assumptions. The mortal sailors you left with got jumped by the Lintha, so... right now, your hope is to survive long enough until a greater fleet comes to take the Lintha on (you hope), and hopefully in the meantime either sabotage the ships or gather information. Common sense tells you that you will just end up captured as well (or worse) if you go all out offense.

Feel free to ask for more info if you need it.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:20, Sun 08 Mar 2009.

Xander currently hiding from the demon spawned lintha takes a moment to reflect on his current situation.  Which was not good.  His ship had been boarded and the crew slain and was now crawling with Lintha pirates and their demon spawn. On top of that he had the Lintha Father himself on his ship. While he made a tempting target to assassinate there would be no way to accomplish it without getting caught as he couldn't even jump overboard with the demons in the water. He tried to recall he could about the Lintha and their spawn perhaps there was a key to getting out of here in his knowledge.

[Private to GM: 12:44, Today: Xander Lucian rolled 3 successes using 5d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 10,9,2,1,5. int+lore. ]
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:32, Fri 16 Jan 2009.

The interrogation continues while Xander considers his next move.

Loukan Hirdu gazes up at the Lintha Father, desperation writ clearly on his face. By now the man is far beyond dignity, or even any scholarly pride to protect his research or findings. "Please, noble Lintha. I have told you all I know. We pursued only rumor, and had no idea of the significance of this region to your kind. You have already searched our holds, we've nothing left to hide from you!"

"If that was so," the Lintha captain counters, a gleam in his blood red eye. "you should have surrendered from the start. Now you have angered us!!"

"Noble Lintha, I will serve. I promise. I will serve whatever purpose you wish." His dozen or so of remaining crewmembers, bound and gagged, stare morosely at their captain, knowing they have no choice but to follow.

"Hah!" The Lintha's barbed foot kicks at the mortal captain's chest, hard enough to snap several ribs. Hirdu cries out in agony, and sags to one side, unable to keep his balance with the ropes tying him. "You will not serve me. You are unworthy of such."

[Private to Xander Lucian: There are a few things you remember about Lintha, though nothing you are sure you can use. They make a living as pirates and slavers. Nothing they own is their own wealth -- it all traces back to thievery. They believe themselves superior to all mortals due to their demonic lineage.

It is actually unusual that the Lintha Father is taking the time to interrogate Captain Hirdu in the first place. Normally he'd already be killed, carted off on a slave ship or left to die with no belongings to his name.

Eating mortals is not something all Lintha do, either. Many actually masquerade as normal traders. This particular sept of Lintha seems to be much more ruthless and base in their methods. You can't figure what 'Nevermoor' is but it seems the sept is looking for something very important in particular, some sort of item of power.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:46, Fri 16 Jan 2009.

Loukan Hirdu continues to gasp in pain when one of the Lintha Father's subordinates crosses over to report to him quietly. The demon-spawn captain's face storms with irritation at the messenger's words, and he barks out what is obviously a series of commands.

The five demon-bloods standing on board the Hirdu's Ambition waste no time in executing their orders. A couple of them climb nimbly topsail, while the others check rigging and weaponry, familiarizing themselves with the newly captured ship.

It seems the Lintha with their captured fleet will soon be on the move.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:05, Sat 24 Jan 2009.

Xander keeps his silence -- perhaps paralyzed by the futility of his situation. From his hiding place on the deck of the Ambition, he picks up that a  Wavecrest Navy contingent is approaching, and the Lintha are gathering themselves to repel the attack.

The Lintha Father crosses from the Ambition to his trimaran flagship, the Kri Kiamo, directing one of his lieutenants to take the helm of the captured exploratory vessel. Sea-demons are roused by their summoners: a cold, eerie mist billows up from the waves to blanket the surrounding area, filling Xander with an unexplainable sense of dread.

The Lintha on board the combined fleet of captured ships and pirate vessels brandish their auhzian blades. The erymanthus watching Captain Hirdu and his few remaining men is called to join the defense, serving as both strong-arm and intimidation along with its fellows elsewhere among the fleet.

It almost seems as if the deck of the Ambition is unguarded, with the mist shrouding everything, and the approaching Navy taking up the demon-spawns' attention...

[Private to Xander Lucian: The mist may actually help you hide -- of course, it also means there may be other things hiding in the mists as well. If you're paranoid you can always roll Awareness, again.

If I get no reply to this post in the next couple days, I'm going to just close this thread.]

Xander hearing the news of the a navy contigent coming shocks him into action he has to do all he can to either delay the ship or signal the navy. As the mist rises he smiles its time to show these pirates what he can do. First he checks if theres a port hole to open and if there is he opens it. Then moving to the door he listens for a second then if he doesn't hear anything he slowly opens the door allowing the air to waft out as if the wind had cause the door to drift open. He keeps his chakrams out in one had ready to strike if someone comes to investigate.



21:25, Today: Xander Lucian rolled 5 successes using 9d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 6,7,8,9,2,6,7,2,9. dex+stealth move silent.
21:24, Today: Xander Lucian rolled 3 successes using 8d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 8,8,4,5,7,3,2,5. perception+ awearness.

Xander's senses tell him no one seems to have seen or heard him at all... not yet, anyway.

The Air Aspect finds portholes and doors in the vicinity, but these are currently moot as he is standing on the main deck. He's out in the open right now, with the mysterious mists surrounding everything, and Loukan Hirdu and his men tied up and kneeling nearby. They don't seem to be doing very well; Xander can hear some sobbing from the less courageous, and groans of pain and confusion from Hirdu himself.

The Lintha ships' officers continue to shout orders. The Ambition is being turned about right now, though it's not moving at any significant speed.

[Private to Xander Lucian: Of course, if you want to do something below deck, on the bridge / pilot station, with the weaponry on board or whatever else, that's up to you... In any case I'm pretty close to having to fast forward here for the others to meet up, so summarize your plan before I do so.]

From the distance, now, Xander hears cannon fire, battle cries. The sharp screams of men in agony, the guttural growls of wounded demons.

The Ambition has weapons as well -- ballistae, mostly. The Lintha fire them into the fray, circling the main battle that has begun to form between the Lintha ships and the Navy. Xander hears the wooden crack of hulls being smashed. Splashes of water that could be dead men drowning or Lintha running across the waves. The deck begins to sway, as the tentacles beneath shift and reform into combat position.

And all through it is the sound of Hirdu and his crew, weeping and praying fervently and desperately for some miracle to get them through the day...

Hearing the crew call out Xander decides to act.  He moves towards the crew planning to take out any guards silently and free the crew in an effort to regain the ship.

"Gods, man, where have you been?" Captain Hirdu gasps when Xander appears out of nowhere in the mists to free him. He is wounded and in pain, but can still move. Fortunately for him perhaps, the Lintha Father had only kicked him, not cut him down. "They are using my vessel to do ill deeds," the dark-haired, mustachioed man hisses in a hushed tone. "I do not know why I have been spared. But we cannot let them do this."

He helps Xander free the others. "This mist... I don't like it at all," mumbles one of the crewmen. And another adds, "They won't leave us unguarded for long."

"But this is my ship," pronounces Hirdu, wheezing from the pain of his cracked ribs. He continues to speak in a low voice as the crew huddles close. "I know her, unlike they ever will. We'll need weapons -- let's take back the armory. We need control of the pilot station and the artillery after that. Let's move."

The Hirdu's Ambition is definitely on the move now -- the Lintha lieutenant on the ship is shouting a steady stream of commands, and the ships' weapons are firing. The Ambition has yet to receive any fire, but it is being maneuvered to intercept an approaching ship. Part of the Navy? It's very difficult to tell from here.

They will find out soon enough.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:13, Fri 30 Jan 2009.

"Avoiding capture unlike the rest of you." Xander says in a whisper. He keeps an eye out for any lintha. He nods at the captian when he talks about taking the armory. "Anyone who can move silently and fight unarmed come with me. The rest of you follow behind. If the lintha catch us your all done for."  With that he moves off with the captian to the armory.

Hirdu follows, still clutching at his bruised ribs, surrounded by three of his men. Two more move ahead, flanking Xander.

As they move toward the bowels of the ship, they hear the lieutenant shouting to coordinate his crew, and the distinctive sound of the heavy ballistae on board being fired. Whoever's receiving that barrage is likely getting a nasty surprise, assuming the strange chilling mist doesn't cover them.

Another pair of ballista shots splash nearby, from the Lintha's enemy. Looks like the battle will start getting heated. "Gah... they'd best not destroy my ship!" Hirdu wheezes quietly.

The corridors below deck are mostly empty, as the Lintha are mostly busy repelling the attacks. But there are still a pair guarding the armory -- if one could call them men. They are Lintha, low ranked, low-blooded Lintha, but nonetheless the blood of Kimbery flows through their veins.

[Private to Xander Lucian: All right, Xander, you've got a couple of folks with you who are stealthy types. Roll to try and sneak up to the guards.]

Xander moves like a shade slipping down the hallway and moveing from shadow to shadow. He uses the sound of battle to cover his approach as he positions himself to take out the guards.


21:45, Today: Xander Lucian rolled 9 successes using 9d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 10,4,9,8,10,10,3,6,9. stealth move silent.

The two Lintha don't see Xander and his two companions coming. Apparently, they're much too busy grumbling amongst one another about being stuck with guard duty without a chance at combat to prove the worth of their blood. Or something like that. Half of it isn't even in Seatongue, but they don't look happy.

Loukan Hirdu and the other three wait in a neighboring corridor, staying out of the way.

Xander has a perfect chance now to strike unseen. The other two with him creep into position to hopefully disable the Lintha with their fists, nodding at him that they're ready.

[Private to Xander Lucian: Go ahead and roll your attack! The Lintha have 0 DV against you and the others right now. Also, roll Join Battle just in case your initial attack(s) don't knock them out.]

Xander pulls out his distictive blue chakram. spinning them quickly upon the first finger of each hand he "throws" them one at each guard. The chakram fly swift and silent down the hall cutting the air just like they will soon cut into the flesh of the guards.

[Private to GM: 18:48, Today: Xander Lucian rolled 10 successes using 11d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 2,9,10,7,9,1,7,5,10,10,3. damage guard 2. actually 7
18:48, Today: Xander Lucian rolled 8 successes using 13d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 5,1,3,8,7,10,5,2,9,2,2,10,7. damage guard 1. actually 6
18:48, Today: Xander Lucian rolled 5 successes using 8d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 5,10,5,9,6,3,6,10. attack guard 2.
18:48, Today: Xander Lucian rolled 7 successes using 9d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 4,8,10,8,6,2,10,6,7. attack guard 1.
18:49, Today: Xander Lucian rolled 3 successes using 7d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 9,5,8,1,7,1,3. join battle].

Quick to take advantage of Xander's attack, the two crewmen leap from hiding almost simultaneously, grabbing and clinching the two wounded Lintha. The guards are severely disadvantaged, and Xander realizes he has another free shot at the Lintha guards while Hirdu's men attempt to stifle them from sounding an alarm.

[Private to Xander Lucian: Lucky for you, the Lintha lost the Join Battle, you get to act again a tick before they do. After subtracting for soak, guard 1 has taken 3L damage, guard 2 has 4L damage. Since the two men with you have them clinched, they have 0 DV, again!

So, if you attack again, remember this time that they're at 0 DV but have 5L soak.]

Hirdu's Ambition, below deck:

Xander's chakrams nick the Lintha again before they can even see who's coming for them. They struggle in the grip of their mortal attackers, the lesser wounded one managing to boldly shove free. The Lintha immediately draws his auhzian blade, advances and slashes at the man holding the other guard.

The human crewman lets out a yell of pain, nearly letting go of the second guard as the wickedly curved blade tears his arm down to the bone! (4L)

"Humans, you are not welcome here," the Lintha guard growls, glaring at his aggressors with slitted eyes. His wounds no longer bleed, staunched due to the strength of his demonic lineage. His clinched companion is in worse shape, but similarly controls the flow of his blood, clearly intending not to give up.

A loud clatter from the deck above is an indication of action occurring on the main deck. Loukan Hirdu and his three crewmen start running toward the armory now that the advantage of surprise is gone, intending to help if they can.

---

OOC: Someone's boarded the Ambition from above, so I'm going to start splitting this battle up. I'll make posts that are above deck and below deck to differentiate, so Xander, you'll only react to what's below until the above and below groups can meet..

actions (below deck)
tick 4 - Xander
tick 5 - Hirdu crewman/Lintha guard 1, Loukan Hirdu's group
tick 6 - Hirdu crewman/Lintha guard 2 (clinched)

These Lintha are pretty hurt now, guard 1 is at -2 penalty and guard 2 at -4.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:09, Thu 05 Feb 2009.

Hirdu's Ambition, above deck:

Zeru and crew are now aboard the artillery ship. The Lintha aboard have been manning the heavy ballistae on board in teams of two. Eight Lintha, joined by their subofficer -- a female, her head crowned with horns and sprouting a short, spiny tail. She wields both the traditional blade and a nasty looking thorny whip in her other hand.

"I am Lintha Dara-Said Sister Kizil, Second Daughter of Father Hazhain Sul! Woe on he who dares step foot on this vessel!" she proclaims, standing prominently atop the pilot's deck at the opposite end of the ship. She makes a sharp, imperious gesture, spouting several commands in guttural Old Realm. The Lintha artillerists straighten, readying weapons, and the first four closest to Zeru and his people advance!

"Whoa... they sure look mean up close!" Cinna whispers, while Antov grins, "Chin up! We'll take 'em down together!" Zeru's five crewmen ready their weapons, listening for their captain's next orders!

---

OOC: ok, Zeru, here's where you come in. Roll join battle! There's 3 distinct groups here. 4 Lintha maybe 5 yards away, another 4 at 25 yards away, and Lintha Kizil 30 away.

Zeru grins at the sub-officer. And bows with a flourish. "Peleps Zeru, First son of Peleps Kaizoku, and a better pirate than you could ever hope to be. Woe be to you who have harmed but a single feather of the Black Marlena." His voice remains calm and clear as a pool of still water.

He sets his chain into an easy rhythm one that looks easy to decipher, but the important thing is that it leaves the back half relatively motionless. The blue of his chain and his hearthstone bracers give him the look of an average sea with a good wind. The tails of his jacket are thrown back by the slight breeze and his hat ruffles only slightly.

"I will ask you once to stand down. I don't expect much, but everyone should at least be given the chance to end conflict without the loss of life." His smile widens back to the maddened state with his back thankfully to his crew. "Should you refuse to comply, my ship has asked that I destroy you utterly."

[Private to Storyteller: What does the Ship look like, 1 mast? how good does the wood look?
15:50, Today: Peleps Zeru rolled 4 successes using 3d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 5,10,10. JB. ]
This message was last edited by the player at 23:31, Thu 05 Feb 2009.

"Ahaha," laughs Kizil, striking a defiant pose with her sword-hand at her hip, "you have some nerve, human, to ask a Lintha to stand down. You have come upon us, trespassed our waters, involved yourself in a battle that is NOT yours... and you ask US to LEAVE?"

Her whip slashes through the air, making a distinct crack! She shouts two words in the Lintha's twisted language that quite obviously means something like: "Get them!"

Almost immediately afterward, the silent Sunden seems to... disappear from view. Zeru knows he is likely hidden close by, maneuvering around to a better position. Brogan and Curran, Antov and Cinna take up a close position to ensure the least chance of being separated and surrounded, as the first group of Lintha come close enough to attack...

---

OOC: ok Zeru, your turn, the others are either holding action or moving right now. [Private to Peleps Zeru: The ship is a two-master, it's made of pretty sturdy stuff I'd say, converted from a blue-water merchant ship to better hold artillery and weather naval combat. As I've been mentioning before, the ship doesn't have Lintha colors on it, leading you to believe it was recently captured.]

actions (upper deck)
tick 0 - Kizil + Lintha (further group)
tick 1 - Sunden
tick 2 - Zeru, Lintha (closer group), Brogan/Curran, Antov/Cinna

"Oh... I hope Marlena doesn't hold this against me." Zeru mutters under his breath. "Ambition, I apologize but there are intruders on your decks and I must fight to rid you of this pestilence."

"I gave you a chance..." Zeru calls to the sub-officer. "Now watch your men fall beneath the strength of Danaa'd." His arms flutter inside their sleeves, as his feet help him to position himself standing at the front of his crew, after all he was one to lead his troops to battle. "My chain is a tempest that mirrors the spirit of the sea." His grin and his eyes are bright. His chain taut as he lets her spin across both sides of his body to give it momentum before releasing some slack and allowing it to crash onto one of the Lintha from above. "Its waves crash against the rocks," he retracts the chain before it could hit the deck, he lets it wrap across his back as the chain ball shoots over his shoulder just missing his ear to hit another of them in the chest. "Its currents can stop any ship from progressing," he retracts it once more and sets it into it's spin. "And it's maelstroms will swallow you whole."

After his little demonstration he calls out to the sub-officer. "This ship does not belong to you, you might reconsider giving up." He smiles at the Lintha.

[Private to Storyteller: I'm hoping that I can say I saw the ships name as we boarded... if not feel free to change it to a general honorific.

15:20, Today: Peleps Zeru rolled 2 successes using 8d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 7,1,5,6,4,4,9,6. Crashing Wave
15:22, Today: Peleps Zeru rolled 4 successes using 12d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 5,5,6,10,4,5,2,7,3,2,5,8. Waves Damage.

15:21, Today: Peleps Zeru rolled 6 successes using 7d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 3,9,5,10,5,8,10. Halting Currents.15:22,
Today: Peleps Zeru rolled 7 successes using 12d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 9,1,2,6,10,8,10,3,1,9,1,6. Currents Damage.]

Zeru's first attack is handily parried by the Lintha attacked from above, who lets the chain ball ricochet harmlessly from the edge of his auzhian blade, inadvertently aiding the its momentum. The chain ball slams hard into the second Lintha's chest; he lets out a whuff of breath, clearly angered. (5L damage)

The group struck by Zeru retaliates immediately. Two of them slash at Zeru, who dodges them easily. The others strike at Cinna and Curran. Cinna's straight sword collides with the curved blade, and she pushes back with her shield, forcing him off. Curran very nearly looks like he'll get an arm chopped off, but a last minute burst of courage saves him -- his axe haft shoves the Lintha away!

Zeru's men, beside the currently unseen Sunden, split into pairs to retaliate. Cinna and Antov team up against the weakened Lintha. The redhead's blade stabs toward the demon-spawn's partially caved in chest, but misses, much to her chagrin. Antov's chopping sword strikes the Lintha hard on the back of the shoulder, but the blade manages to bounce off harmlessly. Curran does manage to nick his target, the boarding axe slashing at a demon-spawn's arm. (1L)

Not much of a start... they must be nervous taking on the Lintha up close. Kizil's taunting laughter from the stern of the Ambition doesn't help.

---

OOC: Apparently everyone currently engaged in combat ends up acting at the same tick right now (tick 6), so Zeru can attack again.

[Private to Peleps Zeru: Sigh, dice hate! I hate when damage rolls low. Also, just to clarify... Your first attack didn't get enough successes to hit. Also, they're wearing armor, so I had to subtract from your damage, eep! Their soak is 4L/7B.

Current DVs... the wounded Lintha is at a terrible 1 DV, the others are at 3 DV.]

His first volley being a test of the group's battle readiness Zeru aims his second flurry against an uninjured Lintha. "Do you think it wise, stepping up against a child of Danaa'd?" He asks, his voice dripping venom. He steps forward agressively, then seems to slide the rest of the way, his chain spinning over his head. He smiles as he uses the spin to attack the Lintha from his right side, then use the ricochet and a small spin to attack his left knee. Retracting the chain and settling into a new stance that has both jade ball spinning to either side of him.

[Private to Storyteller:
00:04, Today: Peleps Zeru rolled 4 successes using 7d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 10,5,3,5,7,4,8. Attack2, .
00:04, Today: Peleps Zeru botched using 8d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 6,1,6,6,4,1,3,5. Attack1.
00:05, Today: Peleps Zeru rolled 4 successes using 6d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 1,7,10,1,6,7. Damage if necessary. The penalty is your call. I'd like the opportunity to stunt dodge if possible]

Unfortunately for Zeru, lady luck is not being particularly kind. His first attack misses by a wide shot, imbalancing him enough to send him crashing to the ground! Nonetheless, Zeru is nimble enough to make it look as if he'd meant to do it in the first place, but the fall startles him enough to make the second attack miss.

"Zer... I mean. Captain!" Cinna exclaims, wide-eyed, before Antov taps her on the shoulder... "Better watch out, girl!" She and Antov step back just in time as two of the Lintha slash at the twins. Brogan's axe parries the blow directed at him handily, but Curran finds himself caught in a bad spot. The hook on the auhzian blade catches on his shoulder and tears a gash in it!

The other two attacking Lintha, seeing Zeru prone on the ground, gang up on him. One of them is the wounded one, obviously gloating at the idea of being able to get back at his attacker. His blade crackles with infernal energy as he slashes down at Zeru, followed by his unwounded comrade.

Desperate now, Zeru's group fights to retaliate. Curran stops to tear a strip of fabric from his shirt and bind his bleeding wound. Sunden appears seemingly out of nowhere and stabs at one of the unwounded Lintha with his knives, catching him by surprise. Brogan lets out a roar of anger and slashes at the Lintha that wounded Curran, chopping a nasty wound into the demon-spawn's arm! Cinna gets a lucky strike and skewers the wounded Lintha, bringing him down, and Antov's chopping sword nicks at the Lintha Brogan struck.

---

OOC: ok, this current group of Lintha is... 1 dead/dying (-4+), 1 wounded 3L (-1), 1 wounded 4L (-2), and one uninjured. Zeru is prone, and needs to stunt a dodge. [Private to Peleps Zeru: OK, 3 sux and 6 sux attacks on you, stunt as you wish! You are at -3 DV due to 2 attacks + the -1 external penalty from being knocked prone. If you want to get up and attack you'll have to split your action, getting up counts as a miscellaneous action.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:57, Tue 10 Feb 2009.

"I don't think I have much to worry about," Kizil laughs from where she watches the battle, flicking her whip idly. She doesn't even bat an eye when one of her men goes down.

"Don't be beaten down by mere humans. Destroy them! For the glory of Dara-Said and Kimbery!"

Xander frowns a the sheer toughness of these pirates he'll have to remember to workout more to penatrate their tough skin. Taking aim at the guard thats borken free he lets two more chakram goe flying. In order to help penatrate the tough skin and armor of these demons he delays the seond throw slight ly so it follows exactly behind the first throw hitting the exact same spot to more easily penatrate.


[Private to GM: 20:36, Today: Xander Lucian rolled 9 successes using 11d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 2,10,8,8,8,3,9,3,7,8,8. attack 2 damage. actually 8 damage
20:36, Today: Xander Lucian rolled 2 successes using 3d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 9,7,5. attack 1 damage essence min.
20:34, Today: Xander Lucian rolled 10 successes using 7d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 10,8,10,10,7,10,6. attack 2 guard 1.
20:34, Today: Xander Lucian rolled 2 successes using 8d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 6,2,2,8,4,8,1,2. attack guard 1.  ]

Zeru smiles at the wounded Lintha as his sword begins to crackle with infernal energy. As the brute raises his sword for a mighty chop Zeru uses the ship's rolling to more quickly roll his body out from under harms way, As the second one brings his sword down, Zeru almost folds his body in half pulling his legs up to his chest. As the ship pitches in the other direction he tenses all his muscles and springs to his feet.

As he does this he lets the uncoiling of his body help his hands swing the Jade ball onto the knee of one of the wounded Lintha.

[Private to Storyteller:
20:50, Today: Peleps Zeru rolled 4 successes using 7d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 9,9,8,5,7,4,2. Attack.
20:51, Today: Peleps Zeru rolled 1 success using 6d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 3,8,5,1,6,3. Damage. My deepest apologies, but when you show damages would you be able to put the penalties they're on? It'll help me calc my damage...]

Hirdu's Ambition, below deck:

The Lintha grimaces wrathfully as Xander's chakram spin towards him. He parries the first with a defiant slash, sending it ricocheting aside before it disappears in a flash of blue light. But the second chakram is too fast for him, propelled right under the hook of his blade to bury in his neck. He falls back, dead.

Hirdu and the other men come up in time to aid with the last Lintha guard. While the crewman grappling the Lintha holds on tight, another man slams the demon-spawn with a right hook to the face, and Captain Hirdu himself finishes with a bruising gut punch. "Serves you right," growls the mustachioed captain, spitting in the Lintha's face when he slumps to the ground. "These beasts deserve no mercy... after what they did to our friends! Back to Malfeas with you!" His boot slams into the unconscious Lintha's throat, crushing his spine.

Then Hirdu looks at Xander. "A thousand thanks, friend... now let's arm ourselves, men." Xander doesn't need it, but Hirdu and crew do. Locked in the armory is an impressive selection of mundane weapons, even firedust weapons. Firewands with bayonets, flamepieces, cutlasses of fire-blessed steel. Each man takes a blade and or a firearm, sometimes both, and puts on armor: lamellar, or buff jackets, mostly. Hirdu wears a fine reinforced breastplate to cover his wounded ribs.

Thus prepared, Hirdu urges Xander and the others to follow him above deck!

---

OOC: It'll still be a little while before you emerge upstairs Xander, maybe after another turn from Zeru's team, I'll cue when it's time (though you can still post out-of-combat reactions that don't involve what's going on above)

Hirdu's Ambition, above deck:

The jade ball of Zeru's fighting chain slams into and actually cracks the wounded Lintha's knee backward. He howls in pain -- some sort of Malfean curse, to be certain -- and folds, unconscious.

The two remaining lift their blades, slashing at the two who had brought their fellows down: Zeru and Cinna. The wounded of the pair goes for Cinna first, again calling on the Essence of their dark blood -- a powerful, overwhelming strike that neither sword nor shield can deflect. She lets out a short scream as the blade tears a gash into her side.

"Ggghh... You m-monster..." Cinna wobbles, nearly dropping her weapon in her haste to staunch the blood. "I... won't... be killed by the likes of you..." Zeru barely has time to react as another demon slashes hard at him, blazing darkly. [Private to Peleps Zeru: 10 successes this time. Man, they rolled well with their excellencies, ouch.]

Brogan and Curran (still wounded, but no longer bleeding) brandish their axes to aid their lady friend, working together to overwhelm the wounded Lintha. Brogan makes a horizontal chop that gashes the demon-spawn shallowly, distracting it just in time for Curran to strike him in the head with an overhead blow. Amazingly, the Lintha remains standing -- just barely, as dark blood flows from the open wound in his forehead. [Private to Peleps Zeru: if you're looking at the rolls, I'd forgotten to account for added defenses by excellency, so I had to reduce Curran's damage roll slightly. Still, their guy took a lot of damage.]

Antov and Sunden strike at their foe, using similar tactics to surround and overwhelm. They only manage minimal damage together, nicking the Lintha's forearm and piercing the back of his shoulder respectively, but it's still enough to make their foe falter slightly.

"They won't outlast us, the poor fragile creatures," Kizil says cruelly, and languidly waves two more of her men to replace the ones that fell. "Crush them, or are you worthless weakbloods? GO!"

As the pair she singles out step forward, though, Zeru and his team hear the sounds of footsteps and voices approaching from below deck. "Hurry men," he hears--a human voice! "Let's pray we are not too late!"

---

OOC: OK, Cinna has 4L (-2) damage, Curran has 3L (-1). For the Lintha there's one at 6L damage (-4), another at 2L (-1), one dead and one unconscious. Everyone else is healthy.

actions
tick 14 - Zeru, 2 wounded Lintha, Brogan/Curran
tick 15 - Cinna
tick 16 - Antov/Sunden, 2 unwounded Lintha (approaching)

Kizil and 2 Lintha are holding actions.

Hirdu+crew and Xander will arrive and be able to act by tick 20. (so after this next turn cycle with Zeru, etc.)

"You think to stop me?" Zeru roars towards his opponent. Instead of skittering back to avoid the chop Zeru skitters forward to rob it of it's power. "You doubt my strength to rid this innocent ship of the likes of you? Mine is the strength of Danaa'd herself." Zeru's own shoulders make it impossible for the hooked sword to cleave him, and once the chop is averted Zeru's eyes focus, and the irises seem to spin. He steps around the Lintha gliding across the deck with no effort. "You will witness the fury of a seafaring hero." With this statement his stance changes. The spin of the jade chain changes slightly, but then it seems almost impossible to read. As the Lintha tries to get back into a favorable position Zeru feints a punch, but uses the motion to redirect the direction of the chain into a vicious uppercut.

[Private to Storyteller: Defensive: channel conviction on protecting the spirit of the innocent ship.
Offensive:Activating sea-faring hero forms.
(OOC: Dunno how you want to do this... the rules say that it eliminates external negs up to my essence but since most combat takes place on a ship we've pretty much eliminated that... the only thing left is the reduce DV for reduce damage... this I will likely take, but curious as to handle the effects... for 5 motes...?)
16:49, Today: Peleps Zeru rolled 3 successes using 7d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 1,8,6,10,2,6,4. Uppercut Chain.]

As Zeru gathers his Essence and assumes the Seafaring Hero Form, the battle continues all around him.

The two wounded Lintha decide to strike at the targets they deem 'lesser'. One slashes at Curran, and with a lucky shot etches another gash into the burly man's side. The more severely wounded one attempts to finish off Cinna, but is so uncoordinated he manages to trip himself up, striking himself on the forehead. He sags down, unconscious.

Brogan stands protectively before his brother, his axe held aloft as he growls in a rare show of anger. The hatchet lashes out and nicks the side of the other Lintha's neck. Curran, despite his heavily wounded state, refuses to be counted out, burying his axe in the demon-spawn's back. The impact forces the Lintha down to his knees, where he crumples to the deck.

The two approaching Lintha reach their fallen comrades and step over them with hardly a look. Moving in tandem, they slash at Sunden and Brogan. The mute man is slashed hard across the ribs, and stumbles back, coughing blood! But Brogan manages to fend off the attack on him, retaliating with another axe-chop at his attacker that cuts shallowly across the chest.

Antov faces off with the Lintha that struck Sunden, skinning part of his arm with his chopping sword. Cinna jabs at Brogan's opponent with her straight sword, poking the sharp tip of her blade into the Lintha's ribcage. Sunden and Curran take a breather to tend to their wounds.

Only then does Zeru's chain attack slam into the chin of one of the two Lintha remaining--but disappointingly inflicts only minimal damage.

---

OOC: Cinna wounded 3L(-1), Curran wounded 5L(-2), Sunden wounded 4L(-2). Man, they're going to be in trouble... *sigh* Kizil and 2 Lintha remain unscathed (and something like 20 yards away from Zeru). 1 Lintha close by is at 2L damage (-1), the other at 3L damage (-1). 4 Lintha are now unconscious or dying.

[Private to Peleps Zeru: As for the DV for reducing damage thing, this is something you can do voluntarily as a free reflexive, so it takes no action or further cost (beyond the 5m you just spent) to do. At any time while the form is up, you could decide to lower your DV against a single attack by up to 3, and negate anywhere from 3 to 9 dice of damage before soak applies.

Lastly I should mention that you don't get to attack in the same round you use a simple charm, activating that charm uses your entire action (it's a 6 tick action). So I had you attack in your next turn instead. I rolled extra dice for you for +2 stunt, also you should have had 10 dice on that attack not 7, so I rolled 3 more for that. The dice really hate you though :/ you got NO extra successes, and only got 1 damage because I mercifully rerolled your 0 damage.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:53, Thu 12 Feb 2009.

"You are all talk and no bite," purrs Kizil at Zeru, her eyes flashing in irritation. She steps forward from her place at the stern of the ship, motioning the last pair of Lintha to follow. "Your men are weakened, or do you not care with them? I understand such a sentiment. A man who cannot defend himself is not worth the effort to save."

She strides forward -- then stops, grimacing at the new group that emerges from below deck, stepping in between Zeru's group and Kizil's. A rather short, stout, ruddy faced man with a black greased mustache moves to the forefront of his five men, pointing a fire-steel cutlass toward the female Lintha subofficer as he wheezes slightly. "It is with the utmost pleasure that I say, GET THE BLOODY HELLS OFF MY SHIP."

Xander is with this group as well, and finds himself between Lintha on both sides. Toward the bow of the ship is a pair of demon-spawn fighting a blue-haired man he finds quite familiar [Private to Xander Lucian: in fact it's the same one that was hanging around when you got that artifact from the puzzle game] and five other people, three of whom are wounded. One of the wounded is a woman that he remembers was the blue-haired man's companion. [Private to Peleps Zeru: You'd recognize Xander too, from back in Seahaven when you tried the puzzle game. This fellow was the one that won!]

Toward the stern is a Lintha female with a hooked auhzian blade and a thorn-whip, and another pair of Lintha. They are the closest of the two groups of demon-spawn, though his chakram would reach any one of them.

---

OOC: actions
tick 20 - Hirdu+crew and Xander, Antov/Brogan
tick 21 - Sunden
tick 22 - Kizil + Lintha (2), Wounded Lintha (2)
tick 23 - Curran/Cinna
tick 24 - Zeru
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:52, Thu 12 Feb 2009.

As Kizil taunts him Zeru's eyes grow cold and dark, the merciless nature of sea shining in them. Before Hirdu's men have a chance to act Zeru calls out to them. "Captain, if you would stay your blade. This woman has impugned my honor and I would be hard spent to locate her in the afterlife, I would duel her. If you and your men could assist mine in cleaning up this rabble I would be in your debt, they have been fighting hard and their enemy has gotten slightly lucky." Although he's addressing the captain his eyes never leave Kizil's they just stare into her, and should she stare beck she'd find herself looking into the abyss of blue that swallows ships. "Well Dara-Said sister Kizil, now that I have warmed myself up with your men what say you to fighting a real challenge?"

[Private to Storyteller: Ahh... my apologies.]

"W-who are you?" Loukan Hirdu lowers his blade, bewildered and scandalized by Zeru's audacity. He almost looks ready to snap at the man who thinks to steal his vengeance from him -- to duel the very demon-wench who commandeered his beloved Ambition!

But Hirdu has not survived as long as he has just by pure luck. He is a wise enough man to know his body is older, and wounded at that, and this young upstart Dragon-blood may very well have a much better chance to take on Kizil. "Well," the mustachioed captain says grudgingly, breathing with difficulty (he appears to have been hurt in the chest), "go on then, man. Be my champion, defend your honor and mine! Men, we'll cleanse the last of these cursed demon-spawn from my Ambition's fair deck!"

As Hirdu and his group charge in, supporting the wounded Marlena crew, Kizil raises her eyebrows with mild interest at Zeru's offer. She leaps down from the poop deck as she saunters over to meet him, and croons silkily between grotesquely fanged teeth, "Give me your worst, Zeru son of Kaizoku." Accepting the challenge, she lifts the hooked auhzian blade in an offensive stance, her whip-hand held behind her back so that the thorny weapon trails like a second tail.

---

OOC: Well, to speed things up here, I am going to abstract the battle between the crewmen (both Zeru's and Hirdu's) and the lesser Lintha now. The Lintha are outnumbered anyway, so it's duel time Zeru and Kizil :)

Xander if you like you can step in and help the combat against the other Lintha, too. There's 4 of them left, and at least one is pretty wounded.

Zeru steps forward slowly looking to close the gap between him and Kizil just enough to give him the advantage. Tempest spinning once more in a predictable pattern. "I hope by worst you don't mean that you expect me to lose." he says with a confident grin.

"Just don't waste my time," Kizil shoots back wrathfully, pressing the offensive with her wickedly hooked blade. The auhzian sword slashes at Zeru's throat, then plunges toward his chest.

At the last moment she points her blade downward and leaps back several feet, lashing out with the thorn-whip instead. The barbed, serrated weapon threatens to wrap around the Marlena captain's arms and torso, and pin him into a painful clinch.

[Private to Peleps Zeru: Kizil rolled poorly, poor her. She got 5, 3 and 4. All miss. I'll let you describe and gloat and whatnot and try to strike her back.]

At the same time, the battle between the remaining Lintha and the Hirdu crew continues. Antov and Brogan refuse to be counted out of the fight, either, and step in to help! Blades and axes, swords and shields cross, some yielding, others not. It is mostly Lintha blood that falls.

Zeru stands calmly, as the Lintha woman charges him, the lopsided smile never faltering never revealing more than a slight excitement. As she swings to tear out his throat as any animal would do, Zeru lazily leans back and lets the blade miss him by less than an inch. He lets go of the chain with his left hand placing it in front of him, palm towards Kizil before moving it in a tight circle and letting the bracer guide the blow away from him. In letting go Zeru changes the direction of the chain's spin, from a lazy swing that hangs off of his right side to a swing that crosses his body. The woman lashes out with her thorn studded whip, and Zeru more so than most opponents understands the deadly consequences of complacency against a soft weapon such as that. He takes a quick step backwards, and it looks like he just slid back when the ship rocked. With a flash of his eyes, Zeru advances, but more than than he uses his step to speed up the speed of the jade ball on the end of the chain. Tempest extends as it rains down upon her, cutting off her retreat, and using her own attempts to parry against her.

[Private to GM: 08:44, Today: Peleps Zeru rolled 3 successes using 10d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 5,5,9,5,10,1,1,6,1,2. Pouring Rain.
Dodge Parry Dodge
I don't know what her armor is so I'll let you handle the damage. Also I'm going to assume she has a whip excellency... I hope...]

Kizil scowls as Zeru easily evades her strikes, his movements as mercurial as water. As his jade chain extends to strike her, she lifts her blade to deflect or at least divert it from a direct path. Catching the chain in the hook of her weapon, she yanks it downward, rendering the attack all but worthless.

This time she lashes out with the whip first, attempting to wrap it around Zeru's legs and knock him down. Failing that, she lunges at him wrathfully, unleashing a pair of slashes at his chest, attempting to bury the hooked end into his flesh and tear rough, bloody gashes out of him.

[Private to Peleps Zeru: Her parry DV was 5-3=2 and she added a WP to defend. So, missed. :( She missed too, though, the dice are being pretty stingy. 5, 1 and then 5 sux, that last slash nearly hit but you had 5 DV still. (8 -2 onslaught -1 for attacking)

And yes, she does have an excellency. Lintha apparently get the Attribute+Ability limit, too (in CoTD:The West). On the flip side, she has less motes than Celestials would have and less than many Dragonblooded too, probably.

Next turn Kizil will start expending Valor though, trying to hit 8 DV is hard ;)]

Zeru leaps over the incoming whip, ducks his body into a roll, and lets his chain extend to keep from breaking his rhythm. As he comes back to his feet slaps Kizil's first attack away with his bracers, and then pirouettes around the Lintha to avoid the second. As Zeru spins the chain wraps around his waist. And when he finishes a quick tug has it unraveling around from his waist to Kizil's waist trapping her arms at her sides.

[Private to Storyteller: 09:49, Today: Peleps Zeru rolled 6 successes using 10d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 1,10,9,7,2,9,2,5,5,7. Clinch attempt. ]

Kizil realizes a second too late that she has overextended herself. Tendrils of dark essence surround her sword arm as she attempts to deflect the chain, but rather than bouncing it off, it wraps the blade along with her, holding her arms fast.

Hirdu and his men, Antov and Brogan have slain or subdued the remaining Lintha. The Lintha flagship -- following a strange ripple of Essence that Zeru could see even from here, the result of a powerful attack -- appears to be pulling away from the Dryad now. Even the Navy has made significant progress, and sends off a warning shot at the enemy flagship, hastening what appears to be the beginnings of a Lintha retreat.

The Black Marlena is coming close as well, wheeling back now that the danger appears to have lessened.

Kizil, now Zeru's captive, glares at the Marlena's captain with baleful, slitted eyes. "Dragonet, you won't hold me for long. I would rather die than help you in any way, or be privy to your laws!" She spits on the ground, her saliva actually sizzling slightly as it strikes the deck near Zeru's foot.

Captain Hirdu, breathing heavily with another slash on his arm to go with the crushed ribs, starts to approach the captive Lintha. "No mercy..." he growls. "You don't deserve it."

[Private to Peleps Zeru: Well, you succeeded at the clinch, and I'm trying to bring the main battle to an end. She still has a chance to escape, though, you'll have to roll Dex+MA to keep the clinch. If you don't stop Hirdu he may just kill her himself though.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:11, Fri 20 Feb 2009.

"See... I don't need to kill you." Zeru says spitefully. "I'm the obvious victor of our duel, and your men are finished. Your death doesn't serve me in any way. Of course there's the captain to deal with in this matter." He looks towards Hirdu. "It's up to you sir,"

Xander watched the battle going on trying to decided if he should reveal more about himself and his style in such an open enviroment. It went against his nature to fight with so many witnessess and the crew seemed to have them handled nicly. He turns his attention back to the duel figuring he would attack if the man even seemed to be losing but it seemed once again that he wasn't needed. HE wondered who he was and why fate had seen fit to bring them together again.

He slips up next to Zeru and the captian. "It is indeed your decision Captian but it seems she wants to die and so such is not a fitting punishment for her crimes."

Rage flashes in Loukan Hirdu's dark eyes as he comes up behind the Lintha woman, raising his fire-enchanted blade.

Kizil does not cower -- never that. Nor does she growl any more. Instead, when the demon-spawn sees it is Hirdu who has come to finish her, she smiles. "Anger becomes you, puny human. When I die, I will join my forebears in defending our sister island, and I will remember you and your dragonet friend well. No matter what you do, I will live on. You cannot defeat us."

But Hirdu stays his blade, if briefly, at Xander's words. He looks straight at the assassin and says, "So, what do you think is worthy for her? The crimes of Kizil and the Lintha are many. They stole, defaced my ship, devoured over half my crew. You saw that for yourself. What could possibly be a fitting end for this one? Perhaps we shall give her over to the Wavecrest Navy as a prize?"

Kizil grits her teeth, struggling futilely against Zeru's chain. "You wouldn't dare!"

"Or will you tell us what Hazhain Sul sought here in Nevermoor? I'd be willing not to shame your cursed name, for that!"

---

OOC: Well, she couldn't break free. Zeru and/or Xander could try to see if they can intimidate or manipulate Kizil into talking.

Over toward the other end of the ship, Cinna, Curran and Sunden nurse their wounds wearily, while Antov, Brogan and the other men under Hirdu's command set about dealing with the other defeated Lintha. Those that look like they are breathing are soon trussed up much as Hirdu himself once was, to await the Captain's judgment. The crew of the Ambition is not in much of a mood for mercy: they make it painful, and they keep their blades at the Lintha's throats.

The Marlena is starting to pull even with the Ambition now. Zeru feels a sense of impatience from her, and a little bit of smugness; she clearly thinks herself the more attractive ship.

"Antov, Brogan help our friends onto the Marlena, she wants to stretch a bit. I'll be there shortly." He turns to regard the other man with the Captain. "Hey I remember you, you won the puzzle box. You're part of this crew then?" He seems to be completely ignoring the ties up Lintha at his feet.

"Na." Xander replied. "I just took up with her for awile. Fancy meeting you here though."

"You got it, cap'n," Antov calls over to Zeru. Brogan's response is more a grunt than words, but no less heartfelt.

By the time the Marlena comes to a stop, allowing her partly wounded crew to board, the black wings that had manifested alongside her hull are gone. She appears a mundane courier again, though anyone who dares call her 'mundane' might well feel her wrath!

Lintha Sister Kizil does not appear ready or willing to give Hirdu any information at all. "Nevermoor is ours," she says quietly, seething. "You need know nothing more." She knows that by now her flagship, the Kri Kiamo, has already departed. Kizil may as well be no better than a filthy human, now, for no respectable Lintha would take her back once she has fallen into human possession. So she speaks with no concern for her life. "I personally savored the man you called brother, Captain Hirdu. His flesh was most refreshing. You'll not spare me to the Navy... you'll keep me, or you'll kill me. I know your hateful little heart will be satisfied with nothing less!"

"ENOUGH!" Hirdu roars, though his bruised ribs pain him. Again his blade looks ready to cut her down, and her eyes dance with bitter triumph. "...Enough. That is all from you." He brings down the pommel of his blade to knock the Lintha woman out cold. That done, he motions to two of his own crewmen to tie her up and gag her so that Zeru can reclaim his chain.

Then the Ambition's captain nods toward Zeru and Xander. "Thank you again for your help. Both of you. Zeru--that's your name, eh fellow? I'd very much like to meet the captain of that splendid warship flying the Cobalt colors, if you could help me arrange that." From the direction he points, Hirdu clearly means the Spring Dryad II. Xander would remember that ship as well, he had seen it docked at Seahaven the day before he left. "Of course if you want some compensation... anything... feel free to ask, from the armory or the coffers. Can't put a price on saving our lives, but it's the least I can do."
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:13, Sun 22 Feb 2009.

"Aye sir Peleps Zeru, at your service." Zeru says with a bow, flicking his wrist and letting his chain wrap around his body. He starts walking towards the side of the ship, "I'll see what I can do. As for compensation we don't really need anything. Seeing the demon spawn relinquish their grip on your wonderful ship is enough. As for you my friend," He turns around ,standing on the banister of the ship as though the rocking had nothing to do with him, and addresses Xander. "You might well speak to the Captain yerself, the Alliance is a safe haven for us without direction, and it provides a purpose, to me at least."

With that he steps off the side of the ship and onto the waiting Marlena. Plucking up Coral and taking his place at the helm he smiles. "You have been avenged my lady, most of the crew is dead, and their captain likely suffering a fate she finds worse than death. I thank you for your aid." He looks at Coral, "Did you fancy being the captain for a while?"

On the Hirdu's Ambition:

"Fair fortunes to you, Captain Zeru." Loukan Hirdu seems to pause slightly at the mention of Zeru's family name, which is obviously a Great House of the Realm. But he waves him off with a friendly gesture.

With the few men he has left to him, he orders a pair to watch Kizil, and the rest to deal with the other boarders. The Lintha on deck stripped of their possessions and killed, should any of the wretches be breathing. "Toss 'em to the sea men. Right back to the demon-mother's breast!" He kicks one of the bodies off personally, seeming to relish the act.

"We'll need to purify the entire ship. Gods, I lost so many good men..."

Hirdu shakes his head agitatedly, then seems to remember Xander's presence there. "Xander, what'll it be for you? Are you continuing with us or joining with the Cobalt Alliance? Either way, we're going in the same direction, for now -- assuming their leader will speak with us."
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:46, Mon 23 Feb 2009.

On the Black Marlena:

Lucky Coral greets Zeru with an energetic "Mau!" Obviously, being the leader is natural for a feline.

Marlena's reply conveys a tone of smug satisfaction. "Good, good. I am pleased our intervention was worth the trouble. Some of my crew is injured, though. Let them rest for a few days." Surprising generosity from a normally temperamental spirit. But it seems even Marlena has started to think of Antov, Brogan, Curran, Cinna and Sunden as 'hers'.

All five crewmen are back on board the Marlena now, though the three who were wounded will not be up to working for a while. Particularly Curran and Sunden, who took the most injury. Cinna is hurt as well, though she's being quite stubborn and insisting "Oh, it's just a flesh wound!" It'll probably be quite a trial to get her to rest properly.

"So where we headed now, back to the flagship?" asks Antov.

[Private to Peleps Zeru: Once you reply to this you can go back to the Isles of Nevermoor thread.]

Zeru puts Coral affectionately into his pocket. "Thank you my lady," He says with a bow. He sets them on course for the Dryad.

"Aye Antov we're headed to the Dryad. If Master Tageru isn't too busy he may be able to help speed up the healing process. I'm sure that we aren't the only ones who have wounded so I'll ask you men. Do you think you need the supernatural healing?" After the battle he seemed drawn, almost tired although he had energy enough. "I must also ask Captain Lasuri to meet with the Captain of the Ambition, and possibly that young man who solved the puzzle box."

He looks at the wounds, "These are deep," he mentions to Sunden and Curran. "I may ask Tageru to see to you to ensure your continued health." He picks up Cinna's arm, looking at it intently. "While this may not be as deep as theirs yours will also require a moderate amount of rest. But as the Marlena needs some slight repairs and the chores still need doing you'll be in charge of assigning them among Antov, Brogan and myself. Curran, Sunden, you will rest and have Tageru look at you incrementally until you are fit for work. The Marlena thanks you all and asks that you rest to regain your strength. That goes for you too missy." He teases Cinna, "You wouldn't want to make her mad would you?"

Sunden, lacking a tongue to speak, bows his head while Curran replies. "Took some pretty hard hits sir, I'd welcome the help should mister Tageru spare it. Sunden's not much better off... though I'm tougher. If only one of us gets help it ought to be him." The mute man shrugs and turns his head, less of a refusal than a fine, if you think so...

"All right, all right," Cinna smiles to reassure Zeru. "No need to upset the lady Marlena. But I'll start assessing repairs right away!" She stands up too quickly, knees wobbling, then immediately sits back down with a grimace. "Ugh... okay... or maybe I'll rest a bit first..." she amends sheepishly.

With Antov and Brogan manning the sails, the Marlena makes its way back toward the Dryad.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:35, Wed 25 Feb 2009.

Xander was about to answer as Zeru walked off to see to his ship. He turns to the captian and gives a nod of his head. "Well If you don't mind I'll do as our friend suggested and talk to the Alliance."

Hirdu chuckles and pats Xander on the shoulder, "Of course not! You're a free man, after all, and you more than deserve the choice after your help."

The Ambition does not follow immediately behind the Marlena, but keeps some distance in case the Dryad still sees their approach as hostile. Hirdu does order the artillery to be disarmed and covered up, though, once he sees the Lintha are in full retreat.

"If anything, I can speak on your behalf. Here's hoping they're a friendly sort!"

---

OOC: Thread end :) There should be a new thread by tomorrow night (or early Friday with how things are currently going)
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:42, Thu 26 Feb 2009.