19-22nd Day of Ascending Water, RY 768
En route

The Dryad and the Marlena sail swiftly southeastward, propelled by Jadira's favorable winds. Built for speed, the First Age vessels and its accompanying courier make quick work of the miles between Seahaven and the Wavecrest islets.

Their course has taken them close to more than one contingent of Wavecrest Navy ships. Patrols seem to have doubled along this way. Once or twice the Cobalt Alliance has been bade to stop and identify themselves, and each time were given the same warning: steer away from Nevermoor. They speak of mysterious mists that rose to dwarf the island chain. Of ships lost within and survivors escaped with horror stories of demon sailors that ate men.

Some declared them Lintha. Others, Fair Folk. Whichever it was... they were certainly trouble.

By afternoon on the third day of their voyage, the lookout on the crow's nest points out the border of the mists, perhaps a couple hours voyage ahead -- far enough for the Dryad and Marlena to decide whether to skirt around the mist or move straight through it.

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OOC: If you had done anything of importance during the 3 days of voyage, go ahead and note that in your next post as well.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:49, Tue 20 Jan 2009.

Kareth had spent the last several days staying to himself mostly.  If something needed to be repaired, he did it, but otherwise he didn't inflict the crew with his dower personality... for the most part.

Seeing as she was they were the two officers, he had immediately informed both Jadira and Lasuri that he also possessed the same boon for communication which Darel apparently uses.  As such, he would be able to help facilitate communication between the two groups in case of an emergency if they knew where the other group was located.  In fact, over the last few days, he had been asked to relay some messages to the Marlena on occasion, as use of this boon over short distances was far more cost effective.

Much of his spare time the first day on the water was spent placing his few possessions into his quarters.  As far as anyone could see, these mostly consisted of books, tools, and a few changes of clothes.  However, he had not let anyone assist him with his things beyond pointing him in the direction of his room and many of his possessions remained locked in a chest.

His second day on the ship consisted of inspections of the essence cannons he had heard about.  After he had seen to it that they were in working order.  He also tended to the maintenance of his own magitech, as well as any other he managed to find.

On the third day, Kareth happened to be on deck whenever the mist came into view.  He had just been seeking Jadira to inquire her about matters of the occult.  The day before, he had heard through the crew some rumblings about a ghost and exorcisms, the details of which he got from the first mate upon asking.  He had politely offered his services in the matter in exchange for being kept abreast on the subject, insisting that he had received the same education in occult matters that sorcerer engineers of Lookshy did, despite not ever having been able to achieve initiation into their ranks.  Today, Kareth had intended to inquire as to who else on the ship might have knowledge of Occult matters because at some point, he felt it would be prudent for him to learn more on the subject.  However, once the mist came into site, he quickly set his inquiries aside to spend several moments looking at the mist, trying to see if he could figure out if it had magical properties of some sort which could riddled out.

Once the others began to arrive, Kareth wasted no time in giving his opinion.  "With all due respect, if we don't need to sail into the mist then I am against doing so.  I see no point in limiting our visibility if it's at all possible.  Especially when we know there are those would prey on us who use said mist to hide themselves."

[Private to GM: I'm trying to make an Occult roll to see anything magical about the mist, either naturally or through some apprentice level thuamaturgy if plain book smarts doesn't cut it.  The order of the rituals I'll use are Essence Sence (Art of Geomancy, Core book) then Dragon Line Compass (Art of Geomancy, Oadenal's Codex)]
This message was last edited by the player at 16:01, Sat 17 Jan 2009.

Tageru offered a sparring match to Kiana and, in case she accepted, only held back from doing lethal damage, so as not to seriously hurt his sparring partner. [Private to Kiana Makohgn; Storyteller: OOC: if you want, we can actually roll the combat, but I'm a bit low on time in the next 10 days or so...]

When the suspicious-looking mists show up, Tageru simply stands on the ship's helm and closes his eyes for a moment, and when he opens them, he seems like in a trance, and there is suddenly a soft, green glow around him from his anima.

[Private to Storyteller: OOC: Activating Pasiap's Humility for 3 motes to see immaterial spirits in case there are any.
Also: 12:29, Today: Cynis Tageru rolled 3 successes using 6d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 5,1,6,9,8,7. Int+Occult, the mist, what could it be. ]

Jadira's primary duty in these days was to call up the winds when needed to speed up their course. Other than that, she spent her time studying the notes she brought with her from her studies at the Seahaven libraries, deeply interested in the nuances and superstitions that flavored Western sorcery and thaumaturgy. Eventually, with further study, extrapolation and practice, she would be able to learn a spell or two from the various diagrams and annotated rituals -- but for now these remain mental exercises only.

Being as much a social creature as a studious one, though, Jadira also took the time to mingle with the crew, whether mortals or Exalts. She spent her nights with Lasuri, of course, but she also took periodic breaks from studies to amuse herself with the gunnery crew, watch Tageru and Kiana spar, speak with Kiana alone (particularly since seemed to prefer female company), or chat with Kareth on occult matters. She seemed quite interested to inquire about the training of Lookshy sorcerer-engineers, and spoke in turn of her training at the Heptagram (though there were aspects of her education that even 8 years away from the Realm could not dissuade her from keeping secret).

Now, standing near Kareth as the mists come into view, Jadira shakes her head. "Sailing thoughtlessly into the mists would definitely be foolish. But we are here to investigate unusual activity in this region. We can skirt the mist, but not without attempting to understand its nature, at least." Once the Dryad moves close enough for observation, the Wood Aspect starts noting specific details: the color and thickness, the positioning compared to visible land-masses (if any), whether it seems to originate from water, earth or sky. From there she recalls from her occult studies any accounts of mist-like phenomena she may have read, particularly those with some connection to the sea or the Western direction.

[Private to GM: Int+Occult attempt, I hope!]

Kareth employs thaumaturgy rituals learned from his Lookshy education, quickly discovering that the mist is not simply mundane but contains, or is itself some Essence manifestation.

Tageru's Immaculate training allows him to see the mists for what they really are. The mists themselves hide no dematerialized spirits he can make out, however... [Private to Cynis Tageru: you also see something moving beneath the water, a misshapen mass of tentacles, large enough to be seen even from this distance.] Drawing from their studies of supernatural beings, both Jadira and Tageru are fairly certain of what the mists really mean. [Private to Cynis Tageru, Jadira Thornbloom: The mist signifies the presence of eristufa (COCD: West p. 132-33), which means there's also a high likelihood someone hiding in that mist actually summoned them, too.] [Private to Cynis Tageru: You're also sure there's more than one, since you see one manifested in tentacle form in the water.]

As realization sets in for the occult-knowledgable, the Dryad continues on its course toward the mist-shrouded isles. Zeru, from his perspective on the neighboring courier, notices a single ship's sail coming their way at speed from the direction of the mists. Kiana's ever attentive senses catch this detail as well, but Captain Lasuri seems for the moment completely oblivious.

"NO! NO! NO! TURN US BACK, NOW!", Tageru shouts "LINTHA! TURN US BACK! IF WE ENTER THESE MISTS NOW WE'RE DEAD! TURN THIS SHIP AROUND NOW!" The green glow around his body shines a bit stronger and he takes up his bow and knocks the first arrow, then turns his head toward whoever is at the ship's wheel. "NOW! OR WE ALL DIE!"
This is actually the first time anyone's seen Tageru so upset and shouting. He looks back toward the mists, but somehow he seems to be targeting something in the water.
[Private to Storyteller: I activate Eyes of the Wood Dragon to focus on one of the Eristrufa that haven't materialized yet. I can shoot it even if it doesn't materialize and if I hit, I do an Essence ping of damage in addition to my normal damage. I have to take the shot within the next five actions, though, or the Charm is wasted. :)

Since I rolled 3 sux. on the Int+Occult, I thought it's ok to assume to know about Eristrufa, if that's indeed what these things are. Difficulty is 3 in the West to know all about them, and since we're in the West... :)]

Kareth could tell that the mist were filled with Essence but he hadn't detected the danger that the monk had.  None the less, he reached for his piece and his blade.  If something were close enough to cause the monk panic then best to be prepared.