28th Day of Ascending Water, RY 768
Morning

The day comes for the Cobalt Alliance to depart from Auragik. They are a fleet of four ships now: the Spring Dryad II, the Black Marlena, the Hirdu's Ambition and the Wavecrest Navy Ship Falchion -- accompanying them, for the time being.

Before departing, Captain Hirdu comes aboard the Dryad in order to explain what the next leg of their journey would entail. The explanation, naturally, calls for the presence of all four ship captains as well as important crew.

The mustachioed captain appears healthier than before -- at the least, he is wheezing less, having recovered slightly from his unfortunate encounter with the Lintha captain's boot. "Well, sirs, the Seven-Day Island isn't your ordinary island," he explains, pacing back and forth on the deck with his stubby legs. "Er, how do I say this? It's actually alive. But not like you or me; more like a spirit or elemental is alive, and takes physical form. For whatever reason the island has a fondness for the end of things. It's eaten a great many items towards that, er, end, and apparently the Lintha's artifact was one of them."

Hirdu scratches the back of his head. "So... all that said, I know how to entice the island to surface, but it'll be easier if any of you on board's familiar with prayer or performing arts... Figured I may as well ask."

"And if you've any more questions about what we're getting into, you may as well spill it now."

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OOC: I've opened this thread but don't feel obligated to post in it right away if you're not done with Nevermoor Aftermath or other things. :) I'll be back on Wed.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:43, Mon 16 Mar 2009.

Kareth had just gotten back on board from finishing his crafting when the captain started talking.  He possessed a wide knowledge of lore and to some extent, occult knowledge.  His new glasses hid the gleam in his eyes, which those who had seen it before would recognize as him showing interest.  They did not, however hide the small smile that curled up on his lips.  "Captain Hirdu, when you say the island "eats" thing... do you mean it has a mouth and swallows them or is this more metaphorical?"

"Well, captain Hirdu, I was an Immaculate monk back in my days, and I frequently dealt with spirits. Sometimes I dealt with them the nice way, sometimes the hard way, but I had a way of dealing with them every time.", the monk adds and stands next to his crew members.

"I can recite prayers, if it will help, but I don't think that appeasing little gods is a good thing. The spirits should only be revered at their awarded time in the calendar, as I'm sure you know.", he adds a bit grimly, frowning at the captain. Wavecrest is still a tributary to the Realm, and old habits die hard. "But, dark times call for unorthodox measures", he adds "so if you think it is necessary and captain Leomaris agrees, I offer my services in performing a prayer for this spirit, so that it might be more inclined to help. After all, the Lintha are a much greater threat to Creation than a single unruly spirit, so if we must choose between two evils, we can at least choose the lesser one..."

"Oh, now that's a great question, sir engineer," Hirdu says, grinning and rubbing his mustache. "Indeed, the island has a mouth. And well... we're going to be walking into it, at least if you'd rather not attempt a hostile takedown of a living island. Believe me, heh... it's not a good idea."

"That said, I'd suggest we don't head over there with too many people. This isn't war." The rotund Captain of the Ambition glances distinctly at the purple-haired Fairwind, who leans idly against a railing, listening to the budding discussion. "The idea, in actuality, is to entice the Island to surface and allow a small band of us -- safely! -- into its mouth, and through its innards, to search for what we need. Barring that, of course... we'll just have to open it up long enough for us to get inside, find what we're looking for and get right back out before things get too hairy." He seems unwilling to dwell on that possibility, hurrying onto other matters.

"Master Tageru, if you'd be so obliged I would welcome the aid in beseeching the island to cooperate. I assure you, my interest in this is purely secular, and for our mutual goal of stamping out these Lintha bastards before they can rise with renewed strength! But you are correct in that it would be most appropriately up to Captain Leomaris to agree on this course of action."

Fairwind, having had enough of listening in silence, adds: "If you're against overtly hostile action concerning this 'living island', I'm more than willing to leave my men on standby, as long as I or a representative of the Wavecrest Navy accompanies you. What'll we do if you don't come out, though, or if the island itself goes hostile?" He raises his eyebrows, glancing meaningfully across the docks at the Falchion and its array of cannon weaponry. "I've got a job, and that includes protecting the people of Wavecrest --and you visitors, incidentally, as well."

Zeru follows the gaze of Captain Fairwind towards the Falchion. "No disrespect towards your fair ship sir, but if the island itself turns against us, of what use are a few cannons?"

In answer to Captain Hirdu, Zeru decides to voice his opinion. "I can play a bit of the pipes and dance a number or two," He holds his hands up against any questions that might be thrown his way before explaining. "I only know as much as was required in the House of Ancient Stone, I was required to learn a bit of performance, and I chose those which bring fortune in sailing. The Dance is said to stir the wind to action and prevent the doldrums, and the pipes have been known to calm the sea herself."

He looks up. "I will help to draw the spirit out provided it doesn't require that I be procluded from the team to venture into the Island. This smells like quite an adventure and I want to miss none of it."

"Visitors are responsible for their own mistakes, aren't they?" The Captain voices suddenly surfaces, just before the man himself steps into the conversation - dusting his coat as he does so. "You don't have to keep up appearances so much, mister Fairwind - I'm well aware that your primary duty remains making sure that we don't do anything illegal or to endanger your people. We'll take full responsibility for our actions, of course. I'll even sign you a waiver if you want." He grins at the navy man, then turns towards the assembled others.

"Seems you people actually got ahead of me on this one. I didn't mean to overhear, but I still did - and I have to admit I like where this is going. No sense in being bloodthirsty if we don't have to, after all. If there's a way to resolve this peacefully and placate that place without needing to fight our way through it, then I'm more than willing to give it a go." He nods, then turns towards Hirdu.

"You've studied this thing for a while, right? Since you're the one that knows the most about this, that makes you the more tactically sound person to call the shots on this one. You can direct the cues as to how to try to appease this thing. I'll handle the planning in case that part doesn't work out." He smiles once more, then turns towards Tageru. "If you're comfortable with that, please lend a hand to Captain Hirdu, mister Tageru. I'll get things prepared if there's anything you need for that sort of ceremony - just give the word and I'll see what I can do."

He then smiles in Zeru's direction, and nods warmly. "You're more than welcome to give a hand with preparations, mister Zeru. Don't worry, I'll still include you in any shore missions we have. I'll make sure to let you know when it's time, so don't worry about that and knock yourself out."

"Thank you captain..." Zeru says with a bow. "You wouldn't happen to have any pipes or flutes on board would you? I'd very much like a chance to refresh my skills,"

Kiana was there, of course.  Any time a meeting had been called, she had made it a point to attend, especially now since the Captain had made her position on the ship much more official.  Considering the meeting concerned several of her new responsibilities, it was no wonder that the young woman was standing against the wall with her arms crossed, listening silently.  She seemed to simply fade into the background, not voicing an opinion or giving any reason to be noticed.  She nodded a greeting to the Captain as he (expected) dashing entrance.  Fashionably late, wasn't that a common saying on the Crimson Isles?  She seemed to remember something of that sort.

"I agree."  Kiana said.  She was always soft spoken, it seemed, until the gloves were off.  Or, in her case, when the gloves were on.  "There is certainly no need for violence if it can be avoided.  Especially if our foe could reasonably be considered an island."  She gave a small, conservative smirk.

She nodded toward Tageru, at his words, and looked back to the mustached Captain.  "I, too, have had extensive training in such things.  I am able to both see and, if needed, strike spirits, as I am sure the crew of the Dryad will attest.  However, I have very little experience in terms of prayer or performances of a spiritual nature."  Or, I can punch ghosts, if one were to take the useful parts and run with them.

She then turned to Peleps and offered a curious smile.  "You can play?  I haven't heard so much as a whistle since I left the Cri-"  She paused for a moment.  "Since I left home.  I'm sure if we can find some spare wood, I would be able to fashion you a sort of pipes.  Musical instrumentation isn't my specialty, but I should be capable of producing something for you to practice with."

"... Hmm, a flute, huh? I'd have to check for that in the bottomless abyss that is the ship's paperwork. We might have something like that in the cargo somewhere, although I'm not making any promises." He grins a bit sheepishly, then shakes his head. "If not, I'll find some materials for miss Kiana to try to make you one."

"I thank you Miss..." Zeru starts before again realizing the two hadn't yet been introduced. "I apologize, but I don't think we've been properly introduced." He stands straighter, and gives Kiana a warm smile. "I'm Peleps Zeru, but I prefer Zeru, as for your inquiry on my ability to play the pipes, I can only claim to be a novice, you're just as likely to get noise as you are a song."

"Mau!"

"Err... Right. Caterwauling as it were..." Zeru glares down at his pocket, apparently unhappy with the comparison. "This is Lucky Coral, I found her close to our entrance into the Alliance."