In reply to Aalistair (msg #467):

"I suggest that we climb and attempt to access the towers from above," says Wraith, plotting a course.  "Any indication of what might be lurking there?  More Kang?  Rajan?  Both, perhaps?"  The wind lashed Wraith's hair and drags strands of it across his face.  Apprehension gleams in his bright eyes.  "If you would, pilgrim, please ask Aeletheros to join me for a moment.   I am interested to know if he knows and spells that might obscure us from view."

OOC:

Wraith tentatively begins to increase the altitude at which the vessel is sailing. Additionally, he searches for and patches of cloud that may obscure their approach.

J'landria watches the crew, and hears the discussion with Wraith and Aalistair.  She moves to the edge of the ship and looks over, the walks to where the men are.

"I might be able to call on an avir to help us scout the towers out," she mentions quietly.

Aeletheros notices Wraith gesturing in his direction and wanders over to the group, wondering what sort of discussion is going on that would require his input; "I saw you pointing to me, Wraith. Is there something that you wish to ask of me? Is there some navigation or piloting task you need my assistance for?"

The pilgrim turns to J'landria. "You can do that," he asks, a bit incredulously. "Well, yes. Of course, you can. Carry on. No. Wait. Can the avir tell the difference between us. I mean, when I look down from this vessel, one man looks much like another on the ground." He pauses to consider this for a moment. "But, yes, knowing which of the towers are occupied would be beneficial."

He shakes his head, briefly consumed by the thought that Aa looking down from the heavens might not be able to tell one man from another. But then, Aa is All-seeing and thus has the power and wisdom to witness such.

As Aeletheros speaks, Aalistair breaks out of his reverie. He nods. "We were discussing the approach to the towers, near the pass." He points off towards the mountains. "It may be advantageous of us to conceal our approach until we know more about what and who they hold. But we need to know."

Wraith looks at Aeletheros and says, "Any chance that you know any spells that could conceal this vessel?  I doubt that you do, but I thought I'd ask.  The only thing that I can think of is to sail above the towers, in lieu of concealing her.  J'landria's idea will work quite well, I think."

Aeletheros shakes his head sadly; "Although I do have some experience with manipulating air I do not yet have that enchantment. I have magics that allow me to fly although I must pull all my concentration to cast it with a reasonable chance of succeeding. Were I to shed my armor it would be easier but even then it only lasts 1 minute so not much use for reconnaissance at these heights. I think the best bet is to rise far above the towers and try to get a view from there."

"Which plains did you see, Aalistair?  There are the plains south of Maruk, but if we are traveling the Serpent Pass, we might overlook plains to the southeast, or northeast.  Either way, we would have a full day of travel, even by windship."

Aalistair closes his eyes a moment, trying to recall. "I believe that they were the northeastern plains. The scrub grass there has a yellower hue, perhaps due to the closer proximity of the dreaded Mount Omen, the predatory habits of the darkmane equs, and the occasional visitation by Araq scavenger bands."
His eyes snap open. "I couldn't have seen all that. But, let us try the northeastern pass. We can come upon from behind, yes. I am not certain of my cartography from this vantage point."

J'landria flinches at the tone Aalistair uses, stepping back away from the man slightly.

"I see through their eyes.  Hear through their ears.  Even smell through their nose.  My own inability to tell men apart is the only issue," she states, but her voice is almost swallowed away by the wind.

She looks out over the landscape sliding by.

"I am useless up here," she says.

Aalistair shakes his head. "Nay. Not useless. You're better in the rigging than some of us. Primarily myself. I, too, am more comfortable with my feet on the ground."
He raises a hand, for a moment as if he may clap the Jaka on the back with comradely familiarity. But he hesitates.
"I should see to that rigging and make sure our repairs are holding up. Anything I should know about high altitude flying," he asks loudly.

As Wraith brings the windship higher, the sails catch a strong wind, driving the vessel forward rapidly.  In short order, the city of Maruk drops behind as the windship moves up and through the mountains.  The strong wind, usually a blessing in free, open skies, is almost something of a hindrance following the winding Serpent Pass.

As the windship races along, Wraith calls out orders to the crew as the wind whips his cloak about him.


OoC:  Wraith, piloting roll please.  It would be very tiring to man the helm all day, so assuming successful piloting from Wraith, we'll need a roll from whoever (likely Aeletheros) spells him.

In reply to Aalistair (msg #477):

"Don't look down, pilgrim." Mirna says, uncharacteristically relaxed, although she continues to scan the skies for any potential danger.

In reply to GM (msg #478):

Wraith strains the helm as the ship climbs and wind rips across his lithe body.  Cold air burns his eyes and lips become dry and cracked.  He watches the crew flit about the deck, doing their best to carry out his directives.  He twists his neck, searching for Aeletheros and says, "You will need to take over soon; my strength wanes."

OoC:

Today: Wraith Zephyr rolled 20 using 1d20+9. Piloting Roll.
If Wraith is spending too much time at the helm, please throw something at him : )

"Don't look down, she says. Look down. Hmph. I know when not to look down. I may not have been born to the skies, but I know not to look down." Aalistair mutters while securing knots and following the commands of the pilot.

As the windship whisks away through the skies, Zosha comes up upon the deck near to midday.

"I can try to be of some assistance up here, though I do have to tend to the ledgers and the cargo."  She smiles inside her hood with her face to the sun and her eyes closed for a moment, and shivers, just a little, in the cold wind.  "Please do let me know if I can assist.  I will leave matters in your hands," she doesn't seem to be addressing any one of you in particular with this, but to the group, "but, please do let me know when we might decide upon a next port of call, and where that might be."

J'landria goes about securing things as well, but she does indeed go to the edge and looks down.  Having seen things from this high through the eyes of a bird she's not as afraid, but for a moment she understands the Priest's fears.

Aeletheros smiles and nods at Wraith's request, deftly moving across the deck to relieve his friend at the wheel. Taking the wheel and feeling the ship fighting the winds he grits his teeth and sets to the task started by Wraith; "Quite the wind we have up here today. I won't say it is the strongest I have faced, but it is challenging all the same. Take your rest friend, it looks like we will be spelling each other sooner rather than later."

In reply to Aeletheros (msg #484):

Wraith smiles grimly.   "I'd whet your blade as well, friend.  I fear that we'll be fighting before long."  Wraith waits until he sure that Aeletheros has control of the helm and he steps away and wraps his cloak about him.  "As much as he'd like to take a brief respite, he braces himself against the railing of the ship, directing the crew as the vessel continues to climb.

In reply to Wraith Zephyr (msg #485):

Mirna continues to pace the deck, seemingly unaffected by the cold or the wind. She stops regularly to scan the skies for anything incoming, and the ground for anything interesting.

Rammid keeps himself busy with his duties as an airman. He listens to the others speak but has little to add. His work keeps him busy enough.

Wraith and Aeletheros spell one another at the helm during the day; the winds and the mountains make piloting tricky, but all goes smoothly.

The winds of the pass make sailing difficult, and most of the crew is kept busy throughout the day.  It is a long day of tiring work, but effort and strong winds pay off; as the suns begin to set, you see the shadows of the easternmost peaks of the Maruk mountains not upon more mountains, but falling upon foothills and a plain which is just beginning to drop into twilight.

Throughout the day, Rammid's earlier observation plays out; the mountains have many an old ruin; castles, towers, even simple stone huts, scattered about.  But until now, all of them are well within the range, not overlooking the nearby plains.


OoC: PER rolls from everyone, please. 
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:10, Tue 31 Jan 2012.

In reply to GM (msg #488):

OOC: 08:14, Today: Mirna rolled 16 using 1d20. Per roll.

OOC: 11:34, Today: Aeletheros rolled 13 using 1d20+6. PER Roll.

Wraith moves about the deck and eyes the crew. He weaves his fingers through rigging whenever a strong gust carves across the deck.  He's seen many unfortunate sailors dragged, shoved, and thrown from vessels, and knows that only the foolish and the inexperienced underestimate those violent currents.  As he hunkers down, he scans the landscape for anything untoward.

OOC:

Today: Wraith Zephyr rolled 15 using 1d20+2. Per roll.

13:51, Today: Rammid rolled 3 using 1d20. per.