Sypher kneels next to her and places a hand on her back.  "But I have trusted in your mercy; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation."  When Shiaran leans over into him, Sypher wraps her in his arms, places his chin on her head, and shushes her gently.

Beloc slumps back into his chair, looking somewhat stunned. "Is this true? Were you some sort of a spy, infiltrating the Widow?"

Sylas still stands with his arms folded behind him. "Yes. For the better part of eight years, I worked in secret within the Bleeding Palm. I had to fully entrench myself with them for gathering the information Fildegarne sought. Until recently. Well, "recent" being a relative term at this point. Once I discovered that Oro and Gazra had been sighted, I personally volunteered for their capture. I knew it was my way out of that infernal death cult. I.. apologize for the cloak and dagger business of it all. The three of you were never a variable I could have accounted for".

The word "three" gives everyone pause. Gazra's pod is in the room, but is empty. As is Oro's, also empty. Iro's pod is nowhere to be found.

Seeing everyone looks around, he speaks. "The young half elf, Iro. His pod has been exceptionally difficult to locate. Unfortunately, the majority of the pods as I'm told came to rest at the bottom of a rather deep ocean trench. Iro's, seems to be even deeper. Rest assured, we have people working on a solution to recover him".

"There's a lavatory just beyond that door over there, and if anyone has an appetite, I've had the cooks down at the mess whip up a variety here" he says, pointing at a long buffet style table and trying to change the subject. There are several wing back chairs that look like they've been pulled in to the room. The space itself, aside from the coral and algae encrusted pods, looks antiquated. The stone walls remind everyone of an old fortress, but there are several additions to the room that make it appear to have been updated a bit. The room is around thirty foot wide, and about 15 foot deep. The long wall behind the table of food is almost all large glass window panes. The sky looks similar to the one everyone saw prior to going into stasis sleep. The pods sit centered on the long wall opposite the windowed wall. There are two doors, one for the lavatory, and one that the officers exited from.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:42, Wed 22 Mar 2017.

Sypher rises and gently pulls Shiaran to her feet.  He takes the sais from her hands and carries them for her to the table.  She leans over and puts an arm on the table then rests her head on it, sobbing quietly.

Sypher looks at the sais and grimaces.  "Your stasis liquid works very well.  It seems that almost no time has passed since the battle.  Her sai still carries the gore from the Flagellant and it remains only minutes old."  He looks around for others, but only sees Sylas and Beloc.  "Perhaps a chance to clean up after the battle might be more in order for the moment.  Shiaran and I do not feel like eating."

"No."  Shiaran grabs the sais and slams them down on the table, which rattles the dinnerware.  "I'm starving.  I haven't eaten for almost a decade."  Her words are heavy with electricity like the air before a thunderstorm.  She finds a napkin and a pitcher of water and washes her hands over the floor leaving a red-stained puddle to the left of her chair.  Then she proceeds to dive in to the food with zeal.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:58, Wed 25 Apr 2018.

Sypher sighs heavily and bows in apology to Sylas.  He looks around for some kind of wash basin for his own hands.  Finding one in the corner on a rolling cart, he cleans himself up and checks for wounds.  Beloc's heal right before Iro's fire crystal went off had sealed up any lacerations.  Only the slight burns from the fire remain.  Nothing he won't recover from with a little rest.

Civility taken care of, Sypher goes back to the table and sits to Shiaran's right.  He is more polite about it, but he eats with no less determination than she.  Neither of them seem interested in asking questions.  That does not mean they aren't listening.

"I understand your anger, and the gravity of this situation. The amount of time that's passed came as a shock to myself as well. It truly never was my intention for us to remain isolated from the world like that for so long. I figured on a week or two as the worst, but I couldn't have foreseen the scenarios that played out as rapidly as they did. Although I activated my beacon to have us found, the gunship that brought down the Widow wasn't able to remain in the area. It was only until recently the blockade over the area was broken through and scattered. I don't know how to tell you all this beyond just putting it out there, but we are at war. The Bleeding Palm has allied with the Calishites of the Calim Empire, and a rogue offshoot of the Red Wizards of Thay. My calling for the gunship to down the Widow was seen as an act of war. I knew Gheevorah had reached out to the pashas of Calim, but even I was kept in the dark about just how deep that involvement would be". Sylas takes a moment to remove his officer's cover and wipe his brow, and lets out a deep sigh. "This whole ordeal is a gigantic mess, and I find myself at the center of it. To say that I'm regretful for others being drug into it is a massive understatement".

There is a knock at the door. A junior officer pokes his head in to the room. "Pardon, sir, but your visitor is asking to come in".

Sylas nods to the man who opens the door, and junior officer steps out of the way. In steps a rather short man with bushy eyebrows, and thinning hair. He wears mechanics overalls.

"Bless me, you're all alright" Wally says with a massive grin. "I was worried that even after we recovered you, something may have happened".

"Wally here was instrumental in recovering you all. Initially the Naval forces that were able to claim the area only recovered me. That was about a month ago. This enterprising fellow found out of my retrieval, through channels unknown to me, and managed to petition me about recovering you all. I had of course intended your recovery from the start, but the beuracry of military life made it a slow process. Someone-" says Sylas, nodding in Wally's direction, "threatened to go to the press about it. Of course, that was entirely his idea" says Sylas with a wink. "If anything, Wally is the hero of the day in this. He pioneered the search, doning a dive suit of his design day in and day out, and is personally responsible for locating each of you".

Wally beams at everyone. Partially out of pride, and partially still from his relief that the thawing process was a success.

Beloc finally composes himself enough to rise and join the others. He is heartened to see Wally, as that means the Sky Burrow made it to port.

"That is yet to be seen", he rubs some soot and char from his armor as he replies to Wally. "The Burrow made it to port then? Everyone make it off safely?"

"Thanks to you all, everyone was recovered. We had zero casualties, only minor injuries here and there".

Sypher stands and walks over to Wally.  He shakes hands with the gnome.  "I am glad to see you made it, glad to hear the ship survived.  Is she still in the skies?"

Shiaran also stands and walks quickly to Wally.  She wraps him up in a hug.  "Omf mmfmff..."  She chews hurridly and swallows.  "I'm happy you made it, too!"  She glares at Sylar.  "A decade has been kind to you."

Wally nods, responding to Sypher, and in between Shiaran's hug. "Flying high and pretty. Though, she has teeth now. Belongs to the Navy. I headed up the overhaul myself. It's my finest build yet".

Sylas, then responds to Shiaran.
"If you haven't noticed already, it's been kind to you as well. The nature of the stasis liquid in the pods ensures that the inhabitants effectively cease to age. It was designed some time ago, not by me of course. The idea behind it is that if the inhabitants of the pods are lost for long periods of time or are trapped, they won't simply die of starvation or lack of air. There is also the unpleasantry of being isolated and going mad that's avoided. But, again, had I known what we were getting in to, I'd have never suggested anything of the sort. Melf's Law I suppose. If it can go wrong, it probably will. I'm sure you've all heard enough of me for a time, and I know this has been a lot of information to digest. You all take as long as you need to rest your bones here. If you'd prefer a more private setting, we have a few vacant officer's quarters that I'll let my staff know are free to whomever here wants one. You're more than welcome as well to get out in the open air and stretch your legs around the yards. I'll ask that you at least stay long enough for us to have a proper talk once more, if and when you're feeling up to it. If you truly don't wish to though, I'll ensure that the MP's at the gate don't bar your exit. In the mean time, I have some matters to attend".

Sylas moves to leave the room. As the door to exit opens, the junior officer outside snaps to attention as Sylas passes. A quick "carry on" is heard from Sylas and the door quietly closes.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:43, Thu 23 Mar 2017.

Sypher and Shiaran return to their meal.  They talk, and sometimes argue, in low tones.  Shiaran is the most animated, standing up twice to whisper yell down at Sypher.

Sypher, for his part, remains calm and reasonable the whole time.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:03, Thu 23 Mar 2017.

Beloc cleans himself up and rejoins the rest in the dining area. He observes, mostly, during the initial conversations. Possibly, still recovering from the stasis, or perhaps just assessing the situation.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:40, Thu 23 Mar 2017.

Once everyone is fed and is starting to unwind a bit, Wally speaks up. "I know I didn't know you all that long, but I wanted to say thank you. Not just for me, and not just for my ship, but for all the lives that were on board, passengers and crew alike. If it hadn't of been for you all stepping up in a dire time of need, I doubt we would have made it". Wally reaches for a small piece of bread, and remembering it isn't meant for him, pulls his hand back. "I haven't known Sylas that long either, but I can tell you he isn't a bad person. I overheard him talking to an advisor of his, back on the ship we used to salvage your pods from the deep. Blames the whole war on himself. It was hard not to hate him at first, and I don't entirely know what he was doing within that cult, but I do know - again, from "overhearing", - that he was on orders from King Ghendrake himself. It's been a rough decade or so. Honestly, you all are lucky to have not had to live through the bulk of it. This war has been like nothing I've ever heard of".

"Wally, we could have done no less.  'Greater love no man has than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.'  We are glad to have been there to serve."  He looks at Shiaran who looks less hostile.  She nods and Sypher continues.

"Truth be told, we haven't lost anything in this, not even time it appears.  Our house was wiped out when we were children.  We are all that remains of House Whiteraven.  I am fulfilled in service and my...and Shiaran likes the challenge-"

"Mettin aid uld ee ice."  She tosses a roll to Wally's and smiles past a mouthful of food.  Somehow she manages to talk with her mouth full and spray any of it across the table.

Wally shakes his head, thoroughly confused by what Shiaran has said, and turns his attention to the roll.

For the most part, Beloc remains quite other than exchanging pleasantries. When done eating, he stands and thanks Wally for the company as well as fetching them from the deep abyss. "I wish we had met under better circumstances, but nonetheless, it's been a pleasure."

He turns to Sypher and nods deeply. "Your presence is a strong one. It was an honor fighting beside you."

His gaze falls upon Shiaran, and he does his best to smile sincerely. "Though we may have had a couple differences, you have shown a great deal of quick thinking and tactics. Without that, I doubt we would have gotten out of there as unscathed as we did."

"The last few hours have been interesting, to say the least. Give or take 11 years or so. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need a little fresh air."

Sypher stands in bows.

Shiaran gives him a cheesy, snide grin and waves her fork at him.

Wally politely stands as well when Beloc takes his leave.