There is silence for a moment after Ahzi's challenge and then the scared voice of a young boy can be heard'

"Please, sir. Don't shoot me! I'm sorry for hiding on your ship. Please don't let your demon eat me!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:39, Sat 03 Mar 2018.

Alarus quickly rushes over at the Ukar's shout, but upon hearing the young boy's voice, stands back and waits for the Captain to handle the situation.
This message was last edited by a game editor at 07:23, Sat 10 Mar 2018.

The hatch clatters to the floor and a young dark-haired boy crawls out. He seems to be about 12 and is dressed in the rags of a Severan serf. He clutches a small rusty garden hoe.

"Don't make me go back, please! My father wants to sell me to the Kossacks! They will drill holes in my head and fill it with bad magic!"

Lady Alina pokes her head out from her cabin. "What's up with all the shouting?"

She wanders down to where Ahzi and Alarus are confronting the stowaway. "And who in the seven hells is this?"

Assessing the boy to be of little threat, Ahzi lowers his revolver but does not holster it.

In answer to the Lady Alina, "I am not sure who this is, as he's not given a name yet. However, he claims he's trying to escape being sold to the Kossacks. If you like, I can attempt to see if he tells the truth."

Then, to the Captain as he arrives, "Stowaway sir. I'll defer to yourself and the Lady on how you would like to handle it."

The young boy's eyes widen when he spots Alina, wearing her green and black Decados leather clothes.

He throws himself flat on the hull deck and bows his head. "Illustrious Lady! Have mercy!", he wails.

Paavo and Ecliptic Eagle arrive on the scene. Both are bloody from the elbows down, and the Captain in particular has blood splatter across his bare chest and on his face.

He looks at the wailing kid and shrugs. Time to learn something about this merry bunch. "I say we space the chump. Anyone disagree?"

Ecliptic Eagle pauses from wiping his hand on a bloody rag to match the captain's shrug.

Alina studies the boy. "Can you cook, boy?"

"Yes, m'lady", comes the reply. "My father is an innkeeper. I worked in the kitchens, if it pleases. Name's Valentin, m'lady. Please don't let the demon suck out my soul!"

He seems to stare at a blank space behind Ahzi as he says this.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:22, Sun 04 Mar 2018.

In a single fluid motion, Ahzi holsters his gun, kicks the rusty gardening tool out of reach, and slips over the boy placing him in an Iron Heel grappling hold, pinning him to the ground, to assert control.

"I am not for ending life unnecessarily - especially one so young. Additionally, I sympathize with his plight considering my own past. However, I understand the need to keep our "cargo" safe and secure. Show me to the air lock Captain..."
This message was last edited by a game editor at 22:21, Sat 03 Mar 2018.

Alarus's eyes widen at the Captain's suggestion, but he pauses to listen to Alina and the boy. When Ahzi prepares to take the lad to the airlock, however, he quickly holds up a hand. "Wait! This boy poses no threat to us. Please, Captain, allow him to earn his keep until we reach Criticorum. I will take responsibility for him myself if need be."
This message was last edited by a game editor at 22:37, Sat 03 Mar 2018.

Seeing that Sir Alarus will vouch for the boy, Ahzi loosens the hold and pulls the kid into an upright position as he stands.

Alina nods. "If he can cook, then by all means. I need something hot and greasy. Snap to it, boy!"

She turns around and stalks back to her cabin.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:18, Sat 03 Mar 2018.

The captain announces that it will take 'Garm's Fang' about three and a half days to reach the jumpgate.

You have all found places to sleep, and a routine quickly develops. The stowaway, Valentin, turns out to be quite gifted at making the on-board rations tasty, and he is happily chattering away with anyone who will listen.

Apparently, Valentin's father was approached by a Chainer and offered a large sum of money for selling the boy to him. The Decados Kossacks will pay handsomely for promising young recruits for bio-modification and psychological indoctrination to turn them into super-soldiers.

Valentin seems fascinated with Tic, and follows him around whenever possible. He carefully avoids getting too close to Ahzi.

On the second day, Alina, in search of entertainment, approaches Ahzi. "Time to show me what you can do in a fight. Would you like to spar with me - or perhaps Alarus?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:53, Sun 04 Mar 2018.

Brother Otto is proudly showing off a small electronic device.

“Look! Hobsbawm put a lot of his books into this rectangle. A voice just reads the text for me, so I don't have to strain my old eyes. This is an excellent rectangle!”

Azhi, idly munching on some of the jerky from his pack, looks up at Lady Alina from his seat.

"Sure. I could use the distraction, and a good sparring match will allow me to shake off the cobwebs so to speak. I would be fine sparring with one or both of you. Your choice... Alarus?"

Standing to stretch, Ahzi turns to the Captain. "May need to think about a suitable place for sparring as well. Don't want to accidentally break something important."

Jonas snorts derisively. "Now I like a good rumpus as much as the next man," he comments with a smirk. "But I swear - you lot are obsessed! Still, if any of you fancy folks are hankerin' for a spot of good ol' mano-a-mano, I might be persuaded to join you..."

Alina laughs. "How about Ahzi and Alarus spar first? And then the winner takes on our good Engineer here? The main hallway should be fine for this little bout."
This message was last updated by the player at 20:35, Sun 04 Mar 2018.

Ahzi nods, "Fair enough. Alarus, choose a weapon if you wish. I will be fighting without one for now."

He then moves into the main hallway and leans against a railing to await the others.

Alarus raises his brows in surprise as Alina and Ahzi rapidly determine that the Ukar will spar with him before he has even responded. After a moment, he gently inclines his head. "As you wish, my lady. Do you prefer me armed or unarmed?"
This message was last edited by a game editor at 07:23, Sat 10 Mar 2018.

Alina lights a Selchakah stick and waves the smoke away. "Hmm, armed I think. Give him a challenge."

Alarus rises from his seat and bows his head. "I shall fetch my weapon."

A few minutes later, the Thana returns to the upper deck with his shirasaya at his hip. Entering the main corridor, he bows to Ahzi in the Li Halan kenjutsu form, tilting his upper body slightly forward with his arms at his sides. He then turns almost completely away from the Ukar, steps back with one leg and leans in the opposite direction, setting his feet as if he were facing an opponent to his flank or rear while watching Ahzi over his shoulder. One hand grips his scabbard while the other rests on his sword's hilt. He does not draw his blade.
This message was last edited by a game editor at 07:25, Sat 10 Mar 2018.

Paavo accedes without complaint to the Lady Alina's decision to keep the boy on board, smiling slightly and nodding his head. He drags the (ex-?)serf off to be thoroughly cleaned in a head before letting him into the galley.

--

Paavo watches the sparring session from a hatchway, his posture jaunty. But the observant will note that his eyes follow the combatants very closely. One hand keeps stealing away in an involuntary movement to caress his blaster ax.
This message was last updated by the GM at 02:19, Mon 05 Mar 2018.

As Alarus takes his stance, Ahzi watches him closely before taking his own - crouched low, left leg slightly extended back from his base, and eyes fixed on those of Alarus. He waited a few moments, then a few more...

When it became apparent that Alarus was not going to be the aggressor here, and not wanting a complete stalemate, Ahzi launched his attack. Careful to watch for the extension of Alarus' sheathed blade, Ahzi shot forward and to the right. Jumping towards the ship's ladder, Ahzi uses it as a pivot point to swing into a sliding attack, changing his angle at the last moment. Coming in low, and sliding on his left side, Ahzi extends his right leg slightl to aim it just outside and behind Alarus' right leg while bringing his left in from the front in an effort to force his opponent off balance.
This message was last edited by a game editor at 08:07, Mon 05 Mar 2018.

As the Ukar springs toward Alarus's side, the Thana instantly draws his sword, freeing the blade from its sheath before Ahzi has finished his leap to the ladder, and slicing through the air toward him. But instead of slashing at waist level as anticipated, the blade cuts low and arcs upward — precluding Ahzi's attempt to slide beneath the strike and forcing him to immediately abort his attack to evade the slash...
This message was last edited by a game editor at 07:25, Sat 10 Mar 2018.

Seeing the glint of the sword leaving scabbard, Ahzi is forced to contort mid-air. Twisting, he slams his right foot into the ground flipping back and away from the incoming blade at the last possible second. He feels rather than sees the sword passing just millimeters away from where his head was just moments before. Ahzi lands sliding backwards, left leg extended behind, crouching, both hands on the floor.

Taking a sharp breath, Ahzi pauses a moment to reassess the situation. Clearly, his opponent has great skill with a blade. Unsure of whether he will be able to "win" this confrontation, he at least rests assured the Lady will be given quite the show of his skill either way. Ahzi takes but the briefest of moments to close his eyes and silently cast the rite to focus and guide his actions going forward. Transitioning in less than a blink's bredth, he calls upon the inner strength of his bond - his heart rate slows, his breathing deepens, and his body relaxes into a more comfortable state. His time in the pits comes rushing back, and grinning up at Alarus, he prepares to engage again.

Ahzi rushes in once more. This time, however, he is more cautious and calculated as he launches a complicated series of feints, attacks, and dodges. He uses the walls and railings for leverage in attempts to press advantage (or make hasty retreats when necessary). Hand and foot move in fluid flow one move into the next; Alarus' sword is a blur and hum of motion - the resultant exchanges resembling a dance more than a fight...

Unsure of how long the exchange has gone on, the only sign of the passing time is the light sheen of sweat slowly appearing on Ahzi's brow as he tries to find a weakness in Alarus' defense. Hoping to end the fight after a particularly awkward landing, Ahzi makes a final, somewhat reckless attack. Using the ladder again, he catapults up to flip in an arc over Alarus' head. Then, having landed a bit behind Alarus, Ahzi quickly rolls to a crouch before immediately leaping into a kick aimed to take his opponent down.