22nd Day of Ascending Water, RY 768
Late Evening

After taking a few hours to clean up, rest and care for their respective wounded, the Wavecrest Navy vessels and the Hirdu's Ambition converge to meet with the Spring Dryad II. Their highest ranking officers are welcomed aboard and led toward the Dryad's conference room, which has been tidied up in preparation for the evening's meeting.

Lasuri and his first mate, Jadira, sit at one end of the meeting table, playing host to their guests, who sit at either side of them. On their right are the surviving Wavecrest Navy captains, Captain Ganesh Irongall of the Shieldwarden and Captain Roche Fairwind of the Falchion. Captain Irongall is a brawny man with grey streaked black hair and a salt-and-pepper beard, while Captain Fairwind is younger and somewhat slighter, with short, dark purple hair cut to sweep across his tanned brow. Both are tattooed and bare-chested, as Wavecrest men often are, wearing decorated vests and ornate cloth bands slung diagonally across their chests to denote their ranks.

On their left sits the Captain of the Hirdu's Ambition, a squat, middle-aged man with dark hair and a greased mustache wearing a red and blue-trimmed coat over his heavily bandaged chest. Next to him is the young man Zeru mentioned earlier, who has requested to join him. The latter is of average height, with dark blue hair and an almost imperceptible silvery sheen to his skin that other Dragon-blooded would recognize as a characteristic of one of their own. [Private to Xander Lucian: that's you!]

The remaining seats are occupied by the other members of the Cobalt Alliance. Lasuri has of course encouraged every one of the Dragon-blooded officers to be present, as the discussion would very likely involve the last battle they participated in, as well as how they will proceed next.

---

OOC: I've opened this thread for those who are ready to move on. :) I'll leave the 'Isles of Nevermoor' open in the meantime. Also, let me know (PM) if there are any other mini threads you would like made.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:45, Sat 28 Feb 2009.

Kiana sits at the table, encouraged as she was by Lasuri and Jadira.  Her tore clothing had been repaired, but in favor of the meeting she had changed into her only formal outfit--a sleeveless red dress.  Save for the exposure of her arms, all other aspects of the dress were humble--there was a slit for easier movement, but it was hardly scandalous.  Those large White-Jade boots could be glimpsed through the slit when she walked to the table, and were easily visible if one simply looked at her feet.  The sister smashfist were nowhere to be seen, however.

Her black hair was pulled up, held together by two slender chop-sticks.  By all accounts she simply looked like a timid little teenager, certainly out of place among the burly and experienced men who made up most of the Alliance.  She sat up straight in her chair without nary a slouch, and once could easily imagine her at a much fancier to-do.  Her eyes glanced between Jadira and Lasuri, and occasionally to the others that table as she waited.

Zeru sits at the table his trademark hat stop his head. He is currently leaning back, his hands laced behind his head. His eyes drift from Captain Hirdu, to the young man, across to the Navymen, and then across to Captain Lasuri, and Miss Thornbloom. To his right was a woman in a red-dress that he hadn't been introduced to yet, but he recognized from the sick bay, and the dour individual he met previously was at his left.

Here he was again, Zeru hated meetings, and yet every time there was one he wound up coming. He couldn't quite explain it, but he felt as if he should, even though his discomfort told him otherwise. He reached into his pocket and put Lucky Coral on the table. She liked meetings much more, and he didn't mind the company. He pets her head quietly, and waits for the meeting to begin.

OOC: To those who don't know, Lucky Coral is a lithe white cat with aqua spots.

Despite his initial contact with Zuru, Kareth had discovered one thing in common with the man: neither of them particularly wanted to be here.  That much was evident from the looks on both their faces  However, Kareth felt that this captain and the young man Zeru mentioned earlier might either have... useful... information.  And so here he sat next to the captain of the Marlena as he played with his cat.  Kareth appeared to glare at the cute animal when it was first produced.  It wasn't as though the engineer particularly had any antipathy for the creature, glaring was just a force of habit for him.

He had managed to change his clothes before he came to meeting, however they looked much the same as his old ones: black trousers, a white shirt, and his black cloak.  His essence cannon hung at his belt and his short sword was by his cloak.  He had not had the opportunity to polish his breastplate as much as he would have liked, but it was clean enough even though it did not shine brightly in light.

When he entered the room just behind Zeru, he noted Kiana there too.  He had at least been around her enough to know her name, and he figured that Zeru had not yet been introduced to her.  Kareth took no action to rectify that situation.

Captain Irongall in particular seems to be somewhat agitated with the wait. He grouses in his chair, coughs and clears his throat now and then, looking at Lasuri expectantly as if he might burst out into speech any moment.

His younger associate has a more curious, if guarded expression, scrutinizing every face at the table. Particularly the women, who are only exempt from the 'no women at sea' custom by way of their Dragon-blooded power. Captain Fairwind cannot be any older than Lasuri himself, and takes an interest in what he considers a fledgling organization -- one that, whether his elder might want to admit it or not, has saved the ill-prepared Wavecrest forces from an almost certain defeat.

Hirdu appears less agitated than simply excited. Now and then the mustachioed man starts tapping the table or jiggling his foot, earning glares across the table from Irongall.

"Perhaps you'll tell us--" Irongall finally opens his mouth...
"So should we get sta--" ...at the same time Captain Hirdu does.

The two men glare at one another and start again: "Captain Leomaris--" they burst out simultaneously; the salt-and-pepper bearded man's scowl deepens, while Hirdu coughs and ducks his head a little sheepishly, grooming nervously at his mustache.

Zeru starts laughing heartily at the situation that the two prim and proper officials found themselves in. The more they tried to be serious, the less serious they seemed.

"Mau!"

At this simple piercing call, Zeru started laughing harder.

"I'm sorry I'm sorry, I'm stopping" He sighs, and stops laughing. "I apologize, but you have to admit that was funny..." He says seriously motioning towards the cat as if everyone should be able to understand it.

Jadira looks comfortable in her seat, wearing her dark green coat with the contrasting floral pattern over a clean tunic and dark breeches. She has gathered her brown curls into a ponytail to keep the strands out of her face. First mate she might be, but her attitude is much less rigidly official than the Navy folk. The Cobalt Alliance is an organization, but it certainly isn't military.

She does not immediately address any of the guests, though Lasuri can very distinctly feel her body tensing up as she tries not to laugh out loud -- like Zeru just did! Uh-oh! Trying to keep her mind off the sudden attack of mirth, she looks across the table at Kiana and smiles widely, and nods to the other Cobalt members who have seated themselves.

And who's that new one with Hirdu, I wonder...?
This message was last edited by the player at 23:50, Sat 28 Feb 2009.

The captain immediately takes up the cue, and steps in to keep the tone of the meeting cordial and inviting.

"Oh please, gentlemen, I'm not so important that you need to clamor my name all at once." Lasuri says, standing up at the laughing cue.

Once again, the Captain has dropped his usual dress to wear his 'proper' outfit - a black captain's coat with silver clasps and trimmings, with matching black trousers and polished boots. His dark blue hair is tied back in a neat ponytail, keeping it away from his face.

"It warms the heart of this sailor to see that even through the hardships, our people kept their good spirits. That keeps me from having to act more solemn that needs be." He smiles warmly, nodding slightly towards all of his trusted comrades before turning to the newcomers. "As I was so impeccably - and quite undeservingly - announced, I'm Captain Lasuri Leomaris of the Cobalt Alliance, and those seated at this table are the heart and soul of the Alliance themselves. In their name and mine, I want to bid you welcome aboard the Spring Dryad II."

"Given the current situation and the events we all just went through, I don't want to make this long and boring. I'm not one for long winded speeches, and I'm too scared I'll trip myself up in my own recitations if I tried to pretend... So I suppose now that the welcome is past, the logical continuation is..." He looks over the ship's captains as well as the young man accompanying them, and smiles.

"What is it I can do for you, gentlemen?"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:15, Sun 01 Mar 2009.

It was starting to get tense at the table, or so Kiana sensed, before the captains tried to take command of the situation.  The fact that both of them tried at the same time, and failing considerably each attempt was certainly entertaining, however!  Unlike Zeru, she didn't laugh, but merely hid her bit of mirth behind a pale hand, hiding the smile so as to not anyone at the table.

She bowed her head the slightest bit, as to hide the smile a bit better, and met Jadira's gaze.  The corners of her mouth betrayed a larger smile growing, but despite it all she was able to keep any wild giggles to herself.

She knew they didn't care for women sailors, as most of the civilized world felt the same, but she knew her birth-right shed such restrictions, and was a little more comfortable for it.

Xander sat quietly fingering a strange pendent he keeps around his neck. He looks around studying the different figures. A couple he knew some of but most of them were complete strangers. Though he's amused by the captains' outbursts he doesn't show it. As Lasuri makes his statement Xander looks to see who will be the first to talk and what they would say.

Captain Irongall frowns deeply in Zeru's direction, obviously offended at being made a laughingstock of. (Fairwind's reaction is more of an incredulous eyebrow-arch.) But whatever retort Irongall might have spoken is lost in Lasuri's initial speech, and once again the chance to speak his mind is dangled in front of him.

He opens his mouth again... then clamps it shut, crossing his arms at Hirdu. It is a rather amusing sight, seeing grown men vie for the attention of the Cobalt Captain. But this time Hirdu just waves his hand nonchalantly at the Navy man, letting him speak.

"As you know, Captain Leomaris," says Irongall severely, rising from his seat once he has secured the attention of the room, "I am Captain Irongall of the Wavecrest Navy Ship Shieldwarden. There are several points I would like to make, but I should remind you that you were the one to invite us to your table. In any case..."

"I suppose the gentlemanly thing to do would be to thank you and your crew for your intervention. Truth be told, we are... unused... to Lintha activity so close to Wavecrest waters. There must be some specific reason they are overextending themselves, rather than tangling with the vile pirates of the Coral Archipelago." Irongall emphasizes those words, his gaze sweeping over the seated Cobalt members, as if he could determine simply from their faces whether they are pirate-friends or not. "I have a difficult time believing they have simply ...run out of targets in their usual lanes, that they would come as far out as the Wavecrest Islets."

Captain Fairwind stands to join his superior. His expression is much less dour but he seems... unhappy, nonetheless. "Roche Fairwind, Captain of the Falchion," he announces to all present, as if simply to get it over with. "What we're wondering, actually, is whether you had any prior knowledge of the Lintha attack, or about what they might be looking for."

---

OOC: In case you forgot, Cobalt has a letter of marque from the Coral Archipelago. But that doesn't mean they condone everything Coral does, just that they can buy and sell on Coral's black market.

Also if anyone would like to try to read the guests' various motivations/emotional states, you can roll Perc+Investigation or Socialize.

"That I did. I figured, since you had expressed the desire to actually speak with us, that it'd be the best course of action. Bad for a Captain to actually invite himself aboard other Captains' ships, right? " The Sea Drake responds to Irongall's words. He pauses and listens to their words carefully when they speak them, nodding here and there to punctuate his understanding.

"The Lintha so far from their usual doghouse is a worrying thing, that much I'll agree with wholeheartedly. And sadly, we don't know more than you do - we'd only heard rumors that they'd been spotted around further than they usually are, and came to do a little investigating of our own. It was by chance that we happened to run into this particular battle - and once we saw it, we just decided to help out."

Lasuri pauses, as if thinking of something else before speaking. "The only hint I've got as to what they might be actually looking for is something their leader said just before leaving - that 'it' would not respond to those not of Lintha blood. I'm not sure if that has any meaning to you, but it doesn't to me. In any case though, I figure it's not something anybody with common sense would want the Lintha to have. If they're risking straying that much for it, it must be pretty powerful or useful to them. And what's useful to them might become a bane for everybody else around."

Again Loukan Hirdu clears his throat, raising his hand from his corner of the table. "If I may speak? Thank you," he says, as if he'd already been invited to do so. "I may be able to help, should you bullheaded folk listen," he says to the Navy men in particular; Irongall, predictably, bristles at the words, while Fairwind seats himself to hear the man out. "I didn't take a kick from the boot of Hazhain Sul himself because I had any love for the barnacled bastard. Rather I was seeking information. And so was he."

"So the Lintha Father took an interest in you, sir?" says Captain Irongall, staring down at Hirdu. The mustachioed man made no move to rise from his chair, obviously pained enough by his wounds that sitting is more comfortable. "And here I thought they killed and plundered, and took men only to sell as slaves --"

"I'm gettin' to that, Navy Captain, sir," Hirdu pronounces, his tone rising. "Don't get prickly with me! I know you lost men, and I'm sure they were right fine men at that. Doesn't mean you have to go suspecting everyone outside yer crew as pirates or Lintha-friends. I assure you, Hazhain Sul and his spawn showed my men much less mercy. They ate them alive."

Once that had silenced the room enough, Hirdu glances around the table, addressing everyone except the Navy officers. "Now, may I?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:38, Mon 02 Mar 2009.

"Please." Kiana said softly, nodding to the man to continue.  He had her attention, rapt as the rest of them at the 'Ate them alive' comment.  Inwardly, Kiana considered that perhaps she had been on the wrong boat.  The casualties on the Dryad had been small, in no small part thanks to the offense the ship brought with it.  She was a pivotal part of that offense, but perhaps she could have been useful elsewhere?  She flushes it from her mind, and instead focuses on Hirdu.

Jadira, having gotten her urge for laughter out of her system, purses her lips in slight displeasure at the face-off between the captains. She had hoped they would not be so disdainful of one another after winning a major conflict together. Of course that would be too much to ask, wouldn't it? Even among allies people find ways to disagree, and the more insular they are, the more paranoid they are.

Wavecrest just happens to be that kind of insular. Especially against pirates. Well, let's see if we can salvage this situation.

"We're all on the same side here, aren't we? The Lintha are enemies of us all." The armswoman nods emphatically. "So Captain Hirdu, if you have information about why they are acting up so close to Wavecrest then I think all of us would like to know."

Xander's piercing gaze floated from person to person settling on to each of the captians one at a time. He gave each of them a strange look almost like he was looking around them more than at them exactly. First was Captain Fairwind. He got a nod of almost aproval as Xander's gaze passed him. Captian Hirudu Xander already knew much about and only got a passing glance though he paused long enough to note something that anyone watching him couold only guess at. Captain Leomaris got a small smile that was eaisily hidden and a nod of his own. Last was Captian Irongull and he got got a long look and a flash of disgust and wariness appeared on Xanders face before quickly being wiped away.

Of course most of this was done quickly and the emotions only lasted for a fraction of a second but anyone watching Xander qould notice some of it. Xander himself wasn't used to the pendant and the new insights it gave him caused him to not be as caregul as he could have been. Though at the mention of THe crew being eaten Xanders face went blank. The screams of the men had been horrible to hear and he hated the fact that he couldn't have done anything to help them.

Seemingly oblivious of Xander's scrutiny, Captain Irongall makes some sort of grunt of assent, and sits back down.

"To most people the islands surrounding this area are known as the 'Wavecrest Islets'," Loukan Hirdu begins the explanation he was so eager to give. The short, somewhat rotund man finally rises from his chair with a bit of a lurch, leaning on the edge of the table. "But to the Lintha they are called the Isles of Nevermoor."

"More accurately, Nevermoor is a subset of the Wavecrest Islets: A circle of six small islands, between which a seventh surfaces at random, but most often on a Saturnday, or the last week of a month. Some consider it a live behemoth, others a Wyld island, cursed or bewitched in some fashion; nonetheless it is the source of much legend and superstition." Hirdu falters briefly, wheezing as if he'd spoken too much without remembering to breathe.

"In Wavecrest we call it the Seven-Day Island," Captain Fairwind contributes, rubbing his chin thoughtfully and ignoring the look his colleague gives him. "But it's just a sailor's fable -- or are you saying it's been found?"

"Legends like these are my bread and butter, Navy Captain," says Hirdu, finally catching his breath again. "And Nevermoor is one I have sought for some time. I have only discovered quite recently (and RATHER unfortunately) that the Lintha, or at least this Dara-Said Hazhain Sul, are also interested in it. They seek a relic at the heart of Nevermoor, one that if fully assembled would 'revive the blood of Kimbery'." He pauses to stroke his mustache, comically theatrical in his desire for dramatic effect. "With this relic, the Lintha may well return to a level of power unheard of since the previous Age!"

---

OOC: Figured I should at least give the start of the explanation so people won't just repeat 'please go on'. Hopefully gives something to discuss before I can post again :) (and I'll remember to intro Xander properly by my next post, too)
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:50, Mon 02 Mar 2009.

Kareth looked somewhat perplexed and disturbed for a moment.  Then the dark individual's eyes almost seemed to gleam eerily in the lamp light of the cabin as his normal disinterest faded from his face.  "Revive the blood of Kimberly?  From my knowledge of the Lintha, were they wiped out in a war with the Dragons, except for 100 survors.  Since then, they used rape to increase their numbers, thus thinning their blood.  This device could possibly be a means to increase the power in their bloodline."  With this, Kareth stops and ponders for a minute, "Forgive my interruption Captain, I am merely conjecturing.  I do wonder if anyone here might be able to tell me, is this the first time a group, Lintha or not, have tried to find this device?  Specifically, anyone hailing from the Threshold in the past 30 to 50 years."  Kareth made no attempt at hiding the fact that he had other reasons to be enraptured by this tale other than the excitement of it.  It involved a strange device, and a chance to get information which would be personally valuable:  this tale was right up his ally.


[Private to GM:

I'm guessing 4 sux is good enough to know that kind of knowledge.  I figured anything Kareth knew would be a revised history written through the eyes of the Shogunate so I made the war with the Dragons and not the Anathema.

Today: Isole Kareth rolled 4 successes using 8d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 1,9,2,8,3,3,10,5. Int + Lore. ]
This message was last edited by the player at 16:20, Mon 02 Mar 2009.

Lasuri listens intently when the man speaks, as he visibly endured much in order to bring out this tale. There is a hint of respect when the Captain watches his guest relate the events, and his brow furrows as the worrying news. "As a fellow Captain, I want to extend my sympathies for your loss, Captain. I'll have my ship's chaplain available at your request if you need it, to make sure those brave souls are sent properly to the other side." He nods to Hirdu, letting Kareth speak before saying anything else. The Sea Drake shakes his head as the engineer apologizes.

"Mister Kareth. You sail under the Cobalt flag, which means there are no such things as 'interruptions' from you. Your opinion is valued, as is the opinion of any of those sitting at this table. And you do well to talk about the things you're knowledgeable in." The Sea Drake's expression is much darker than it was before, however, turned somber by the new Captain Hirdu brings them.

"I'm not really that knowledgeable in artifacts and objects of wonder as a whole, and I'll admit to it readily. I'm not a savant, though I like to think I'm imaginative enough to at least understand the consequences that come from the use of such objects." He looks at the other captains, and shakes his head softly.

"I'm not really much into reviling groups usually, since everyone has their reasons for doing what they do, I suppose. But the Lintha are a conglomerate I've seen and heard enough of to know there's something sinister lurking under the surface. They're the example of the kind of thing any of us could become - so concerned with ourselves and our own profit that everything and anyone else becomes expendable. If the words of Mister Kareth and Mister Hirdu are true, and I believe they are... Then that means that this can't be something that can be allowed. If we stand by and do nothing, we'll be just as guilty when more people go through what Mister Hirdu did."

[Private to Isole Kareth: Sure, I think your roll suffices. :)]

Hirdu waits respectfully for Lasuri to finish speaking before answering Kareth. "Aye, no need for apologies, sir," he replies to the engineer. "The device, I am not completely certain. We explorer-savants don't always keep tabs with one another, as we're... competing, in some fashion." His chuckling ends in an undignified 'ow' as he presses a hand to his bandages. "But I'll admit I didn't know much about it either until my painful encounter with the Lintha. I'd only been hunting the Seven-Day Island, and they thought I knew something about their precious chalice!"

"We don't often keep current on the treasure hunter sort." adds Captain Fairwind. "More likely that the Navy's called on to clean up when they get stranded or beset by unforeseen circumstances." He glances pointedly at the portly, dark-haired Captain of the Ambition.

Hirdu blithely ignores the attention, continuing to address Kareth. "Why, is there something in particular you are looking for?" He eyes the Fire Aspect appraisingly. "Or a someone. Hmmmph. I do have colleagues among various societies of explorer-savants and artifact-collectors in the Threshold. Name a name and I might be able to tell you something."

"More importantly," cuts in Captain Irongall, more interested in Lasuri's words than Kareth's, "are you insinuating that we involve ourselves in the affairs of the Lintha -- or be no better than the demons themselves? May I remind you, Captain Leomaris, that these are Wavecrest waters, not yours. It is not your purview to decide or judge how we handle this situation."

"All evil need do to prevail is for good men to do nothing."  Kiana said softly, her eyes cast at the table as she did.  Her hands were clasped together gently as they rested on the table, and one might see that it wasn't the table she was rightly looking at, but her hands.  She did not speak with the same candor and bravado as the others--on the contrary, she was meek and fair in comparison.

"If you know the Lintha are a threat, and yet you do not act against them, then you are just as responsible for the damage they deal as they are.  Would we have been any better had we simply ignored the battle that ended not but a short while ago?"  She paused, looking to Lasuri and Jadira for a brief moment before focusing her eyes not on her hands, but on Captain Irongall.

"With all due respect, Captain Irongall, this is not a question of ownership.  The Cobalt Alliance doesn't care for possessions, sir, but freedom.  Freedom that the Lintha try to subvert, and that cannot be allowed.  As long as a breath is shared among us, we will defy them.  With or without your support."

She was quiet then, having said her piece.  One would think she was a member of the Alliance for years, the way she spoke.  But no.  She spoke from experience.  How many people had simply watched the young girl as she was tormented by her mother?  How many could have stopped it?  Too many to count, and yet none lifted a finger to help her.  No, she wasn't going to let that happen to anyone else, not if she could help it.  She could endure, but not everyone had that same strength.  But with their help, one day, they could.

"I agree with her. Standing there and doing nothing with the evil that surrounds you is a detestable act." Zeru says, his relaxed stance unwavering.

"My words are my own, and you may take them as you will. Involving yourself in Lintha affairs is only good when you are stopping them from evil. And not involving yourself when they commit evil acts is evil as well." His eyes carry the crushing weight of the dark sea. "If you think this means that I," he motions towards Kiana. "Or she, is calling you evil it would indicate to me that you have something weighing heavily on your conscience."

"Again, these words are mine and take them as you will."

Listening to the words of both Kiana and Zeru, Lasuri cannot help but smile slightly, shaking his head softly. "Well, there you have it, Captain. Hard to say anything better than this, really." He nods towards his brethren, before taking on a slightly more serious expression.

"I'm not trying to tell you what to do with your ships and your people in your waters. But I can tell you one thing, my fellow Captains. If the Lintha get their hands on something like what mister Kareth spoke of... I can guarantee you that it won't be a problem that'll affect Wavecrest only. It'll spill elsewhere, and potentially might envelop the whole of the West. The Lintha are ambitious. They're also shrewd, which ironically is the reason why we don't see much of them up North. They advance carefully, because they don't want to risk losing their advantages."

"If something of power allows them to act without that fear... Then you can bet they'll try to spread their borders and influence. And as you've seen, they don't care which waters they're in. If they want something, they work to take it, borders be damned."

"Everyone's free to make their own decisions, of course. That's a staple of our Alliance, and that also means I can't dictate your conduct in good conscience. But I know full well what we're gonna do. Also, we're the ones with a brand new Lintha blood feud on our heads. Whether we want it or not, they're going to want to off us, so there's no avoiding this, even if we want to."

"They've set their sight on getting this... thing, already. They'll come back knocking at your door sooner or later. In the end, it's only a matter of whether you'll choose to get ready before then or not."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:37, Tue 03 Mar 2009.

Kareth nodded his head to Lasuri after the Captain assured him of his freedom to speak.  While he was thankful for the reassurance of the Captain, Kareth was, ultimately, a Dragon-Blood from Lookshy.  This meant that he gave deference to his officers.  While he was no longer a member of the Seventh Legion for all practical purposes, the training of a soldier does not die easily.

Captain Hirdu's questions into what he was looking for put a quick cap on Kareth's excitement although he remained very interested in the conversation.  Quite frankly, he did not know how much about himself that he should tell this man.  However, he came here to look for answers and he wouldn't find them by being overly vauge with his inquiries.  "I'm looking to find out what happened to an expedition sent from Lookshy roughly 30 years ago, Captain.  I know that a man named Fading Tiger Shadow had contact with at least one member of the group.  This is a matter of personal interest, but the information delivered by the sole survivor of the expedition was classified and she herself is dead.  I would appreciate any resources you could make available to me to gather this information."  Kareth figured that this would be sufficient to get a reliable answer from the captain.   As he saw it, the old sailor had no need to know what Kareth's interest in event was.  As it stood, Kareth's behavior at the meeting was not normal for him and all the Dryad's crew could tell.  Where he normally isolated himself and did not talk much with others, he was now fully engaged in the conversation.

As the other members of the Alliance made their speeches on the evil of 'doing nothing', Kareth sat there and added nothing on the subject.  Instead he reflected on these statements and their application to his life.  Had he done nothing to save his squad, then he might not have been exiled.  Knowing that, would he do it again?  He wished the answer came to him easily as it did to the rest of crew.

Irongall does not quite scowl, but his lips tighten under his salt-and-pepper beard. Do-gooders rarely put a thought toward outside repercussions, he thinks, and sometimes do more harm than good in the process. Even so, he cannot deny the danger the Lintha would pose to anyone that sails through the Islets, should they return to seek their artifact again.

"Enough," the older Navy Captain says gruffly, his hard gaze shifting from Kiana to Zeru before settling on the Cobalt Captain, Lasuri. Pride stiffens his spine, and he raises his chin slightly. "I said nothing of not acting against the Lintha. Only that you lack the authority to act without our permission. The Navy will most certainly assign heavier armed patrols to these islands, in the case the Lintha return with hostile force, that much you need not question!"

"In any case, what is it you intend to do? Surely not join Captain Hirdu in his flights of fancy, and look for an unknown device in a living island that might not exist?"

The name Kareth speaks to Hirdu sparks recognition in the mustachioed man's eyes. "From Lookshy? The ones who sought the Librum... oh, boy. Fading Tiger Shadow is one of the Silver Prince's men, sir. They ran afoul of Skullstone, they did, for they sought the same sort of secrets that built Skullstone's forbidding black ships. Or so it is told. I cannot say there is anyone alive who knows exactly what happened to that expedition... now that the sole survivor has died." He looks troubled at the very thought, and mutters a superstitious prayer under his breath, as if to shield himself from further misfortune.

"You Cobalt folk seem right strong-hearted stuff, though... I wonder if you'd reckon taking on an old captain, eh? If you 'fancy' yourselves some treasure-hunting, more company's better than less!" Hirdu's worried look becomes a jovial smile as he pats the young man beside him on the shoulder. "Got you another interested party, too. This fellow's Xander Lucian. He's been helpin' on the Ambition a short while."

---

OOC: Nearly got sidetracked from introducing Xander. Oops!
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:12, Wed 04 Mar 2009.

Xander had been sitting quietly listening to all thats been said. He hadn't had anything to add to the conversation much more interested in hearing what the others had to say and judging the situation on his own. Being called out by Hirdu Xander smiles a little chagrined and stands up. He bows to each of the captians before introducing himself. "As the essteemed captian has told you. I am Xander Lucian. I was aboard Captian Hirdu's ship when it was attack and managed to hide from the Lintha until I could free the prisoners and lead a revolt. Still I am quite grateful to both the Navy and the Alliance as I fear we would have been overrun quickly if you hadn't showed up." He bows again slightly deeper before sitting back down.

"Personally, I'm inclined to think Hirdu wouldn't speak lightly of a treasure he discovered the existence of after his crew became food for the Lintha," Jadira says firmly, her emerald eyes regarding Captain Irongall steadily. "If I were him, I'd want to take this device of theirs and destroy it with my own hands, so they could never find or use it."

Turning her attention away from Irongall, Jadira acknowledges Hirdu and Xander with a nod, smiling in greeting to the latter. "It's good to meet you, Xander. I'm glad there were survivors. Every one of you we could help save from the Lintha is a blessing."

"Captain Hirdu, if you've got the means to find this 'chalice', then I for one think we ought to work together. The only problem is... between your crew taking losses, and ours taking a lot of injury, I don't know if we'd be able to move out right away. Everyone needs rest."

(OOC - whoops! edited to incorporate a reply to Xander.)
This message was last edited by the player at 21:37, Wed 04 Mar 2009.

At the mention of the Silver Prince, Kareth looked notably crestfallen.  In his short stint in the west, he had heard tales of the power ruler.  Someone with that much power would be a person who the Alliance would want to avoid crossing.  Even so, Fading Tiger Shadow might have answers that Kareth wanted... no... needed to get. Still, there was more to this puzzle.

While all of these thoughts played in his head, Kareth's face betrayed each one in its own unique way.  However, his face changed so quickly from depression to desperation to resolve, that to most people it appeared that the engineer had been struck by a seizure.  After his face had finished its contortions, Kareth asked Captain Hirdu another question "The Librum?  What is that?"

Lasuri listens intently as words are exchanged, keeping a respectful silence when others voice their own opinions and beliefs. Finally, after a moment of consideration, he finally addresses the Navy captains once more.

"Perhaps that's one way to look at it, Captain. But there's also the fact that we're in no way threatening the peace or security of Wavecrest - which means, in that case, that you would lack the authority to keep us from doing what we're doing. 'Course, that's all semantics, and I would much prefer we come to a civil and cordial arrangement than muttering at each other while pointing out differences in lawbooks and dictionaries. That's why we're here, after all. Not to see who's right, but to try to reach an understanding. We don't want anything bad happening to your people or land, Captain. I hope you understand at least that much, it nothing else."

"As for what we intend to do... Well, that one island might seem like myth to you, but here we've got a man whose crew was devoured alive by the Lintha who are pursuing that 'fairy tale', Captain. That was done by the usually careful and cunning Lintha, those who don't risk anything unless they know there's something to be gained, for fear of losing status and position." He pauses, and his smile darkens for a moment, his whole expression turning sadder. "Some of our own people were killed by the unusually aggressive Lintha as well. If you go to the deck and meet the crew, you'll see it immediately on their faces - that ordeal was very much real.

He looks over to Kareth then, and nods to the man."Mister Kareth is our lorekeeper of sorts, and if he believes this thing might exist, then I'll trust it does until proven otherwise." He looks over to Jadira, Zeru and Kiana, and smiles at them all in turn. "When I introduced the people around me as 'the heart of the Alliance', it wasn't just pretty words meant to awe the crowd. It was truth. And you've heard their words. As their Captain, I'll take them where they believe we should go. And if that means protecting both my crew and Captain Hirdu so we can all fight for what we believe in... Then by the Nine Sea Gods, I'll take them to the very Mouth of Malfeas and fight to protect each and every one of them as long as there's even a trickle of life left in this body." He nods resolutely, and gazes back towards Captain Hirdu. Obviously, he is being included in that oath.

Finally, Lasuri smiles at the man introduced as Xander Lucian, and inclines his head amiably at him. "Seems like it was a blessing that you found yourself aboard this ship, Mister Xander. Congratulations on a job well done - I have an appreciation for those who fight even when the odds are tipped strongly against them. It's a great pleasure to meet you."

Hirdu replies first to Kareth: "The Librum of Adamant Artifice. Again, this is just hearsay, but it supposedly holds knowledge of First Age engineering and construction. The sort of thing any growing nation would want its hands on..." The short, squat captain shuts his mouth suddenly, not quite eying the Wavecrest men listening on.

"But like any rumor," Hirdu shrugs -- and winces, when the shrug pulls at his wound, "it's hard to prove without seeing it with one's own eyes, right?"

Turning to Lasuri, he bumbles an attempt at bowing that ends in a grimace of pain. Nonetheless, his expression is grateful. "I'm prepared to lend the Hirdu's Ambition, my expertise and my crew to preventing a surge of Lintha power. And in return, well, you're stuck with me long as you can stomach my presence, sirs and madams. O'course, this isn't all just altruistic..." He scratches at his greasy head of hair. "Seeing as they captured one of my ships, and the other deserted. With my crew down to barely a dozen, I'd be in a bind without you. But my heart's in the right place. If y'like I can tell you more of what I'm capable of. A proper sales pitch, if you will!"

Captain Irongall mostly ignores Hirdu's rambling, crossing his arms and waiting until he's quieted down. "Hmph. You are mostly correct, Captain Leomaris. It is the business of you and your men should you wish to pursue this course of action. However, since you are so certain of the existence of this device, I will insist that my colleague join you on this endeavor. Captain Fairwind will ensure that should you find this legendary chalice, you will either dispose of it or bring it to Wavecrest custody."

Fairwind, at this proclamation, looks stunned. It seems Irongall hadn't consulted with him until this very moment. "Garesh, you've got to be ki--no, you're serious--I can't believe--" Finally, stifling a groan of frustration, the purple-haired man squares his shoulders and looks to the others gathered. "Well, you heard 'im. I'm tailing you whether you like it or not." Or whether he likes it or not, apparently.

[Private to Lasuri Leomaris: You might be able to social your way out of having to bring Fairwind, the difficulty will be pretty high though. :P Or you could try talking to Fairwind separately at a different time.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:22, Wed 30 Sept 2009.

"I suppose if you think we need a babysitter, Captain, we have nothing to hide," Jadira remarks with an outward, almost cloying innocence, tilting her head to one side. "The sitter does not appear too happy at the prospect, though."

Shrugging, she gazes down the table to the other assembled Cobalt members.

"But let's not be too hasty. Cobalt Alliance, are we all in agreement about assisting Captain Hirdu in securing the Lintha Artifact? If you've got any concerns at all you'd best speak them now."

Kiana looked paid attention to Xander as he spoke, and those she offered him a nod in greeting, she offered little else.  Given her spirited speech earlier, she seemed rightly silent--those who knew who (as well as they could, given the time spent together) knew this to ring true.  Especially when in the company of strange men, Kiana usually kept to herself.  The heat of battle changed things considerably, but this wasn't a battle, so she sat resolutely, posture excellent, hands folded in her lap, displaying the image she was responsible for so many years ago with aged perfection.

Kareth's attention being torn back to the matter at hand, nods his consent towards the first mate of the Dryad.  "I will try and have the ships repaired as soon as possible, Lady Jadira."

"I'm all for the bold new adventure, but my crew has been weakened considerably. A third of my unit is out of commission." Zeru says, his voice almost tired. "I would rather have my crew in working order before we race to an artifact that is likely to draw the ire of the Lintha, on top of the ire we've already drawn."

Zeru clams up after he said his piece, his face holding a weary look. He is certainly not one for meetings, not the least with the navy. His posture is still relaxed, he feels it necessary to show them that he has not a care in the world.

"There's not a huge rush," Hirdu clarifies, after giving the Navy Captains an odd lock. He isn't all that fond of the military sticking its nose into his business, either, but figures it probably won't last long. "Like I said, the Seven-Day Island only appears on Saturnday, and most likely at the end of the month. So the next day we could head there would be the 28th. 6 days from now."

"In the meantime, our esteemed Wavecrest Navy escort could always bring us to one of the nearby peaceful isles for a rest, eh?" He grins widely at Irongall and Fairwind.

"That... can be arranged," Captain Irongall says grudgingly, and Fairwind nods tersely. Though stunned by the prospect of following the Alliance, it's not for any animosity towards them, but for the sudden effect on Fairwind's schedule. The somewhat younger Captain's expression has since smoothed out into a more contemplative one.

---

OOC: We'll move toward a few days' timeskip once I get a feeling people have talked out what needs talking. I figure it'll happen by the end of the week/maybe start of next. At that point you'll get a chance to spend xp, do repairs and whatever else needs to be arranged. (Also if you have any private conversations you want to play out, you can request a mini thread via PM.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:29, Thu 05 Mar 2009.

"Don't worry, Mister Zeru. While planning our next course of action is definitely a priority, the safety of the people of Cobalt is my first concern. I wouldn't endanger your crew by rushing into things. Besides, headbutting danger is not my style." He smiles warmly to his fellow captain and friend. "You'll be the one monitoring your crew's condition, and I'll listen to anything you say and recommend when it comes to their well being and safety."

"As for one of your own accompanying us... Well, that's not for me to decide, really. After all, you're well in your right to have us followed in your waters if you wish to, and if you mistrust us enough. As Miss Thornbloom said, we have nothing to hide, so I have no real objections to it, as long as it doesn't endanger my comrades and crew." He turns towards Fairwind, and nods with an expression akin to an apologetic look, a smile forming on his features. "My sympathies on your new assignment, my friend."

He pauses, then looks at the faces around him. "Seems to me like we've pretty much went around everything, so I think we should cut this short here, with all due respect. It's been a long and difficult day for everyone I'm sure, and some rest and quiet is likely to be in order for everyone. Unless someone has something that hasn't been addressed, I'd suggest we break this off here and all return to our activities."

"I second that notion. We're all in need of some food and rest, and I'll have to check on the patients at least once more before I turn in for the night." Stifling a yawn, Jadira rises from her chair and stretches out a hand for Hirdu, then Xander to shake. "Well, for what it's worth, Captain Hirdu, Xander Lucian... Welcome to the Cobalt Alliance."

Her genuine smile almost chases away the weariness in her face for a moment.

"I suggest we stay put for tonight and resume travel in the morning. I assume you will be the one escorting us to the nearest friendly port," Jadira remarks, her expression sobering as she nods to Captain Fairwind. Six days would be plenty of time to rest up, and better to do so at a safer location than floating in the middle of the ocean.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:19, Sun 08 Mar 2009.

"That's right," Fairwind says, nodding to Jadira. "As excited I am to be spending more time with you folks, my men need rest as much as yours do." Though his tone is wry, it isn't resentful, either. He'd been looking forward to returning home, is all.

"We will be off, then," pronounces Captain Irongall. He starts to leave, with Fairwind close behind, then pauses suddenly in his steps. "I will say this, I am strict but not unfair. At the least I will report that the Cobalt Alliance aided us against the Lintha. But that will not immediately win you immunity to our laws or the concerns of our populace."

"Good day, Captain Leomaris." The two Wavecrest Navy captains depart to join their own respective vessels.

Hirdu accepts Jadira's handshake heartily, clasping her hand in both of his. "Believe me, Lady, and Captain," he nods to Lasuri, "You won't regret this. I can only hope I'll live long enough to repay you and your people for helping us."

23rd-28th Day of Ascending Water, RY 768
Rest period

As agreed on the day before, Captain Irongall departs for Wavecrest to make report on the battle with the Lintha. Fairwind, sailing the assault trireme Falchion, leads the Spring Dryad II, the Black Marlena and the Hirdu's Ambition toward the nearby port of Auragik. As with many small Western islands, the people of Auragik are largely fishermen, though their specialty appears to be shellfish, which produce for them everything from fresh food, to nacre, to cultivated pearl, to special medicinal extracts.

As an island officially under Wavecrest dominion, the people of Auragik don't have much of a say in refusing the presence of the Navy ship or its accompanying entourage. Fairwind disembarks first to speak with the older man that appears to serve as their port authority, and after an exchange words followed by signatures and stamps, the Wavecrest Navy and Cobalt Alliance are allowed to dock.

Not everyone on Auragik is unhappy with their presence on the isle. Many are concerned with safety following reports of Lintha activity, and welcome the extra protection that ships geared for battle can offer. Taverns and other businesses on the shorefront thrive with men on shore leave. The problem is mostly one of resources: providing enough beds, food and entertainment for their sudden deluge of visitors, as well as medical aid for the wounded. There are now and then misbehaving Navy seamen, as well, who cause trouble for their superior officer by getting embarrassingly in trouble while drunk or lusty.

Until the morning of the 28th -- when Hirdu claims the next chance to find the Seven-Day Island will arise -- the members of the Cobalt Alliance are free to do with their time as they please. They should be able to find most basic resources and help they may need on the islet, though some money or persuasion may be involved.

---

OOC: Please start to detail how you spend the next 5 and a half days. [Private to Kiana Makohgn; Lasuri Leomaris: I'll open a thread for your private conversation, too.]

Once the meeting ended, Kareth immediately recruits his men to conduct repairs.  Fortunately, the last few days on boats had given him much time examine their construction.  Unfortunately, his bracers would be almost useless for this endeavor.  He did think that between the various ships he would be able to scrounge enough tools to get the repairs done.  What was most needed were saws and hammers with the occasional wrench, lever, or pully system.  He took solace in the fact that most likely, whatever materials were not on hand for the various repairs would be easily obtained (through purchase or otherwise) at the local ship yard.

After examining the relative damage, Kareth opts to work on the Dryad first.  She had, after all, suffered more damage.  Fortunately even though the demon had managed to do much damage to the ship, none of it was overly difficult to repair.  Many lesser ships would have been destroyed by what had happened, but she was a good ship.  The cracked boards are easily replaced, and while all the damage to the frame is more difficult to repair, it was not so difficult that it kept him from finishing before the sun set.

When the fleet reaches port the next day, Kareth turns his attention to the Marlena.  He chuckles to himself as he boards the vessel with the Captain's permission, for he remembers Zeru's comments about the ship.  However, he proceeds to go about repairing her wounds as well he is able.  Kareth finds himself, strangely enough, at peace with doing ship repairs.  It had not been his forte back in Lookshy, but out here on the ocean, he felt a smile sense of pride in what he was doing.  The repairs went slower than the day before even though the damage to the Marlena had been less extensive.  The damage happened to be in hard to reach places on the ship and it took Kareth ultimately working late into the evenings to finish them.  At the end of the second day, he fell asleep, totally exhausted from his work and slow healing wound.

On the second day in port, Kareth turns his attention towards the newest addition to the Cobalt fleet.  He had purposefully put Hirdu's Ambition off to last as he did not know for how long it would remain with the Alliance.  A ship who's name describes the ambition of its captain might, by its nature, be unreliable.  However, he tries his best to restore the ship.  Unfortunately, the damage resembled the damage on the Marlena more than the Dryad and he was forced, once again to work late into the night.

Third day in port, Kareth offers his services to Captain Fairwind and sees to their repairs.   He was fairly certain that the captain had already seen to his own repairs but it did not hurt to make the offer.

After the repairs were complete everyday, he then turned his attention towards a most dire matter: rest.  It would take Kareth several days to recover from his wounds completely.  Fortunately though, rest did not mean being idle.  While he lay in bed, Kareth spent much time simply pondering his occult knowledge and the properties of mirrors.  He had heard of a boon from the Air Dragon which allows one see spirits in reflective surfaces.  Kareth had been been able to put in several hours after finishing the work on the Dryad.  The next days had not left him with much free time and Kareth had only been able to work on developing the charm during the small water breaks he took, the break for his midday meal, and the hour between finishing the repairs and collapsing from exhaustion.  He had been fortunate that his repairs on the navy ship had not taken as long as the previous two boats and he spent his entire evening working on developing his new power.  Finally, late into the night he succeeded.  Where many people would have celebrated with victorious shouts and laughter, Kareth simple smiled and rewarded himself with some much needed rest.

On their last day in the town, Kareth finally left his room and found a local glassblower and a local smith.  He purchased a small piece of  malleable metal from the smith and some glass from the glassblower.  He then rented the glassblower’s workshop, formed tools of solidified essence using his bracers, and set about making a pair of lenses .   These lenses were not normal though.  Instead, using the bracers, he coated them in an almost impossibly thin layer of metal.  The end result was such that when exposed to bright light on one side and dim light on the other, the lenses would show a reflective surface on the side exposed to the bright light.  However, the surface exposed to the dim lighting would be mostly transparent.  The concept was often referred to as being a see-through mirror or a one-way mirror.   Kareth then set these special lenses into frames which were designed to hug his face very tightly.  A small lip extended from the frames back towards the face of the wearer to shield bright light from that side of the lenses.  When Kareth was finished he smiled a smile which sent shivers down the spine of the glassblower who had been watching him.  “These glasses should provide enough of a reflective surface to see spirits with as long as I’m using my new trick,” he thought to himself.

After all this was finished, Kareth made his way back towards the Dryad.

[Private to GM: I'm using my XP to buy the Spirt Detecting Mirror Technique and up my Craft (Wood) to 3.  since craft is favored, it should be 3 in time to do repairs.  Buying 1 sux on all craft roll using second excellency.


Craft lenses: 5 sux (used bracers)

Repair rolls
       Navy: 5 sux
   Ambition: 2 sux
    Marlena: 2 sux
      Dryad: 5 sux

unsure about bonuses I get from assistants.  That really depends on who's helping.

Isole Kareth rolled 1 success using 5d10... with rolls of 4,8,1,3,6. craft lens.
Isole Kareth rolled 4 successes using 5d10... with rolls of 9,4,7,9,8. repair navy.
Isole Kareth rolled 1 success using 5d10... with rolls of 4,7,5,2,2. repair Ambition.
Isole Kareth rolled 1 success using 5d10... with rolls of 9,2,3,3,3. repair Marlena.
Isole Kareth rolled 3 successes using 5d10... with rolls of 7,6,6,4,10. repair Dryad. ]
This message was last edited by the player at 01:43, Thu 12 Mar 2009.

Jadira spends a significant part of her rest period aiding the wounded at sickbay, developing further skill and ingenuity in the medical disciplines. She pays particular attention to cleanliness, making sure that their injuries are not becoming infected and are healing normally.

Interested in one day learning more about crafting her native element, Jadira uses part of the day to observe Kareth as he arranges for ship repairs. She finds herself impressed with his skill, and now and then asks the dour man questions about the processes and calculations he uses, how he decides the best type of wood to use, and so forth. If she feels she is being too disruptive in the repair process, though, she backs off and simply watches.

When the Wood Aspect goes ashore, she does a customary resupplying of essential goods, especially bandages, medical supplies, fresh water and food. They hadn't been at sea very long, but it's always a good idea to stock up whenever one can.

Jadira also takes the time to go through the gear stripped from the Lintha the Alliance had defeated. (Would any of it be salvageable for use or sale, or as components for other crafting projects?) Even more important are the live Lintha they managed to get hold of -- these, she decides, ought to be returned to and dealt with by the Navy. So she resolves to speak with Captain Fairwind about this matter as soon as possible, unless some of her colleagues on the Dryad have some reason to protest that move.

Zeru spends part of his rest period ashore. He also for the first time offers his assistance in purchasing supplies, and selling anything. He had been taught how to deal with salesmen while aboard the Marianna's ghost, and the nature of bartering had interested him in the academy. It also reminded him of stealing, as getting good deals is often akin to grifting.

He is fascinated by cooking, and decides he wants to learn. He looks at chefs, learning their technique. He has had an idea and one he would like to achieve. So he watches chefs cook, gets any recipes he can, and practices often.

He also asks for help in areas of essence manipulation from Jadira or Tageru. He had heard of some alchemies, and essence manipulation techniques that could speed the healing of normal humans. He was curious about these techniques and wondered if he could apply them in cooking.

He interacts little with Captain Fairwind, keeping mostly to the alliance unless approached by the man personally. He was navy after all, and old habits die hard. He communes often with the Marlena thanking her for her blessings in the battle and trying to learn more about her. Like why she is so vengeful.

The days of rest pass peacefully.

Kareth's repairs go well enough, particularly with the Dryad and, apparently without trying, the Navy ship as well. The Marlena and the Ambition take a couple more days each, filling up his entire five days (and that of his assistants) with overtime repair work. With the help of his bracers, though, he is able to craft his special one-way mirrored glasses in the space of a few hours. The glassblower is utterly baffled as to why Kareth would design such a thing, but watches him closely anyway, as the Fire Aspect's attention to detail is impressive. [Private to Isole Kareth: here's what I've been doing with mundane repairs... You still roll as if for crafting (meaning you need to get a total success equal to Resource rating of what you're repairing) but the time interval is reduced (large objects like a ship are usually week interval, so for repairs it's a day interval). You rolled enough right off the bat for Dryad and Falchion but the others you rolled about half what you needed, so I just ruled you needed more time for those, and worked overtime to fit it within the 5 days. Your assistants also gave you a -1 difficulty (for a group of 5).]

Jadira has no problem getting the supplies she needs. Among the Lintha's leavings (pooled with those found on the Ambition, with Hirdu's blessing) she finds 20 exceptional quality auhzian blades, which are something of a curved sword with a hook at the end, larger than a normal hook sword. They also have armor, 20 fine quality buff jackets. The Lintha subofficer Hirdu captured had apparently had jade equipment on her, but for the moment he has kept it, offering it only to Zeru should he wish it: a suit of black jade lamellar, and the thorn whip, made of a green jade alloy. He has kept her sword for himself, though.

Captain Fairwind considers the prospect of taking on the Lintha prisoners. He actually looks surprised Jadira came straight to him about it. In the end he decides to take all of the prisoners in the Dryad's hold and transfer them to the Falchion (which, in any case, has plenty more manpower for guarding them). He does not hide the fact from the Cobalt Alliance that when they return back to Wavecrest, the demon scourge will most definitely be publicly executed.

Hirdu, however, does not give up his prisoner. Lintha Dara-Said Sister Kizil remains, for whatever reason, locked up in the bowels of the Ambition. Whatever plans he has for Kizil, he has told no one, and only Zeru is actually certain she is imprisoned there.

In between helping Jadira with resupplying, learning what he can from Auragik's local chefs, and spending time with his crew, Zeru spends some quality time with the spirit of the Black Marlena. Marlena, questioned about her vengefulness, speaks sharply of a betrayal in her life that caused her great strife. She still seems a little reluctant to tell the entire story, but she mentions that spirits are often bound by oaths and protocol, and she had once bent the rules for a man who did not uphold his part of the bargain. Ever since then she has harbored a powerful rage for those who are not true to their word.

As for Zeru's crewmen, Curran and Sunden are able to return and rest on board the Marlena after a few days, but they most certainly cannot be subjected to any strenuous work for at least a couple weeks.

---

OOC: I'll give a little more time for people to get things done. I'm sorry to delay the new thread a bit more but I don't want to rush Kiana/Lasuri. :)

During one of Jadira's excursions with Zeru, she notices him paying attention to the chefs, misunderstanding his interest in them. "Considering hiring a cook on the Marlena?" she asks him, during one of those times.

The thought of recruiting on Auragik has crossed her mind, but the people there appear entirely too peaceful to subject to the dangers they would soon face. Better to wait until a longer stop-off, she figures.

Considering the Lintha's gear, she decides to hold onto it for now. Who would dare buy Lintha armaments, anyway? Probably better to keep them around to be recycled for other crafting projects, should anyone need them... though the blades are particularly high quality. Noting this, she brings them to Kareth during some period of mutual free time. "I wonder if you might have time -- not now, the ship repairs take first priority -- to re-work these blades into another shape, but of equal quality? I don't think any one of our men will want to wield them if the shape is associated too strongly with the Lintha."

Zeru whilst walking with Jadira smiles when she asks about a cook for the Marlena. "I can't rightly hire myself, Miss Thornbloom. I suppose I could, but the pay is horrible." He chuckles at his own joke. "To be honest, I'm quite intrigued by the art of cooking personally. It wasn't something I got a chance to see much on the Marianna's Ghost, too busy with chores and all. I haven't had any training in the fine arts... only the practical ones."

He jots some notes down in a small notebook he's taken to carrying. And Coral rests on his shoulder, lounging lazily. "I do have a question for you though. You and Tageru are great healers, and I have heard rumors of potions and healers that can help a normal person heal like one of the Dragon Blessed. Is there truth in this?"

Kareth had actually been relatively pleased to have the help of Jadira and more than happy to the help of the first mate with the repairs.  He showed it by frowning instead of frowning and glaring.  When she mentioned him reworking the blades, he thought about it some and then said "I am not overly skilled at being a smith.  However, I did develop some skill with it.  I can rework the blades but they likely won't be as good a weapon as they are now."

As he spoke, he absent mindedly raised his hands to the wound on his chest.  It still had not healed completely and it this had played no small part in causing the ship repairs to go slower.  Before he did anything with the blades, he would have to wait several days for it all to heal and he doubts he would be free of pain by the time they set sail.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:56, Thu 12 Mar 2009.

To Zeru:

"Ah, the Marianna's Ghost... Your father's ship, right? Peleps Kaizoku is well known in the West." Jadira makes no comment about whether that fame is a good or bad thing. Instead she answers Zeru's question. "I have heard of such a potion, but I am not knowledgeable in its creation. That requires some instruction in the thaumaturgical art of Alchemy."

She thinks a bit longer and remembers the name of the alchemical concoction. "Hero's Recovery, that's what it's called. I admit, it would be quite useful to learn how to brew it myself, but I've not had the time to do so, as my duties are quite spread out... being the first mate, the armsmaster and the purser takes a lot of time," the Wood Aspect says ruefully.

"Are you worried about your crewmen? We can go into market and see if an alchemist might be selling such a potion... or is willing to teach us the Procedure."

To Kareth:

Jadira notes the slightly less glowering expression and thinks bemusedly, does that mean he likes me now? She brings Kareth a sample of the auhzian blade and its distinctive hooked shape, to give him a better idea of what she is asking. "Mostly, I think it is the tip you would have to rework. It would be better if the weapons could retain quality, but a little bit of loss would be understandable."

"In any case, you don't need to think about it too hard just yet. We won't need it for our next excursion. It's more a future project consideration, as I hate to have anything on board go to waste."

"Well seeing as my duties are to my crew and my ship, there aren't too many of them. I'd be more than willing to help with your duites as purser. I've watched the snake oil salesmen since I was 10, I've gotten quite good at it." Zeru offers, with a slight embarrassment.

"As for the Hero's Recovery It'd be a pleasure to see if we can find one in the Market." He bows lightly, so as not to unbalance Coral, and sweeps his arm in an "after you" manner.

Kareth thinks for a momenth and then replies, "I noticed a forge on the Ambition.  Once I have the time and have fully recovered, I will certainly look into what your request, Madam Thornbloom."

"Thank you kindly, Kareth. You've already done plenty for us, I appreciate it." Jadira gives the engineer a warm and genuine smile before moving off to take care of business.

The Wood Aspect chuckles at Zeru's gentlemanly gesture and starts leading the way back to the Auragik market for what had to be the third time. "All right... when we get there, I'll look for an alchemist or thaumaturgist selling wares, and inspect the products he or she has. Once we find something worth buying -- if we do, I'll let you do all the haggling."

Jadira and Zeru proceed to Auragik's open market. It is not vastly different from any other Western island market the Cobalt Alliance members have seen. It is, of course, much smaller than that of Seahaven. Nonetheless, it is bustling in miniature, with many of the stalls devoted to selling products of the local shellfish catch.

Abalone are particularly common in the area, but there are also all other kinds. Oysters, clams, crabs of all colors and sizes, scallops and of course, fish. Of the jewelry, art and talismans offered are pearls and shells and bits of coral, tiles and carved wooden boxes decorated in nacre, wooden and soapstone carvings, and other hand-made items. Finally there are the extracts, many touted to be have beneficial medicinal properties -- others are poisonous, but Jadira sees none of that selling openly. (If she were to inquire, though...)

Among the most popular items are ormer shells. Hawkers make sure to speak very prominently about them whenever the rare visitor to the island comes by. They can apparently be used to 'trap' songs and stories recited into them. Some are sold with stories and songs already 'recorded' but others are virgin, freshly harvested, for somewhat higher price.

Jadira is able to find a local thaumaturge's shop, not on an open table but inside a rather cramped and pungent smelling room. The woman at the counter is a grumpy old crone hunched on a stool, with all but her face and hands wrapped in a dark blue woolen cloak. She doesn't speak much, rather communicating in ornery grunts, head motions and hand gestures. But it does seem she has the potion they are looking for, and then some.

---

OOC: Jadira/Zeru, we won't dwell on this long, so let's do some rolls... [Private to Jadira Thornbloom; Peleps Zeru: at this shop you'll find Hero's Recovery, as well as Blood Staunching Compress, Draught of Blessed Respite and Wound Cleansing Unguent. However you won't be able to buy in huge quantities, there is no more than 10 of each.

Jadira, roll Perc or Int+Occult to determine these items are genuine and of good quality. Zeru, roll Cha+Bureaucracy to haggle on price and quantity of said healing items.]

Kareth, Xander, Kiana, Lasuri and Tageru, if you've got any training or business (market or otherwise) left to do on Auragik please detail it here. I'll be summarizing and moving past the rest period by the weekend.

Jadira checks the medicines the old woman is selling to make sure they are what they are labeled to be. She is able to determine they are of safe, even decent quality.

Zeru, oddly enough, finds himself tonguetwisted and unable to haggle with this obstinate old woman. In fact she insists on exorbitant prices until Jadira steps in and helps smooth things over with her friendly, charismatic demeanor. The old woman reduces her prices -- slightly -- but insists she is selling to the "nice girl" rather than Zeru whom she seems to think is uncouth. Or maybe she's just a cat-hater?

All in all they are able to come away with five doses/uses each of Hero's Recovery, Blood Staunching Compress, Draught of Blessed Respite and Wound Cleansing Unguent... though Jadira is certain they could have gotten much more for the price she paid (which would have been significant if not for the fact the Cobalt Alliance's coffers are far from suffering).

Jadira decides she probably ought not to push it -- but she does try to put down some extra coin to persuade the ornery old woman to sell them the Hero's Recovery procedure. "We're visitors," she explains with a smile, "we have no intention of stealing any of your business. In fact we will be going back at sea very soon, and you'll not have to see us again! And you'd prefer this over ending up drafted to make potions for those nasty burly military folk, wouldn't you?"

"You don't even have to write it down for me. Just tell me the recipe and I'll be off. Getting good coin for a few words of help can't be a bad thing, can it?" [Private to GM: I'll spend a WP on this, too. Man.. I have no bureaucracy. ;.;]

Failing that, Jadira will bow out gracefully, return to the market and see about buying herself one of those ormer shells before heading back to the Dryad. Maybe it'd have some use, or at least serve as an amusing novelty at sea.

After the debacle with the old woman Zeru would be sighing... "I suppose that didn't make a very good impression on my haggling skills did it?"

"Mau"

"Oh yeah, you think you could have done better!"

"Mau!"

"Well..." he sighs again. "Sadly that works all to often, you manipulative little ratcatcher."

Tageru spent the resting time in meditation and some light training. He tried to appear more... friendly to the crew and his Dragon-Blooded peers by initiating smalltalk and by telling a tale or two in the evenings. It's painfully obvious that he's neither used to nor good at that sort of things, but he tries his best, and he actually managed to smile once or twice in a non-creepy manner.

A few times when he was telling a particularly interesting tale or speaking in a very moving manner, his body began to glow with an emerald light, and his eyes shone with the same green brilliance seen many times before.

He tried to talk to some of the crew, and even the Wavecrest people, but his unpleasant demeanor made his attempts at possible friendships mostly futile. He tried to find a sparring partner in Kiana, to fill some time and to keep in shape, since his skills were, thankfully, not needed at this moment.

[Private to Storyteller: OOC: I learn Performance Excellency, that's what the green glow was about. :D Also, I try to slowly overcome my Disturbing flaw, but that goal is still a LONG, LONG way away... :)

Besides, it's fun being an asocial idiot for a change. I always play some social characters with good social Attributes and skills, this makes for a nice change...]

At the Auragik market, Jadira does manage to score her Hero's Recovery recipe, though at significant cost. (It turns out money is the best persuasion for this particular woman.) The formula is not an expensive one, in actuality, though Jadira does spend as much as she might have for a suit of exceptional mundane armor. She decides it's worth the cost, as it still isn't enough of a dent in her funds to matter.

Back on board the Dryad, Tageru's attempts at chatting and tale-telling develop into a novelty amusement among the crew. They aren't quite sure what he's doing or why, but he at least gets them to pay attention -- if only because what he's doing is so woefully uncharacteristic of what they expect of him. Now and then he does get some applause. It probably helps that he has had plenty of experience traveling already, and many tales to tell as an Immaculate on the Wyld Hunt.

"Don't take it too hard, Zeru," Jadira says when she comes out of the old thaumaturgist's shop. "That woman was definitely trying to stiff us."

"Anyway, it looks like we might be able to brew ourselves more of this potion later. Ugh, but I need to make sure I return to get the reagents... Never mind! I'll find a different vendor for that."

Jadira distributes the healing items to Zeru, enough to help the recovery of his own crew. She decides he needs it more, as he only has the five, while the Dryad has nearly 40.

"That should be all. Take care of yourself, Zeru, and Coral!" She smiles at the kitten, to include her, and heads back to the Dryad to check on her patients again. Next on her priorities, of course, is getting some more well-deserved rest... with Lasuri, if she can.