Back on the Black Marlena, the twin brothers Brogan and Curran labor to clean the deck of the courier ship to match the raven-spirit's exacting standards. Sunden has been almost completely healed by a mix of Hero's Recovery and Wound-Mending Needles, so he helps Cinna with the non-heavy lifting, dusting and sweeping. The fair redhead is wearing the pretty scarf Zeru bought her from Wavecrest, using it to tie back her hair from her face while she works.

The mood is somewhat somber, as Antov has not yet rejoined them; he is still recovering on the Dryad. Still, the four other crewmen spend the first hours of the day recalling the tension and chaos of that battle, and how they actually survived, with the help of their captain, Kareth and Marlena's feathered shield. Though of course Sunden does not talk, he gestures and signs animatedly enough that it's obvious he feels just as amazed and relieved as his companions.

When Zeru returns from the meeting on the island ship, guiding the blind nymph Melusine across the gangplank, the crew pauses in their work to salute him. As for Marlena herself... she has yet to make an appearance, but Zeru can already feel her curiosity rising.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:00, Tue 13 Oct 2009.

Zeru crosses the gangplank guiding the nymph. Calls to his crew, giving them a light reprieve from their duties. "Good Morning all, I come bearing announcements." He says with a smile. "Antov is doing well and good and is finishing his rest aboard the Dryad." He smiles at each of his crew as he says this. "They say it won't be too long before he is returned to us."

He lets the cheers roll before continuing. "Also, with my lady's permission," Zeru bows towards the bowsprit, "Miss Melusine would like to join the crew of the Marlena." Zeru straightens and guides Melusine before him. "If you would come and chat my lady I have also brought a gift from Rakatau which I would give you"

Once the word 'gift' passes from Zeru's mouth it does not take long for Marlena to manifest, in the shape of a gorgeous pale woman with raven wings for hair, wearing a dress of black feathers. An opal shines at her neck.

The goddess's bright red eyes scan the crew coolly, then settle on Zeru - and Melusine. She frowns as she steps forward, but does not immediately dismiss the nymph.

"It is good Antov will recover. I do not want any one of my crewmembers to be hurt," Marlena says with her usual stern possessiveness. "That battle was difficult and got my body all scuffed up and stained. However, I am still pleased many Lintha died. They are vermin."

Then she steps toward Zeru and Melusine, stopping within a foot of the blind elemental's face. "You, nymph. Have you magicked my Captain?" she hisses, her red eyes flaring wide.

Melusine, scrutinized under that judgmental glare, manages to remain calm as she turns her face toward Marlena's voice. "No, shipmistress, he has brought me here by his own free will."

"Hmmmm..." With a dubious mutter, Marlena steps back and examines the nymph's features. "In a moment, you will tell me how you lost your eyes, and I will pass my verdict! However, I am interested first in seeing this gift. Zeru, show it to me, please." With that, she stretches out her hand to receive whatever the Captain has brought her.

In a swift display of dexterity Zeru removes the hearthstone from its setting on his bracer spins it across the palm of his hand and holds it out to the ship spirit. "I recieved it as a reward from Rakatau. It caught my eye as being red as blood, a color you expressed interest my lady." He smiles slightly. "I've no doubt it was this that helped protect me from the acid."

"Oh... OH, this is...!" Marlena's eyes go wide. She is actually visibly impressed - and a lot less irritable, as a result. She snatches the large, shining ruby with glee, and places it just below her throat so it settles between her collarbones, an inch below where the onyx is embedded. "It is a beautiful gift! I can feel the power in this stone, strengthening me. This is wonderful, Zeru, you have pleased me beyond expectations!"

The crewmembers look inpressed, too. "It must be worth a fortune!" says Cinna in awe (and just a touch of jealousy, though she tugs her headscarf to remind herself that Zeru cares about her too!) Brogan and Curran are men of much humbler tastes, but they still chorus, "Good for you, Captain and Goddess." Sunden smiles broadly, though he seems more interested in the nymph than the gem. Perhaps sympathizing with her disability, as he is as mute as she is unseeing.

Melusine cannot enjoy the sight the way the others do. She tries to follow the conversation and piece together what everyone is excited about. "Did you bring her one of the gems from Rakatau's collection? It must look lovely on you, shipmistress," she compliments Marlena.

At the sound of Melusine's voice, Marlena is reminded of her presence, and focuses on the blind nymph again. "Ah, yes, you wish a place on the crew," she says in her new, brighter mood, more inclined to be understanding now. "Tell me your story and I will consider it."

It takes a little while for Melusine to recount it all. As she speaks of her personal account of the corruption in Rakatau, and how the Chalice took control of her mind, the crewmembers are at times both shocked and saddened by what she has gone through. Even Marlena looks increasingly sympathetic, and downright appalled when Melusine gets to the part where the Blood Chalice took her sight so she wouldn't be distracted from being forced to cast infernal sorcery.

"You were there, Zeru, is all Melusine says true?" asks Marlena sharply. Zeru knows the raven-spirit despises the very thought of women being taken advantage of, since she herself was mistreated and neglected in the past.

"Thank you my lady" Zeru says with a gentlemanly bow. "I do try"

As Melusine tells her tale Zeru moves over to Cinna and hugs her affectionately. Reminding himself of everything he most cared about when he was fighting with his life on the line. This crew was his life now. Everyone here, and those aboard the Dryad, and now even Miss Kiana, and her elemental unit aboard Rakatau's son.

"I do not know of that which occurred before our group assailed the chalice chamber, but she has an accurate account of what happened after." He says calmly, and seriously. "The chalice stole her sight even as I launched my final attack in hopes to knock it from lady Melusine's grasp."

He takes a breath and continues, looking at the crew and the Marlena. "She has come to us, a rag-tag crew, seeming out of place on their elegant courier, to try and better herself. Just as we have all become better from sailing with the Alliance. Would you accept her as part of our crew?" He asks this question of everyone. Not just the Marlena.

Marlena crosses her arms, deep in thought. She is frowning, but not because of the nymph, now. "That vile Chalice! Of course I would welcome you aboard, Melusine. I don't trust easily, but I think you mean no harm. It's the demon bastards that ought to pay for hurting you!" She pounds her fist into her hand.

The raven-spirit is not completely selfish, though (or perhaps she's softened a bit, since joining the Alliance). She stops and listens to what the crew has to say as well, as their opinion would also weigh in on her final decision.

Sunden nods almost immediately after Zeru asks about their acceptance. Understandably, he is the last person who would turn away a blind woman in need of a place to belong. Even if that woman is no ordinary mortal, but a water elemental.

Brogan and Curran look at each other, then at Zeru. Though they are not very emotionally complex, they seem to understand that their Captain hopes she will be accepted, and that is more than enough for them. "We'd be happy to count her as one of the crew," says one twin, and the other adds, "She'll be safe with us when we send that Chalice to its doom!"

Of all of them Cinna was originally the most skeptical. But she is reassured by Zeru's embrace, and feels a surge of sympathy toward Melusine as well, once she hears the whole story. "I can't say I understand everything, like how that chalice can control minds, or how a nymph can claim to be chaste. But the harm the Lintha did is real, and we've a common goal and enemy, so I don't mind. I won't share Zeru's affection, though!"

Melusine shakes her head and smiles toward Cinna. "I will not interfere. The only thing Zeru and I share is a complimentary oath. He wishes to make up for not preventing my blindness, and I want to make up for letting the Chalice take control of me. That is what binds us now, though... if you will have me, Marlena and crew, I hope we will form stronger bonds still."

"As far as I'm concerned, it's fine," says Marlena decisively, then unexpectedly defers to Zeru. "So make it official, Captain."
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:58, Tue 13 Oct 2009.

Zeru smiles at his crew. "And official it is." Zeru says. "I'd like everyone to introduce themselves. This way Melusine can put names to voices."

<Blue>"I'm Peleps Zeru," He starts by way of his usual introduction. "Formerly of House Peleps Kaizoku, and currently of House Peleps Zeru. I'm technically the captain aboard the lovely Black Marlena. I'm not one for pomp and circumstance, so just Zeru will do nicely." He looks around for a moment. "Pardon this Melusine" He whistles sharply and sure enough a certain sleepy looking white and aquamarine kitty stalks from the door to inner parts of the ship. The cat smiles and jumps up at Zeru who catches her and scratches her ears.

"Melusine, if you'd hold out your arms." If she does he brushes Coral against her arms before letting the Nymph hold her. "This is Lucky Coral, she kind of like our mascot."

"Mau!"

"Of course I'm introducing you, if you remember not many people can understand your moods oh great and mighty devourer of rodents."

"Mau!"

Melusine feels the soft fur and hears the adorable noises from Lucky Coral. "You have a feline on board. I hope she brings you much luck at sea, though I would not know of such things." She may not be susceptible to the cuteness factor the way a human might be, but she still enjoys the warmth of the small creature settling into her arms.

She listens to all of the introductions as they come, inclining her head each time in acknowledgment.

"I'm First Mate Cinna Argall," the redhead starts off proudly. "Daughter of the famous lady captain, Vencia Argall."

The muscle-bound twins go next. "My name is Brogan," says the first, "and I am Curran," says the second. Then they take turns speaking the rest. "We're brothers from Amphiro." "We've been sailing since before we could walk." "Our father was a fisherman drowned at sea, and mother joined him in grief." "We swore to brave the sea in their honor ever since."

Sunden can't talk, and so rather than speaking he steps forward to take Melusine's hand, squeezing it warmly.

"Oh, that's right," Cinna says belatedly, and grins to herself, seeing Sunden so intent on welcoming the nymph. "He's Sunden Kyril, a born mute. He's a very kind person. He used to be a circus performer, and is great with knives and acrobatics."

"Let's not forget Dragomir Antov," adds Brogan helpfully, followed by a short description by Curran. "A stalwart northern sailor. He'd be with us, but got hurt in the last battle, so he's resting."

"He'll drink anyone under the table, and outlive the rats and roaches. That's our Antov!" Cinna adds for the sake of her recuperating friend.

Once the crewmen have quieted down, Marlena adds her own voice to the mix, speaking in a stern but almost motherly tone toward Melusine. "As you already know, I am the spirit of this ship. I am called Black Marlena, the Courier on Raven Wings, the fastest vessel on the Western Sea! While you are part of my crew, you are under my protection as well, remember that."

"I will," says Melusine, pleased to hear and know everyone. She returns Sunden's handshake with a gentle squeeze of her own. "And I am Melusine, first-sister to Queen Sylpheel of Nevermoor. Thank you all for welcoming me."

[Private to Peleps Zeru: Thought I'd write a bit more history out for some of the crewmembers, and some banter, too. It's been a while since I wrote for them. :)]