In reply to Jaxar (msg #165):

"It makes more sense to pick off as many as we can from a distance. I've no interest in shedding my own blood!"
This message was last edited by the player at 15:48, Mon 16 Aug 2010.

In reply to Mirna (msg #167):

"I have no interest in shedding my blood either, but I'm thinking they would be easier to kill in their sleep."

J'landria's ears flatten as she looks out into the night, seeing from the eyes of another avir.  She exhales and shakes her head some, but says nothing.  Her body language speaks of concentration and annoyance, and maybe something more.

In reply to J'landria (msg #163):

The cartomancer shuffles his cards, spreads them through is fingers shuffles again, and deals them.  He looks at the cards, scowls.  "The Zodar speaks not to me of this.  Perhaps the enemy is shielded from my sight.  It only suggests swiftness." 

In reply to Jaxar (msg #164):

"We'll most definitely join you.  And Athellin's two Arimite recruits.  Three of our new countrymen companions have had some combat experience and are willing to round out our ranks."

The tiny Kasmiran steps forward.  "The swordsman I sought to employ, Kolarios, has apparently taken ill, along with our new Sarista companion.  Perhaps they shared a bit of bad provender plant.  If our ranks need filling, I have some basic competence, I would be willing to accompany you."

The avir flits ahead, swooping across the plains.

Rolling her shoulders, J'landria turns her head slightly and a low growl starts quietly in the back of her throat.
"Crew is on the deck. Off 200 to 300 yards north... is a pack of beastmen.  There are hundreds of them.  A small group is breaking off... and approaching the ship.  A group of about twelve or so cloaked people... wait below the ship."

After a moment of silence, J'landria turns around again, the red fading from her eyes being replaced with the normal green.

"It seems now is the time if any.  The ship board crew looks... sparse in comparison."

In reply to Zosha Davij Inan (msg #172):

Jaxar smiles down at the tiny Kasmirin, "Any volunteer will be welcome. I only ask that you be very careful, and perhaps hold yourself as a reserve. I do not believe my friend Zarkosh would take it lightly if I let anything bad happen to his sister. And we will need your financial acumen to make The Fate profitable after we retake her."

In reply to Rammid (msg #171):

"Then gird yourselves for battle my friends, for J'landria informs us the time to strike is now. It appears there are a few Rajans on the ground dealing with the two-legged beasts, we must be sure that they are not able to reboard the ship. Can a few of your countrymen make sure this does not occur? It would also be helpful to prevent them from conjuring any beneficial aid, try to keep them ducking."

Sometime later...

”I say, this is damned dreary, ya hear?” Kolarios rolled over on the cot, wiping his mouth for the hundredth time. He looked over at the stricken Gypsy near him. ”Tis not that I begrudge your companionship, fine sir. Merely that, while I have certainly enjoyed losing much monies and precious coin to your finely painted cards and interesting game with the ever-changing rules, and I do feel that I am coming close to grasping said intricacies of the play, I was born to be whirling my blade around and rescuing woman!” His face grimaced for a moment and he looked around quickly. ”Non-wrinkly, preferably beautiful women, that is. I say, the Ten Thousand are surely mocking me for some failure of my own… nyeah, it must be celestial intervention by powers nefarious.”

The sound of retching from Callianos caused his eyebrows to waggle and a slow smile to appear on his face. ”Ahhh… it would seem my thought-smithing has provoked an offensive response in the entities that afflict us… They fear my knowledge of their evil work. Obviously, this is a matter for some more thinking. Ouch, even the word makes my brainpan ache. But, I, Kolarios, shall strive through the pain, Callianos. Never fear, I will find us a way out of this predicament. Eh… Callianos, are you awake? Hmmm… it seems some coins have dropped beneath your bed. Why, look at that! Zandir coins! And I seem to be missing some of my own. I must thank you sir, for safekeeping these during my convalescence. Thank you indeed.” Kolarios leaned backwards, rested his head and closed his eyes.

”Now to some famed, and justly feared, Kolarios Viramos plotting.”

In conclusion to  Kolarios' enthralling narrative, Callianos emits a light snore.  He appears to be sleeping.  Is he simply mocking the Zandir?  No, he's not so foolish, he must be truly sleeping.  The illness clearly is more telling on one lacking Kolarios' heroic constitution.

Kolarios' countryman Lacus then enters the bunkroom, a wide grin splitting his face.  "Ah, Kolarios, I see you have revived!"  He leans in closely, sniffs, and backs away slightly before continuing in a conspiratorial whisper, "I have spread the story that it is diabolical agencies that may have struck you down, so other would not perhaps think that a Zandir could not hold his liquor."

He stands back up, "You appear to be recovering nicely.  It seems you will go to any length to remain in my company.  Not that I can blame you.  Perhaps after exercising some hygiene you'd care to join us on deck?"

”Bah!” Kolarios waved his hand weakly in Lacus’ direction as the man headed back up and swung over to drop his feet on the floor. Hygiene? Kolarios looked under his arms and noted a strange smell that he had earlier attributed to Callianos. How odd, he noted. ”Aye, I could do with a bit of refreshment!” He stomped over to the bucket of water hanging on a hook and dumped the entirety of it over his head.

---

It can truly be said that Zandir, Kolarios noted, were extremely fast and fashionable dressers. It was no more than a few moments before he strode up on the deck, a bit weak at first but gaining in confidence with each step, smelling like a perfumed alleycat and looking decidedly unrumpled and suave. He stopped for a moment to cast a look around for a reflective surface and then shrugged when he did not find one.

”As if I should worry,” he chuckled to himself. ”I say, Lacus!. Where are you, brute?”

"I say, my good man, no need to shout," a quiet voice says from behind Kolarios into his ear.  He turns to find a grinning Lacus behind him.

"We're awaiting the return of your friends, and making ready to move on.  If they are going to return, it should be soon."

Kolarios stretched a bit and yawned. ”Certes, I deem they may have suffered magnificently without my stout arm! I fear for their lives… can we go see them? Maybe now?” He smiled at Lacus. ”I don’t wait well, see, a curse and a blessing; the quicksilver in my brainpan and swordarm!”

He shakes his head, sadly.  "The captain forbids it.  He won't put the ship and crew in jeopardy, much as I'd like to stain my blade with the blood of those Rajan fiends.  It should not be long now, though."

Peregrinus nods, "Then we shall have to be prepared, and have the remainder of your crew ready in short order.  If you will excuse me, I'll get them ready for you."  He begins shouting orders, and the Marukans are hustled together, getting ready to to disembark for the Wind of Fate.

Kolarios nearly fell over the gunwale as the ‘Fate’ grew nearer. He started bouncing up and down only to realize that this brought the dizzies back. He took a few steps backwards and then saw the white flag go up. ”Why, I do believe they’re surrendering! Hah!” He slugged Lacus in the arm. ”What did I tell you? The fame and fear of my blade spreads far indeed. Why, I think that…” his voice trailed off as a winged form launched its way over to the Horn. He quickly recognized Kar and cocked his head. ”I say, this is odd. They have sent one of their hostages over to parley.”

As Kar hit the deck and spoke with Peregrinius, Kolarios rushed over and reached out to grab the Gryph. Seeing that there was really no way to latch onto the Gryph without getting a handful of feathers, he dutifully clasped his hands behind his back. ”Was there torture? What are their demands.” He squinted his eyes and looked out at the windship. ”Those Rajan bastards… they’ll not have my friends. Quickly, fly me over there and I shall put an end to this!”

"An end, indeed. The beginning and all important middle have been claimed by those who could hold their weapons,"
and with humor, "and their liquor."

"In all seriousness, if you've any experience in the healing arts, you may be welcome indeed."

As Peregrinus, the first mate, begins calling out orders, the Zandir bows to his fellow countryman and the Gryph.  "That would be my call to duty, good sirs.  I must away immediately, in compensation for the impression some here have acquired that we Zandir are layabouts who cannot handle our drink!"  He rushes off, casting a rope to the Fate, and fetching a plank to use as a causeway between the two windships.

The Marukans complete their disembarkation, filing over with their meager belongings to the Fate.

Ceramose, walking by Kolarios, jibes, "It all appears safe, if you'd like to join your friends!"

Kolarios spun on the Captain with a retort and then shrugged. He smiled to the Gryph and bowed at the waist. ”I am, of course, skilled in, um, rudimentary battle ministry… I confess to some ability although note an emphasis on ‘some’.” He hiked up his sword on his belt and headed over to the gangplank. A quick toss of the head averted the possibility of discovering whether he was, or was not, completely and pathologically terrified of the astounding heights at which they now soared. He congratulated himself on ascertaining the possible threat and avoiding it, this thought and the congratulations took up enough time that he made it over the intervening distance between the two ships before his eyes caught up to his brain.

((>>>The Fangs of Golarin thread… Let me know if that’s the wrong thread.))

Captain Ceramose calls from the deck of the Horn as Kolarios departs.  "I fear you may have stirred up a hornets' nest!  We will away now!  Best wishes, until we meet again!"

With that, the plank is withdrawn, the ropes disengaged, and the Horn begins to pull away, heading towards the south, moving swiftly and smoothly under the hands of her capable crew.

"My shoes! Damn you, throw my shoes! The fine ones with the shiny buckles!"

The Zandir aboard the Horn waves and calls back to Kolarios, pointing to the silver moon Talisandre, associated with luck, "Yes, may Fortuna shine luck upon you as well, my countryman!"

Could it be he did not hear his fellow Zandir clearly?