Seijiro nods and shrugs... "Whatever works is fine with me."
When Rain asks about the dinner party, he blushes again, sighs softly, closes his eyes and says softly... "Tessa...." as if her name says everything...
A brief second later, his eye pop open and he blinks a few times... shakes his head.. "Oh... yes, the dinner... it was fine, revelation after revelation... She was beautiful, yes? But I got the feeling you didn't trust her or her motives. Which is understandable. She brought us to her with an offer that was both full of promise and the possibility of deceit. I trust her though.. She's beautiful, but more than that, I just felt I could trust her implicitly. I think you and Variel were more cautious. Anything specific? or just wary?"
1. Loyalties; this is a complicated question, but the gist of is - is he loyal to the Pirate King first, to someone like Tessa (or someone else like her) first; himself first; or some other powerful political ally in The Shackles - and if so, who?
2. How many ships/men/crew does he command?
3. Why did he choose to help us in that fight; was it just a fun rumble, or does have other reasons - and if he has other reasons, what are they?
4. Since the fight, has he heard people talking about us (especially since we’ve just had the interview with the Pirate King, not to mention the fact that he at least saw us leave with Harrigan’s Cabin Girl in public; I’m betting someone saw something and may be talking, I’m curious to see what they have to say).
5. Does he have a base of operations (like us with The Rock) outside Port Peril; if so, where is it and if we ever stopped by to lend him a hand and are looking to off-load product to a trusty buyer, does he have a preference for particular products? If so, where is his “Homebase” in case we visit it sometime? And if we end up stopping off there at some point – would he have a “letter of recommendation” for us so we could show his people that we’re friends (assuming he’s not around)?
6. Finally – based on a quick comment made by Rain to Seijiro – does this guy prefer Women, Men, or both?
Okay; that’s pretty much it. Naturally I’d do plenty of sweet-talking and polite conversation with the guy to attempt to get all this lore from him. But rather than bog the game down with a lot of back-and-forth I’m hoping the Diplomacy Check can just score the answers fast and easy.
After Horatio is done with this guy, he’ll head back to ship and crash out.
If the others have things to do in the morning rather than sail, he’ll wait for them to do them, but I can’t think of anything else I’d like to do in town at this point. That said; hope to hear from you soon! :)
Rain noted Jiro's keen fascination with the Mistress of Quent. He has fallen swiftly for her charms..., Rain mused silently as she listened the Kitsune.
"Aye, she is most beautiful and desirable. But such things are not inducement enough for me to bestow immediate trust in another person." Her words were steady and measured. She was not attempting to ridicule Jiro or make him feel as though he had no right to place his trust in a woman he barely knew.
"She is very good at what she does. The Mistress of Quent's methods are not exactly to my taste, yet I admire her power. Tonight, I saw her work the male officers in the room with her charms to sway them to task. And I saw some of the males readily succumb, and, it was worrisome. I am willing to give her opportunity to prove herself, but I will not implicitly believe in Tessa Fairwind based on rumour, beauty or reputation. Mayhap I am not as trusting as you, my friend. I have lived long and people are not always what they seem. But as I have said, I am willing to watch and learn, and get to know Tessa Fairwind."
Rain smiled for a moment, at Jiro, and hoped the Kitsune Quartermaster would not see it as an attack on his own self. Beautiful women were even more dangerous in The Shackles. Especially beautiful women with legitimate power and cunning.
You all leave the next morning, you go to pay your docking fee to the harbormaster and find it has already been paid but he doesn't know who paid it. You all are free to head to Quent. With Rain's speed it should take no more than a day to day and a half at the most to get there. Several hours into the journey the sky begins to darken, this begins to worry you as the map you have is showing no clouds.
The crew begins to get edgy and you find that the wind abruptly dies with no explanation. The ocean for as far as you can see gets flat as glass and perfectly reflects the darkening clouds. The tension seems to build and build as the clouds swirl ominously over your heads.
You all leave the next morning, you go to pay your docking fee to the harbormaster and find it has already been paid but he doesn't know who paid it. You all are free to head to Quent. With Rain's speed it should take no more than a day to day and a half at the most to get there. Several hours into the journey the sky begins to darken, this begins to worry you as the map you have is showing no clouds.
The crew begins to get edgy and you find that the wind abruptly dies with no explanation. The ocean for as far as you can see gets flat as glass and perfectly reflects the darkening clouds. The tension seems to build and build as the clouds swirl ominously over your heads.
Horatio spits to the leeward as he watches the dark skies and flat seas.
He turns to Amen-set.
"Get those below who aren't used to sail or battle ready for trouble," he says to her in a flat voice.
"Then come back double-time," he says to her as he loosens his weapons in his belt, his eyes squinting at the horizon.
|
Variel hears Horatio's request for a night out on the town but looks around and sees that it is quite late. Thanks fo rthe offer Horatio but at this time of night? I think it would be better if I just got the night's sleep I need so we can set sail in the morning. Taking a glance at Rain and seeing that she is slightly intoxicated and intoxicating he gives the gunslinger a smile. No, I better stay in tonight and make sure that Rain is good. Happy hunting though if you do choose to go out.
In the morning Variel will make a quick purchase of 2 sets of fine clothing for more of these formal occasions. Beyond that though he is ready to set sail. More purchases can wait until they reach Quent and he supports the business there.
No, I better stay in tonight and make sure that Rain is good. Happy hunting though if you do choose to go out.
Horatio looks at Variel with surprise on his face.
"It's barely 10:30, and we're in one of the most raucous, wild and crazy towns in one of the wildest and craziest places in the world," he says as he gives Variel a glance.
"What kind of respectable pirate captain would be asleep at this hour?" he says with a grin.
"But seriously, I understand - go take of your woman and do what you got to do."
"For myself, I'm going to find the guy who helped us and try to poke around. We ended up being in one of the biggest taverns in the town and we got in a fight in broad daylight and ended up pinching Harrigan's cabin girl."
"I'm willing to bet someone saw us do it, and I'm willing to bet that he won't let the matter slide. If that's the case, I'd rather know in advance," he says to Variel as his gaze sweeps the pier.
"Anyhow, when we get to Quent remind me to give you a hand trying to rustle up some news on those Shanxia whores; I'm starting to wonder if they're connected to that Assassin gang that's supposed to be on Bag Island, but I guess we'll find out," he says clapping Variel on the shoulder.
Then he goes into town to do some poking around...
Horatio, regarding your questions about what Harrigan may know about the capture of his cabin girl, at this point you don’t really have time to gather any information about that.
Regarding the results of the knowledge checks you just made about what’s going on right now, let me put it this way… Jon Snow knows more about this uncanny weather than you do ;)
Also, unless you want Amen-set to die, I recommend you keeping her below decks for what is going to come.
As Horatio scans the horizon he sees Amen-set come running back up the hatch.
”I’ve changed my mind, you need to get below with the others and stay there, too,” he says to her.
”But, but hatey-a'... battle is life, life is battle, and assuredly my place is with thee. Besides, even if we two should perish, surely our death’s will at least be worth a song?” she says, hoping to be part of the fight and help her mentor.
He turns a dark glance at her and bears down on her; his eyes stern and she blanches then heads below, her feet stomping on the deck somewhat. Indeed, despite the fact that staying by his side would result in almost certain death for her, her attitude seems to mirror that of a child who is denied a holiday rather than a young girl being asked to head to safety.
He glances at her retreating form and sighs and heads below after her, goes to his cabin and tells those who he has been protecting to be ready for danger.
In his cabin he sees the shrine to Milani and pauses to lay a rose in its niche and offers a silent prayer to his goddess.
Then he takes his Musket from Amen-set and heads back aloft…
When he comes aloft he checks the priming on his musket carefully then glances up to Rain.
”You’ve a good eye for weather Pilot-Major; what the hell do you make of this?” he calls out to her, hoping her reading of the signs would be more helpful than his own.
|
|
Variel makes his way to the deck to observe the strange cloud formations and the uncanny wind. While he does not know what this is all about he knows that it is not good. Sounding the alarm he has everyone prepare for whatever is about to hit them. the crew he orders below decks but ready to rush out if the ship is in trouble. Get into cover until you hear from an officer that your needed on deck. With the wind dying down there is no fear of the ship sinking from the weather. Whatever these clouds are its not natural.
Smiling that his breastplate was finished in time for whatever this was Variel tries to judge the coming ?storm? and casts shield and activates the figurehead granting him temporary hitpoints.
know nature
know arcane
Several hours into the journey the sky begins to darken, this begins to worry you as the map you have is showing no clouds.
The crew begins to get edgy and you find that the wind abruptly dies with no explanation. The ocean for as far as you can see gets flat as glass and perfectly reflects the darkening clouds. The tension seems to build and build as the clouds swirl ominously over your heads.
With no wind and a flat ocean, Rain at the helm attempted to hold the Lady until she could figure out what was happening with the weather and ocean. Lifting Svingli's Eye, she peered out, surveying sea and sky.
"Neko, get below deck. I shall call you if I need you."
Neko did not quarrel with her mistress and moved below deck as swiftly as possible.
Neko did not quarrel with her mistress and moved below deck as swiftly as possible.
Amen-set sits sulking below decks, but when she sees Neko has come down below, too, she brightens considerably and beckons the cat to her, then pets Neko and sings softly to her, alternating between the Osirioni and Draconic tongues...
Variel, you cannot tell what is going on, this is nothing you have ever encountered before.
Rain same sort of thing, the weather does not match what it should be outside. With your keen eyesight you are able to tell that for some reason, the ocean is starting to swell somewhat in an area several hundred feet across and the same thing happening on the other side of your ship.
Horatio looks at the swelling waters on either side of the ship.
"Cannon are loaded and primed with standard shot; but reloading them is going to be an issue if we get into it. Should we at least have someone aloft who can aid in reloading them?," Horatio says, his eyes staring at the waters and wishing he people on deck who knew how to handle black powder weapons.
For now he does not what the threat is; but his gut tells him that there will certainly be trouble soon...
His hands grip the stock of his musket tightly, and he watches the water, wondering what will happen next.
As you all watch a massive wave surges up both sides of the ship as something enormous bursts out of the water on the starboard side of the ship. This creature glows with a green phosphorescent light that is bright lights up the area within the darkened clouds. It looks to be a dragon of enormous size but instead of teeth has a sharpened ridge of black bone. The creature looks to be about 40' in diameter and as it continues to rise out of the water and into the sky, it looks down briefly with one glowing red eye set into the center of it's head and screams defiantly. The creature is several hundred feet long and instead of limbs, has a multitude of wriggling tentacles sprouting out of it's body. A wave of fear rolls over you as you stand transfixed in awe at this monstrosity.
As you contemplate your mortality in the face of this creature, you feel yourselves rising from the other side as the ship is thrust upward by a wave coming from your port side. Bursting up from that side is a different creature but no less awe inspiring. This creature floats upward out of the water, suspended upon a platform of blue energy. Equally monstrous in size, this creature is bone white and has four arms and appears to be radiating a kind of blue energy from its claws and gaping mouth. The creatures look at each other for a moment, your boat completely forgotten, before they both rise into the air above your ship and lay into each other with vicious force. The dragon creature, moving like a snake, encircles the other one and the tentacles glow green and begin to viciously stab into the white creature. The white creature screams in pain, and then sinks it's enormous mouth into the dragon's neck, ripping a giant chunk out. The creatures continue to tear into each other as you look up in stunned shock.
After a few minutes the dragon's tentacles burst from it's opponents eyes from the inside as it has it's own heart ripped from it's chest. Both creatures begin to fall, their enormous bulks sure to crush your ship to splinters. As the thought that you should run goes through your mind...the creatures both explode in a blast of green and blue energy. This energy washes over you all and knocks you to the deck of the ship. You are knocked unconscious for a moment before waking up, stunned from the encounter and with the sky a brilliant, cloudless blue.
Horatio braces himself for the huge wage of arcane energy which washes over the deck; praying for a chance to survive it and that his luck would hold…
If 21 isn't high enough I have rerolls
With your keen eyesight you are able to tell that for some reason, the ocean is starting to swell somewhat in an area several hundred feet across and the same thing happening on the other side of your ship.
At Flynn's question and from her own observations, Rain replied, "I cannot explain it, but I can see the ocean starting to swell in a particular area only. See, there?" Rain pointed out the occurrence to the others, in hopes someone could tell them what was happening.
The sight of the strange creatures fighting each other momentarily shocked Rain. When both exploded in a blast of green and blue energy that then proceeded to wash over them, Rain felt herself pushed backward but not before she swiftly kicked in her animal focus. She remembered hitting the deck and then nothing but black for a few seconds until she woke to a clear blue sky.
Horatio shakes his head and slowly pulls himself to his feet, looking around at the others who seem to have managed to endure the powerful force of magic.
He sees that Rain and Seijiro seemed to have resisted the magic as well; but as for how well they resisted it, and its residual effects - not to mention himself - he was not yet sure...
"Rain - Jiro-san - are you alright?" he says calling to them.
His eyes seek for the others and he sees that they are still laying unconscious on the deck.
He desperately wants to know how they are doing and what their condition is; but before he is able to aid them he feels it would be better to try to learn what exactly they're dealing with.
"Rain - Jiro-san - are you alright?" he says calling to them.
Rain slowly stood up from the deck and looked about her. She heard Flynn's voice asking how she was.
"All I can say for certain right now is that I am upright. How are you faring?"
Rain looked herself over, attempting to gauge any sign or ill effect from whatever energy that was. Then she hurriedly cast her eyes around deck, searching for Variel and the others. What had happened? She pondered silently.
Sending message via the telepathic link between herself and her golden cat companion, Rain attempted to gauge the effects on Neko and those below deck.
//Neko? Are you well? Did you feel that?//
|
|
Variel watches in awe as the 2 Titans fight overhead. He stands unmoving not sure if he should aid one or the other or try and fly away. If it was just him he would have cast fly upon himself and sped away as fast as he could. Instead he does nothing until it is too late as the monstrous creatures crash onto the deck. Everything is black after that.
Fort save with hero point used for +8. If more than 1 hero point is able to be spent a round please add another +8 to the following rolls.
Reroll
Second reroll
Thrid reroll choosing this one. Empty of rerolls and hero points if I can use 2 of them in 1 round. If so then final result of 42.
As he wakes up he immediately looks around and takes stock of himself and the others. He also looks to do a rollcall.
Rain moved to Variel's side and asked discreetly "Are you well, A'maelamin?" for he was presently acting in his capacity as Captain and it was not the time for any personal, physical expression between them.
|
|
Variel looks around at the ship and himself before answering. I think so, but I don't keno for sure. I have never seen anything like that nor heard of it either. He hears the term used by Rain and while he can understand her reasoning for it he can't help but try to relieve the tension in himself and her a bit. Whispering to her I think I blacked out there for a bit. You don't suppose 2 months and 22 days elapsed while we were out do you? If so then our 3 month chastity limit is over.
Rain slowly stood up from the deck and looked about her. She heard Flynn's voice asking how she was.
"All I can say for certain right now is that I am upright. How are you faring?"
After casting the stabilization spells on the others, he notices that Rain is analyzing herself medically as well.
"You need a medkit?" he asks her, hoisting his own and offering it to her, in case she is need of one.
As he watches her go over to Variel, he looks to Seijiro for a moment, still uncertain how the kitsune is doing.
Then he heads to the hatch and calls down -
"Oye, how you doing down there?"
He moves over to the side of the ship and studies the side of the hull for a moment, trying to gauge how badly it may be damaged, if it all...
Then he turns and looks at the water where the bodies had fallen.
Ana gets up off the ground gingerly having smacked her head in the explosion of energy.
Is everyone alright?
He hears the term used by Rain and while he can understand her reasoning for it he can't help but try to relieve the tension in himself and her a bit. Whispering to her I think I blacked out there for a bit. You don't suppose 2 months and 22 days elapsed while we were out do you? If so then our 3 month chastity limit is over.
He had his humour still and she softly chuckled beneath her breath.
"No such luck" she replied in equally (quiet) wit, her turquoise gaze lingering on him for a second too long before looking to the ship and the others on the main deck. She wondered at the continued necessity of the imposed chastity ... and why they were not permitted to be and act naturally. She shook herself out of such thoughts.
"You need a medkit?" he asks her, hoisting his own and offering it to her, in case she is need of one.
She heard Flynn's offer of a healer's kit and responded,
"Nay, not at the present time, thank you Flynn. I was simply examining myself for any adverse signs. I do not know what this means to those of us present for their battle and end."
Ana gets up off the ground gingerly having smacked her head in the explosion of energy.
Is everyone alright?
Horatio turns and looks at Ana, noticing the bruise on her forehead.
"Good as can be," he says as he moves to her, worried she may have injured herself internally.
"Mind if I check you out?" he says, then peers into her eyes for a moment, noting the bruise on her head as he examines her, making sure she doesn't have a concussion.
She heard Flynn's offer of a healer's kit and responded,
"Nay, not at the present time, thank you Flynn. I was simply examining myself for any adverse signs. I do not know what this means to those of us present for their battle and end."
He gives Rain a nod after her words.
"Yeah, it was pretty damn crazy; to be honest I'm half tempted to dive overboard and see if there's anything still lingering; maybe a part of a corpse or something," he calls out to Rain as he continues to study Ana and then makes his assessment.
Guessing that Rain and Variel will likely need more time, he recalls that Ana has skill at healing and herbalism and the like.
"You want to give me a hand with the padre and the First Officer?" he says to her, then moves over to Adular next, hoping to get the priest on his feet first to help aid in assisting any other wounded.
As he waits for Ana's response, a sudden thought occurs to him, especially after his earlier words about possibly diving over the side and check things out.
"Hey, Pilot-Major; do you think you could find out our exact coordinates on the map? I'm kind of curious to know what we're moored over... Who knows? Maybe we're on top of some kind of sunken city or cursed ruined temple under the waves..." he says, curious to know specifically where they were when these two monstrous creatures attacked, and what may have drew them.
"Hey, Pilot-Major; do you think you could find out our exact coordinates on the map? I'm kind of curious to know what we're moored over... Who knows? Maybe it's some kind of sunken city or cursed ruined temple under the waves..." he says, curious to know specifically where they were specifically when the attack happened.
Rain gave an affirmative nod at Flynn's request and claiming the charts from the Captain's cabin, she returned to the deck and using Svingl's Eye began mapping/tracing coordinates and alike as her eyes took in their surrounds and position and using her knowledge of the waters of the Shackles.
Seijiro wakes up after passing out for a few seconds... stares up at the sky where the two incredible draconic creatures were battling before he blacked out. "By Hei Feng's pendulous balls... what WAS that?" For those who know him well, to hear that kind of language out of him, at least in common, is rare indeed.
When addressed, he replies, 'm fine, I think," as he gets up, brushing himself off. He looks around at the others... "Are you all well?"
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
You all begin to feel a thrumming energy within you, almost as if you had been directly touched by the divine. The thrumming builds until you all, including Dhaavan and Adular who are jerked upright and awake, are lifted up into the air by an unknown force. As you look around the circle you notice slight changes in each other. Adular grows shining silver talons on his hands and feet. Ana's eyes become faceted and green like a stunning emerald. Dhaavan becomes, if possible, even more beautiful, his features become androgynous and seem as if they would appeal to any race or gender. Horatio's skin begins to harden and shimmer in the light of the sun like the scales of a prismatic dragon. Rain is hunched over for a moment and seems to be screaming in pain, when two enormous metallic silver dragon wings burst from her back. Seijiro's skin begins to move and change colors rapidly going through a multitude of shades. Variel's hands begin to glow with a bright blue energy and as you look the energy bursts forth in a beam, blowing a small hole through one of the sails. After about a minute of suspension you are lowered to the deck of the ship.
Horatio looks around at the others and himself as they change.
However, he says nothing at the superhuman changes that he has now witnessed; his eyes expressionless.
He looks at Rain, realizing that she had been studying the charts before this change happened.
"Anyhow, if you figure out where our position is, let me know," he says.
"I'm going to go find out about the status of our crew; make sure they're alive, safe and whole and make sure they don't piss themselves when they what happened to us..." he adds, then heads down below to check the status of the others.
Dhaavan didn't have much further to do beyond making his rounds with the crew and tinkering a little in the study as they sailed, workng on one of his many projects , not really concerning himself with the nautical matters until the ship starts rocking.
he steps out just in time to see the. . . What in the Ni- he just stares, mouth agape until he slowly turns to the other creature, at a loss for words.
After the explosion he just lies there, shocked and terrified and awed until he rockets up and thrums with energy.
The Hel- Oh, Hell. Hells got noting on whatever the . . . whatever that was... Dhaavan stammers, looking around at the others. Care where you point those things Cap'n
He takes stock of the officers, then asks Flynn Out position? really? how about. . . huh pausing a moment, Yeah, nothing really do be done about all. . . this, i guess. Good thinking
Rain is hunched over for a moment and seems to be screaming in pain, when two enormous metallic silver dragon wings burst from her back.
The charts fell to the weathered boards of the deck.
She had never felt such pain before as a pair of large silver dragon wings sprouted from her back. Rain grit her teeth so she would not scream the ship down. She heard and felt the fabric of her shirt and coat tear as they burst through. Rain bent over from the unexpected weight of them and the agony of their creation.
Anyhow, if you figure out where our position is, let me know," he says.
She lifted her pain filled turquoise eyes to the doctor.
"Once I can breathe again and do not feel like my body has been rent in two, I shall return to the charts to determine our current location, Flynn."
Rain could not believe how unfeeling the man was at this moment in time. It was not that she was slacking in her duty. She watched as he made his way below deck to check on all who took shelter there.
Taking a deep breath, she stood up straight and turned her head to look at the silver, leathery wings behind her. What am I supposed to do with these? What a spectacular sight she'd make at the helm now. What will grandfather say?
Rain glanced across at Variel, whose hands glowed blue and had shot a hole in one of the Lady's sails. "Careful, Melamin. We need those whole.", trying to make light of the their current circumstance.
Rain arched her shoulders and felt the wings move and settle with the gesture. I know nothing of how these things work. How my sea elf ancestors would howl to see one of their own with wings and not webbed hands and feet.
Looking to Jiro, Rain marvelled at the quicksilver flicker of his skin. "Your skin changes hue depending on the background, Jiro. You will befuddle our enemies well and true."
Slowly moving down to pick up the charts from the deck, Rain returned to her task; the pain not as sharp as before but the feeling at her back foreign with a twinge or two of discomfort. In due time, I will become familiar with their weight and balance.
Rain silently wondered what Variel thought of her wings. Another challenge for the two of them to overcome, it seemed.
Seijiro stares at the changes in his companions, especially Rain's wings which are the most impressively prominent of changes.
"You're... you've got... " he blinks and rubs his eyes... "you look like an angel..."
He tilts his head to one side and looks down at himself when she mentions his skin changing color... "I'm doing what?"
She lifted her pain filled turquoise eyes to the doctor.
"Once I can breathe again and do not feel like my body has been rent in two, I shall return to the charts to determine our current location, Flynn."
|
|
Ironman Variel closes his hand quickly before any more flaming lights shoot forth. Looking chagrined he looks around and sees Rain doubled over in pain. Moving over to her he tries to place an arm around her only to jump back as wings appear. All around the officers were having differing alterations to themselves yet they mostly seemed Draconic in nature.
It takes him a while to hear what everyone was saying or rather it took a while for everything to register to him. Once he got over the shock then he started functioning close to normal. Yes, well, sorry for the hole in the sails. We will have to get that fixed. Um, yes, Rain has wings, Adular has claws, Dhaavan can not seduce any gender, Jiro is a chameleon, Horatio has hardened skin. Well I guess we will have to learn what this is all about and improvise accordingly.
Ana says Thank you Flynn for the care you gave earlier before we were interrupted. It seems that the magical energy that was released from the deaths of those two creatures has effected us in no small way.
Seijiro holds up his arms, turns around slowly, watches the colors change depending on what is behind them... then looks down at the rest of himself, blinking like an idiot. "That is so... " he swallows hard with an audible 'gulp'..."I don't even know what to call it... so... very... odd... " ... he looks around for Tomo to see if he changed too, then recalls, he sent the little fellow into the cabin when the wind died and the crew were sent below.
He opens the cabin door and lets Tomo out, hugging him tightly, needing a little cuddle from his friend to calm his own agitation... "Now what? We're all... different.. I feel so odd."
You all leave the next morning, you go to pay your docking fee to the harbormaster and find it has already been paid but he doesn't know who paid it. You all are free to head to Quent. With Rain's speed it should take no more than a day to day and a half at the most to get there. Several hours into the journey the sky begins to darken, this begins to worry you as the map you have is showing no clouds.
The crew begins to get edgy and you find that the wind abruptly dies with no explanation. The ocean for as far as you can see gets flat as glass and perfectly reflects the darkening clouds. The tension seems to build and build as the clouds swirl ominously over your heads.
"Never seen anything quite like this," Adular agrees with the others this is not natural, "Weather magics maybe? But be a hell of a distance for the caster..."
As you all watch a massive wave surges up both sides of the ship as something enormous bursts out of the water on the starboard side of the ship. This creature glows with a green phosphorescent light that is bright lights up the area within the darkened clouds. It looks to be a dragon of enormous size but instead of teeth has a sharpened ridge of black bone. The creature looks to be about 40' in diameter and as it continues to rise out of the water and into the sky, it looks down briefly with one glowing red eye set into the center of it's head and screams defiantly. The creature is several hundred feet long and instead of limbs, has a multitude of wriggling tentacles sprouting out of it's body. A wave of fear rolls over you as you stand transfixed in awe at this monstrosity.As you contemplate your mortality in the face of this creature, you feel yourselves rising from the other side as the ship is thrust upward by a wave coming from your port side. Bursting up from that side is a different creature but no less awe inspiring. This creature floats upward out of the water, suspended upon a platform of blue energy. Equally monstrous in size, this creature is bone white and has four arms and appears to be radiating a kind of blue energy from its claws and gaping mouth. The creatures look at each other for a moment, your boat completely forgotten, before they both rise into the air above your ship and lay into each other with vicious force. The dragon creature, moving like a snake, encircles the other one and the tentacles glow green and begin to viciously stab into the white creature. The white creature screams in pain, and then sinks it's enormous mouth into the dragon's neck, ripping a giant chunk out. The creatures continue to tear into each other as you look up in stunned shock.
After a few minutes the dragon's tentacles burst from it's opponents eyes from the inside as it has it's own heart ripped from it's chest. Both creatures begin to fall, their enormous bulks sure to crush your ship to splinters. As the thought that you should run goes through your mind...the creatures both explode in a blast of green and blue energy. This energy washes over you all and knocks you to the deck of the ship. You are knocked unconscious for a moment before waking up, stunned from the encounter and with the sky a brilliant, cloudless blue.
"Sweet Besmara preserve us!" Adular says in surprise as the two behemoths appear and tear into each other. It's not taking his goddess' name in vain either. He's not sure if this has a divine element or not, but he knows who he calls on when things get unreal like this!
Even as he tries to comprehend just what is happening...he's knocked back and out.
I need everyone to roll a Fortitude save and spend all your hero points and rerolls to get as high as you possibly can.
Adular has odd dreams to say the least, when he arises, he tries to make sense not just of the dreams, but what happened.
"By the churning seas eternal, what was all that?" He looks around, "Anyone injured in that? In need o healing?"
He notices the changes, "Or maybe a strong drink?"
As Horatio is done below, he moves back up the hatch with a quick charge to the main deck and looks around, double-checking to see that everyone above is still alright. As he glances around he is currently pulling on a pair of thin, black gloves over his hands, adjusting the fit.
As he does, Adular gives a gasp, the shock having left him speechless before now wearing off...
"By the churning seas eternal, what was all that?" He looks around, "Anyone injured in that? In need o healing?"
Horatio turns a glance to the priest.
"Nay, I just checked below. Aside from being a bit shaken, the crew seems alright; no real issues, though a few lads got tossed around a bit. But it seems like everyone's alright."
"How about you? Do you need anything?" he asks Adular, realizing that the priest must have been able to shake off the changes when he himself was below.
He notices the changes, "...maybe a strong drink?"
A ghost of a smile flits over Horatio's lips and he pulls out a small flask of brandy and tosses it to the priest deftly, flexing his fingers after the throw, as if still unsure how the changes will effect his aim and dexterity.
Ana says Thank you Flynn for the care you gave earlier before we were interrupted. It seems that the magical energy that was released from the deaths of those two creatures has effected us in no small way.
Horatio turns a somewhat surprised look at Anasrianna for her thanks. As he does so his fingers suddenly pull at the edges of his gloves, as if he was trying to raise them higher on his wrists.
"Aye, that's what it looked like to me, too. But I'm still unsure as to what may have caused those two creatures to suddenly rise and fight on the surface just now..."
His eyes linger on hers for a moment.
"Still, I am glad you are well. I was worried that... well; in any case, I am glad you are whole and safe," he says to her with a small nod.
He clears his throat suddenly, tugging at his gloves and shakes his head, as if to banish some thought from his mind.
He glances to the waves with a dark glance, his eyes narrowed.
"Some folk say that deep beneath the waves there are temples to ancient gods from dark planes beyond our own... Other say that entire civilizations were drowned by catastrophes of ancient days when the seas rose to blot out entire nations..." he mutters, almost to himself.
"Who knows what really stirred those creatures in the deep? I'm half tempted to take a potion of water breathing and dive below to see what may be discovered..."
Then he looks up at Ana; as if gauging what she would think of him leaving the party, diving below into the dark depths and spending an unknown amount of time seeking for some ancient or drowned artifacts or places of power leagues below the surface.
Then he shrugs.
"However, I suppose it would probably be better so simply thank the gods for their blessing of protection and whatever changes have been wrought upon our flesh; and then make all haste to quit this strange and mysterious place as we move instead to our destination..." he says slowly, watching her, curious to know if she might agree with the idea of a prolonged undersea search, or if she instead felt it would be better to move on to next port of call.
Adular nods as things were checked below.
When the drink is tossed to him, he almost drops it, his clawed hands frustrating him, "Curse these things... " He manages to snag it before it can tumble fully, then takes a swig, "Thank you, Flynn. When nothing makes sense, I turn to religion and booze, and sometimes the latter is less complicated."
He returns the flask to the Horatio, and again looks to his own clawed hands, "Gloves maybe. New boots too. Gods, I feel like a freak. If Besmara did this to us, i'd like to know what I did to offend. I'll talk to her later about it."
"Some folk say that deep beneath the waves there are temples to ancient gods from dark planes beyond our own... Other say that entire civilizations were drowned by catastrophes of ancient days when the seas rose to blot out entire nations..." he mutters, almost to himself.
"Who knows what really stirred those creatures in the deep? I'm half tempted to take a potion of water breathing and dive below to see what may be discovered..."
"I keep a water breathing spell handy if anyone want to save the potion. As for the sea creatures... well, Besmara tends to whip em into shape. They're afraid of her. But they are there... hell, more than a few sea monsters serve as her heralds. Like I said, a lot to ask her for later"
"Thank you, Flynn. When nothing makes sense, I turn to religion and booze, and sometimes the latter is less complicated." ]
Horatio glances toward Adular as he sees the priest catch the flask.
”Hey, don’t worry about it. Besides, for some people booze is their religion,” he says with a grin, glad that priest is recovering.
”Besides, seeing that you have a fancy for a good drink, I picked up a keg of some quality beer back in Port Peril. I figure that rum’s good enough, but sometimes a man’s got a craving for a cold one,” he adds, his dour attitude seeming to mellow some.
”Gods, I feel like a freak. If Besmara did this to us, i'd like to know what I did to offend. I'll talk to her later about it."
Horatio nods somewhat to himself.
”Aye… I hear that,” he says slowly.
”Still; when something rubs me the wrong way I figure the best thing for it is to step back and commend our Fate to the gods. I don’t rightly know why this happened, but I guess fretting about it won’t matter. Whether we like it or not, this is the hand we’ve been dealt.”
”And as they say: Sometimes you got play out a bad hand… Though to be fair, the day isn’t over, yet,” he says with a wink.
Horatio glances over the side again, his eyes hard on the waves for a long moment.
"I keep a water breathing spell handy if anyone want to save the potion. As for the sea creatures... well, Besmara tends to whip em into shape. They're afraid of her. But they are there... hell, more than a few sea monsters serve as her heralds. Like I said, a lot to ask her for later"
Horatio hears Adular’s offer and he brightens at the suggestion, yet his gaze turns to the heavens briefly, as if scanning it for a sign from the gods that was a bit more… “Black and White”…
Horatio lets out a deep sigh after a moment, his eyes still on the horizon, wishing that answers to his prayers could occasionally be more direct from time to time, but for now he sighs.
”Actually, as I think about it, I seem to recall some sailor who used to sing when I was younger. They called her the bard “Queen”… I remember her songs, and the perils of the deep; but I almost forgot her verses about the troubles that could come from being “Under Pressure”…” he says with dry cough.
”Anyhow, the Pilot-Major's got the position fixed on our charts. If there’s something solid down there we can check it out another time. I guess for now we got to get to Quent,” he says somewhat wistfully.
He opens the cabin door and lets Tomo out, hugging him tightly, needing a little cuddle from his friend to calm his own agitation... "Now what? We're all... different.. I feel so odd."
Horatio turns back to Seijiro, noting that Tomo is in his lap and the lad seems genuinely upset, as they all do, after this monstrous alteration of their features.
”Well, I know it won’t sound like much after all that… But back in Port Peril I also picked up a crate of bananas. You know – in case maybe you want to share some with your friend,” he says with a nod to Tomo.
”I didn’t mention them yet as they were still a bit green. But if you’d like some I can bring them up from the hold. Truth to tell, they were kind of a gift for you anyway when I was shopping back in town. I didn't really know what you’d fancy, but I figured you’d like to share them with your mate there. I hope they’re alright?” he says, watching Seijiro thoughtfully as his hands flex under his gloves, the feeling of the change still strange with him, too.