CSA:
Having never been an early riser, Anyka groans until she realizes that Gashka's already dressed and putting on her armor. If her sister had a bad feeling it definitely wasn't something to ignore. Jumping up she quickly begins to dress, grabbing up a number of daggers arrayed near the bed.
CSA:
Giving Anyka a look she says, "No tellin' what's goin' on up there, so be careful and try to stay outta sight till we can properly assess the situation." She was tired of losing people, she refused to lose her sister as well.
CSA:
Seeing Vishanti roll over in thed bed, and hearing her softly mumbling in her half asleep state makes Derika smile. She hated to wake her up so early after everything they had been through, but she didn't want to leave her down here if something really was wrong. Putting her weapons by the door, she goes and sits on the edge of the bed. She starts by softly rubbing her back, before kissing her lightly on the lips. "Wake up beautiful, we need to go up on deck."
CSA:
Her eyes fluttering open, a loving smile spreads across Vishanti's lips, as Derika awakens her with a kiss. After a blissful moment, the words settle in, but more important is the danger awareness she sees in her love's eyes. "Any idea what it is?" she asks, rapidly getting dressed, and gathering her combat gear.
CSA:
With a wordless nod, Anyka slips into a stealthy crouch, leading the way out into the hall and heading to the stairs.
CSA:
She shakes her head as she goes to the door to retrieve her weapons, "I've never been on a ship before, so I have no idea....but better to be safe than sorry." She replies before opening the door and waiting for her beloved. Once Vishanti is ready she heads up on deck with her while holding onto her great axe.
She just stands there for a moment and looks at the floating city in wonder, "What is that?" She asks no one in particular.
She just stands there for a moment and looks at the floating city in wonder, "What is that?" She asks no one in particular.
CSA:
Gashka follows her sister to the stairs keeping an ear out for trouble.
Unfortunately, being back on a ship after everything she has been through has her a bit distracted and she has a hard time paying attention to what's going on around her.
CSA:
Christophe is already on deck with Renard when Anyka and Gashka arrive.
CSA:
About a mile from the ship, a large shape glides along the water. Upon closer inspection, it appears to be a floating city. The captain is visibly flabbergasted while the first mate rubs some lucky charm around his neck.
CSA:
Looking from the strange floating city to the captain she says, "I've only seen something like that one other time in my life and it wasn't a good experience, is there any way we can just go around it?" Looking over at the other half-orc woman she simply answers,
"Trouble."
"Trouble."
CSA:
The captain glances at Gashka, then points out the cannons placed around the city. "I don't think we can outrun it."
CSA:
Finally noticing the cannons and lack of obsidian, she figures that this might not be the same as the island they encountered before. Nodding she says, "Well...if we can't outrun it and we can't go around it...what else can we do? Maybe we can request safe passage? It's not like we have anything to do with them anyways, we're just trying to get somewhere else. This isn't like the floating island we ran into before....I just don't want us to end up in a situation where we have no way out. Does that make sense? I don't want to have to end up in a fight if we can avoid it." She states while flexing her fingers and cracking her knuckles.
CSA:
The captain nods. "This ship isn't made for fighting, for one."
Tenford points out a small ship heading toward yours. "I think they're sending someone."
CSA:
She merely shakes her head, "I wasn't talking about the ship, but yes, I can see your point. Let's just see what they have to say then. It might not be a bad thing....for once." She says as she tries to relax her muscles while stepping over to the side of the boat that the small vessel is approaching from."[/b]
CSA:
The small craft reaches the ship and Gashka can see two attractive humanoids in impeccable blue uniforms standing on it. The half-orc can tell that they aren't human. "Ahoy, let down a ladder."
The captain looks to his first mate, then to Gashka. "Well?"
CSA:
Looking at how well the others are armed and armored she gives the captain a nod, "I say go ahead. We can't find out what this is all about if we don't at least talk to them."
CSA:
The captain nods at Tenford, who puts down a rope ladder. The two figures, a male and a female, come aboard a couple of minutes later. Gashka's eyes are drawn to their pearly white skin, violet eyes and the gills on their necks, though they look human otherwise. They both wield sabers, but their hands are relaxed as they straighten out their uniforms. "Greetings. We welcome you to the city of สถานที่ศักดิ์สิทธิ์, or 'Sanctuary' as it would be said in the common tongue. Our queen would like for you to come aboard and visit with you. We have not had travelers in these waters for some time."
The captain shakes his head. "I'm sorry, but we are making for Zahvroma. We really do not have time to stop."
The male gillman looks at the captain, his eyes resting upon the brand. "We do not tolerate piracy in these waters. Is that not what your brand stands for?"
"Aye, it does," the captain says. "But I am under orders from the king of Valania to deliver these people safe passage to Zahvroma."
He produces a writ and hands it to the gillman. The gillman looks at the letter before handing it back to the captain. "Then I am glad we are not going to have a misunderstanding. This is not a request. You sail in the waters under our custodianship. You will come aboard."
"And if we refuse?" Tenford asks, hand near the hilt of his blade.
"Then we order the cannons to fire upon this vessel until there isn't a single splinter left. We can survive underwater. How many of your passengers can?" the gillman retorts.
CSA:
Having had enough of violence to last for a while she holds up her hands in a peaceful manner, "Please...wait. Captain, I really see no issue with going with them to meet their Queen. Even if it means taking a little longer to get to our destination, we will still arrive there safely and you will not be disobeying your orders. If I'm completely honest here, I'm a little curious about it myself...and I'm sure once they know we mean no harm that we'll be allowed to continue on our way without further problems." Looking at the two strangers she asks, "That's right isn't it? If we come with you and see your Queen then we can continue with our trip peacefully? We really don't have any ill will towards anyone and just want to put the things that have happened behind us. We have no quarrels with your people." She looks down for a moment, briefly glad that her Pirate boyfriend isn't here to say or do something that would surely get them in trouble. Her smile falters briefly as she thinks of him. Taking a breath to steady herself she says, "I'm sorry...we've just all been through a lot of loss recently and...I just don't think I can take anymore right now. Everyone here is just hoping for a better life....a normal life, so if seeing your Queen will convince you to let us pass safely through your waters, then that is what we'll do." She says with a look first to her sister, then at the others gathered on the deck.
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CSA:
The captain's expression softens, but Tenford remains wary. The gillmen nod at Gashka. "While your departure is up to the Queen, we promise no harm will come to you while in our city. Perhaps...you might find our city to your liking and wish to stay. It isn't out of the question and the Queen always welcomes new citizens. For now, sail forward, we shall open a dock for you."
Without giving a chance for any reply, the two gillmen descend the ladder and board their craft. The captain looks at Gashka once again before nodding at Tenford. "Lower the sails. Keep her at a steady clip."
CSA:
Once the ship starts moving again, Chris approaches Gashka. "I don't like this. I get a feeling that this might be bad."
CSA:
Renard yips in agreement.
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CSA:
Anton comes on deck to see the large city-sized ship. "By Asmodeus' beard! Err...sorry, used to cursing with my old gods' name."
CSA:
Parthenia comes up behind Anton. "I don't think they know who Asmodeus is. As for the others...I'm sure they'll overlook it."
CSA:
The kobold, in his halfling guise, emerges from below deck. "Well, what's going on here?"
He looks to the large structure ahead. "Are we being taken prisoner?"
CSA:
Running a hand through her hair nervously she sighs, "I know..I don't like it very much either, but what choice do we have? I'm not going to sentence innocents to death by cannon fire. There are women and children on this vessel, I had to think of them first. We need to stay positive for everyone right now and just hope for the best. I don't think any of us will let anything happen to these people, and we will make it to Zahvroma...one way or another." She says with a decisive nod of her head. Looking over at Derika before looking at Chris and Anyka again she says, "Besides....I have some questions and maybe there will be someone here that can help. I just can't stop thinking about it."
CSA:
The captain turns to Eldan. "We're making an unscheduled stop at the behest of the queen of that city."
CSA:
Looking at the others that have come up on deck she says, "No....I don't think prisoners really...more like curiosities maybe? Hopefully after they determine that we are not a threat we'll be allowed to go on our way. I really don't wanna have to try and fight our way out of there though. I'm sure Gashka felt that she didn't have any choice but to agree to their point. As she said, there are women and children on this vessel and she couldn't take a chance of risking them." She shrugs slightly but nods in Gashka's direction to let her know she thought she did what was right.
CSA:
The captain looks at the assembled group. "I don't trust these Sanctuary folk. I won't leave the ship, in case they decide to sink it and give us no choice but to stay. You lot look a bit more capable than the rest of us. Will you talk to this Queen and get an idea of what it is we're dealing with?"
CSA:
Looking around the others she says, "As long as they're okay with it, that sounds fine to me. What about the women and children? Should they stay on the boat as well while we figure out exactly what they're up to?"
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CSA:
"Without knowing what kind of city this is," the captain replies. "I don't think we should risk them leaving the ship. They promised not to harm us, so we'll peacefully resist if need be."
"Do you know how to do that, Captain?" Tenford asks.
The captain merely narrows his eyes at his first mate.
CSA:
She nods, "We'll be careful, won't we Anyka? Hopefully we'll be under way again soon." She says before looking at her sister and giving her a little smile.
CSA:
Stepping almost literally out from Gashka's shadow where she stood practically unnoticeable, Anyka nods. "Besides....thier queen wouldn't be the first person to try to keep us somewhere against our will.....it never ends well.....for them." she says with a smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes.
CSA:
She simply nods.
CSA:
Vishanti studies those assembled on deck seeing the determination and concern. Her eyes alight on Anyka, the woman that Gashka calls sister. While she seemed to greet most people with a disarming smile, something about her radiated violence, not the fierce battle fury one felt from her dragoness, but something darker, not quite sinister, but very dangerous. She would bear watching.
"We will meet with their queen if that is what will ensure the safety of everyone aboard." leaning closer to Derika she whispers, "I'm going to go below and commune with the spirits about our fate, going to meet with these people. It shouldn't take too long my love."
CSA:
She nods while putting a hand on the small of her back and leans in to give her a kiss, "Alright love, we won't leave without you."
CSA:
Eldan raises an eyebrow at Anyka. He knew her type from Essyl, he used to be friends with quite a few. I've met worse. Who knows? I might be worse.
CSA:
She wasn't sure why they were all looking at Anyka that way, but right now that was the least of her concerns.
CSA:
Parthenia approaches the others. "I have a silver tongue, even if it is a bit varnished. I'll try to make sure we can talk our way out of this."
CSA:
"Just in case, let me give you three a little rundown about the gods here," Anton says, speaking to Gashka, Anyka and Christophe. "Heresy is one of those things that tends to be universal."
He then gives a quick rundown of the gods of Vesaria, going into detail about Besmara, a minor god worshiped by pirates and a few seafarers. "It's likely that they worship her more than any other deity."
CSA:
"Thank you. We'd rather not commit a fatal faux pas," Chris says to the cleric. "Hopefully, the subject of religion doesn't come up."
CSA:
"Or politics," Eldan adds. "That's another bad conversation topic."
CSA:
Putting a hand on her sister's shoulder in a comforting way she says, "Let's try the talking thing first okay? We're not children anymore, and it's not the piper. Everything will be alright."
CSA:
Taking a moment to ignore everything but her love, Vishanti shares a kiss with Derika, reaffirming that no matter what, they would come through this all. Smiling, she heads belowdecks entering their room and taking her boots off as she sits on the floor, tracing a circle of arcane geometric shapes around her in chalk. As she enters her meditation, her mind connecting with the threads of fate themselves, the symbols and sigils all along her body glowing with a soft golden light, her familiar, Moldovina orbits her, light glittering off the gemstones that comprise her.
[ooc]What lies in store if we enter their city?
CSA:
Taking a deep breath Anyka nods, taking solace in the support of her sister. "I know, and I'm fine with talking. But I'll never let someone control my life again, you know that." she says with a chilly calm
CSA:
She nods, "I know. That is why we're going to let Parthenia do most of the talking. No one is going to make us do anything. Okay?" She says before wrapping her arms around Anyka in a comforting hug, "We'll be okay, I promise."
CSA:
Returning the hug, Anyka seems to relax a little, trusting her sister's words.
CSA:
Vishanti receives a woe result from her trance.
CSA:
Anton paces along the deck as the ship nears the city.
CSA:
With something that sounds like the bellow of a mighty giant, two large metal plates part, revealing a dock. Several armed people stand ready to receive the ship. A few minutes later, the ship docks and the uniformed folk tie the ship. The same two gillmen that boarded earlier set down a gangplank onto the boat and come aboard.
The captain and Tenford move to their end of the gangplank. "We will be sending our representatives to meet with the queen. The rest of us will stay aboard."
"Are you sure?" the female asks in dulcet tones. "We have food and other amenities. Would you rather waste your own supplies when we can give you ours?"
The captain shakes his head. "We are in haste. Once our representatives have met with your queen to her satisfaction, we intend to leave."
The male narrows his eyes, but says nothing. The female nods reluctantly. "As you wish. We will wait on the dock for your representatives."
They both walk down the gangplank and wait for the group.