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Post by Stix on Apr 11, 2007 1:03:28 GMT -5
(Original post)
Vatndir was nowhere to be found at the time of waking. In fact, he was already out by the boats. In the water. At the call of the bosses, he popped to the surface, and climbed aboard. He was even more smiles than usual. "Well, I'm ready. I imagine I'll head up this boat. I imagine John, Nilou and I will make up the most of the boat. I also imagine you two will head up your own boat."
Vatndir smiled deeply, keeping his feet in the water, dousing his cloak. "I also imagine you'll want some help repacking your boat, if you really want to make better use of the space."
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Post by Stix on Apr 11, 2007 2:51:33 GMT -5
Piers salutes Vatndir as the genasi breaks the surface, boarding the rightmost boat with a large sack. He begins to unload a few things from the sack into a large chest at the rear of the long keelboat -- a few dozen more pouches like the ones paid out to the crew members so far, a few ornamental boxes of ivory, burnished wood, and other materials, and what appear to be several fist-sized blocks of some kind of dense, greenish-gray spongy substance.
"The boats can only carry somewhere around one ton apiece," says Piers in reply to the Signer. "Robert and I are heavy travelers, so this will have to be ours and ours alone. We'll probably have to split up the bariaur -- unless they're willing to lie nude and absolutely still until we get to Pelion -- and go two-and-two with the rest of you."
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Post by feq on Apr 11, 2007 6:07:00 GMT -5
"Hmm... Quite the little twist I've thought of there, Verily. Quick thoughts, quick thoughts. I imagine it will all work out as I've imagined, but I can't resist saying that I'm partial to having a Skald with me, and my country-kin, so I'll travel with Holgar and Nilou, if 2 and 2 is required. Besides, I imagine that John and I will always find ourway to eachother if adventure and profit are to be found, so that will keep the boats linked. Does that meat with your approval... he asked knowingly..."
Even Vatndir was surprised at the words from his mouth. Barely a breath had escaped, and only those with attentive ears would probably follow. This land raised emotions, and aparently "Verbose" was one of Vat's emotions....
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Post by Stix on Apr 11, 2007 12:06:31 GMT -5
"Whatever suits your fancy," says Piers, his attention more occupied with supply checks at the moment.
Robert jogs along down the hill, a large leather belt pouch in hand. Stepping onto the boat with the ease of a practiced sailor, he hands it off to Piers and shares a few words with his brother in a clipped, nasal language.
When their exchange ends, he spies Vatndir with a double-take and a quick smile. "Did you sleep out here?"
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Post by feq on Apr 11, 2007 21:13:23 GMT -5
"Sleep? Only a bit. I slept a bid in the bed, but the water called. I came out and took the dawn in the waters. I dozed a bit just now before the call. By the by, How fast do these boats go?" Vat asked out of the blue.
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Post by Stix on Apr 11, 2007 23:26:17 GMT -5
"When the sea calls, it's best to heed it," says Robert, smiling out into the blue.
One of the crewmen answers Vatndir as he checks the oarlocks. "Not 's fast as the sea elves over a mile, but we cover more ground in a day. You'd catch up easy if you fell out."
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Post by feq on Apr 12, 2007 8:58:15 GMT -5
Vatndir smiled at Robert. "I'm ever so very glad I thought of you. I must say you do bring a breath of fresh air from those who don't know the love of the sea."
Hearing the crewman, Vatndir contemplated something, and turned back to the brothers "I'm glad I thought he owuld say that, as it brings up a good point. I'm the best suited for inter boat work. I imagine my boat should stay in the "middle" of the others. If anything is needed by a boat's crew, flag me, and I can swim over and transport things back and forth."
Vatndir's eyes turned red for a brief flash, and then reverted to normal. "I should ask, I haven't imagined anything in these waters I should be aware of before I swim, have I? Anything that I should be prepared to have John fight off of me?"
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Post by Stix on Apr 12, 2007 11:06:07 GMT -5
Robert smiles toothily and chuckles softly. "I know how to take a compliment from a Signer when I get one."
Another crew member fields Vatndir's question. "Nothing worth worrying about this close to shore -- unless the hydra's out here. The sea's always full of life, and you never know when it'll be hungry."
"We're moving through safe water as best we can," says Piers reassuringly, taking a moment of reprieve to address the genasi. "We'll pass by a few schools of sea elves -- at least, I believe that's how they travel, but truth be told, I don't know much about them. The course steers us clear of whatever dangers we can plan our way around -- Poseidon's realm, for instance."
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Post by feq on Apr 13, 2007 9:41:50 GMT -5
Vatndir smiled back at Robert, warmly. He turned to the crew member, and nodded attentively. Considering the remakarks, he responded wryly "A Hydra? I'm glad to be thinking of such safe waters, where a Hydra is the worst thing to be mentioned. I can't imagine a Hydra would give this group much trouble. If thats the worst we have to worry about, then thats no worry at all. Glad I imagined it that way."
He paused only breifly, continuing "as for the sea being hungry, I think I'll have a pretty good nose for that. I'll keep alert, and notify the group if anything above, between or below should become a problem. I don't expend to spend all of my time in the water, but I imagine a bit each day."
Turning to Piers, Vatndir added "I believe that sea elves travel in the same groups as land elves; its only the merfolk who travel in schools. Of course, its possible that thats not how I imagine things on this world, and only in other worlds does that thought hold. Its a pitty to avoid Poseidon's realm from a curiosity sake, but I imagine it wouldn't do for our mission. "
"I imagine something must have happened to Jon and Nilou, or they'd be here by now."
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Post by Stix on Apr 13, 2007 12:36:15 GMT -5
Vatndir smiled back at Robert, warmly. He turned to the crew member, and nodded attentively. Considering the remakarks, he responded wryly "A Hydra? I'm glad to be thinking of such safe waters, where a Hydra is the worst thing to be mentioned. I can't imagine a Hydra would give this group much trouble. If thats the worst we have to worry about, then thats no worry at all. Glad I imagined it that way." The crewman shoots Vatndir an incredulous look, but says nothing. He paused only breifly, continuing "as for the sea being hungry, I think I'll have a pretty good nose for that. I'll keep alert, and notify the group if anything above, between or below should become a problem. I don't expend to spend all of my time in the water, but I imagine a bit each day." "Good to have eyes in the water," says Robert, pulling a small bushel of reddish-brown leafy stalks from the supply chest and examining it. Turning to Piers, Vatndir added "I believe that sea elves travel in the same groups as land elves; its only the merfolk who travel in schools. Of course, its possible that thats not how I imagine things on this world, and only in other worlds does that thought hold. Its a pitty to avoid Poseidon's realm from a curiosity sake, but I imagine it wouldn't do for our mission. " Piers nods, figuring the genasi has better cause to know than he would. At the mention of Poseidon, a wry smile crosses his face. "The Powers don't like me much." Robert can be heard laughing from the other end of the boat while his brother pauses for a breath. "It would seem it has something to do with my angling for their demise." "I imagine something must have happened to Jon and Nilou, or they'd be here by now." "There you're wrong", says Robert, pointing up the hill, where John has just come into view and is making his way toward the dock. "Your sour metal friend is right on his way. Probably just had some breakfast before he set out." |
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Post by feq on Apr 13, 2007 15:21:01 GMT -5
To the crewman, Vatndir pays no more mind. Minor thoughts don't keep his attention long. However to Piers, he pays great attention, responding "Well, I imagine the Powers have the need for me that they do, such that we could balance eachother out. I do promise you this, however. Should we run into some Possidon trouble, I will do my best to get you out of the water."
He turns back to Robert, his favoritism showing plainly. "I'll report on the water regularly then. I can also help pull in some fish each day, if needed." He pauses spying John. "I know something happened. Something always happens to John and Nilou when left on their own devices. However, there is nothing I can imagine they couldn't handle, so their arrival only shows that i am right."
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Post by Stix on Apr 14, 2007 12:56:10 GMT -5
"He looks -- oh, wait." Robert pauses as he spies the drunkards wending their way over to John. "Hmm." As Nilou appears and the discussion escalates to a song and a scuffle, the younger Maundrell bursts out laughing. Piers' attention is drawn first to the nearby noise, then to the fight up the hill, visible at this distance but inaudible. He adjusts his spectacles, a quizzical look crossing his features.
"Looks like we both spoke too soon," says Robert, rapping Vatndir on the shoulder with his knuckles. "Do me a favor, and don't try too hard to think about me, eh? Unless you're wondering if I'm fantastically wealthy and up to my eyes in women."
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Post by feq on Apr 15, 2007 8:04:08 GMT -5
"I didn't speak to soon. I'd imagine John knows what he's doing, in battle at least." Despite his confidence, Vatndir dove into the waters, to resurface at the edge of the shore. His hands shifted deeply into folds of his robes, stealthfully grabbing some throwing shells. His mind told him that he would only have one throw, so he focused, makings sure any needed throw would count. "I think it would be best if others showed up to help, as I'm sure John plannned. I image you also should focus on getting the boats to launch, as that may be part of the plan I've imagined for John." He went unusually quiet at this point, his mind focusing on the Brother's words, and on picturing a shell in the attackng hand of anyone who gets to close to hitting John or Nilou.
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Post by john on Apr 15, 2007 22:15:58 GMT -5
Comes bolting down the hill, sweat on his face and a little blood on his knuckles, huffing and puffing heavily from moving under all his heavy gear, and stops short of the boats, walking more slowly, but says in a rather tight and rushed tone, "Fishy, Misters Maundrell both, I believe it is time to go, before we are thrown into the local hoosegow. A bubber of some sort approached me and attacked, and I thrashed him, while nilou distracted the rest with music and dance. I can still hear her singing but..."
John looks back, "We may need more help, including Holger and Nuuko, to get her out of there safely. I don't like the idea of many of them swarming her."
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Post by feq on Apr 15, 2007 22:33:45 GMT -5
Vatndir kept his eyes on the way John came. Vatndir was never one to dive into the heart of trouble. He waited, seeing what the bosses did before heading out.
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Post by Stix on Apr 16, 2007 0:41:18 GMT -5
"Shit!" curses Piers in a rare lack of poise, glancing frantically around the boat. "What I wouldn't do for a portable etheroscope... Thrassos is being invaded. Unless the militia can put them down, the town will either be filled with Bacchae or completely torn apart by them."
Robert wets his lips, staring up the hill and patting the short sword at his hip. He hesitates, giving a sidelong glance to Piers.
"We should --" Piers stops himself, sparing a glance to the crewmen, who watch him uncertainly. "We can't leave yet, these men's families are in danger. The only thing to do is destroy them before they become too numerous," he says, picking up a wickedly curved blade from within the chest at the end of his boat. "It wouldn't do to leave a war at our heels," he says, stepping to the dock.
"All ashore, gentlemen," says Robert to Vatndir and John with a flash of white teeth, the flare of zeal in his eyes. "Move the boats out a safe distance," he adds over his shoulder to the oarsmen. "Don't let anything near them."
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Post by john on Apr 16, 2007 8:50:19 GMT -5
An invasion? An opportunity for profit. Or a least a litttle fun at the expense of some people he already doesn't like. Once Robert gives his order he responds, a rare amount of passion in his coarse voice.
"Leave a war at our heels? No... but if I'm being paid for it, I'll bring one to those... Bacchae. Right here and now." He tosses the majority of his non-wargear onto the boat by virtue of the pack, pulling out his crossbow and quarrels, and leaving his tent, food, and other survival gear aboard the boat, stripping down for action, basically. He shifts so his shield is across his back, and takes the heavy crossbow up into two hands, doing an about-face and begins to grimly march up the hill, crossbow at the ready, and says to Robert. "How do we figure out who's a Bacchae and who's not to be harmed?"
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Post by john on Apr 16, 2007 19:54:37 GMT -5
John thinks to ask Rober or Piers, "Either of you have any military command experience? We're going to want to establish an organization and a tactical plan before we go into that town. I'd suggest we stay together and clean streets out one at a time, with Robert watching our back, Piers and Vatndir on either flank, and myself in front to get pounded on, since my armor is mroe or less proof to a bacchae's scratching. There were only 4 that I saw, but if you're saying there are more, it would but unwise to split up." John states, "Making sure Nilou is safe is our first priority, then we will exterminate them street by street, house by house. Don't split off for any reason, I was lucky that Nilou drew several of them off or I might have been overwhelmed."
He waits for Piers, Robert, and Vatndir to form up, then proceeds forward, crossbow scanning for likely targets.
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Post by feq on Apr 18, 2007 11:59:11 GMT -5
Vatndir lets his imagination flow freely, focusing his thoughts on John's words. He formed up behind John, and moved with him, staying in the rear. His ears set on the water, making sure their escape was clear. "Very well John, I imagine I'll follow your lead."
[OOC so sorry for the gap, my computer blew out monday, and I've been spotty on my internet use]
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Post by Stix on Apr 20, 2007 8:53:57 GMT -5
(Continued in Day 37: Halfway to Shore)
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