Chapter 20
The Dao has been in the skies for about 12 hours now, night has passed and the first morning of their journey to Golmore. The skies above the Giza Plains are clear and the sun is beating down its fire tempered by the cooliong breeze that wafts across the deck of the airship or blows through the many open portholes. Breakfast was served in the Captain's Private Dinning room, a civilised affaird for everyone who was up early enough to attend and unless Raziel decides to call everyone together it would see people have free run of the public areas of the ship to enjoy themselves.
Raziel hadn't yet called everyone together. In fact the man is currently in the meeting room, looking over a regional map with a thumb pressed up against his lips in thought. Reaching down a hand goes to a leather bag slug around his neck and then pauses. Straightening the mage heads for the door and sticks his head out, looking around before he grabs someone who happens to be passing by. "Please pass the word that I'd like my companions to join me here shortly." And then he disappears back inside.
Jenna, for her part, is up on the top deck, towards the front of the ship. She's sat leaning against the railing, with a half-expended cigarette dnagling from her lips as she goes about hte business of cleaning her pistol. Metal pieces snap together as she reassembles it, and once she is finished, she hoists herself up to her feet. The burmecian sights down the barrel, before holstering the weapon. She stands still for a moment, and the pistol is drawn, snapped out of hte holster as quick as she can manage; then replaced, and drawn, the raggedly-clad woman practicing her draw, over and over.
Mordecai is up in his room himself, taking a nap, which being close to 60, the aging adventurer apparently needed. He's soon woken up however by someone knocking on his door, and as he stumbles out of bed and opens said door, he promptly gets told his presence is required by the Aegyl. Just nodding some at that, he takes a few minutes to put on his clothes, strap on his gunbelts, flatten his bed hair, before he starts heading upstairs towards where Raziel is.
Thaylorn had most likely been around the ship the night previous, greeting the others and potentialy causing a bit of trouble when the time arrived. Today though the Imp is much more tame in the way of pranks, spending the time preparring and going over his gear within his room. When the summons come Thaylorn wates no time in heading off to the meeting room, clad in light leather armor and with a blade upon his side he looks like quite the adventurer, at least he think he does.
Marduke was up on the back end of the ship on top. Sitting cross legged facing the way they had come with his staff layed across his legs the summoner was just quietly listening and watching the lands below go by. Glancing up as the summons is given he just nods once and stands up to make his way to the meeting room they have been given.
A moogle dressed in a snappy blue sailor suit stops by Jenna and salutes her, "Ma'am your presents is requested by Lord Raziel in the briefing room." Shortly after Thaylorn arrives Alliandre drifts in through an open port-hole and alights on the table next to Raziel. "It is so nice to be outside again, to feel the sun, to fly... truly it is wonderful." She nods to everyone else and settles down as Jenna joins the party, the map table in the middle of the room has all the latest charts and the paintings on the walls show various moogles in very fancy dress. Everything seems to be ship-shapre aboard the AMS Dao this morning.
Raziel nods a little to Alliandra once she arrives, "it is good to be able to stretch ones wings after not being able to for so long." His wings shift a little bit on his back and he looks towardsthe door, waiting til eveyrone is in and settled before nodding and motioning to the map. "I've called you all here because I'm about to ask for a little help. We know we're going to the jungle, but not exactly where. I thought it would be fair for you to know what we're dealing with." He reaches upto the leather pack and draws out a coin before opening his hand. "Leo... we're in need of a bit of guidance."
Jenna is the last to enter, and she takes up a position by the door, leaning aginst the wall. By now her cigarette is down to a third, and the pungent scent of burning sagegrass wafts into the room. The burmecian draws her pistol once more, and the occasional, soft click can be heard as she works on adjusting several of the moving parts. Her mis-matched eys glance up regularly, and her ears focus on Raziel and the conversation at hand, as she goes about this business. Mordecai sits down at the map table and stretches his legs some, letting one of his knees softly pop, while watching everyone else enter after him. Nodding at them some, he waits until Raziel gets started, and leans over a bit to study the map on the table, letting his fingers trace some of the known paths through Golmore, and perhaps re-acquainting himself with the place. Before he looks up again as Raziel pulls out the coin, looking somewhat curious.
With a small smile Thaylorn would wave at each person as they entered, welcoming them before giving his full attention to Raziel and the map before them. "Been a bit curious about that myself, it's probably going to be way too easy to get lost down there." He would murmur while watching the Aegyl pull forth Leo, a curious expression of his own matching Mordecai's. Marduke steps his way in and over towards the table, yet never takes a seat. Instead he looks over the map his expression looking thoughtful as he does so. Yet glancing to Raziel he raises his eyebrows and glances to the coin for a moment and frowns a bit. "Many things to worry about there Thaylorn, the hardest one is finding the place I suspect.' Stepping back as he watches the coin.
The coin is about 8 inches wide and sparkles... catching the sunlight, it glistens with light and the sun relfects off it then strikes the glass on all of the frames and windows and dazzles the eyes of everyone in the room and then goes quiscent again. The room is exactly the same as it was before and Lady Alliandre blinks and looks around then glances at the coin. "I fear my Lord Leo's message may have been missed by us... his connection to you is foggy my Lord Raziel."
Raziel watches the coin shrink back down once again and he frowns for a moment. A memory surfaces and instantly his eyes turn to Thaylorn in silent warning. "Apparently," the man rumbles in a low voice before setting it on the table. "Then if he doesn't want to listen to me, then perhaps there's someone he will listen to." The mage pushes the coin towards Marduke then.
Jenna remains standing where she is, and continues about the business of adjusting her weapon. There's a bit of a crunch, followed by a scowl writ upon Jenna's face. "Bugger," she mutters. She focuses her attention more fully on the weapon, and mumbles something irritated-sounding under her breath.
Mordecai blinks and adverts his eyes for a moment, bringing his hand up infront of them, as the coin glints right into them. Afterwards, he looks around to see if anything changed, including on the map, and then back at Raziel to see if the man learned anything... Watching the Aegyl push the coin towards Marduke in apparent failure, that doesn't really seem to interest him though, as he narrows his eyes slightly instead and speaks up in his gruff baritone, "What was that look." Referencing the glance that was thrown to Thaylorn.
Raising a hand to shield his eyes from the sun glinting off the various fixtures of the room, Thaylorn sighs before looking back up towards Raziel to catch that look in his direction. Countering with a 'I'm innocent' look the Imp would turn his attention back to the map and then the coin as it's pushed towards Marduke "So anyone can try to use it, then?" He asks softly, an edge of excitement just barely contained with the words.
Marduke blinks a moment glancing around looking for anything different, and clearing his vision at the same time. Glancing to the map looking it over for any changes himself, then blinks as the coin is pushed towards him and peers at it a moment, "I can try." He offers holding up the coin as he looks at it closely for the first time. A glance to Thaylorn, "It would seem so, though I know so little about these." Then looking back to the coin "Leo, please come forth and offer us the guidance we seek."
Alliandre perks up and stares at Raziel, "No wai..." she doesn't get any further as Marduke speaks and with a squeak she back flips off he table and bolts through the open port-hole. That's about all the warning the party get before a voice ROARS throughout the chamber and the Stelazzio coin spins, growing to twice it's former size and BEAMING a lance of light around the room! The map table is aflame when the coin reduced to its normal size pings onto it leaving a moment of quiet....
Raziel hits the wall, hiws wings spreading and the feathers all standing out much like a bird who's been enjoying a bird bath. His shirt gone. The mage starts to slide down the wall with a groan before catching himself and staggering back to the table. He leans heavily on it for a moment and then with a growl reaches out to snap up the coin, glaring, "so you'll only talk to me? This would have been good to know you know!"
Jenna's attention snaps up in time to see the table getting lit on fire; and then she hammered hard into the wall behind her. She falls to land on her front, the gun skittering across the floor, followed by the ping of something small and metallic going in a different direction. Her brown shirt is almost entirely destroyed; though at least she still has the ragged military jacket, which seems to have escaped destruction, doing what it can for her decency. The burmecian shakes her head to revocer her senses as she sits up. "Thought the jungle was s'posed to be the dangerous part," she observes, before snatching up her pistol. She grinds her teeth audibly as she inspects it, before tossing it up on the table and dropping back to hands and knees. "of all the... Shiva's goddamn frozen tits! Nobody move! Trigger pin shook loose while I was adjustin' it... don't move... Augh!"
Mordecai blinks as the coin rises up before him, and the loud voice deafens him... Followed by a beam of light lancing right towards his head. The older man actually reacts pretty damn quickly to that, though, as he promptly raises a leg to plant his foot against the edge of the table, and pushes off hard against it while throwing his body back. Toppling himself over chair and all, just in time for the beam to just harmlessly slice through the air about an inch above his face, and landing heavily on his back.
Imps aren't too heavy of creatures, and Thaylorn is no exception as the the beam of light lances over him throwing him straight back into a nearby wall before moving on. Recovering the Imp would find, to his amusement, that the beam seems to have fudged up his armor just a bit, turning his chestpiece around the wrong way trapping his arms within as if the Imp had been spun around inside of it. "Alright! So no one else is using the coins." He states matter of factly with minor laugh, that is before he notices the table is on fire!
Marduke is of course near the very center of this, but at least doesn't get thrown against a wall. No the man finds himself rather naked and completely hairless, staring at nothing before him for a very long moment, not even aware of his surroundings. yet finnaly he glances slowly down to the coin slowly. Then turns towards Raziel, offering a faint frown, "Well we know it now." He offers with whatever shred of dignity the bald naked man has left. A gritting of his teeth for a moment, and a snap as he chants off a spell of blizzard to the table to put out the fires. A very clear action of hidden anger. "If you would excuss me." Turning towards the door and walking towards it at a even pace, taking every ounce of his willpower to keep his anger under control.
For whatever reason Marduke's blizzard spell seems to have very little effect on the spirit created fire that is engulfing the table. As the summoner turns to the door of the meeting room it bangs open and several sailor moogles peer inside. The officer of the watch shouts fire and there is a veritable charge on the room. Buckets of sand and water dumped over the merrily burning map table, much to Jenna's distress, that trigger pin is probably in here.. somewhere. After a few minutes once the fire is out first officer Schewe pokes his head around the door and quirks a brow at Raziel, "Least it wasn't the entire room this time... someone fetch Summoner Marduke a cover-up..." he shakes his head and sighs and then Lady Alliandre peeks back through the window and floats inside, "What I was trying to tell you Lord Raziel, is that only the coins designated Guardian or one of the servitors of the spirits" She places a paw on her chest "Such as myself, Cousin Thaylorn or an Esper if we still had Lady Silmeria with us can use the coins."
Raziel looks at Marduke then immediately averts his eyes. Thanks to the sailors rushing in that's easy to do. Schewe's statement about the whole room is answered with a visible wince, but the man says nothing else. Turning his eyes to Mordecai then he comments, "now you know what the look was about." He turns back to where the coin was and either grabs it or digs it out, whichever is needed, while muttering to the imp girl, "probably should've known about that.. but we do now.. Still we need to know where we're going. I will try and see if I can't make my voice heard. As for everyone else... take cover once I find that coin and try."
"No! STOP IT! I--" Jenna abruptly dives utnder the torrent of water and sand, snatches at something, and scurries back. "Got it!" she proclaims, as she returns to her feet. She holds the gun in one hand, and a small piece of metal in the other; and then her expression turns sour once more. "Damnit, it's going to take hours to fix this," she grumbles, "And I just had it perfect." She returns the pistol to the holster, and tucks the pin into a pocket in her pants. The burmecian peels off her jacket, now sodden wet, and drapes it across a chair which she plops down into afterwards. "Anyone got a clean shirt?" she mutters, as she drapes her right arm over her bosom, coincidentally displaying the skull tattooed on the back of her hand. With her left hand, she produces a cigarette case from a pocket on her jacket; a fresh sagegrass cigarette, hand rolled, is clenched between her teeth and lit with a mechanical lighter, and then the pungent smell once more occupies the room. Along with the smells of burnt table, burnt flesh, burnt clothes, and so forth.
Mordecai grunts as he climbs back to his feet, shoving the fallen chair away, and putting a hand to his lower back while he bends it backwards a bit. Scowling through his salt and pepper beard, he looks around the messed up room, before letting his pale gaze fall on Raziel, and simply stating, "... Next time, less suspicious looks, more actual warnings." He sighs then as he watches the naked, bald Marduke stomp away, and shakes his head as the sailors try to put out the fire.
Thaylorn is able to get out of his twisted leather armor easily enough, freeing his arms from the confines of the chest piece revealing lighter clothing beneath. "Think these coins have a thing for vanishing people's stuff." He murmurs as he turns his attention to the others for a moment thoughtfully "Before we all end up without our gear..." It seems as if the Imp is searching for something, the coin in fact and luckily it doesn't take him too long to spot where it had come to a rest. Right next to Raziel's boot, moving quickly the Imp dashes over and scoops it up "Don't mind if I give it a shot, I hope Raziel?" He remarks, less of a question and more of a statement as he stands and holds the coin before him "Leo, please give us your guidance and show us safe passage so we may return once again."
Marduke doesn't stop, doesn't wait, and doesn't seem to listen to anybody around him as he makes his way out of the room, and down the hall. Is one very pissed off summoner right now it appears. Though he is going to get his spare set of robes he brought along and will be back, yet for now he is gone.
Alliandre peeks over at Thaylorn then moves behind Raziel and peers around. The coin grows larger and flickers.... a shimmering silvery form appears. They look like lion-kin carven out of starlight with a very long rippling black mane, the figure stares down at Thaylorn then acorss at Raziel and Alliandre, "Hath our servants and mortal adherance lost all manners in the eons that I have slept?" He shakes his head, "I will answer no question today, your... in-polite and importunate calling has drawn danger. Summoning me hence has allowed the Dark Sorcoress to home in on my location, already her minions wing their dark way toward this flying vessel... prepare thine weapons for combat for soon this ship of the airways shalt be besieged.... and you..." He snaps a finger down at Thaylorn, "Come speak to me later... I shalt instruct thee on proper etiquette clearly thine bond-mate has been lax in instructing thee..." And with a crack of in-rushing air the figure is gone and Thaylorn is quite, quite naked.... the spirit really does seem to have some sort of grudge against clothing.
Raziel's mouth opens as Thaylorn snatches the coin and then snaps closed again when the imp decides he's going to attempt the summoning. He glowers at the fellow and then lifts his eyes to the starlight wrought lionkin while stating lowly, to the air itself if necessary, "and it was foretold you would show us the way. If we're not allowed to call upon you then we all might as well turn around and head back to Emberstrand and fight the Sorceress on our own grounds." His hands remain balled in fists as he walks over to the now naked Thaylorn and grabs the coin from him before shoving it back in the small sack. "Fine. Right. Everyone get ready for an attack. Make sure all the crew know." Then he rounds on Alliandre, "and you better tell me what the hell I just did to piss him off, because I am /sick/ of these games."
Jenna sits up slowly, and blinks her eyes as the silvery lion-kin rises up on the table, and gives everyone a proper telling off. "...Hey, I'm innocent in this!" she protests. She glances at Raziel, then at Mordecai; and then two realizations sink in. One, they're about to be attacked. Two, her gun needs fixing. "Bugger me!" she shouts, before drawing her pistol and tossing it on the table. She rips a set of tools out of a pocket, and then the trigger pin, which she clenches between her teeth alongside her cigarette. And thus, ignoring the fact that she's topless but for a bandoleer, the burmecian gets right to work and in a hurry.
Mordecai's scowl grows ever deeper as the lion thing both scolds them, and tells them of an impending attack. Not inclined to give much of a response though, aside from glancing at Raziel as the Aegyl seems to make a point, the older man instead just sweeps his coat back and crosses his arms, promptly yanking out the two revolvers that are holstered below each armpit. And walking forward then, he places one on the table by Jenna, grumbling, "Here, no time for that. Your ammo should fit." Before he turns to get out of the room and go topside.
"I'm pretty sure he's pissed at us all for not saying the right things." Thaylorn murmurs meekly after Raziel retrieves the coin from him "Sorry about that Raziel." He adds rather quietly as he scoots back over to where he had luckily discarded his armor earlier, at least he doesn't have to be stark naked for too long as he tries to scramble back into the leather armor. After donning at least some of his gear again,the Imp would move out after the others towards the deck of the ship.
Marduke is making his way back and standing in the doorway with a fresh new robe on, but no shoes. Still rather upset about everything and looking like some eastern monk now without any hair. He shakes his head slowly, "What is going on?" Clearly having missed most of what transpired while he was away and stepping out of the way of the door catching up. A glance to Raziel, "With the spirits, it is not a game. Respect and understanding, we acted without either today. So um, what is going on, why is everybody worked up?"
Alliandre sighs and sits on the back of a chair and looks at Raziel, "He told you he wouldn't answer our questions today. He has entrusted you with the care of the artefact that can summon him unto this realm. You handed it to a Summoner who is in agreement with the Queen of Ice and the Lord of Flame and the Mist, it is my fault I should have spoken faster to warn you. But at least he has warned us of the attack once we are through this perhaps you and I can retire to someplace private and commune with him for direction together?" The crew have been alerted to the upcoming attack and one of them stops to fill Marduke and those in the briefing room in. The First Officer is shouting commands as Moogles hurry about, several hatches in the deck are opened and very large cannons are winched up onto the deck and aimed over the sides. The largest is atop the aft-deck house and has a 360 degree turning circle. In the distance the lookouts have spotted several dark shapes moving toward the Dao and the Captain is hurrying across the forward deck toward the bridge. Schewe the First Officer nods to the passengers as they come up onto deck. "If anyone wants to help with the guns you are welcome to otherwise man the railings," he glances at Jenna and Mordecai, eyeing their hand-guns then runs an eye over the others, "You are professionals after all we'll do our best to defend the ship but having you aboard would be good. We'll need magic casters no doubt these creatures are... odd and if anyone wants to man the firing position on the Main cannon be my guest!" He nods and hurries off to take up position near the deck mounted cannons as the ship starts to slow down and turn as rushing in from the distance those dark forms draw closer....
Raziel looks at Marduke, but he doesn't snarl off a responce. The monk.. err mage has been through enough today already. Looking then at Jenna the man heads out and steps into his cabin long enough to grab a shirt and toss it to her before heading for the top of the ship. Alliandre isn't given a responce for a long while as he's looking out at the approaching ships. The mage's finger's flex and he checks the twin crystal kukri before sliping them away. "At some point you'll need to tell me what's wrong with Shiva and Ifrit Alliandre. For now though.. yes we will take some time after this. Should we make it through this." He never quite looks at her while speeking, keeping his eyes on the approaching trouble instead.
Jenna's hands practically fly, as she holsters her pistol and puts her tools and trigger pin away. She gratefully excepts the wepaon from Mordecai, and hurries after him towards the top deck, shrugging her damp jacket back over her shoulders as she goes. The tossed shirt is caught, but the burmecian doesn't slow her step to fiddle with puttig it on; instead, upon hearing the invitation to use the main cannon, the former soldier heads straight for the aft castle. "Cannon? Yes please." She hurriedly ties Raziel's shirt around her left leg and transfers her pistol into it, before putting Morde's into her proper holster. The burmecian gets herself properly into position to control the weapon, and starts adjusting levers, setting the magicite capicitors to charging up with a loud whine.
Mordecai hurries to the railing, and briefly pulls out a brass, pirate-style telescope. Putting it to his eye to peer out at the approaching dark shapes, trying to make them out. Whatever conclusion he comes to, though, he doesn't share it just yet. Instead putting the telescope away again, and thumbing back the hammer on his revolver instead, while his other hand lowers to rest on the grip of the lever-action shotgun that sits at his hip. The older man settling in to await the attack...
At the mention of cannons and manning weapons Thaylorn perks up slightly but quickly, and probably for the good of everyone, decides that he's not one to be using such a large weapon. Instead, the Imp merely waits on the deck with his gaze aimed at the approaching creatures awaiting their arrival. "Do you think she has airship at her disposal?" He chimes up as he watches, trying to think over the possiblities of what the enemies might be.
"There is nothing wrong with either of them, or the Mists." Offers Marduke as he follows along, "She said agreement, and my obligations to them. This isn't my task and it isn't my place to speak to Leo. I myself should have realized this sooner, I do apologize for that." Offering a half bow to Alliandre. "I am here to assist and help." Eyes looking over the approaching dark shapes. Glancing to the first officer, "Get me a few buckets of water and have them brought to me at the back of the deck." Already heading off, words whispered quietly as he walks along energy starting to gather around him as he prepares his summon.
Retired to the quiet and un burnt safety of his stateroom Raziel and Alliandre are alone with the Stelazzio coin Leo. The golden imp is focussing on the coin as it floats sedately in front of her, nodding her head and occasioanlly whispering in a chiming language that leaves echoes in the air. She smiles softly and grins over at Raziel, "Ok Lord Leo has accepted our appologies and agreed to speak with you. He accepts that he reacted without true thought for with none of the Court of the Stars accessible there has been no one to teach unto you the proper courtesies required for discourse ."
Raziel stads a short distance away with arms folded acrossed his chest. After a few moments of consideration the man nods a little, "no one but me attempted to call upon them before so there was no reason for the informatino. My thought that the summoner would be a better choice was... obvious. I don't make nice well."
The golden imp chuckles, "Lets just say... Ifrit and Shiva are not in favour with the court of the Stars, anyway I believe if you ask formally to speak with Lord Leo it should be ok. Act as if you were speaking to a King and address them with formality and respect."
Raziel looks acrossed the room to the damage and then murmurs to himself quietly, "you don't say." Shaking his head then the mage looks back to the golden girl and tilts his head for a moment before he lets out a sigh. "We shouldn't have left Vazkor, he's the mouth. I am just abrupt and to the point, that is my way of being formal and respectful. If I cowtowed then it will come acrossed as mocking, it always does."
Raziel looks acrossed the room, mentally picturing the damage that occured, and then murmurs to himself quietly, "you don't say." Shaking his head then the mage looks back to the golden girl and tilts his head for a moment before he lets out a sigh. "We shouldn't have left Vazkor, he's the mouth. I am just abrupt and to the point, that is my way of being formal and respectful. If I cowtowed then it will come acrossed as mocking, it always does."
She chuckles "Vazkor is needed, now stop worrying about it and try my friend, or we will be flying above Golmore until me and Thaylorn get bored and go home and everyone else lynches you for being a grumpy Aegyl." she grins at you, that familiar impish smirk, "Now give it a go, be defferent and polite."
Raziel stares for a moment, debating if that would happen perhaps, and then he inhales and pulls out the coin. After looking at it he extends his hand and focuses on the coin. "..." Your given a look that reads easily how silly he feels just now and then he straightens up again. Ah well time is short. Looking back at the coin again the mage speaks. "Lord Leo, we... I have need of your knowledge, if you would come in the brief time we have before your enemies come."
Raziel stares for a moment, debating if that would happen perhaps, and then he inhales. After looking between you both he drops his arms and focuses on the coin. "..." Your given a look that reads easily how silly he feels just now and then he straightens up again. Ah well time is short. Looking back at the coin again the mage speaks. "Lord Leo, we... I have need of your knowledge, if you would come in the brief time we have before your enemies come."
A shimmering light appears in the air before you, a glittering silver sweep that coalesces into the Leonine form of Leo who bows to you. "Greetings unto you Raziel, Keeper of my Coin, what knowledge doth thou seek?"
Raziel straightens a little bit, letting out a breath as the spirit appears. Bowing his shoulders forward himself the man murmurs, "we seek the knowledge of where we are going within the jungle. I know Kharma will play a part, but as of now we're flying around in circles... my Lord."
The spirit considers your request then raises a hand, a shimmering silver sheet of light flows into existance and then the colours change displaying Golmore, the rivers, the undulating hills of the rain forest. "Here..." he pointed at a place, "Lies the Tomb of Borneth and here..." his hand moves across and north to point at a tall stand of trees, "Within Ruined Asharn lies the Keystone, without it entrance to the tomb is impossible." He waits, giving you time to memorise the map so you can match it up to paper maps in the Captain's chart room later, you think you have it memorised and as the map fades he speaks again. "Beware for Exodus is still held at bay for the Viera refuse to seek his forgiveness and thus can he not return. Golmore is wild and untamed and those whose minds are lost may still lurk within the ruins of once fair Asharn."
Raziel looks over the map of the forest, a hand reaching out to spread his fingers between the enterance and the location of the keystone... hoping to be able to do the same on a map. After a few long moments he nods to himself, "Ruined Asharn...was that.." His eyes narrow a little bit and me murmurs, "viera?" Straightening then the man nods and frowns to himself, "this will indeed be dangerous. Ah, thank you Lord Leo.." He looks around suddenly before grumbling. His maps all got burnt. He'll need another quickly.
The Spirit inclines his head and bows, "You are welcome Master Raziel... be swift, be true and remember to seek the aid of those who accompany your party." The image starts to fade away into silvery dust that settles to the ground, "Was there aught else you wished to speak unto me about?"
Raziel's mouth opens and then closes once more as he shakes his head slowly in responce. "No, but thank you for answering my question. I'll be sure to keep the summoner from you in the future as well so that we do not have a similiar... outcome."
Leo inclines his head, "That would be appreciated, unless the summoner wishes to speak unto me and bring apologies from the Queen and the Fire Lord for incidents long past." "Something tells me that would.. be unlikely. Some of the court seem to be, uh, stuck in their ways." Razliel straightens back up again and takes a step back while spreading his hand and lifting it before dropping it back down again. "Again thank you for your attention, I must write this down before the battle whipes it entirely."
The spirit bows and his image fades out with a soft chime, the coin shrinks back down to its usual size and Alliandre catches it and returns to to Raziel. "Well that went well... now lets go see about defending the ship!"
Emerging from his cabin Raziel finds the AMS Dao is at battle-readiness, the objects approaching from the horizon are gaining on the ship and everything is as ready as it can be. A sailor hurrys to bring Marduke his requested buckets of water, the Main cannons magicite capicitors are at full charge and the hush that falls of the ship is that those who have been in such straits before will recognize. The quiet before the enemy are engaged, the chance to say your prayers to whichever spirits you may follow and prepare for combat....
Mordecai stands at the railing, peering out with his pale eyes from below the brim of his hat, watching the hostiles approach. Fingers flex on the grip of the revolver in his one hand, while his other hand rests upon the handle of the sawed-off shotgun that still sits holstered at his thigh. The man's expression hard and grim as he awaits the attack.
Mis-matched eyes narrow, as the ex-arcadian soldier manning the cannon peers through the sighting apparatus. Jenna's lips purse into a thin line, as she grips the controls, bringing the cannon to bear on a likely looking target. "Almost in range," she mutters. Her tail flicks, but her muscles are otherwise still and controlled, as she waits for the opportunity to open fire.
Thaylorn stands at the ready with the others, one hand upon the hilt of his sword and the other resting upon the ship's railing as he awaits the coming onslaught of enemies. The Imp at least appears to be ready, his face set with a stoic expression before glancing over to the others to see what they might be doing or planning and thinking of the best ways he might be able to aid them.
Raziel finishes with Alliandre in his quarters and with the coin safetly tucked away again and a map consulted the mage steps out while he scans over the horizon. Frowning then the man moves to the center of the ship and frowns while stating, "sink it and we can deal with the survivors on the ground if the jungle doesn't get them first. That would be the easiest way. Not entirely fairplay though."
The captain looks at Raziel and shakes his head "What ground my boy, we are still above the ocean, the nearest ground is a day behind us at Emberstrand." he waves to Schewe, the other moogle up on the bridge railing peering through his spy glass. He frowns atr the creatures and shakes his head, "I haven't got a damned idea what they are." he flaps his wings down and offers his spy-glass to Mordecai, "You have a look, see if you recognize the blasted things." They are getting closer, still out of range for the main cannon but soon they'll be within range. The party can easily see now that it is no ship, it is a cloud of monsters flying toward you with purpose!
Mordecai glances over at the Captain, and he takes his hand away from his shotgun to accept the spy glass, promptly raising it to one of his eyes and focusing it on the approaching creatures, trying to make out any details he can, scowling as he does so. Mordecai studies the approaching swarm for a moment, and his scowl visibly deepens before he lowers the spy glass and offers it back to the Captain, rumbling out in his gruff baritone, "It's a swarm of... Things. Demon heads with wings." And he pauses then to glance at the cannon, before adding, "If you're fast enough, and you haven't done so already, have the cannon loaded with grapeshot. Solid shells aren't going to do much here."
Jenna grits her teeth, and keeps herself busy making adjustments with the cannon, tweaking the aim to keep it trained on the center of the mass of approaching creatures. She tilts her neck until the vertebrae crack against each other. One hand slips down to ease the pistol she borrowed from Mordecai in her holster, before she sucks in a deep breath and lets it out slowly. "...Bomb!" she shouts, "Behind the others! Bomb!" The burmecian perks her ears up to Mordecai's suggestion, and she yanks open the breech. "Buel's minions, too," she adds, as she yanks out the solid shell. She replaces it swiftly with a round of grapehot, slams the bolt closed, and applies herself once more to aligning the cannon, aiming for the self-detonating monster. ) [Spoofed By: Jenna]
"Flying heads huh...Good to know in advance that a blade isn't going to do much right away." Thaylorn murmurs as he continues to watch the shadowy forms move closer to the ship with a faint sigh "Ah well, spells that spread out would be best then." He adds as he steps back away from the rail, tail flicking in minor annoyance before finally coming to a halt nearer the middle of the deck. "I can probably handle that thing well enough." He adds in turn to Jenna's statement of a bomb in the mix too.
Raziel mutters to himself, "looks as if I was below decks too long.. or not long enough as the case may be." A slight shake of the head and then the aegyl scowls while drawing his wings in against his back a little tighter. "What is it..." he begins to ask and then pauses while scowling and attempting to make the connection before walking to put his hand out for the scope as well, "if I may." He pauses at Jenna's cry and grabs the telescope, peering through it for a moment before letting out a growl and handing it back to Schewe, "Bomb and Buels indeed... The Ranged attacks on the bomb and those who are close up focus on the Buel when they get in closer.
Captain Farquan jumps as Jenna shouts out and Raziel confirms it, "Turn her port-side! All hands prepare to fire secondary cannons! Grapeshot it" He jumps up onto a stand and peers ahead, "Schewe engines to half, increase our turning speed!" The moogle crew move to re-load the smaller cannons on the side decks, three of them and hands quickly move to help Jenna reload the main cannon it isn't a job for one person. The shell is as large as most moogles and has to be man-handled out of the breach but they get another one in, this one loaded for Grape-shot, the main cannon turning as Jenna adjusts aim to keep in line with the shifting position of the Dao to present a broad side to the approaching enemies to give the cannons a better field of fire. The moogle captain peers ahead and calls down to Raziel and Thaylorn, "You two think you can deal with that bomb? Water Imp and Aegyl Mage can probably sort that thing out before it explodes on us!" He turns back and bellows "Secondary Cannons FIRE!" The cannons go off with a cracking boom, a cloud of grapeshot flinging out and crashing into the sheild wall of Buel between the ship and the Bomb as it floats and laughs its maniacal grin fire wreathing its body as it grows. "Main Cannon FIRE!" The Captain bellows and then yelps as something dive bombs him and lands on the deck near Mordecai with a THUMP. It is a massive four winged purple bird like fiend and it SCREECHES at Mordecai loudly.
Mordecai keeps his attention on the approaching fiends, and slowly moves along the railing as the ship changes position, keeping himself in line with said monsters. He doesn't even flinch as the cannons go off, even though one that fires near him sends his coat to whip out behind him as the air displacement hits him. And he slowly starts to raise his revolver then, thumbing back the hammer and curling another finger across the hair trigger, slowly letting out his breath as he lines up the front sight with one of the creatures... About to take his shot, in fact, when instead he's distracted by the Captain's yelp, and something large and screeching landing near him. The man whipping around then, and almost on instinct starting to fire the sixgun into this new creature instead, even while his other hand yanks his shotgun from its holster to join the fight.
"Thought you'd never ask," Jenna mumbles under her breath. Her lips quirk up at the corners upon hearing the order to fire, and she makes one last-minute adjustment to her aim before yanking back hard on the trigger-lever. The cannon obliges with a resounding blast and a high-pitched whine of the capacitors discharging. Where the secondary cannons inflicted casualties on the Buel, Jenna's shot absolutely ravages them; a veritable storm of grapeh-shot rips into the fliers, blasting bodies into pieces and sending meaty chunks raining down into the ocean below. "RELOAD!" Jenna shouts, as she resets the trigger-leveer, and gets to work on opening the heavy breech. "Solid shot! I'm trying for the bomb next!"
"Bombs are stuck using mostly magic right?" Thaylorn ponders mostly to himself when the battle finally begins with the firing of cannons "Stay close Raziel, I can probably keep us protected well enough from them." He murmurs as he begins casting his magic, eyes closing as he gestures widely unleashing a magical shell over Raziel and himself as well as Mordecai and the ship's captain.
Raziel pivots in place as the ship turns and arround him a wind seems to blow at his hair and clothing without actually... blowing. The mage's wings snap out and icy beads of power start to multiply oer the golden feathers. "That.. would be the plan Captain," he intones in a surprisingly quiet voice. There's a quiet nod to Thaylorn as the irridescent magic encircles the two of them. Meanwhile the ice hast begun trickling down along his arms, the fire mage showing another talent as a storm of ice is launched towards the bomb, engulfing it entirely.
Marduke has been watching everything from the back of the deck on the ship. Eyes never wavering from the figures coming towards them and frowning thoughtfully when they are identified. Really wishing he had his staff to lean into right now and muttering perhaps a choice word about Leo or two. Still a very unhappy and grumpy summoner clearly. Suddenly he stands up full straight and plants his feet as he starts to chant as the air shimmers around him heat. Four orbs of power circling around him, each one red and made out of pure fire. The deck around him suddenly erupting in flames as his reaches the end, "Come forth Eleanor of the Crimson Flame, come dance with us today in the skies and spread your wings of fire!" The orbs flying up to the sky and disappearing, the flames around him wrapping around the summoner and forming into the spirit called forth. A woman made completely out of flames stands for a moment, and her normal girlish young behavior missing, this is serious business and the spirit knows it. Turning she jumps up and over heading in Mordecai's direction, and if anybody notices the deck around Marduke doesn't have a single burn mark from the magical flames. "Fire, that winged creature should be weak against fire." Marduke himself starting to rush after the fire spirit.
The revolver held by Mordecai goes off and his aim despite having to spin around to face the new threat is perfect and he blasts into it with ease making it screeeeech and raise its wings in annoyance! It stops the thing from attacking anyone and gives the dark countenanced man time to get his Shot gun out and ready it for the next round! The bomb has time to launch a spray of fire at the deck of the ship but it is cut off as Raziel engulfs the whole thing in that storm of irridescent ice! For a moment it is lost to sight and then the blizzard spell comes to an end and the bomb bobs around in mid-air looking none to happy but hey it hasn't been able to grow at least! The moogles are feantically reloading the cannons but the remaining Buel move themselves, forming a wall of swirling wings between the ship and the bomb. The cannons will have to clear them out for the mages to get another shot at it with magic. The giant bird monster rears up as the fire spirit rushes down to join Mordecai on the central deck and the captain pulls a blunderbuss out from under his jacket and takes aim at the bird "Nice of you to join us miss! Master Mordecai lets teach this bird what happens to raiders on my ship!" He sights along his gun and fires, the small mog is blown backwards off his perch but the elephant gun shore as hell has a kick too it!
Mordecai stops firing his revolver the moment his shotgun comes up, sighting the lever-action weapon straight up at the creature's head, letting it catch a glimpse down the dark abyss of the sawed off barrel, before it errupts into bright muzzle flash and a concentrated mass of buckshot once the aged gunman pulls the trigger, hoping to deliver a straight killing blow so he can move onto other targets next, the fight far from over...
With the cannon reloaded, Jenna's muscles set to work, once more straining to haul the cannon into position. She growls audibly with the effort, especially when one of the wheels catches on something; but it's a fine machine, and the burmecian frees it up quickly. "Clear!" she shouts, squinting down the sights as she makes quick adjustments. "Firing!" The ex-soldier pulls hard on the lever, and issues forth another mighty blast and whine of capacitors. Contrary to her request, the moogles had loaded grape-shot once again; as evidence by the fact that nearly all of the Buel just... disappear, summarily replace by an impressive spray of airborne guts and gore, swiftly plummeting down towards the ocean below. Jenna spends exactly two seconds admiring her handiwork, as well as the two, no three of the little winged buggers still flapping about. "...Okay, guys," she drawls, "Let's really have solid shot this time."
The Imp pauses to think for a moment, reaching over to tap Raziel's side quickly "See if you can't freeze this up." Thaylorn nearly yells over the sound of constant cannon fire, pointing up at the bomb as he says it. Eyes closing again he seems to concentrate fully upon his magic and the area around the bomb, the Imp nearly shimmering as he gathers magical energy to him...Eyes flarring open again the Imp let's loose another wave of magic, this time in the form of a wall of water that appears around the bomb and encases it quite nicely in a layer of water. It's a good thing that Jenna's cannon shots cleared out most of those flying demon heads else Thaylorn's spell may have gotten clogged up on all those annoying buggers.
Raziel's hands lift to run through his hair and as the magic falls away from the bomb the man's lips turn into a grim smile. "I really dislike this sort of magic, but if you insist." The mage begins to cast once more. The ice forming along his wings, though as the buels shift acrossed the expanse he hesitates and holds the spell a moment longer, the energies fighting him for release. With Jenna's blast that clears out the way he lets loose the spell with a hissing breath. The magics whirl in the air around the bomb and large snowflakes run with Thaylorn's spell, the snow freezing the water and shooting through to cause lances of ice to pierce from within the wall of water.
Elenaor comes to a stop near the Captian and Mordecai glancing up to the big creature, "This creature will not go down easily." Again that serious aspect about her, yet there is a sense of play as well marked by the faint grin on her face. She does love a challenge to test herself against, and this is a challenge! After Mordecai shoots his shot gun she doesn't wait to see if it hits or how hard, she is jumping right after it as wings sprout of of her back and her speed takes off towards the creature attacking it head on. Trails of flame lick out of her and she erupts into a cascade of flame as she attempts to ram straight into the monster fist first. Marduke meanwhile is still standing in the back, watching and maintaining his connection keeping the spirit ally there.
As Thaylorn and Raziel's spells engulf the Bomb it screams, struggling to escape, its body swelling, the icy spars digging into its flesh and the watery bubble boiling and bubbling. It is twice the size it was a moment ago but the spells hold and the reason soon becomes clear as Alliandre bobs down into sight, all four limbs pointed at the creature, golden light cascading around her body as she chants, her multi-irised eyes spinning madly as she helps reinforce the Mage's spells. The moogle crew helping Jenna to run the main cannon pop their heads up and their chief points at Jenna's controls, "Sod solid shot miss, aim it and hit the Green button under the little cover, quick whilst the blasted thing is imobolised by the Mage's spells!" The secondary cannons go off with loud retorts taking out the last few remaining flapping Demon heads, sending them plunging down into the ocean. Down on the middle deck things are getting serious! Mordecai's Shot-Gun blasts the thing in the head making it screeeeeech in pain, it's wings flap down and it launches up, or tries to only to have a flaming girl ram into it and knock it into the wheel house where it is trapped letting Captain Farquan take aim with his Blunderbuss and BOOOOOOM it goes off again and the beast screeeches in anger and buffets with all four wings. It is injured and enraged, Captain Farquan is picked up and sent tumbling but Eleanor catches him on her graceful descent not ruffled at all by the cyclone of wind it has given. Thaylorn similary is picked up but Raziel just casually reaches out with one hand and holds the Imp in place as he goes to fly back, the Aegyl barely moving, just tilting his wings to lean with the storm of wind until it dies down again.
Mordecai's coat whips behind him again as the injured creature flaps its wings, buffeting him, and forcing the man to briefly hold onto his hat so it doesn't go flying off the side. Afterwards though, he starts going after the thing again, advancing with confident steps and a grim, scowling expression while he aims both weapon at the flying fiend, going all gunslinger on it as he starts pulling each trigger in rapid succession... High-grain revolver rounds mixing in with those blasts of buckshot, smoothly twirling the shotgun around to work the lever after every shot... And his aim perfect and true, as each shot hits the beast right in the head, blasting it right apart in gory chunks, until only a stump remains.
Jenna perks an eyebrow upwards, at being once again denied her solid shot, but she just shrugs her shoulders and gets to wheeling the cannon about. "Alrighty then," she mutters, finding the time while she's aiming to slip a sagegrass cigarette between her lips and light it. She clenches it between her teeth, as she squints down the sights, lining the cannon up with the currently entrapped bomb. "Keep that thing still!" she shouts, shooting a glance towards Razial and Thaylorn. The burmecian's eyes narrow, and she adopts a malicious grin. "Say g'night," she practically sings, before flipping up the little metal cover and pressing the green button she'd been told about. The capacitors whine, increasing steadily in pitch, while Jenna keeps the weapon's aim true, waiting for... something.
Thaylorn is nearly swept off his feet as the fiend battling with Mordecai and the others flaps it's wings as it does, luckily enough for the Imp though Raziel is nearby and able to prevent him from sailing through the air which would have most likely ruined his concentration! The Imp keeps true though, held down by the other mage he continues focusing his power on the field of water surrounding the bomb as it is. With more concentration though the water holding the creature seems to be increasing in volume and density. "You've got it! Now take it down!" He calls back to Jenna after hearing her call out."
Raziel's hand snaps out to grab Thaylorn by the back of his shirt, his own wings spreading a little bit to buffet off the worst of the winds while hie legs spread and center the mean just a little more. Jenna's cry is answered not with words but the increasing number of icy spines being shot through the wall of water. "As he says, Take your shot Madam, we've got it pinned like a butterfly for you!"
It is with a thump that Eleanor lands back on the ship dropping off the Captain she had caught in the meantime offering, "I don't often pick up moogles, but when I do I do it with style." She starts to hop over towards the bird creature when she comes to a stop and glances back over to Marduke, their eyes locking for a moment and she nods. Suddenly she shoots off like a gunshoots back into the sky and does a wing over in a blur of motion and shoots back down, aiming herself right down the barrel of the cannon Jenna is firing! A trail of fire left behind in her sudden burst of movement. Marduke himself is frowning as he turns to glance towards the cannon.
The Cannon Whines... the capacitor indictors on the control panel all red-lining. The crew blink and stare as Marduke's summons dives down the cannon barrel and all the indicators just go blank as the class covering them cracks and the indicator lights inside burn out. The barrel thumps... racheting around the main breach loader revolved out of place to be replaced by a sleek silvery module that slots into the long bronze barrel beautifully. The whine passes beyond human hearing, beyond burmecian and moogle hearing then finally ranges out beyond what even the two imps can hear as white light starts to crackle around the tip of the muzzle of the mighty weapon. The deck vibrates slightly and then the cannon rocks back in its cradle, the recoil powerful and straining its stress points to the limit but a beam of blue-white electrically charged magical energy launches through the sky and slams into the immobolised bomb. It is engulfed and then the beam of light is gone leaving a trailing after-image of purple in the sky and no sign of the bomb. It was vaporised with no chance for a final suicidal explosion the day is theirs. For a moment there is silence and then a hot PING followed by another and the cannon comes apart in clatter of metal that crashes and rolls over the deck leaving Jenna and the moogles surrounded by machine parts.
Mordecai lowers his weapons once the winged Fiend tumbles down to the deck, headless and dead... And the man spares it no more glance, simply turning away, towards the cannon, as he hears it start to whine... Frowning as it actually hurts his ears for a moment, before the pitch goes beyond to what he can pick up. And as it fires, he can't help but blink... Opening his eyes again in time to see the shot's after image, and no sign of the Bomb. And with that, the man scans the night sky, watching out for any more threats, before rumbling, "... I think that was it. Everyone alright?"
Jenna blinks as the cannon fires, and when she opens her eyes again, the bomb is gone; and all seems to be quite peaceful. The burmecian puts her feet up on the barrel of the cannon, and plucks her cigarette from her mouth, blowing a cloud of smoke up into the air with satisfaction. "Yep," she declares, "That went--" She stops, as there's a ping; and then another, and another. The burmecian barely has time to get out of her seat before the cannon falls to pieces, leaving Jenna stumbling before she regains her footing. "Well, cripes!" she declares, surveying the parts, generally at a loss for words. At last, she looks down, and upon realizing that she is in fact still basically topless, she drapes one arm over her bosom. "I'm alright," she replies to Mordecai. "All the beasties dead?"
Raziel's hold on the magic is finally released and it's so that the wing can lift and cover his eyes and face, coincidentally Thaylorn's too. Once the glare fades he blinks a few moments and then drops the golden wing, eyes moving to where the bomb was before turning to Jenna as she does her best to keep standing. Walking over to her then he taps the gun she's tucked into the shirt he gave her. "Thank you for your dedication. Could yo please dress now? It's distracting."
The whining causes the Imp to visibly wince as it increases in pitch, almost to the point of him wanting to reach up and cover them. Thaylorn doesn't though, instead he watches as the strange shot goes flying towards the bomb, destroying it quite well, least what he can see before Raz's wing comes up "Well then.." He remarks with a loud breath as he turns to view the others and the destruction that remains upon the ship's deck "Wonder if that will ward off any more attacks for a while!" He chuckles and shakes his head slightly.
Marduke winces from the back of the ship at the sound and falls down to his knees as he holds his hands to his ears. Glancing up he watches the shoot with a touch of amazement and smiles. Then he stands up to slowly make his way from the back deck, looking tired. The summoning taking a lot out of him but a proud smile is on his face. Glancing to the cannon he shakes his head, "Sorry about the cannon captain." A touch sheepish and looking around, "Over all though I think we came out well, though we need to get moving. There will be more if we don't and we know they will be searching this area and circling out."
Captain Farquan picks himself up and shoulders his Blunderbuss and looks around, he then stares at the ruins of his main cannon. "Well Lord Thaylorn I hope it does as we only have the secondary cannons now. We won't be fixing that until we land... ok!" he raises his voice and starts shouting at his crew, getting the guns stored, the cannon parts picked p and their course re-aligned for Golmore Jungle and adventure! They have survived the first test thrown at them and have won clear now it is plain sailing and clear skies to the south!
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