Somewhere off the shore of Aldergard.

The Day of Landing.

It was the creaking of the old timber hull of the ship that first gave away a change in circumstance. After three days sailing, the 'Hand of Hope' had finally broke into the swallower waters that surrounded Aldergard and was on a direct course towards the island nation. Rapid footsteps and shifting weight signalled that the crew sailing the last remaining vessel of the Order of Witch Hunters were bringing her into the final stretch of their journey.

The ship cut swiftly through the calm waves as the amber lights of sunrise reflected from the clear surface below: a practically ancient vessel, it had been the only one remaining under command of the Order which seemed capable of making the journey intact. While the wood was splintered and the once extravagant decorations faded with age, its crew were the best that could be mustered at short notice and had proven reliable enough to make the journey. Eight days sailing was hardly a terrific distance to travel by ship, but heading into long forgotten waters made it an unnerving trip nonetheless.

Below deck in what had been converted into the initiates quarters for the journey, a blinding light cut into the otherwise dim glow given off by the hanging lanters as the hatch above was pulled open to reveal a silhouette of a man - lyth and wirey and sporting a rag of some kind of cloth around his head.

"Be dockin' in 'bout an hour." A male voice called down - gravelly in tone but clear enough to be made out with ease. "We'll be stickin' around for a day, then headin' back - come pick ya up in six days time. Don't be late - we're not gettin paid to stick around waitin' for ya."

There was a brief pause as one of the other deckhands evidently shouted to attract the attention of the speaker. Glancing around, he quickly turned his attention back below dduring"Luck be with ya Hunters. I'll shout again when we're fully docked."

With his mesage relayed, the hatch was dropped abruptly. The voices up above sounded jovial and of good spirits though they were muffled and impossible to discern over each others noise. Beneath deck, the Initiates waited.

While the ship was old, it had been renovated for its purpose at great cost - albeit in rather a hurry. Several bunks lined one side of the large cabin, while a large open area used to continue training routines took up the majority of the space. Simple tapestries depicting scenes from the Witch Hunters history lined the walls and reinforced oil lamps designed specifically for use at sea hung from the ceiling casting their dull yellow glow over the room. Small piles of large cushions coloured in royal blues and purples and reds were scattered about as an attempt to add a little additional comfort and while it was far from luxury, it was more comfortable than the quarters at the Stronghold where the initiates had spent the vast majority their lives.

The Witch Hunter - Reinham, he had introduced himself as - had said little during the trip. Keeping to himself with a scowl fixed on his face in the space between the high collar of the coat and the wide brim of his hat, he had done little during the trip. He had said little more than a handful of words to anyone until now - had barely even moved and not once even removed his coat, never mind wash or change clothing, even though the facilities to do so had been provided.

"You'd better get yourselves prepared." He grunted from his seat beside the steps leading up to the deck. He looked over the initiates with little regard: what they were now didn't interest him. No, it was what they were to become that was important.

Clearing his throat with a slightly strained cough, the Hunter stood.

"We'll be arriving in Aldergard soon. Nobody knows for certain what we will find, but if there's one piece of advice I can give you it's this..." He glared across the cabin at each initiate in turn. "Don't let your guard down, not even for a moment. This island was lost - when we last set foot here even a thousand Witch Hunters could not have saved it. To have risen against those odds is impossible: something powerful and unnatural is behind this, I'm certain."

Stepping aside, he nodded once to the group.

"I know that your studies and training might have meant you have had little chance to talk to one another. Much as a Hunter should learn to rely only on themselves, you should probably get to know your companions a little more before we land. You're going to be watching each others backs for the next few days after all." He made an expression that might have been a sneer or a look of disdain for the idea of trusting ones life to another - it was hard to tell whether it was supposed to be condersending or whether the Witch Hunters naturally sour expression simply made it appear that way. "Also, if you have any questions, now is the time to ask them."

Lounging upon a pile of pillows, Kaite scrawled in a small hardcover book. With no title yet to be etched in the leather-bound wood panel, many would tease the concept as a diary. In his mind, all crimes should be recorded; a humanitarian at heart while wearing the skin of a hunter, the book's purpose was to depict the excursion in all of its gritty detail. Currently, he struggled with the first sentence which merely read, 'We survived the journey' since he dared not overstep the reality of their situation until he could plant his boots in the soil of the island. On top of this, the said journey was fairly uneventful by his standards. While there were a few uncomfortable run-ins with various associates on the ship, the term to denote comradery was vastly foreign to the diminutive hunter. In this, it wasn't until their superior known to Kaite simply as 'Reinham' spoke that they realized the depth of their objective isolation from most of the doings on the ship. Without even a porthole, he'd lost track of the time and over the eight-day stretch had accidentally both stayed up for almost a full day or two and slept about for about as much in singular instances.

In fact, the break of silence caught Sir Jericho by surprise, especially from Sir Reinham who'd otherwise remained motionless at his post with the occasional exception of physical necessities. It was because of their intimidating presence that Kaite lacked the will to emerge from the depths of the ship to view the spectacle of their seemingly endless ocean which the curvature of the world alluded to. His dreams and imagination filled the first few pages of his notebooks which sat holstered in the messenger bag next to him where he sat. Considering his deepest emotions towards the intangible force they floated upon during the sail, he was never seen without the bag as an effort to keep himself from curious eyes that he couldn't trust not to pry into his affairs while he wasn't present.

During the pause in his 'work' caused by the events at hand, he shifted his legs for the left to cross over the right knee. Eyepatch hanging around his neck and coat folded in quarters under his pack, he'd gotten quite comfortable. They gave a wave before sardonically remarking, "Iz all downhill from here!" they chirped, closing their book and slipping it in with the rest of varyingly filled scripture. "Only a matter to know whom you take vith, ah?" They continued with enough to their tone to come off as genuinely joking, accompanied by an equally convincing chuckle. In a strange sense, Kaite felt an unspoken connection towards Reinham whom they considered their current teacher; devout and strict to the letter, it was certainly something to write about if they had a chance to observe them doing something other than loom, spookily.
The others were...troubling to explain. It was difficult to depict strangers, even after being around them for a week. One could never truly know someone unless they've seen them at their worst, and in that, Kaite was worried that any of them possessed the level of insight to see through his guise for what he really was. Even then, with the topic at hand, how well would they know the depth of what they thought they saw?

The bow was warm in Syrris's hands as it rested across her knees. Dark eyes studied the wood grain, looking for imperfection of damage. Her mind, however, was not on the task but racing off towards the fast approaching future. Aldergard intrigued her curiosity, and the desire to hunt. Shifting her seat to better adjust the bow and flip it, she studied her comrades with a quick glance at each. Each had their job, their place. A nice tidy box to be tucked into. There were exceptions to the rule, and each one of those irritated Syrrissia to no end. Reinham she had quartered off with the other older Witch Hunters, polished skill and experience. Useful, in short terms. "Also, if you have any questions, now is the time to ask them." Questions? Life was full of them. Questions would be answered with time. Time, was the answer to all things.

Catching Reynald's glance she held it with her own for a moment in acknowledgement before sweeping it over the others. Each had their benefits and weaknesses. She intended to find them out, and apply to those strengths and avoid the weaknesses when fighting broke out. To know where to lean if things went badly, where the comrades would not break. A thought flickered in her mind. Her own weakness in her shoulder ached from the damp. Pointedly ignoring the urge to rub the muscles to end the taunt soreness, Syrris gave both shoulders a bored roll, covering the motion by drawing out a arrow from her quiver. Not easing completely but allowing her to adjust it. Inspecting the arrow head, she listened for the call from above. Land would be a nice change of pace from the boat. Boats were not her optimal choice of travel. Horse, or foot, would be better.

Aundair sat up when the announcement was made. An hour till they were there? He couldn't wait. It had been a while since he had seen any action. His hands itched with anticipation.
"Come on, you gonna bet or fold?"
"I'm out." he replied and tossed his cards down onto the crate. The deck hand smiled and raked in the coins on the table. Aundair stood and pushed his chair back before walking towards the Witch Hunter. He listened quietly to the man until he had finished before returning to the crate.
Talk to the others? He could do that. Better for someone to have your back than waiting for you to slip up. He picked up his cards and looked at them. A pair of tens. He placed them back down and tossed a coupled coins into the middle then looked back up at the four who happened to be insight at the moment. Kaite, Reynald, Syrris, and Vayen. Kaite was a little unsettling, Reynald was rigid in his beliefs and though that could help it was also dangerous in certain situations.To say that Vayen was cocky, would be a bit of an understatement. All he could do was hope that she knew her limitations. Syrris however seemed to be more level headed.
Another pair of tens looked up at him from the crate along. I guess step one would be to start making friends. Aundair thought and tossed another couple coins into the middle. This guy will not be one of them
"Well, show em." The deck hand flipped his cards over revealing two spades. With the river he had a straight.
"So close, but yet so far away" Aundair smiled and turned his cards over. "four of a kind" The deck hand's face turned into a frown of anger.
"You must have cheated! No way that you dealt yourself that! I'm taking the pot and letting you off with a warning." the young man reached for the coins and then stopped, staring cross eyed at the short steel hovering in front of his large nose.
"I suggest you stand up and leave the coins before I shorten that beak of yours." Big nose stood up and stormed off while Aundair slid the coins into his pouch. "That's a good lesson to learn" he said to himself "Never play cards with a sailor." He laughed to himself and placed his feet on top of the crate. "Oh well, money well earned." He leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes

Virtura Ilmata heard the commotion above. A face appeared from the hatch and announced ther imminent arrival. She stared at the man for a couple of seconds before getting to her feet. There wasn't much time left to prepare, and since she hadn't equipped herself properly yet, she'd have to make haste. Dressed merely in a simple casual tunic, she wouldn't seem like much of a threat as she was now. Quickly fetching her leather armour, she started undoing the straps. It took her a while for her to don her vestment, so she tried to pay attention to things going on in the background in the meantime.

Reinham spoke, his voice heavy with the weight of his authority. She listened intently, but didn't stop with what she was doing. She could don her armour with her eyes closed anyway, so she had plenty of attention to spare. His advice was simple, but it was good to be reminded of the seriousness of their mission. When he mentioned the oppertunity to ask questions, she only let the silence flourish for a moment, allowing others to inquire first, before deciding to speak up: "I have a question..." She started. Her accent was subtle, but noticable. Common definitely wasn't her mother language. Her voice was soft but thick like honey. "Where are we docking? I assume there's a town or settlement where we'll be arriving? I studied the old maps but..." She let her sentence end there, the rest of the story being pretty obvious. She didn't like to admit it, but she hadn't been able to extract all that much information from the old maps. She'd felt blessed to be allowed to take a few of them, but they turned out to be a lot less useful than she'd expected.

Following her quesiton, there was one initiate who decided to speak up as well. A rather strange looking man, even for a witch hunter. A very agile and nimble physique. Elegant, sophisticated... she'd dare say he looked rather feminine. A shawl draped around his shoulders had a strange odor to it, though she couldn't place it from this distance. His entire posture radiated arrogance, but she'd not let the cover decide her judgement. He had an accent. Very different from hers, but an accent nonetheless.

Then she took note of the... She'd call him a paladin. There'd been rumours around the order's training grounds. There always were, but this one had stood out in particular. An utmost devout warrior, wielding a mighty sword, dedicated to the point of obsession. A man with a small horizon, but with it came an impeccable sense of direction. It wasn't too hard to decide your heading if there was only one way to go, and to him there was but one way.

Next was the bow wielding woman. Older, but smaller than she was. She hadn't heard anything of this one, but a thoughtful glance could tell her a lot. She was peering at the others at well, and although she couldn't guess what was going on in her mind, she was definitely doing the same as she was, inspecting her future brothers and sisters. But there was something else. Something that was bothering her. A slight frown, an agitated huff, a roll of her shoulders... But she was merely taking an arrow from her quiver and inspecting it. A strange habit, but she supposed a master of her art would have her own peculiar ways.

Finally there was a young man. She estimated him at roughly the same age as she was, and he was almost exactly the same height as she was. He was enjoying a game of some sorts involving cards with symbols on them. She couldn't guess what those symbols meant, but apparently he was losing... Until one man threatened another, and a weapon was drawn. Somehow that made him the winner, and he took his prize. With a befuddled look, she stared at him for a moment...

But then she realised she'd finished donning her armour. That is, as finished as she could get it on her own. Two straps on the side of her chest were still open, and incredibly difficult to close by her own. To save herself from the discomfort and the embarassment of spending several minutes trying to get the straps to latch, she walked over to the man with she scarf and the ponytail, and made a gesture.

@Hawlin
"Excuse me..." She said, before turning her exposed side to him, her incredibly long and wavy brown manes hanging down to one side. "Could you help me with this?" She asked with a friendly tone, giving an apologetic smile.

With an awkward groan which came off like cleaning their throat in an 'ehem' fashion, Kaite reopened the otherwise empty book. It was odd to be around strangers for so long with little introduction between them only to have all of them comically hinted at getting to know each other. What resulted was almost as tense and strange like a first-year fall formal. Nonverbal cues, glances of varying demeanor and emotion, the dance was on for each of them to a different tune which sparked a dull chill of loneliness in the gentleman hunter. Most of the strangeness he felt for the situation was the silence. No introductions or even words aside from the loud game of cards that seemingly escalated to the point of a blade being drawn by one of his associates. Kaite felt better off by simply leaving everyone to sketchily eye eachother and trying to keep his eyes down to resume tapping on the parchment. Meeting glances at this point in their journey was one of the worst things he could imagine happening at the current moment since there seemed to be an unspoken finesse to it which he simply didn't understand. The last thing he wanted to do was give anyone the wrong idea by accident.

A woman's voice drew him from a flourish he had started working on in the inside cover since the question was a valid one. If the island was hopelessly besieged at one instance, why should any town or settlement exist? Additionally, how sophisticated would any settlements they stumbled upon be? Or were they truly expected to step off the boat swinging? While Kaite hadn't considered asking questions, he was certainly curious of any information he could glean from other's inquiries. The one who'd asked was the rather tall woman he'd made a point to subtly avoid for a number of reasons which he considered good ones. To start, he was self conscious of his size and felt personally threatened by a woman being almost a foot taller than himself. Their readability often gave him a number of mixed emotions towards her, given his cynical lens. In all, he was more skeptical of her than anything...and it bothered him that he had little to base his feelings on other than mild insecurities.
It wasn't until he noticed her following suit with the others to survey the group and their eyes briefly meeting Kaite's that he realized he'd been staring and swiftly retreated back to the drawing. A tiny hobby, drawing calligraphic depictions of simple things like a shark, in this instance, helped him appeal to a part of him which he frequently ignored due to its darker tendencies. Tilted just right, the sketch merely looked like waves crashing against rocks as the beast was shown to be coiling with jaws agape to catch a humanoid figure impossibly smaller than itself who merely walked into its torturous maw.

Oh distant fish~

Content with their work, Kaite knuckle-dusted the damp ink with a crushed powder of ashen salt to help hasten the drying of the depiction and give it a dim silvery hue and foggy appearance. Blasphemous prayer through artistic rendition, who but old fishermen would know the patron deity of luck without being guided through the waves...so to speak.

Truly genuine fondness in his expression was broken by the footfall of Virtura, moving to clap the book shut before simply setting it aside to keep the ink from smudging all over the first page. "Ye- yes?" he stammered with a hint of surprise, lifting their leg and pushing off from their lounge to elegantly rise to their feet with a click of the metal soles of their boots on the nails in the floor. The nondescript scent of their scarf was mostly attributed to having been recently washed, carrying only the faintest ghost of scents' past which blended dully together to come off as something between lilac and honey.
Kaite paced for a step or two, inspecting the armor as a hand felt at the laced belting of his own cuirass' sides. A spark of understanding glinted across his expression as his eyes trailed up her physique from Virtura's waist to her face. "Ah, je" his tone chirped, mirroring her demeanor in an attempt to compliment her demeanor. With an awkward bow of his head to hint to gentlemanly respect, he placed a hand to her side to guide the plating of the leather armor together while flicking the belt open with a thumb. More focused on the work of latching the straps, he only once looked up at her face. "Iz zeis..." Kaite began, biting back his expression of being out of their comfort zone as well as the temptation to let their hand roam beyond the purpose of holding her armor together while the other hand affixed it to her form. "...Yeh, it looks right?" he asked, unsure how she normally keeps it and composed in his discomfort with the possibility with having to fix a mistake he was certain he did not make.

There was a an odd regard when it came to women, knowing that they tended to be judgmental on some level. In this, he'd simply rather not have word spread of his strangeness while still doing his best to aid the imposing tall figure. It was always a bother when instincts sought to rend control from his composure, and the exotic robust nature of the Elderblood's appearance did little to help.

"Ehrm...My name iz Kaite. Pleasure to be ouf your acquaintance" Kaite offered with a hand to shake once he finished securing the final latch. As far as introductions went, this was as good of a time as any. The way he saw it, kindness and pleasantry was a rare commodity which would be invaluable in earning trust, and with it, allies.
Speaking from that notion, the distance felt towards the majority of his associates was so deeply untrusting that he was just as cautious of them as he would be around any stranger, hunter or no. The book with the grim flourishes on the exposed inside of the cover laid open by his pack though obscured by the pillows to the rest of the room's occupants other than maybe Virtura.

The deep voiced sailor abruptly woke Vayen from her restless dozing. The journey so far had not been kind to her, eight nauseating days in hell. She hated the ocean and from the first hour onboard the constant rock and sway of the poorly renovated ship made her spill the contents of her gut from over the side and during course of the week not much had improved, the ginger tea she brewed helped slightly but really the only thing she could do was endure it and hope for quick passage. Slowly she uncurled in her bunk stretching her stiff muscles that were not used to the confinement of such a room it had made her quite cantankerous during the journey, between that and the sea sickness she barely spoke to her travelling companions aside from Reynald which she managed to banter a few friendly insults over the duration. Vayen wearily smoothed a few sticky strays of hair from her face as she sat up setting her bare feet upon the rough timber deck while Reinham prattled on about arriving in Aldergard. She had mixed impressions of Reinham his severe demeanour obviously served him well living up to the notorious witch hunter reputation but she couldn't help feeling there was more to him than what he allowed anyone to see.
"We'll be arriving in Aldergard soon. Nobody knows for certain what we will find, but if there's one piece of advice I can give you it's this.... Don't let your guard down, not even for a moment. This island was lost - when we last set foot here even a thousand Witch Hunters could not have saved it. To have risen against those odds is impossible: something powerful and unnatural is behind this, I'm certain"
When Reinham glared at Vayen in turn she returned in same, she was eager to finally be given the chance to prove her worth and under the wing of the renowned Arrion Reinam. When they first got word they would be leaving on this particular journey Reynald enthusiastically retold her of Reinham's exploits over the years and his own brief training encounter with the hunter. A man who lived such a distinguished life within the order would be well worth learning from.

Inhaling a deep breath to settle her gut Vayen rose from her bunk, Syrrissia off to her right was scrutinising her bow again. Back at the Hold the few times they crossed paths Vayen always thought that girl could do with a good feed, so slim she had wondered where she gathered the strength to draw her bowstring but somehow she managed and managed well watching her draw her a few times, always hitting her mark. On the opposite side near where one of the youngest of the group invested in a game of cards she watched Reynald against the wall of the ship cracking his knuckles, a habit he unconsciously performed when lost in his own thoughts. Lacking enthusiasm she shuffled her way over to him acknowledging the card players with a less then impressed smile from the corner of her mouth. With her back to the same wall as Reynald she slid down next to him folding her legs beneath her "Thank the stars because If we have to spend another day on this stench filled god-forsaken vessel someone was going to cop a beating" she whispered into his hooded ear.

"We'll be docking in a small coastal village called Osen, on the islands southwest shore." Reinham explained in his bad tempered tone. It wasn't something that he was personally comfortable with, but the significant lack of information was just something they would have to deal with.
"Aldergard was once known for its microclimates - the terrain and weather can shift far more quickly than anywhere else. Osen closely resembles our homeland if the old records still hold true - it should be temperate and abundant with forests and plant life. An excellent place for you to acclimatise and begin your investigation."

He paused as if contemplating whether to elaborate further, but instead sbook his head. It was no use - what little he knew was from centuries old records and could very likely be incorrect. Misinformation would be downright dangerous in their current situation after all.

"We have no idea what state the island is even in. It would be dangerous to presume anything - even something as trivial as the weather. Regardless, our information suggests that Osen still stands and is inhabited, so it's as good a place as any."

---

The ship lurched suddenly to the starboard side as the change in current heralded their entry to shallower, coastal waters, causing a few voices from above deck to call our with surprise or alarm for a moment before the return of the familliar sound of sailors laughter and jeering suggested that somebody had merely been taken by surprise by the shift in current.

Aundair looked up as he heard Reinham announce the destination. The name itself meant little to him, but all new information was welcome when entering an unknown area. He was in the middle of sitting up when the lurch hit the ship and he had to fight not to flop off of his chair onto the ground. Pushing himself from his seat, he was seized by wanting to see this new land. He adjusted his gear and made his way towards the ladder to the deck. As he passed Reynald he clapped him on his back
"Ready for this mission? Because I sure as hell need to get off this boat and stretch my legs." he waited a moment to hear Reynald's reply and then turned to bound up the ladder, his greatcoat swinging slightly back and forth as he climbed. The hatch rose quietly and Aundair raised his hand to shade his eyes from the suddenly bright light.
"Wow... odd, that's not quite what I expected." he laughed to himself at the childish notion of eagles and dragons flying over his head. Looking to his left he saw the deckhand that he had beaten earlier talking to several of his friends. He raised his hand in greeting and continued onto the fore deck to see out to the coming land. He could feel the wind blowing through his dark blonde hair and smiled at the smell of wood and earth. It had been a little too long from the land for his taste and he was ready to feel something solid underneath his feet. He watched the approaching land quietly as he waited for the ship to finally arrive.

Virtue nodded as her question was answered. Osen was a settlement she had found on the old map, but there wasn't enough information on it to assume or predict anything. Much like Reinhart, Virtue was frustrated that they had so little information available. There was no way to prepare and plan ahead. Especially the news of microclimates made her nervous. She reckoned they'd have to improvise a lot in the next few days.

Kaite stood up, an audible click sounding from his boots as he did so. She looked down for a moment and noticed the strange added feature of his boots. Although she could empathise with an insecurity about his length to some degree, she didn't understand how this would assist him in anything other than seeming taller. After all, it would hamper his movements somewhat and it definitely wouldn't do his balance any good. Considering this, she did have to admit it gave his posture that bit much more pizazz that made him seem much more confident.

This appearance was slightly contrasted by how he came across to her now that she had come closer. Her previous estimation of him had somewhat shattered now that she saw he was clearly uncomfortable with her so close. She'd also noticed that he'd been eyeing her a minute ago, but she hadn't taken any offense to that. A woman of her size stood out after all. Kaite also seemed to set aside his discomfort to help her, since he carefully placed his palms on her side and started working on the straps. It didn't take him long. After exhaling there was plenty of room for him to pull the armor together, and he was very careful as he pulled it tighter.

Once he let go of her, she turned and faced him again, her hair softly falling down the length of her torso again. "It is fine, thank you." She said simply, tugging at her chestpiece a bit before letting it be. The man introduced himself as Kaite, and extended his hand. Virtura had learned that this was a gesture of greeting and respect, and she extended her hand to meet his and shook it. Although Kaite's hands were... frail for that of a grown man, her own would feel surprisingly soft and perhaps even weak as well. Strangely unmuscled for a woman of her size. In fact, if he'd inspect her closely he'd notice that she was nowhere near as powerful as the average Elder Blooded woman would be. Often built to the likes of amazons, Virtura had more of the physique of a very tall human than one of the Elder Blooded. Her tinted skin and incredibly long hair betrayed that she actually was a member of another race, but the differences were subtle.

"My name is Virtue. Likewise..." she said, looking Kaite straight in his striking green eyes. Similarly to him, her eyes were green as well, though a much more saturated and grayish green. Strong eyes with a soft colour. She smiled lightly. After she let go of his hand, her eyes glanced over to the booklet Kaite had been drawing in just a moment ago. What she saw was quite an impressive picture of a shark devouring a man. Her eyes grew wide as she leaned in to have a closer look, seemingly intrigued by the image. "Did you make this?" She said, her arms crossed in front of her chest.

Eye contact broke in nearly the instant it was made. If passing glances were difficult to cope with, the deliberate act considering their proximity almost made Kaite trip over his pillowy seat as he made to take a step back. On the surface, the extra height of the shoes came off as unwieldy and almost pointless. Truly, it wasn't meant to navigate within ships, though the custom design's double purpose made it difficult to actually consider giving them up. 'Hammer heels' were the idea, merely fancying up steel-toed boots to even the soles, being trained in footwork and kickboxing made them surprisingly effective in catching opponents off guard as a few of his sparring partners could attest to. Shame about the cracked ribs.

Out of his peripheral vision, Kaite watched her interest shift from his face to something on the floor behind him. Instinctively, most people would try to hide secrets although the cold reasoning twisted reality for the diminutive hunter to see her attention towards the otherwise complicated squiggles as more of an opportunity to show he had nothing worth hiding. "Yes- " he began, pivoting to sweep the book up with one hand to offer a closer look, blowing on the nearly dry ink as he continued, "...Iz such a long journey, zehr iz so little to do." Kaite's tone softened as he gestured subtly with his eyebow and a tiny nod of his head to Aundair while they waved to the deckhands who seemed to be conspiring against him or whatever they thought they could do to a selected hunter. The motion was more to draw attention from the sketch which he gently shut away with the picture while holding a finger between the cover and the first page, just in case. "It keeps me out of trouble" he joked along with the context of the others either growing more outwardly bitter by the hour by subjecting themselves to silence or other less productive activities.

Kaite usually had little trouble when it came to emulating other people's emotions to fit the situation, but the crushing boredom and tense silence of the mission looming on the horizon truly left him with so little to do that he felt himself slipping. Open sky, stable ground, maybe a tree? It all sounded so inviting that it may as well be a dream with how long he'd spent in the guts of the ship.
"Ugh...solid ground" he thoughtfully mused, finding himself scanning the group the way others had, though the motion was more for appearances since it was a lot to take in while considering he knew practically none of them.

Taking his extended hand Vayen rose from the floor "Shall we find out when we dock brother?" She challenged him tonguing an old grooved scar on the top of her lip, remnants of one of their sparring sessions taken too far again. While she could best him with a spear easily enough it was by sword that frustratingly she had never been able. Their difference not all in technique for they shared the same instruction but for his ability to subdue and control his emotions from behind his mask.
"Let me gather my things and I'll meet you up there shortly." she added as Aundair moved past with a friendly word and pat on Reynald's shoulder. Aundair like the other two unfamiliar initiates must have been chosen from the second stronghold. Vayen did not feel comfortable with these unfamiliar faces, while they all served under the one banner how could she trust those she didn't know. Turning away she proceeded back to her bunk, Reinham's fresh words in her thoughts and the conversation from the exotic Elder Blood woman and they pretty boy filled her ears she dressed into her more appropriate hunter attire ready to depart this blasted vessel.

It was mere minutes later that the island came into clear view over the sleek flatness of the ocean and beneath the crystal clear skies. Stretching across for quite some distance, the shores were mostly similar to one another - patches of forests, greenery and sandy beaches lined the edges of the sea, while further in could be seen higher ground that presented a wider array of variation such as the whites and greys of snow and stone. The lay of the land rose sharply towards the islands center where amid barren brown crags, what appeared to be a large fortress stood looming over the nation.

The sky above most of the island was as clear as it was out at sea for the most part, though what clouds there were seemed to be twisted and distorted into unnatural shapes as if some otherworldly writhing serpents were slowly creeping their way across it.

Other than this however, there was very little unusual about the land. No fires, no destruction or smoke - no sign at all of the cataclysmic battle that by all accounts should rightfully still be taking place.

Osen soon came into view - little more than a collection of wood and stone buildings forming a coastal village and dock, it was a modest settlement that couldn't possibly have more than a couple of hundred occupants. A handful of fishing boats bobbed serenely in the calm waters, some new and others looking as old as the 'Hand of Hope' that the Hunters had arrived on. To all intents and purposes, it appeared to be a quiet, unassuming place.

Around this small settlement however was a great stone wall that soon came into clear view. Evidently there was something still considered dangerous enough to merit caution still lingering on this island. The walls extended well above even the tallest buildings and as the Hunters ship approached it would become aparrantly that a large number of soldiers were patrolling it - a disproportionate number, in fact. Armoured in iron plate and adorned with purple and yellow heraldry, most turned seawards to inspect the new arrival as it neared the shore. It was difficult to make out from the ship, but most seemed to be carrying spears or bows of some kind.

---

Osen - Aldergards Southwest Shore.
Mid Morning. First day.

"Here we are, Witch Hunters." Announced the same burly sailor that had called down to the initiates earlier as he stood to attention beside a gangplank that had been extended out to the villages dock. With loose white clothing and a dirty blue rag tied around his forehead, he extended a tanned, muscular arm landwards to becon the party onwards with a cocky but good natured smirk on his face. "Luck by with ya'. Remember, we'll be departin' tomorrow mornin' and back in six days. Don't be late."

The dock was well built from a good, solid wood connected to a clearly much older construct of stone, it seemed that it had recently undergone significant repairs and expansion. The town stretched out a little distance ahead, with the heads of the inhabitants turning with curious gazes as the Witch Hunters emerged. Several stopped in their tracks while others gasped and hurried away - evidently afraid of these new intruders. A sense of hostility descended on the region almost immediately - the background chatter dulling to a low hum as the air itself seemed to stand still, waiting to see what sort of events might take place.

The Witch Hunters had come to Aldergard.

The semicircular town was a simple one with a simply layout. Immediately in front of the Witch Hunters was the dock and the workers district where grimy wooden houses - some little more than shacks - housed the bulk of the villages poorer residents. Evidently these narrow dirt streets were home to the workers of the dock and its warehouses among its narrow turns and questionable smells. Beyond this, the bulk of the villages residents lived in more pleasant housing around the inner base of the great wall in houses of wood and stone - far from luxurious but with the comforts of personal space, glass windows and the like. Larger open spaces and lanterns hanging on the outside of the buildings here meant that it was both a safer and more pleasant place to live. In the very center of town was a small open-air market area with a number of stalls, surrounded by a handful of permanent shops and larger, stone dwellings where wealthier residents lived. A great stone road ran directly through all of this from the dock all the way to the great gate of the town.

Waiting at the dock was an unusual sight however. Clad in black and gold plate mail beneath a long black leather coat not unlike that worn by the apprentices, was a woman. With a decorated saber hanging by her waist and an ornate crossbow across her back, she stood patiently - watching. Rather than the fear or amazement that the townsfolk seemed to display, she simply stoodwith a slight smile playing on her lips. Youthful and self assured with shoulder-length chestnut hair flicking slightly in the sea breeze, she almost looked out of place wearing such arms and armor, yet she kept her eyes fixed on the Hunters and their vessel. She made no attempt to approach the Witch Hunters, but also made no attempt to avoid them either.

@Hawlin
"Well it is clear you have a talent..." She said in all honesty, smiling slightly. She took the booklet in her hands and took a closer look, but didn't pull it from Kaite's grasp. The way he had depicted the monstrous sea creature impressed Virtue a lot. There was something bone-chilling about the existance of a living creature that huge. Especially with the comparison of the tiny humanoid he'd drawn right next to it. "You should write a story for this. It is a powerful tale in imagery as it is, but who knows what else might spawn from your mind?" She let go of the booklet and straightened her back, looking down on him. "Don't let it distract you though, we are here with a purpose." She seemed a lot more serious once she had said that. The smile on her face had vanished, and she herself realised that the chit chat had to come to an end. They were nearing shore, and she had to gather her equipment. She nodded at Kaite, but then left him to his own.

Not long before the ship came to shore Virtue submerged from the lower quarters and onto the deck, fully armed, a small but heavy backpack on her back and a large quarterstaff in her hands, leaning on it as she waited for the ship to moor. Her large typical coat fluttered in the wind, and she'd provided herself with the addition of a large and deep hood. It seemed she had tucked her long manes into her own clothing to prevent them from impeding her movement. It was suprising how little her copious amount of equipment did to hide the fact that she was rather frail for a warrior. Her confidence did something to counteract this, and most people would still be intimidated by her length, but a true practicioned warrior would know better. Thankfully she had a few tricks up her sleeve that would make anyone think twice about underestimating her.

@Zamokra41, @Conflagration
They had docked, the gangplank was out. Nobody was doing anything. For a moment she looked towards Reynald, who seemed to be reciting some kind of ritual hymn of whatever faith he adhered to. She couldn't make out if he was fearful or suspicious, but he definitely didn't seem intent on taking the initiative. For a moment she looked towards Reinham, who wasn't undertaking any action either. She peered at him for a moment, leaning heavily on her staff, trying to estimate what he had in mind...

Then she straightened her back and steadfastly headed towards the gangplank. "What are we waiting for?" She announced to the others as she headed down to the docks and into town. Her quarterstaff made a clicking noise every time she placed it on the ground. As she neared the woman that was waiting for them at the docks, she slowed her pace until she came to a standstill right in front of the other woman. Without flinching, without changing her stance, almost like a statue, she stood in front of her, looking down. "Greetings." She said, and then paused for a moment, making no effort to extend her hand or perform any other gesture of greeting. Not even a nod. "Based upon the arms you bear and the position you so comfortably take I assume you are an authority here in Osen. If you have a superior, we, the Witch Hunters of the mainland, demand to be taken to them. If you do not, we must inquire you upon any information you have on the status of Aldergard and Osen." She then waited [color=6ecff6][/color]ing her coat to flutter, it's leather audibly beating. It was cleary that she would not tolerate disobedience.

@Dephaistos
The uneasiness of Kaite's expression gave way from Virtura's compliment. In its place, a strange concoction of confusion and flattery danced across the faintest hint of a blush on his cheeks, her thumb easing the cover back open as she looked again before leaving it to him. Ideas of stories to depict the nameless depth of an infinitesimally colossal and conflicting emotion such as 'belief' were exactly the reason why they were soon to dock with this island, to tell a story no creature should hear and even fewer than the nothingness of an empty audience should be expected to believe. 'Luck' simply was, and in its sea swam the nameless idea that all look towards though do not possess the breath to properly call out to.

A bottomless curse
A bottomless sea
Source of all power and things that be
My heart in the cradle, I call to thee
O distant fish, may your eyes be on me
Oh Do...you hear...the sea?
A call to the bloodless, wherever they be.

Kaite looked up from the drawing, blinking as the woman reminded him of the purpose. Snapping the booklet closed just the same as returning to reality, he nodded his head, swallowing hard while they sought to recompose themselves. "Ah, jeh...vee should all be ready..." he mused, graciously bowing his head to show respect for her time before she walked off before going about collecting his own effects. He was certain she could become dangerous, capable of inflicting such confliction upon his diction that would cause him to slip in such a way to almost show his hand in this great game the hunters were soon to host. The danger could not be any more ever-present, living as a sheep in wolves' clothing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rising from the belly of the ship for the first time in over a week was debilitating at first; the fresh light of the sun coupled with the bittersweet saltiness of the ocean breeze took Kaite back to simpler times as they looked not to the mainland but back the way they came. A dull hazy curvature of a betraying serenity that made up a grey-blue horizon of far-distant storms at sea countless miles away. It was how the world held itself, even if presentable now, storms always loom if you have the luxury to see them. Properly sobered by the open air, Kaite reached into his coat to pull a small vial of amber liquid which he lightly dabbed on a finger before working it into the inside of his scarf. Pressing the cork back into place and sheathing the vial, he turned toward the mainland and the pestilent stench of sin which his eyes sharpened to seek even from such a distance.

The very mild scent of vanilla and mint wafted gently from the hunter as their expression shifted from a vacant fondness that they found while looking towards the sea to a cold, almost weary glare aimed at the mainland. Saberapier sheathed and swinging at their hip opposite of their messenger bag, they tipped their paperboy hat with one hand, lifting the brim of the scarf almost up to their eyes with the other, greatcoat billowing lightly in its completely buttoned state as they crossed the gangplank to fall in step with Virtura and Reynald.
Peeking between the two, they caught the visage of the authoritative figure. Kaite's first hint of intuition was to never take lightly a person who would spend so much time working on their image; ornate with stained black and polished brassed armor, the figure warranted a small reflexive yet momentarily lift of an eyebrow from Kaite who appreciated the attention to detail in how the armor fit the woman's figure. Regardless, they seemed important and the gentleman hunter was glad that his associate, Virtura was the first to break the silence. He slowly slid his hands in the large buttoned pockets of the coat, assuming the figure was in their way for one reason or another which was undoubtedly certain to be explained.

Relief.
Long spear in Vayen hoisted her camp pack to her free shoulder as she slowly walked down the gangplank of the 'Hand of Hope'. Deliberately she was the last to depart as her fellow hunters were already beginning to make their way up the dock, there was no need for her to be at the forefront with the rest of the at this time as diplomacy and etiquette were neither one of her strong points and she assumed most of the morning would be filled with the usual formal introductions.
A fleeting cool sea breeze brought a multitude of new aromas as they wafted through her nostrils, with closed eyes she tilted her head skywards inhaling the salty and earthy aromas the unfamiliar island and letting the mid morning suns rays warm her skin. Setting off she was eager to explore this island and she soon forgot her annoyances of the past few days as she inquisitively eyeballed the townsfolk, matching her gaze from those, very few people, that did not look away.

The town square was like that of those back home, honestly she expected far less, a primitive tent encampment possibly, lucky for those of her group that were less experienced at rougher means of camping. A side smirk developed as she thought of the smallest brother of their group holed up in a rain drenched hollowed out tree with his notepads and books. She had tried not to judge any of of her unfamiliar kin on the days travel to the island but she had a few assumptions which she kept to herself for the time being.

Looking past the group ahead her attention was divided between to the imposing mottled grey stone wall that stood guard over the village and circulating clouds above them. Excitement fluttered in the pit of her gut, in her mind those stone guardian walls called to her promising the adventure she craved. Walls like that were built either to keep something in or keep something out. Tonight she thought, when the sun set she would familiarise herself with the village and its boundaries.

Vayen halted to the off side behind Reyham as Virtura had already begun her introduction, she spoke direct but eloquently "......Witch Hunters of the mainland, demand to be taken to them. If you do not, we must inquire you upon any information you have on the status of Aldergard and Osen."

Sooner rather than later she smiled to herself.

Syrrissia stood as the ship docked, slipping her bow and a pack onto her back. Following the others she moved to stand off to the side of Virtura as she began the introduction. The town was rather quaint. Honestly, she had been expecting something more primitive, more battle scarred. Though she would reserve judgement on the latter till she saw more of the town. Scars could be hidden under the prettiest of sights. How often did some of the most sordid monsters wear the fairest of masks? Humans were worse than what she was hunting some of the time, and when they were worse the price was far more brutal. There was something about the human hand and it's cruelty that defied the nature of things. Shaking herself from the revive of her thoughts she focused on the task at hand. Time to worry and muse about philosophy later. Then again, it wasn't her job to worry about such things.