[IC] Ossvien

[Stitches]

Location: The Avalon Infirmary

---

The unreality that Peregrin seemed to exude was ever present as her body shrank a few centimetres, drying up and changing in the sick bay of the ship. Landfolk see a woman - they want to see a pretty young lady - but all it really took was a closer look, not even a scrutinising glare but a prolonged glance, to begin to see the monster for what it really was. Her hair, if it even was hair, was thick and coarse and wiry. Her skin was tough, something akin to a whale or a shark, and darker than any land race that populated the surface. Her breasts were a facade. She didn't even have any nipples, they were just lumps of fat placed there to give the impression of womanhood. And the teeth...the teeth didn't change with her body. Sharp and yellowish and innumerable behind lips carefully sculpted by millennia of breeding between successful sirens. Peregrin not only seemed to dwell but thrive in that specific unease one felt when an uncanny replica of a person was placed before them; she was clearly the runt of the litter but just as equally displayed powerful, sinewy muscle built up by successful hunts and padded out with a comfortable layer of fat which accumulated in the right places to make her look just a little more human. All any siren needed was to fool their prey for a moment; after they were in earshot, it tended to turn out badly for them. Peregrin, despite her odd appearance, was no exception to the rule.

That being said, it was highly unlikely Peregrin would be doing any luring on The Avalon. Or anything else for that matter. Her legs were especially bad, the muscles were spasming in her sleep and the fact alone that she hardly stirred as her body twitched and shuddered was enough to express just how ruthlessly she pushed herself. Solomon's examination was done around a tangle of slippery and often wriggling limbs as she unsuccessfully tried to get comfortable over and over again, unaware that the problem was her body and not the bed. Unsurprisingly, the robe tangled with her and did very little to cover anything. There was something though, stitched into the collar of the robe with a skilled hand and some sturdy thread:

The Wearer of this Garment is the Charge of CPTN SAMUEL CORTEZ. If Found, Please return to A Glasstonian Naval Unit and Report Immediately to The Arcadia.

The royal insignia sat right beside it. Someone had paid good money for the embroidery and the robe, which never seemed to be designed for her decency but managed to cling to her regardless of the tide and current. The message's intent remained to be seen, but it was there, stitched neatly into her clothes and legible only by those who happened to be close enough to look.

Solomon managed to get through a few chapters before the unshakable sensation of eyes peering at the back of his head became too apparent to ignore. Two dull but reflective orange eyes peered out of a mess of robe, bedsheet and clammy flesh. They were half open, and her face was smushed against the pillow from her wriggling, but they were attentive for now.

---

When the wax had been cracked away from the cork and the bottle finally opened, the condition of its contents were stunning. Both items were bone dry and unscathed; one might have even thought that the ink was still wet on the page, given the care to which the contents were carried over miles of open ocean. The letter was prised out first, and read as follows:

To our Potential Saviour.

I am writing on behalf of myself, Captain Samuel Cortez of the Arcadia. We are fast approaching the Shadowmount Isles along the route that we were instructed to follow when we first set sail with the whale blubber. The journey, as expected, took a queer turn the moment we entered the vicinity of these isles, and it was certainly not due to lack of women onboard. The men claim to have started hearing whispers from all manner of sources. The wind, sea, and even the very wood of the deck above which they sleep.

The crew's sanity aside; the barrelman, who might I add was his town's dart champion, claims to have spotted numerous silhouettes of vessels on the horizon. I am taking the necessary precautions to ensure the blubber's safety by requesting reinforcements to be sent to help guide the Arcadia to its destination.

Signed,,
Samuel Cortez.

The message was brief, vague, and peppered with seemingly irrelevant information. It barely took up half a page, if that - but it was in the man's own hand, and used the right sort of parchment. Aside from the note a small clinking, rattling thing came out of the bottle; an old brooch. Though unremarkable to most, those who were close to the Princess would recognise it as one of her many adornments.

Meanwhile, below deck and bundled in bed linens, the messenger of this curious letter was rubbing her face up and down the pillow slip with the sort of patient determination of someone who clearly knew what she was doing - even if her witnesses hadn't a clue.

[dreamingflowers]

Time: Evening
Location: The Mermaid Fortune, balustrade of the main deck.
Interactions: No one
Ambience: A troubled mind

---

In a rare moment of self imposed solitude the young witch allowed some of her more troubling thoughts to re-enter her mind. She made her way over to the edge of the ship leaning on the wooden balustrade, looking out at the sea. The zephyr winds attempted to blow away the shawls she had tied over her skirts. A set of cleverly sewn on trinkets fastened at the bottom of the fabric weighed them down. Constructed of fine metalwork and precious stones, they sparkled in pale light of the moon and stars.

The faces of the people she'd left behind crossed her mind, one by one. The women who raised her, taught her many values and skills and the men who protected her, ever vigilant of her chastity. She had been so quick to leave, feeling betrayed. Trapped in a marriage she didn't want. Nur believed marriage to be curse and she would not submit to it. She was a powerful woman, done her wedding day everything she owned would become the property of her husband, including her body. She would not owned by anyone.....

Nur had seen it happen many times with her cousins. The consummation of the marriage left the female members of her family powerless, stripped of their magic for the rest of their lives. Why they would ever agree to that she could never understand. Some agreed to marry for fear of being cast out, afraid to speak up. Once her cousin even convinced her she was in love...

In love with the man who would control you for the rest of your life. Nur had laughed at her saying she it was the stupidest thing she’d ever heard. They talked about marriage during many sleepless nights. Nur reluctantly helped her prepare for her new life. Even though her community had a very backwards way of thinking and living she missed them.

“A penny for your thoughts….” One of the crew mates stumbled into her direction. He swayed on his feet, his pace unsteady. Drunk…..
Nur rolled her eyes and turned towards him, ready to tell him off. She was not in the mood for festivities tonight. He flicked up a penny into the air, in effort to impress her, but failed to catch it, almost falling face forward onto the deck. When he got closer to her she could smell the rum. She wrinkled her nose, she hated the smell of strong drink, having come to associate it with tiresome men such as this one.

“Don’t even try it” Her tone was serious, and her usually pleasantly smiling lips were drawn into a firm line.

The crew member regained his composure and she recognized him. He was one of the men who had a serious case of sea sickness earlier this morning. Through his drunken haze he seemed to remember the same. He put down the bottle of rum on a crate next to him. He passed his hand through his hair, attempting to fix himself up. It didn’t do much good in her opinion. With glazed over eyes and rosy cheeks he could mistake even Malek for a woman probably.

“You were so nice to me…..and you’re s...so pwretty” He tried his earnest to not sound as desperate as he really was. Nur was keeping a close eye on him, so when he tried to take her arm, she stepped to the side. It caused him to stumble down hard onto wooden deck with a dull thump. She shook her head.

“Next time you try to sweet talk a girl, try to be less drunk…” Nur sneered at him with more venom in her tone then usual. Really it was not the sailor who was to blame for her sour mood, but she didn’t care. She lifted up her skirts and stepped over his sprawled out body.

Nur walked slowly alongside the balustrade, the sound of music and laughter in the distance only made her more irritated. She let out a frustrated breath. With so many drunk crew mates she would have to brew up some hangover remedy come morning. Things would have been much easier if she could just use her magic. It was what frustrated her at her core. The young witch did not understand why her power was slipping away from her. It was, as far as she knew unheard of in her community. Every page of every book in her cabin she had consulted. Reading tomes upon tomes from front to back, searching for an answer…..

She was just sooo…. ….ANGRY!

Thump..
Thump….

Her fists made a dull sound every time they hit the wood of the balustrade. It hurt, the pain stinging through her hands, but she kept doing it. Again and again. When she finally cooled off, her smooth hands were a bruised mess. Tears welled up in the corner of her pale eyes. She wiped them away impatiently. There had to be something else she could do. She turned to the company of pirates on the main deck, taking note of her fellow crew.

Adrielle was leading in the festivities with an inspiring speech, most of which was lost on the troubled young woman. Malek was standing off the side, stern as ever. Katurah was in her element and had surprisingly followed her advice, even though she didn’t quite mean it so literal. Elenei was missing in action, but knowing her she would soon abandon her maps in favor for a good bottle of wine Winifred was handing out pieces of bread, hardened cheese and cured meats. Nur paused at the Mermaid’s fortune sharp mouthed cook.

There were rumors going about the ship Winifred had a knack for fortune telling. They failed to say if she was any good or not. As far as she knew Winifred was no witch, even without her magic she could have sensed that. Besides she could not claim the woman for bragging about hidden talents she didn’t have. She did the same.

Nur was desperate enough to try her hand at it. There wasn’t a doctor to figure out what was wrong with her, she was the surgeon on this ship. Apart from Aharuhn who would more likely steal what magic she had left, Winifred was the best next thing. Hopefully she knew what was wrong with her.

[Tae]

Time: Morning
Location: The Avalon Infirmary
Interaction: @HawthorneSolomon @StitchesPerry

---

When Brenna had boarded the Avalon Avenger she hadn’t been entirely sure what to expect. She knew life on the ship wasn’t going to prove easy and she’d mentally prepared herself for that. She had a mission and she wasn’t about to let any difficulty stop her from accomplishing her mission. Her sister was still out there, she could feel it deep in her bones and any spell she cast to see her always came up with an interesting result. She could feel her soul was still a part of this world which meant she was alive in some sense, however, every time she peered in on that soul it seemed to be fading. It concerned her deeply and all she wanted was to get to her as quickly as possible. So that was one of the driving factors for her to join this voyage as well as try her best not to make much of a fuss.

She was slightly surprised when the ship came under the control of a new captain a week into their journey. Before that happened, she hadn’t been expected to do much of anything and she merely stayed out of the way of everyone else. She was a quiet little mouse on the ship who would be found sitting somewhere reading one of the many spell books she’d brought with her. Once Captain Sarstina took over, things changed. She was no longer permitted to wear her dresses and before she was able to argue this, the Captain made a very good point. If she were to go overboard there was a high chance that she wouldn’t be able to swim in those dresses. Thankfully she had brought a suitable outfit containing pants that she had planned to wear one they made it to the Isles. It wouldn’t kill her to start wearing it now.

Another change that had been made was the fact that Brenna now had an officer assigned to follow and protect her at all times. This she didn’t even consider trying to argue and actually welcomed it. For one, it wasn’t much different from living back at the castle. She had a personal guard there as well. Another reason she welcomed it, however, was because she knew it would protect her from some of the men. While she hopped none would be stupid enough to try and touch her, she had noticed several leering looks her direction over the last week.

The last change made was the fact that she was now to pull her weight while on this ship. She had no issue with this as she would like to help where she could, but she was unsure of what skills she had that would be useful to anyone. It was the Captain that came up with the suggestion of assisting the Doctor. She had to agree that it was the place she would fit in the most and while she wasn’t skilled in any healing magic, she did know some healing knowledge thanks to her people. So she was gathering some of her books that she knew had some healing remedies in them along with a few supplies when an officer came to inform them they found a woman in the water and the Captain had sent for Brenna. A woman in the water? Could it be Zaleria? No, that’s impossible. She thought to herself before she thanked the man. She turned to her guard as she spoke, ”I just need to drop this stuff off in the infirmary before going to see the Captain.” He nodded before following her towards her destination.

She managed to knock lightly despite all the things she carried before entering the infirmary. ”Doctor Whitewood? Sorry to intrude, but I’m you new assistant and I wanted to…” She began to say as she entered the room, but trailed off as her eyes fell on the siren on the table. ”It’s her…” She mumbled as she stared at the creature for a moment. There was a small moment of terror as she looked at her, just like when she’d seen her in the vision. That vision where she’d watched a man put a letter in a bottle, her sister provide her favorite brooch as well to add, before the bottle was sealed and handed to this woman...no this creature.

The sound of the siren rubbing her face on the pillow slip snapped Brenna out of her daze. She quickly moved to set her stuff down before looking to the Doctor. ”Tell me, how can I help with anything?” She asked as she quickly tied her hair back and then went to clean her hands. She wanted to assist in any way she could, especially if it meant she could possibly ask this creature about her sister.

[DELETED32084]

Captain Bernor Sarstina - The Avalon Avenger

---

Bernor sat in his cabin, eyes fixed on the green bottle that stood alone on the otherwise empty desk top. He studied it for a long moment, his eyes taking in the familiar curves; a half dozen similar wine bottles were in his own stores aboard. There appeared to be no signs of tampering but one could never be sure, and it could easily be a clever forgery.

None of his sixth sense warned him to be cautious, however, and his magic, mostly passive at the best of times, was not screaming danger at him. Above his head the feet of the officer of the watch was a dull thud as the man paced back and forth. The ships timbers creaked and groaned as they rose over the next ocean swell and for a moment he was glad the windows behind him were open, the nerves he felt almost made him a ill.

"Do you reckon it's real, m'lord?" Huvalor stood just over Bernors right shoulder, his stoic presence somehow comforting in the face of the unknown bottle and its even stranger courier.

"The hell if I know, Huvalor. It looks genuine enough. The seal isn't broken." He picked the glass vessel up at last, a small round circle of water remaining on the desk, and weighed it in his hand. It was of sturdy Glasstonian design, that much was certain, and he could just make out a coil of paper and some small item below it. "Only one way to find out I suppose."

He pulled a dagger from his waist, the steel glinting dully in the light of the cabin, and began to peel away the wax. It fell in black flakes to the cabin floor, ignored by both men as it finally cracked away from the cork. It took a moment to work the cork free with a satisfying "pop". He placed the cork down on the desk next to his dagger and carefully turned the bottle upside down over an out stretched hand. Two items, both bone dry and unscathed, dropped into his scarred hand. Fingers still stained black from gunpowder curled around the small metal object and the tip of the paper which he carefully drew fully from the bottle, setting that down next to its cork.

"So far, so good." He muttered as he pulled the small token from his palm with thumb and forefinger, holding it up to the light. He felt his heart stop as he stared at it.

"Shit..." Huvalor said what both men were thinking. The King had provided Bernor with a detailed description of the missing Princesses clothing and this very broach had been mentioned among them.

"Well, she's either dead, or in a heap of trouble." Bernor muttered as he placed the broach on the desk. It seemed strangely bright on the dark wood despite its undersea journey and Bernor made a mental note to commend Peregrin on her delivery, providing she proved to be no threat to the Avalon.

The scroll was next and it confirmed his worst fears in an instant.

Scroll in a Bottle

To our Potential Saviour.

I am writing on behalf of myself, Captain Samuel Cortez of the Arcadia. We are fast approaching the Shadowmount Isles along the route that we were instructed to follow when we first set sail with the whale blubber. The journey, as expected, took a queer turn the moment we entered the vicinity of these isles, and it was certainly not due to lack of women onboard. The men claim to have started hearing whispers from all manner of sources. The wind, sea, and even the very wood of the deck above which they sleep.

The crew's sanity aside; the barrelman, who might I add was his town's dart champion, claims to have spotted numerous silhouettes of vessels on the horizon. I am taking the necessary precautions to ensure the blubber's safety by requesting reinforcements to be sent to help guide the Arcadia to its destination.

Signed,,
Samuel Cortez.

The message was brief, vague, and peppered with seemingly irrelevant information. It barely took up half a page, if that - but it was in the man's own hand, and used parchment issued by the Navy. Cortez had been nothing if not organized.

"What the hell was a Navy ship doing carrying whale blubber...?" He muttered and heard Huvalor grunt assent. "That has got to be something else. Maybe he was going mad? And whispers from everywhere at once."

"Just another day trapped in my own head, m'lord." Huvalor offered the lame joke and both men chuckled, but the warmth seemed to have gone out of the day.

"By my reckoning, we're still weeks out from the Shadowmount. That gives us some time to prepare." Bernor was talking again, more to himself than to Huvalor. "Charms, spells, the like. Can't fight some things with cannon, mores the pity."

"Amen." Huvalor chuckled again Bernor found himself smiling involuntarily. If only life were so simple. He glanced at the starboard bulkhead where several of his personal weapons were mounted. A sword, several pistols, and a rifle that bore unique blue markings along the barrel. How much use would they be where he was going? He suddenly had a vision of vanishing into a black cloud never to be seen again. He shook his head and the vision went but the creeping feeling of dread did not.

"We've not a moment to lose," He said abruptly, turning to Huvalor. "Pass the word for Mr. Stormhearth and Mr. Stormreaver, I will see them immediately."

"Aye, aye, m'lord." Huvalor nodded and strode to the cabin door, opening it enough to pass the word for the required persons. The echo of his words could be heard travelling through the upper decks and Bernor quickly scooped up the broach and slid it into a pocket. Huvalor caught the move and Bernor gave him a warning look; the man nodded, he understood, secrecy had its purpose.

While they waited, Bernor quickly drew out his maps of the Shadowmount, or what passed for map given how little was known about them, and spread them across the desk. He tucked his chin against his chest and began to study them in detail.

@Skwint

[Skwint]

Barik Stormhearth

Location: Avalon Avenger
Interactions: Captain Sarstina @The Wyrm

---

Despite the initial transition period of Captain Draegan being swapped out for Captain Sarstina, Barik's daily routine maintained unchanged. The previous Captain wasn't incredibly active and the new Captain seemed to trust that he was capable of performing his job adequately, which he most certainly was. Barik was quite surprised to see Captain Sarstina of all people, but it did make sense. Sarstina had quite the reputation, so it seemed logical that he would be selected for such an important undertaking. While there was nothing wrong with Captain Draegan, Barik felt a bit more comfortable with an older and more experienced Captain on board.

The voyage was largely uneventful, save for the siren they came across. The creature's presence made Barik and bit uneasy. He was well aware of the stories surrounding such creatures. Captain Sarstina must have been aware of these stories as well, and yet he brought the siren on board and even sent it to the infirmary. While he questioned this particular decision, Sarstina was a seasoned sailor. Hopefully his instincts are as good as Barik was hoping.

The Avenger continued on its voyage with Barik overseeing the activity on deck. The last he had seen the Captain, Sarstina had headed down below with a bottle that the siren had been carrying. Barik couldn't help but wonder what that siren had been carrying that could be so important. Soon enough Barik received word that the Captain wished to see him. Barik immediately headed below deck to meet with the Captain, finding him in his cabin behind his desk.

"You wished to see me, Cap'n," Barik said as he entered.

[FunnyGuy]

Time: Night
Location: Parlay Cay
Interaction with: @Dreamingflowers - Nur

Finally, the festivities... Malek’s grumpy face softened a bit as Adrielle gave her jeering announcement. He could see it lifted the spirits of the men and women on the ship more than they already were. The first mate let a smirk show for a second as the excitement of a new adventure filled him. Sure, the rum, music, and company proved to be the collection of elements meant to keep a pirate jolly, but it was the thing beyond that which lit a fire in the man’s belly. Turning his head back for a moment, noticing Elenei walking up. He gave her a quick nod but noticed the gnome was deep in thought. He followed her gaze until his eyes fell on Katurah playing her violin. Of course!

He found himself eyeing the cat, but not completely out of lust. It’s not like the man could ignore the young woman’s features there before him. He was much more pleased with the music Katurah played. He was glad he hadn’t made an actual bet on her ability to play… He’d be short a few coin.

“Still a worm.” Malek said aloud just before Nur entered his sight. The witch appeared to be troubled by something. It was easy to spot at times due to how it contrasted with her usual graceful demeanor. He dug a hand into one of his pockets before twitching his arm at the slight prick his finger felt from the item inside. His eyebrows furrowed as he cleared his throat and headed in the woman’s direction. On his way over, he snatched a half-empty bottle of rum and wiped off the top with his bare hand before taking a swig and continuing on over. Malek had been waiting for this moment all day. “Nur! Snap out of whatever spell takes you and take your first mate for a stroll. We have things to discuss… I have discovered something. Something very peculiar.” Malek shared with a raised eyebrow. He nodded to a more secluded area on the deck.

[MissCapnCrunch]

As the hustle and bustle of the ship began to roar into shape Winifred leaned back. She had always prepared meals way ahead of time, so that she wasn't having to run around like a chicken with it's head cut off. Useful, but a bit silly when you really thought about it. Plus, it made her more available for the odd job now as well as a free hand to help anyone else out who needed it. "Samuel was eyeing a little close to our Captain's quarters, if ye know what I mean! Dirty son-ova-bitch." she yelled back. Her tone was not in anger but just in response as she found herself also on the move. She laid hand in helping several of the new recruits as well as old. Floating between projects while thinking of when she had to start on the next chow time. She handed out "party favors" in the form of sour breads, cheeses, and cured meats. All of which were handled with care.

As her work came to a lull for a moment she spotted Nur, her eyes red from tears. Winifred's mouth went form a purse to a small frown as she wandered over to the young woman. She looked over here before speaking softly, "Are ya alright?" she questioned, "We can go downstairs in the galley if yer wanting, or you can go down their yourself if you need some space. I won't let any of these foolish folk bother ya." her tone was charming but strict to let Nur know that she meant her words. She looked to Malek who stood nearby as if to say, he better let her decide or there would be hell to pay.

[Hawthorne]

Doctor Solomon Whitewood

Time: Morning
Location: The Avalon Avenger, Lower Decks, Infirmary
Interaction with: @Stitches Peregrin, @Tae Princess Brenna

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Solomon reviewed the book on anatomy with great interest. As it turned out, while in human form, merfolk retain a body comparable to normal humans or other land-based humanoids. The biggest difference? Their respiratory system. They have two separate sets of breathing apparatus-- the lungs, and the gills, switching between the use of either depending on their current form. Unlike most races, merfolk have two sets of epiglottises, one that covers their trachea and esophagus, and one that filters air or water into their lungs or gills respectively. In their human form, their gills seal completely shut, allowing them to breathe air normally.

And their tails. Whether or not their transformation is magical or completely biological is still a popular debate among many academic circles-- mainly because nobody can truly analyze a mermaid's transformation process to get anywhere conclusive. Those bones, scales, and fins have to go somewhere, after all, and nobody is quite sure how it happens. Merfolk may have a scientific name of Siren Oceanus, but whether or not that name is a misnomer due to the presence of actual sirens may be... debatable.

The Anatomy of the Various Known Races of Ossiven: Siren Oceanus

Plates 1 & 2

Plate 3

Plates 4 & 7

Plates 6, 9, & 10

Plate 12

Until today, at least.

The existence of this siren proves that there are entirely different species to merfolk. Perhaps this is even more like a subspecies of the common siren. Either way, while the anatomy of merfolk is interesting and very much insightful, Solomon wondered how much of it would be actually relevant regarding his new charge. In fact, for all he knew, it was very much possible that she was not even that closely related to a siren on merfolk and is instead their own species entirely. All of this was, of course, conjecture.

Solomon was prepared to continue his research when he felt a distinctly odd sensation. A familiar one, yet, nevertheless uncomfortable. He set down his encyclopedia, before turning towards his sole patient. As he expected, she was staring at him. The doctor watched with curiosity as the siren rubbed against her pillowcase for no reason he could discern.

"...You're awake." He started. "Are you uncomfortable? Does your skin itch?" The doctor questioned. Perhaps she was developing an allergic reaction to the bedsheets?

As he rubbed his beard in thought, a light knock at the door caught his attention. Before he could gesture at the guard to open the door, the princess herself had done so-- and was carrying a stack of books and supplies in her hands while she was at it. Her personal guard followed behind her, now doubling the number of guardsmen within the clinic. At her introduction, the doctor was quick to recompose himself.

"Your highness." He rose from his seat and bowed slightly. "I am honored to make your acquaintance-- and to have your assistance."

Her reaction towards the siren was understandable, and yet something seemed to be off. The eyes of the princess seemed to flash with a mix of both recognition and horror. Solomon raised an eyebrow at that. For all intents and purposes, the princess and the siren appeared to be polar opposites, in terms of appearance. Whereas one was clearly beautiful, the other one was the strange facsimile of a woman. The more pressing issue at hand, however, were the objects in her grasp. The doctor moved to assist her, shooting her guardsman a disapproving gaze (it was bad form to let a woman carry her own things, let alone a princess, even if she was capable and expected to do so), but the deed was done.

The princess set down her things and asked him what needed doing. The doctor could tell that she very much wished to begin asking the creature what had happened, but there was a precedent to these things. He turned to her with a polite smile on his face.

"I will need you to start the kettle, Princess Brenna." He gestures to the laboratory equipment secured near the side of the hull, namely an oil burner, for heating glassware (or in this case, metal kettles). "I believe a cup of tea will help soothe everyone's nerves, and perhaps bring some color back to our patient's skin." The analogy in question was not quite accurate, considering the siren's actual skin color, but the meaning remained.

In the meantime, the doctor grabbed a nearby stool and sat in front of the now-awake siren; a book and quill in his hands. "Good morning." He said to the siren. "My name is Doctor Solomon Whitewood. May I know yours?" He asked her.

[Stitches]

Location: The Avalon: Infirmary

---

Peregrin hadn’t bothered to answer Solomon as she was hard at work, but Solomon was able to spy that her hair was remarkably thick - as in, each individual hair seemed slightly thicker than wiry beard hair, but it was long and straight like a woman’s hairdo. She continued to rub her face against the pillow until it became apparent that there was something flaking around her hairline. Just as the princess walked in, and in the presence of the surgeon, two guards and a member of the royal family, Peregrin peeled off a swathe of transparent skin from her forehead and absentmindedly ate it. “Missssed some,” she hissed, ignoring the scowls of apparent disgust from the guards. Her voice sounded drier than it was a few hours earlier - less phlegmy, and more of a whispery, hissing, wheezing sort of tone. She very carefully scratched her cheek, each finger ending with a thick, black, stumpy but undeniably sharp claw, and regarded the bustling company with a sort of weariness that didn’t just come from exhaustion. She looked bored of the undue attention and very clearly expressed through her body language that this was not the first time she had been treated as some sort of exotic sideshow, and it would no doubt persist for many years to come.

That being said, Peregrin did not seem at all bored with her audience once she figured out who had come to gawk at her this time. The moment the word ‘highness’ escaped Solomon’s lips, Peregrin’s eyes widened and she started to laugh heartily. It sounded like someone was rattling a dusty birdcage, but it was side-splitting laughter of such enthusiasm that even the guards started to square their shoulders and prepare for the worst. She managed, just about, to sputter “another one!” in incredulity in between her giggles, and it took her a while to settle. Once she did, she took long, slow, wheezing breaths and undertook the difficult task of explaining herself. “Lossst ship. Lost-...Prin-ciss. King - Princ-ciss Father - sends another child...to find the fffirst.” Her eyes, once dull from the thick watery lenses of her fishform, were now bright and energetic after shedding their protective film. They were fixated on Brenna. “Did Father want manchildren? He send two daughters maybe to death.”

Peregrin rolled onto her back, the ebony sheet of what looked like hair trailing down onto the floor as she watched them upside down. “Doesn’t matter,” she croaked. “Maybe wrrong. Ssstill, we eat the unwanted. Is-...Faster. Lesss cruel.” The way she talked and sounded, coupled with the way her chest seemed to heave with each finished sentence, seemed to imply that talking actually hurt. She half-shut her eyes and breathed through her mouth as she watched the humans begin to prepare a familiar drink. “No tea. No hot. Only cold,” she stipulated firmly, brows furrowing with disapproval. Then she recoiled slightly as the upside-down face of Solomon filled up her field of vision. The poor surgeon was hit with the stench of rancid fish on her breath and the eerie brightness of her eyes, which could be bioluminescent, but it was hard to tell in such lighting. Her lips moved with his to mouth his name and she seemed to be able to do it perfectly well, but when she spoke she struggled again. “Am Perry-grin. Peh-...Peregrin. You now Sol. Or Dok-terr.” She said it with such finality and authority that, again, she exuded the impression of routine. These things were remarkably normal for her. “Only meat. I hunt. Need ssswim, three times each week. No touch hair. Will bite. No hots, no louds, no brights...Work better in dark.” She listed off her requirements whilst counting them on her fingers, with the careful, rehearsed tone of someone who’s extensively rehearsed it. She just sounded tired. That was the prevailing aura she gave off - weariness on several levels, a sort of listlessness that only broke slightly to giggle at the absurdity of man, and went back to being generally malcontent with her situation.

[Darcs]

Time: Evening
Location: Pantry
Interactions: No One

---

Elenei dug through a barrel, essentially eating little bits-- or rather, large bits-- of whatever she could get her hands on that didn't require any preparation to eat. This mostly meant preserved meats-- which Elenei was fine with. She loved meat. Winifred tended to prepare meals ahead of time-- and the woman was nowhere to be found as El had made her way to the kitchen. Unfortunate, as Elenei had all but forgotten her dream from earlier was in the mood for playful banter and flirting that typically came from talking to Winnie. At least with her it could lead to something. Ah well. What little scraps the woman had left over from her preparations Elenei had made quick work of as she made her way back to the pantry. There, she ate at least twice her body weight in meat before finally feeling satisfied.

Two drunken pirates-- Zully Antony and Lexington Holcomb Elenei recalled-- made their way into the kitchen giggling at their own jokes. Elenei peeked out from under the lid of the now empty barrel chewing on... something? Jerky? Preserved venison? Regardless, she was trying to remain out of their sights, she didn't need people giving her shit about... all of this. Of course, that would have been easier had she not leaned her sword against the barrel... but she was hoping the two were too blotto to notice sheathed bastard sword. She listened in on their conversation, interest piquing as they shared their own tales of adventure, renown, and women. The two drunk heartily as they paced around the kitchen, not paying attention to where they walked as they stumbled about. Zully made a drastic misstep, slipping on a bit of peeled potato as he bragged about once helping take down a kracken-- his neck headed straight for the edge of a stool, Lexington not fast enough in his inebriated state to reach out for his companion. Elenei's brown eyes, briefly flashed a brilliant gold upon seeing this. The man's body twisted unnaturally and he fell on his ass-- the two pausing before exchanging nervous laughs, deciding they could continue these talks in their bunks.

After the two had left, Elenei too, decided she'd had enough of the kitchen for the night, climbing out of the barrel and taking her bastard with her-- But not before grabbing a bottle of wine.

---

Time: Evening
Location: Main Deck
Interactions: @Tae - Katurah

The new girl had been playing for a while now, Elenei observed. The sailors around her slurred their barely memorized versions of the perfect renditions of old pub songs the girl played on her violin. She had gotten a chance to observe her before from the upper deck, but Elenei hadn't been this close before, the girl really was skilled at her craft. All that being said, her crew-mates were so drunk at this point they probably wouldn't even notice if she stopped. Elenei took a pull of the wine and gave a short nod to herself, she didn't want the music to stop either, and she wasn't drunk enough that it wouldn't. But she needed to speak to this new pirate of theirs even more.

"Ya know, yer allowed to take breaks once 'n a while," Elenei said, approaching the cat girl, "Most o' these dreamers 're so slagged at this point they won't give a damn," She shrugged, "An' th' folk that do c'n fight me. As pretty as yer instrument thar is I bet yer voice's even a sweeter sound." She gave a sly wink, "Name's Elenei, I woulda introduced myself to a pretty thing like yerself earlier, my Pa always told me it rude to keep a woman waitin'." She gave a sidelong glance, "But I was busy ahh... navigatin'" She offered a sip of her wine to the girl.

[FunnyGuy]

&

Time: Evening
Location: Mermaid's Fortune Deck
Interactions: @DreamingFlowers - Nur, @MissCapnCrunch - Winifred

Nur spotted Malek coming towards her, picking up the bottle of the rum the floored sailor had left sitting out. She was about ready to fling herself overboard. The first mate was really the last man on the ship she wanted to see right now. Her expression soured and she looked up at the sky, inwardly cursing the gods and spirits who lived there.

When he approached she could again smell the rum and she fanned herself with her hand, in an attempt to sweep away the smell. The jasmine oil she had dabbed on her wrists did little to dilute the strong smell of rum. She crossed her arms, hiding her hands and let out a drawn out breath, clearly annoyed. The first mate had not uttered a word yet.

A stroll…..?
What was he up to now?
Nur followed him reluctantly, arms still folded firmly across her chest, like she was protecting something precious. What did he discover? The young witch didn’t much like his tone of voice. What if he knew about her magic disappearing? He couldn’t know…..right? There wasn’t a soul alive on the Mermaid’s fortune who knew about it.

Winifred startled her. She hadn’t seen the cook approaching her, it almost seemed like she rose from beneath the deck, passing through the wood like a ghost. Nur sucked in her breath and placed a hand to her chest. Her heart was racing. She was already jumpy before, and now Malek with this nonsense. Nur contemplated Winifred’s offer.

“Thank you Win, I’m fine, no need to worry” She sounded anything but fine. Her body language and her tone showed the complete opposite to what she was saying. Nur needed to find out what Malek knew, or she would toss and turn all night. Nur locked eyes with the cook, nodding slightly, appreciating her kindness.

Nur turned and slowly walked beside Malek to the spot he’d pointed out earlier. The surgeon did not like her odds at all. This was a scenario she had tried to avoid ever since she boarded the ship.

“Well out with it…” She said, sounding frustrated. Her nerves and the tension was getting the better of her.

“In a hurry are you?” Malek asked mocking a questioning look to Nur. He noticed something was troubling the witch. The expressions she held reminded him of another time he had found her in distress on this very ship. “Hmm.” Malek furrowed his brows and took another swig from his bottle. His eyes never left Nur’s. Once the bottle left his lips, he sighed. “I was going to play a joke, but you just look like some sad pup!” Malek let out. “And I can’t do that to you… I simply couldn't…” Malek’s face softened and another sigh escaped him. “You know, there's something I figured out today… Something worthwhile, and I’m a bit nervous in sharing it… Maybe now’s not the time.” Malek said as he kept his gaze from hers.

Nur’s demeanor changed, she let her guard down momentarily. The tension left her body, her frown replaced by a look of curiosity. Her mood changed for the better, realizing that she would have nothing to fear as far as the first mate was concerned. Well at least not tonight. Malek was a difficult man to figure out at times. She hadn’t seen him like this before and she didn’t understand his sudden display of vulnerability.

There was something he was trying to tell her, but he struggled to find the right words. He avoided her eyes which made her suspicious. A small smirk appeared on her lips, while a devious plan was brewing in her mind. As much as she admired and appreciated his softer side, this was simply too good an opportunity to pass by. There was probably something she could gain here. Nur had a knack for finding out people’s weak spots, especially men’s. Sadly for Malek there had yet to be a time where Nur didn’t take advantage of such a situation.

The young woman raised her hand and moved her hair over her shoulder seductively, a mischievous glint in her shimmering eyes. She quietly stepped towards Malek, and without his cyan eyes constantly on her she took the opportunity to swipe up his bottle of rum in one swift motion.

“Hah!” She said victorious. A cheeky smile on her face. “Let’s see you try without your liquid courage” Nur held the bottle behind her back, winking at the first mate.

“Hey!” Malek protested as his hand slightly went for the bottle that had been pulled from it. With a bothered look on his face, he let his arm drop, easily giving up on the rum. Then he noticed he was looking into her eyes... Malek quickly shifted his gaze to his right, only to reflexively find her face again. Careful, Malek. He let his gaze drop, focusing on her lips rather than her eyes for now. Malek found this to be a way to keep his eyes off of hers while not appearing so timid. Everything about him was just off.

“I guess I already cast the line… can’t quit once the fish actually bites.” Malek grumbled as he seemed to second guess even pulling Nur aside. He let out a low huff before his lips formed a smile. Something nice was on his mind. “Nur… I believe you may have enchanted me.” Malek’s eyes finally met hers, a hopeful smile on his face. Hoping she wouldn’t reject his words. “I don’t know why it was today, but… I found something beautiful this morning. You graced the deck. You...” Malek appeared to be too flustered to finish. No, it wasn’t that. Malek was too disgusted with how much he was allowing his ability of charm to take hold of him.

Nur bit her lip, not liking where this was going at all. The occasional flirting was all well and good it was even fun at times, even if she only really did it to get her way. But this was sounding awfully close to someone falling in love and that was a recipe for disaster. It was probably the rum talking and he was probably missing the company of women. Although Nur had to admit she had a hard time picturing Malek sweet-talking a girl. She touched his arm. It was time to talk some sense into him.

“There’s just so much you don’t know about me Malek…” She started hesitantly. This time she may have bitten off more than she could handle.

“Nur…” Malek seemed to peer wantingly into her eyes, his voice was now a soft whisper that pulled at her. “I know just enough. I know the thoughts guiding my words are not false. I know my feelings would never betray me, but… Maybe I need to show you.” The distance between the two almost seemed too far even though they were less than a foot apart now. “That's if you will allow me.”

Nur was entranced by the sound of Malek´s voice. The sweet words of the first mate moved her and shivers ran down her skin. She couldn't control her feet, who were slowly stepping forward to close the distance between them. A vague feeling of deja vu came over her but it was outmatched by this sudden desire she didn ́t understand.

“Show me?” She sounded like she was floating somewhere between dreams and reality. Why couldn’t she think straight? All she could focus on were the shimmering cyan eyes of the first mate, looking deep into hers. It was like her senses muted every sound and movement around her, except for him. Malek inched closer to Nur as his eyes seemed like they were just about to shut. This was it.

It came into view, a hairpin bejeweled with precious stones was held steadily between Nur’s tranced face and Malek’s scowl. He glared into her eyes silently as he let her take everything in.

Something else aside from Malek’s cyan eyes shimmered in front of her. Slowly she regained some of her senses, recognizing the object. It was a hairpin, and it was…..hers.

Nur began to laugh nervously, trying to pry the pin from between his fingers. Malek was nowhere near the charming man of her dreams and now she realized why. He’d charmed her! AGAIN!

Her brows raised in annoyance. She hated it when he did that. The joke wasn’t at all funny when it was on her. She was usually the one who did the charming. The fact that Malek was better at it than her, irked the young witch. Best not let a sharp object linger between them.

Malek let the witch take the pin from his hand, but not without a few words.

“My words were misleading, but I managed to remain truthful! That pin is the beautiful thing I found this morning. Thrown at me… AND MISSED! I figure that if you were going to assault me, you would at least have better aim! For missing your first mate, you are hereby responsible for making sure the deck is spotless tomorrow morning after this night's festivities.” Malek ordered seriously, before a smirk appeared on his face. “Maybe I should have let you go on further, so you can feel the way that fisherman’s son does... Or maybe just to see if all you are is just a charmer. Like a toothless siren.” Malek reached for his bottle of rum that Nur still had in her possession. To him, the game was over. Payback was served.

Nur’s pale eyes widened. She was about to protest to Malek’s orders, but he wouldn’t let her get a word in. She really wanted to wipe that smug smile off his annoying face. The deck was going to be a mess in the morning, not to mention the hangover crew. She didn’t have time to clean the deck! Nur was used to the first mate barking orders which she usually ignored. Only now he said something which she did not appreciate. He was really pushing his luck.

She returned his scowl with an equal angry frown.

“In case you haven’t noticed…” Nur began, ready to throw a tantrum. “This is all I got going for me.” She gestured to her face and body. Men had all the power where she came from. Women didn’t exist without them.

“And that’s rich coming from you!” Without realizing it Malek had just given her motivation to indeed leave the entire deck spotless. She was determined to prove she wasn’t what he made her out to be. The first mate tried to reach for the rum she stole from him, but she wasn’t going to let him have another drop. The anger she’d felt before came back with a vengeance. Her reaction was noticeably out of the ordinary, since the crew was used to the banter of the first mate and the surgeon. Neither party ever went too far, until today.

Nur forcefully smashed the bottle of rum on the floor. The glass shattered in every direction and the precious liquid trickled over the wooden floors, seeping below deck. Heat rose to her cheeks and she lifted her skirts to keep her hands from trembling. She stepped over the mess and stomped away from Malek. Before she was out of ear shot she glanced over her shoulder for a last venomous remark.

“Don’t worry I’ll clean that up….” Nur spat at him, full of contempt.

"You will." Malek said matter of factly. He didn't appear to be fazed by her actions. He was aiming to piss her off a bit. Something did tug at him however. Something else was nipping at the woman. He'd have someone else check on it if anything. Malek did not have a shoulder for anyone to cry on.

[Tae]

Time: Morning
Location: The Avalon Infirmary
Interaction: @HawthorneSolomon @StitchesPerry

---

”The honor is mine, Doctor.” Brenna said in a formal response to Solomon’s greeting and then nodded at his instruction to put the kettle on. Thankfully that was something she knew how to do. She gave him a nod, glancing briefly once more to the now laughing siren as she moved over to the laboratory equipment. She took a moment to familiarize herself with his things, making sure she wasn’t about to light the ship on fire, before filling the kettle with water and starting the burner. She let the water start heating as she moved over to her things and pulled some dried herbs out. Tea was something she quite enjoyed making and she settled on a nice lavender and chamomile blend. Also making this tea meant that Brenna didn’t have to watch the siren peel and eat her skin anymore. It was definitely a shocking thing to walk in and see. She’d be lying if she said it hadn’t made her a bit ill as well.

When Peregrin finally ceased her laughing and speaking, Brenna listened carefully as she worked. The mention of the lost princess and her calling the King her father gave her pause for a moment. She worked hard to keep her composure, allowing the creature to finish speaking before she said anything. ”You misunderstand, the King is neither my father nor my sister’s. I come searching for her out of my own choice and I know full well that I may be heading towards my death and accept that. I must try to save her, however, because she would do the same for me.” She explained as she calmly went back to making the tea.

She finished combining the herbs and now just had to wait for the water to boil so she turned to look to Solomon and Peregrin again. She listened as she listed her requirements and couldn’t help chuckling a bit to herself. This woman had more demands than she had which amused her. She wondered how the Captain would react to all that when he heard it. She decided to continue to stand off the side silent, allowing time for Solomon to speak with her if he needed before she began asking any of her own personal questions.

---

Time: Evening
Location: At sea
Interactions:@Darcs Elenei

---

Katurah had relaxed quite a bit with playing and singing, she even was having more fun than when she’d play in the tavern’s. She had the whole deck to dance around and play, involving as many people as she could. As the evening got later she definitely began to notice that some had become less interested in the music and more interested in her. She was now playing a game of dodge the grasping hands. So when a small woman came up to her and suggested a break she was thankful. ”Oh! Yes I suppose you’re right, I can take a short break.” She said as she gave Elenei a friendly grin and giggled at the flirtatious remark.

Katurah decided she’d been on her feet for awhile and it wouldn’t hurt to sit down. So she did just that, setting her violin on the deck and sitting next to it before looking over at the offered wine bottle. ”Oh why thank you!” She said as she took it and took a sip, handing it back to Elenei. ”It’s very nice to meet you Elenei, my name is Katurah. As the Captain explained to me earlier, I am to be your new entertainment on the ship.” She introduced herself happily, not at all aware what “entertainment” could insinuate. She was blissfully naive and was just thrilled to be making a new friend. ”So you’re our navigator?! How fun! What’s that like? Can you teach me some things? I wanna learn everything I can while I’m on this ship.” She told her eagerly.

[Helo]

Time: Late Afternoon
Location: At sea, abord his ship The Mako
Interaction with: The crew of The Mako

---

The Mako sailed the high seas in search of its latest target, and it's captain, the infamous pirate hunter Kai Calder stood at the helm. For quite some time they had been in pursuit of particularly savage pirate known as Bastian “The Bloody Bastard” Kincaid, and his crew of the vessel know as The Serpent. This pirate and his crew had the reputation for leaving no survivors, be it naval vessels or merchant ships that they attacked, they slaughtered every soul they ran afoul in the sea leaving destruction in their wake. He ranked near the top of the list of hated pirates that Kai personally wanted to handle, a man for whom the noose would be too much of a kindness. As he stared off into the distance through a spyglass, he caught sight of the vessel they searched for, The Serpent was within his grasp.

“Set the air Djinn on increasing our speed, I want them using every bit of magic they can muster on the sails.” Kai ordered to his first mate, a gnome who moved with incredible speed. They had a handful of air Djinn on board who used their innate magic to manipulate the wind that blew their sails, allowing them to gain more quickly on enemy ships. Once his first mate was out accomplishing this task, Kai returned the spyglass to his pocket and addressed the crew.

“Dump all none essential cargo, and prepare the canons. Ahead lies The Serpent, and The Bloody Bastard himself. If we do not stop him now, know that every death his damned crew causes rests on the shoulders of everyone on this vessel. Prepare for battle, men, move!” He shouted, his voice echoing though out The Mako. Kai set to work ensuring that everything was being readied to his liking, lending a hand at whatever needed done.

“Captain!” Shouted a crewman from the crows’ nest. “There’s another vessel out there.” Kai drew the spyglass from his coat pocket and studied the other vessel, it was of the Glasston navy.

“The Avalon Avenger.” He said softly, knowing exactly what that boat was doing out here. “Why are we moving so damn slow! Pick up the pace or I will charge every one of you scallywags with treason!” He continued to shout, the Avenger was in danger, and her mission was one of even greater importance than pirate hunting right now. He sought out the dwarf who held the position of master gunner. “Ensure no friendly fire harms the Avenger, she is on a royal mission to find that stolen princess.” He commanded the gunner as they closed in on The Serpent.

“Aye, Captain.” Responded the dwarf. The situation appeared more dire than he originally thought, the pirates already had the Avenger under siege and immediately Kai understood why it had been so easy to spot the Serpent. He assumed that the rumors of this pirate ship were true, that they had several dark witches on board able to cloak the ship allowing them unprecedented ability to escape capture and leading to their success in stealthily overtaking other vessels. By now the dark witches were too distracted with the battle underway to cloak their ship, such treachery would require a great deal of concentration after all.

Once they were close enough the order was given to fire the cannons upon the pirates. The battle between the Avalon Avenger and The Serpent was already well under way, with the savage pirates having already boarded the naval vessel. The majority of his crew was to sink The Serpent, leaving these pirates with no escape while a select few would head out on the smaller boats, around to the other side of the Avenger to board and assist their fellow naval ship.

Time: Late Afternoon
Location: The Avalon Avenger
Interaction with:

---

The day had been going well and the seas were calm, despite the strange siren the ship. Even so many of the crew remained on edge; the siren was seen as a bad omen, a strange and terrifying creature from the depths of seas and yet another female on the ship. Many of the navy shared the superstition that women brought bad luck aboard a ship. They already had a princess abord, this could not be helped, but a demon from the depths of Davy Jones’ locker, one known through myth to be creature that lured sailors to their deaths, caused an ominous feeling despite the calmness of the seas. Sylas wasn’t sure how much stock he placed in sailor superstitions but soon the calm air gave way to an eerie fog obscuring their surroundings, and this seemed to confirm these superstitions.

The enemy ship was not seen until it was too late, already close enough for pirates to begin boarding and with the men caught so entirely off-guard chaos fell around them. The dark ship sailed a black flag, featuring a skull enveloped by a snake, a flag that could only be taken for one flown by pirates. The enemies plan was clear by their lack of cannon fire; to overtake and loot the ship, then steal the prize of Glasston’s navy, the Avalon Avenger herself. As all chaos broke loose, men scrambled to fight back. While the mysterious fog dissipated with the pirate’s arrival, however, the ominous feeling persisted. Silas, along with the other crewmen who were the first to engage in the fight, desperately tried to beat the enemy back.

Time: Late Afternoon
Location: The Avalon Avenger
Interaction with: open

---

Grappling hooks were swung and caught the side of the Avalon Avenger, and Captain Kai Calder was the first to scurry up the rope and board the ship. With battle already underway he stood guard of the grappling hooks until the rest of his men managed to climb up from the boats as well. A loud crack cut through the sound of war cries and painful screams as the Mako succeeded in destroying the mast of the enemy pirate ship. Kai grinned knowing that now the enemy was trapped between two naval vessels, and soon the pirate ship would be sunk sending those that did not die in battle to face a watery grave.

Cutlass’s clashed and cannon fire raged as the battle intensified. The once clean deck of the Avenger was soon littered with blood and bodies. No ship in Glasston’s navy would surrender to pirates, and from what Kai knew of the Serpents reputation they would not give in easily either. Kai attacked every pirate in his vicinity with ferocity, a side of himself he was always happy to unleash in battle. The uniforms he and his men wore showed the crew of the Avalon Avenger that were allies, and he could only assume they were more than happy to receive aid.

Time: Evening
Location: The Mermaids Fortune
Interaction with: Winifred@MissCapnCrunch

---

In Aodh’s opinion there was no better way to end a day of hard work, than a night of drinking and celebration. So once Captain gave the order that the majority of them were free to enjoy the night, he indulged in more than a little rum. At first he kept an eye on Katurah as she entertained the crew, making sure that she stayed out of trouble and that no trouble found her either. He relaxed a lot more once he saw the kitten with Elenei, the gnome was more than capable of looking out for the fresh recruit. He also figured it was good for Katurah to have a bit of fun as well after having such an eventful first day on board. After enjoying a bit more rum and gambling with some of the crew Aodh eventually decided to look for Winifred. Having eaten nothing since leaving port Aodh was hungry and the ship’s cook always had food around.

“Winifred, what an absolute joy to find you. Got anything to eat?” He asked somewhat louder than necessary once he located the ship’s cook. He was grinning from the excess of rum and in a cheery mood. He knew some men took to raiding the kitchen on there own during festivities aboard the ship, but Aodh did not doubt that Winifred would notice anything out of place in her galley and he did not care to cross those he respected. Piracy was for outside the ship, not within it, and he considered it a great dishonor to steal from one's own crew.

[Tae]

Time: Morning--->Late Afternoon
Location: The Avalon Infirmary--->Main Deck
Interaction: @Hawthorne Solomon @Helo

---

Brenna had remained in the infirmary for the vast majority of the day, doing her duty of helping Solomon out and also trying to find out any information she could about her sister. Unfortunately it wasn’t too terribly much other than the fact that last time the creature had seen her she’d been alive. This alone brought Brenna more comfort than one would think as it meant that her senses were correct and her magic hadn’t failed her. She just prayed that she would continue to survive until they could get there.

She spent some time working on some potions as well, things she thought would be useful in coming times. She even made some offensive potions along with filling some pouches with ingredients she could use to cast spells. She would be glad she did such a thing as well when she began to hear something happening above them. ”Do you hear that?” She asked as she moved towards the door of the infirmary. She stared at the door inquisitively before slowly opening it. She remained silent, trying to listen to what the noise was. After a moment she realized that it was the sound of swords clashing and gun fire. ”Something’s wrong.” She said as she turned back to look at the group in the room. Her guard began to move towards her and listened out the door as well.

“We’re under attack! Stay here Princess!” He said before shoving past her, hand on his sword as he headed up to the main deck. Brenna stared after him for a moment, a little perturbed with the order as she could be of help as well.

”Like hell I will.” She said as she spun around and grabbed some of the potions and herbs she’d concocted earlier. She also grabbed her sword she’d set of the side when she’d come in to keep out of the way. Now, however, it was time to put it to good use. She was trained with the sword so she could fight just as well as any of the men. On top of it she could use magic to try and help as well. So she looked over to Solomon and grinned coyly. ”I’m going to go see if anyone needs to be brought to the infirmary.” She told him before disappearing up the stairs.

---

Brenna had thrown herself into the fray, having been surprised by how many enemies there were aboard the ship. Many were surprised to see her up there fighting as well, but they were even more surprised to see that she was able to wield a sword rather effectively. One man she had quickly cast a spell using a few herbs to cause fear, making him jump overboard while another she made believe he was drowning which caused him to drop his guard, allowing the man he was fighting to end him swiftly. Still things were looking a bit bleak, at least until they saw another ship. At first she was concerned that it was another pirate ship, but as it drew closer she saw it was an ally. They just had to hold out until they arrived.

She watched as a man came up behind a young dark elf that Brenna remembered hearing was named Sylas perhaps. He was about to thrust his blade in his back and so she moved quickly, deflecting the man’s blow. He took a step back and glared at Brenna, giving her the opportunity to pull out a bit of powder. She chanted an incantation before blowing it in the man’s face. He dropped to the floor unconscious. She turned to the dark elf. ”Are you okay?” She asked while at the same time noticing the ally ship had made it to them and was joining in the fight. With their help this battle would soon be over. Brenna noticed, however, the body of their captain lying still on the deck and her heart ached a bit. ”Oh no…” She whispered, wondering what they would do now.