Sypherkhode822

In Dark Seas We Sail

Wheel went topdeck, finding Berlin and the boy. He was silent as they spoke. The curse wrapped itself around him so tightly he could barely see out of it. His throat was dry and he kept salivating. When he spat, the spittle burnt his lips. "Berlin."

---

"We gonna shoot someone?" Pieter called out, "Aye, lad. You'll be our target." Hana laughed, and answered, "I want to test an idea I have with your lightning." Pieter perched himself on a nearby barrel as he watched. He saw Hana's gaze catch on Uban's shirt before it returned to his face. Life first as a farmer and then a sailor had left Uban rather trim, and he wondered idly where Hana's thoughts led. Evidently, the tall mage was driven to professional matters. "I want to find out if we can use Uban's lightning with firearms." Gesturing as she spoke, she laid out her thinking to them, "We know it's possible for Uban to strike objects from a distance with his lightning, so long as the object is enchanted. If Uban can strike a ball shot from a pistol, we could shoot lightning." Her face fell and she chewed her lower lip as she worked through a problem that she'd agonized over, "If the ball is moving too fast, of course, something else would have to be tried. We could try electrifying the ball with touch, and then firing it. Since blackpowder can't be ignited from lightning," She left out that she'd tried that last night when everyone was asleep, "There's little danger of the pistol exploding when you try to shoot it." Her initial flush of excitement had given way to steady philosophy. She had no personal attachment to the outcomes; her only concern was accurate testing. Maybe, Pieter thought, she hoped that if she were calm outwardly, it'd become true within.
"Any questions?"

In Dark Seas We Sail

The cabin door shut behind Hana as she let out a heavy sigh. So much for her hopes of a night of quiet camaraderie. The seed of a headache had started to sprout behind Hana's eyes, and she scowled as she crossed the small room to her desk. She laid several pistol balls on the scratched wooden desk next to several sheets of fresh paper. Sitting down, she went back to work.

---

Morning found Hana asleep in her chair. Massaging the tight knots that had formed in her back, Hana wondered if she had finally found her sea legs. The movement of the ocean hadn't disrupted her work last night, and evidently it didn't keep her from sleeping at the desk. Her headache had flowered overnight, and she walked up to the top deck with her head lowered to avoid the bright sunlight. She found Pieter splicing rope, holding his pipe in his mouth while he worked with his hands. "Good morning," he said, glancing up to look at her, "sleep well?" Though the pipe in his mouth kept him from smiling, there was easy humor in his voice. Hana greeted him, and went to the water bucket for a drink, "I slept well, though I woke up at my desk. I have something I think you'll be interested in." She withdrew the pistol and shot and held it up, "Do you know where Uban is?"

In Dark Seas We Sail

The night was clear, and the stars sparkled gaily in the sky. Pieter's contentment was like a solider's. He knew full well the danger he was walking into. Dragon or not, an eight to one fight would be ugly. He didn't assume he would get to spend his time at the rail with Berlin, or anyone, after the battle. So, he thought, as he tipped back the bottle, he would appreciate the moment. They were all starting to think about what was coming. The sea was happy, and Pieter was fatalistically at peace.

---

Hana flinched. The boy's angry voice cut through the tired fog around her. The suddenness of his snarl, the anger that exploded in the quiet space. It carried the threat of a shapeshifter. Then Uban had intervened, a sailor throwing sand over a sudden fire. Seven virtues, what was going on? She was going to fight slavers on a pirate ship. She was teaching a boy who could turn into a dragon how to read. And now she'd angered him. Cascading waves of emotion rolled over Hana, numbing her. She watched through half lidded eyes as Uban coaxed Rio to explain. Hana sat silently as Rio spoke, her legs crossed, palms resting on her knees. She didn't trust herself to speak. Finally, after Uban finished giving his fragmented explanation of the days events, she rose. "I apologize for my crassness. It was a slip of the tongue." She gave a habitual half-bow as farewell, "If you'll excuse me, it is late, and I should like to retire." She slipped behind her cabin door before either could speak.

In Dark Seas We Sail

Pieter scratched the back of his neck, "Just a sea turtle. They're old bastards, and they see a lot more than they let on. We got some rum in them, and they told us what we wanted to know. They mentioned an eel, though I don't think it's an actual eel. It must be something the Barizians have." He shrugged, "Of course, it might be nothing. The troubles of the sea rarely touch the surface." He looked wryly at Berlin as he scowled at the wine. "Drink well, Captain. We'll need our strength."

---

Hana smiled gently at the boy curled up in the hammock, "Well, when you find Rohaan, ask him if he could turn into a cat so he eat it." Sliding down the bulkhead, Hana sat, long legs splayed out. Her breeches had a tear in the knee. She wasn't sure when that had happened. She'd need to fix it. After she'd enchanted the sails. "Too tired to sleep. How are you?"

In Dark Seas We Sail

Pieter chuckled and took another sip of the gin, "Don't worry lad. No need to take the helm just yet." Red cheeked, he passed the flask to Uban, "You're fine at the oars."

---

Once they had returned to the Borealis, Pieter went to his captain, pausing only to retrieve the bottle of soldiers wine he'd stashed behind a stack of ropes. Uncorking the bottle with his pocket knife, he tipped the bottle back, organizing the report in his head. "We're sailing south three days to a small island. They have nine galleys, though one of them is bigger than the rest. The waters around them smell of blood." Handing the bottle to Berlin, he looked down to the sea. "The lad... Handled it. We were lucky, the turtle was a happy drunk. We got what we wanted, we made it back alive. I'll call that a success. It's a start." He grew quiet.

---

Hana leaned back from her desk, closing her eyes. She was trying a new method to apply the enchantment. Well. Really, it was a cantrip to shine your shoes that she'd modified to work on the sails. Well. It would work. She just had to make sure. Just a double check of the grammars. Which meant recalculating every spell variable. Which meant that she'd been bent over her small desk, scribbling equations on her paper. But now none of it was making sense. A dull ache had formed between her eyes and it grew worse everytime she looked at her work. She needed a break. A sullen, stubborn voice in her head insisted she work through it. It wasn't very loud, and it gratefully shut up when she stood up and left her room, prowling the ship for company.

Interest Check - A Jolly Good War! (A Fantasy Great War Army Roleplay)

Interested, I'm thinking I might try a cultured magocracy that uses telescopes as artillery.

In Dark Seas We Sail

Hanahbaptiste shook Wheel's hand, glaring at him. "Don't touch me." She didn't have the patience for this, and she hadn't liked how he'd grabbed her. Hana eyed Wheel, the man was slightly shorter than her, she realized. He'd stripped off his shirt while coming downstairs- was he trying to emphasize his lean physique? Despite the chill, he was sweating from his exercises with Rio.

He put his hands on hips and repeated, "Tell me about blood magic."
"It takes a lot of dead people. Are you looking to do something with all the people you kill?"
He smiled without a trace of humor, "We're all killers on this ship. If you're trying to hurt me, you're doing a poor job of it."
She looked at him levelly, checking the surge of resentment and frustration with a cool, "What would you like to know?"
Wheel was briefly put back because of the question, but recovered himself and said, "How powerful is it?"
A hint of Elbish pride stirred in Hana's heart as she answered, "It's an outdated practice. The old blood sorcerers were quickly swept away by more disciplined magics."
"That's great, but it doesn't exactly tell me what they're capable of."
Hana furrowed her brow, "I don't know how to work blood magic, if that's what you're asking. But I do know that a single human could produce incredible magical energy."
"So it's like the old stories? Exploding cities and massive storms?"
"You can't store it, so you either have to use it all at once or waste it. Which is why blood sorcerers always destroy themselves. If you can only work massive spells by killing people, things start to backfire."
Now that they were talking, Hana felt herself losing the caginess from earlier.
"But the Barizians are doing fine, so obviously they know something you don't."
She took that back.
"Seven virtues, you're a dick."
Wheel pushed his jaw forward, eyes bright, "That's the problem with you. You spend so much time looking through a telescope you don't figure out that you're looking up your own ass."
Hana's blood pounded, "You're going to be sorry you said that."
Wheel laughed, "Gonna complain to the Captain?"
"No, I'll set you on fire."
"Is that what Elbar does to pirates?" He lowered his voice, mocking, "Is that what you're going to do to Rohaan after you're done civilizing him?"
Hana spat. She said, "We shoot rabid dogs in Elbar."
"I may be rabid, but I'm no dog," he countered, "Watch it, princess. I bite." He swept past her, closing the door to the armory before she could say anything.

"Fucker."

Hana went to her room to begin her work.

In Dark Seas We Sail

The smoke curling out of Pieter's chapped lips should have eased the knot, but instead it grew tighter. Listening to Uban as he voiced his fears, Pieter reflected on the mistakes he'd made because of his own fears. The priesthood had been on a long wane for generations. Every year, there were fewer priests, and the ones that remained were grayer. The sea took it's toll, yes. But less people were willing to pay. The old way of doing things no longer worked. He could not be like his teacher.

When he spoke, his voice was hoarse, "Aye, lad. I think you're cut out to be a priest." He coughed, took a sip of gin, and continued, "You're bright and charming, and the sea's taking her liking to you." His voice grew cold with memory, "I was taught by watching my friends die. I drowned, and was pulled out. I drowned, and the boy drowning next to me sank while I floated. That's how I was taught. We were worthless, and our only coin was our lives." He drew on his pipe, smelling the world through smoke. He exhaled, "But that's not how it should be taught. You're worth more here than you would be under the waves. Death isn't the only teacher." The knot inside him loosened, "No books, I'm afraid. Hana bought them all." He laughed, "Don't worry, lad. Those turtles aren't as scary once you see them so blotted they can't swim."

In Dark Seas We Sail

Pieter bent his head to pack his pipe, thinking about the tight knot in his chest and what it meant. His hands were wet with spray as he carefully struck the match he'd won off Wheel in a card game. Uban sat across from him, babbling. Relief and accusation and wonder wrapped in one. "You went into this meeting blind because I cannot prepare you for what lurks beneath the waters. I have not met a tenth of what dwells below. I have heard legends and I have seen things, and everything I have seen defies legend. I can arrange some precautions, but I cannot prepare you." There was venom in his voice. "Because I cannot pretend that you can be truly prepared." He reached behind himself, withdrew a hidden brace of pistols. Set them heavily down between them. He looked squarely at the youth as he drew from his pipe. Exhaled. "I couldn't counsel you when the turtle had arrived. Speaking in such a way before them is dangerous." Adjusting himself so that he lay flat on the board, he said, "Well boy. You met your first turtle. The one we spoke to was middle aged, perhaps 500 years old. They're an old race. They like to be left alone, but they'll be polite if you bring gifts. They're wise, and will answer your questions if the gift- or sacrifice- is big enough." He fell silent and looked to where the Borealis should be. "What you did, when you sang. That was dangerous. It worked, so don't forget it. But that was an unneeded risk." He chuckled, "If you don't have any secrets boy, don't worry. They'll come along soon enough."

---

Hanna descended to her cabin, muttering to herself as she considered the tasks ahead.

---

Wheel passed Hanna as she descended the stairs. Grabbing her by the arm, he spun her to him. "What do you know about blood magic?"

In Dark Seas We Sail

The turtle listened to the song, deep eyes revealing nothing. After the last note, there was nothing but silence. Pieter sat on his hands, stiffly silent. He watched the turtle as it leaned in closer, bringing it's beak directly in front of them. It opened it's beak slightly, and the smell of rum and decaying fish rolled over them. Opening it's mouth wider, the sailor's view of the world was replaced with the sight of the inside of the turtles mouth- ready to crash down upon them without warning. Abruptly, the turtle swung it's head into the sky and laughed. Returning it's gaze to the two, it's eyes were half lidded in amusement. "Quite the song." It's voice was dry, and the humor lacked warmth. It regarded them like a cat playing with a mouse. "It's a shame, if I were a mermaid, I'd drag you down with me." It paused, enjoying itself. "I don't keep pets, so you won't be joining me today." Swinging it's head to Pieter, it said, "The one's you're looking for are on an island two days south of here. Follow the handle of the Plowshare." Craning it's neck so that the tip of it's beak brushed the side of Uban's head, it spoke in a whisper so low that it could barely be heard.

eb lliw uoy

eht rof elbisnopser

uoy ot txen nam eht fo death

Booming laughter followed and the waters around them churned. "Watch out for a rotting eel!" It called out as it sunk beneath the waves.

The water calmed.

It was still.

It returned to how it had been before.

---

Hana winced when she looked over at the two training and said, "Aye- I mean, yes Captain. I can get my camphor."

---

Wheel stood over the boy, his face a mask. He had worked the boy to the point of exhaustion. They were done today. They'd made progress. Which wasn't hard when you starting at the bottom. "They're going to try and kill you. And they'll fail. I wouldn't be training you like this if I expected you to die, would I?" He lit a cigarette and said, "Take a moment to catch your breath, then put away the gear."