Smuggling Run - RPLOG
Participants
Date
9/9/476
Log
Dead in the night, along Firmament's beach and close to the headland on which the lighthouse rests. Cool, but not cold, as fall approaches in earnest, and the waves appear to have picked up a little in conjunction with the wind, with the promise of approaching rain in the air. To those with keen eyes, one would notice a small flashing light along the base of the lighthouse - yellow and flashing at intermittent, yet regular intervals. Almost invisible compared to the bright beam of light leading away from the lighthouse itself, but still visible to those who might know of it - or simply are in the wrong place at the right time.
With a bit of proverbial oil to burn within his figure, Dio strolls down the beach somewhat aimlessly, enjoying the wonderful crunching noises of sand beneath his bare feet. Perhaps a bit childishly, the lion kicks a bit of sand here and there amongst his travels, even bending down to draw silly little shapes into the ground. "Ooh, what's that now," he mumbles under his breath, noticing an interesting flashing of light. Dusting off his pants, he begins to head towards the source to satisfy the typical feline curiosity.
Selena furrows her brow, having made her way to the beach from the maritime district, rubbing her eyes for a moment. The Lion on the beach is at first met with a skeptical glance before he's recognized in some capacity - of course, dark as it is she's still cautious about her approach, winking a small fire into existance over the sand in front of her to provide a little extra visibility.
Emmett, a goat often seen seen working at the church these days in an official capacity, has come down along the beach himself with a curious yet determined look, walking stick in hand, pack over his shoulders. The flashing has his attention... as does, now, the light Selena produces. He hustles over to catch up, not particularly making any effort to not stand out, really.
Kialla raised her hand over her eyes, squinting to see the faint flashing, making her stop her midnight rest and put her boots back on with a frown. "I thought i was done for the night. Could be nothing, could be something." she gave to herself, rubbing the side of her neck quietly. Though, quickly a group was gathering up on the beach. To which she approahced the others with her rather grim, natural expression.
Having been given the night shift this evening, much to her distaste, Mirana got reports of some odd goings on in the beach. Looking over to the clerk, she sighs and get Amy, "Come on, lets see what is going on." She says taking her deputy out with her. It takes some time but they get there and sees the collecting beings, a small fire above her hand as well. Looking around she walks first to Dio and to Kialla, "Got some reports of something going on out here, some kind of flash of light?" she says quietly.
Angus muttermutters as he yawns and pats his muzzle, still trying to keep from falling asleep as he makes his way towards the lighthouse. "So, guess I'm not the only one that was curious about the lightshow up here?" He asks, tugging on that now familiar hat of his as he looks over the growing crowd. And casts a frown his sisters way.
As the group draws closer to the lighthouse, the blinking abruptly stops. Overshadowed by the lighthouse's impressive height, a small skiff emerges from the gloom and approaches the shore with some difficulty, courtesy of the rough seas. Almost invisible along the rocky section of the coast, the ship appears to be banking on the idea that most looking in its direction will be looking up at the lighthouse proper, not down, as it approaches the beach.
"Ah! 'ello there lads an' lasses," Dio says, spinning around to wave at all the new arrivals. Quite a draw, almost like moth to a flame. And it was time for these moths to investigate such lights! "How strange," he comments. "It stopped. Wonder if it was a signal o' sorts?" And then another mystery! A small ship, heading straight for the beach. "Anyone else see that, or am I just seein' things? Gettin' quite old ya know." Dio points at the impending aquatic locomotive and looks back at the group. "Perhaps a good bit o' light over 'em would help us out."
Selena turns her head to the side politely to yawn, glancing around the gathered beings and mirroring Angus's sentiment in the frown before greeting the fox proper; "Well, I'm not sure if she's going to get killed by a walk on the beach. Hello, Angus. Dio... Kialla, you look unusually grim. Have you been well?" She asks. The Lion's comment is met with a flick of her wrist, an orb of fire travelling over the sand and waters to just above the watercraft in question before hovering there. "You mean that? If you want it brighter..?"
Emmett looks around himself, noticing a few familiar faces gathering around him. He can't help but smile a little; always good to have a bit of companionship, especially when venturing toward the unknown. "I feel better knowing I wasn't the only one who happened to notice something out of the ordinary," he says. He peers at Selena curiously though as she works her mathemagic; he frowns a little, ears lying back, leaning his weight against his staff planted in the sand. "Erm... that's a little conspicuous."
Kialla nods to Angus and Mira, then to Selena, "My face is naturally this way, unfortunately." she says in response to the posed question, though, Dio brings attention to the ship, and Selena's reaction. "Well, they certainly know they're being watched now." She gave, "Shall we go see who wants to sneak into Firmament?" she suggested to the others.
Mirana looks to Angus' frown and smiles, "You said I should work in the guard, stay in the city, well, here I am, and I'm not alone." she says pointing out Amy, a lioness in the normal guard outfit, a pair of shakles at her hip as well twin swords. "So, given the night shift, here I am, something isn't right... what!?" She looks to Selena, "And alart whoever is out there that someone else is... watching.. them.." she says and sighs after as the light is already going.
Angus nods to his sister and eyes Amy, hoping that combat wont be necessary as he draws the pistol at his side and cocks back one of its twin hammers. "Well, if it's friendly they hopefully won't mind a little light. If not well, easier to hit." He says bluntly, a grim expression appearing on his face as he takes a step towards the shore to get a better view of them.
Indeed, what happens next appears to confirm Mirana's suspicions. Selena's light hovers above the ship, briefly illuminating all on board - a number of sailors are lowering a dinghy into the choppy water as a landing craft of sorts, while others are loading a raft comprised of lashed-together wooden pallets. At the sudden burst of light, someone on board the ship yells, and the dinghy is pulled back up on board - a brief flare of mathemagical energies bursts up from deck, snuffing out all traces of Selena's light as the craft abandons its landing and turns to flee!
"Ooh, that's a good one lass," Dio comments as the magical flare flies across the sky and above the boat, letting out a quiet whistle as he does. He's been wanting to see a firework show of sorts for awhile, but this will have to do for the time being. "Ack! We scared 'em!" Perhaps they should've waited just a bit longer, but maybe it'll be more fun this way. Just maybe. "Maybe we can do a little somethin' to bring 'em closer to us. They must be transportin' somethin' interesting in there."
Selena waves a hand dismissively at Mirana. "What, would you rather I try to capsize the boat?" She deadpans, peering out over the ocean again as the light's snuffed. "Saw that coming." She comments idly, switching her attention to the sea around the boat and drawing in water to the shore - manifesting as large waves, much larger than the craft is made to deal with. "Emmett, if you know how magic works I shouldn't have to tell you knowing exactly what you're targetting helps immensely. Co-ordinates for your equation are more efficient than ranges." That said, the craft ends up near the shore - not quite beached, but it'd be difficult to make a quick escape as well before walking in the ship's direction. "I think now's the time we say hello, or do you want them to try running off again?"
Emmett remains incredibly impressed by not just the light, but now the waves. "Er... yes. I know equations well enough," he stammers. Not quite what Selena asked. Sheepishly he glances around at the others, giving a nod to Angus and- that must be the sister he had mentioned. And to Kialla, and... he takes a deep breath at Dio, but nods. "They were 'interested' in the light," he says to Selena, following along quickly. "So I say we ought to take interest in them."
Kialla mmms... "Secret signals in the middle of the night take warrent, i'd say. Lets be nice, at first, shall we? i'm sure they know we could wade out to get them if we really wanted..."
Mirana looks to Selena, "No, I'd rather if you would think for a minute, being with Arimia has made you implusive and too quick to... act!" Then she sees Selena nearly beach the boat! "And now you just initiated what could be seen as an assult on what could be a civilan ship. Selena. So help me if that is innocent." She says and walks along before looking to Amy, "Just in case, go to the docks and get the Quartermaster. Tell him Captain Bigtoes needs a couple of ships out to investigate, they might have friends and even if they don't we can box them in for an inspection." She looks to Selena, "An offical inspection." She says, walking carefully along holding her belly.
Angus rolls his eyes and sighs, before he takes to the skys with the help of some wind magic. Walking would of been eaiser, but this would get him to the boat in half the time. He stops, hovering in place a few feet able the boat just in case they decide to open fire on him as he trys to see if it's a known merchants vessel or a smugglers ship.
The small skiff fights admirably, but alas, it's a little low in the water for something its size and while it would normally have been an agile thing - or at least, comparatively so - in the water, its burdens better help Selena's magics drag it closer to shore.
One look at Mirana and Angus in their guard's and Lightbringers' uniforms, and a commotion starts up on deck - or at least, more of one than what was already going on.
"It's a bunch o' them Sweetwater coppers! Knew those no-good thieves set us up!"
"There's only six o' them...we can take them, can't we?"
"I ain't ending up in a foreign cell without a fight! They do things to you in Sweetwater! Bad things!" Indeed, they do open fire even as waves come crashing up on shore, a little - no, much higher than usual, attempting to swamp everyone, or at least cause them to lose their footing in the soft sand.
"Good job lass! Now let's see what they're all spooked 'bout..." Oh yes, guard uniforms! That would certainly spook a few fellows doing mysterious illegal deeds. That is, if they were doing such. Hearing some small arms fire, Dio jumps up a bit in shock and floats himself just above the incoming waves amongst the group's feet. "Hold it, hold it!" The lion yells out, holding out his hands. "We ain't 'ere to arrest anyone! Hold yer fire an' we don't gotta fight. Everyone goes home happy, yeah? We were just curious 'bout yer little boatin' expedition an' seein' if ya need any help!" He attempts to talk as calm and friendly as possible, hopefully, but probably not likely, causing a temporary cease fire for discussion.
Selena groans quietly at the loud reports from firearms, moving back up the shore as the water comes in - though a little slower than she'd like, forcing one wave to swell a little more that intended - just enough that a sudden deluge of salt water soaks the beings and their powder. That done, she puts a little more attention into moving back from the water - quite clearly uncomfortable with being in it more than the beings that were just firing at them.
Emmett looks entirely overwhelmed by all the spells being slung about so freely, and at the city limits no less! The crashing waves keep the poor fellow staggering and swaying, but he's staying up on his sturdy hooves! In the wet sand. Poor goat. And so, he reaches into a pouch at his side and retrieves a little metal ball, and he starts fiddling with it. And with a WHOOMPH, the thing starts emitting a field of blue light around him and those near him. "Sheesh, they're gonna hit someone!" he bemoans.
Kialla gruffs some, now she's partly wet. It's cold, and dark outside too. Though, she tried not to be terribly upset as she did raise her shield to protect her head and chest, they were quite a distance away, but best not to be hit by stray shots either way. "Well, this escalated quickly."
Mirana looks to the rising waves and growls slightly, "Well... was all this really needed." she shakes her head, taking flight to avoid all the water, though staying away from the firing rounds. Talking wouldn't do much, not at this point, but she was obligated, to at least saying, "Cease fire by order of the Guard and the Crown of Sweetwater, put down your arms and surrender." she says, knowing full well they aren't going to, but making no attempt to return fire. She scans the ship as best she can in what light she has, waiting for the waters to die down a bit before landing.
Drenched, some of the beings on board the ship reach for drier poweder stores, while others pull blades on the off-chance that someone'll try to board them. There's a brief lull in the battle, even if it's by no one's volition, and then..."Oi, what're you lot doing here?" More beings approach the beach, this time from inland - five of them, complete with a cart in the distance and all of them looking distinctly unfriendly as they approach the group from behind. Long, billowing clothes obscure their figures and faces, even if the darkness weren't enough - cliched, perhaps, but there's a reason why cliches exist. One of them holds a hooded lantern with a reflector behind the flame - no doubt the source of the blinking light, then.
"You idiots, you and your guild set us up! Damned coppers!"
"T'weren't a setup, they just happened to be here! You think we'd be here if it were a setup?"
"Then deal with them, else the deal's off!"
Silence. And then as one, the group with the cart approaches the party, steel flashing as they draw their weapons. "Sorry, folks. Right time, wrong place and all that. No hard feelings."
"Stop! In the name of the Crown, or we sink you now!"
It seems like the cavalry's come just in the nick of time, or at least. From around the lighthouse's headland, two ships turn into view, and coming up the beach, another two. The momentary distraction allows the beings who'd attacked the party to recover and make a run into the safety of the beachfront treeline, but it seems the ship in question has had its own path of retreat quite firmly cut off.
Seeing no further recourse, the sailors reluctantly lay down their arms and resign themselves to their fate as the royal navy's ships approach, cannons bristling.
Hearing the bellowing call of the crown's navy, Dio breathes a sigh of relief and puts down his classic combination of sword and shield. "What a night... I just came by fer a bit of a walk! Guess we'll be needin' to give a full report too..." The lion grumbles under his breath, sheathing his sword and looking towards the fleeing fighters.
Selena sighs quietly as the beings scatter, though the ones attempting to re-board their ship are largely ignored at this point. "It's not much of a loss. And Mirana? If you thought that ship was civilian for any more than a few seconds..." She chides, shaking her head and rubbing her eyes again. "... Consider making an educated guess rather than an assumption next time." Kialla and Emmett are nodded to appreciatively and she begins to move in the direction of the maritime district, turning a quick eye to the other fleeing beings. "They're not going to get far. Night-time patrols are common enough, and if the navy's out in force there'll be alerts." She mutters to nobody in particular, rubbing the back of her head. "I need to get some sleep. Tonight's been eventful enough as it is."
Emmett looks relieved when the fighting ends, too! Though he mostly played a supportive role alongside a pair of Creator devices, the goat did get off a few good whacks with his staff. He gathers up his tools and starts packing them up. "It always pains me to see folks stray so far from the teachings as to resort to... to this!" the goat laments, though he smiles back at Selena.
Kialla huffs... sighing... "Well. That was interesting. A bit of excercize doesn't hurt anyone." she gives, stretching about for a few moments with a gentle frown. "It is why we have guards, really. And a military."
Mirana took her time in the fighting, call out weakness in the enemy movements and helping to adjust their own. Patching up a few people she looks to those feeling and softens up the sands around them, hoping to hold them down, sink them into the beach before they can get too far. "I made no assumptions Selena, but aggression without proof is bad enough. Thank you however, in the name of the guard, just take caution. Regardless of how remote the possibilty, think what you might be doing to civilian life first." she chastises back. With Amy's job done with the quartermaster, returning to her captain, Mira and she get ready to assist in taking prisioners for questioning, including those who ran off if able.
Things go quite smoothly from here out. Statements are taken, criminals both inland and out at sea are taken into custody, and the offending skiff in question is boarded by the navy and well-caulked crates and barrels unloaded onto the beach.
"We were dispatched as soon as we got word. A smuggling operation, no doubt," the commanding officer says as he approaches the group, a squat otter weaing a rather large coat and officer's peak cap. "One of the group that attacked you is a known member of the local Thieves' Guild, and I'm sure the others are connected to that organisation in some form or the other. As for what kind of contraband these Cliffsiders are running...well, there's but one way to find out." One of the sailors passes him a pry bar, which he offers the group as another rolls up a barrel. "Who wants to do the honours? You lot deserve it, for helping us do our job."
"Good job, Lass of Quick Tattling!" Dio shouts over to Amy before she leads off with some of the prisoners, hopefully still in ear shot. "I'll buy ya drink next time yer at the inn!" The lion looks at the array of strange goods, tilting his head and then looking over at goat. "Go ahead now, lad. Give 'er a go!" He gives the goat a solid pat on the back, probably forcing him forward a bit from the sheer liony force he brings about. "An' the Thieve's Guild and Cliffside ya say? That's an interstin' combination, but whatever brings the profits in."
Emmett steps forward and raises a hand. "I'd be happy to," says the mild-mannered church goat with a smile. And when there are no objections, he nervously takes the pry bar in hand, looking over the barrel in trepidation. And then, he gets to work, carefully prying off the lid. A strong odor wafts from the barrel as the goat peeks inside, wincing. He pauses, then looks back at the others. "It seems our ham-handed crooks may be in a pickle. We've procured their sordid stash of pickled ham."
Kialla gives a giggle... "Well... Mayhaps we make sure to search it thoroughly. Those who need something smuggled are sure to have a good hiding spot, elsewise, why would they be doing so in the dead of night? try looking into the barrels per se for something."
Selena smiles back at the vixen tiredly and simply says, "First, learn Sweetwater transport law. Second, recognise no harm would've come to them from being grounded. Third, If I wasn't concerned, then I'd have set crew on fire, capsized the boat, or generally been agressive rather than wetting their gunpowder. Why do you think I sent a light out first? Pull your head together." Dio's comment is met with a shrug - "Not really. It just sounds like another standard smuggling run." And the goat's pun? Just a groan and shake of the head. "...Well, it has been nice to see you beings around again. As I said earlier though... I do need sleep."
Mirana giggles a bit at Emmett and looks about giving everyone their rights, then looks to Selena, "First, this may not have been a transport ship at all but a bunch of kids out. Again, remote, but no matter how remote the chance to harm civilians is not an alright thing. Second, I'll state again seeing how you have cloth for ears, any chance. And lastly when you do mess up and hurt one of our fair citizans, I won't stop for a second to remind you that you have already been warned." she says, giving a slight yip and a rub to her belly again. "Amy, lets go process these... wonderful beings into their new home."
