View source for The Leviathan - RPLOG

=Participants=
* [[Bite_PC]]
* [[Dio]]
* [[Kaelli]]
* [[Mirana]]
* [[Selena]]
* [[Siyu]]
* [[Sveta]]
=Date=
22/2/477
=Log=
<div></div><br> <br>A calm and cold evening in Firmament, the air heavy despite the tail of winter approaching. In the distance, a large blossom of red light hangs in the air over choppy, turbulent waters to the southeast - a distress signal, and one signifying considerable urgency at that. The Royal Navy has corralled up several coastal patrol vessels and a number of Freeswords at the docks, preparing to set off to their aid. For now, everything is calm, but to the more nautically inclined, the beginnings of a possible winter storm are imminent.<br> <br>The sand beneath her stirs as Bite arouses from slumber. She fights the urge to go back to sleep as eyes something red, visibly deciding if or if not she really wants to get up. Upon arising she is motionless for a moment before she sighs and moves closer along the beach towards what is a glaring eyesore.<br> <br>Siyu comes out with his leathers, and a heavy gun, the thought of a distress signal means he's coming ready to fight or help. He takes a deep breath and follows along behind the others. He gives a glance to bite, hasn't seen her before.<br> <br>Using his new spear's base, a rather scarred up lion stabs at the sand with every step or so, coat fluttering within the breeze. It would certainly be a nice and relaxing walk, but a flare's ignition could set anyone on edge. During his small journey, he gives a nod to Siyu and soon approaches a brand new face. He stares and stares, only a few feet away in a rather awkward style until he finally breaks his personal silence. "Oh! Never really spoken' to too many beings with scales on 'em! Ya live 'round 'ere? Can't say I've seen ya before."<br> <br>Mirana walks along in her own leathers, adjusting them slightly, a bit ill fitting. Another rescue, this would be interesting, and with a storm brewing as well. She shakes her head and places a hand to the top of her chest as she observes the boats. It will have to do. She then looks about to those gathered, Dio, smelly but good. Siyu, looking ready for war. And... Bite!? Her eyes go a bit wide and she about drops her medbag! "Bite!? Bite sweetie!? Is that you?" She asks, jogging her way over to the once slumbering serpent. She couldn't help wrapping her arms to her old friend in a hug, "Bite, darling, where have you been?" Mission for the moment forgotten. It comes back to her soon after though, looking back to Dio and Siyu, "Ahem, thank you for coming out, we should get moving before things get worse though." she says, motioning to the boats and ready to follow Dio once more.<br> <br>Selena sighs quietly, making her way along the beach with palpable distaste for the weather. The wolfess mutters something or another to herself with a roll of her eyes, buttoning up a long coat over her usual attire, tapping the snake's shoulder as she moves along. "Didn't you have a room at the inn, Bite?" She greets, rubbing her forehead at Mirana's exuberant greeting. "Given it's Bite, your best bet is treasure hunting." she comments, lingering behind a with the serpent. "Well, since you're here... Feel like tagging along, or..?"<br> <br>A frequent visitor to this area, the tiger found herself front and center for the signal's birth. Snatching her gear up and quickly donning the needful items, Kaelli made her way towards the docks once the call for bodies went out. Encased in metal with a host of large arms, it was perhaps an ill-advised venture, but the feline was rather curious..and no small bit concerned. Noting a familiar figure, by scent and sound before sight, one hand was raised in greeting. However, no words were offered and the woman's attention went back out towards the beacon.<br> <br>A total of three ships have been readied for the task, and after a quick comfirmation of everyone's identities, one of the captains ushers everyone across the gangway and up onto the sleekest, fastest ship. Sails are unfurled, the anchor is weighed, and everyone's off into the winter evening, the flare still burning in the sky.

The trip is fairly uneventful, with the wind and waves growing stronger as distance is covered, but nothing that the experienced sailors can't handle. At length, the distressed vessel becomes visible in the distance - what appears to be a merchant ship sitting dead in the water, just as the flare finally begins to burn out. It's not clear why they're stranded - while there're jagged pillars of rock rising from the waves, the distressed vessel hasn't collided with any of them. Still, it does explain why none of the main shipping lanes pass by this particular patch of ocean.<br> <br>The serpent looks at the lion for a moment, before nodding and hissing "I do come from around here, but I haven't been around for a while." before mumbling something about odd questions, just before she is embraced rather enthusiastically by Mirana. She hugs her back, tightly and giggles a bit, nodding to Selena as she metions treasure hunting. "Yes but it was a bust sssweetie. And that wasn't my room you know." she adds with a smirk. "Of course i'll join you." As they arrive at the scene Bite looks to the water for a moment before pausing and diving in to take a look.<br> <br>Siyu will step himself up onto the boat and he nods to Mirana, "How big is the navy here anyway, how many ships?" he asks with a tilt of his head. He blinks at the seprant and the hugging, bowing his head, "greetings, I am Gang Xi Siyu" he'll introduce the one who knows Mirana.<br> <br>"Bite!? What? Where?" Dio's eyes immediately shoot towards the ground, feet dancing on the surface to prevent any attack upon his precious lower limbs. But after a few moments, it becomes quite clear an attack by nature of biting wouldn't be coming around anytime soon. "Just a.... Just a joke," he chuckles nervously, rubbing the back of his head before heading into the boat and waving to Kaelli as he gets himself settled for the ride. "How interestin'," he comments, looking at the strange scene. "When the snake lass comes back up an' we get a bit closer, I'll try an' get on the ship if any o' ya wanna follow."<br> <br>Mirana looks about on the boat, smiling at whom all she sees there. "Thank you all for helping, and Bite, I-" But she is gone, Mira shaking her head a bit. Though she look back to the Tigresss she'd never seen before, "Hello, and who might you be?" she asks. Siyu's question makes her think a moment, "We have a good sized navy, though no where near as big as Ishara." She says, thinking a moment more, and looking out at the boat. "Odd, stuck in the water during a storm." she says, looking around at the rocks as well, she decides to wait for Bite.<br> <br>Selena takes a place towards the center of the boat for the larger portion of the trip, chuckling quietly. "Well, it's a shame you turned up nothing in your search." She replies to the serpent, looking back to Dio. "Seems reasonable enough." She replies, peering over at the ship. "Frankly though, I want to know what idiot would sail into this if their navigational charts are accurate... It's just a bad idea."<br> <br>Kaelli was rather fond of ships, water in general really, but the urgency of the moment took some of the fun out of the brief voyage. Sniffing at the air, the tigress frowned at the sight of the rocks and took mental inventory of her equipment. She didn't immediately hear any calls of help or aid, but perhaps that was because the ship was still a ways out? Either way, the feline's tail lashed at the air in her wake and her mis-matched eyes narrowed faintly. The splash and the question that followed drew the feline's attention to the spot the serpent had recently vacated and a slow blink greeted that mental connection. Gaze shifting over to the group, the woman bowed in respectful greeting to those assembled before answering, "I am Kaelli, friends." Focusing on Mirana then, she offered an almost apologetic smile while asking, "May I know whom I address?" A sharp accent colored her words, marking the newcomer as a foreigner.<br> <br>The water is dark beneath the waves, but Bite does see that something has taken a big bite - or perhaps torn a gash - in the merchant ship's hull below the waterline, and the craft itself is taking on water at a slow but steady pace. There doesn't seem to be anything else about, but the sounds of the sea aside, a low, deep thrumming resounds all around Bite, enough for her to be able to feel it on her skin.

The reactions of the sailors on the merchant ship to Bite's actions, though, are more animated. A number of them point and yell, while others concentrate their attentions on the patrol vessels as they approach, their faces varying shades of worry, fear and relief, amidst other concerns. Their words are torn away by the winter wind, but it seems that they're...telling everyone to stay away?<br> <br>Bite frees a small dagger as she inspects the ship and decides what to do. The sensation alerts her, so she calmly goes to the surface, attempting not to make much of a commotion as she does so. She looks expectantly at the sailors on the ship and hisses "Theres a hole in the bottom, something attacked it and it's flooding." She does however noticably contemplate going back towards the sinking merchants vessel. <br> <br>Siyu feels his ears quiver, he'll take a couple of his powder bags and make sure they are loose, also pulling at three long wicks. Lighting them on the lamps and they slowly smoulder, "When those to be rescued are yelling at you to stay away...I think that indicates a problem..." he lets the matches hang, though away form his powder. Looking for a gunnel to affix his hand cannon too. "I think there is more likely more to this story then simple bad navigation. <br> <br>Dio listens to Bite's story and rubs his chin, then giving a solid look at the merchants beyond. "Don't seem like somethin' pirates would do o' an army, an' I ain't sure there's too much wildlife that can do somethin' like that. Very interestin'..." The lion dips the base of his spear in the water, swilring it around while he thinks. "At any rate, first priority goes to savin' the people on the ship. We can worry 'bout the ship itself later. Perhaps we can deliver a message through air magic an' we can 'elp swoop up some beings with magic o' our own. O' we can bite the bullet an' jump on in."<br> <br>Mirana ponders a moment, looking at the sails and the wind. A chunk out of the ship, and quite a distance as well. "I don't think I'd like to try and fly there, unless I were a Griffen." She says, looking to Bite, and calling down to her, "Is there a way you could patch it up with some math? Form some ice or earth or something over the hole?" she asks. Dio's suggestion of Air Magic makes her look to Selena a moment, "Well, with the natural wind coming at us, do you think it wise?" She asks, "Using air maths at all that is?" She says, nodding ot Siyu before looking to Kaelli, "Lady Mirana Solacious, though Mirana or Mira would be better." she says, looking back at the ship, "Bite, I think you are in the best position to offer aid of any of us." she calls over to her.<br> <br>Selena takes a quiet breath. "Well, we do have the wind against us. At least it's not a crosswind; that'd make things harder." she replies to Dio - "I can try to get a message across, that's harmless enough." She notes, looking back over at the vixen. "I wouldn't use offensive air magic in a backdraft, no. Or any kind of magic liable to backfire; that's largely common sense unless there's a very good reason to try." She replies with a shrug. "That said, I'm going to assume the main questions we'd want to ask are   what attacked them and how to help. When and if we're closer it'd be easier to keep the ship's hull from flooding, but that's to worry about later."<br> <br>While introductions were important and the tigress did typically enjoy being more thorough and attentive when meeting new people, the serpent's emergence and words caused her ears to prick in attention. "Nice to meet you, Miss Mira." Kaelli would still intone, noting the peerage attached to the woman's name and inclining her head slightly. Peering steadily at the ship now, her lips pursed in contemplation and she tightened the strap on her buckler while keeping hold on the guisarme in her opposite hand. Blinking once more, her tail bouncing in surprise, the feline stared hard at Dio as he spoke. Did the rather aromatic lion just offer to get into moving water? The situation must indeed be dire.<br> <br>Bite considers the others words, and hisses "Also there may be something odd going about thte water feels a bit odd." She offers this before she swims to the ship, working to close the distance and check the inside for salvageables before she determines if the ship can be saved at all based on a closer look.<br> <br>At the sight of Bite swimming towards them, the sailors on the wrecked vessel grow considerably more agitated, and the reason for that is soon revealed - the moment the Taipan gets within shouting distance of them, the light filtering down from what lamps and lanterns are still lit illuminated what looks like a fin or flipper...holding up the ship despite its gash, much like a toy wagon balanced on a child's hand. At Bite's approach, the appendage quickly withdraws, letting the damaged merchant vessel to slump into the waterline, where it rapidly begins to take on water.

The naval vessels everyone is on have slowed, but not stopped, and yet...an enormous shape crests out of the water and approaches, soaking everyone with spray as it submerges once more. Whatever this creature is, it's too big to kill...let alone fight.<br> <br>Bite scowls at the sunken ship and makes her way to the side of the ship she jumped off. She will wait a short bit to be aided upward, or she will ascend it herself fwith magics and physical fitness. As she briefly waits she takes a look below the water to see if she can make out at all what manner of being this is.<br> <br>Siyu blinks and falters, that's...what the hell is it. He keeps his cannon level, not that he could possibly light it, his hands are shaking too much. Just staring, agape and in awe, the tiny rodent getting a full view of it from the gunwale.<br> <br>Avoid the bath for too long and perhaps the bath shall come for thee. Dio watches the display in awe, but his examination would be cut short as he receives a hefty spray of salt water. He shakes his mane left and right rapidly in an attempt to dislodge some water, but a soggy mane is a soggy mane. Reaching down, he picks up his spear and clanks the base on the boat. "Maybe we can freeze it in place, lads. But... strange 'ow it 'asn't tried to finish off the merchant ship when it 'ad plenty 'o time to do so."<br> <br>Mirana watches Bite as she seems to get the attention of something big, very big! But her thoughts turn to the ship as it starts to sink once more! "Selena, if you can, tell them to get off the ship if they can, they must have life boats, is there anyway to get them over here safely?" She asks, pondering a bit and looking to the captain of the ship they are on, "Sir, do you know how many are on board that ship there, and is there anyway we can get closer or wait for them to get here without endangering ourselves?" She asks. She prepares to offer her own knowledge of water maths, "I won't leave children of Promise to drown if there is anything we can do." She says.<br> <br>Selena whistles quietly at the sudden emergeance of the creature, watching it in what could be described as awe for a few moments before being pushed back to the problem at hand. "Well, yes I'm going to be telling them to try and abandon ship and get to one of the other ones, but I can't do two things at once." she sighs, putting her hands over her ears for a few moments to shut out the noise around her and concentrate on her task at hand.<br> <br>Something was..holding the ship? The thought was cut short by the abrupt movement and the cascade of ocean water that came pouring down. Snorting against the spray, Kaelli tries to keep the water from her nostrils while bringing her shield up at a slight angle to act as a makeshift umbrella. It wasn't much, but it was something. Sort of. Eyes widening as the true bulk of the creature was revealed, her lips parted to shape the syllables of some unspoken words, shocking stealing the feline's voice away in the moment. A few moments of silent reverie were given before the woman shook her head sharply to dispell the distraction. Moving towards the edge of the boat, she scanned the water for a time before squinting over at the sinking ship. "We..interrupted rescue..?" she mused her thought outloud, confusion evident in her tone.<br> <br>after a few more moments of holding her hands over her ears, the wolfess finally finishes her magic, a portion of the air appearing to still around her muzzle as she yells; "If you have lifeboats, try to make way to one of the ships here! We will try to keep your ship afloat, but the amount of damage means we'll need you to abandon ship for your own safety!"<br> <br>It certainly seems to be as Kaelli says - whatever this creature is, it doesn't seem to be hostile, but then, it doesn't seem to know its own strength, either. With the arrival of the patrol vessels, the leviathan loses all interest in the merchant ship and proceeds to investigate the new playthings, giving all three vessels a number of friendly bumps that nevertheless cause all manner of objects to careen wildly across deck, accompanied with the sound of splintering timber. As it momentarily rises out of the water, everyone gets a glimpse of an eye about twice as wide as they are tall, and then the creature submerges to continue investigating its new 'acquisitions', as it were.

The sailors on the merchant ship waste no time, with or without Selena's message, and lifeboats are quickly dispatched and loaded while the creature's attention is diverted, fleeing from the scene with as much of the cargo as they can reasonably hold. Hopefully they'll make it away in this weather...and the waves created by the leviathan's playtime aren't helping, either.<br> <br>Bite looks to the sailors and shakes her head before she swims down again, giving the creature more inspection as her eyes dart for stray cargo. She tries to spot anything within a reasonable distance she can plunder before clmbing onto a life boat with the others.<br> <br>Siyu blinks, "Creators...creators!" he looks back over, "The rope throw! The rope throw! I have a cannon ready." he works to try and remove the ball , "Get the rope throw!" if there is none he'll try to make it ,taking a full coil of rope, and find an iron pole or spear. blunt. But enough to be fired from the cannon and towards the merchant ship. He falls down hard at the bump and the knock, grunting. If nothing else, the lifeboats can cling to the rope line till they get to the ship. Try rapidly to make sure the rope is clear and the powder is dry. If everything is ready he'll signal and try to fire and launch the rope.<br> <br>With the crashes and waves, Dio stumbles about, eventually putting a hand upon Kaellie's shoulder. "I was expectin' pirates when I first took this job," he mumbles, reclaiming his stance and watching the lifeboats sail on. "Well, it don't look like it's gonna kill us. Not on purpose anyways. The job was to save those beings, so perhaps we can keep distractin' this big lad 'ere 'til they get a clean getaway, eh? An' what happened to the scaly lass? 'ope she's alright down there. Ain't seen 'er in a bit."<br> <br>Mirana, seeing the lifeboats heading out, the ship being abandoned for safety, gives a sigh of relief, though now, they have other issues. "Alright, if they are getting to safety, how about us Captain, how are we going to leave now." She thinks, "Selena, Dio, do you think we can either calm the waves or the beast in question enough to get us to safety?" she asks. Looking back to Siyu, "Or do you think that cannon could distract the thing?" She asks. Other things that come to mind however, will have to wait.<br> <br>Selena manages a quiet chuckle at the vixen's comment - "Calm this thing? I hope that was a joke. I really do." she replies, shaking her head. "And I've never heard of an animal that doesn't get spooked by loud noises. I'm not sure cannnonfire is a good idea. As for calming the waves, I doubt it'd be a particularly easy task with a creaure several times larger than a ship flailing about in the water. My suggestion? Move these ships further apart so they aren't all going to be hit by this thing constantly and work from there." She replies.<br> <br>"What are you do-aah!" Kaelli exclaimed as she watched the large mass move closer, the curiosity of the creature causing her to nearly lose her footing. Hooking an arm over the side of the boat, the feline manages to stay upright, but it was far from a graceful moment. Hauling herself fully upright again, the woman couldn't help but give a short chime of laughter. "Easy, friend!" she calls out on reflex as the eye rises, gazing at massive orb in awe before blinking rapidly and turning to track the progress of the lifeboats. Friend, she had addressed it, but she did so to all being until it was proven otherwise. The tigress just hoped that it was an accurate title. As Dio ends up at her side, she reaches out to grasp his elbow in offer of stability. "Ah, friend Traveler, I did not see her," the tigress answers, voice raised to be heard clearly above the crashing surf. At the suggestion of using a cannon, the woman gives a noteable start and waves a hand in negation. "If it sneeze, we will capsize, please do not fire!" She really didn't feel like sinking to the bottom of the ocean today..<br> <br>"Good day to ya lass," Dio chuckles, giving the tigress a good pat or two upon the back. "Keep doin' what yer doin', I think I've got an idea as well if everyone's up to it." Turning around, the lion faces the group and crosses his arms. "Seems this lad likes to play 'round with ships an' what not. With most o' us workin' together, perhaps we can make somethin' good out o' ice. A toy if ya will and send it out. When it's distracted, we'll float away an' all that. I ain't in a soul fer water magic, so I'll do what I can with air to 'elp out. Ya up fer it?"<br> <br>Selena raises an eyebrow at the lion's comment<br> <br>Selena raises an eyebrow at the lion's comment, grumbling at the rising and falling of the boat in the turbulent seas. "Salty water doesn't freeze well. It might be possible, though, and I'll give it a shot since it sounds like a more viable plan than.. Well, cannonfire or making the seas less choppy with this thing in them." She replies, glancing over the side of the ship and sighing. "Anyone else that knows anything about water magic, as I said - salt water is hard to freeze." That done, she starts trying to conjure the hypothetical effigy out of the water.<br> <br>Mirana listens to Dio and nods to Selena. It was an idea, and decides that it'd be best to help out. Reinforcing Selena's own concepts and math with her own. She looks over to the lifeboats, making sure they are still heading to safety.<br> <br>Bite emerges rather poutily with no plunder, and hearing Selena ask about freezing sea-water she works to aid in her attempts as best as can.<br> <br>The lifeboats head off for a small island in the distance, angile craft and experienced hands worming their way through the stone pillars where the enormous beast is unlikely to be able to follow. Several crates and barrels still bob about in the waves, enough to form some sort of makeshift raft if they were lashed together, but salvage is the last thing on anyone's mind right now.

What's more important now, though, is the decoy that's being created. Selena manages to create a reasonably lifelike replica, but the sheer size and scale of the project is a little too much for her until Mirana and Bite back her up on the task. While it won't last long, the cold seas will at least allow it to last a little longer before melting away. Maybe it's the shine of the shattered moon's light off the ice, or maybe it's the colour: whatever the reason, the effigy grabs the leviathan's attention and it swims lazily toward the decoy, bumping at it playfully and ripping apart the frozen rigging in the process. The naval ships, on the other hand, need no other encouragement: the moment the all-clear's given, the captains order a strong wind conjured to bring everyone straight to port before more water is taken on in the bilges. Maybe someone else can be called upon to see the sailors on the merchant vessel made it all to safety, when its more reasonable to do so. The last sight of the scene anyone has is the creature balancing the ice ship on its grey, barnicle-encrusted hide.<br> <br>Bite looks unhappy. She looks over the cargo in the water with a frown as it is passed, stretching on the ship before sitting down by herself and sighing. She looks to the creature in the distance ad tilts her head before looking around and deciding to wait for their destination before any pleasantries.<br> <br>Siyu watches the ice ship form, his cannon still loaded but not fired. He'll remove the line and rope and toss it back upon teh deck. He can't help, and really he didn't help. just standing there and watching the whole thing play out as the levithan plays with it's toy, drifting off into the distance. <br> <br>"Phew..." Dio wipes his brow with a relieved sigh and immediately sits his rear down wherever he can. "That was an close on'." Reaching a hand back to his mane, he grumbles under his breath, something about soggy manes and his hatred for wet clothes. Certainly, it's better to simply stay dry all the time whenever possible. "That was some good magic right there. Well done, lasses. Gonna need a few ales an' a good dryin' out 'for I go to bed."<br> <br>Mirana smiles a it after the toy is accepted as a play thing and looking toward the shoreline before assisting as she can with helping their ships get back to shore. This was an adventure she wouldn't forget soon, and have to tell Ruby when she is back in her room. She smiles to Selena, Bite, Siyu, Dio each before finally deciding to head below deck for the right home.<br> <br>Selena slumps back against the mast's column in the center of the ship with a sigh as the magic's done, rubbing her forehead, a groan swept away by the wind. "Was never a single person's project. Good job." She says, managing a smile as she looks back out over at the final product. "...Never working with sea water again if I can avoid it. Stone at least stays in one place when you're trying to use it... And it doesn't melt."<br> <br>For her part, the tigress remained on alert in case anything else rose from the depths. As the ship formed, a broad smile curves her lips and she gave a soft whistle of appreciation at the skill of those assembled. Once her own vessel headed back towards port, the feline raises a hand in farewell and waved to the leviathan. "Enjoy your toy, friend giant." Kaelli murmured mostly to herself, standing at an angle to watch the slowly diminishing form in their wake from the corner of her eye while gazing back towards the shore. Eventually crossing over to where Dio had chosen to sit, the woman directed her smile at the soggy lion. "Not to worry, friend Traveler," she reassures, "Warm meal, nice fire and a good drink..you'll be right as ever."[[Category:RPLogs]]