Revision as of 04:52, 27 October 2014

Participants

• Arimia
• Cassidy
• Fayrmune
• Fenris
• Frio
• Llewellyn
• Natska
• Rev
• Thelergramor

Date

26/10/477

Log

A thin and scrawny male Blackback is near the two guards, flipping through the papers on his clipboard as he speaks. "Marcidius, please ensure all of the hired hands are in the safety of the center of the ship, and our esteemed swords are ready at the decks and cannons if you would? I've no interest in losing any of my craftsmen, as that would make our point here moot would it not?"

Thelergramor walks into the Maritime District, in a completely fucked mood as his cannon hangs from his shoulder. Shirtless, plague masked, pants-wearing heavily armed wolf. Figured an expedition would give him a reason to get the hell out of Firmament for a while; avoid his problems. And there's an airship! "...I hate flying." Walks towards the Blackback. "You. You in charge here? I'm here to... do.. job things."

After making sure all of her gear was in order, Cassidy makes her way for the airship dressed up in her red longcoat and a long black skirt, her spelltome resting in her arms and held to her chest. "This is going to be fun," she murmurs behind her mask as she's up to the ramp, nodding at the guards. "I'm here to assist."

With the rhythmic slap of sandals upon stone and the rattling of layers of armor shifting over each other, a proud little Giraffe marches up to the overseers. He's resplendent in finely polished (and likely fresh-purchased) armor, a ceremonial helmet with a fiery red strip of tucked under his arm...and despite all that, he's still not even five feet tall. "Llewellyn Longenecker, Freesword, reporting," he announces crisply, a wary nod cast to the wolf and fox already there. It was official business, no room for personal grudges...but all the same, he was gonna keep an eye on these two...especially the wolf.

Rev After locking up his room at the freeswords, and naturally making sure his gear is in order. Rev makes his way to the maritime district. The wolf is at the moment dressed in his usual tunic, and trousers. With his boots vest, and gloves completing his outfit. The bag he carries on his back rattles with each stwp thanks to the armor contained within it. The wolf puffs on his kiseru pipe as he makes his way towards the others with a felling ax in hand. "Well niw it seems we have a way of running into eachother on jobs Thelegramor." The large wolf says as he exahkes a cloud if smoke.

Arimia makes her own way to the preped airship, climbing aboard with little fanfare, the small raccoon not even bothering to introduce herself. Once aboard she settles down on the deck, somewhere she hopes will be out of the way, and starts to go through her things. She's wearing her usual vest and shorts, with a cloak, clasped by her defaced clan badges, over it all. From numerous pockets in the cloak she starts to pull out and examine items. A dagger, several darts, a couple scrolls, and so on. This is followed by an opaque vial that she pulls out and opens, the 'coon dipping a thin bristled brush into it and beginning to coat the claws of her metallic arm with whatever it is.

Natska remains close to Cassidy as she follows the fennec to the ship. She's wearing her full armor for this event, sword at her side. She looks over therather large crew of assorted Freeswords, gives Arimia a small nod, and remains otherwise quiet as she waits.

Fenris arrives in the weathered facade of Ash Dustcloak, mercenary for hire. The silvery lynx flicks aside a foul smelling cigarette and adjusts the long musket strapped across his back. He smooths his thick, handlebar mustache and makes his way up the gangplank. "Name's Dustcloak, mate," he says to the being with the clipboard, "Ash Dustcloak. You got the cash, then I'm your cat. " The lynx fingers one of the long teeth on his obviously carnivorous necklace. "Just give me a cannon to shoot," he says, "Always wanted to mess with one of the big buggers,"

Having heard of a lucritive job opportunity, Fayrmune wanders around the airship docks looking for where to sign up. Seeing a cluster of other freeswords, several of whom she knows, she moves swiftly in that direction. "Konnichiwa, Comrades!", she says, bowing to the group. Is this where we are signing up for this expedition?", she asks. "It sounds like something where we can earn much Glory!"

The Blackback looks to Thelergramor and Fenris with an apathetic gaze for a moment before speaking up. "Quite. You lot can take your positions upon the deck then, I suppose we've enough below to man the cannons..." The Blackback then nodding to the guards as they unclasp the gangplank and let it fall to the ground below as the final bits of supplies are hauled up into the ship.

"To those of you whom have read the papers out and about, I am Varlin Blackback, the funder of this expedition. I shall not put this in light terms, we are heading into danger. The land in the mountains we've discovered that has a suitable area for us, is currently inhabbited by some large creatures that we need to clear out first... Our first responsability, shall be establishing a landing pad for easier convoying of resources. By this, I mean -you- lot will be aiding in protecting my workers as they build as fast as they can. I stress the importance of this, because if we are stranded back in those mountains, we are not merely walking out. -However-, you will all be paid considerably well for your time and efforts, and in the case of any casualties your next of kin or bonded shall recieve a larger compensation bonus. Now, questions before we take off?"

Thelergramor nods to Rev. "Seems we do, Rev, yeah." Then notices Cassidy and Natska. Not getting away from his problems, it seems. "Cassidy, Natska. Nice to see you again..." Short wave to the others. "Ash, hello." Starts up the gangplank without another word. Finds somewhere to stand on the deck; hates the deck. No questions for the Blackback. 'Kill things before they kill us' is a simple enough job.

"Now... How far away are we going from Firebough?" Cassidy asks, brow raised behind the porcelain as she gives a gentle nod to Thelergramor. "Well, Natska," she says, eyeing the armour over. "If you're going in close... Do be careful, hm? I'll be at your back all the same, but do be careful."

Arimia continues to apply whatever that liquid is to her claws, brush switching hands to apply it to her natural claws as well, as the Blackback speaks. She glances up when he's done, nodding in return to Natska before tilting her head in response to Cassidy's words. Letting out a soft snort she speaks up, "If she can't handle herself, don' let her along. If she can, get off her arse 'bout it. Metaphorically, anyway. Ain't talkin' literally. What you lot do behind closed doors ain' my business."

Llewellyn gulps--despite his attempts to mask it, it's quite visible, his long neck betraying him. This was quite a bit more than guard duty or pest control. His armor rattles a bit as the full weight of 'we will try to contact your bondmates or next of kin' resonates with him. Not that he had either of those yet, but when magistrates talk of legal processes...it's never good. So! Who would help keep him alive? ... A joker in a costume and her cuddle partner and that scoundrel who made fun of Kalt, and a couple sellswords who fancy themselves soldiers (Llewellyn special--he's in training as a squire, that totally makes him better!)? Oh great, they're doomed. His ears perk up through his ruddy ginger hair as Arimia speaks--no nonsense, great focus, a prosthetic arm just like his...erm..mentor, and someone who literally has to look up to him! Now there's a woman he can trust! He takes a couple sidesteps closer to her, offering up no questions to the Blackback, but eagerly eavesdropping and hoping for an entrance to the conversation...

Rev tucks a little extra pipe weed into the brazier if his kiseru. As he turns his gaze from thelergramor to blackback The large wolf crosses his arms over his chest, and scratches his chin. "Now when you say clear them out. Do you mean run them off, or just kill them all?"The wolf briefly considers asking what kind of large creatures they would be facing. But truth be told leaving that detail as a surprise is much more exciting.

Natska pats Cassidy, careful not to let her heavy gauntlet snag any of the fennec's finery. "Thanks, love. I'll keep an eye out for you, too." Arimia's comment causes the jaguar to smile, and she listens as Varlin explains the mission. "Got it," she tells the noble. "And hello again, Thel."

Ash smooths his mustache and moves off to a railing where he proceeds to light up another foul cigarette. Well, the illusion of one at least. It is really only a sucker, but with a little kitsune magic, it looks and smells real enough.

"Fayrmune is afraid of nothing!", the jackaless says, corssing her arms and standing defiantly. "Just point me towards what I need to do and I'll do it!" She looks quite eager to be off, as standing around accomplishes little, of couse.

"Far. We're traveling out a good ways into the mountains to set up this area... My hope, is for it to provide a plethora of trade and serve as a resupply point for those whom are passing through and over the area. This will give the nation a good source of much needed revenue, and open up far more jobs for our citizens whom are willing to move for work. As far as what I mean by clear them out? They are an aggressive and territorial group that caused heavy casualties to our survey team... So naturally, we will be forced to slay them so as to ensure they do not retaliate against the settlement." Varlin nods gently at his words as he pulls out a pair of spectacles and puts them on snuggly. "Crew man Dahli, please inform the helmsman to cast the lines and unfurl the sails. Destiny awaits us."

The ship lurches for a moment as the lines teathering it down are cast off, and the flowing currents of math aided air can be seen passing along the ship as the large ship begins to push forward over the buildings of the city. It's shadow covering much of the scenery below the freeswords, as it takes into a slow rise as it passes by the spire of the Cathedral, a few of the sailors stopping as they dip their heads before resuming their work. Varlin himself looking back over to the group as the ship finally clears outside of the city, and begins to push up close to the clouds. "Make yourselves comfortable, but be ready if the deckhands call out for trouble. We've enough mages working upon this ship to see us to our destination with haste, so your wait shall not be long." With that the Blackback gives a slight bow of his head, before turning and grabbing hold of one of the ropes near him as he looks out over the scenery below as it sweeps by, the sun slowly begining to set in the sky, causing the world to almost appear to be bathed in amber for those upon the deck.

Thelergramor missed most of that explanation other than 'kill them.' Is completely in favor of mindless slaughter right now. And as the airship lurches, the wolf curses under his breath. "I hate flying..." Keeps a distance from edge of the ship; nods at Cassidy, Natska and Arimia. "You'll be fine. If anyone's going to be maimed or killed, let it be me." Adjusts his mask; ear twitching at the thought. A small smirk, first thing resembling a smile since last night.

Cassidy glances over at Arimia for a moment and shrugs. "I'm allowed to worry," she returns. She wanders off to the side to wait, flipping through the pages on her grimoire to review her spells and pass the time. "Well. I will certainly do my part," she murmurs absently. "Just have to point me at it."

Make yourself comfortable? Alright. After the ship has finished lurching off the ground, Llewellyn sets to loosening the straps on his shield...and the top layer of armor. The chain hauberk stays on, though. He absently piles his equipment into the 'bowl' of his shield, keeping his gladius sheathed his side. A big, thin ear flaps in curiousity as he hears the Wolf speak though. Yes, he made impugned Llewellyns hero--er, teacher, but that's not enough to wish death to someone, with. Besides, a comrade with a death wish could threaten the intergrity of a unit. His gear stowed (relatively) safely, he gives a second glance to the pink raccoon before shrugging his shoulders with a sigh, turning to Thel. "C'mon, now. You can't join a military expedition thinkin' like that. Buck up, eh?"

Rev taps out his pipe, and reloads it. "Hmmm so it will be kill, or be killed. Well that's fine as long as we are getting paid." The wolf says as he moves to a less populated part if the deck to smoke his pipe in peace for a while.

Arimia moves her shoulders in a small shrug, closing her small bottle and slipping it back into a pocket. "Worry 'bout the things you cannot control an' the unknown factors. Not 'bout her ability to handle herself. Shows a lack of trust in her." She pauses, looking at her metal arm, odd eyes focused on the stone band on one finger. "Then again, my record with such ain't the best, an' it's possible I don' know what the bugger I'm talkin' 'bout." Shaking her head she refocuses her attention on the gear, examining the edge of her dagger before slipping it into her cloak, before picking up one of the spikes she pulled out and... doing something to her replacement arm that causes the spike to disappear, repeating the process with the remaining spikes. In contrast to Llewellyn's words to Thel, Arimia says, "Very well. I'll make sure to leave you to be maimed or killed."

"I'm not saving you again, Thel," Natska informs the wolf. Then she smiles and follows Cassidy over to the side, placing her hands on the ship's rail and enjoying the trip, ears perked as she watches the landscape moving by below them.

Ash snorts as he watches Llewellyn approach Arimia. "There's an accident waiting to happen," he drawls in his strange accent, "Leave her be pint-size." Fenris knows that the giraffe will react badly to that, but it has to be part of the character he is creating in Ash. The Lynx flicks the stub of his cigarette over the side, actually a sucker stick. "Gotta love flyin!" he says, "Wind in yer hair, bugs in yer teeth!"

Fayrmune steps to the side of the airship by herself to watch over the edge at the scenery flying past. Turning her head, she sees Natska nearby. "It's really something, huh?", she asks in passing. "I'm still getting used to being on an airship in flight... this is only my third time."

The land below is slowly passing faster and faster as the airship picks up some intense speed... Seems Varlin wasn't lying about them having a surpluss of mages onboard! Soon enough, the ship is passing by Firebough, and the Skunk slowly turns back and idly wipes under his glasses before looking to the group. "We shall be there in moments, you all will need to rope down to the landing area to help ensure it is clear, before we touch down... I do not wish for this ship to be damaged by one of the beasts." The noble skunk walking slowly back to a group of crewmen as he makes a few comments to them and they begin to drag about lines and the like while the ship begins to slow.

Thelergramor shakes his head, responds to Natska with his usual response when someone clearly doesn't want his shit: "I love you too, Natska." Just shrugs at Arimia, "Thank you." And to Llewellyn: "I'll be fine. Probably. Nothing's killed me yet." And clearly not from lack of trying; given the prosthetic leg and multitude of scars on the shirtless wolf. Wonders what they meant by 'rope down'. Decides it doesn't matter; just waits for the crew to be ready.

Cassidy snaps her book shut as the airship starts to slow and reaches up to adjust her hat. Well. This is going to be an interesting trip. It's been a while since I've tackled anything particularly large. Especially with magic. Hrm. I'm not worried, though. I've got some fun new things I'd like to try," she says with a nod towards Natska. "Any plans of your own? It'd be nice to have a strategy."

At the Lynx's words, Llewellyn is suddenly caught between two emotions, neither of them pleasant. He can immediately feel his face start to flush in embarassment--lingering nearby can be explained away, but getting called out makes it that much more difficult. The other part is good old-fashioned anger: what business is it of anyone's who he approaches, and who in the seven hells thinks 'pint-size' is an appropriate greeting? The gloved hand that wasn't patting poor Thel is now balling itself into a tight fist (and come to think of it, the other one is starting to dig into the wolf, too) as the Giraffe draws a deep breath. What would Kalt think? And Mishka! They did both hammer home the point of how knighthood meant fighting with purpose and honor, not letting your rage just get the best of you. Breathe calm in, breathe anger out. And don't look at that pink raccoon, it'll blow your story of 'just passing by.' Don't look, don't look, don't look...well...just a little glance out of the corner of his eye couldn't hurt, they couldn't see it...

Rev slips his bag off his shoulders, and sets it down on the deck. The wolf removes his armor from within it's deoths, and arranges it's pieces reverantly. Before kneeling infront of them, and begins to deeply breath in, and out. Before slipping into a medatative state. And remains like that for several minutes before begining to slip into his heavy armor. After which he returns to his quiet meditation meant for preparing him for the fight to come.

Arimia lets out an amused sound and says, "Jus' 'cause someone is short, don' mean they can't put up a fight. Ask the masked one over there what happened at that little tournament up north. She may have won, but it's been a while since I went with jus' fists." She pushes herself to her feet, standing her full not so considable height, she peers over the railing before turning to watch as the lines are brought out and tied off, likely wanting to be sure none of them are poorly tied. AS she does she reaches into her cloak, pulling out her own smoke, though hers is real, and lighting it with a brief bit of fire magic.

Natska looks over at Fay and gives the jackal a happy nod. "Yes. I love flying; no matter where I go, the journey is always rewarding." Her ears perk as she listens to the others talk, and she gives Cassidy a small shrug. "I plan on keeping anything nasty from getting to close, while you and whoever else has the talent or the gear for it blasts it into charred cinders," she replies, smiling wider. "And hopefully you can just burn it all before it even gets close."

Ash watches the earth speed by below, prepping himself for the coming fight. "Don't mean nothing by it," he says to Arimia, "Just a nickname for a little guy. Doesn't mean he ain't good at his job." The lynx smooths his mustache and gets ready to go over the side.

Fayrmune shifts back and forth as the impending arrival is announced. "Well, I guess that's our cue, huh?", she says, giving a last smile to Natska before turning to ready herself for the rappel down. "Come, friends! It is time to prove our worth and claim great Honor for ourselves!", she calls to the rest of the band.

The Airship lurches suddenly as it makes a quick turn, or as quick as it could manage given it's size... The crew stumble around, but thankfully it wasn't enough to send anyone overboard, one of the crewmen calling out. "There's a large one throwing rocks sir!" And to any looking over the right side, they'd see that was -very- true, as a large rock like creature that towered twice as tall as most homes picked up boulders and threw them at the airship. A few boards splinter across the deck as one travels close, and the ship begins to go lower and lower in altitude as soon they are speeding through while skimming over trees.

"Shit, we cant rope in... Freeswords! Get to the port side of the ship, we're going to have a rough trip down!" The Varlin rushing past as an aid holds out a sword to the skunk, and gives him a thick great coat. The crew whom were hauling the lines begin to throw them over the port side after tieing them to the railing, the ropes ends skipping through trees and past rocks as the ship speeds along, before they come to an almost jarring halt and begin to turn in the air, the erruption of cannon fire ripping into the side of the mountains where the rock beast had been, causing it to tumble down into the dense forest below.

"We've no time, freeswords we need to get down there -now-, and clear a spot. I have a signal for when we've succeeded, for the ship to come back for us!" The noble grabbing onto one of the ropes, and twirling it around his right leg for a moment, before hoping over and rappelling down, slowly using his grip to help slow his descent into the forest below, where spirits know -what- awaits the adventurers.

Thelergramor isn't at all surprised by this development; even as the airship violently lurches or whatnot. Just walks to the portside of the ship and wordlessly does as the skunk did; with the rope. Easily. As if he'd done it before.

Cassidy wasn't expecting the lurch, but the manages to keep her footing, swaying a bit. "Well. Looks like it's time to go, then. See you down there, love," she says to the jaguar before she jaunts towards the edge. No ropes for this one, and instead she just walks right over the end, one hand holding her grimoire while the other holds her skirt down as she uses air magic to ease her touchdown.

That little raccoon girl defended him! Maybe. It sounded like it, at least! Llewellyn can feel his heart flutter for a moment as the earth moves under his feet--wait, no, that's the ship. Cursing fluently, the giraffe lurches towards his shield, rapidly re-equipping himself. Without a moment to waste, he gives a glance around. "Alright, you heard 'em!" he calls out as he follows Varlin's lead, looping it around himself for control and alternately shuffling and hopping down fast as he dares. As much as hates to credit his smallness for anything good, at least his size meant less armor and less mass dragging him down.

Rev eyes snap open, and slams his fist against the deck. The wolf crosses the deck unphased by the suddent attack on the airship. He grabs a rope, and lije someone who has done this many times before dissapear over the edge of the ship. and descends to the ground on the rope. at a controlled but rapid pace.

Arimia makes her own way to the edge, gripping one of the ropes with her metal hand, just to make sure she's guided to roughly the same location as the others. Using her own air magic she makes her own way down, though her cloak doesn't move with the wind, likely weighted down by whatever she carries in those many pockets.

Natska tenses at the sudden change in pace, and as soon as the call to go over is given the jaguar has gone over the rail. Much like Arimia, she's holding onto the rope with one gauntleted hand, keeping her from drifting off course as she uses her air magic to control the speed of her fall. As soon as she lands, she has drawn her longsword and is making her way to Cassidy's side.

Ash nods once as the uproar starts. "Here we go, boys and girls!" he shouts as he takes a few quick steps and LAUNCHES himself from the side of the ship in a freefall! With a little burst of air magic, the lynx lands lightly on his feet, already bringing his gun to bear.

As the group lands into the forests, the trees and brush around are already rustling as strange noises begin to rise from them... A large six legged creature, resembling a cross between a mammoth and Saber-toothed tiger bursts forth into their view, letting out a strange sounding roar as it does so. The beast itself is thankfully not the biggest out there one would assume, measuring at around fifteen feet tall, and just as wide, while managing to be fourty feet long.

"Contact left! Group and clear! Mages get these trees down!" Varlin calls out as he motions to the forest around them, a dozen more mercenaries, and those whom didnt rappelle down with the first group, roping down as he calls out, before the airship begins to lurch forward from above them. The roar of cannons filling the ears of the group as another rock beast lets out a roar and the sound of rock collapsing can be heard... It seems the freeswords shouldnt expect reinforcements any time soon.

The Beast doesn't seem ready to give the group time to begin clearing the woods, as it seems to focus on Cassidy with an intense rage before it begins to charge forward with a lumbering pace, swinging it's tusks back and forth to sweep away any foolish enough to get infront of it!

Thelergramor picks up on the Beast seeming to focus on Cassidy. Which is a problem. So, he levels his bigass cannon at it, and fires it. An exploding round erupts from his cannon at the Beast. Works some dark magic in there too... Because, "Fuck that thing."

Cassidy lofts a brow at the rather... Large charging creature. Rather than try to stop it, she takes to the sky again. Since it seems to have been interested in her... She'll see if she can distract it. She flits over the create, throwing a small bolt of flame at the things back as she passes. Not enough to cause much damage to something that big, but enough to remind it of her presence, hopefully.

"Scatter! Scatter!" Llewellyn bellows to those near him. "He can't get us all at once!" He cuts out of the charging beast's direct path and readies his round shield in front of him to deflect any debris or ricochets, grasping his lighter /verutum/ to throw but holding off for the time being.

"I'm cooooommmiinng!"

Rev hefts his ax, and begins to move off to the left of the large beasts path. His heat beat slowing down as he prepares to mive in on, and attack. However as the sound of Thelergramor firing off his cannon. The wolf pauses, in midstep, and raises a gauntlet encased fist to sheild his eyes. In case of shrapnel, and waits to make his move.

Arimia winces and scowls as that cannon is fired, before shaking her head slightly. She glances around the landing area briefly before focusing her attention on the charging beast. She moves, then, though not out of the way, instead simply casting some dark math in an attempt to disorient and weaken it. Once that's done she pulls out her dagger and tenses, getting ready to move quickly, if needed.

Natska readies herself, moving in front of Cassidy after the fenenc fires off her spell. She braces her feet and raises her sword, waiting for it to get closer before making her move.

No time hesitate. There are probably more of these things out there. Not to mention the thing that had been lobbing boulders. Ash puts his gun to his shoulder, sights, and fires at the beast's eye! The lynx mercenary scrambles for a secure spot to reload.

"I'm cooooommmiinng!", Fay calls as she falls from the airship, quickly rapelling to the ground and landing gracefully but with an audible THUMP. She draws her blade with a fluid motion and takes off in a dash towards the chargeing beast. She attempts to dodge the beast's charge so she can run her blade along its side do deal a raking blow.

The beast lets out a deathly roar as the explosion rips into it's side, bits of flesh and some bone flying out as it's then shot in the eye, set on fire, and cut up! Arima's magics draining that last bit of fight and life from it as it just collapses there... Seems they're big, but not too deadly!

That thought lasts for a second, before the sound of a scream can be heard, as one of the mages whom was using wind magic to try and clear trees, is pounced upon by large creature as big as a being, possessing eight legs and a myriad of insectoid eyes. It's fangs biting into the poor mage as he stuggles for a moment before going limp... Almost on cue, as the spider has it's prey, from that corner of the forest bursts more of the unholy beasts, chittering as they scurry forward at the group, four jumping as soon as they get close, targeting LLewellyn, Natska, Thelergramor, and Arimia!

Thelergramor tilts his head at the odd creatures. Dodges one's attack by simply sidestepping out of the way. Not exactly mobile with the heavy weapons. Lets his cannon hang as he pulls his flamberge and follows the draw straight downward, swinging at the neck of the creature.