Encounter on the high seas - RPLOG
Participants
Date
13/9/476
Log
Early in the morning on the docks, away from the parts where locals are reduced to trapping seagulls for the pot, and more towards the cleaner areas where Sweetwater harbours much of its navy when it's not out at sea. Sailors crawl all over, making last-minute adjustments and repairs to sails and rigging, while naval mages look over the spells intended to stabilise the ships. The entire waterfront is a bustle of activity, punctuated by short bursts of calm as the arrival of new hands is awaited.
Shirokami wanders down the pier, tail hanging low behind him as he gazes about at the area, his ears twitching as he nods to himself a moment. He was covered in soot upon his white fur, clearly having been at the forges not long ago, wearing his blacksmiths garbs
Selena shivers slightly as she meanders along the beach, heading down the pier after a brief few moments of hesitation. A few beings are acknowledges with friendly nods; having been aquainted at some point. Living in the Maritime district has its perks.
Shirokami is among those beings, Selena offering a wave to the wolf and tilting her head slightly as though looking for something or someone. "Well, hello Shirokami." She greets, tone perhaps a little more formal than usual. One might pass it as being uncomfortable.
Far down the docks, a lion patiently waits for his prey. A predator must be patient, dignified, and graceful in his profession. In his hand is a slapped together fishing pole with its hook sunk straight into the water and awaiting any fish that may be foolish enough to take a nibble. As for its owner, he displays such steel resolve and trickery by creating an ILLUSION of being asleep. Yes, quite an illusion indeed. Perhaps he convinced himself too much due to the sheer power of it, for eventually the pole slips out of his hand and directly into the water, making a loud splash that jolts Dio awake!
"Where? Who?" He rapidly looks around and springs to his feet, searching for who may have disturbed him in his amazing act. How did the other activity not wake the slumbering fool up? A selective sleeper perhaps. Rubbing a bit at his eyes and taking a moment to lament the loss of his pole, Dio makes his way towards Selena and Shirokami and gives them a friendly wave. "'ello lad 'n' lass," he yawns, looking over the water. "Busy day, ain't it?"
As preparations continue, the small group of Freeswords - the small group included - grows somewhat, enough to warrant a petty officer stepping off one of the ships to address everyone, a water-clanned turtle who looks more sullen than he should as he looks over the motley crew.
"Is that all we've got today, then? Well, I suppose it's better than nothing. Your job today, to put it simply, is to be bait. We've outfitted one of our ships to pass her off as a merchant vessel, colours and all, and it's with this that we're going to lure those troublemakers out - or at least that's the plan command came up with. Don't worry, we'll have a couple of ships tailing you at all times, despite the fog that's out at sea at the moment. My boys will do most of the actual sailing work - not that we don't mind you helping out if you're able - but what we do need is for you to be able to fight, if need be. Any questions?"
Shirokami looks up and nods to the turtle a moment " Well, we'll do what we can, I am certain. At least, as much as possible where we are able.
We will not dissapoint." he looks to Selena and nods to her, tilting his head a bit " Well, is something wrong? Seems you are a bit different from our last encounters. How have you beem?" he smiles a bit to her
Selena chuckle quietly at the lion's antics before collecting herself and coughing politely into a hand. "I do have a name, Dio. I'd appreciate it if you used it." She replies, an ear flicking back in the sea breeze. "...I don't even remember the last time I was at sea, beyond it ending badly. You could say I'm a little on edge. What about you two? have you been on a boat before?" She queries, the turtle's orders being met with a stifled sigh that nevertheless becomes aparrent. "That's easy enough. I'm not particularly fond of being called 'bait', but... Well, it's not difficult to look harmless." She replies, tapping a foot against the wood of the pier. "I suppose I'll see if I can't do something about the fog when we're closer to it. It looks thick enough from here."
That said, the wolfess glances at the ships in port, the back to the turtle. "Is part of the plan telling us which of these we're being loaded onto? You're not exactly the only beings here today."
The poor little lion was just waking up from a day's worth of hard fishing, and suddenly he's blasted by a dangerous job. Still rubbing his eyes, he looks towards the turtle with an incredulous look, almost feeling like he's dreaming. Or perhaps it was a nightmare? Physical labor... "Ah yeah, of course lad. We're master baiters over 'ere, ya can trust us to get the job done, and well. Where's our ship we'll be using?"
The lion looks back towards the group and thinks back to his other sea exploits. "Been awhile, Lass Selena," he chuckles. "I usually like to stay in-land as much as possible, but sometimes a few jobs in decades past 'ave called fer it."
"Yes," the turtle replies in answer to Selena's question. "It's that one over there."
He points to a sleek vessel some way down the pier, already being readied to be put out to sea. "Perfect for the job, really - we confiscated her from a bunch of smugglers a few days back and refitted her a little, so she's perfect for the job. Of course, instead of contraband, her hold's full of surprises this time." He pauses a moment. "It's a bit odd, really, for activity to pick up at this time of year - the bastards are usually most active when there're better sailing conditions - but who can say what drives a being to do that sort of thing for a living? In any case, good luck to the lot of you. We'll be following behind."
Shirokami looks from Selena, to the turtle and the boat he mentions before nodding, then turns to Selena " Well, a few times.. But not many. I stay on the road mostly. I do enjoy the breeze and the scents it brings however. It's refreshing." he begins heading towards the ship, tail flicking a bit behind him
Selena nods, quirking an eyebrow. "Funny. That wouldn't happen to be the one that we almost beached by the lighthouse, would it?" She asks, then shakes her head. "The bad weather lately made food more expensive. Cliffside halted exports for the time being, so there's a lot more crown in smuggling than there usually would be. I'm not surprised it's started early, but a lot of them don't have any other option to make that money." The wolfess takes a brief moment to consider Shirokami's position, ultimately shrugging as she moves for the vessel; "I've spent more time studying than I have at sea. I don't regret it."
"Indeed, wolfess lass Selena," Dio nods and agrees. "A bit o' a food crises brings about good times fer some smugglin'. Now then!" The lion claps his hands together once to emit a loud clapping noise that echos amongst the air and briefly rubs them together. "I think I'm ready to sail the seas once more! Put some smugglers out o' commotion an' all that fun stuff." With a little jig and stretch to prepare himself for the incoming physical activity, the lion makes his way for the indicated boat and hops aboard.
"Well, if you like the breeze that much, it'll be better out there. The breeze here smells of bird leavings and rotting fish. And as for that...I can't say more, lass. Confidentiality and all." With that, everyone, along with the rest of the Freeswords and sailors are loaded onto the ship that's been pointed out. It certainly makes itself look like a merchant vessel, albeit with bristling with concealed cannons belowdecks. The sails are unfurled, the colours are hoisted, and before long the ship's under way, sailing off into the foggy morning sea, an unassuming worm bristling with spikes.
Shirokami heads up onto the decks of the ship, peering over the banister, looking out to the waters and the horizon " So, how far is this ship headed, anyway?" he tilts his head slightly, before turning to the others questioningly " So that I know what to expect and when it might be."
Selena chuckles quietly - it was never said that the piers smelt particularly pleasent, after all. "Well, that's not a problem. Better to be honest than skirt around a question." She comments, glancing up into the distance. "That being said, I don't mind foggy days... Dio - you really don't have to call me 'wolfess lass Selena. Just the name will do. I don't think you'd want people calling you feline elder male Dio, or something along those lines."
As Dio walks around the ship, he takes another moment to regret the loss of his trusty improvised fishing pole. What a lovely way to pass the time it would've been, and perhaps it would've led to a wonderful meal or snack. "Perhaps it's time to invest in a real fishin' pole," he mumbles under his breath to no one in particular, leaning against the side of the boat and looking out into the waters. "Feline Elder Male Dio?" The lion turns his focus towards Selena and smiles, perhaps quite excited by the concept. "I like the sound of that!"
Gradually, the shoreline disappears, receding into the early morning fog. The roll of waves rocks the ship a little, but the ship's mage holds the craft steady, and the weather itself doesn't look too bad, really. Most of the sailors with the group are dressed in civilian clothes as they hurry about their business, and for the most part the Freeswords keep out of their way, instead preferring to keep watch on the faint dark outlines in the fog that're the Sweetwater Royal Navy's destroyers, tailing them at a distance.
Nothing happens for one hour, two, three's worth of sailing, the sun inching higher in the sky and dissipating some of the fog. And then in the distance...a faint silhouette, or perhaps two, in the water.
Shirokami nods to Dio a moment " I will make you one later. I am a blacksmith after all, and I do some tinkering with other craft related skills." he looks to Selena and smirks a bit at the 'backfire' of the comment. His attention turns to the silhouettes when they come to view and he watches them intently " Cant tell if thats them, or if it's not from here."
Selena groans quietly at Dio's comment, shaking a hand as a rebuke to Dio's enthusiasm. "No, Dio, that just sounds bad." Though at least the rest of the trip seems to pass calmly, the wolfess seems to keep nearer to the center of the ship as she watches. The sillhouettes, however, provoke a quick reaction. "Well, there's a reason I'm here." She replies to Shirokami, moving tentatively over to the bow of the ship - at this point it's probably just clear she's uncomfortable with being at sea - before beginning to work some magic; light winds at first, forcing the moisture in the air to precipitate out as rain as she slowly increases the magnitude of the spell. Ideally, until the other ships are clearly visible.
"Would ya really, lad?" Dio turns around to gaze at Shiro with delighted and appreciative eyes. "I'd be most thankful if ya did. A good fishin' pole an' some skills can keep a man fed fer a long time. Perhaps I should get a good harpoon fer the bigger fish if I ever get so lucky..." What a day that would be, reeling in a giant fish and giving it a good poke in the heart to put the beast of an aquatic creature down. Things to Aspire To, by Dio the Traveler. "Yer right lass, I ain't that old just yet. I'm still in my prime an' all!" To demonstrate, Dio flexes his right arms to display his strength, but his show is stopped short upon noticing the silhouettes in the distance. "I hope we got some crew on our 'surprise'," he comments, squinting his eyes to help make out the mysterious figures.
Indeed, the fog ahead parts under Selena's efforts, and revealed in the distance are two unmarked vessels heading straight for the one the Freeswords are on, armed and bristling with cannons ready on deck. However, they don't turn their sides to the faux-merchant vessel in preparation for a broadside - indeed, they don't make any action that could be considered overtly hostile at all, instead doing quite the opposite as they approach. Curious.
Shirokami looks to Selena with a shrug " Seems they are probably not.. But who are they? Do you see any particular design from here that you can tell?" he looks to Dio and nods " Aye, I will. And maybe even a harpoon."
Selena makes her way back to the center of the ship expediently, her task for the time being done. That said, though, she doesn't seem particularly comfortable with the ships pointing cannons about either. "That depends. Do you recognise ships based on their lack of defining marks? No, I don't recognise them either." She replies - while it's not exactly a cutting remark, her tone stays fairly even. "Besides. Better to leave them be until they're closer. I don't know what they're doing, but in the worst case we can just capture one of their ships if this one's sunk."
Thanks to Selena's magic, Dio squints just a bit more and makes out the unmarked ship. "I don' like the look o' that, that's fer sure. Cannons an' not a flag to be seen," he comments, perhaps leaning a bit further than he should over the ship's edge. "But yeah, don' fire 'til we're fired upon an' all that good business. Can't be causin' an incident now... But I can't help but wonder if somethin' ain't the way it seems. Got that feelin'."
Indeed, the ships draw closer, and without much incident too - the Royal Navy's destroyers in the background are some small solace, if something were to go awry, but it doesn't. Once they're within hailing distance, though, one of them passes by and a voice calls out, amplified by wind magic to cross the waters separating the two:
"Hey, Vander! Did you make the drop? Thank the Creators you're safe - we've been looking for you all over in these waters. Where've you been these last few days?"
Shirokami tilts his head as he turns to the voice calling out and blinks a moment, tail twitching behind him " Seems tis not alarming by that greeting. Though something does not feel right..."
Selena just mutters to herself; "I have a bad feeling about this..." Taking a few moments to move over to the 'captain' of the ship, "So. Do you have someone that's good at mimicking voices on board? Anyone at all, because I don't trust this ship to be seaworthy after they -" A finger is jabbed in the direction of the other ships - "fire all their artillery at us when they find out it's a decoy. What's the plan?"
That said, she moves back over to Shirokami and Dio; "They're allies to a small group of smugglers that were apprehended a few days ago. This was the ship we run ashore to keep them busy, and I'm not sure I want to be on it much longer."
Dio listens to the air magic delivered message and chuckles. "Seems like our disguise is workin' better than we'd hoped," he says, listening to Selena. "Yeah, I remember that. Certainly an interestin' day, that's fer sure. Now if we don' answer fast...." It was time for action! For a bit, the lion thinks of a plan that would totally maybe possibly perhaps could work at some point and times. Without taking a moment to converse with the group, he uses a bit of air magic himself to deliever a return message. "Where've ya guys been," he shouts excitedly. "Vander's down with a bout of the runs, if ya know what I mean. Tryin' to get his fluids back. Been moanin' and passin' out fer the last few days... Poor lad. We've been driftin' fer awhile now tryin' to regroup, but I can try an' get a few words outta Vander if ya got a minute."
The 'captain' nods, clearly having overheard the little conversation between Dio, Selena and Shiro. He says something to one of the sailors, who promptly runs belowdecks, then turns to the group. "There, we've signalled for the backup to approach, and for all hands to be at their stations. If they do open fire on us, we can make them regret it deeply. But as to that...well, they sound like Cliffsiders, if I'm not wrong. That accent...and come to think of it, so do you, wolf lass. I can call up Vanessa from belowdecks and she can alter your voice a little if need be, but best to have something good to begin with, aye? Although I'm not even sure what this Vander fellow's supposed to sound like...do you?"
Dio's message, though, is met with considerably less enthusiasm. "And who're you? You don't sound familiar...or maybe you do."
Shirokami's ears fall back slightly at the new response after Dio's calling out, and shakes his head slowly as he looks to the lion " Best be more careful, lest we get sunk before anyone gets here. And I did not plan to swim in such deep waters. No tellin' what might be lurking below us at this moment."
Selena shakes her head. "I thought you were the one in charge of the guard. Why, didn't he speak?" She sighs, rubbing her temples for a moment. "Dio - not a good plan..." She replies to the lion and rubbing her forehead before doing much of a similar trick with air magic - "Don't worry about him, Just a liaison for the Theive's guild we picked up. Not much of a choice sometimes." She calls, cutting off her magic and muttering to herself; "Some captain this is..."
Though the comment about Vanessa is met with a shake of her head - "I'd rather not have someone else case magic on me that I can work myself. Someone did speak back at the lighthouse, I'm just not sure if I'll be able to get it quite right."
"I was just gettin' 'em warmed up, lass! Now we got a bunch o' material to work with," Dio says, still perhaps proud of his actions. "So we've got ourselves a confession. Perhaps if ya mentioned the pickled ham we found, that's all we need. An' if we can distract 'em long enough fer our back up to circle 'em, hopefully we can end this without a single shot fired yeah?" With a cough, he makes his way to a nearby wall and leans against it, crossing his arms and thinking just a bit more. "If ya can't get it perfect, ya can pretend yer a bit sick like I mentioned. Should 'elp out a bit."
Selena's voice is carried over, and there's a long pause before a reply is forthcoming: "Look, there's been word that the factions in the Council that've been pushing for this have caught wind of us not quite going along with their demands - they've got mercs sinking anyone not flying the proper colours, even unmarked ones like you and me, regardless of who you say you are. Stay away from them, put back into port and get back to the guild as soon as possible to report back to the Guildmaster, okay? We need a plan to apply pressure on those in the Council sympathetic to us to stop this madness - it's been too soon since the last war for another one. At this rate, we might as well burn our balance sheets.
"And dump the foreign fellow before you make landfall, or at least stow him away somewhere safe where he won't be found. It'll cause no end of inconvenient questions. Just don't get into any more trouble, okay? If anything happens to you, I'll have to explain things to your wife. So just get your ass back into port. Need us to escort you back?"
Shirokami looks back to the others and smirks " Well as much fun as that might be to do.. Well, you'd best get to the 'brig' just in case." he teases. Then looks to Selena " Does this mean that they are having troubles on their end? Thats rather interesting... I wonder if they are having the same troubles as we are."
Selena purses her lips for a moment. "Have I ever said I don't like lying? But I assume different troubles, Shirokami." She grumbles, looking back to the ship's crew before sighing and replying; "But flying CLiffside colors on a ship over here is a bad move. Sounds like they want us caught more than Sweetwater. Worst case, it might be possible to dock here if we can find some spare Sweetwater flags. As you said, it's been to soon since the last war. If you need a way around the beings in Cliffside, try pointing out that if orders are followed perfectly, it'll just look bad if we're uncovered." The wolfess nixes the spell again, groaning quietly and rubbing the bridge of her nose. "I don't like this."
"Yeah yeah, I'll go down to the brig if need be," Dio huffs, crossing his arms and slightly tilting his nose to the sky, quickly brought down after listening to the other ship's message. "Interestin' indeed. We need to know more 'bout the council. If we can convince 'em to take a Sweetwater flag like ya said, an interview 'r two would be quite lovely."
"Very well," comes the reply. "It's on your head if your contact, or anything else, gets you into trouble. I can understand if you don't want an escort, but I'll say it again: keep yourself safe, all right? I'll see you back at the next meeting." With that, the unmarked ships turn in a slow circle and begin a slow retreat.
On his part, the 'captain' looks pensive and waves over one of his sailors. "Have the message sent out to the backup. Those two are to be tailed as far as you can without entering Cliffside waters. We don't have any hard evidence that they've been up to no good, and no one got down that conversation...but the moment they do anything to warrant bringing them in, do so. I'm sure the others will agree with me." And back to the Freeswords at large, "well, it appears that we didn't find what we came out for, but something else instead. You'll still be paid for your time, of course, but barring any serious objections, I think it's about time to turn back and drop you lot off."
Shirokami nods to the 'captain' a bit, tail twitching behind him " Well, it is interesting to know somethings up on there end as well. Perhaps soon we ought try and find out about it. See if perhaps there may even be a peaceful attempt with them, if it can be something that can be resolveable through assistance. It may end hostilities, at least for a while."
Selena shakes her head. "I don't have any objections." She replies, moving back to the center of the ship and closing her eyes for a moment. "I feel bad for the people on that ship, though. Considering they're independants, I don't think that a peaceful solution would help relations with Cliffside." That said, though, Selena falls silent and watches as the other ships take their leave.
