113 replies to this topic

[SL the Pyro]

Shadow really didn't like his part of the mission, though he wasn't at all surprised that he got it in the first place. Emerging from the bushes with Ken at his side, he saw the longboats of the Sultan piling up at the shore. Looking over to the far side, he saw Kitsune and that little girl moving out of the brush as well.

Before he could even speak a word to the oncoming pirates, he heard some yelling over from the massive warship. The pirates looked back there, then at Shadow and the others with angrier faces than before. "Jumping the gun a bit, aren't you?" he said to himself; it was his understanding that Jordan was going to attack after the Sultan's crew bought their stowaway story. Oh well, as long as it had the desired result... the pirates rushed in, ready to apprehend the four of them.

[Steel Samurai]

Now. Steel motioned to Ransom with his head and slipped out of the undergrowth. Not a pirate left on this shore, and every eye on the Sultan turned towards Jordan. Perfect. He waded out into the surf, then started swimming as soon as the water reached his chest. Quick, silent strokes brought him to the anchor chain of the Sultan in less than two minutes. The iron links were slippery with algae, but the leather grip of his gauntlets provided a stable hold. Steel brought up the plans to the ship in his head. The captain's cabin was on the other side of the ship. The brig was on this side though. Ransom should be able to sneak in through the large hole for the anchor chain and conceal himself easily. Steel reached the hole for the anchor chain and slipped in. There was no one in the small room, dominated by the barrel of the winch above, coiled about with more of the massive chain. All the crew would be either manning the cannon or on deck attempting to off Jordan with bow and arrow. Steel opened a small trapdoor in the floor and dropped through it into the hold. His eyes widened considerably. Fine art, beautiful gold and silver objects, and other such valuables were in mounds on the floor of the ship. Steel stepped quickly through them. They would make a fine addition to the Fortress vault. In a couple of minutes he reached the other side of the ship. A small trapdoor, similar to the one on the other side of the ship, was directly above his head. It only opened from the top, however. He closed his eyes and opened his other senses. No auras in the compartment above him. Steel drew his odachi and with two strokes reduces the trapdoor to kindling. He sheathed the long sword and leapt, grabbing the edge of the wooden deck above and pulling himself up. A small supply room. A ladder to the upper deck was conveniently placed behind him. He should be right below the antechamber to the captain's cabin right now. Steel climbed up the ladder quickly, opening the trapdoor above him with a squeak. The antechamber was empty. As expected, all hands were occupied. The plan had, so far, gone perfectly. Steel glanced out of the pane glass window in the bedroom. The sun had almost set. Darkness was Jordan's cue to retreat. Devinson would most likely stay out on deck for a couple hours and then retire, leaving his mate in charge. Steel went over to the desk and idly went through it. Likely nothing horribly interesting, though there might be some decent maps Devinson had had made of this largely uncharted north sea. Wait. There was a large, plain notebook, unlabeled except for a small alliance seal in the bottom right corner. Well. Devinson must have managed to take an Alliance vessel. This could have valuable information in it. Time enough to look through it later. Steel put it back where he found it and crouched in the corner that would be darkest when night fell. The only thing to do now was wait and hope the others did their jobs correctly.

[JRPomazon]

"Kill that bastard now! I want his carcass tied to the bow as a trophy!"

What a warm welcoming party. Jordan cracked his neck as he shifted his head from the left to the right, attempting to relieve a bit of his bodily stress.

"Really? Do you guys know how badly I'm going to hurt you. . . all of you?" Jordan asked.

Jordan made another simple swing with his glaive, creating a large gust to wind to blow the traitors off their feet and either on the deck, into a mast or other standing object or even right off the vessel. This wasn't a fight, this was just boring. He wasn't even getting the chance to use any of his more interesting attacks. But showing off wasn't important, he only thing that truly mattered now was obtaining the log book from the ship. It was told by the Alliance officials to be slender notebook with the alliance seal on the bottom corner. Should be simple enough to find.

Jordan dashed over to the other side of the ship, where he could hopefully get to the lower decks on the ship. He knocked down doors and pushed people aside, making a ruckus and whatnot in order to find that log.

[SL the Pyro]

"ARGH! Let me go! I'm telling you, we don't have anything to do with that wind-man!"

"Liar!"

With a heave-ho, the hefty traitor pirate tossed Shadow into the wooden cell, right next to Ken, Kitsune and the little girl. The door slammed shut and locked, and the heavy footsteps of the man running away indicated that he was going to try and solve the above-deck problems.

He only hoped Ransom came along soon; he hated waiting. And if he didn't come... well, Shadow had a plan B. He slipped a hand under his stolen bandana to check... perfect, still there. If something did go wrong, then at least he and co. wouldn't be trapped in here for the long haul.

[nameless]

Nanashi had been thrown into a dingy sell with shadow and ken and kitsune. "Right so now we wait right?" She looked confusededly at the rest of them.

[Steel Samurai]

Steel's eyes snapped open. Three men were approaching the captains cabin. He listened intently.

"Quick, get the cap'n to 'is room. 'E's got a bloody spar stickin' out of 'is shoulder. We need t' get some rum t' ease the pain."

Steel stood up. No need for secrecy now. The door swung open and two sailors with Devinson supported between them stepped in. They looked at Steel with surprise.

"C-Commander Steel!" one of the sailors spluttered, a somewhat rotund fellow.

"You want to live? Leave now." The round fellow turned and dashed away. His partner, however, began to draw his saber

"Don't do it Jones. You'd just be throwing your life away and I'll still die." Devinson spoke sharply, his voice low and hard. Jones reluctantly sheathed his blade. He glanced into Steel's cold, black eyes, swallowed, hesitated, and then dashed away.

"Why?" The word was spoken more as a command than a question.

"Because Juno's gone for long enough without competition. Because I'm sick of taking orders from you, a whelp less than half my age. Because . . . Because they had my daughter."

"Who?"

Devinson only chuckled. Steel grabbed him by the collar and slammed him on top of the desk, sending papers flying everywhere.

"Tell me who."

"You're only going to kill me anyway."

"But how quickly? And if you die with that knowledge, what will happen to your daughter?"

Devinson laughed again, and then coughed blood.

"She'll be safe forever if I die."

"That's what they told you. You trust them? They who had you betray your master surely would not hesitate to betray you."

Steel grabbed the large piece of wood embedded in Devinson's shoulder and twisted it without moving his eyes from Devinson's. The old man screamed in pain.

"Tell me."

Devinson shook his head. Steel twisted it again.

"Refuse again and I'll pull it out."

"Alright, Alright. Secret faction . . . within the Alliance . . . want to remove all remaining limits on . . . Khuffie's power."

"Who was your contact?"

"He was Military Police . . . Never could find out his real name . . ."

That was enough information.

"Time to say goodnight Devinson."

"Steel, wait. Promise me . . . Promise me you'll make sure she's safe."

"I owe you nothing Devinson. Nothing except pain for having brought me out here on this stupid quest."

"No . . ."

Steel ripped the wood from Devinson's shoulder, eliciting a scream of pain from the man. He watched him for a moment, writhing in agony, then drew his Odachi and struck the man's head from his body. Damn quest was finally over. The pay had better be good for this one. Oh, wait, he forgot. He was the one who'd started it in the first place, he was the one paying the others. This would require further investigation, however, and, despite his words to Devinson, he would try to see that his daughter was safe. Devinson had sent her to school in the Alliance as soon as she was old enough to be alone, and Steel had met her several times during his time in the Alliance, and grown to like her. But time enough to worry about that later. Time to see how many of the crew would die before the day was up. Steel grabbed the small logbook with the Alliance insignia, and walked back out on deck.

[Tseb]

(OOC:Sorry I've been gone)

::Earlier::

Tseb approached the fire calling a warning to the forms surrounding it. "Once things get started stay off the deck, Jordan you'll be fine, everyone else stay off deck."

With that he departed, Returned to the sea, and walked in. His part was simple, distraction, without to much destruction. He kept walking until his head left the surface. Then he waited. Air came down from the surface at his bidding, creating a small tube to his mouth.




::Not Earlier::

Tseb flew out of the water, and landed in the middle of the deck. Jordan had already left the deck in a shambles but pirates where spilling out of every door they could find.

"Over here!" a pirate shouted pointing at Tseb.

"Come one, come all" Tseb replied. "Catch me if you can"

Then he turned and ran Up the stairs to the bow. Upon reaching it he turned to face the pirates chasing him.

"Freeze!" Tseb yelled.

Nothing happened. The pirates looked confused. Then a twenty foot wave erupted over the side of the ship, drenching all the pirates and instantly freezing the pirates to the deck and whatever they happened to be touching. He took a ring of his finger and dropped it on the deck, ensuring that the enchantment would keep the pirates frozen. Tseb looked over the seventy odd pirates frozen to the deck.

"Steel will deal with you later."

He then left the deck to continue his distraction.

[Ken the Wandering Soul]

Ken groaned and flexed his stiff arm, the effects of paralysis wearing off. Apparently, the Sultan crew saw him as enough of a threat to have him shot with a poison dart. He ended up being relieved of his weapon, and they dragged him aboard as another prisoner.

Ken had spent the intervening time stewing in his thoughts as his rage started to boil. The Sultan crew had made a grave error in separating him from his sword, and then treating it so disdainfully in front of his eyes. Just starting to get up, Ken bared his teeth. He didn't like being confined in this cell, nor did he like anything else about this ship.

A soft light started to cover Ken's body, and he began to change shape, with the glow fading away to reveal Ken's platinum-furred wolf form. Almost immediately, he charged at the cell door, trying to break it open. After several attempts, it opened with surprising ease. Whither it is was a member of Steel's crew or just the door being unable to take it, Ken did not care. He charged through the below decks of the ship, set on mauling every last member of the Sultan's crew until he found his sword and made sure they paid for their direspect.

[JRPomazon]

Jordan had overheard everything. He stumbled upon the last meeting between the captain and Steel and preceded to watch as the cold blooded pirate murdered the captain. That's what happens to traitors, they end up getting ahead or they end up dead. But what really got his interest was the information about the military police contact. Was it who he thought it was? Well, nothing could be said for sure at this point in the game. Jordan followed Steel closely behind as he headed towards the deck. Steel probably noticed that he was behind him. Didn't matter though, seeing as Jordan was going to make himself known.

"Since I'm going back to the Alliance, I think I should be the one to tell the captain's daughter that her father has passed. It will save you some trouble." Jordan called out.

"And you can return the favor by giving me that book you have there Steel. I've been told it's quite the read and someone in the Alliance wants to give it a look over."

Jordan was serious, his eyes could tell a man that much. He was hoping Steel would comply with his request, the last thing either of them wanted was a scuffle.

[SL the Pyro]

Shadow rubbed the back of his head and replied to the girl, "Guess so... until Ransom shows up at least. Diel, I hate having to sit on the sidelines like this... wait, who are you anyway?"

His train of thought was interrupted when he noticed light from within the room. He slowly tilted his head around in mild curiousity, which became a sense of urgency when he saw that Ken had went into his alternate form, growling angrily... at the door.

"Wait, no, Ken, no--" Too late, Ken had already started bashing on the door and broke it down in no time at all, scampering out. Shadow gritted his teeth as the screams of pirates ensued. He turned around to the girl and said in an annoyed tone, "Some example he's setting for his fellow pirates... c'mon, we'd better go too before we miss out..."

Shadow hopped up to his feet and casually walked out the door, just to be met with a pirate that was running up to the jail cell to see what the commotion was. "Oy! How'd ye--" Shadow didn't even give him time to finish whatever he was saying, his hobnailed boot connected with his face hard and sent him falling back to the floor, dazing him and leaving a few bloody impressions on his face.

The brazzen thief then pilfered the cutlass that was hitched on the pirate's belt, getting a feel for the weapon; not his style, but it would have to do for now. "Ugh, I prefer my longsword... which reminds me, we need to go find our weapons." At this point the pirate was getting up, so Shadow decided to get information from him. He held the cutlass to the pirate's neck and said, "And you're going to take us to them."

Edited by Shadow_Link, 15 August 2008 - 01:43 PM.

[Steel Samurai]

The pirates on deck all seemed pretty cool. Very cool actually. Frigid, almost. Not that that was surprising, considering who they were following. Good. It should take little effort to regain control.

"Since I'm going back to the Alliance, I think I should be the one to tell the captain's daughter that her father has passed. It will save you some trouble." Jordan called out

"And you can return the favor by giving me that book you have there Steel. I've been told it's quite the read and someone in the Alliance wants to give it a look over."

Steel turned.

"And why," His black eyes flashed cold fire as they bored into Jordan's. "The hell would I want the Alliance to regain this?"

[JRPomazon]

If there was something to mention about Steel, it was his eyes. Pirates in the Fortress would say exaggerated things about them, like they stole away souls or could kill a man if you looked at them long enough. The funny thing was, those rumors weren't as far off as one might think. Jordan however, could deal with eyes.

"Listen, I didn't come all this way so I could give the Fortress a hand in completing some low caliber "locate an' infiltrate mission". The Alliance has asked me to recover that logbook you got there. I'm only doing this so I can clear my name, they have the strange idea that I'm an assistant to an anarchist."

Steel still appeared uninterested in cooperating.

"Steel, if I don't give them their prize, they'll do more than just kill me. Gwen has been . . ." He trailed off solemnly. His hands moved towards his glaives.

"Just give me the damn book, I don't want blood over this."

Edited by JRPomazon, 15 August 2008 - 07:10 PM.

[Steel Samurai]

As Jordan's hands moved Steel shifted slightly, pushing the hilt of his Odachi out of its scabbard with his thumb. Hopefully there would be no violence, but Jordan was a formidable opponent, and Steel had no wish to be at a disadvantage if it should come to a fight.

"Tell me everything. Now."

[JRPomazon]

Jordan stood in place, his hands neither moving towards his weapon or away from them.

"Since the last time we met during the war, a lot has happened. I was accused of participating in the slaughter of a town with Goose from Ikana and was forced to be on the run for a few days. I was accompanied by Goose which made the situation worse by going on his vendetta against Khuffie himself. I stuck around because I had some questions for him. In the end, he murdered several dozen of the lords in the Alliance not to mention the most beloved princess the world has ever seen. All in the name of a revolution, although I'm still trying to figure out why."

Jordan lowered his hands finally.

"In the end, I was captured while helping Goose escape. The man responsible for tracking and attempting the capture of Goose and myself went by the name Weizel Grande, a shrewed bastard who is damn good at capturing criminals in the name of 'justice'. Because of some benefactors going off and losing a log of their dirty money, the Alliance is willing to pardon my crimes if I either return with the log book or destroy it. How Grande came up with the idea to use me like this is beyond me. Refusing meant facing an execution squad and if I don't return, Gwen is targeted as a rebel and killed for nothing. That's why I need that book and that's why I can't allow my mission to fail."

The dawn began to rise in the horizon, the light of the sun broke through the night.

Edited by JRPomazon, 15 August 2008 - 11:48 PM.

[Steel Samurai]

Steel started when Jordan mentioned Weizel Grande. He quickly composed himself and listened to the rest of Jordan's tale.

"Dammit, you should have informed me as soon as you saw us." He said sharply when Jordan had finished. "Weizel Grande ey . . . That son of a bitch is still alive? Trust me, you don't know the half of how much of an asshole he is. Damned good tracker though. And you honestly think he'll let either you or Gwen live after you return? Not a chance. I know that sneaky bitch, better than his own mother. He'll hunt you as far as he needs to to ensure his own dirty tracks are covered . . ." Steel sighed. "I'll need to look into this personally. It's time to settle some old scores. For the moment, however, I'm afraid that the information in this log is very important. But you'll need it if we're to get anywhere close to Grande . . ." Steel let go of his sword and got out the log, then leafed to the back page. Perfect. On it were listed, in an alliance code Steel knew all too well, 3 locations where copies of the log were hidden. Steel memorized all 3 quickly and tossed the book to Jordan.

"I would keep it whole for the moment, if I were you. It may be useful later on."

[JRPomazon]

Jordan caught the log book and clutched it as tight as he could. This book meant the clearing of his name.

"You know Grande? I never would of guessed. But what do you mean by old scores Steel?" Jordan asked.

After asking the question, he thought about what he had just said and decided it might be best not to know right away.

"Heh, never mind that last bit. I'll take your warning into consideration, I don't feel right around him either. However, I don't think he is as sinister as you claim he is."

Jordan looked on at the frozen deck of the Sultan.

"Well, the new guy certainly did a bang-up job. Shame I didn't see it for myself. What is next on the agenda? Bring the ship back and let the rest of the pirates take care of their former comrades?" He asked Steel.

[Steel Samurai]

"With the head of the snake cut off, the body should pose little difficulties if one can stop from being injured by the writhing of death. And with everyone frozen, there shouldn't be much writhing."

Steel stepped to the top of the poopdeck.

"I'm going to give you all the benefit of the doubt and assume that Devinson gave you no choice but to desert. However, this is the only chance you will get. Should I hear the slightest murmur of dissent, I'll have those responsible executed on the spot. Is that understood?"

The pirates were unable to move their heads.

"I'll take that as a yes then. Release them, Tseb."

As soon as he ensured Ken and the others were out, they would be ready to depart.

[Ken the Wandering Soul]

Ken emerged from below decks in his wolf form, now relatively mellowed out, with his sword hovering over his back. Splotches of blood along his muzzle and a few other parts of his body contrasted with the platinum fur, and showed clearly the deed he had done.

Ken still felt that rage within himself, but he controlled himself. He had retrieved what was rightfully his, and had suitably punished those who stole his sword. For a small second, a twang of regret sounded through him, and he felt ashamed of maiming and bringing so many close to the brink of death, but it did not last long.

Serves them right. he thought darkly to himself as he looked over the frozen deck, and thought of the crew below.

Somewhere in Ken's heart, that little voice of regret still remained, mourning for those who were so meaninglessly hurt.

Edited by Ken the Wandering Soul, 19 August 2008 - 05:42 PM.

[SL the Pyro]

Shadow cautiously peeked his head around the entrance to the above decks, his sword and the Aegis shield strapped comfortably around his back once again. He saw Steel, Jordan, a blood-covered Ken and a myriad of pirates there... who were all doing nothing.

"Aw, the fun's over already?" Shadow thought with disappointment. "Well, I'm gonna be on here a while, so I might as well learn the layout..."

Shadow turned on his heel and walked back below decks, trying to learn as much about this massive battleship as possible. Who knows, there might be something useful here...

Edited by Shadow_Link, 20 August 2008 - 07:36 AM.

[nameless]

Nanashi came above deck to look around and fight if she had to, though that wolf had done a good job at that all ready, and looked in amusement at the pirates on deck "Hahahaha, they are frozen, hahahaha that soo funny." Nanashi moved to the closest pirate and started poking him. "hehhehehaherheh, this is fun" She continued till she was bored. "Right now to umm....erm...hmm." She looked over at Steel. "Sir what should I do?"

[Tseb]

The below decks had been a grizzly sight at best. Mangled bodies left and right, up and down, and a few other directions yet to be named.

Tseb had decided very quickly that he was not needed.

When he had returned to the main deck it was to a very chilling sight, Steel had his hand on his sword and Jordan was mirroring the gesture.

Thank the elements that it had worked out well. As both men relaxed the whole crew above deck, frozen or otherwise, had released a collective sigh.

"Release them, Tseb" Steel proclaimed.

"Aye, sir" Tseb replied. He moved forward carefully making sure not to slip and fall, then removed the ring from the deck and tossing it into the ocean. Instantly the ice returned to being water releasing its captives. Tseb also broke the enchantment on the long boat he had hidden, causing the boat to surface and float along side the Sultan.


"Sir what is our next move?" Tseb asked Steel as he approached Steel.

Edited by Tseb, 20 August 2008 - 12:33 PM.

[JRPomazon]

As all the pirates aboard the Sultan were released from their frozen shackles, they slowly began to move about the deck. Their side had lost, but they were still able to keep their lives. It was a good day for everyone it seemed. Although seeing Ken in wolf form with blood all over his fur was a bit unnerving. Jordan took the log book and placed it in a satchel he had brought along on the mission. He had to get this back to Hatena, where Weizel Grande would wait for his return. Now the real question was whether or not he would leave on his own or stick with Steel's merry band a little while longer. It really depended on what Steel was going to do.

The sounds of slamming footsteps echoed behind Jordan. He turned his head to find that there was a man with a knife intending to stab him. The problem was that this man was quick, too quick to avoid all of his strike but just enough time to make a potentially lethal blow a scratch across his chest armor. The attacker looked wide-eyed and shocked as he witnessed his own attack become nothing than a harmless distraction. Jordan grabbed the man's arm and disarmed him. The man slipped from Jordan's hold and backed away out of Jordan's range. Jordan, looking at the knife he had just obtained, smiled at his attacker.

"Well, you just saved me the trouble of taking out my weapons." Jordan said, almost laughing.

Jordan took the knife and made a vertical slashing motion at the air in front of him.

"What the hell are you doing?" The man asked.

"Something you should know about wind manipulation is the fact that it gives me the power to control the length of my weapon's blades." Jordan explained.

"Even a knife like this can be used for long distance combat. Just look for yourself."

The man looked down to see that his shirt had a newly made vertical cut. He looked at Jordan, a cold sweat ran down his face as fear began to consume him. Jordan threw the knife into the deck and cracked his knuckles.

"Now, I really don't think using weapons will be necessary but I will beat the living shit out of you until I see fit." Jordan said as he cracked a devious smile and chuckled.

Before anyone could realize, Jordan had already begun beating the poor man senseless. This was going to take awhile.

[Steel Samurai]

Steel glanced at the prostrate figure in front of Jordan.

"Kill him when you're done."

It was time to leave. Time to head back to Almirante and finish this quest. Steel shouted orders to the crew, who were quite lively and eager to please after the unforgiving order given earlier. This news about Grande though . . . This was troubling. If he was in a position of enough power to be throwing around orders and logbooks like that, he could make things troubling for the Fortress, especially if he was involved in whatever it was Devinson had been up to. Things would have to be seen to, and quickly. Devinson's daughter needed to be saved, a trap set for Grande with Jordan as the bait, steps needed to be taken to ensure Gwen was kept safe, and there was that . . . other issue that would need a close watch. Much to be done in not a lot of time. The course was set. It was time to make things happen.

* * * *

Thus ends our little mission. I'll probably be starting a new thread presently. The rest of you can do whatever you please, as always.

[Selena]

Logbooks recovered from the Sultan indicate that Devinson had been accumulating allies and making runs throughout the northern seas. On his traitorous adventures, the ill fated captain made a fascinating discovery that he hoped to capitalize on before the nations of the world took notice - a northern sea passage to yet another foreign continent! An entry reads:

"Have made it through the iceberg ridden northern seas. The coastline of Norrendir abruptly vanished partway through the voyage. Lost at sea for several days before spotting the coast again. We made landfall to get supplies, but quickly realized that this could not have been Norrendir. Flora and fauna are distinct. Northern coast was covered in snow and ice, but land turned warm sooner than expected. Unusual for the latitude. Was able to acquire food and fresh water, but natives soon approached with hostile intentions. Looked well fed. Many wore gems. Good fighters. Shot two dead before escaping to the ship."

Searching through the Sultan's cargo hold reveals foreign fruit, somehow fresh despite the length of the voyage. Unusual taste. Immensely refreshing.




- New continent discovered!
- Map updated!


(World Guide will be updated as soon as I have time)