[center][h1][u]Marlowe Vallis[/u][/h1][hr]• [i]The Skullfish, Hold[/i]. Southern Seas • [/center]
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The crate was uncomfortably warm and Marlowe found himself unreasonably close to the girl he had regarded as a sister for the past 6 years. He did his best to give her enough room for herself; since he was, at the least, slightly larger in frame and height than her. They were resting on a bed of nets and diver gear, and luckily they had pushed many of the smaller metal parts away from their seat. Still, mesh net did not make a comfortable cushion in a tight fitting wooden box. Between the awkwardness of close proximity to someone and the stifling warmth of a closed container, Marlowe was beginning to perspire a tad. 

“When we start moving…” he muttered, trying not to whisper too loudly, “We’ll sneak out. I believe that Miss Terhikki and Miss Watercrest will vouch for us if we can casually stroll on deck.” 

Suddenly, the two felt themselves slightly rock back and forth in the crate, with Marlowe nearly falling over Marea. “S-sorry!” He quickly whispered, pushing himself back into his corner. “We’re finally moving…” he muttered. “Soon we’ll be too far to turn around and I’ll finally be on my way…” 
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[center][h1][u]Bron Cirrus[/u][/h1][hr]•[i]The Skullfish[/i], Main Deck. Southern Seas •  [hr][/center] 

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“And we’re off!” The large man bellowed, one hand on the ship’s wheel as he steered their course directly towards Gullspire Rock. In the distance, the clouds were blackened and ominous, and lighting struck around the rock constantly.
 
“Steel your nerves, you lot,” he said as a huge thunderclap roared amidst the breeze. “We’ll pierce the storm, anchor in its eye with the harpoon, and end this damnable weather by supper.” He smirked, and turned to the blonde haired young man. “Max! Go ahead and check for cable in the hold! I want to make sure we’re secured on that rock. I’d rather not break any of our diver’s necks if we become dislodged.” 
“Yes sir.” The man gave a slight bow and made his way below decks. 

“Mr. Northman,” He called over to Evander. “I’ve heard you’re an excellent helmsman. Would you mind taking the wheel for a spell whilst I check on our engine? We need to deploy a wind barrier around us right as we hit the storm; that will hopefully keep us from being shredded by the gales long enough to breach the eye.” 

He let the northsailor take the wheel and knelt down into the engine cabin to talk to his main engineer, Marty. “How is she holding up?” 

“She’ll hold long enough captain. It’ll be hard on her running the engine and the barrier at once.” 

“We need to move through those waters quickly. We won’t have the wind tearing at us, but we still have to deal with those waves. And I expect them to be high.” 

“She’ll last. Just don’t expect to push her too hard or we’ll end up scuttled to the deep.” 

“Sir?” Max’s voice called from the hold. “I think you should see this.” 

Bron sighed and waved at Marty, making his way into the hold. “What is i-“ 

He saw Max standing next to two more young ones. From the village no less. His left eye bulged a little bit. Why the hell were [i]stowaways[/i] here? Now? Of all the damn places? Did these two kids decide to sneak away from home? Were they love birds trying to find a quiet place to pash? Now Bron had two more bodies on board, and they were sailing into dangerous seas—

“I-I can explain!” The brown haired young man stammered. “You see, I-I’m actually with two of the Divers on the ship! Terhikki and Marina. I’m a Diver too!” 

“Really boy? [i]You’re[/i] a diver? Where’s your gear?” 

“Oh-well, I don’t have a rebreather. Or any kinds of special equipment. I just have my sword. So…I can fight anything that comes at us!” 

Bron placed a thick hand on his forehead. [i]”Ocean’s blood…[/i]” he muttered. He turned to Max, trying to keep his composure. “Head up to the deck and tell our helmsman to turn about. We’ve got two [i]islandlings[/i] to drop off before we get too far out to sea.” 

Max nodded, and the young man made his way back onto the deck, walking towards Evander. “Sir,” he muttered quietly to Evander. “We need to turn back towards the Island. It seems we have…an issue.” 

The boat suddenly rocked; though it was not due to Evander’s piloting. Something was…knocking against the ship! Max nearly lost his footing, grabbing onto the siderail of the ship, looking down into the water. That’s where he saw them. “[i]Impossible[/i],” he muttered, before the creature nearly lept from the water at him. He turned back to the others, yelling. “Arm yourselves!” At that moment, several large creatures leapt from the ocean, landing onto the main deck of the ship. Quadrupedal, froglike, but covered in razor sharp fins. Any of the experienced divers would have noticed what they were immediately; though it seemed impossible they’d be [i]here.[/i] 

[i]Savorask.[/i] A deep water creature; usually hanging around ancient cave systems. They were dangerous night hunters and a recurring danger to many divers. Thick, elongated tongues that could shoot out like a pistol, and sharp, serrated teeth to tear apart anything they pulled in. Thick skin and swift swimmers, they were also able to move on land. But they were usually found in the Imperial Sea, or in the Sea of Ancients. 

[i]Why were they here?![/i] [/indent]