[hr][hr][center][h1][color=00aeef][u]L[/u][/color] [u]O[/u] [u]R[/u] [u]E[/u] [u]N[/u] [u]T[/u] [u]I[/u] [u]N[/u] [u]E[/u] [color=00aeef][u]Q[/u][/color] [u]U[/u] [u]E[/u] [u]E[/u] [u]N[/u][/h1][/center][hr][hr] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/ByEk1wI.jpg?1[/img] [sub][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whtz44p9oII]♪[/url][/sub][/center] [center][b]Lorentine Queen | Nighttime[/b][/center][hr] [center][b]Leon Solaire[@Jumbus][/b] _____________________[/center] The man had fully expected for Leon to argue with him, to try to defend himself against the accusation leveled upon him. And if Leon had indeed done that, the man was ready with more of his own retorts or if all else fail to render physical violence upon the performer. All these seemed like valid options in the mind of a grieving drunken man who had just lost family members due to the riot. And yet while Leon did somewhat defend himself, he also somewhat did not. Instead of more verbal exchanges that the man had anticipated, Leon hugged him and then used his words to call for an end to the riot. All of these were not what the man expected. He came here for a fight with the man he deemed responsible for the deaths of his loved ones, yet Leon ended up not giving him one. Of course, the fact was that words and gestures meant little in the end. Various emotions ran and battled through the man's inebriated mind. A part of him was becoming even more furious at the direction that Leon had turned things to as it denied him the fight that he had craved for, the fight that would have given him some brief satisfaction from dealing with the man he believed responsible for everything. Another part of him that was hurting started to hurt even more as he recalled once more seeing his own brother getting brutally murdered in the chaos of the riot. And another part still was at a loss and confused as to what he needed to do now that a fight seemed to be out of the question. And whilst the man was deep in his own thoughts, the crowds listened to Leon's words. Their faces showed shame, anger, regret, grief, or the combination thereof. Putting everything else out of the equation, they found Leon's words about the folly of the chaotic riot to be true. Many murmured as they shook their head. [b]"It is true... What have we done?"[/b], [b]"How did we let things to go like this?"[/b], [b]"This is all very wrong..."[/b] Such words came from the members of the crowd. They started to really look at their surroundings too; at the destroyed things and the bodies of the unconscious wounded or even dead. Finally, only now had most of those in the crowd took in the riot for what it was: An utterly foolish tragedy. Then an aged gentleman added his voice to the scene. While the others remained stunned with realization dawning on their faces, the old man raised his right hand. [b]"He's right, friends. This all need to end... What's done is done, but we can still stop things from becoming even worse."[/b] Thus all attention now turned to him, and seeing this he continued. [b]"I wish to survive, and I wish for you all to survive too. Not one more body should be added to this tragedy. Let's end this, good folks."[/b] His speech ended, he kept his right hand raised. And then it was like a ripple, a domino effect. One more hand raised up from the crowd, and then two more, then four, and so on until all but a few remained with their hands down; and even these hands too finally raised up as they witnessed all around them with their hands raised. As for the grieving man who confronted Leon, he raised his fist as if to hit Leon only to end up grimacing and lowering it again. He shook his head before looking at Leon directly in the eyes. [b]"Words won't bring my brother back. Nothing will bring my brother back. Always remember this, Leon Solaire."[/b] And just like that, he stepped down from the table and started walking away slowly unchallenged by any in the crowd as he passed them. The crowd watched as he left, and then their attention once more returned to Leon, their hands still raised up to show that all present had chosen in favor of ending the chaos. [hr][center][b]Carmillia Carbonneau[@Animus][/b] ____________________________[/center] She had done it. Her gambit paid off. As Mortas spoke, the rioters finally move once more. Only this time, they started doing the opposite of what they had previously been doing. Instead of fighting each other, destroying properties and looting like opportunistic rats, the rabble now moved with the purpose of ending the chaos instead. Words traveled and spread along with each member of the rabbles that had heard the argument between Mortas and Carmillia. From one person to the other, the chaos was stopped. And with more and more people slowly but surely told by those that they trust as their comrades in revolution, Carmillia can see indeed that the riot might be ended in an orderly manner after all. With her efforts here, regardless of the fact that it was fueled by self interest, and Leon's own effort back in the Entertainment Lounge of the Main Deck... This might not be the last voyage of the Lorentine Queen after all. Time seemed to be all that was needed until the words will finally spread to the rest of the boat. Already fires were being extinguished by more people instead of only the few good hearted folks. Already, people were lifting each other up and carrying the bodies of the unconscious instead of beating on each other and looting the fallen. How peculiar the power of carefully chosen and calculated words can be. And then just as things seemed like it will finally resolve itself, a new wave of emotion spread through the people on the boat. [b]"Schluckodils! By the Five, Schluckodils on board the ship!"[/b] This wave came from the other direction; from the lower deck. Quickly, panic started to spread as the people on the boat who were mostly Feskans knew full well the terror of the giant man-eating crocs that made the river their home. A new chaos brewed as people panicked, a tsunami of bodies heading for the two upper decks. [b]"Stay away from the lower deck!"[/b] [b]"The lower deck is flooding! I saw them, there's like four of those beasts!"[/b] Such shouting emerged from the crowd, making the situation worse as fear spread like wild fire into the hearts of the rabbles. Of course, the shouting of panicking individuals driven be fear were often less than accurate... And such was the case here as well. In reality, there was only one of the beast that had snuck into the boat through the large hole in the kitchen on the lower deck. But the rabbles knew not of this truth. If there was anything at all that can provide some little comfort about the situation regarding these hopeless folks, it was that their retreat toward the upper decks was still a better situation than the chaos of the rioting from earlier.[hr][center][b]Dorothea Hohnstein[@Jasbraq], Seung Eun-Ji, and Manfred Hohenfelter[@Force and Fury][/b] _____________________________________________________________________________[/center] It were none other than Dory and Eun-Ji that had stumbled upon Manfred and his temporary ally Seer. His explanation of the situation at hand was short, but it was enough to convey the urgency of it to the two young women. To Dory, it elicited surprise, fear, and then worry for Manfred's own well being. [color=86608E]"A-a Schluckodil?.... How did it end up on here?!..."[/color] Dory's mask began to crack further as she saw the rather distressed Manfred and heard the news. She quickly took Manfred's hand to see if he was okay. [color=86608E]"Are you okay? He didn't attack you, right?"[/color] After checking him up she steeled herself. [color=87CEEB]"I know how to kill it..."[/color] To Eun-Ji, Manfred's words elicited an understanding nod. Yet it was also coupled with a question; the Tan Keoulian had no idea what a Schluckodil was. She looked upon Dory, Manfred, and Seer. She gave the latter a cautious look before talking to Dory and Manfred. [color=87CEEB][b]"A Schluckodil? Pardon the question, I know the situation is urgent but I have no idea what that is. I believe I will be able to aid the best if I have knowledge of this... thing. would you please explain?"[/b][/color] Dory turned her attention toward the Tan Keoulian and answered her. [color=86608E]"A murderous beasts like no other, they're the main predator in these waters... and adept at killing humans... filthy scaly bastards..."[/color] It was brief, but it seemed to be enough as Eun-Ji nodded and continued to reply to her. [color=87CEEB][b]"I see. So we are to face a man-killing reptile, to put it simply. I suppose I will just have to look with my own eyes to determine further about how to deal with this creature... And you said you know how to kill it as well, and that knowledge will definitely be most welcome, Ms. Hohnstein."[/b][/color] [b]"Good. Then I suggest we not tarry anymore and quickly get to work before it became too late to save those arcanists."[/b] The Traveler agent interjected, and then start gesturing for them to start moving again. Trepidation was still in his mind as he was wholly aware of the fact about him being entirely outnumbered now, yet at the same time he didn't seem to be able to find a better choice than this. He must try, it was the way that he and his comrades have taken, to use their power to save those that need to be saved. [b]"Come along then... We will have our work cut out for us dealing with the beast."[/b] And thus, led by the Powergazer, they start to move again through the crowd of now panicking people, closer and closer to the great and terrible Terror of The Lorentine River.[hr][center][b]Zarra Travendour[@BreathOfTheWoof][/b] _________________________________[/center] Out of the frying pan and into the fire is a very fitting description of the situation that Zarra Travendour had found himself in. Those on the ship had to deal with a single Schluckodil invading the lower deck, and that was a terrible enough thing to have to deal with. Yet the young Perrenchman that now found himself right in the river itself, the territory of the gigantic reptilian man-eaters, the situation was much much worse. Furthermore, he must deal with this situation while also having to fight with an exhaustion that continued to get worse and worse as he kept using his gift and his unique ability as a Greyborn. He will have to both think and move fast, as the creatures already caught his scent and detected that a prey had entered their domain. It was without a doubt that he will only have one chance to save himself or risk becoming croc food at worst and losing a limb at best. He cannot mess this up. The crocs started to converge on his location, stalking and observing. And soon enough, that will change after they confirmed that it was indeed a creature belonging to their favorite species of prey that had fallen into their watery home...[hr][hider=Action Opportunities]1) The riot situation was handled well by Leon and Carmillia. Currently, the crowd in the Entertainment Lounge remains there as they look upon Leon, while the rabbles outside are starting to panic due to the discovery that a Schluckodil had infiltrated the boat. An attempt can be made to deal with the panic... Or alternatively the panic can be used as a smokescreen that will allow Leon and Carmillia to move unhindered to do their things. 2) The Schluckodil in the boat had cornered the two remaining Arcanists of the Lorentine Queen. Manfred, Dory, Eun-Ji, and Seer are moving to hopefully take care of the situation. 3) If they are successful, moving the boat back to shore will become a much more likely prospect. 4) For Zarra, the action opportunity is obvious. He should think carefully to be able to save himself without losing a limb or two or even his life. [/hider]