DruSM157

In Search of Gaea: A Seafaring Fantasy Adventure

Marlowe Vallis

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• The Skullfish, Hold. Southern Seas •

Marlowe winced in pain as looked over to Marea as she violently eliminated several savorask. He looked over to see Terhikki in trouble, and another girl armed with a shield running over to assist her, and he turned to see two more figures; another Northlander and a woman battling the largest Savorask.

The alpha.

With Solia having killed the alpha and it’s brood, many of the Savorask left on the ship seemed to move back now—as if without their alpha, their plan of attack was gone. The blonde man, Max, took a moment to lunge his blade into the head of one, and the few survivors took the opportunity to leap into the ocean, fleeing the ship.

“Ocean’s blight,” the booming voice of Bron came from behind. “Savorask aren’t native to these waters.” He walked over to the wheel of the ship and looked over Evander. “You alright to steer us into that storm?” He turned back to the others, tired and wounded on the deck. “Bandage yourselves, unless one of you lot can heal! We’re about to enter the-“ A huge wave smashed into the side of the ship.

Incidental Music

“Damnit!” Bron roared, grabbing onto the wooden railing of the Skullfish. Lightning erupted overhead and thin flecks of rain began to bear down onto the ship. “Marty!” He bellowed to their engineer belowdecks. “Activate the Aether Engine NOW!”

Huge winds began to rock the deck, and as the rain began to increase in its intensity, it became difficult to keep a stable footing. Bron grasped the wheel, motioning to Evander to help him keep a steady heading. “Hang on!” He roared, steering them now on a direct course into the raging storm.

Marlowe was nearly thrown into a pile of dead Savorask bodies as the storm began to kick up, and he quickly steered his head around the deck, looking to see where everyone was. “Marea!” He called for the girl, grabbing onto the hatch leading belowdecks. “Get inside!” If he let her fall overboard and if she was lost to the sea…Talu’s forgiveness wouldn’t be the first thing on his mind. No, he wouldn’t be able to ever forgive himself, either.

The storm raged harder, and it seemed that the crew would be blown completely off the deck; when the booming of the engine erupted in the hold, and a bright green-blue orb of energy began to encase the ship. The wind stopped on the deck, and the rain began to bounce off the barrier.

“We only have a few minutes,” Bron grimaced. “Max! You and a few of these divers get the harpoon ready to fire!” He turned to Evander. “You keep us dead ahead towards that rock.” He jumped down. “You-“ he pointed at Marlowe and Marea. “You help me get the diving gear from the hold. We’ll deal with the stowaway deal later.”

What Are You Listening To?

Only one song can express the sheer rage I have that has built up for completely irrational levels due to being "appreciated" in token offerings.

What Are You Listening To?

Another year older, rushing by into the blue again. Pretty soon I’ll just be a dusty corpse.

In Search of Gaea: A Seafaring Fantasy Adventure

Marlowe Vallis

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• The Skullfish, Hold. Southern Seas •

Incidental Music

The sudden sound of the commotion, mixed with Marea breaking towards the deck, nearly caused Marlowe to freeze. The distant yelling of the young man who’d caught them exiting the crate just a few moments ago spoke all he needed to know: monsters were attacking. Marlowe nearly yelled out as well, before the large man held a hand out in front of him.

“Damnit,” Bron muttered, glaring at Marlowe. “I’ll deal with you later. You stay here and stay out of damn trouble.” He quickly ran to the deck, following close behind Marea. Marlowe, however, felt…frozen for the first time. Anxiety, fear, or perhaps a sudden lack of knowing what to do. He’d never heard of this Savorask before. Was it a huge, terrifying monster? Was it a deadly leviathan?

Something finally clicked in his head, and he quickly reached back in the crate where his sword was still laying and dashed out onto the deck. The sudden gust of wind and the sight of so many odd creatures nearly blew Marlowe backward. The bald man was already running on deck, placing something onto his hand; like a glove. Suddenly two sharp metal blades seemed to jut out, covering his right hand. One of the creatures shot its tongue like a missile, and he simply sliced into it with his gauntlet, causing the creature to recoil.

The others were fighting as well. Terhikki was bashing one of the frogs, causing it to convulse in pain, Marina was fighting several of the creatures at once with little effort. One of the creatures leaped at another girl holding a shield—Marlowe had not met her—but she seemed to knock them back with little effort. Even the blonde man who had found them was fighting; holding a curved saber up against one of the creatures, before bringing it down to split into the creature’s thick head.

“Look out!” The voice of a crewman above him seemed to echo out as one of the creatures leaped onto Marlowe, knocking him backward onto his backside. He yelped in a mixture of surprise and sudden sharp pain as the creature brought it’s fangs down onto his left shoulder, tearing at his flesh.

Marlowe cried out, yanking his sword with an awkward lack of finesse, driving it at first in a weak, inaccurate slash which simply bounced off the side of the beast. As the pain seemed to make the world shrink away for a moment, Marlowe felt a burst of adrenaline kick in and brought the blade forward into the creature’s side. The odd, hook-like nature of the blade’s tip seemed to split and tear at the thick hide, piercing it deep. The creature roared in pain, and pulled back, but the hook had dug itself deep into the creature. Marlowe used that moment to force his own weight against the creature, causing it to roll over and finally free itself from his sword’s “hook”. But now the creature had rolled onto its back, and Marlowe quickly drove the sword into a coup de grâce into the soft underbelly of the beast. It spasmed for a moment, before stopping.

“Marea!” Marlowe called to the girl, his left arm hanging awkwardly limp on his side, as blood trickled down. He saw her further down the deck. “Their stomachs! That’s where they’re weak!”

“That’s a good observation island boy!” The bald man yelled as he threw a smaller Savorask overboard. It seemed that outside of Marlowe’s wound, everyone else was dealing with the beasts in a quick and easy fashion.

In Search of Gaea: A Seafaring Fantasy Adventure

Marlowe Vallis

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• The Skullfish, Hold. Southern Seas •

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…”

Bron Cirrus

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•The Skullfish, Main Deck. Southern Seas •

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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 stowaways 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? You’re 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. ”Ocean’s blood…” 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 islandlings 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. “Impossible,” 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 here.

Savorask. 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.

Why were they here?!

In Search of Gaea: A Seafaring Fantasy Adventure

I'll start working on a post. My mental breakdown is in remission for now anyways, so I should be able to force myself to focus on writing for a little while.

In Search of Gaea: A Seafaring Fantasy Adventure

Alright, got some posts today. After work and the gym, and hopefully after a good cry I’ll be back to hopefully push some more forward momentum

In Search of Gaea: A Seafaring Fantasy Adventure

Just had my first opportunity to get on this today, yeah, I'm interested in the thing too. The discord thing. It sounds pretty neat - and I was kind of hoping we'd get one, actually!

My bad that I couldn't get any posts up so far - unfortunately it's been giving me a lot less time to set things up than I would've hoped. I should be back in the swing of things in 24 hours from now - a full day in Australian time. Sorry if I've been holding you guys up.

@AGenericUser

It’s fine, it’s fine. I’m surprised at how many people I know/write with are on Aussie time. It’s funny to me! But yeah, no worries. You’ve kept us informed about you not being able to post, and I doubt anyone is upset. We’re all here to have fun! :)

In Search of Gaea: A Seafaring Fantasy Adventure

Something that I just thought of, @Fading Memory @AGenericUser @May96 do you guys have discord or messenger you'd like to share with the others for easier communication? Forum based PMs are also fine as well. Molly, Inkarnate, Sunset and I all have discord and are on a server together.

This isn't a demand for online friendship or anything, I just know sometimes it's easy to brainstorm with someone quickly via an instant message. If you don't want to share info, just ignore me.

In Search of Gaea: A Seafaring Fantasy Adventure

or a plane ticket

@Inkarnate

Having company in this fetid swamp is worth the price of getting throat punched. Unironically I am horribly lonely