You need to hurry, there is a giant lizard attacking Connor. Please help all we have weapon wise is his sword.
Any help . . . be sure as feckin' . . . missy!
. . . Shtay wif Mosh, gaffer foks . . .
. . . Room with devices . . . people there looking for. . . . below that. I think . . . avoid this storm.
Scraaaeeeeeeiiiii ik-ik-ik-ik-ik . . .
Elin
With a huge thud as he hid shoulder first making a soft yelping sound he flew out the door into a new world, a world he had never seen before as some blood dripped on the floor as he was not used to taking any hits. . . . His body was not used to all of this as his right foot was bleeding underneath, his one shoe was left behind in the map room all torn. Meanwhile his left shoe was not much better off as it had also been mostly torn and he was nervous. . . . shouted in a loud high pitched voice. "aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!!!!!!!!!!!"
. . . He looked at her as he sniffed a bit the tears still running down his face, she then pointed a finger at him as he was already sitting he jumped up before falling back hard against the door which happened to have closed again.
The droplets of Elin's blood seeped into the raw bark. The leaves of the saplings there turned a shimmering violet. His tears, as well, were soaked up by the wood, already saturated by saltwater.
The wind howled; the sky swirled and furied with sparks of electricity behind the gray ominous clouds. The water crashed and seethed and hissed against the ship.
Behind him, the maps and papers swirled and fluttered until the door slammed shut, leaving him standing before the vine-encased wheel.
Moss
Well, they had to gather, and though all of this sudden buddy-buddy shite was way out of Moss's own comfort zone for interactions, she much preferred the awkward bout of courage to swimming in brine.
"Fine, aye, good," she said quickly, giving the strange girl her attention. "Do ya know where we can find this damn Engine Room?"
Tamara Jane
Looking up towards them, a flash of a smile and a slender, but bloodied hand she raised for them, before turning around and bolting away, chasing the fox (bunny still lolling from its mouth) wherever it may lead her down those steps.
“LynLyn! Foxy lady! Wait up, chick! I'm going with you!”
Sidwell
Beckoning to the boy, who was in confusion or terror attempting to crush together more than one language, Innocent Sidwell turned his back on the waves and the storm and stepped towards the stairway where Tamtam had disappeared in her chase, gently resting his free hand on the trees as he walked.
The overgrown deck was rough and none too easy to traverse steadily as the ship rocked beneath them. Though saltwater spray soaked the bushes and saplings and vines and branches, none of it seemed to be affected -- in fact, perhaps the plantlife thrived on it.
The main mast appeared as an old tree with twisting bark and wide leafy branches. Its ropes and rigging were still mostly intact, as was the birds nest at its precipice. The tattered remains of a blue-and-gold flag whipped high above.
At their feet, roots and bark made walking treacherous. Aged, vine-wrapped cannons were lined up along port and starboard. A wide metal grate in the deck allowed a view of the level below, which was just as overgrown as the main deck. The leafy tops of branches stuck out through the holes in the grate.
The fox darted down a flight of stairs, into the Mess Deck.
The mess was long and wide, with boxes and barrels stored at the fore and two dark, open doorways at the aft. Where light shone down through the grate in the ceiling, small trees grew taller and wider, like a small grove in the middle of the floor. Everything here, too, was covered in growing bark and small saplings and twists and webs of vines.
There were more cannons here, and corralled cannon balls. Flowering tables lined the walls, with bark-crusted chests to sit on, and hammocks hung from the ceiling. In the ship's better days the crew would dine and sleep and live here.
The fox skidded around the grove of small trees and galloped toward the back of the room. It stopped beside the last cannon and, swishing its tail, dropped the bunny on top of a padlocked trap door.
Underneath the floor here -- under the trap door -- was the muffled sound of terrified voices, the distinct smell of something burning, and something inhuman screeching in pain.
RRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Connor
With a shout, he spun his body and put as much force into throwing a handful of the stuff - it looked like coal, he noted - at the creature. Connor had been aiming at the eyes, but given how large they were, he did not really need to be precise. Taking advantage of the creature's temporary blindness, pain or whatever that was causing it to reel, Connor ran past it. . . . "We need that pistol," He said to the girl and gulped, his fear showing through.
Scraaaeeeeeeiiiii
The beast screeched, reeling, its fanged jaws wide in distress, shaking its head violently in a futile attempt to dislodge the coal in its watering red eye.
ik-ik-ik-ik-ik
It dropped to the floor in front of the door; its massive, black-scaled body blocked any hope of escape that way, and prevented anyone from getting anywhere near the speaker. A long pink tongue darted out and licked its eye while the beast hissed like an angry cobra. Its eyes seemed even brighter red than before -- but perhaps that was only the irritation from the bits of coal that clung to them.
Risa
She got out from behind the boiler and held the pistol up. She had no idea if it was loaded, but if she did nothing she would end up the next target of this lizard. She hold the pistol and pressed the trigger.
Fire burst in a shock of bright light out of the pistol; a stream of flame and smoke shot out and engulfed the lizard, which convulsed and screeched bloody murder.
RRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Leaves on the vines nearby caught flame; fire trickled its way up the vines that were wrapped around the gears. Meanwhile the lizard charged blindly forward while the propellant still burned on its scales. The flaming lizard screeched and shook and slammed itself into Risa, knocking her hard into a boiler.
Meanwhile, the lizard's burning scales were lighting still more leaves and vines aflame.
Above them came the distinct sound of creaking footsteps. Someone was walking in the room above.
Christopher
. . . he ripped off both of the sleeves on his shirt and wrapped one around his forehead. Even though it was white and would soon turn red . . . He had collapsed to his knees but he couldn't put the book down . . .
The book showed Christopher every prominent moment in his life -- and many of his most memorable nightmares. It seemed every page had something more to offer him, some new memory, and some things that didn't seem quite right.
While he was engrossed with the book, thunder rolled overhead. Wind whistled across the opening in the roof. The new light in the room encouraged the saplings and the vines to grow higher, stronger, greener.
Vines crept around Christopher's legs where he knelt on the floor. They tightened around his ankles and knees.
Something under the floor knocked in the same pattern Christopher had used not long before.
Somewhere, distant and faint, an inhuman creature was screeching in pain.
Chris
For now he set the silver box back where he found it. Pocketing the pistol he caught the globe that had been rolling around and wedged it in a corner. He had heard a knocking on the ceiling not long ago. Carefully he stepped up on one of the chairs and knocked back with the same pattern. . . . He walked over to the door and took the keys from the wall. First off they might end up being useful and second he was tired of hearing them jangle around. Placing that in another pocket he turned to the far end of the room. Moss seemed to have a change of heart when looking in that direction. Cautiously he circled around. He left the door open for some extra light. . . . The pillar had a one eyed teddy bear. A slightly odd item he thought. He didn't have a use for it but picked it up anyhow.
The teddy bear was, peculiarly, nothing special. It was well-worn and well-loved. One ear had been chewed by young teeth. But underneath the bear was a scrawled note, done in a hurry, splattered in old crusted blood:
A NEST OF THEM IN THE HOLD. SEALED OFF THE LOWER DECK. TELL ENGLAND WHAT'S BECOME OF US.
Somewhere far below, an inhuman screech of fury rang out. Thunder roiled.
K, but so... like @Mokley that totes helps with the visuals, Mox^^ But k, so like just checkin cuz i dint quite visualize where the fox is leading us. Like which stair case other than down lower. Is it forwards or afts stairs? Like I'm sure ya will let us knows, but just curious since ya brought it up ;D
Good question. The fox is running all the way across deck and leading you down the forward stairs. And it's just a very few steps down to a door, from which point I'll do my best to explain.
Am I correct in interpreting that Christopher is the only on in the Observatory (who has posted this round) and Chris is the only one in the Map Room (who has posted this round)? Everyone else is either on deck, on their way below deck, or in the engine room, right?
I think I may have neglected to mention that there is a third room below the map room, slightly below deck level, accessible from the deck.
So, to try and illustrate so far:
Aft you have the Observatory on top, beneath it the Map Room, and under that a yet unexplored room. The unexplored room is level with the Deck. Outside there are stairs that lead up to the Map Room level, where the helm is just outside the Map Room door. From here there are more stairs that lead up to the Observatory level, which tends to be windy.
Forward, on deck level is a doorway that leads down. Also stairs that lead up. Neither of these things have been explored. But I swear there are maybe ..... three more locations before you guys have covered the whole ship.
That was when he looked under his foot and discovered that there was a black necklace that was barely visible if the voice had not mentioned it to him, especially since Simon hadn't noticed it when he first entered the gully. Simon picked it up carefully and not wanting to harm it he placed it gently around his neck.
. . . he emptied the rocks that he had taken for protection out of his pocket and stuffed as many flowers that would fit in his pants.
. . . As he started to walk he could feel that something had been observing him intensely but as he slowly turned around in a complete circle he hasn't spotted anything besides trees and flames.
Robin: The Lantern-Bearer, The Nimble
Robin slowly moved backwards, keeping a steady eye on the rest of the people; she lifted the lantern, and it’s light grew in intensity, mirroring that of the green lantern. The strangers would have to move to their side of the river to escape the fire, but Robin was hesitant to turn back and head into the forest. It was a tricky one that would most likely lead them to disarray. The green lantern that so closely mirrored her own must have some purpose--She stood close to MC and the flower girl, grounded by the determination to discover the truth and readying herself to react at the first sign of malice.
Eveline: The Silent, The Ethereal
She nimbly made her way across the branch where the owl eyed her with a mix of annoyance and distrust. . . . A sharp clank of his beak was meet by a hard stare that boaded for little argument as she slowly shifted the owl onto her lap ignoring his disapproving glare as she gently spread the wing out enough to properly examine the poor creature.
'Best not tell him you thought him hapless.'
She chuckled once at the thought before neatly tearing off a strip from her dresses hem, giving the owl an apologetic look as . . . she applied a make-shift field dressing to the wound. The exasperated look on his face making it seem like her efforts were unneeded but as she finished he released her flowers back into her care begrudgingly. A small attempt to pay back the services rendered. A quick shake of her head as the flowers settled nicely back into their place . . . Giggling she carefully allowed the owl to perch on her shoulder purposefully moving slowly as she left the tree favoring the lit path below. . . . Reaching out she tugged slightly on the boy's hand wanting to draw him and the other woman away from this place.
Mia-Canta: The Beast-Listener, The Protector
She could not help but feel that sudden, yet strange comfort Eveline had felt earlier about their little group here. Suddenly she looked up and pointed to the green light. “Light verde need MC, Robin y... 'Senorita Florita Feliz.' Sooooooo... we take!”
. . . “Hello, Senorita Florita Feliz. You take away? No see no more?” she tapped the garland and the shoulders of Eveline's dress. She would take the items if given.
. . . She let out a slow calming breath as she lowered herself into a runners pose.
“Rapido, amigas, no?” MC said, muscles wound up like a spring under massive tension, “mas rapido que El Diablo.”
“Vamos!!” MC sprung away, hell bent towards the bridge.
Talan: The Wolf, The Solitary
Rhea was still coughing as she leaned against the bridge railing before Talan helped her to her feet. "Are you alright?"
. . . He felt around for Rhea's hand and trapped her once he found it. With his eyes on the flames Talan's attention to his surroundings was limited which caused him to run into the handle and pull it down with him as he tripped slightly. He didnt pay much attention to it and simply continued on leading Rhea to the green light.
Kituo: The Lantern-Bearer, The Survivor
One minute she was there motivating him to continue. The next she was lying with a dart in her neck. Kituo cringed as he watched the girl fall but he did not dwindle on it for too long. Instead, he kept pushing towards the light in search of salvation from the hell that was torturing him.
. . . He continued until he came to a bridge which hung above turbulent rapids. Kituo gulped at the thought of falling in and exhaled before taking another step forward. Towards the heart of the bridge he saw two people - one of them looking familiar.
. . . The purple light still demanded Kituo's attention and he smiled as it beckoned him. . . . Therefore, he decided to approach, his knees wobbling as he tackled the bridge. Hopefully he wasn't making another mistake. Odds were he probably was.
The Perspective of the Green Lantern
Fire thundered hot and wild behind Kituo. Its hellish reflection glowed in the roaring rapids. Silhouettes of animals ran crashing through the brush, flung themselves to escape from the fire, were swept away by swirling devouring water. They thrashed underneath the bridge and were gone in the spray.
The bridge was covered in runes that sparkled with each step Kituo took. The green lantern brightened softly. To each side, strings of little round light bulbs sputtered and flickered their meager light as he drew close; they reacted to the lantern's proximity, and faded again as Kituo passed.
Ahead, the dark figure of the monkeybat-slayer stood with another cloaked figure, shuffling and groping for balance on the damp bridge.
Far on the opposite shore, a violet lantern was raised up, illuminating the boyish figure that held it, a disembodied dress, an owl with a cloth-wrapped wing, and a fierce woman in a poncho that flung in the air while she gestured urgently.
The woman in the poncho suddenly sprang onto the bridge and sprinted barefoot toward Talan and the woman.
Talan stumbled over a protrusion in the bridge and then rushed toward Kituo, towing behind him a young woman in a deep cloak and high boots. She screeched something unintelligible over the deafening thunder of wind and fire.
The bridge vibrated under Kituo's feet. Should he look back, he would find that a portion of the bridge -- from just behind his heels to the edge of the shore -- had vanished. Where he had just been walking was now only rushing water. The vibrations stopped as quickly as they had come; the bridge remained solid and steady over the rapids, though it hung in midair above the rapids, disconnected from the shores.
Anise's unconscious body, left behind in the weeds, was dragged into the tall grasses by something unseen. Her feet disappeared into the brush. The nightstick was all that remained of the courageous princess.
Simon appeared out of the fire itself, or so it seemed. He was coated in ash, two masks hung at his hip, and something glowed softly blue at his chest.
The water that rushed under the bridge was shifting. Foamy sprays crashed up over the bridge and clawed at the shores.
The Perspective of the Center of the Bridge
Fire thundered hot and wild behind the green lantern on the shore. The inferno's hellish reflection glowed in the roaring rapids. Silhouettes of animals ran crashing through the brush, flung themselves to escape from the fire, were swept away by swirling devouring water. They thrashed underneath the bridge and were gone in the spray.
Kituo stepped onto the bridge toward Talan. As he walked, strings of little round light bulbs sputtered and flickered their meager light; they reacted to the lantern's proximity, and faded again as Kituo passed.
On the opposite shore, a violet lantern was raised up, illuminating the boyish figure that held it, a disembodied dress, an owl with a cloth-wrapped wing, and a fierce woman in a poncho that flung in the air while she gestured urgently.
The woman in the poncho suddenly sprang onto the bridge and sprinted barefoot toward Talan and Rhea. But Talan was already on his way toward Kituo, and had tripped over the crank in the bridge. The bridge under their feet began to vibrate and clink and clatter.
"Wait!" Rhea hollered, stumbling helplessly after him, weak and dizzy, slipping in the spray of water. "Are you insane? Who is that?!"
The last few feet of the bridge behind Kituo had drawn under and away from the shore, disconnecting the bridge from dry land. But the bridge remained steady and strong, despite the fact that it seemed to hang in midair above the rapids.
Talan might make out a figure stepping out of the inferno behind Kituo, but at this distance it was near impossible to make out Simon's face. It was clear that something blue was glowing at the younger man's chest. As Simon drew closer to the edge of the water, the rapids changed and swirled and tossed spray high in the air.
The Perspective of the Violet Lantern
Eveline had completely vanished. The owl sat puffed on her shoulder, delicately leaning its bandaged wing against her head. But when Mia-Canta asked for the garland and the dress, the owl understood and flopped and fluttered to the branch of a nearby fallen tree. He sat there like a puff of feathers with glaring eyes.
Images from the owl's consciousness told Mia-Canta that he thought her flopping gestures were as helpful as a three-legged goat, that whatever she planned was insane, and that he would not help her if she got herself swept away by the current or skewered by the pirates in the middle of the bridge. These images were sarcastically vivid. But she might also pick up the owl's very strong desire to protect Eveline. He shifted a little closer to the invisible flower girl, and had no trouble knowing where she was even if she agreed to strip naked at Mia-Canta's request.
Mia-Canta rushed off over the bridge. Two pirates, silhouetted against the brightness of the fire, turned and ran away from her. They ran toward the green light, which was now clearly a lantern held up by a dark-haired boy, who moved steadily toward them. Little strings of lights hanging above the bridge flickered to life as the green lantern passed, and were dark again when left behind.
One of the pirates tripped over a crank but soon picked himself up and dragged the smaller cloaked one along. A female voice screeched something unintelligible over the roar of the rapids and the thunder of the inferno.
The bridge vibrated. From where Robin and Eveline stood, they could see the end of the bridge detach from the shore; the last four feet of the bridge detached from the shore with a click and a clatter of spinning gears; the detached length of metal dipped down and folded underneath the bridge. The bridge now appeared to be hovering in midair over the roaring rapids, with four feet of empty water between the shore and the bridge.
The Perspective of Simon
Fire roared hot and smoky around him; trees crashed behind him, heat scalded his clothes. The gully was long devoured by the flames. But Simon would feet a cool tug of guidance through the brush, toward clearer air to breathe, toward the sound of rushing water. The fire would not destroy him, a soothing reassurance echoed in his head. Trust me.
Eventually he came to the edge of rushing rapids, and a curious sight. A strong and steady metal bridge hovered in midair over the rapids. Each end was separated from the shore by four feet of emptiness. If Simon wished to get onto the bridge, he would have to jump for it.
There were people on the bridge: Kituo, with the green lantern, walked toward the center of the bridge -- strings of little lights flickered to light above Kituo's head, and went dark as he passed -- while Talan and another cloaked woman ran toward Kituo. Behind them, a tall woman in a poncho ran after Talan.
On the opposite shore glowed a violet lantern, held by a boyish figure. Next to the figure was a very familiar owl, sitting puffed with a wing bandaged.
Anise and Tyaelaem were nowhere in sight.
The rushing water swirled and splashed high, and Simon would have the distinct feeling that the water reacted to the pendant around his neck.
"Hold up the stone, my dear," the voice whispered in Simon's ear. She was eager and breathy, longing for the water. "Call them for me, for I have not the strength. Show them what shape to take. Call the spirits of the water, and imagine a beast of strength and speed."
Ok awesome! It looks like everyone who promised a post has posted. Working on this now.
Edit: I've read @Bunnita's post ten times and I've decided to go on the assumption that she plans to first render Eveline completely naked/invisible, then run to the other end of the bridge, steal the lantern from Kituo, run back to the middle of the bridge, and turn the crank to raise the bridge. I think.
Edit2: Trying a format in which all quotes are bundled together in their own section, and it ends up looking like I'm quoting you guys just to make my post appear longer. But I assure you the quotes are there to point out to everyone what important things particular characters have done or discovered. Also to reference more easily in case there's a misinterpretation in the mod post. You know I'm only writing this to procrastinate, right?
Edit3: Aaaaaand done! Different format. I think it flows better and may be easier for everyone to follow everything that's going on.
I didn't really add much of anything, to be honest. Right now all the PCs are colliding, so you all have enough to worry about amongst yourselves without my interruption. As always, you're encouraged to post as often as you like between mod posts.
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Antlers,
Shifter_Master,
Neziul,
Iluvtoji,
IAmTheIsland,
Bugman,
Passable Writer,
Fetzen,
Not a Sayan,
Stanifly
