Maidens of the Kaleidoscope
~Beyond the Border~ => Rumia's Party Games => Mystia's Stored Games => Topic started by: DracoOmega on March 25, 2012, 10:27:59 PM
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>You are Nazrin, a newly inducted member of the Seeker's Guild, and you are dying. You are also bleeding from a half-dozen places, but that somehow manages to be only incidental to this fact.
>After unsuccessfully scouring Braston for a means to overcome this Blight, you have decided that your best hope for answers lies in Val Razua, the intellectual capital of Gensokyo. To that end, you arranged for transport on the Blue Maiden, an unusually sleek and speedy cargo transport commanded by a Captain Murasa, and helped them obtain permission to leave port after their export license was stolen.
>After a surprisingly eventful night flying through an aether storm, you awoke to a peaceful afternoon. Unfortunately you had only a short while to enjoy it before the Blue Maiden was ambushed by tengu pirates. During some staggeringly dangerous evasive maneuvers on Murasa's part, this ship collided with the underside of an island and sustained engine damage. Its crew scattered to evade a consequent rockfall and you've spent the past several minutes engaged in a fierce melee with a tengu boarding party belowdecks. The whereabouts of the rest of the crew remain uncertain.
>Though injured repeatedly and in pretty lousy shape now, your group has managed to subdue two of the three pirates near you. Their apparent leader has decided to break away from you to assist her injured comrade.
>"Hey!"
>A mouse would almost think she genuinely cares.
>If she is still in range, slash at her wings if we can.
>"Chisato, incoming!"
>If she is not in range, sidestep in directly behind her, wait until we're sure she can no longer see us in her peripheral vision, then hurl a kunai at her. Aiming somewhat high, so as to not risk hitting our friends in the completely likely even she dodges. Even if she dodges, gives our friends more time to prepare, because she'll get there long before we will.
>Regardless of whether we hit or not, follow down the corridor after her, and locate that other discarded kunai, the one we passed by before engaging this tengu again. Grab it with our tail if we get close.
>Either that or she's a surprisingly convincing actor.
>You attempt to slash at the tengu's wings, but your defensive stance leaves you poorly positioned to quickly intercept someone trying to avoid you. Your attack cut through the air behind her as she dashes past.
>You yell out a warning to Chisato as the redhead bashes Kazuha in the head again. She looks up at the onrushing tengu with a scowl. Miyuki turns around as well, being the closer of the two to her. Visibly dazed, Kazuha drops unevenly to the ground as the other tengu cuts a wide wind blade across the hall without even slowing.
>You shift in behind the tengu leader and line up a high shot, hurling your kunai towards her and following in after it.
>Miyuki slides down the wall she's propping herself against and rolls away from the tengu's charge. Chisato drops into a crouch as she angles her staff to the side and jabs at Kazuha's arm. You hear a very faint sizzling sound and the tengu groans weakly. Chisato kicks her sword away as her grip on it loosens, then turns her eyes back to the other tengu as she closes in.
>The tengu traces a second wind blade through the air at an inverse angle to the first, aimed to push Chisato away from her new position and fence off the ways she can evade.
>At this point, you kunai catches up with her. Though the tengu's own forward momentum dulls the speed of impact, your weapon still finds purchase in her back. She grunts as the tip sinks into her and her wings and movement falter a moment, but only just. You scrabble to catch up with her, cursing your leg as you push forward, but you're stil not going to be fast enough.
>Chisato ducks lower and falls to the ground as the second wind blade rushes past her side. She raises her pole to ward off the tengu's charge but her foe merely bats it aside and dives towards Kazuha.
>"We're falling back," she says firmly as she reaches a hand out towards her arm.
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Okay, that, I didn't see coming. But how much do you wanna bet they're just regrouping for reinforcements?
>Slow our pace forward, but keep heading towards the kunai on the ground in front of us.
>"Falling back? Why? Tired of our company?"
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I think the leader's genuinely concerned for her mates more than anything else.
Regardless, this is the point where I'd want to talk to Aya.
> What was the name and race of the crewwoman with the head injury, again?
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>Slow our pace forward, but keep heading towards the kunai on the ground in front of us.
>"Falling back? Why? Tired of our company?"
>You slow your pace a little, trying to favor your injuries as you go to retrieve the nearest kunai.
>The tengu declines to answer you, instead putting her arm under the Kazuha's shoulder when she fails to respond to her outstretched hand. Chisato takes another swing at the leader as she pulls her injured subordinate up, but she parries it with her other hand and starts to move down the rest of corridor, supporting Kazuha's weight on her own shoulder. You can see blood running thickly down the injured tengu's neck and her posture seems slumped.
>You hear Ishi's voice cry out impatiently behind you. "Mousy! Turn the lamp!"
> What was the name and race of the crewwoman with the head injury, again?
>Her name was Natsumi, and she looked human to you.
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>"Turn the what?"
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>"Turn the what?"
>"The lamp!" she repeats insistently.
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>Turn our head to look at the little kappa.
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> Do we have a lamp?
> Are we aware of lamps on the walls or anywhere else?
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>Turn our head to look at the little kappa.
>You glance behind you in the hopes of figuring out what the hell the kappa's babbling about.
>"That one!" she cries, pointing a finger emphatically at something ahead and to the right of you.
> Do we have a lamp?
> Are we aware of lamps on the walls or anywhere else?
>You do not.
>There are, however, a series of fairly mundane magical lamps running along the walls of the hallway. They would be why you're not currently fighting in the dark.
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>Wait a second.... If she tricked out the ship...
>If we can determine which lamp she's pointing at, grab it and turn it.
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>Wait a second.... If she tricked out the ship...
>If we can determine which lamp she's pointing at, grab it and turn it.
>You turn to look where she's pointing and see that her finger appears to line up with a wall lamp almost right next to you.
>You quickly shift the foot or two over to it as the tengu hauls Kazuha down the last of the corridor. You grab the top of the lamp and give it an experimental twist.
>There is a faint clicking sound, and a small panel of wood beside the lamp slides aside. Concealed beneath it is a large circular red button.
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I never thought I'd be voluntarily pushing a big red button installed by a kappa inventor, but...
>Mash that button!
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>Mash that button!
>With no small amount of nervousness about exactly what this is going to make explode, you mash the button.
>There is a loud creaking as a sizable panel of the ceiling at the end of the corridor flips open and a large rope net flies out!
>Standing at nearly point-blank range of the projectile, the tengu leader quickly twists Kazuha aside and slices her sword from floor to ceiling, sending a wide arc of cutting wind towards the middle of the net. It connects almost immediately, severing strands of rope and slicing the netting nearly clean in half. Unfortunately for her, the net is already too close for this to make much difference. As she tries to twist into the thin gap between the two halves, one of them falls upon her left, catching on her head and wing. The other brushes lightly against Kazuha's back, but she manages to pull back from it before it can entangle anything. Chisato pushes herself back to her feet and closes on the tengu as she tries to free herself from the netting, still moving forward slightly.
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>Is Kazuha still armed?
>Did the other tengu drop her sword when the net hit her?
>Do those tengu still have our weapons imbedded in their bodies?
>Are we close enough to that kunai on the ground to grab it?
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>Is Kazuha still armed?
>Did the other tengu drop her sword when the net hit her?
>Do those tengu still have our weapons imbedded in their bodies?
>Are we close enough to that kunai on the ground to grab it?
>No. Chisato kicked her sword out of her hands earlier.
>No, she still has it, and is attempting to cut herself loose using it.
>As near as you can see.
>Just about.
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>Note to self: Advise Ishi to install a gate next time to supplement her defenses. Unless....
>Advance forward on the tengu pair, before the leader can get loose, grabbing up that kunai with our tail.
>"Got a button for a gate, too, Ishi?"
>If we can manage a throw at the armed tengu's sword arm without hitting Chisato if we miss, transfer the kunai to our free hand and fire. Try to take her in the wrist, if the shot presents itself.
>If we don't feel we can get a clear enough shot to disable her arm, then press forward as fast as we can and slash at her sword arm with our saber. Keep her from slashing her way free.
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>Note to self: Advise Ishi to install a gate next time to supplement her defenses. Unless....
>Advance forward on the tengu pair, before the leader can get loose, grabbing up that kunai with our tail.
>"Got a button for a gate, too, Ishi?"
>If we can manage a throw at the armed tengu's sword arm without hitting Chisato if we miss, transfer the kunai to our free hand and fire. Try to take her in the wrist, if the shot presents itself.
>If we don't feel we can get a clear enough shot to disable her arm, then press forward as fast as we can and slash at her sword arm with our saber. Keep her from slashing her way free.
>You advance quickly on the two tengu, scooping up the fallen kunai with your tail as you move.
>"A gate?" Ishi asks quizzically.
>You don't think you'd have a shot at her sword arm even if Chisato was not nearby, given that she currently has it in front of her as she attempts to cut loose of the netting.
>Instead, you press forward quickly and try to aim a slash at the tengu before she can free herself. Chisato gets there before you can and jabs her pole at her ribs. The pirate tries to shift away from the blow, but is too encumbered to manage between Kazuha and the netting.
>"Can you move?" you hear her quietly ask her injured subordinate, wincing slightly as she speaks.
>The reply is almost too faint for you to catch. "...yes."
>"Then go," the other says firmly, twisting to the side and pushing Kazuha free. The injured tengu heads unsteadily for the stairs.
>Chisato thrusts at the tengu leader again, but she catches the weapon by jerking her hand against the netting as the pole passes through a gap in it, and twists the surrounding rope around it. Chisato tries to pull it back again, but fails to free it. She curses.
>The tengu turns her body around as you move in to slash at her, and somehow manages to bring her weapon to bear against yours despite her constriction. It's an awkward parry, but it's still enough. She attempts to back away toward the stairs.
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>"Answer me this, pirate. Is your master a reasonable tengu?"
>Swing our sword low, at her legs. But not a very strong swing. Enough to do some damage if left unblocked, but not fast enough that she couldn't block, despite her position.
>When she blocks, go for her wrist with our kunai.
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>"Answer me this, pirate. Is your master a reasonable tengu?"
>"Will any answer I give satisfy you?" she asks pointedly.
>"Of course she's not bloody reasonable!" Chisato snaps, still wrestling to free her weapon. "Why the hell else you think they're on board our ship?"
>Swing our sword low, at her legs. But not a very strong swing. Enough to do some damage if left unblocked, but not fast enough that she couldn't block, despite her position.
>When she blocks, go for her wrist with our kunai.
>You swing your sword lightly at her legs, but she somehow manages to step away from it, leaping subtly off the ground and spreading her unbound wing.
>You move in with your kunai, but she pulls Chisato's pole across to block your line of attack while she reaches her sword up to cut her other wing free. You could still get in there and strike, but it would mean working your own arm in beneath the netting.
>Chisato steps towards the tengu's back as she does this and pulls the side of her pole hard into the tengu's gut. "Let go, dammit!"
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>"What I want to know is if this relic, whatever it is, is worth all this violence. We'll fight to defend this ship. Is your captain willing to trade her crews' lives for it?"
>Strike out with our sword, keep her blade away from that net. Stay with her if she moves back again.
>Where's that other tengu?
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>"What I want to know is if this relic, whatever it is, is worth all this violence. We'll fight to defend this ship. Is your captain willing to trade her crews' lives for it?"
>Strike out with our sword, keep her blade away from that net. Stay with her if she moves back again.
>Where's that other tengu?
>"And what of your own crew's?" she replies.
>You slash at her again, and she simply accepts the blow rather than take her sword away from its task. Tensing her face tightly from the pain, she cuts through several of the ropes by her wing and rips them loose.
>She is most of the way up the stairs now.
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>Get in closer and slash at her free wing with our kunai.
>"Answer the question."
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>Get in closer and slash at her free wing with our kunai.
>"Answer the question."
>You move in and try to slash at her free wing with your kunai, but she pulls it back and Chisato is largely in your way, denying you the leverage to reach it from this vantage. The redhead digs the pole into her side again.
>"You're... not in a position to bargain," she replies through gritted teeth as she struggles against Chisato while cutting the last of the netting with her sword.
>"Like hell we're not," Chisato says.
>"Yeah, unless you want us to total the Skyfang, too!" Ishi adds. The tengu's face draws dour.
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>Do we have room to get around her, get between her and the stairs?
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>Do we have room to get around her, get between her and the stairs?
>There's enough room to squeak past Chisato's back, if you were deft about it.
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>Are our legs in decent enough condition to allow us to be 'deft'?
>Can we hear Ishi coming up behind us?
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>Are our legs in decent enough condition to allow us to be 'deft'?
>Can we hear Ishi coming up behind us?
>Enough for this, yes. You don't need to push for doing it at top speed, so you should be okay.
>Yes, though at a comparatively slow trot. She's not far behind you now, though.
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>Swing our way around Chisato's back to get between the tengu and the stairs. She ain't going nowhere.
>If she doesn't swing away from us, grab the kunai that's imbedded in her back. And pull it out.
>"I'm trying to find a way to end this without any one I care about getting hurt any more. And I'm starting to think that you might actually want that, too."
>If she tries get around us to get away, keep in front of her. And if she tries to go over us, cut her wings, whichever one we have a clearer shot at.
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>Swing our way around Chisato's back to get between the tengu and the stairs. She ain't going nowhere.
>If she doesn't swing away from us, grab the kunai that's imbedded in her back. And pull it out.
>"I'm trying to find a way to end this without any one I care about getting hurt any more. And I'm starting to think that you might actually want that, too."
>If she tries get around us to get away, keep in front of her. And if she tries to go over us, cut her wings, whichever one we have a clearer shot at.
>You duck in around Chisato and put yourself between the tengu and the stairs. You're not about to let her just run off after all this!
>She turns her head to follow you as you move behind her, bringing her sword around to threaten your approach. If you want that kunai, you're going to have to get past it.
>"Then stand down," she says firmly. "There's no other way."
>"Screw that!" Chisato says and tries to ram the tengu again, but she responds by sweeping her leg from beneath her and tossing the freed net on top of her. Then she quickly turns and tries to break for the stairs, banking around you with her sword extended in a defensive posture.
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>Does she seem to have left herself any openings in her defenses?
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>Does she seem to have left herself any openings in her defenses?
>Her sword can't cover all of her, and she is extremely close to you at the moment, putting her in range of nearly anything you might care to try. You may be able to take advantage of her confined position, but you expect she could parry a direct strike without difficulty.
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>Are we at a good enough angle to grab the knife stuck in her arm?
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>Are we at a good enough angle to grab the knife stuck in her arm?
>There's a decent chance, if you were quick about it.
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>Well our free arm isn't damaged. Let's put it to good use.
>Spin to face her and spring-sidestep with her, keep her in range as long as possible. Reach out with our free hand and grab that knife stuck in her arm.
>Slash out with our saber towards her eyes, that'll draw the attention of her sword.
>With the kunai in our tail, offer a strong slash at her closest wing.
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>Well our free arm isn't damaged. Let's put it to good use.
>Spin to face her and spring-sidestep with her, keep her in range as long as possible. Reach out with our free hand and grab that knife stuck in her arm.
>Slash out with our saber towards her eyes, that'll draw the attention of her sword.
>With the kunai in our tail, offer a strong slash at her closest wing.
>You turn with the tengu as she banks around you and reach an arm out to grab the handle of the knife while slashing at her face with your sword. She predictably parries your blade and does try to twist her body away from you, but there's simply too little room. Your fingers grab the handle of Miyuki's weapon and yank it free.
>The tengu lets out a muted hiss as you rip the knife roughly from her flesh, but is surprisingly stoic considering and barely slows. You whip your tail around and lash at a wing with your kunai, but your positioning makes it hard to accurately catch a moving target and it is a glancing blow. You see a few feathers fall free from your slash, but think you only grazed the actual muscle. The tengu continues to dash for the last couple feet before the stairs.
>Behind, you hear Chisato freeing herself and her weapon from the net, cursing furiously under her breath all the while. Ishi also seems to be running in pursuit of the tengu, though she's far too slow to actually catch up with the two of you.
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I might add, it sticks in my craw to attack a retreating foe, but since this girls' our only hope of negociating with Aya and forcing her to leave, I do what I must.
>"This Seeker never gives in until there's no hope left!"
>Hurl our kunai at the same wing we slashed at before. Maybe if we knock her out of the air, it'll stun her enough to let us catch her.
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>"This Seeker never gives in until there's no hope left!"
>Hurl our kunai at the same wing we slashed at before. Maybe if we knock her out of the air, it'll stun her enough to let us catch her.
>You make a determined declaration as you turn and hurl your kunai at the tengu's wing. Unfortunately, both the wing and its owner are moving and the wing muscle itself presents a narrow target. Your shot misses your main target and passes through the body of the wing, though you hear a thin cracking as it does and several feathers fall free. The tengu falters slightly to the side, landing a little awkwardly on one foot, but resumes running with only a slight loss of momentum.
>"Come back here you overgrown feather duster!" you hear Ishi yell as she does her best impression of a dash.
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>Where did that kunai land?
>Get in close to the wall and continue following the tengu.
>"Ishi! Wrench!"
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>Where did that kunai land?
>Get in close to the wall and continue following the tengu.
>You can't see at the moment with the tengu herself in the way, but you think it would have landed either in or on the stairs.
>You chase after the fleeing tengu, nearly keeping pace with her as she crosses the last foot or two to the stairs.
>"Ishi! Wrench!"
>"One clonk on the noggin coming up!" the diminutive gearhead cries with no small measure of enthusiasm.
>"No, Ishi!" you hear Chisato say. "Not the-"
>Her words are cut off by the sound of the wrench rockets flaring to life again. The tengu glances back over her shoulder with a look of concern.
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>Oh, right. WE'RE between the tengu and the wrench.
>Stop and watch the flying wrench ourselves, and devote whatever attention we need to avoid the flying tool, if it seems to be heading in our direction.
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>Oh, right. WE'RE between the tengu and the wrench.
>Stop and watch the flying wrench ourselves, and devote whatever attention we need to avoid the flying tool, if it seems to be heading in our direction.
>You are. Maybe this wasn't such a hot suggestion, after all....
>You stop and turn to face the barreling ratchet as it spins end over end towards you. ...you might want to duck!
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>Hey, when all you have left is a hammer... Or in this case, a boomerang rocket-wrench...
>Hit the deck!
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>Hey, when all you have left is a hammer... Or in this case, a boomerang rocket-wrench...
>Hit the deck!
>You hit the deck, dropping low as quickly as you can manage in hopes of staying clear of the careening bludgeon. You both hear and feel the wrench zoom past you, ruffling your hair and leaving a wash of heat in its wake. Too close for comfort...
>"Watch where you're aiming, you pineapple head!" Chisato snaps.
>You hear heavy thud, accompanied by a pained grunt from the tengu ahead of you.
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>Glance up at the tengu.
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>Glance up at the tengu.
>You glance up at the tengu, who has managed to gain another foot or two on you while you were busy ducking. The wrench seems to have hit her solidly in the small of her back, despite some apparent evasive maneuvers. You can see it twirling away on the rebound, rockets falling dark again.
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>Does it appear to be turning back towards us?
>Has that impact impeded her movements?
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>Does it appear to be turning back towards us?
>Has that impact impeded her movements?
>The ricochet isn't quite in your direction, but if the rockets fire for a return trip again....
>She seems to have faltered a little from the impact.
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>What does it take to STOP this tengu?
>Get back to our feet.
>Based on what we saw of its speed earlier after it boomeranged, do we think we could catch it in midflight?
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>What does it take to STOP this tengu?
>Get back to our feet.
>Based on what we saw of its speed earlier after it boomeranged, do we think we could catch it in midflight?
>She's got mettle, that's for sure.
>You get back to your feet as the tengu rallies. You can hear Ishi still running in your direction, though no one else. The wrench does another somersault upwards as it spends the last of its momentum.
>With your face, maybe... Though in fairness, you might have a small window before it hits full speed in which grabbing would be plausible. Outside of that, it would take a lot of luck.
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>"Ishi, can you stop it coming back at us?"
>Maybe that hurt her enough to slow her march up the stairs. Get after her again, try and tackle her if we get close enough. Keep our saber for defense ready in the event she slashes at us.
>If we fail to catch her before she gets up the stairs, or if she takes to wing again, yell, "Tell your captain to find easier things to steal! This ship doesn't roll over for anyone!"
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>"Ishi, can you stop it coming back at us?"
>Maybe that hurt her enough to slow her march up the stairs. Get after her again, try and tackle her if we get close enough. Keep our saber for defense ready in the event she slashes at us.
>If we fail to catch her before she gets up the stairs, or if she takes to wing again, yell, "Tell your captain to find easier things to steal! This ship doesn't roll over for anyone!"
>"Nope!" she answers cheerfully.
>You quickly move in after the tengu, though climbing stairs in your current condition proves even less pleasant than swift movement on solid ground. The tengu is gathering herself even as you close and turns a little towards you, bringing her sword between the two of you as she tries to get her footing straight again. Her face is still caught in a grimace.
>The wrench's rockets loudly burst into action again, sending it spiraling back towards you!
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>Why doesn't THAT surprise me.
>Are we close enough to grab it before it gets up to speed?
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>Why doesn't THAT surprise me.
>Are we close enough to grab it before it gets up to speed?
>Stupid kappa gizmos.... Reliably unreliable.
>It's decently high in the air at the moment after flying up on the rebound. You might be able to grab it if you jumped, though your leg mightn't handle that very well at the moment, and it would probably put you into the tengu's sword range if you tried it. Though she may be more concerned with leaving than slashing at you.
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>Maybe it'll put us in harm's way. But that's better than letting that thing fly back at our friends.
>Drop the knife in our left hand and jump for that wrench.
>Keep our saber out defensively. And if we hear the sound of a sword slicing through the air, return our attention to it and defend ourselves as best as we can.
>In the event we miss the thing or it tears free of our grasp, "Incoming, girls! Ishi, cover the humans!"
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>Maybe it'll put us in harm's way. But that's better than letting that thing fly back at our friends.
>Drop the knife in our left hand and jump for that wrench.
>Keep our saber out defensively. And if we hear the sound of a sword slicing through the air, return our attention to it and defend ourselves as best as we can.
>In the event we miss the thing or it tears free of our grasp, "Incoming, girls! Ishi, cover the humans!"
>You make a quick judgement call, then drop your knife and leap for the rapidly accelerating wrench. A sharp pain stabs into your leg as you spring off from it, and you strangle a gasp as you reach an arm out towards the spiraling implement. You keep your sword extended towards the tengu and hope she doesn't try to take advantage of what is doubtlessly going to leave an opening no matter what you do. Your eyes trace the wrench's path as it swerves. ...there!
>You snap your fingers closed as the wrench's handle passes near to your hand and feel them wrap around something solid. Got it! Then your eyes widen as you feel yourself yanked backwards by the wrench's momentum. And bloody hell it's hot!
>"What are you crazy?!" Chisato yells.
>You see the tengu bound up the stairs several at a time, wings spreading on each leap.
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>"Where's the bloody off switch?!"
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>"Where's the bloody off switch?!"
>"When it hits something!" Ishi says helpfully. "Or runs outta gas."
>While the wrench's wild flight is muted in your hands, your jump is pulled further backwards by the force of its thrust. There's no way you're landing straight from this, and you're pretty sure your hand starting to burn.
>"Just let it go!" you hear Miyuki cry.
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>Have we flown past the two humans yet?
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>Have we flown past the two humans yet?
>Not nearly, but you don't think they followed you to the stairs, and you're certainly not going to make it all the way back to the hall before hitting the ground again.
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>Try as best as we can to ensure the wrench will fly past the humans, especially Miyuki and her leg, and let go before we burn our hand black.
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>Try as best as we can to ensure the wrench will fly past the humans, especially Miyuki and her leg, and let go before we burn our hand black.
>You do your best to wrench the wrench away from the corridor and then let go, tumbling unceremoniously to the ground and nearly rolling head over heels. You let out a groan as your leg is further battered by the awkward fall, and your hand still feels like it's inside a fire. You hear a clunk as the wrench hits a wall and its rockets sputter out.
>Wincing fiercely, you see the tengu crest the last of the stairs and disappear onto the deck.
>"Are you okay?" Miyuki asks, limping towards you.
>Ishi trots over and retrieves her tool. "Nice acrobatics there, Mousy."
>"Don't act like half this isn't your fault," Chisato mutters.
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>Shake our hand out and blow on it.
>"I'm not okay yet. Not until every one of them is off this ship."
>Take a moment to assess the damage to us before we get back to our feet. And the humans, they were fighting Kazuha while we and Ishi were dancing with that lead tengu.
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>Shake our hand out and blow on it.
>You shake your hand and blow on it. Frankly, you think that only makes it sting worse. All things considered, it doesn't look in terrible shape, but the back of your hand is still distinctly singed. Dammit, this really wasn't one of your better ideas....
>Take a moment to assess the damage to us before we get back to our feet. And the humans, they were fighting Kazuha while we and Ishi were dancing with that lead tengu.
>You're... not feeling in great shape, frankly. You bear multiple shallow cuts across your body from the lead tengu's incessant wind blades, your hand is burned, there is a large discolored patch on your shirt surrounding the stab wound to your torso, and your knee and parts of your lower leg are slick with blood from the slash in your leg. You've been pushing these latter injuries in particular and they ache fiercely; your acrimonious reunion with the floor didn't help much, either. Your tail, at least, feels only slightly sore from the squashing and straining, and this is mostly lost among the other pains. For what little that's worth. In sum: it hurts to move, it hurts to not move, and you have a fundamental complaint with these being your only two options.
>Glancing at the others, they all seem to be faring somewhat better than yourself:
>Miyuki still shows no obvious wounds aside from her ankle, though that alone is nasty enough on a human and she's leaning heavily against a wall for support. Her face looks a little tensed; you wouldn't be at all surprised if this was stoicism in the face of pain.
>Chisato is a bit more roughed up, with a decent gash along her midsection and a couple other nicks and bruises, along with that strangely singed-looking hand. She looks more pissed off than pained, though, and her mobility seems unimpaired.
>Ishi looks completely fine, aside from having lost the top inch or two of her hair. Perhaps if she'd taken a comb to it this morning, she wouldn't have had this problem....
>"I'm not okay yet. Not until every one of them is off this ship."
>"Those birdbrains took over my engine room!" Ishi says irately, shaking her fist at the air.
>"How'd you even get up here?" Chisato asks, cocking her head quizzically. Then her expression sours. "And why the hell didn't we know about that net launcher? We couldda used that earlier, you know!"
>"Hey, I'd been meaning to get around to it..." the kappa protests.
>At this point, you hear the distinctive, if faint, sound of a wind cutter being fired above you.
-
>Does it look like the others heard it?
-
>Does it look like the others heard it?
>From the looks on Miyuki and Chisato's faces, you think they may have, but Ishi appears oblivious.
-
>"Sounds like the captain's still going up there. And she'll probably need our help."
>Drag ourselves wearily to our feet. Miserable condition aside, we're still under seige. And by harry, we ain't beat yet! Despite what our legs say.
>Look Miyuki up and down, then give her a small grin. "Would it do any good to tell you to stay here, before you permanantly damage your ankle?"
-
>"Sounds like the captain's still going up there. And she'll probably need our help."
>Drag ourselves wearily to our feet. Miserable condition aside, we're still under seige. And by harry, we ain't beat yet! Despite what our legs say.
>Look Miyuki up and down, then give her a small grin. "Would it do any good to tell you to stay here, before you permanantly damage your ankle?"
>"Wait, it does?" Ishi says, spinning around with a confused expression on her face. "Last I saw, she ran off into the hold with Sleepywings."
>You drag yourself unsteadily to your feet; this causes far more discomfort than you're comfortable admitting at the moment. Dammit, what the hell happened to this being a peaceful day for a change?
>"Not a bit," Miyuki replies with a hint of a smile of her own, weary though it may be.
>"Here," Chisato says as she moves over to her. "At least let me help you up the stairs."
>You hear another wind blade from above and then a heavy thud. That seems to finally get Ishi's attention.
>"And stay down!" Murasa shouts.
>The kappa's expression is nonplussed. "Huh. Guess it does." Then she bounds off up the steps. "We got issues, boss!"
>"C'mon," Chisato says as she lends Miyuki her shoulder.
-
>Note: If Miyuki ends up with a permanent limp from this, track this Shamemaru down and put a limp her wing. Permanently.
>Much as we need to get topside, head towards the stairs at a reasonable rate. If we have to do much fighting, we're gonna need whatever strength we have left.
>Are there any weapons left strewn about other than the two kunai in or around the stairs? If so, pick them up as we go.
>"No offense, Miyuki, but, how did you escape getting cut by that tengu?"
-
>Note: If Miyuki ends up with a permanent limp from this, track this Shamemaru down and put a limp her wing. Permanently.
>Much as we need to get topside, head towards the stairs at a reasonable rate. If we have to do much fighting, we're gonna need whatever strength we have left.
>Are there any weapons left strewn about other than the two kunai in or around the stairs? If so, pick them up as we go.
>"No offense, Miyuki, but, how did you escape getting cut by that tengu?"
>You make a note: a limb for a limb. You're not feeling in a forgiving mood right now.
>You make your way up the stairs at a much more casual pace than the sprightly kappa, being as gentle on your injuries as you can while remaining mobile.
>There is one kunai embedded in the stairs from your very first throw, and another fallen on top of them from your last. There's also Miyuki's knife, where you dropped it to catch hold of that damn death-wrench. More curiously, you also see a large blade near the base of the steps, attached to a short stump of a pole that is badly splintered. It looks rather like the head of a naginata. Did you want to pick that up as well?
>"Struggle like hell," she replies simply.
>"The damn dodos took over the engine room," Ishi continues expounding as she scampers up the rest of the stairs and disappears onto the deck. "I had to crawl through one of the- gaaah!" There is a small thud as Ishi's voice trails off in a startled groan.
-
>Can we see what happened to her from down here?
-
>Can we see what happened to her from down here?
>No.
-
>We'll take the polearm head in our tail, and take the two kunai in our pouch, and the knife in our hand.
>"Let me go first, girls."
>Take the lead from the humans and start up the stairs. Carefully and quietly. At least, as much as we can.
>Pause when we can see Ishi, unless something more immediately life threatening happens first.
-
>We'll take the polearm head in our tail, and take the two kunai in our pouch, and the knife in our hand.
>"Let me go first, girls."
>Take the lead from the humans and start up the stairs. Carefully and quietly. At least, as much as we can.
>Pause when we can see Ishi, unless something more immediately life threatening happens first.
>You pick up the broken polearm head with your tail, but there's honestly so little of its haft intact that you can barely hold onto it safely, and its weight makes it quite awkward with such limited leverage; you're not sure how much use it'll be, like this. Then you scoop up your two kunai and pocket them, and take Miyuki's knife back into your hand.
>"Oww...." Ishi moans weakly. "Stupid dodolimbs!"
>"Get your butts back up here, people!" Murasa says. "We've got grapples to clear before they can land another squad up here."
>"Is the deck clear, cap'n?" Chisato asks as she puts an arm around Miyuki's waist and lifts her ankle off the ground.
>"Not for long, if we don't hurry!"
>You start quietly up the stairs, cursing inwardly at every second step. Chisto and Miyuki follow behind you.
>"C'mon, hustle!" Murasa says. You can hear footsteps trotting off towards the other end of the deck.
-
>Dodolimbs? What, did she trip over a stray arm or something?
>"We're hustling, we're hustling..."
>Get back up on deck asap.
-
>Dodolimbs? What, did she trip over a stray arm or something?
>"We're hustling, we're hustling..."
>Get back up on deck asap.
>Raising an eyebrow at Ishi's choice of expression, you groan an acknowledgment to Murasa and press your limbs into speedier service. You quickly ascend the rest of the stairs and step back onto the deck.
>As soon as you emerge from the deckhouse, you feel something cold and sharp pressed against the back of your neck.
>"Keep quiet," an unfamiliar voice whispers softly in your ear. "And no sudden moves."
-
>Whatever happened to the deck being clear?
-
>Whatever happened to the deck being clear?
>That is a very good question.
-
>Look around.
-
>Look around.
>You scan your eyes over what you can see with moving. The deck does indeed seem clear of people, at least as much of it as you can see at the moment. There are smears of blood here and there across the wooden decking and a couple signs of heavy impact or scraping. There is, however, no sign of either Murasa or Ishi, or any tengu, conscious or otherwise. You can see a large tengu vessel hovering some distance off the Maiden's starboard side; you think that was the one you heard referred to as the Skyfang. Actually, check that: you can see a couple tengu, on the deck of the other ship, as well as someone else - a different youkai of some sort, maybe?
-
>How close is this voice?
>How sharp does that thing feel?
-
>How close is this voice?
>How sharp does that thing feel?
>Only a foot or two behind you, and somewhat above.
>Quite sharp, and ending in a narrow point.
-
>All right, since we seem to have walked into a trap.
>Stay where we are for now.
>Gauge how far she is above us.
-
If I may be slightly more 'daring'? Feel free to countermand if you don't like it, of course.
> Lower voice to approximately the same volume.
> "Or what?"
-
>All right, since we seem to have walked into a trap.
>Stay where we are for now.
>Gauge how far she is above us.
>You stand still, and try to gauge how far above you your mystery assailant is. You don't know how long her weapon is, or how it is being held, but her voice seemed no more than foot or so above you.
> Lower voice to approximately the same volume.
> "Or what?"
>You lower your voice to match hers.
>"Or you can breathe through a new hole in your neck," the voice replies.
-
Hey, don't mind me, Kilga.
Although at this point, I'm not sure it matters what one or both of us does. If I'm right, then the only way that tengu could have got the drop on us, and that Ishi didn't warn us, is that Murasa's betrayed us, and the pirates have won. Either that, or they've beaten Murasa and one of them can imitate her voice.
>Keep still, then.
>"So what, am I a hostage now?"
-
>Keep still, then.
>"So what, am I a hostage now?"
>You keep still.
>"Just walk slowly around the deckhouse," the voice says. "Act natural."
>"Hey, what's the holdup?" Chisato asks.
>"And don't answer that."
-
May as well, for now. Until we get a better shot at ambush Tengu.
>Quietly, "Hurt them, and I'll tear your wings off."
>Walk around the deckhouse.
-
>Quietly, "Hurt them, and I'll tear your wings off."
>Walk around the deckhouse.
>Your assailant makes no acknowledgment of this.
>You start to walk around to the side of the deckhouse. The point of her weapon remains pressed against you as you move, and you can faintly hear someone shifting around atop the deckhouse itself.
>A new voice speaks out loudly once you start to move, coming from nearly the same direction as your assailant. "Nothin'. Just my leg."
>"You'll get time to rest once we're outta here," Murasa says. "Hustle!" ...her voice is also coming from that spot.
-
>"C-"
>Did we recognize that new voice?
-
>"C-"
>Did we recognize that new voice?
>You feel the point at the back of your neck jabbed just a little deeper as you open your mouth again.
>It... sounded a little like you, actually.
>"We're hustling!" Chisato says. "Got a few injuries here." You hear her making her way up the rest of the stairs.
-
Called it.
>What are our chances of surviving getting our neck cut?
-
>What are our chances of surviving getting our neck cut?
>That would depend greatly on how serious it was. You aren't going to die from bleeding out like a human would, but a serious gash there could still put you out of commission for a nice while. And if it was much more serious than that, well... you really don't want to test how firmly your head needs to be attached to your shoulders for it to heal back up again. That being said, whatever is pressing against you feel more like a stabbing than a cutting weapon.
-
What do you think, Kilga? I REALLY don't want it to end like this.
Or any of your other folks?
-
All right, I've given the matter some thought. And we're in a 'gun to our head' situation. In the event we warn our friends, we will almost certainly get ourselves injured, probably greviously. And then the humans will come up in attack mode, and they'll get hurt, too, or even die. And I don't think that's a risk we want to take.
On a personal note, it turns my stomach to let the humans walk into this trap, but if that tengu before was telling the truth, and these pirates really aren't here to kill us, then maybe they'll be safe. It's not much, but it's better than no hope at all.
>Pray that that tengu was telling the truth.
>Continue to obey the pirate with the gun blade.
-
>Pray that that tengu was telling the truth.
>Continue to obey the pirate with the gun blade.
>You pray that the pirates will somehow stay true to their word and resign yourself to doing what you're told. Cursing inwardly at the helplessness of the situation and the knowledge that the humans you fought and bled with are walking into a trap, you follow your assailant's instructions and the weapon pressed against your neck, and step casually around the side of the deckhouse.
>There are several tengu gathered here, well-concealed from the entrance to the stairway. And one kappa.
>Ishi looks dazed and nearly unconscious, and there is a thick cloth wrapped around her mouth, but she seems otherwise uninjured. She is slumped against the deckhouse with her hands behind her; they may be bound, but you can't tell from this angle. A tall tengu with a cross-bladed spear looms beside her, keeping a level eye on the incapacitated mechanic. Near her is another new pirate, idly flipping a sword of design similar to your own. She throws you a look that manages to mingle cocksure triumph with a predatory sneer. Neither of them show signs of having been in combat.
>And in front of them is the tengu you had been chasing moments before, your weapons still firmly in her flesh. She regards you with a dour expression that is quite dissimilar to her peers, then steps forward and holds out her hand towards you. There is no sign of Fuuka or Kazuha.
-
>Look at her hand, then back up at her.
-
>Look at her hand, then back up at her.
>You look at her empty hand, then back up at her. Her frown deepens slightly and she gestures for your weapons.
>Chisato sounds to be nearly at the top of the stairs now, her pace slowed from mostly carrying Miyuki.
-
>Drop the knife and saber. If the thief wants them, let her pick them up.
-
>Drop the knife and saber. If the thief wants them, let her pick them up.
>You release your grip on the two weapons, letting them clatter heavily to the ground. The tengu throws a stern look above and behind you at the noisy impact, then makes a quick hand gesture to the taller tengu, who then approaches and shifts around to your back. You feel the point of her spear press against you, and then the weapon at your neck is released. The tengu in front of you steps forward and bends down to pick up the weapons without taking her eyes off yours, or her hand off her sword.
>"Cap'n?" you hear Chisato ask as she crests the last of the steps. "Hey, where's ev-" There is a brief pause. "Fucking hell!"
>Ishi stirs a little, and then her eyes flare open so wide that they almost seem to grow. She starts to scrabble to her feet when the third tengu leans over and backhands her in forehead, knocking the rear of her skull hard against the deckhouse. The kappa's eyes go woozy again.
-
>Say nothing. Don't give them any satisfaction at beating us.
-
>Say nothing. Don't give them any satisfaction at beating us.
>You keep your silence; you're not about to give them so much as a hint of anything to feel smug about right now.
>You hear the same voice that whispered quietly to you speak likewise to Chisato; it's extremely faint even for you at this distance and angle, but you can still narrowly make out her words when you focus.
>"Are there any others with you now?" she asks.
>"Two dozen on the way up," Chisato snaps angrily, "and they're gonna rip your wings off if you lay a hand on either of us."
>The voice chuckles softly. "That would be no, then." She assumes a normal volume. "Okay, get up here, and no sudden moves or I will shoot." Her voice has an odd dull quality to it - not merely serious, but somehow leeched of emotional color.
>The tengu gathers up your knife and sword and moves them aside, then moves closer and reaches into your pouch to withdraw the other kunai kept there. Then, still holding her sword between the two of you, reaches down to remove Kumokirimaru from your waist.
-
>Place our hand on the hilt of the katana.
>"You REALLY don't want to do that."
-
>Place our hand on the hilt of the katana.
>"You REALLY don't want to do that."
>"I'm not certain you're in a position to be making threats," the tengu says, her eyes narrowing slightly. You feel the spear at your back prod deeper.
>"And I'm certain you're not," the shorter of the two new tengu says, chuckling wryly at their own joke.
-
Well, Kilga, you wanted to threaten them with the blight. It seems you're about to get the chance.
>"You don't think I know a bad scene when I see one? I'm surrounded, unarmed except for a sheathed sword, and wounded. I know I wouldn't last more than a minute in a fight against you lot. But nobody on this ship will last more than a day if I let this sword out of my possession, pirate or otherwise. This sword is the only thing keeping us all alive, and safe from my disease."
>Are any of our blight patches exposed right now?
-
>"You don't think I know a bad scene when I see one? I'm surrounded, unarmed except for a sheathed sword, and wounded. I know I wouldn't last more than a minute in a fight against you lot. But nobody on this ship will last more than a day if I let this sword out of my possession, pirate or otherwise. This sword is the only thing keeping us all alive, and safe from my disease."
>The shorter tengu scoffs and flips her blade around again. The one in front of you regards you gravely, holding your eyes in a penetrating stare for a few moments, then glancing down to regard your weapon.
>"You don't seem ill," she says simply, but her tone is serious. The other tengu snickers again.
>Are any of our blight patches exposed right now?
>They are not; for all your myriad injuries, your clothing has managed to mostly maintain its integrity. Though this makes the second outfit you've totaled in as many weeks. At this rate you're going to end up in rags before the Blight has a chance to kill you.
-
>"And that's because I still have this sword. Why do you think I didn't draw it during our little spat below? I didn't want to risk one of you pirates knocking it out of my hands. If one of you had, we'd probably all be puking black blood by now."
>Pause for a moment, and look thoughful. "I'm not sure how it would affect tengu; maybe the feathers would start melting off your wings before your guts started melting."
-
>"And that's because I still have this sword. Why do you think I didn't draw it during our little spat below? I didn't want to risk one of you pirates knocking it out of my hands. If one of you had, we'd probably all be puking black blood by now."
>Pause for a moment, and look thoughful. "I'm not sure how it would affect tengu; maybe the feathers would start melting off your wings before your guts started melting."
>"Yeah, right," the shorter tengu says. "And here I thought Seekers were supposed to be good liars."
>The tengu in front of you gives you a stern look, though it does not seem to be an angry one; in fact, her expression is a little hard to read. "This is both a far-fetched and suspiciously convenient story, you realize?"
>"I didn't say stop," you hear the mystery voice speak.
>"Bite me," Chisato snaps back.
>"Sorry, already had lunch. Now move."
-
>"You don't need to tell me how odd it sounds. It's my disease, my story. My death sentance. That's why I was traveling to the big city, to find a cure. If there is one."
>Look at the lead tengu, let her see the sincerity in our eyes. "Look, you kept trying to get us to stop fighting. And I heard you order your troops out of that fight. I'm willing to believe you don't want to see anyone here die. That's all that will happen if you take that sword away from me, what the ugly black patches on my skin mean. We ALL die, painfully. Human, youkai, tengu, kappa, it doesn't matter, we're all dead."
>Pause a moment to let that sink in. "I don't want my friends to die. Can you say the same?"
-
>"That's why I was traveling to the big city, to find a cure. If there is one."
> Don't say this part. No need to give them any ideas on how to cure it.
-
Doubleposting is townie.
At this point, since there doesn't appear to be a coherent Blue Maiden crewwoman in the room, if they don't believe us again I'd just tell them to roll up our right sleeve.
-
>"You don't need to tell me how odd it sounds. It's my disease, my story. My death sentance."
>Look at the lead tengu, let her see the sincerity in our eyes. "Look, you kept trying to get us to stop fighting. And I heard you order your troops out of that fight. I'm willing to believe you don't want to see anyone here die. That's all that will happen if you take that sword away from me, what the ugly black patches on my skin mean. We ALL die, painfully. Human, youkai, tengu, kappa, it doesn't matter, we're all dead."
>Pause a moment to let that sink in. "I don't want my friends to die. Can you say the same?"
>The tengu before you regards you gravely as you elaborate, barely seeming to blink. She seems neither frightened by your claim nor dismissive of it, and any hint of doubt she harbors is well-masked beneath professional stoicism. Her blade-flipping companion, on the other hand, is snickering openly before you even finish your speech.
>"This is great stuff," she says. "Should've gone into theatre."
>"With all due respect, Ren," the tengu behind you says in a voice commesurate with her statue, "can we really afford to waste time on this before the ship is secured?"
>"Nah, this is way too much fun," the snickering tengu says. "C'mon mouse, what else you got?"
>"I would thank you to be quiet," the lead tengu firmly, with more than a hint of ice in her voice. The other subdues her mirth just enough to pass for compliance. "And you're right," she continues with weary sigh. "We shouldn't prolong this." She takes another look at your face, then speaks with a note of resignation. "Bind her hands, arms, and tail. Make sure they're double-secured. She can keep the sword until Aya decides what to do with it."
>"What?!" The sarcrastic amusement on the shorter tengu's face is replaced almost immediately with genuine outrage. She takes an aggressive step towards you. "What kinda bullshit is this? First you go and get your squad chopped up and now you're playing nice? I say we-"
>The one in front of you rounds on her. "That's quite enough! I'm not interested in your opinion and this isn't up for discussion. If you can't restrain yourself, you can leave. And if you don't back off immediately," she adds in a more dangerous tone, "I'll remind you that an open invitation can be revoked just as easily as any other. You would not be the first."
>The shorter tengu falters slightly, traces of hesitation diluting her fervor.
>"Sorry, Ren. I'm just a dumb thug who's lucky you went first and saved me having to stuff my own organs back inside me." Though the voice belongs to the insubordinate tengu, its source is from the other direction entirely. "I should probably just stick this sword up my butt and go jump off into the abyss, where I'll actually be useful to someone. Why, I think I'll go do that right now! Bye-bye!"
>The true owner of the voice bristles in silent fury.
>You hear Chisato and Miyuki led around the corner. "What? Where's the jumping?" their captor asks in what you assume is her own voice again. "Not going to disappoint us, now are you?
>The tengu in front of you lets out a sigh, and the other's face twists with a turbulent blend of hot shame and bitter resentment. She takes a step away and sheathes her sword.
>"You heard Ren," the copycat says. "Get to it."
>Throwing you a dark look, the shorter tengu picks up a coil of rope from the side of the deckhouse and moves around behind you.
-
> Does this mean we're in Chisato/Miyuki view yet?
-
> Does this mean we're in Chisato/Miyuki view yet?
>You expect you're in their view, although you couldn't see them yourself unless you tried to turn around.
-
Great. I was hoping to do this without them around, but this is going to get out and around one way or another.
> "Wait. You want proof, I have proof. Roll up my right sleeve."
-
> "Wait. You want proof, I have proof. Roll up my right sleeve."
>Ren gives you another appraising look, then steps forward and pulls your right sleeve up far enough to expose the lower tendrils of the blighted mark there. Her already-etched frown deepens and she rolls it up the rest of the way, fully revealing the nexus of blackened veins on your arm.
>"And you say this is the sign of some disease?" she asks.
>You feel one of the tengu behind you roughly start to remove your pack, pulling on your exposed arm in the process.
>"Okay you two," the impersonator says, "drop your weapons. You can gawk later."
>You hear something flat and metallic drop against the deck, though there is a distinct lack of any sound that could match Chisato's weapon.
>"That's an order, sailor," their captor adds in Murasa's voice.
>"Go to hell and stay there!" Chisato spits. You hear her pole slam fiercely against the deck. "Polly."
>"...dun want any crackers..." Ishi slurs woozily.
-
> "You can have your medic look at it, if you like. I assume you have a medic, at least, after what your lot went through below deck. You can also check my left leg, or various parts of my torso."
-
> "You can have your medic look at it, if you like. I assume you have a medic, at least, after what your lot went through below deck. You can also check my left leg, or various parts of my torso."
>Ren pulls up the left side of your skirt just enough to reveal the patch above your knee, then lets it drop again.
>"Whether you're telling the truth or not," she says, "I'm not prepared to gamble with others' lives. Call it a victory, if you will, though I suggest you not let yourself feel too triumphant; you won't be getting free enough to use that weapon."
>The tengu behind you finishes divesting you of your pack, then grabs your hands and starts wrapping rope tightly around them.
-
> "I don't plan on fighting. I don't need to, really. Your lot spilling my blood all over the place is all the fighting I need to do."
-
> "I don't plan on fighting. I don't need to, really. Your lot spilling my blood all over the place is all the fighting I need to do."
>"And what exactly is that supposed to mean?" Ren asks with a stern look on her face.
-
> "Think about it. The blade slows the disease down, sure. But once my blood starts leaving my body, I imagine the disease starts behaving like any other disease. Which means that all transmission bets are probably off."
-
> "Think about it. The blade slows the disease down, sure. But once my blood starts leaving my body, I imagine the disease starts behaving like any other disease. Which means that all transmission bets are probably off."
>"So you're saying that... this" - she gestures to your blood-slicked leg - "has sentenced us all to die?"
-
> "I don't think it's quite that contagious. Below deck should probably need to be cleaned sooner rather than later, though. And I'd worry about...Fuuka, wasn't it?"
-
> "I don't think it's quite that contagious. Below deck should probably need to be cleaned sooner rather than later, though. And I'd worry about...Fuuka, wasn't it?"
>Her face draws tighter at the mention of her subordinate's name, and her eyes harden. "And what of your 'friends'?" she asks. "Contagion has no respect for loyalties."
-
> "It doesn't. But I didn't plan on bleeding profusely when I came on board. And if it comes time for me to go down in a bloody blaze, I won't be throwing myself at them."
-
What exactly are you trying to accomplish here?
We got to keep the sword, and it's obvious we had lost. I was hoping to just get this scene over with without making the crew want to eject us by revealing the blight.
Now I'm going to have to come up with a lie for Miyuki and the others to keep them from throwing us overboard after the pirates are gone. Assuming THEY don't want to throw us overboard now, just to be safe.
-
And they were going to let us keep the sword for how much longer? This was going to come out way or the other, unless you were going to hand over the sword and die in silence.
-
> "It doesn't. But I didn't plan on bleeding profusely when I came on board. And if it comes time for me to go down in a bloody blaze, I won't be throwing myself at them."
>Ren gives you a long hard look.
>"I think you're lying," she says. "About your contagion or your concern for the rest of the crew, I'm not sure which. If your blood was really that dangerous, you wouldn't be so flippant about spilling it near people you cared about."
>You feel the roped wound tightly up your arms, nearly to your elbows. Your palms are pressed together and then bound as well.
-
> "I'm not concerned because I'm in the process of obtaining a cure, and obviously I'll be sharing it with them if any of them somehow get infected. They'll be fine, one way or another."
-
> "I'm not concerned because I'm in the process of obtaining a cure, and obviously I'll be sharing it with them if any of them somehow get infected. They'll be fine, one way or another."
>"Convenient," Ren says flatly. Her expression looks almost a little... disappointed? "In any case, I think enough's been said and we still have work to do."
>You feel the ropes binding your hands and arms pulled taut and secured. If feels like half of those limbs are encased in a solid cage of rope, and you can barely move anything south of your shoulders. Your singed hand burns where the rope scrapes roughly against it, and you're just glad that your arms themselves are free of major injuries or this would probably be substantially more unpleasant than it already is. The tengu then starts to tie your ankles together. You feel the spear point at your back removed and its bearer walks over in the direction of Chisato and Miyuki.
-
>Does she still have that kunai in her back?
-
>Does she still have that kunai in her back?
>You can't see her back at the moment, but you don't believe she removed it in the meantime.
-
>"'Work.' Sure. Let's call it that."
>Does it seem like the humans have been furthur hurt?
-
>"'Work.' Sure. Let's call it that."
>Does it seem like the humans have been furthur hurt?
>Well, you could turn and look in their direction. The fact that there's no longer a weapon being held to your back might make this a less hazardous action than before.
-
>Spare a look behind us. At both the lead pirates' back and our friends.
-
>Spare a look behind us. At both the lead pirates' back and our friends.
>You twist around and look behind you.
>Chisato and Miyuki are both a short distance back towards the stairs, the latter leaning on the former for support so that she can keep off her injured ankle. Both of them look about as well as can be expected under the circumstances. Chisato looks pissed, though you can also spot an undercurrent of incredulous confusion thrown in your direction. Miyuki, on the other hand, appears more disturbed and uncertain. Her eyes seem to search yours for answers as you look in her direction.
>Standing behind the pair of them is another pirate. Though winged, she could not be mistaken for a tengu even for a moment. Her hair is a brilliant red and her wings fade from the same shade into a band of yellow and then a vivid blue; the effect is quite striking. In contrast to her plumage, she is garbed in a partially-open black longcoat over a simple white shirt. She is wielding a pair of hand crossbows, one leveled at each of her two captives. Her expression is serious, though there is an odd tinge to its aspect that is hard to read.
-
> Look up at the non-tengu with an eyebrow raised.
-
>Give Chisato a look that says 'We damn sure tried.'
-
> Look up at the non-tengu with an eyebrow raised.
>You look at the bird youkai with a raised eyebrow. She flashes you a curious grin.
>"Don't take it personally," she says in Murasa's voice. "You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time, yeah?"
>Give Chisato a look that says 'We damn sure tried.'
>You try to convey this sentiment to Chisato as best you can, without words, though the youkai's mimicry of her captain seems to have incensed her anew - you're not sure how well she picked up on it.
-
>"Cute."
-
>"Cute."
>The youkai smiles at you briefly, then steps aside as the spear-wielding tengu reaches Chisato and Miyuki, and starts to bind them as well.
>Once your own ankles are bound tight enough to nearly cut off your circulation, the tengu behind grabs your tail and ties it uncomfortably to the side of your leg, securing it in enough places to prevent most movement from it. The rope here digs into you in a considerably more unpleasant way than your other limbs, and your captor clearly isn't concerned with your comfort.
>Ishi starts to stir again during this procedure, and Ren bring another length of rope over to restrain her. The kappa takes this rather less well than the rest of you, kicking the tengu as she nears and then headbutting her arm, all the while shouting a torrent of... something or other; her words are muffled to incoherence beneath her gag, but her spirit is unmistakable. Ren eventually settles for holding her upside down as she binds her ankles, but Ishi tries to swing herself at the tengu like an angry pendulum. This is about as effective as one would expect, which is to say: not at all. The tengu's arm span is so much longer than the furious mechanic's that she can't even reach her, though this hardly stops her from trying. Even after being tied and set back down again, Ishi starts to roll after the pirate and headbutt her ankles.
>Ren looks down at her. "What are you hoping to accomplish, kappa?"
>Ishi's reply is as incomprehensible as everything else that's come out of her mouth lately.
>The last of your bindings finished, the tengu behind gives you a shove and there's little you can do in your current state to keep from falling on top of the blue-haired spitfire. She lets out the nearest approximation of an 'oof' and then starts squirming beneath you. Ren throws the other tengu a glare.
-
>Try to maneuver off the diminutive kappa, or at least get to a more comfortable position for her and us.
-
>Try to maneuver off the diminutive kappa, or at least get to a more comfortable position for her and us.
>You try to hoist yourself upright, and actually manage to mostly succeed at this, though you nearly topple backwards in the process. Moving in this fashion draws renewed pain from your stab wound, but you manage to stifle the groan you felt like making; the less these pirates hear of that, the better.
>Ren picks the kappa up by her arms, and holds her far enough to away to ward off her continued ineffectual blows. "It's in the best interest of everyone here, including yourself, that you settle down."
-
>Smile at Ishi's efforts.
>"There's not a drop of quit in that one."
-
>Smile at Ishi's efforts.
>"There's not a drop of quit in that one."
>You smile at the kappa's seemingly boundless enthusiasm.
>Ren frowns at Ishi. "You're not helping anyone by this."
>"Just tie her to the struts," the bird youkai says. "Bring the rest of them over there, and then we can get back below."
-
>"Why do you even care?"
-
>"Why do you even care?"
>"About what?" the bird youkai asks.
-
>"Not you, voicebox, her." Jerk our head towards Ren and look at her. "I can buy you caring about your own, that's natural. But why do you pretend to care about your victims? Or are we special, somwhow?"
-
>"Not you, voicebox, her." Jerk our head towards Ren and look at her. "I can buy you caring about your own, that's natural. But why do you pretend to care about your victims? Or are we special, somwhow?"
>"What's the point of making someone suffer for its own sake?" Ren answers. "I don't hate any of you, even after what you did. I understand why. I just wish it could have been avoided."
>She sighs and turns to the bird youkai. "Speaking of which, did they manage to save the Bunbunmaru?"
>"After a fashion," she replies with a shrug. "The hull's a wreck - maybe fixable, maybe not. We lost one of the wings, and probably a bunch of other parts. We got everyone got out alive, though."
>Ren breathes a small sigh of relief and nods. The copycat turns towards towards Ishi. "You shouldn't have done that, you know. We only came here for one thing, but now you're gonna have to cough up a whole lot more to make up for that."
>"Serves ya right," Chisato spits.
>"And it's not my fault if-" the youkai's voice morphs into the insubordinate tengu's again "-some people have poor temper control."
-
>There was another ship out there close to us, wasn't there? How's it look?
-
>There was another ship out there close to us, wasn't there? How's it look?
>There was another ship near the Blue Maiden when last you were on deck, but at the moment, you can only see the one.
-
>"What, breaking onto someone else's ship and stealing whatever you want doesn't make your victim suffer?"
>"Want to avoid making people suffer? Here's a tip: Take up knitting."
-
>"What, breaking onto someone else's ship and stealing whatever you want doesn't make your victim suffer?"
>"Want to avoid making people suffer? Here's a tip: Take up knitting."
>The bird snickers, and so does the shorter tengu. "You try knitting and tell me it isn't suffering," the former quips.
>"The relic is no more Murasa's property than it is your own," Ren says. "And when we take it regardless, what will any of your struggles have done but brought you injury?"
>"What the hell are you even talking about?" Chisato says. "What 'relic'?"
>Ren turns and regards her a moment. Chisato bristles under her gaze, and for a moment you honestly wonder if she's considering emulating Ishi.
>"If you aren't aware of it," Ren continues wearily, "I suppose it's immaterial. It is here, and we will be leaving with it."
>"Let's get them moved and get on with this," the bird says, taking hold of Miyuki. The taller tengu takes Chisto, and they head off across the deck.
>"I'd like to see your face after the captain beats it bloody," the redhead spits. "Haven't got her yet, have you, you fuckin' crows." Her transport is surprisingly stoic in the face of her captive's tongue.
>Ren moves to follow them, still holding Ishi at arm's length. You feel the other tengu grab you bodily and haul you after them.
-
>"What kind of relic is worth all this? Worth the kind of damage that was apparantly done to your boat?"
>"ANd for that matter, how do you know it's here when the crew, or the treasure hunter, don't?"
-
>"What kind of relic is worth all this? Worth the kind of damage that was apparantly done to your boat?"
>"Aya says that it's worth it," the bird youkai says. "So it is."
>"Something beyond price," Ren adds.
>"ANd for that matter, how do you know it's here when the crew, or the treasure hunter, don't?"
>"We have our sources," Ren says.
>The group of you are carried over to the other end of the deck and dumped by the struts, some of you more gently than others - you are not one of the fortunate ones in that regard. Ren does eventually tie Ishi's arms to the strut itself when she simply will not stop trashing.
-
>"Since when does a thief care about something 'beyond price'? What, you need a cure for one of YOUR people, too?"
-
>"Since when does a thief care about something 'beyond price'? What, you need a cure for one of YOUR people, too?"
>"Not exactly," Ren says. "It's a long-lost key to a very old puzzle."
>"What sort of puzzle?" Miyuki asks.
>"A load of horseshit, if you ask me," Chisato says.
>Ren shakes her head. "I'm afraid that's also a long story, and I can't spend any more time up here."
>She gestures to the other two tengu. "Watch them. The redhead's a magician, so don't assume she's harmless just because she's tied up. If they try anything, subdue them, but don't hurt them unless they leave you no choice." She rounds on the shorter tengu. "You in particular. Don't think I won't notice."
>She turns around and starts to walk off, the brightly-plumed bird following after her. "We'll be back shortly."
-
>"We'll be waiting with bated breath."
-
>"We'll be waiting with bated breath."
>"Try not to miss us too much," the bird says in your own voice.
>The two of them quickly make their way to the other end of the deck and descend below.
>The taller tengu assumes a position opposite your group, holding her spear upright and regarding you stoically. Her companion elects to lean against the strut instead and throws an unpleasant leer in your direction.
-
>Take stock of the situation. Ignoring the two birds for a moment, have our bindings left us any wiggle room?
>Does it seem our friends have any slack in their bindings, any openings to exploit?
>Do we still have our kunai?
-
>Take stock of the situation. Ignoring the two birds for a moment, have our bindings left us any wiggle room?
>Does it seem our friends have any slack in their bindings, any openings to exploit?
>Do we still have our kunai?
>The bindings on you are so comprehensive and secured that you have very little wiggle room indeed. Your hands are locked palms against each other and you can't force them open more than a couple millimeters. Your arms themselves are held behind your back and found up to your elbows; you can rotate them using your torso, but can't really bend them. You can wiggle several parts of your tail a little, but there's only about a half-inch of the tip free, and the bindings are far too tight to slip it loose; you might well scrape your skin off if you really tried. And then there's your ankles. You can turn your feet a couple degrees in either direction, but can't move them apart much at all. You could possibly theoretically hop around, but your balance would be seriously impeded in this get-up and it would probably be tricky to rise again, should you fall.
>For the most part, theirs seem less secure than yours, though still quite sufficient to the task. Chisato is already struggling visible against hers, though without appearing to accomplish anything. And, of course, Ishi has yet to stop.
>They were taken from you, along with all the rest of your gear save Kumokirimaru itself.
-
>Little point telling them to save their strength. Especially Ishi, by the looks of her, she won't run out of that resources until the next major holiday.
>Guess there's nothing for it but to conserve our OWN strength, what little of it's left. And hope that Murasa or Neu, or someone else, can bust us out.
-
> When will we next need to take our medicine?
So I'm thinking I/we/whoever should admit the contagion thing was a bluff once we're in Aya's presence (though I'd keep an eye on Fuuka regardless). The Blue Maiden crew deserves the peace of mind and it looks like there are better angles to getting out of this than keeping the pirates hostage to the blight.
I wonder why the parrot woman never did Neu's voice, though.
-
>Little point telling them to save their strength. Especially Ishi, by the looks of her, she won't run out of that resources until the next major holiday.
>Guess there's nothing for it but to conserve our OWN strength, what little of it's left. And hope that Murasa or Neu, or someone else, can bust us out.
>You decide to conserve what strength remains in you and not try to struggle against your ropes; you don't rate your chances of wiggling out of them very highly, anyway. Chisato wrestles with hers for a little while longer, but eventually gives up as well, though the defiance in her face has not waned one inch. Miyuki's expression is more downcast and she looks weary and weak, but at least she's off her ankle. And Ishi, well... she has to stop eventually, right?
>The shorter tengu takes to flipping her sword around in her hands again and sometimes tossing it idly into the air before catching it. The blade generally seems to spend most of its flight time somewhere above your own head or body, and you soon grow quite certain this is deliberate. She throws you an unpleasant grin when you glance in her direction. At least she seems to have good reflexes....
>"You haven't won yet, y'know," Chisato says after a while. "So don't get too cozy. There ain't a pirate on the skies that can take the cap'n."
>The shorter tengu scoffs. "Big words for a girl too tied up to move. C'mon, throw a fireball at me or something," she says, flipping her blade around again. "Give me an excuse to use this."
>Chisato just glares daggers at her.
> When will we next need to take our medicine?
>Sometime this evening, before going to sleep.
-
> "So what are we waiting for, anyway?"
-
> "So what are we waiting for, anyway?"
>"Until the rest of you are tied up, and we can do what we came here to do," she says.
>"Won't take long, now that Aya's here," the taller tengu adds.
>At this point, you hear movement up the now-open cargo hatch in the middle of the deck.
-
> Take a look over at it, if we can.
-
> Take a look over at it, if we can.
>You take a look over in the direction of the sound, and soon see a familiar pair of large white wings crest the edge of the shaft. For a moment, you feel a glimmer of hope, but this is dashed just as quickly when you realize that they aren't moving. A moment later, the body of the moth youkai comes into view, with a pair of arms held beneath hers as another tengu carries her up onto the deck.
>"Neu!" Miyuki cries.
>The moth looks up at her weakly as she is flown towards the lot of you. Her face is bloodied and swollen around one eye, and there is a hole the size of your head in her left wing.
-
> Frown.
> What does the area around the hole look like? Ripped up, singed, whatever else?
> How does the tengu carrying her look?
-
> Frown.
> What does the area around the hole look like? Ripped up, singed, whatever else?
> How does the tengu carrying her look?
>You frown.
>It does look more like it was ripped than anything else, though the damage seems to be relatively clean.
>She's mostly obscured by Neu herself, though what you can see of her doesn't look obviously injured.
-
> Look over to the stoic guard.
> "The hell made that hole?"
-
> Look over to the stoic guard.
> "The hell made that hole?"
>"How should I know?" the tengu replies. "Can't see through the floor."
>The new pirate carries Neu over towards the group of you and dumps her on the ground near you. The moth groans, then struggles to sit up, breathing wearily.
>"Aya says to tie her up here," the pirate says. "Karu missed, and the ghost's gone... somewhere."
>"Are you okay?" Miyuki asks in a tone of deep concern. Neu nods faintly. Chisato tries to bore a hole through the new tengu with her eyes.
-
> Keep looking at the guard.
> "C'mon, don't give me that. That's not just any old injury. That looks like a precision strike."
-
> Keep looking at the guard.
> "C'mon, don't give me that. That's not just any old injury. That looks like a precision strike."
>The spear-wielding tengu looks at you dully for a moment, then shrugs. "If I had to guess, I'd say Aya."
>The shorter tengu pauses her unnecessarily perilous sword-juggling and takes rope in hand to tie up the injured moth.
-
> Look over at the shorter tengu with the frown continuing.
> "Is that really necessary?"
-
> Look over at the shorter tengu with the frown continuing.
> "Is that really necessary?"
>"Orders are orders," she says, though the lopsided grin on her face suggests she wouldn't mind doing this even if they weren't.
>Neu makes no effort to resist as the tengu ties her hands and ankles together, and then starts on her wings. Chisato is looking at her oddly and the tengu beside her oddly, almost like she's anticipating something.
-
> Look over at Chisato with an eyebrow raised.
-
> Look over at Chisato with an eyebrow raised.
>You look over at the redhead and raise an eyebrow. She glances aside to see that the other tengu aren't looking too closely at her, then does a quiet pantomime of nodding off to sleep.
-
Moth might be playing possum here.
>Does it seem like Neu's slackness and unresponsiveness are feigned or genuine, as near as we can determine.
*checks above line* Moth playing possum. Only in touhou.
-
>Does it seem like Neu's slackness and unresponsiveness are feigned or genuine, as near as we can determine.
>She's not completely unresponsive, and she's certainly battered-looking; it's possible she's not as exhausted as she looks, but you think at least some of that would have to be genuine. And you honestly aren't certain what having a hole that big in your wing would do to someone, aside from probably keeping them grounded.
-
>Given that there's not a lot we can do ourselves at the moment, let's wait and see what, if anything, Neu has in store.
>Well, they didn't gag us, so, maybe we can help her illusion, maybe distract the guards a bit, give her an opening.
>"Yeah, nothing like manhandling a helpless youkai after a hard day's work, is there."
-
>Given that there's not a lot we can do ourselves at the moment, let's wait and see what, if anything, Neu has in store.
>Well, they didn't gag us, so, maybe we can help her illusion, maybe distract the guards a bit, give her an opening.
>"Yeah, nothing like manhandling a helpless youkai after a hard day's work, is there."
>You decide to see if you can perhaps distract the tengu's attention, to give Neu a hand, if she's indeed planning something.
>"The job has a few perks," the shorter tengu says as she tightens the moth's wings together.
>"We're not taking any chances," the newly arrived tengu adds. "If she's helpless, it's only because we're through with her."
>The tengu finishes tying Neu to her satisfaction, then tosses her up against the strut with the rest of you. Chisato gives her a funny look, and frowns.
-
>Try to give a Chisato a look that says "Still the captain."
-
>Try to give a Chisato a look that says "Still the captain."
>You're not quite sure how to convey this in a look, so you settle with trying to look hopeful and encouraging. Chisato's expression grows slowly downcast as she looks at Neu's docile form, then turns bitter. She leans back against the strut with a look of simmering anger on her face.
>"How are the others?" Miyuki asks.
>"...captured... mostly," Neu says. Her voice is a bit quiet and weak, but still articulate. "Many are... injured... but nothing terrible."
-
>"Are you okay?"
-
>"Are you okay?"
>"I'll recover," she says. "Don't worry about... me."
-
>"The-"
>Better not ask about the captain. These pirates don't need to know what Neu knows.
>"Manged to get a bit banged up ourselves. We held our own, but when our pirates got to thinking that fighting us was too much like real work, they ran away, suckered us into a trap."
-
>"The-"
>Better not ask about the captain. These pirates don't need to know what Neu knows.
>"Manged to get a bit banged up ourselves. We held our own, but when our pirates got to thinking that fighting us was too much like real work, they ran away, suckered us into a trap."
>You start to ask a question, then think better of it in present company.
>The blade-tossing tengu snickers. "Hey, you want to get cut up some more, I'm game."
>"Save it, Sotsu," the one with the spear counters in a tired voice.
>Sotsu shrugs and puts of a look of poorly-feigned innocence. "Hey, I'm just trying to be hospitable here. Give the mouse what she wants and all." Her companion regards her flatly.
>"They came well-prepared," Neu breathes, then frowns somberly at you. "I'm sorry... you had to be here for this. Very sorry."
-
>"I'm only sorry we didn't win."
>"Did you hear anything about this 'relic' they're after? The one in charge wasn't long on answers."
-
>"I'm only sorry we didn't win."
>"Did you hear anything about this 'relic' they're after? The one in charge wasn't long on answers."
>"You spoke with... Shameimaru?" she asks.
-
>"Not unless Ren's last name is Shamaeimaru, too."
>Look at the pirate that isn't Sotsu. "Guessing that's a no?"
-
>"Not unless Ren's last name is Shamaeimaru, too."
>Look at the pirate that isn't Sotsu. "Guessing that's a no?"
>The large tengu silently shakes her head.
>"Aya Shameimaru is their leader," Neu says. "She's down in... the hold now. Or... was. Looking for the captain or the thing they came here to steal. There... may be someone else unaccounted for, but... not many."
-
>"One in charge of the bunch we fought went by the name of Ren."
>"Was this Aya the one that hurt your wing?"
-
>"One in charge of the bunch we fought went by the name of Ren."
>"Was this Aya the one that hurt your wing?"
>"I don't know of that one," she says.
>Neu nods. "Don't worry about that, though. I will heal."
-
>"Good. Or I'd put a few in HER wings."
-
>"Good. Or I'd put a few in HER wings."
>"That goes double for me!" Chisato says. Neu frowns a little.
>"Good luck hitting her," the third tengu says. "Might as well try stabbing the air." This draws a few chuckles from the other pirates.
-
>If I can hit a swinging spider youkai's tether while being webbed by her.... Like THEY'D believe that. No sense giving them anything, anyway.
>Contemplate telling Neu about Natsumi, then refrain. She's probably safer where she is, assuming Ren didn't go back for her. Hopefully the pirate left well enough alone.
>Back to the waiting game. Maybe Murasa will pop up and cold cock these two.
-
>If I can hit a swinging spider youkai's tether while being webbed by her.... Like THEY'D believe that. No sense giving them anything, anyway.
>Contemplate telling Neu about Natsumi, then refrain. She's probably safer where she is, assuming Ren didn't go back for her. Hopefully the pirate left well enough alone.
>Back to the waiting game. Maybe Murasa will pop up and cold cock these two.
>You consider saying several things, but eventually decide to simply remain silent.
>Sotsu goes back to juggling her weapon, though she soon seems to be growing bored of this herself. Even Ishi has mostly stopped struggling. Mostly. You can hear people moving back and forth below you, and some scattered snatches of conversation from time to time, but nothing particularly enlightening. Time passes slowly.
>After a while, Chisato leans towards Neu and says quietly: "Why didn't you... y'know..." She pauses, then makes that sleepy face again.
>Neu frowns and shakes her head. "Useless. When I said they came well-prepared, I was... not exaggerating. No effect on any of them."
-
>"They have masks, or something?"
-
>"They have masks, or something?"
>"No. I'm not sure what it is," she says. "They must have some magical counteragent. Even I don't know how it would work."
>"We don't mess around," the third pirate says. "When we-"
>"Stuff it," Chisato interjects.
-
>Grin at Chisato's bravado.
-
>Grin at Chisato's bravado.
>You grin at Chisato.
>Sotsu leans in towards her. "You've got a big mouth, y'know."
>"And you can't do anything to shut it up without gettin' yerself in trouble, so shove off and go die somewhere."
>Sotsu leers at the redhead. "She said I couldn't hurt you. Nothing's stopping me from shoving a gag in there."
>"Not if you wanna keep those fingers," Chisato says with a defiant scowl.
>The tall tengu sighs. "Just be quiet, Sotsu. You're not making this any more pleasant for the rest of us."
>"Who asked you?" Chisato snaps, rounding on the other tengu. "You can go jump off a cliff, too."
>"Please..." Miyuki says softly, a downcast look on her face. She steals a strange glance in your direction. Chisato sighs and leans back again.
-
>Does it look like Chisato's getting ready to lay into her again?
>Can we discern what that 'strange' look might mean?
-
>Does it look like Chisato's getting ready to lay into her again?
>Can we discern what that 'strange' look might mean?
>No, she seems to be keeping her silence again. There's even a certain weariness on her face.
>It was a little hard to read, but it seemed... uncertain? Wary? Given the situation, that could be for any number of reasons, though you do wonder if it's related to what you said to the tengu earlier....
-
>Guess they heard a lot of that stuff we said to Ren.
>But this isn't the time for it. Not until the pirates are gone. IF they let us live.
-
> "For a group that claims to want to avoid combat, you have some pretty handy combat toys."
-
So here's where I'm coming from for this situation. Feel free to discuss why anything mentioned here is wrong.
Foundational Theory 1: The pirates are here for the Kurokirimaru.
We ran a sweep over the ship before departing and nothing unusual turned up. As a character Nazrin has every reason to believe there's nothing special on board aside from the Mouthful Blade. As a player I'm going to be massively annoyed if the game was planned to go in a way such that the PC's defining character trait just up and crapped out at the most important point in the game (one of the two most important points, at least) for no reason. Trying to account for something else being on board is completely pointless and irrational as far as I'm concerned.
Corrolary A: The Blue Maiden Crew are innocent bystanders.
This follows from Theory 1 in a pretty obvious manner. That several of them have expressed lack of knowledge of any such relic lends itself to this fact regardless.
Foundational Theory 2: While their execution is sorely lacking, these pirates (or at least the higher-ups) truly do try to hold a moral higher ground and keep a higher behavioral standard than your average pirate.
This one is slightly more metagamey than Theory 1, since it's a Chekhov's Sentiment situation. I don't see why Ren (why is one of the lieutenant pirates named 'zero'?) would insist on this so much if it weren't true. From a character standpoint, it's probably true because we're alive and allowed to talk with the pirates, Sotsu constantly gets admonished for her behavior toward us, and frankly Naz might as well act under the assumption it's true because she has nothing to lose - if it isn't, then there was never any hope for the Blue Maiden to begin with.
What comes from these two theories is that, once we're in Aya's presence, I believe a guilt trip solution presents itself. The pirates may claim this higher moral ground, but their objectives were going to kill us regardless, and they just hacked their way through a bunch of innocents to boot. Aya needs these things pointed out to her; once that's done, I think a war of words is very winnable.
-
A war of words? Guilt trip?
Why? They've won. We've lost. Aya will come, she'll gloat, and nothing we can say will make her give up the dingus, or do anything to make up for what they've done. All they'll do is blame us for having the gall to defend ourselves from theives and looters.
It's over, man. We tried. We did our damndest. We never really had a chance, but we did well enough for ourselves. Barring Murasa pulling some crazyass stunt that stuns them all and breaks us free, nothing we can do can really make any difference now. All we MIGHT get is some clue what Aya wants, depending on how close she gets to typical villainous gloating. But this scene is over, and out of our hands.
And since I'm sure it's going to come up, and I don't want to be guessing, exactly why DID you stay all that stuff about our blood being contagion?
-
It was largely spawned from the second fundamental theory. I wanted to hold Fuuka, if not a whole bunch of other pirates on top of her, hostage to the disease. Require their cooperation with us to save their lives. That sort of thing.
Fortunately for you, should we get the chance to meet Aya, I'm pretty sure I know how to turn it around completely and not only repair any damage I did to Miyuki, but make it slightly more likely that Aya will humor our talking to boot.
-
Don't take this the wrong way, I think I'd like to hear this plan now.
-
It's fairly simple. Since I plan on admitting it was a bluff, Aya's obviously going to ask why she should believe anything we say in regards to any potential discussion. I plan on pointing out that we've been operating the entire time under the assumption that they legitimately believe in some higher standard of behavior. I wouldn't have bothered trying to discuss anything with them if I thought they were just going to cut us up and leave, and I certainly wouldn't have wasted revealing the disease on one of her subordinates. I would have waited until she was ready to have us killed before popping it on her instead and then taunting her about killing us and getting infected, because if I've accepted that I'm going to go down, I'm going to get as much pleasure out of it as possible.
-
There's something I don't understand.
What's left to discuss? It was over as soon as that cowardly mimic held a gun to our head. All that's left is the shouting, and all I hope is that Chisato doesn't do something that doesn't get herself hurt more.
-
There's going to be something left to discuss when the pirates turn the ship upside-down and don't find what they're looking for (see fundamental theory 1).
Do you disagree with either of the fundamental theories I have posited? If not, what do you think will happen after the pirate search proves fruitless?
-
They're not after the sword. They can't be after the sword, for no less than half a dozen reasons. Some metagamey, some not.
Until they say the words 'Give us the sword', then they have to be after something else. In my mind. I could be wrong, it's happened before. But I don't think I am.
But, let's say you're right. Let's say that somehow, all these pirates have somehow missed what they came here to steal, come back up and demand our sword. Then I'll leave the situation to you, because you've obviously given it more thought than I. We may be screwed anyway, in that event, but that would definately be the time for a war of words.
Except, there MAY be another option. If they ARE here for the sword, we could say to them "Okay, but if you take the sword, then take me with it. Otherwise, we all die. You get what you want, you keep your people safe, and I keep my friends safe." That's what I think I would do. And if these pirates are somehow genuinely, magically, concerned about their victims, they might take us to Val Razua themselves. Or at least as close as they can get without someone giving them the barrage of cannon fire they deserve. Or maybe they could have other means at their disposal to find a cure. Maybe they'd even offer to make us part of the crew once we were better. This obviously isn't a tengu-only party, the mimic's a youkai. Guess they welcome anyone who's useful. And we would be useful.
Oy, there's a thought. Nazrin the pirate. NOT the direction I would have thought this game would take.
Either way, if I'm right, then we could be okay in the end. We'll be left with the sword, they'll be gone, and we'll be left with damage control from that stunt you pulled with the blood. But I have a lie prepared to cover that with our friends, since the truth didn't go all that well last time I tried it.
If you're right about the pirates, then I think you're prepared to deal with it. So we have all our bases covered.
All that's left now is to wait for Draco to surface, and we'll see which one of us is right.
-
I have considered offering up ourselves as going along with the pirates, but if that's the course that gets taken, at the very least, I want the pirates to fix the damage done to the Blue Maiden. (It's worth considering that if the pirates really are here for the Mouthful Sword, then everything bad that's befallen the Blue Maiden and its crew is ostensibly our fault, and I'd feel bad just abandoning them in a rush.)
-
>Guess they heard a lot of that stuff we said to Ren.
>But this isn't the time for it. Not until the pirates are gone. IF they let us live.
>They were near you when it was said, so you expect so.
>Though you decide not to bring this up until later. Hopefully, there'll be a later.
> "For a group that claims to want to avoid combat, you have some pretty handy combat toys."
>"Preferring to avoid a fight is not the same as being unprepared for one," the spear-wielding tengu says.
>"You think you get to keep this kinda reputation if you can't back it up?" the third tengu adds.
>Sotsu sneers. "And you haven't seen the half of it, if all you had to deal with was those three."
>Her taller neighbor throws the tengu a disapproving look, though Sotsu seems not to notice.
>"They... have an onmyouji with them," Neu rasps. "I think she tried... to use a... binding talisman."
>"Aw, dammit," Chisato mutters. Sotsu snickers.
-
> "Preparing to this degree makes your claims of preferring to avoid fighting incredibly disingenuous. If you had the time to do all this research about this crew, surely you had the time to devise a non-violent solution to your problem?"
-
>Do we know what an onmyouji is, beyond something to make human sailors curse?
-
> "Preparing to this degree makes your claims of preferring to avoid fighting incredibly disingenuous. If you had the time to do all this research, surely you had the time to devise a non-violent solution to your problem?"
>"Like just ask your captain for it?" the third says, then glaces in Chisato's direction. "Tell me how well that would have gone over."
>"Not a bloody chance," she replies.
>The tengu looks back to you. "We weren't about to take no for an answer, so there you have it."
>Do we know what an onmyouji is, beyond something to make human sailors curse?
>To some degree. You know they are specialists in a school of mysticism and divination based on yin and yang, and the natural elements. The specifics are a little outside your area, though you know that their domain includes sealing and exorcising rituals, as well as summoning and controlling shikigami, and possibly some direct elemental manipulation. How this differs from the kind of elemental magic used by magicians, you really don't know; you've never actually seen one in action.
-
> "That's because you're not trying at all. Why not attempt to arrange a trade? Whatever this thing is that you want from the Blue Maiden, make it worth their while to give it up."
-
> "That's because you're not trying at all. Why not attempt to arrange a trade? Whatever this thing is that you want from the Blue Maiden, make it worth their while to give it up."
>"I think it'd be looking pretty worthwhile if I were in your shoes right now," Sotsu says.
>The third tengu shakes her head, with a sort of indulgent smile on her face. It's rather annoying to look at. "You think we'd be here right now if it were that easy?"
-
> "I think it couldn't possibly be any less difficult than researching the sleeping powder to the point of developing a counter-agent for it. And, in that vein, I think you're just making excuses for how your laziness trumps your alleged desire to avoid combat. You should tell Ren not to bitch that people see you as the people you act like if you're not even going to try changing their perception."
-
> "I think it couldn't possibly be any less difficult than researching the sleeping powder to the point of developing a counter-agent for it. And, in that vein, I think you're just making excuses for how your laziness trumps your alleged desire to avoid combat. You should tell Ren not to bitch that people see you as the people you act like if you're not even going to try changing their perception."
>The tall tengu looks at you darkly. "Or how about no."
>"You'd almost think you were angry we stopped cutting you up," Sotsu says. "You ought to being thanking her."
>"Don't waste your breath on them," Chisato mutters.
-
>Chisato has a point. And these are only gun fodder tengu, anyway. If there's any convincing to be done, it'll be to their master. If and when she graces us with her presence.
-
> Turn to Sotsu.
> "I can accept being bested in a fight. I don't appreciate being patronized. Frankly, everyone in your crew could take a lesson from you, since you at least don't pretend to not be an average thug."
Oh fucking fine, never mind. I'm going to bed anyway so whatever.
-
> Turn to Sotsu.
> "I can accept being bested in a fight. I don't appreciate being patronized. Frankly, everyone in your crew could take a lesson from you, since you at least don't pretend to not be an average thug."
>Sotsu smirks. "I'd be more than happy to untie you and give you first shot if you really want to test that 'average' thing."
>Chisato has a point. And these are only gun fodder tengu, anyway. If there's any convincing to be done, it'll be to their master. If and when she graces us with her presence.
>As tempting as it might be to continue calling them on their hypocrisy, you decide to save your words for someone who really matters. You go back to waiting silently.
>You're not sure how much time passes. In truth, probably not much at all, but each second grinds by with torturous slowness. There is an uncomfortable air of defeat hanging over the gathering, as each person seems to have spent their defiance for the moment. You are left waiting for someone else to decree your fate - yet again! - with only simmering anger and the pain of your injuries to fill your idle consciousness. Some of your guards appear to be growing less attentive as moments pass without event, not that it really matters with you so immobilized; they'd need to be less bored and more asleep before you had any real hope of freeing yourself.
>You stretch your neck and look idly around the open deck, taking in the blood stains and splintered impacts and trying to reconstruct the events that took place up here before you arrived. There's not really much to go on, frankly. You assume the blood stains were not wholly one-sided or this fight would already be over, but you can't tell who came out on top; surely some of the tengu would have come to assist Ren's group if they'd been that quick? The open cargo hatch might suggest it was used as an escape route, but you don't know for sure that it's the only other way down. Maybe the tengu used it as a secondary access to the hold, after the topside was secured?
>As you ponder this, you catch a faint flickering at the edge of your field of vision.
-
>What kind of flickering?
-
>What kind of flickering?
>You glance further in that direction, towards the other side of the strut you're leaning against, and see... something rising from the wood of the deck. Its edges are blurred, and it flickers as though it somehow occupies several adjacent positions at once. It seems lit from within by a pale green light, almost sickly. ...wait, is that a hat?
-
>That wouldn't, by any chance, be a sailor's hat?
-
>That wouldn't, by any chance, be a sailor's hat?
>...it does look rather one, as a matter of fact. And it is soon followed by the head it rests on, unmistakable in its familiarity even as it is alien in its form. And there's something about the hollow glow in her eyes that's distinctly unsettling even if you know it's not directed towards you. She seems to be clutching a giant anchor in her hands and glaring angrily at the nearest tengu, who has yet to see her.
-
>Is she making any sounds that we can hear?
>Is the other tengu looking in her direction?
-
>Is she making any sounds that we can hear?
>Is the other tengu looking in her direction?
>Nothing distinct. There is a strange sort of faint hum coming from that direction, almost like a whispering too low for even you to make out clearly; you don't know if any of the others would be able to hear it.
>As best you can tell, no one but you seems to have noticed her, though you can't imagine it staying that way for more than another second or two.
-
>Then we'd best get them focused on us again, hadn't we.
>Address the tengu that is not directly in front of Murasa, "So do all your targets get this treatment? The 'let us rob you and we don't hurt you' bit? Or is this boat special, somehow?"
-
>Then we'd best get them focused on us again, hadn't we.
>Address the tengu that is not directly in front of Murasa, "So do all your targets get this treatment? The 'let us rob you and we don't hurt you' bit? Or is this boat special, somehow?"
>You decide to do your best to provide Murasa a distraction, addressing one of the other tengu.
>"Yes," she replies with a faint hint of a grin. "And yes."
>In the corner of your eye, you note Miyuki's head turn in Murasa's direction and the tall tengu shifts around as well. Then there is a flash of movement. You hear the air part in front of something heavy, followed by a sharp crack.
>"It's the ghost!" the third tengu cries loudly as she rises from her perch and draws her sword. Sotsu leaps to her feet as well.
>You look towards the sound in time to see the spear-wielding tengu stumble backwards and fall, as the now very solid-looking ghost turns and hurls her anchor towards the other two. "That's Captain motherfucking Murasa to you!"
-
>Hope for the best!
-
>Hope for the best!
>Since you don't see much else you can do to help, you keep your proverbial fingers crossed and wish the captain good luck!
>While the strength of the toss is impressive unless that anchor is much lighter than it looks, it's still not fast enough to connect with an alert tengu. The one directly in its path leaps off the ground and banks to the side as the large metal weight rushes heavily through the air towards her. Sotsu dashes to the other side and reaches into a small pouch sewn into the side of her uniform, pulling out a pair of small curved blades between her fingers. She lashes out with that hand and lets them fly towards Murasa. An oddly sharp whistling trails in their wake and you can see the air surrounding the spinning blades spin even faster than the metal itself, looking almost like a second pair of blades.
>Murasa glances towards the projectiles and grimaces fiercely. Her form flickers and blurs, and the spinning razors pass smoothly through her without so much as disturbing her pale figure; the wind surrounding them does not even appear to rustle her hair. Sotsu lets out a 'tch' and reaches back into her pouch for another set.
>You hear something near you suddenly catch fire, and Chisato immediately starts tensely muttering a nearly unbroken stream of curses.
-
>How could something catch fire, nobody was using anything incindiary, and we didn't smell any ignition source. Did we?
>Look over at our human friend and see if we can see the source of this combustion.
-
>How could something catch fire, nobody was using anything incindiary, and we didn't smell any ignition source. Did we?
>Look over at our human friend and see if we can see the source of this combustion.
>Well, you can certainly smell burning now!
>You glance over at Chisato and see that the ropes binding her wrist are quite obviously on fire! With her own fingers twisted around to touch them, no less. Her face is grimacing against the pain, but she doesn't seem to be letting go, either. Her dissatisfaction with this situation is quite vocal and colorful.
-
>Where the-
>Wait a second, one of those tengu said she was a magician....
>That mad little human set herself on fire?
>"Are you INSANE?!"
-
I somehow feel like we're being sprung from Capture the Flag jail.
Okay. Given all the other captives are in varying states of combat uselessness, I expect Chisato will free us first. Since all our other shit got jacked, do you object to whipping out the Kurokirimaru and using it offemsively?
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I somehow feel like we're being sprung from Capture the Flag jail.
Okay. Given all the other captives are in varying states of combat uselessness, I expect Chisato will free us first. Since all our other shit got jacked, do you object to whipping out the Kurokirimaru and using it offemsively?
At this point? No. We got nothing else. Ideally, I'd like to disarm one of the pirates, or grab one of their discarded weapons if Murasa manages to disarm one, but if neither option presents itself, it's time for the katana.
However, before we draw it, I would like to gauge the extent of the pirates armaments, If any of them have a sai, a jitte, any kind of tool designed to take weapons out of someone's hands, then I would hesitate before drawing Kumokirimaru.
In either case, I think the first thing we should do, having making sure Chisato's not on fire anymore, is free Ishi.
-
Do you want to get that done quickly by slashing the ropes, or do you want to untie people and keep some of the ropes intact on the chance we can bag us a tengu prisoner?
-
Ooh, good question.
If Murasa's as tough as I think she is, we might just be able to take one or more of these tengu for our own purposes. That'll give us the bargaining chips I was hoping for back in the corridor, and make our position much stronger.
We should try to save at least the majority of the rope. At best, I think we can hope for two prisoners, one of them's gonna get away, I just know it. We won't need ALL this rope, just enough. Plus, I'm not clear if they took ALL our gear, or just our weapons. If we still have our pack, we have our own rope, as well.
Of course, this is all assuming their pet ghostbuster doesn't waltz up the stairs next post and trap Murasa, but hey. We can hope.
-
>Where the-
>Wait a second, one of those tengu said she was a magician....
>That mad little human set herself on fire?
>"Are you INSANE?!"
>As you do a double-take at the apparently spontaneous combustion, a flash of realization hits you and you find yourself loudly questioning the redhead's sanity instead.
>"Just a dumbass!" she growls through gritted teeth as her bindings continue to smoke and smolder.
>The tengu who leapt aside from Murasa's anchor turns instead towards Chisato and lunges at the constricted human.
-
>In the hopes that we don't simply faceplant, try to put ourselves between good guy and bad.
-
>In the hopes that we don't simply faceplant, try to put ourselves between good guy and bad.
>In what manner do you wish to attempt to do this?
-
>Since we really only have one means of movement available, hop. Hop in between the human and the thief.
>Or roll, in the event we simply fall over in the attempt, and our faceplanting doesn't cause the pirate to double over in laughter.
-
>Since we really only have one means of movement available, hop. Hop in between the human and the thief.
>Or roll, in the event we simply fall over in the attempt, and our faceplanting doesn't cause the pirate to double over in laughter.
>With a grunt of irritation, you haul yourself upright and try to hop towards the space between Chisato and the tengu. You can barely shift your feet enough to make a solid jump, and fresh pain shoots through your leg as you spring clumsily off it, but you do manage to propel yourself in that direction despite your bindings. The landing, however, is considerably worse. As you come down awkwardly on your injured leg, the pain of your takeoff is redoubled. You let out a sharp hiss and your footing falters beneath you - not by much, but given your already precarious balance in this situation, it is enough. You feel yourself tumbling forward and make one last frantic attempt to spring for your target before falling flat on your face.
>This hop is even more awkward than the last and leaves little hope of avoiding a bodily landing with the ground, but you do manage to pass in front of the tengu as she closes in on Chisato. She lashes her hand out and bats you aside, sending your already doomed flight into a spin. You try to twist your body to avoid landing on your head and mostly succeed in this, though you bang your shoulder painfully against the deck instead and roll over onto your face.
-
>Swear.
>No sense lying here, try to regain a vertical base.
-
>Swear.
>No sense lying here, try to regain a vertical base.
>You swear and try to haul yourself upright. This is much easier said than done from this position, with all of your limbs thoroughly restrained and your right leg increasingly out of commission on top of it. Its bitter throbbing grips your awareness tightly and refuses to by brushed aside, even in these urgent circumstances. You try to twist your other ankle around for purchase as you roll to face the sky again and pull yourself into a sitting position at least. But with the way you're tied, there's no way you're getting back on your feet without some work and maybe a surface to prop yourself against.
>The tengu is upon Chisato now and lashes the pommel of her sword at the still-grimacing sailor's head. With a shout wrought of an indeterminate mix of anger and pain, the redhead falls to the side away from the blow and rips free of the burning ropes at her wrist. As the tengu quickly moves to strike again, Chisato flings the still-burning remnants of her bindings at the pirate. Though her attacker twists aside from the smoldering projectile, one end of the lump of destroyed rope brushes against her clothing and you see it catch flame as well.
-
> If we spun around on our backside with our legs sticking out, could we conceivably make leg contact with the tengu?
-
> If we spun around on our backside with our legs sticking out, could we conceivably make leg contact with the tengu?
>You're a little out of range for this, though you could try to twist and roll in her direction, and then do this.
-
Out. Use your best judgment.
-
>Until we either get free or find something for support, a mouse does what a mouse must.
Plus that idea's one more than I had anyway.
>While the tengu's distracted by fire, attempt to wiggle and roll towards her, and lash out at her legs with ours.
-
>Until we either get free or find something for support, a mouse does what a mouse must. Plus that idea's one more than I had anyway.
>While the tengu's distracted by fire, attempt to wiggle and roll towards her, and lash out at her legs with ours.
>You twist your constricted body to the side and roll in the tengu's direction, but before you can bring yourself around to kick at her, you feel her foot connect hard with your own ribs.
>"No one said you could go anywhere," she cries, cringing a little. You hear Ishi start yelling into her gag with renewed vigor and struggling against the turbine strut enough to make clanging noises.
>"Tough shit!" Chisato yells, though her own voice is tight with pain.
>You hear a heavy woosh, followed by a pair of thin clattering sounds. Murasa's voice follows after her own projectile. "Get the hell off my ship!"
-
>So much for being on fire.
>Bite her ankle.
-
>So much for being on fire.
>Bite her ankle.
>She wasn't exactly immolated by the attack and you don't imagine it would be hard to put out with a couple moment's effort.
>As her attack rolled you back over, you aren't going to be able to attempt this without wiggling over in her direction again.
-
>Well, what's the worst that can happen, she kicks us again?
>Try and gesticulate our way back into a position where we can bite her ankle.
-
>Well, what's the worst that can happen, she kicks us again?
>Try and gesticulate our way back into a position where we can bite her ankle.
>Well, she does have a sword, at the very least. Dodging that would be more fluke than anything else, in your current state.
>You pull on your shoulder and turn yourself back towards the tengu in time to see her patting out the fire with a grimace on her face. Chisato reaches a hand down to the rope at her ankles and you see another small fire catch where she holds them.
>At the same time, you see Murasa's anchor fly wide of Sotsu, both of their positions having shifted somewhat from their opening vollies. Then Sotsu glances to her side as she reaches for another thin blade.
>"All bets are off, now!" she says smugly as she whips it through the air in Chisato's direction.
-
>"Chisato, duck! Incoming!"
-
>"Chisato, duck! Incoming!"
>You yell out a warning and the redhead glances back over her shoulder, then immediately falls prone as Sotsu's blade wings past the space she just occupied. Though her movement was ever-so-barely fast enough to keep the sharpened metal from digging into her, it is not enough to evade the winds that sheathe it. You see the bladed cyclone enveloping Sotsu's weapon slice into Cisato's back and score a deep line of red from shoulder blade to spine. She lets out a gargled cry.
>"Chisato!" Miyuki shouts.
>The tengu next you rounds on Sotsu. "What the hell was that?" she asks forcefully.
>Sotsu wings to the side and evades another airborne anchor without even fully looking at it. "What, you're fine with letting her play pyro over there?"
>...where's Murasa getting all of those from, anyhow?
-
>Growl at Sotsu, "You better hope I don't get free..."
>Writhe over towards Chisato. If that bitch pirate throws anything else at her, she might not be able to take it. But we're a youkai. We can.
-
>Growl at Sotsu, "You better hope I don't get free..."
>Writhe over towards Chisato. If that bitch pirate throws anything else at her, she might not be able to take it. But we're a youkai. We can.
>"Big words!" she says as she shifts around and dives towards Murasa.
>You haul your way back towards the redhead, moving with all the grace of a drunken caterpillar.
>Despite the gouge on her back, Chisato manages to find the wherewithal to reach back down to the ropes on her ankles and scorch them through as the closer tengu dashes back towards her. She flings those at the pirate much like she did with the first, though the tengu clearly anticipates the move this time and steps safely aside. Chisato rolls onto her side and then pushes herself back to her feet as you reach her. Blood runs down her back, and both of her hands are burned along the palms and wrist. The scent of charred flesh is thin but pungent in the air, beneath the smell of smoke and blood and burning rope.
-
>What does she think she can do against that pirate?
>What could WE do against that pirate, damaged and down to one weapon we almost can't afford to use?
>... anything we can.
>"Chisato, ignite my ropes!"
>Where did that blade Sotsu threw land?
-
>What does she think she can do against that pirate?
>What could WE do against that pirate, damaged and down to one weapon we almost can't afford to use?
>... anything we can.
>"Chisato, ignite my ropes!"
>Where did that blade Sotsu threw land?
>"Yours are way too tight!" she groans out as she steps back towards the strut. "You'd roast first!" The tengu rushes her.
>Several feet past where Chisato was standing, embedded in the deck boards.
-
>Are we close enough to use anything to help us get to our feet?
-
>Are we close enough to use anything to help us get to our feet?
>The strut itself would probably suffice, though it's a couple feet in the direction of where Chisato just moved.
-
>"I'll heal!"
>Wriggle towards that strut. Or roll. Whichever one is faster.
>Except in the event that this movement would impede Chisato's motion, if she tries to get away from the pirate assaulting her, after chastising her partner for assaulting her. If this is the case, wait till our friend is clear, THEN roll or writhe towards the strut and try to get vertical when we get there.
-
>"I'll heal!"
>Wriggle towards that strut. Or roll. Whichever one is faster.
>Except in the event that this movement would impede Chisato's motion, if she tries to get away from the pirate assaulting her, after chastising her partner for assaulting her. If this is the case, wait till our friend is clear, THEN roll or writhe towards the strut and try to get vertical when we get there.
>"That doesn't help us much now!" she responds.
>You maneuver your body towards the strut as Chisato retreats from her opponent, glancing quickly from one side of the deck to the other. As the tengu swoops on top of her, Miyuki pushes off her resting place and seems to try and bite at the pirate's leg as it passes her. Whatever her intent, the tengu twists that leg away from the awkward attack and uses it to kick Miyuki aside instead.
>"Don't be so reckless!" Neu rasps as the crewman tumbles onto her side.
>You feel the hard metal of the strut against your back as you roll into it.
-
>Use the strut to get back to our feet.
-
>Use the strut to get back to our feet.
>You push yourself back against the strut and use it for leverage to work your immobile form upright again.
>Chisato tries to duck around one of the supports as the tengu lunges at her, but it's clear which of them is quicker and only one of them is armed. The redhead turns to try and mount some semblance of defense as the tengu lashes out to strike her, but it looks like the pirate will have her choice of target regardless.
>There is a heavy whoosh as the air between the two of them is suddenly occupied by an anchor, having seemingly flown through the solid metal of the strut. The pirate leaps backward and twists aside, but you see the anchor solidly strike her wing nonetheless. And, in fact, you hear it. There is a pronounced crack - nearly a splintering - and the tengu tumbles sideways to the deck with a cry of pain.
>"Hands off my crew!" Murasa yells.
-
> Visual assessment of the fallen tengu's wing.
-
> Visual assessment of the fallen tengu's wing.
>It's a little hard to tell with her in that position, but there appears to be a bend about halfway along the length of the wing that really, really shouldn't be there.
-
> Is this Sotsu or one of the other ones?
-
> Is this Sotsu or one of the other ones?
>It is not Sotsu; as best you can tell, she's still fighting with Murasa on the other side of the strut. The injured tengu is the one who carried Neu up from the hold. The third of the group - the one with the spear - is still slumped where she fell after Murasa struck her, though she seems to be starting to move a little.
-
> Does the injured tengu have a readily-available blade?
> What is the spear-wielder doing with her spear?
> What does Chisato's progress look like?
-
> Does the injured tengu have a readily-available blade?
> What is the spear-wielder doing with her spear?
> What does Chisato's progress look like?
>She has managed to keep a grip on her sword as she fell. You don't immediately notice any other weapons on her.
>It lies fallen on the ground beside her. She doesn't seem to be coordinated enough to reach for it yet.
>She is only a couple feet past you, and hasn't really moved in the extremely brief length of time since the tengu was struck.
-
> How far away is the spear from our current location?
> Given we're standing, what are our options for moving?
-
> How far away is the spear from our current location?
> Given we're standing, what are our options for moving?
>Maybe 8 or so feet.
>There's always trying to hop again, though you suspect this may be prone to a similar pratfall as earlier - particularly so given that the renewed wash of pain this maneuver brought on earlier has yet to subside. You could also try essentially rolling around the strut while remaining vertical, using what limited purchase your feet and arms can obtain along it in their current state. This would be more stable, but slower, and understandably limited only to locations in immediate proximity of the strut. You could try shimmying forward with just your feet, though this would likely be even slower and still not very balanced, given how they're tied together. You suppose you could also theoretically ask Chisato to lift you....
-
> Can we not lift the injured leg's foot high up enough off the ground that we could hop along on one foot?
-
> Can we not lift the injured leg's foot high up enough off the ground that we could hop along on one foot?
>Given the manner in which they are tied, you can do this only poorly. You would still try, though your balance is going to be noticeably impeded no matter how you attempt to hop. You're certainly not guaranteed to fall if you try this, but it is still a risk; the tengu were quite thorough in restraining you.
-
Wanna hop over to the spear? Try to cut ourselves loose?
-
> Is there anything particularly sharp on the strut?
-
> Is there anything particularly sharp on the strut?
>Not especially so, that you can see. There are a few protruding bolts that might potentially have an edge sharp enough to fray at the ropes, but it would be a slow process at best. You imagine anything sharp enough to cut them quickly would make quite the safety hazard for people on deck.
-
> Nothing for it, then.
> Bring the bad leg foot up just a little bit, and begin hopping on the good leg toward the spear. Try to maintain a good pace, but balance and not falling over is Priority One.
-
> Nothing for it, then.
> Bring the bad leg foot up just a little bit, and begin hopping on the good leg toward the spear. Try to maintain a good pace, but balance and not falling over is Priority One.
>You shift your weight off your bad leg as best as you can manage and start to carefully hop towards the spear. Chisato seems to have noticed it herself and breaks in that direction much faster than you can safely follow without risking a faceplant. As she turns, you get another view of how bad the wound on her back is. A spreading smear of crimson brightly stains her slashed shirt as blood continues to flow from the gash.
>She bends down and snatches up the spear as the tengu tries to push herself off the deck, then turns and slams the butt end into the back of her head.
>The tengu with the broken wing rises to her feet and moves to intercept you. Her left wing hangs bent at her side, and the end of it flops limply as she moves. She is grimacing fiercely, but still moving much more quickly than you are.
>"Aren't you getting tired of missing?" Sotsu asks in a smug tone.
>"I'm not the one who's outta ammo!" Murasa snaps back.
-
> In which direction is Chisato relative to us?
> In which direction is Chisato facing?
> In which direction is the broken wing tengu relative to us?
> Are Chisato's arms and legs free, given she made it to the spear and smacked the dazed tengu around with it?
-
> In which direction is Chisato relative to us?
> In which direction is Chisato facing?
> In which direction is the broken wing tengu relative to us?
> Are Chisato's arms and legs free, given she made it to the spear and smacked the dazed tengu around with it?
>A few feet ahead and slightly to the right.
>Close to directly back on to you.
>A little to your right, coming from roughly behind.
>They are both free thanks to her reckless acts of self-immolation, though her wrists in particular look quite a bit the worse for it.
-
> How dazed does the former-spear tengu look?
> Is she making an effort to get back up?
-
> How dazed does the former-spear tengu look?
> Is she making an effort to get back up?
>Her face is currently to the deck, so you can't really gauge her expression, though the fact that it remains there suggests she's not altogether composed.
>Not at the moment.
-
New tactic: Flop on top of the fallen tengu and pin her to the ground. At least we're doing something useful this way. Aim the flop at the head for bonus stun points!
> "Chisato, behind us!"
> Redirect our hopping efforts to make our way toward the former-spear tengu.
-
> "Chisato, behind us!"
> Redirect our hopping efforts to make our way toward the former-spear tengu.
>You yell out a warning and keep hopping in the direction of the tall tengu lying on the deck.
>Chisato turns around and starts to move towards you, flipping the haft of the spear around, but the other tengu is already upon you. There is a flash of movement at your side and you see her lash the pommel of her sword at your head.
-
>And just after we'd got back to our feet, too...
>Is our ability to crouch, or bend over, seriously impeded?
-
>And just after we'd got back to our feet, too...
>Is our ability to crouch, or bend over, seriously impeded?
>Funny how they don't seem to keen on you folks getting loose, isn't it?
>Somewhat, though not enough to make it impossible. However, balance during the process would be a nice bit worse than usual, particularly so with your leg as it is.
-
>Well, worse comes to worst, we have to get back to our feet. Not like there's a lot we can do anyway, if and until someone cuts us loose.
>Crouch down, then dive towards Chisato. "Cut me loose!"
-
>Well, worse comes to worst, we have to get back to our feet. Not like there's a lot we can do anyway, if and until someone cuts us loose.
>Crouch down, then dive towards Chisato. "Cut me loose!"
>You crouch beneath the blow as best you can and dive towards Chisato. You don't get a lot of distance out of the maneuver, but the tengu misses you and Chisato bends down towards you.
>"Not a lotta time!" she says as she aims the spear for somewhere along your back. You feel it catch on the ropes along your arm for a moment and tear, but then she pull the point back up to thrust at the incoming tengu.
>At this point you see a flash of black and white burst up through the open cargo hatch, almost blurred in its speed. It stops a dozen or so feet above the deck and resolves into another tengu. She is wearing a white blouse and black skirt, each divided by a vertical band of light brown, and carrying what appears to be a large autumn-colored fan in one hand. She scans the deck briefly, then her voice rings out with a confident clarity. "Found you!"
-
Okay, not who I was expecting to arrive first.
>Did Chisato manage to do enough damage to the ropes to free our arms?
-
>Did Chisato manage to do enough damage to the ropes to free our arms?
>Not enough to make them fall loose, though you definitely heard some of them cut. Your bindings were significantly more heavily secured than the others', though - perhaps because of your insistence to remain armed.
-
>Can't do much about the new arrival like this.
>Take advantage of any slack or weakness in our bindings to try and free ourselves, either by wriggling out of the ropes or by breaking them, or a combination of the two.
-
>Can't do much about the new arrival like this.
>Take advantage of any slack or weakness in our bindings to try and free ourselves, either by wriggling out of the ropes or by breaking them, or a combination of the two.
>You try to capitalize on Chisato's aid and work yourself free of the ropes. Damn, not as much leverage as you'd hoped... You pull and wriggle against the constriction, but this is still going to take some time at best and may not be enough, even then.
>As you pull, you see the new arrival flare her wings then dive towards Murasa. Damn, she's fast! The captain turns aside from Sotsu long enough to fling another anchor at the hurling pirate, but she may as well have been aiming at air. The tengu whirls easily aside of the projectile's patch and then swings her fan in Murasa's direction. You see a great gust of wind blast from it, sending a cloud of dust and grit exploding from the surface of the deck. Sotsu's clothing ruffles violently in its wake and Murasa is flung bodily backwards, striking the ship's rail with a heavy thud. She groans sharply.
>"Captain!" Miyuki cries.
>Chisato grimaces angrily. "You piece of shit!" She thrusts her spear at the tengu once more and then follows it in with her feet and twists the haft aside for a second, shorter thrust. The cry of pain that follows this maneuver suggests her aim struck true.
>...you think that might be a little looser...
-
>Keep working, we gotta get free!
>Is there anything sharper around that we might use? Use it if something's, anything's available.
-
>Keep working, we gotta get free!
>Is there anything sharper around that we might use? Use it if something's, anything's available.
>You keep on pulling and wriggling and trying your damnedest to get your hands out of these damn ropes. If only just a few more of them were cut!
>There's one of Sotsu's blades lodged in the deck, back a little ways where it missed Chisato. But nothing in proverbial arm's reach other than the weapons currently being wielded next to you.
-
>That cry of pain, was it the tengu?
-
>That cry of pain, was it the tengu?
>Yes.
-
>Then maybe her opponent's distracted enough to let her give us a hand.
>Wiggle/roll towards the armed human.
>"Get me outta here!"
-
>Then maybe her opponent's distracted enough to let her give us a hand.
>Wiggle/roll towards the armed human.
>"Get me outta here!"
>You awkwardly propel yourself back towards Chisato and call out for another hand.
>"Tryin'!" she says as she flips the spear back around and aims it at your arms once more. You feel the ropes go taut as something presses against them and then you hear them tear and then dammit! That's your arm!
>Further down the deck, you hear another blast of wind.
>"Have to hand it to you, captain," the new voice says lightly. "Your crew's even tougher than I'd heard."
>"Don't wanna hear that from you!"
-
>Did she at least damage the ropes more than our arm?
>Which arm?
>Stifle a curse. Screw it, curse anyway, it seems appropriate.
-
>Did she at least damage the ropes more than our arm?
>Which arm?
>Stifle a curse. Screw it, curse anyway, it seems appropriate.
>Here's hoping!
>Your left, about halfway between wrist and elbow.
>You let out a heartfelt curse.
>"Sorry!" Chisato says, then you feel another couple ropes slit before she brings the spear back around to fend off the nearby tengu again. "Can't you see I'm busy!" she snaps, though her voice seems less sharp than earlier and she's breathing heavily.
>"And that piloting?" the new tengu continues in a tone far too casual for the heat of battle. "Very impressive stuff. I'm not sure I've heard of anyone trying that on a ship this size. Are you sure you weren't a tengu when you were still alive?"
>"Positive!" Murasa snaps.
-
Wanna try to stop the fight by taking the fallen tengu "hostage"?
-
How do you propose to do that at the moment? We'd need either a weapon, or Chisato to beat the tengu still on her feet.
-
We have a weapon.
-
Oh yeah, we do. I can never seem to remember that it's a weapon, not just our lifeline. Plus I REALLY don't want to draw it. Not only because we could drop it, but because when, in the (I think rather likely) event that we draw it, take the hostage, and it fails, they could take it for vengeance, and we die.
Still, we do need to free ourselves first, before we can do anything. Assuming Aya over there doesn't blow us all away first.
>That's gotta be enough to free at least one of our appendages. Maybe. Make another attempt at freedom.
-
>That's gotta be enough to free at least one of our appendages. Maybe. Make another attempt at freedom.
>You give another fierce pull at your bindings and feel your arm actually move upward! Finally! Contorting your joints uncomfortably, you pull again and twist an arm most of the way loose. Just a little more...
>You hear a distinctive high-pitched whistling noise zooming in from behind you.
-
>Whistling like Sotsu's blade, like Ren's wind blade, or like that new tengu's fan blast?
>Coming in towards us, towards Chisato, or in a different direction?
-
>Whistling like Sotsu's blade, like Ren's wind blade, or like that new tengu's fan blast?
>Coming in towards us, towards Chisato, or in a different direction?
>Most like the first of these. It is louder and with a rapid oscillation to the noise that was not present in Ren's attacks. The wind stirred up by the new tengu's fan sounds quite unlike either.
>The two of you are close enough together that it's hard to immediately tell, though it does seem aimed above your own head at the moment. It definitely seems aimed at one of the two of you.
-
>But if... Must be Sotsu, retreived her blade.
>Is Chisato in a position to see it? If not, shout a warning about it to her, and get our goddamned arm free!
>If she can see the blade, then no need to shout, and get our goddamned arm free!
>If it does indeed sound like it would hit us rather than her, hit the deck.
-
>But if... Must be Sotsu, retreived her blade.
>Is Chisato in a position to see it? If not, shout a warning about it to her, and get our goddamned arm free!
>If she can see the blade, then no need to shout, and get our goddamned arm free!
>If it does indeed sound like it would hit us rather than her, hit the deck.
>Sounds like it!
>She is not. You shout a warning and furiously pull your arm against your bindings. Wherever it's flying, you're already as close to the deck as you can get without being squashed into a youkai pancake.
>Chisato glances over her shoulder even as pushes forward again with the spear. Her eyes widen and you hear her lips mouth a barely voiced 'shit'. Then she tries to scramble aside while still holding her weapon out to fend the other tengu off. Her movements are slower than earlier, and you see her right leg wobble a little as she pivots. >...wait, that's two blades you can hear! The oscillations in the wind surrounding them had blurred them into one at first, but now they seen to have moved far enough apart to resolve into two separate sounds!
>The ropes chafe against your skin as you struggle and twist your joints in a none-too-gentle fashion and then pull an arm loose!
-
> Does one sound lower than the other, or do they sound at about the same height?
> How close are we to the fallen tengu now?
-
> Does one sound lower than the other, or do they sound at about the same height?
> How close are we to the fallen tengu now?
>One does sound lower than the other to a moderate degree, though given the range you saw on the wind blades surrounding them earlier, you expect either of them would be capable of striking either of you depending on the angle they were thrown at.
>About a half-dozen feet away.
-
> If we were to start rolling, could we move toward the fallen tengu, or would we be rolling on a path perpendicual to the ideal path the getting to the fallen tengu?
> Is the broken-wing tengu between the fallen tengu and us?
-
> If we were to start rolling, could we move toward the fallen tengu, or would we be rolling on a path perpendicual to the ideal path the getting to the fallen tengu?
> Is the broken-wing tengu between the fallen tengu and us?
>You could certainly maneuver yourself in that way eventually, but the path of least rolling resistance would be close to perpendicular with the correct direction.
>No, she is on the other side of Chisato while the fallen tengu is closer to behind you.
-
> And Sotsu is behind us as well, huh?
-
> And Sotsu is behind us as well, huh?
>Yes, though you suspect rather further away based on where the projectiles sounded to have been fired from.
-
> Not a lot more we can do from here, now that Chisato's warned.
> Maneuver ourselves so we'd be rolling toward the fallen tengu. If this maneuvering doesn't get us facing Sotsu and the fallen one, roll until we're facing that way.
-
> Not a lot more we can do from here, now that Chisato's warned.
> Maneuver ourselves so we'd be rolling toward the fallen tengu. If this maneuvering doesn't get us facing Sotsu and the fallen one, roll until we're facing that way.
>Hoping that Chisato can manage to get out of the way in time, you push off the deck with your free hand and pivot yourself until you line up with the fallen tengu. Then you pull hard to the side and tuck your limbs in, propelling yourself towards the pirate at a roll.
>You see the first blade zoom past as your eyes turn to face the sky once more, the whirl of razor air which surrounds it brushing lightly across your skin like the fine edge of a knife - too far away to cut deeply, but enough to sting nonetheless. The thin line it traced between your ribs throbs as you roll back onto it. You can hear the second blade wing through the air above your feet, too far this time to leave more than a sharp breeze in its wake.
>Your eyes follow it towards Chisato as you roll upright again and in that brief moment, you feel your heart sink. Perhaps because of her engagement with the other tengu, or merely her own fatigue, the redhead is moving too slowly. Even as her foot slides further across the deck, you can see her knee buckle slightly. She lets a hand free of the spear and pulls that arm tight against her body, twisting her shoulder away from the weapon's spiraling grasp. It is isn't going to be enough.
>The wood of the deck fills your vision again as you hear her let out a strangled grunt. The second shot arc swiftly in from her other side, your ears tracing its path even when your eyes cannot. The first may have been a glancing blow. She was far enough away from the metal at its core that it is possible. But even without looking, you know the second one will not be.
>You hear the scrape of shoe against wood and the swirling shriek of wind rushing upon fast it. It's around the height of her chest, you think - perhaps a little higher or lower. The metal alone could inflict serious harm if it struck her there, even were it not encased in something preternatural. You've never seen this weapon strike full on, only graze past its intended targets. But if even the trailing edge of it was enough to cut through flesh, you have to imagine... Perhaps it will miss her vitals. Even now, there's still a chance. Or perhaps she has some spell in reserve to deal with this; a defensive ward, a countershot, something. All these thoughts flash through your consciousness in the brief moment between sky and deck, then sunlight filters back into your eyes as you roll upright once more.
>There is a flash of movement at the edge of your vision and a loud blast of air from Chisato's side silences the shill whistling of Sotsu's spinning blade. Glancing towards the noise, you see the thin piece of metal tumbling end over end in a cloud of dust and debris; its sharpened edge glints brightly in the sunlight as it hurtles over the side of the deck. Chisato is standing there with a dumbstuck expression, somehow managing this despite the pain etched into her features. Blood is streaming down her arm and you can see flecks of it splattered in a small arc across the deck beneath it. In the process, she seems to have turned partially side-on to the pirate she was dueling and lost most of the defensive stance she had been maintaining with the spear. Though some distance has opened up between them in the meantime, it looks like her opponent is attempting to take advantage of this lapse to move inside her weakened guard.
>You are practically in arm's reach of the fallen tengu now.
-
> Can we see Sotsu?
> If so, can we gauge how close she is to the fallen tengu in comparison to how close we are?
> Given where Chisato is looking, in which direction at her is the other tengu coming?
-
> Can we see Sotsu?
> If so, can we gauge how close she is to the fallen tengu in comparison to how close we are?
> Given where Chisato is looking, in which direction at her is the other tengu coming?
>Glancing to your other side, you can see Sotsu hovering low to the ground and staring in Chisato's direction. She also looks a bit taken aback, though in her case this has manifested in a peevish frown. Murasa stands some distance behind and to her side, currently shifting her grip on an anchor.
>Sotsu is close to a dozen feet away from the fallen tengu, while you're more like one or two.
>The other tengu is circling around Chisato's back.
-
> "Chisato! Behind!"
> Finish rolling toward the fallen tengu.
-
> "Chisato! Behind!"
> Finish rolling toward the fallen tengu.
>You call out another warning and push yourself the last foot or two to your target.
>"Stupid friggin-" you hear Chisato mutter weakly, followed by a grunt as two pairs of footsteps shift around on the deck.
>As Sotsu takes a step towards you, Murasa hurls her anchor at her. Though the attack is from beyond the tengu's field of view, the noise of its passage announces the projectile's presence well enough. Still, she reacts with surprising slowness, and takes the full force of the anchor against her shoulder as she tries to turn. She spits a curse as Murasa runs in to follow the attack.
-
Okay, Sour, no one's immediately next to or entirely focused on us, so I'm thinking it's finally time to draw the thing and take ourselves a hostage.
> Can we tell what happened to the windy tengu Murasa was struggling with earlier?
-
> Can we tell what happened to the windy tengu Murasa was struggling with earlier?
>Given the direction that last blast of wind came from, you're going to assume she darted off in Chisato's direction.
-
> Good enough.
> Draw the Kurokirimaru, rolling and/or otherwise shifting to make such a thing possible if necessary.
> Cut the ropes binding our feet so we can scrabble around better.
-
> Good enough.
> Draw the Kurokirimaru, rolling and/or otherwise shifting to make such a thing possible if necessary.
> Cut the ropes binding our feet so we can scrabble around better.
>You draw Kumokirimaru and twist around to give yourself access to the bindings constricting your legs. Then you put the blade against them and carefully slice. Somewhat vexingly, the apparently mundane rope cuts much less easily than the spider youkai's tethers did, though the blade still severs them cleanly enough when you press it against them.
>As you cut through the first layer, you hear the sound of someone swooping swiftly through the air behind you. Then, before you have time to react, you are thrown violently forward by a sudden gale, strong enough to actually lift you clean off the ground.
>"Sorry, but you're not supposed to be moving around!" the tengu's voice says brightly.
>To your side, you hear another heavy impact as Murasa connects with Sotsu again. Chisato lets out a frustrated growl that turns into a smothered wince.
-
> Keep a tight grip on that sword. We CANNOT let it go.
> How badly are we hurtling through the air?
> Are we still anywhere close to the fallen tengu?
-
> Keep a tight grip on that sword. We CANNOT let it go.
> How badly are we hurtling through the air?
> Are we still anywhere close to the fallen tengu?
>You keep a very determined grip on your sword. If they want you to drop it, they're going to have to do better than this!
>Fast enough that you're very glad there isn't anything immediately in your way to bump into! While your legs are a little less restrained now, you're still encumbered enough in multiple locations to make steadying your balance next to impossible in the turbulent wind.
>Gravity quickly wins out against the lift the gust provided and you tumble hard into the deck, striking your hip and tumbling end over end again. It's only by quick thinking and good fortune that you manage to avoid rolling bodily onto your own blade. That would be embarrassing at this point.... Glancing back up, you see that you've ended up at least a dozen or so feet away from where you just were, though the fallen tengu seems to have been carried a shorter distance by the gust as well, and is now lying face-up. She's probably about 8 feet away.
-
> What material is the deck made of?
> Where's the tengu with that wind fan?
-
> What material is the deck made of?
> Where's the tengu with that wind fan?
>Mostly wood, though a couple sections are reinforced with metal, such as around the base of the rotor struts.
>She's generally towards where you'd been before the wind blast, about a half-dozen feet in the air. She seems to have turned back towards Murasa and Sotsu somewhat, though not enough for you to be outside her vision.
-
> How mobile are our legs and feet right now?
-
> How mobile are our legs and feet right now?
>You have a little more flexibility, though they're not quite free yet, given how much rope was originally applied to them. You should be able to change that fairly quickly, though.
-
> We should know whereabouts on our legs and feet the ropes are at this point, right? Try to cut the remaining ropes based on where we remember them being while watching the wind tengu. Keep a careful watch for any motion toward us from her.
-
> We should know whereabouts on our legs and feet the ropes are at this point, right? Try to cut the remaining ropes based on where we remember them being while watching the wind tengu. Keep a careful watch for any motion toward us from her.
>You do have a good enough sense of body position to try cutting the ropes without looking directly at them. Instead, you keep an eye on the tengu while you work on freeing yourself.
>She brings her fan up again, but it is aimed in the captain's direction this time and not yours. She gives it a quick sweep in one direction and then the other, and a pair of wide crescents fly from it, trailing a gust in their wake strong enough to ruffle the tengu's own clothing. They arc out swiftly in opposing directions, then each twists back down towards Murasa's sides as she tackles Sotsu with the heavy bludgeon in her hand. She takes the first shot with a grunt as her anchor connects solidly with Sotsu again. But then the captain's form wavers and blurs, and the second passes harmlessly through her. Sotsu leaps away.
>As you pass your blade through the last of your leg bindings and start to shrug them off, the tengu turns back and dives towards you with great speed.
>"That doesn't look like stopping!" she says with a smile as she brings the fan around again.
-
> Is there any cover in the immediate vicinity?
-
> Is there any cover in the immediate vicinity?
>The closest would be the rotor strut that Miyuki, Neu, and Ishi are still by, though a position that could shield you at this angle is still at least 8 or 10 feet away. You're not certain whether the structure is solid enough to stop a gust of wind, either, though it should do fine against more tangible things.
-
> Is there anything attached to the deck in the immediate vicinity that's grippable?
-
> Is there anything attached to the deck in the immediate vicinity that's grippable?
>The only thing closer than the strut which would meet this criteria is the rail of the deck itself. This is a few feet behind and to your side.
-
> Wait a minute. The blast of air that knocked Sotsu's blade away from hitting Chisato...was that this tengu's doing?
> Are both of our arms free or just the sword arm?
Going to bed.
Relatively "safe" option: Stab the sword into the wooden deck as hard as we can and cling for dear life.
Insane option that just might be crazy enough to work: Hold out sword right behind our head with the point of the blade pointed at our neck, give Aya a crazy toothy grin, and tell her to come the fuck at us, sis. She's already a filthy pirate, might as well blow our neck into our own blade and become a murderer on top of it.
-
> Wait a minute. The blast of air that knocked Sotsu's blade away from hitting Chisato...was that this tengu's doing?
> Are both of our arms free or just the sword arm?
>You didn't have an angle to see her do it, but if it wasn't from her, you have no idea where it came from.
>Just your sword arm at present, though you could probably wiggle your other one free as well; with one of them removed from their bindings, the remaining ropes are substantially less tight.
-
Changed my mind!
> Stop cutting the ropes.
> "Wait! Can't we talk?"
-
> Stop cutting the ropes.
> "Wait! Can't we talk?"
>You stop cutting the ropes and make a quick appeal for parlay.
>The tengu flashes you a grin and then glances towards Murasa as the ghost starts to run towards her. "Just stay put while I take care of a couple things and then I'm all ears."
-
> Look over at Murasa with a worried look.
> "Captain, wait! Let's talk this out!"
-
> Look over at Murasa with a worried look.
> "Captain, wait! Let's talk this out!"
>You throw the captain a worried look and ask her to hold off for a moment.
>"Like hell!" she replies without slowing, hefting another anchor in her hand. "Either they get the hell off my ship or I'm breakin' their wings and throwing 'em overboard."
>The tengu actually manages to look faintly disappointed, though this does little to mute her gumption. "Too bad," she says as she rises up and turns towards the captain. "But we're not leaving without what we came for."
>Murasa hurls her anchor at the tengu, and at this point you realize that there is somehow a length of chain attached to this one! However, the tengu moves easily aside of the projectile even as the chain merely starts to uncoil; the difference in their two speeds is great enough that you wonder if evading it took any real effort at all on the pirate's part. She responds with another flick of her fan and a small whirlwind forms suddenly beneath the captain's feet. You catch a brief flash of startlement in the ghost's eyes as the wind tosses her forcefully up into the air, swinging her around erratically. The chain appears to get caught around a shoulder.
-
> "Come on, both of you! Look at what's happening to your crews around you!"
-
Bed.
I think a ceasefire is a very real and possible thing; Murasa and Aya may be relatively unharmed, but they both have duties to their respective crews, who are in the process of completely mauling each other. If/when we do secure a temporary truce, however tense it may be, that's when I'd want to ask Aya directly if she's looking for the Mouthful Blade. Specifically namedropping it in her presence is important if it is indeed what she's looking for, because it gives us credibility (as opposed to asking her what she's looking for and then going "yeah, that's our thing", which could very well be a lie on our part for all she knows).
-
> "Come on, both of you! Look at what's happening to your crews around you!"
>"Don't you... dare stop... for me..." you hear Chisato rasp bitterly.
>"She puts that spear down," the tengu says as she darts around to Murasa's side, "and we'll get her patched right back up, I promise."
>"Fuck you!" Chisato snaps.
-
>Slightly snarkily, "How generous of you."
>"But why should we believe you, any more than Ren? Especially after Sotsu over there tried to cut us to ribbons."
-
>Slightly snarkily, "How generous of you."
>"But why should we believe you, any more than Ren? Especially after Sotsu over there tried to cut us to ribbons."
>"Playing coy, are you?" the tengu says as she pulls her fan back again. "Don't pretend you didn't notice."
>She makes a mighty sweep with her fan and a absolute gale blasts forth from it. You're not even in the line of fire and you feel your hair tossed violently about by the trailing winds. The sudden gust strikes the already-aerial Murasa and sends her hurtling swiftly through the air and over the side of the deck!
>"Captain!" Miyuki cries in a panicky voice.
>You hear Chisato start to say something, but then her words are cut off in a wince. From the opposite direction, you see Sotsu closing in on the group of you.
-
>Oh shit.
>Get back to our feet, and pull our other arm free, if we can.
>"I knew we couldn't believe scum like you...!"
>How far away is Sotsu from us?
>Raise our sword and close in on her as well. Better us than Chisato.
>How does she look now?
-
>Oh shit.
>Get back to our feet, and pull our other arm free, if we can.
>"I knew we couldn't believe scum like you...!"
>How far away is Sotsu from us?
>Raise our sword and close in on her as well. Better us than Chisato.
>How does she look now?
>She didn't...
>You kick the last of the severed ropes off your legs, and then work on quickly wriggling your other arm loose.
>"Have a little faith!" the tengu says as folds her wings close and then dives after Murasa with incredible speed, rapidly gaining on the tumbling captain as the latter flies clear of the Maiden's deck.
>About eight feet and closing.
>You raise your sword and move to meet her. She throws you a smirk of an entirely different character than the other tengu - more smug cruelty than casual confidence - and readies a blade to throw.
>You spare a glance at Chisato. ...to see the tengu she'd been sparring with retract a fist from her gut and wrench her spear away. The woman herself looks in bad shape, with blood from the wound on her back staining far too much of her shirt red, and the gash on her arm leaving much of that limb slick in its shadow. You can see one of her legs subtly trembling beneath her and you have to wonder how much of what's keeping her upright is simply willpower at this point.
-
>Pause for just a moment.
>Take into consideration our injuries, our skill with katanas, and the injuries present on the two tengu we're currently facing, and assess odds of victory if we fought them both alone.
-
>Pause for just a moment.
>Take into consideration our injuries, our skill with katanas, and the injuries present on the two tengu we're currently facing, and assess odds of victory if we fought them both alone.
>You quickly assess your combat odds against the two tengu still on the deck. Given the broken wing and spear wounds Chisato's partner has sustained, you think you may have the upper hand against her. She hasn't demonstrated any flight that you've seen since taking an anchor to the wing, and may not be capable of it at all now. You also noticed no other special abilities or secondary weapons. Sotsu on the other hand... She looks a little roughed up, but only slightly, and seems to have reacquired some of her ammunition in the brief downtime. You've seen full-well the effectiveness of her weaponry and she doesn't appear to have any injuries which would impede her capabilities. The same cannot be said about you. While you're still hanging in okay, your leg has not gotten any better with the various demands you've been placing on it, and you still have a half-dozen other wounds at least. And, frankly, you're pretty close to worn out. Sotsu still looks mostly fresh. Unless you can pull some trick out of your sleeve, you don't think there's any real chance of beating her in a straight-up fight, and it may be difficult to merely remain intact. She did seem to demonstrate some paucity of spatial awareness given that Murasa was able to turn a minor distraction into a solid blow, but you're not sure there's a way for you to capitalize on this right now.
-
> Spread our arms out to our sides.
> "Go ahead. Kill me. Make your captain proud of you."
-
> Spread our arms out to our sides.
> "Go ahead. Kill me. Make your captain proud of you."
>Sotsu hesistates a moment, and then scowls at you.
>"Then put that sword away if you don't want to get cut up some more," she says, fingering the projectile in her hands.
>At the edge of your vision, you see Murasa yank her anchor chain back and send the weight at its end sweeping out towards the rotor strut. Her aim is good, but you think she's simply moving too fast to make the shot before she tumbles out of range. The wind-conjuring tengu, however, seems even faster. Moving almost at a blur, she streaks towards Murasa with her raven wings drawn tightly behind her. As she closes on the tumbling ghost captain, she falls into a dive and then pulls up sharply behind her, shedding her velocity in an aerial twist. She lashes out with her fan as she does so, the movement hard to make out amid the acrobatics. The effect, however, is obvious. Even as her anchor falls short of the Maiden, Murasa is propelled violently back towards the strut that she just missed.
>On the opposite side of you, Chisato continues to struggle against the other tengu, though it seems a futile contest as her opponent moves to pin the sailor's arms and securely grapple her.
>"Get the... hell... off me...!" she rasps. The fire in her voice seems oddly thin. Or perhaps not so oddly, given her condition.
-
> Resheathe the sword, then wordlessly go back to looking at Sootsu with our arms spread.
-
> Resheathe the sword, then wordlessly go back to looking at Sootsu with our arms spread.
>You sheathe Kumokirimaru once more, then stretch your arms back out beside you. Sotsu throws you a peevish frown.
>"Now sit down and stay there," she says brusquely.
>There is a sharp clanging noise as Murasa collides with the rotor strut forcefully enough to shake some of the more flexible supports against each other. She lets out a loud cry as she impacts, and you can see her opponent diving in after her already.
-
> "You want me to bend this leg again? What harm am I gonna do standing with a busted leg and a sheathed sword?"
-
> "You want me to bend this leg again? What harm am I gonna do standing with a busted leg and a sheathed sword?"
>"Then lie on your face or something," Sotsu replies.
>"Cut Ishi loose!" you hear Murasa yell through gritted teeth as she grabs hold of the strut to keep herself from falling. Then tengu dives towards her and lets fly another pair of windy crescents.
-
> Where is Ishi relative to Sotsu and ourselves?
-
> Where is Ishi relative to Sotsu and ourselves?
>Ishi is still tied to the rotor strut, and is perhaps a dozen feet away from the both of you, on your left. Sotsu may be slightly closer to her than you are, though not directly in your way. However, you expect your relative angles would give her time to attempt an intercept if you ran for the kappa.
-
> "Can't really run around right now, captain!"
-
> "Can't really run around right now, captain!"
>"Dammit, do it anyway!" Murasa cries as she tries to swing around onto the other side of the strut. She grunts as one of the wind blades strikes her side, though manages to evade the other and start to lower herself back toward the deck.
>"You're only going to make this worse on them, you know," the flying tengu suggests helpfully as she swings around to pursue.
>"Stop struggling!" you hear the third tengu say in a frustrated voice. "You're going to pass out if you-" Her words are cut off in a scream. Sotsu's head rounds towards the noise.
-
> Dash to Ishi while pulling the sword back out! The leg can hold out a dozen feet!
-
> Dash to Ishi while pulling the sword back out! The leg can hold out a dozen feet!
>The moment Sotsu turns away, you break into a dash and draw Kumokirimaru free again. It's not too far. Your leg can hold up. Your leg will hold up. Grimacing against the pain and weakness and stumbling just a little with each step, you close the distance to the squirming kappa.
>"Hey!" You hear Sotsu's voice behind you, followed immediately by the shrill whistle of a blade thrown at your head. Then the sound of another's footsteps quickly close in on her from her own rear.
-
> How have her blades been flying in the past? Straight shots, spinning, etc?
> How big are her blades?
-
> How have her blades been flying in the past? Straight shots, spinning, etc?
> How big are her blades?
>While the metal projectiles themselves have been spinning, the overall trajectory of the shots has been mostly linear. Several have been spinning at angles not parallel to the ground, however, giving them a large diagonal cutting surface.
>The metal at their core is perhaps 5 or 6 inches long, though the sharp wind that surrounds them extends for a decent few more inches on either side. Their profile is very thin, however.
-
> Turn our head to look behind us whilst bringing our sword up.
> Once we've got the blade in our vision, try to block it with the blade of our sword by holding the sword blade pointed straight up in the flying blade's path.
-
> Turn our head to look behind us whilst bringing our sword up.
> Once we've got the blade in our vision, try to block it with the blade of our sword by holding the sword blade pointed straight up in the flying blade's path.
>You turn your head around to gauge the projectile's path and quickly raise your sword to block the incoming blade before it can reach you. However, as the edge of the vortex surrounding Sotsu's weapon meets yours, you feel Kumokirimaru being pulled forcefully sideways! With a deathgrip on its hilt to keep it from being torn out of your hands altogether, you try to tilt the tip of the blade back in towards the spinning shard of metal. You connect! But the block is poorly positioned and the trailing edge of the razor wind slices into your arm as you send Sotsu's weapon tumbling upwards. You can see the winds around it petering out as it loses the evenness of its spin.
>Even as you wince from this new wound, Sotsu is following in after her shot and readying a second blade to toss. But there is a third person chasing after her. Though unnervingly pallid and slick with her own blood, Chisato is somehow managing to sprint at the tengu's rear. The spear seems to once again be in her hands, and it's clear what she intends to do with it. Unfortunately, the distraction you're providing does not seem to be enough to mask the redhead's footfalls entirely and her quarry starts to turn about before Chisato can get close enough to thrust. You see the tengu's arm start to make a tell-tale motion....
>Chisato hurls the spear at Sotsu before the latter has a chance to throw her own weapon or even fully turn around. It's a quick motion, even if a little lacking in force and aim. But the tengu is simply faster. She kicks off from the deck and banks smoothly to the side, letting the spear pass harmlessly beside her. ...or perhaps not.
>With a quick hand gesture and a look of fierce concentration, you see a brief shimmer of green light form around Chisato's palms. And then there is a mighty snapping noise as the haft of the spear literally explodes, sending a flurry of wooden splinters in all directions. Sotsu glances towards the weapon as it fragments, but doesn't even have time to raise an arm to properly shield herself before pieces of jagged wood dig into her face and shoulders and side. Several of her feathers are torn loose as other bits of shrapnel rip through her wings. And there's even some coming your way!
-
>Now that's not bad for a human in that shape.
>Is there enough frag coming at us to do any real damage?
-
>Now that's not bad for a human in that shape.
>Is there enough frag coming at us to do any real damage?
>You're actually sort of impressed she's still going at all, given that she's only human.
>Serious damage is unlikely, though you may take a couple sizable splinters unless you try to move out of their way or shield yourself somehow.
-
>Is there anything close to duck behind?
>Has Sotsu got too far off the deck yet?
-
>Is there anything close to duck behind?
>Has Sotsu got too far off the deck yet?
>The strut itself is probably the nearest thing, though you don't think you can put it between you and any fragments in time.
>No more than a foot or two.
-
As much as I'd love to cut something important off Sotsu, I'll restrain myself in the interests of not doing any furthur damage to the pirates ourselves. Aya sees us cutting up her crew, even Sotsu, might go against us. And if the fight ends up stopping, I hope that Aya's good on her word and helps us patch Chisato up. Odds are she needs it pretty bad, or will soon.
>Sidestep to the left to avoid the flying shrapnel.
>Spin on our heel as we meneuver to the left and resume our course towards Ishi at best possible speed.
-
>Sidestep to the left to avoid the flying shrapnel.
>Spin on our heel as we meneuver to the left and resume our course towards Ishi at best possible speed.
>You try to quickly scramble out of the way of the shrapnel while pivoting towards Ishi. Your leg buckles beneath you as you twist, but you grit your teeth and right yourself before you topple over. A small splinter or two strike you in the shoulder and arm, but they're ignorable and you press onward without delay.
>As Sotsu staggers back from the sudden explosion with an irritated grunt, you see Chisato falter and then collapse face-first onto the deck.
>"Chisato!" Miyuki cries.
>"Dammit!" Murasa snaps as she swings around to the inside of the strut, with the tengu swooping in to meet her.
>You make it within arm's reach of Ishi.
-
>Chisato must have lost more blood than we'd thought...
>Where does it look like Murasa's going?
>Quick assessment of Ishi's bindings. Would it be quicker to cut them or untie them?
-
>Chisato must have lost more blood than we'd thought...
>Where does it look like Murasa's going?
>Quick assessment of Ishi's bindings. Would it be quicker to cut them or untie them?
>It's possible, though it looked like whatever she just did took a lot of exertion as well. You really can't blame her for being exhausted after all this....
>You're not really sure. She may be working her way down the strut, but she may also simply be maneuvering around the metal to get cover against the tengu attacking her. You're uncertain if there's an overarching plan here.
>Ishi is, in general, tied less comprehensively than you were, but is also secured directly to the strut on top of that. You would definitely get her down quicker with a blade than by attempting to untie things, though.
-
>"Ishi, when I cut you free, free Miyuki and Neu. I'm going to help Chisato."
-
>"Ishi, when I cut you free, free Miyuki and Neu. I'm going to help Chisato."
>The diminutive engineer glares at you and mumbles incoherently into her gag.
>"Just do it!" Murasa says.
>"Not going to work!" the flying tengu adds in a cheerful tone.
>You can hear more footsteps approaching from the rear; Sotsu or the other tengu must be recovering themselves. And is that some from... the stairs? Great. Reinforcements are the last thing their side needs right now.
-
>One problem at a time...
>Get to work on those ropes!
-
> With the sword, rather than untying them.
-
>One problem at a time...
>Get to work on those ropes!
> With the sword, rather than untying them.
>You put the impending arrivals to one side for the moment and quickly sever the ropes keeping Ishi tethered to the rotor strut. You catch the kappa as she tumbles free and carefully slit through the ropes around her wrists.
>Then a shadow passes across your right as Sotsu lunges at you with a swift slash of her sword.
-
>Better that than another one of her knives.
>If we simply dodged, would the sword hit Ishi, assuming she didn't go evasive as well?
>For that matter, do we have to to get out of the way at all?
-
>Better that than another one of her knives.
>If we simply dodged, would the sword hit Ishi, assuming she didn't go evasive as well?
>For that matter, do we have to to get out of the way at all?
>You'll take whatever small blessings you're given, though her sword is still plenty capable of inflicting serious damage.
>There's a small possibility, though she doesn't seem to be directly in the line of attack.
>If you do not do something, her blade will hit you solidly in the torso.
-
>Perhaps we'd best do both.
>Bring our sword parallel to our body in front of us to parry her slash, and then dodge to the left and forwards.
>While performing this lateral move, turn as mucha s we can to face her head on.
-
>Perhaps we'd best do both.
>Bring our sword parallel to our body in front of us to parry her slash, and then dodge to the left and forwards.
>While performing this lateral move, turn as mucha s we can to face her head on.
>You bring your sword out to parry, while stepping aside from the slash and turning to face it. You have very little room to maneuver, this close to the strut, but you still manage to connect steel with steel before it finds your flesh instead. The face of your opponent comes into view... and it does not look happy. Large splinters of wood pepper one side of it and a trails of blood from them have masked an eye entirely. The expression she wears is less of smug cruelty than simple rage, now. She wants to hurt you. Well, she probably always wanted to hurt you, but your position in her esteem has certainly not improved over the last minute.
>As you face her, she pulls her sword swiftly back and slashes again. There is great force behind the blow, but a surprising lack of technique. You intercept the strike with only a slight repositioning of your weapon, though it nearly gets battered aside in the process. And then she moves for a third slash almost before you can react from the second, leaping lightly aside and sweeping in to strike at the opening she exposed.
>Her precise burst of flight is suddenly knocked off-kilter as fiery ball of bedhead leaps awkwardly off the ground and grabs hold of a wing. Gravity does the rest.
>As Sotsu staggers, Ishi pulls the gag away from her mouth and shouts. "Ready, boss!"
-
>Whatever she's ready for, that doesn't mean Sotsu's dealt with entirely.
>While the tengu's off-balance, curl our fingers and give the pirate a solid jab in the windpipe.
>And be prepared to sidestep if it looks like she'd run us over.
-
>Whatever she's ready for, that doesn't mean Sotsu's dealt with entirely.
>While the tengu's off-balance, curl our fingers and give the pirate a solid jab in the windpipe.
>And be prepared to sidestep if it looks like she'd run us over.
>You can't do this without stepping forward a little, and whether Sotsu's off-balance or not, she's still got a sword held between the two of you. Do you still wish to attempt this?
-
>Accursed hostile pointy bits.
>Change of plans. Step forward and swing our katana to get her sword out of our path, THEN give her a solid shot in the throat.
-
>Accursed hostile pointy bits.
>Change of plans. Step forward and swing our katana to get her sword out of our path, THEN give her a solid shot in the throat.
>You step forward and swing Kumokirimaru to push Sotsu's weapon aside. With a growl, she backhands the kappa clinging to her wing and sends Ishi tumbling off, but isn't quick enough to prevent you from easily deflecting her sword. As you create an opening, you move in and take advantage of it, launching a sharp jab at the tengu's throat. It's a hit! You feel your knuckles connect solidly with rigid flesh and push it backward, but before either of you can do anything to respond to this, a sudden gust from beneath your feet flings the pair of you up into the air and tosses you apart.
>As you tumble backwards, you see Murasa hovering in the air a few feet from the strut she had been clinging to a moment earlier. Her form is hazy and leeched of color, and indistinct echoes of her shape flicker briefly in the surrounding air, like afterimages. Her gaze grows vacant and hollow and a palid green glow suffuses her, growing steadily stronger without seeming to cast any light on its surroundings. You feel a damp chill in the air.
-
>Are we on our back now? If we are not on our feet, regain our footing.
>Where did Ishi and that pirate go?
>Watch whatever Murasa's up to and, if Sotsu seems at least temporarily diasbled, make our way back towards Chisato.
-
>Are we on our back now? If we are not on our feet, regain our footing.
>Where did Ishi and that pirate go?
>Watch whatever Murasa's up to and, if Sotsu seems at least temporarily diasbled, make our way back towards Chisato.
>You push yourself back off the deck and onto your feet.
>Ishi seems to have tumbled back towards the strut by some combination of the wind and Sotsu's fist, but hasn't traveled far. Sotsu has been thrown somewhat further and in the opposite direction. You see her flick her wings out to catch herself as she spins away from you, wincing visibly.
>You think enough room has been opened between the two of you to buy a moment's time, and the wind has tossed you in Chisato's direction in any case. Keeping an eye on both Murasa and the pirate, you quickly move over to the collapsed redhead.
>Whatever the captain is doing, she looks less a fiery-eyed sailor and more a haunting spectre with each passing moment. You feel a strange sense of unease and the weight of the air around you grows subtly oppressive, like a cold and heavy fog. Then your eyes flare open as your next breath draws in something cold and wet and completely unlike air! Your body reacts instinctively but nothing is expelled as you cough violently and you feel another rush of liquid sucked into your lungs in its wake. You can't breathe!
-
> Can we feel the air around us actually feel like we're underwater, as opposed to heavy fog?
> Given our eyes our open, what do we see? Anyone of interest?
-
> Can we feel the air around us actually feel like we're underwater, as opposed to heavy fog?
> Given our eyes our open, what do we see? Anyone of interest?
>The air around you still feels like air to the rest of your body, but you're still somehow managing to drown in it!
>Through the haze of instinctual panic, you quickly glance around you. Sotsu is nearly doubled-over, and wearing a startled expression that you imagine isn't far from your own. Miyuki's eyes also look distressed, though there's an oddly determined stoicism on her face. Ishi, on the other hand, is back on her feet and sprinting off somewhere.
-
>Bloody kappa can breathe underwater?
>Do we know if they can do that, or is this some kinda Ishi-specific thing?
>Does there appear to be any 'clear' areas around, like we had when facing the spider youkai's deadly cloud?
-
>Bloody kappa can breathe underwater?
>Do we know if they can do that, or is this some kinda Ishi-specific thing?
>Does there appear to be any 'clear' areas around, like we had when facing the spider youkai's deadly cloud?
>You think so!
>You're pretty sure this is a kappa thing, and not an Ishi thing.
>It all looks clear! Except you're breathing in water regardless, or at least something that damn near feels like it. You can hear your heart hammering in your chest as your lungs scream at you to seek out air. A very primal fear grips you and your consciousness narrows in the face of it. You need to breathe!
-
>Try slashing the air in front of our face with Kumokirimaru.
>Hey, it worked before!
-
>Try slashing the air in front of our face with Kumokirimaru.
>Hey, it worked before!
>Grasping at any idea that springs to mind, you slash wildly at the air in front of with Kumokirimaru. Unfortunately, you neither neither see nor feel any change because of it. How the hell can you be drowning in air?!
>"Try not to panic!" Ishi adds helpfully as she dashes past you.
-
>"Easy for you to say!"
-
>"Easy for you to say!"
>You try to answer the kappa, but the only thing that comes out of your mouth is a muffled gurgle. You gasp in yet more water and stagger as your body rails against the unnatural presence in your lungs. Need air. Need air!
>Ishi scampers another step or two and then a violent gust of wind sends her toppling backwards with a startled "Gyaaah!"
-
>Okay, if our lungs are full of water, or the ghostly equivilent thereof, try to spit it out.
-
>Okay, if our lungs are full of water, or the ghostly equivilent thereof, try to spit it out.
>You again try to spit out the fluid in your lungs, but it's useless. Nothing comes out. Your lungs feel just as cold and inundated as they did before. Nothing changes. You are drowning and the whole world has been emptied of air. You rapidly grow dizzy and weak as your breath is held from you by the enveloping depths.
>Dimly, you see Ishi come to a sliding stop against the deck as the fan-wielding tengu swoops down towards her.
>"How the hell are you breathing?" the kappa says in an impatient tone as she scrambles back to her feet.
>The tengu flashes her a small smile. "You don't think we came here without being prepared for a little drowning?"
>At this point, several more figures emerge from the stairs at the other end of the deck: another tengu, the parrot youkai, and... a human?
>"Okay, what the hell is going on?!" Ishi yells irately.
-
>Whatever it is, it better stop soon.
>Wave our arms at Murasa, and point at Chisato.
-
>Whatever it is, it better stop soon.
>Wave our arms at Murasa, and point at Chisato.
>Soon as in now! You can feel your consciousness dimming steadily and you're not sure how much longer you can even manage to stand.
>You frantically wave your arms at Murasa and point at the apparently unconscious sailor at your feet. You're not sure the former even sees you. In fact, she barely looks aware of her surroundings at all but simply stares vacantly, her eyes pale and hollow. You dimly hear voices, though they seem to come from a great distance.
>"Hurry, Karu," someone says. "We have affected."
>"Watch her," comes another voice.
>"Stop not explaining yourselves, you turkeyheads!"
>You see the human start running towards the other end of the deck, but then the fan-wielding tengu swoops towards her and scoops her up in her arms, ferrying her towards the palid ghost in only a couple seconds. The human produces some strips of paper from her robes and releases them into the air; they seem to take flight with a life of their own and spiral down into a circular pattern on the deck. Then she forms a series of seals with her hands and starts chanting something. The words don't make sense to you; you're no longer sure if they're even supposed to. You feel sleepy. You've been fighting so long and you're exhausted and it would be good to just rest. You feel yourself sagging.
>A bright flash of light startles you from your slip into darkness and you feel a weight in your chest suddenly lifted. Air!
-
> Take a breath.
> How close are we to Sotsu, and how is she faring?
-
>Take a deep breath. Several. Air is good.
>Assess the other tengu, as well as the good guys present, see who was and was not affected by that funky event.
-
> Take a breath.
>Take a deep breath. Several. Air is good.
>You take a breath and your lungs rejoice as they taste it. Air! Fresh, clean, delicious air! Water-free! You breathe in rapidly and deeply as your lungs grasp greedily at it to make up for lost time.
>Then you hear a strangled groan from above followed by a thud as Murasa falls heavily onto the deck, now apparently quite solid.
> How close are we to Sotsu, and how is she faring?
>Assess the other tengu, as well as the good guys present, see who was and was not affected by that funky event.
>You glance around and assess people's conditions. Sotsu is about two dozen feet away from you, towards the other side of the strut. She is partially collapsed on the deck, and also breathing rapidly. You can hear as much from Miyuki and Neu as well, and even a little from Chisato, though hers are shallow and weaker in comparison. The tengu with the broken wing is rising shakily to her feet with a pained expression on her face, and though her breathing sounds labored, you're not certain it's rapid enough to suggest she just spent the last while deprived of it entirely. Murasa looks... out of it. She is tangible and her old coloration has returned, but her expression looks deeply troubled and her eyes stare distantly as though she were regarding something only she could see. There is a faint aura of white and blue light surrounding her, quite unlike the sickly glow she was displaying a few moments back, and you're not certain she's breathing at all. Though, on reflection, you realize she probably doesn't need to. Ishi, on the other hand, mostly looks indignant.
>"Dammit!" she yells. "You guys are cheating!"
>"And being a kappa isn't?" she adds in a more playful tone. Check that: you're pretty sure those words came from a few feet to her side.
>You hear Ishi grumble in irritation. "You... technicolor feather duster!" she cries.
>"Are you... okay?" you hear Neu ask her neighbor softly beneath breaths.
>Miyuki nods slowly. Her expression looks distressed, though it is bravely masked. As much as it irritates you to acknowledge, you may not look dissimilar.
-
You want this one? I suspect my preferred course of action will not allow us to return to things as they were.
-
Which would be what? Trying to take a hostage?
-
I don't think will get you too far, either.
Frankly, Kilga, at this point, I think that anything we good guys can do, we've done. What I think we should do is hope that Aya's good on her word, and helps us patch up Chisato. And try and get some information on the dingus from Aya. If she's as much a pirate as the normal kind, she'll love to boast about her plunder. Including how it got on this boat in the first place. SOMEONE had to get it here.
Actually, that's a lie. There is one thing we might able to do beyong get our friend some medical help. Get Sotsu in trouble for excesive force. That's gotta be worth something.
-
Then go ahead and do whatever. I think getting Sotsu in trouble is the exact opposite of what we should be doing with her, but frankly this entire sequence of events is leaving a bad taste in my mouth in general.
-
At this point, I think we should just try to make the best of a bad situation. Gather what information we can, and try and be content that we at least did some damage to a few pirates. Hopefully, that will make the skies a little bit safer, for a little while.
>Sheathe our sword, fighting's over.
>Make our way to Chisato's side, check her pulse, and apply presure to any wound that seems to be bleeding. If more than one present, pick the one that's bleeding the most and apply pressure to it.
-
>Sheathe our sword, fighting's over.
>Make our way to Chisato's side, check her pulse, and apply presure to any wound that seems to be bleeding. If more than one present, pick the one that's bleeding the most and apply pressure to it.
>You sheathe Kumokirimaru and kneel down at Chisato's side.
>You gently take her arm and feel for her pulse. Still clear and steady, thankfully. You appraise her visible wounds. The gash and her back and arm are both still bleeding, though the latter seems more serious than the former. You hold your hands together and press them against the wound, feeling the warm blood squish wetly between your fingers are you do so. Chisato groans and stirs a little.
>"Have her wounds tended to," you hear the fan-wielding tengu say. "And you should get that wing set, too," she adds in a more concerned tone.
>"...sorry," the injured tengu rasp out.
>"Let go of me, dangnabit!" Ishi cries.
>"Just stop struggling!" a new voice counters. "It's over."
>The parrot youkai walks over to you, her weapons stowed and a neutral expression on her face. She gives you an appraising look.
>"Move off," she says. "Let me take care of her."
-
> The injured tengu spoke up? What of Sotsu?
-
> The injured tengu spoke up? What of Sotsu?
>Sotsu is only now gathering herself to stand, and still sounds quite short of breath. She is also effectively on the other side of the deck from where the other two were conversing.
-
> "Don't you have someone else you should be attending to first?"
-
> "Don't you have someone else you should be attending to first?"
>"You'd rather I go jump off the side and leave her bleeding here, then?" the parrot asks dryly.
-
> "You lot are gonna make them refinance the damages done to your ship even after you don't find what you're looking for, just because they had the audacity to defend themselves from thieves with false information. Between that and her pride, I imagine she'd rather die than take your so-called 'help'."
-
> Sorry, parser, slight word addition. Mind taking it into account?
-
> "You lot are gonna make them refinance the damages done to your ship even after you don't find what you're looking for, just because they had the audacity to defend themselves from thieves with false information. Between that and her pride, I imagine she'd rather die than take your so-called 'help'."
>You somehow find the breath to say all this, though you find yourself pausing to catch it annoyingly frequently.
>"Well that sounds pretty stupid," the parrot replies. "Guess I'm not the only stubborn ass up here, after all!" she adds in Sotsu's voice. The owner of the voice glares daggers at her; with the shards of the splintered spear in her face and the trails of blood around them, she actually manages to look rather monstrous.
>"Hatoko..." the fan-wielding tengu says chasteningly. The parrot's expression turns staunchly neutral again.
>"...go... fuck yourself..." you hear Chisato breathe weakly. There's so little energy in her voice that it's almost hard to make out.
> Sorry, parser, slight word addition. Mind taking it into account?
>Already noted.
-
> Look down at Chisato, then back up at the parrot.
> "That's the reputatuion you and this crew have earned, parrot. Your lot's actions speak volumes louder than Ren's words."
> Frown.
> "Frankly, I think you should all just stop pretending you're something more than the simple thugs you act like. It would save everyone a lot of aggravation. Especially Sotsu over there."
-
> Look down at Chisato, then back up at the parrot.
> "That's the reputatuion you and this crew have earned, parrot. Your lot's actions speak volumes louder than Ren's words."
>You look down at Chisato, who seems to be trying with difficulty to rise off the ground. Then you turn back to the parrot.
>She rolls her eyes. "Because trying to patch people up is such a jerk thing to do, right?"
> Frown.
> "Frankly, I think you should all just stop pretending you're something more than the simple thugs you act like. It would save everyone a lot of aggravation. Especially Sotsu over there."
>"I'm hurt!" the fan-wielding tengu says lightly as she swoops past you. "Not an untrue word has passed through these lips since we've met. Can your captain say the same?" She flashes you a little smile, then darts off towards Sotsu. "And I'll be done here in a minute, if you still want to talk!"
-
> Look back to the parrot.
> "She wouldn't need it if you didn't show up in the first place. Do we really want to go through that loop all over again?"
-
> Look back to the parrot.
> "She wouldn't need it if you didn't show up in the first place. Do we really want to go through that loop all over again?"
>"I thought you Seekers were pragmatists," she answers. "Being 'right' doesn't stop you from bleeding, or a lot of things in this world would be different. The only choice you've got right now is whether to get out of the way or let her suffer some more so you can satisfy your moral compass."
>"...don't want... your help..." Chisato breathes as she pushes herself shakily off the ground and glares at the parrot. Her face is pale and streaked with cold sweat.
>"Chisato..." Miyuki's voice rings softly with an imploring concern, and there is a worried frown on her face.
>The redhead lets out a labored breath. "I'm... fine..."
>"No, you're not," Neu says matter-of-factly. "You need medical attention."
>This only seems to add irritation to Chisato's voice. "I said I'm-"
>The moth interrupts her with surprising firmness. "This isn't the time to argue. Let them attend to your injuries."
>"Like-"
>"This is an order, Miss Yatsuragi!" She turns to you. "And please stand aside, Nazrin. I understand your position, but now isn't the time for it."
>"Why the hell are we-" you hear Sotsu begin angrily, but her words are cut short by a very firm declaration from the tengu that flew to meet her.
>"Oh, I think you've made your position quite clear," she says. Though her tone is still clear and cheerful, there's an unmistakable undercurrent of challenge to it. "It's a pity, really. A waste of talent. I'd hoped you were being honest with me back then." Sotsu starts to say something, but is again cut off before she can speak. "Take Hayashi back to the Skyfang and tell them to send the search team over. Oh, and you might want to go find a mirror while you're at it." The injured tengu flashes a poorly-concealed scowl.
-
> Sigh.
> "Very well. Sorry, Chisato."
> Begin limping toward Sotsu and the wind fan tengu.
> "But what are you chewing Sotsu out for? Wasn't letting her drown while you were laughing enough of a punishment?"
-
> Sigh.
> "Very well. Sorry, Chisato."
>You sigh and apologize to Chisato, then stand aside.
>The parrot produces a roll of bandages from her coat, then leans down over the redhead. "Hate me if you want, but do yourself a favor and stay still."
>"No worries... on the first bit..." Chisato breathes with darkly simmering resentment, but does refrain from moving nonetheless.
> Begin limping toward Sotsu and the wind fan tengu.
> "But what are you chewing Sotsu out for? Wasn't letting her drown while you were laughing enough of a punishment?"
>You make your way slowly towards Sotsu and the other tengu. The former throws you a dirty look as you pass each other, but says nothing as she proceeds to the other end of the deck. The other turns towards you with a confident grin.
>She gives you a curious look. "Let? Even I can't stop a vengeful ghost once they've set their mind on something." Then she grins again. "Or is it spoiling your image of us for me to care more about your friend over there than her?"
-
> Frown.
> "There's more to it than that. But please, don't patronize me more than you already do. You're beyond prepared, and you clearly had protection. You even admitted it yourself. Your broken-winged friend had protection, she wasn't breathing hard enough after the fact for someone that was drowning. Why didn't Sotsu have that same protection?"
-
> Frown.
> "There's more to it than that. But please, don't patronize me more than you already do. You're beyond prepared, and you clearly had protection. You even admitted it yourself. Your broken-winged friend had protection, she wasn't breathing hard enough after the fact for someone that was drowning. Why didn't Sotsu have that same protection?"
>"That's a good question!" she replies. "Perhaps one of the doses was defective, or perhaps she just didn't bother to listen to the instructions? I shouldn't be surprised by that now, though I ought to have our supplies rechecked, just the same..." She trails off and then sketches a wounded look. "I hope you're not suggesting that was intentional on my part? Though I'm a little surprised you would even mind after what she did to your friend over there." She flicks her fan casually in Chisato's direction; for once it produces no more wind than you'd expect from a fan that size.
-
> "Oh, I'm none too pleased with her either. But given how utterly smug you've been this entire time up here with your various wounded crew members, and with how bullshit your claimed non-violence policy is, I don't think you actually give a damn about any of your fellow pirates. Not the one with the broken wing, not the one with the knife in her throat, not the one that's probably been infected with a terminal disease as a result of all this. I don't think any of them mean anything to you beyond what good they do to furthering your own selfish ends."
-
> "Oh, I'm none too pleased with her either. But given how utterly smug you've been this entire time up here with your various wounded crew members, and with how bullshit your claimed non-violence policy is, I don't think you actually give a damn about any of your fellow pirates. Not the one with the broken wing, not the one with the knife in her throat, not the one that's probably been infected with a terminal disease as a result of all this. I don't think any of them mean anything to you beyond what good they do to furthering your own selfish ends."
>"You hold your tongue," comes a darkly angry voice from behind you. You think it belongs to the parrot, though it lacks her usual aloofness and the tone of her words rings very personal.
>The tengu gives her a sad smile. "I can defend my own self, Hatoko. But thanks." Then she turns back to you with an inquisitive look on her face. "And what exactly makes you say that, anyway?"
-
> "Two reasons. The first one is also the main reason I think your claimed desire to avoid violence is hogwash. But it's a bit of a story, so pardon the longwindedness."
> "Obviously you've done your research, so let me remind you that I'm a dowser Seeker, not native to the crew of this ship."
> Jerk a thumb behind us, pointed in the parrot's direction.
> "Dowsing is what I do, much like imitations is what your squawkbox does. Before I boarded here, the captain of this ship asked me to help search the ship for certain things. In my scan, I turned up nothing. Not only nothing of what the captain was looking for, but also nothing of major value. Nothing that would qualify as your desired relic, certainly."
> "After you all arrived, I told your Ren about the results of my dowsing scan. I also told her I knew who had the relic she was looking for. Because there is one relic on this ship, and I do indeed know who has it. I even told her this before all the fighting started. And yet here we all are, having just gone through several fights over this thing, at least part of which was despite the fact that I said I wanted to talk to you. Surely, if you gave a damn about your crew, and you gave a damn about avoiding violence, Ren would have reported this to you, you would have listened to her, and you would have talked to me on the spot in order to stop the fighting, rather than keeping that smug grin on your face while taunting our captain into furthering the battle, one that lasted long enough to get a spear blown up in Sotsu's face."
-
Sour, I apologize if this isn't the conversational route you wanted to go, but goddamn if I haven't wanted to do all this for at least a week.
I also do hope you weren't looking to keep fending off parrotface from Chisato. I didn't want to leave her either, but Neu outranks us.
-
> "Two reasons. The first one is also the main reason I think your claimed desire to avoid violence is hogwash. But it's a bit of a story, so pardon the longwindedness."
> "Obviously you've done your research, so let me remind you that I'm a dowser Seeker, not native to the crew of this ship."
> Jerk a thumb behind us, pointed in the parrot's direction.
> "Dowsing is what I do, much like imitations is what your squawkbox does. Before I boarded here, the captain of this ship asked me to help search the ship for certain things. In my scan, I turned up nothing. Not only nothing of what the captain was looking for, but also nothing of major value. Nothing that would qualify as your desired relic, certainly."
> "After you all arrived, I told your Ren about the results of my dowsing scan. I also told her I knew who had the relic she was looking for. Because there is one relic on this ship, and I do indeed know who has it. I even told her this before all the fighting started. And yet here we all are, having just gone through several fights over this thing, at least part of which was despite the fact that I said I wanted to talk to you. Surely, if you gave a damn about your crew, and you gave a damn about avoiding violence, Ren would have reported this to you, you would have listened to her, and you would have talked to me on the spot in order to stop the fighting, rather than keeping that smug grin on your face while taunting our captain into furthering the battle, one that lasted long enough to get a spear blown up in Sotsu's face."
>The tengu listens attentively to your exposition as the others go about their affairs. Hatoko applies the bandages to Chisato's wounds with surprising care, while you hear Ishi continue to grumble at the tengu restraining her. Sotsu picks up the broken-winged pirate, who you presume to be Hayashi, and takes flight from the Maiden, heading towards the other airship parked across from it. The onmyouji mumbles something under her breath and continues to face Murasa, who still seems only partially cognizant of her surroundings.
>The tengu grins at you as you finish. "Well, you're a confident mouse, aren't you? 'I couldn't find it, so it can't be here?' If it were that easy, I'm sure the illusionist would have made off with it when she tried. Feel free to ask Murasa about that when she recovers, if you'd like. You also seem to be contradicting yourself. There both is and isn't a relic onboard?" She leans closer to gives you a pointed smirk. "Care to tell me how that's supposed to work?"
-
>"What are you talking about? What illusionist?"
>Can we douse for illusionary magics?
-
>"What are you talking about? What illusionist?"
>Can we douse for illusionary magics?
>"The same one that hit the dig site, I'm assuming," she says. "I'm sure your captain suspects the same thing; it takes a neat trick or two to make documents vanish into thin air like that. But you're not really answering the question."
>You expect you could pick up on some, though you're also inclined to assume that magic designed to conceal things is also tailored to conceal itself. How effective it is at this probably depends on the skill of the magic in question.
-
>"Touche."
>Pat the sheathe of Kumokirimaru.
>"This sword. It's got age and power to it. It was the only thing I could think of that could have been a 'relic'. Although, since Ren didn't demand it of me when she first saw it- even let me keep it, after I told her how important it was- and neither have you, that tells me that maybe you're right. Maybe there is something else on this boat. But if it evaded me, and evidently the rest of the Maiden crew, how did you know it was here when we didn't?"
-
>"Touche."
>Pat the sheathe of Kumokirimaru.
>"This sword. It's got age and power to it. It was the only thing I could think of that could have been a 'relic'. Although, since Ren didn't demand it of me when she first saw it- even let me keep it, after I told her how important it was- and neither have you, that tells me that maybe you're right. Maybe there is something else on this boat. But if it evaded me, and evidently the rest of the Maiden crew, how did you know it was here when we didn't?"
>She gives you an impish grin. "Oh, I'm sure there's someone here who knows where it is," she says as she glances in Murasa's direction. "Not that I expect her to tell. And I know because I make it a point to know all the interesting news. You didn't think that something like that scuffle at the dig would slip by without me hearing about it, did you? Rumors like that can have all kinds of interesting truths hidden behind them if you go looking. But I'm sure you know all about that if that badge on your chest's the real deal."
-
>Did Marisa mention anything about a 'scuffle' at that archaeological dig?
-
>Did Marisa mention anything about a 'scuffle' at that archaeological dig?
>She did, though she was only working off of rumor and had few concrete details. It seemed that the archeologists may have been attacked by someone, or possibly robbed, though 'by who' or 'of what' were never clear.
-
>Look thoughtful, and mutter, "I'd wondered what was going on up there."
>"So you're telling me that whoever, or whatever, hit that site hid whatever they stole on this ship?"
-
>Look thoughtful, and mutter, "I'd wondered what was going on up there."
>"So you're telling me that whoever, or whatever, hit that site hid whatever they stole on this ship?"
>She gives you another irritatingly patronizing grin. "Oh, not at all. They were entrusted it, to keep the thief from having another shot. I guess whoever it was found out anyway, but I know it's still on board or this ship would still be back in Braston. You don't set sail with your precious cargo missing."
-
>"And just what is this thing, anyway, that's worth all this?"
-
>"And just what is this thing, anyway, that's worth all this?"
>"That's a very good question!" she says with a broad smile. "Something valuable enough to draw a master thief to a dusty ruin that everyone outside the Academy had long since stopped caring about, and then bring them back a second time. Something important enough that even archeologists tried to smuggle it out immediately. Going as far as creating decoys? That isn't something you do for a run-of-the-mill piece of ancient history. This is something big, and some very big people have the eyes on it. I'm sure of it."
-
>Restrain the urge to bite that smile off the smug parasite's face.
>"People that didn't want it to fall into the wrong hands."
>"I expect this will be a big pay day for you, then."
No, better not. Still trying to grill this bird.
>"And you wanted it for your own before it got to wherever it was going."
-
>Restrain the urge to bite that smile off the smug parasite's face.
>"People that didn't want it to fall into the wrong hands."
>"I expect this will be a big pay day for you, then."
>A few choice one-liners roll through your head, but you bite your tongue to keep from spoiling the opportunity to actually get something out of this tengu.
>"And you wanted it for your own before it got to wherever it was going."
>She flashes you a triumphant grin. "Exactly!"
>"My guess is Remilia's the one they're running it for," she continues. "She's one of the Academy's big backers and likes to keep her fingers in all kinds of things like this. Off the record, of course. But we can give this artifact a better fate than just another trophy in her gallery, or some pawn in the nobles' petty politics."
-
>Remilia. Would that be that 'Scarlet' person one of the pirates mentioned below decks?
-
>Remilia. Would that be that 'Scarlet' person one of the pirates mentioned below decks?
>It would make sense with what she said, but the name doesn't really ring any bells for you.
-
>"Ren mentioned a 'Lady Scarlet' before. Is that this 'Remilia'?"
-
>"Ren mentioned a 'Lady Scarlet' before. Is that this 'Remilia'?"
>The tengu nods. "That would be her. Most powerful person in Val Razua." Then she gives you a sidelong glance. "Haven't been there yourself, have you?"
-
>Oh sure, like SHE cares about our travel history.
>"Not yet."
-
>Oh sure, like SHE cares about our travel history.
>"Not yet."
>"Nice place," she says. "Always something interesting to keep an ear on, between the scheming and the ostentation. Can't go long without running into that name, though." The tengu gives a wry smile. "She thinks quite a lot of herself. Of course, she's not the only one."
-
>"If you're as well informed as you claim, I'd guess you've already got a buyer lined up."
-
>"If you're as well informed as you claim, I'd guess you've already got a buyer lined up."
>She actually looks a little surprised at this. "What? For the artifact? Of course not." Then she smiles. "You didn't think I'd go to all this trouble just to sell it, did you?"
-
>"Of course I would. What else would you do with it, mount it on your wall and stare at it?"
-
>"Of course I would. What else would you do with it, mount it on your wall and stare at it?"
>She laughs, a crisp and light, yet somehow grating sound. "This isn't just some old piece of ancient history. It's important. There was a reason the Academy didn't send it with the rest of their finds, and a reason that other thief was after it in particular. If they'd just wanted to make a quick buck, the archeologists had a ton of other stuff they could have fenced to some rich collector or another. No, this one is special."
>"If this thing... really does belong to Lady Scarlet," Miyuki says with a doubtful expression on her face, "you can't expect her to just ignore you stealing it, can you?"
>The tengu chuckles again, then breaks into a broad grin. "I'd like to see her try and get it back! You see, she can't make this a public issue without admitting certain ties she'd rather keep strictly off-the-record. You can't send a whole fleet out into the Expanse without people talking and it would take a whole fleet." The expression on her face is supremely smug.
>"It took you three ships just to capture one unarmed freighter," Neu points out. Her tone is almost unnaturally calm, as though she were merely commenting on the weather over a morning cup of tea.
>The tengu gives her an indulgent smile. "Oh, now with the modesty? We both know the Maiden's in a class of its own. I'd really like to get a tour of the place now that I'm here, actually.... You're even better than your rep and there's some impressive work gone into this ship."
>"You birdbrains wouldn't know a good gyro-compensator from a hole in your butts," Ishi grumbles.
>"Ha!" The tengu's laugh is warm and genuine and feels completely at odds with the situation. "I think I like you."
>The kappa throws her a disgruntled scowl. "Not mutual."
-
>"Okay, fine, this is something special, something someone didn't want to fall into the wrong wings. So what DOES someone like you want with it, if it's not fattening your wallet?"
-
>"Okay, fine, this is something special, something someone didn't want to fall into the wrong wings. So what DOES someone like you want with it, if it's not fattening your wallet?"
>"Don't you have any sense of adventure?" she asks. "You're a Seeker, aren't you? Could you resist finding out what it does? An ancient artifact of a lost civilization, important enough to bring some very sneaky characters out of the woodwork looking for it? I don't think any true explorer could help themselves!"
-
>Suppress a derisive chuckle, but shake our head slowly.
>"So that's how you see yourself. An explorer."
>Bring our head back up and add, "Don't compare yourself to me, pirate. I help people. I don't moralize and pretend to be upset about hurting people, and then go off and count the money I just took from them. You're no explorer. You're just a thief, and the only difference between you and a footpad in an alley is you've got a boat."
-
>Suppress a derisive chuckle, but shake our head slowly.
>"So that's how you see yourself. An explorer."
>Bring our head back up and add, "Don't compare yourself to me, pirate. I help people. I don't moralize and pretend to be upset about hurting people, and then go off and count the money I just took from them. You're no explorer. You're just a thief, and the only difference between you and a footpad in an alley is you've got a boat."
>She frowns. "Shame you see it that way. And here I wasn't even after anything that belonged to any of you. Do you think Remilia's going to starve for want of one more trinket? She already has more money than half the city put together. Might even do her some good to lose from time to time."
-
>"You misunderstand. I don't give a rat's backside at some noblewoman's ego or image or pocketbook. Matter of fact, I don't especially care for nobility in general. But you didn't steal from HER. You didn't break into HER basement, attack HER people, and leave them battered and bound. You did all that to US. And if I read you right, it wouldn't matter who had this relic. You wanted it, and so you were going to take it. No matter who you had to go through to get it."
>"But I will grant that you're no ordinary thief. Someone else in your position would have had us all run through by now." Jerk our thumb back towards Chisato. "Someone else wouldn't have bothered pretending to care about one, or any, of their victims. And that leaves me wondering: What happens now?"
-
>"You misunderstand. I don't give a rat's backside at some noblewoman's ego or image or pocketbook. Matter of fact, I don't especially care for nobility in general. But you didn't steal from HER. You didn't break into HER basement, attack HER people, and leave them battered and bound. You did all that to US. And if I read you right, it wouldn't matter who had this relic. You wanted it, and so you were going to take it. No matter who you had to go through to get it."
>"But I will grant that you're no ordinary thief. Someone else in your position would have had us all run through by now." Jerk our thumb back towards Chisato. "Someone else wouldn't have bothered pretending to care about one, or any, of their victims. And that leaves me wondering: What happens now?"
>"What happens now?" She pauses thoughtfully. "Well, some of that's up to you. No one had to get hurt in the first place, I should point out. If you hadn't tried to hurt us, this whole mess could have been finished without a single bump or bruise on anyone. I remind you that it was your side that struck the first blow."
>"Choke on a cucumber, you pompom-hatted windbag!" Ishi shouts, then thrusts a finger accusingly at the Maiden's damaged turbine, a jagged gash torn across its side. "Look at that rotor! Look at it! That's your fault!"
>"Our fault, hmm?" The tengu gives her a playfully indulgent look. "And who exactly chose to fly under there in the first place? Even then, I'm sure you'd have come out the other side with barely a scratch if you'd just let us tow you when we tried."
>"Not enough choking!"
>"This is immaterial," Neu interjects, throwing a sidelong glance in Ishi's direction. "And I'd like an answer to the mouse's question myself."
>"Of course." The tengu leader pauses for another moment, musing at the sky. Neu maintains a calm, but extremely serious expression through the silence, while Miyuki appears to be bravely concealing deep worry.
>"Well, we'll be retrieving what we come for, of course," the tengu continues eventually. "If you have any other serious injuries, we can share medical supplies and help tend to them. No one's going to get hurt any more unless they try to start another fight. But we're going to have to take a few more things to make up for the wreck of the Bunbunmaru. I'm sure you understand." She throws Neu an injured-looking frown. "The ship meant a lot to me, you know. She's been with me since the beginning, back when I was just a clerk in the information corps. And now there's a good chance she'll never fly again."
>The moth maintains a professionally neutral expression. "You'll forgive me for not being terribly sympathetic to its loss, at the moment." Fortunately, her captor doesn't seem particularly put off by this response.
>The pirate opens her mouth to continue, but then an idea appears to strike her and she turns slowly towards Ishi instead, an appraising look on her face. "Although... if you help out with the repairs, I might be able to cut our damage fee by a nice bit. What do you say?"
>Ishi just glares at her. "Still not enough choking..."
-
>"While I could point out that this mess could have been avoided had you simply buggered off to steal from someone else, I'll save my breath. You'll never see it that way."
>"Let me see if I understand you. You want our engineer here to help fix your ship?"
-
>"While I could point out that this mess could have been avoided had you simply buggered off to steal from someone else, I'll save my breath. You'll never see it that way."
>"Let me see if I understand you. You want our engineer here to help fix your ship?"
>The tengu shrugs. "I know she's very good at what she does, and we might need some creativity to get her back in one piece. It could go a long way to paying down your debt."
>"Not a chance," Ishi replies.
>The tengu just shrugs. "Well, it's up to you."
>At this point, another voice interjects from further down the deck.
>"Her wounds are bandaged and tended to," Hatoko says. "Though she'd do well not to strain herself for a while. Do you want me to take care of anything else?"
>"Take her back to her room," the tengu replies, "and let her lie down." She turns to the other captured crew members. "If one of you wants to go with her, that's fine by me. As long as you swear not to try anything that's only going to get the both of you hurt again."
>Miyuki and Neu look at each other briefly and then the moth nods. Ishi just continues to scowl; you honestly wonder if she's attempting to remedy the tengu's choking problem with her glare.
>"I'll go," Miyuki says.
>"You promise to be on your best behavior?" the tengu says.
>Miyuki looks at her with just a trace of defiance for a moment, before her expression softens into a resigned frown. "It's clear who's won," she says.
>The tengu leader gives her a once-over, then nods and motions to the other tengu who moves in and undos the bindings on her legs. Hatoko picks Chisato up off the ground; she does this gently, as best you can tell, though the redhead still groans weakly at the movement. Miyuki frowns again. The pair of them start to leave the deck, though Miyuki spares another worried glance at the rest of you as she departs.
-
>Does she still appear to be limping?
>Has her ankle shown any signs of improvement?
-
>Does she still appear to be limping?
>Has her ankle shown any signs of improvement?
>She's trying not to, though it's still fairly obvious.
>If anything, it looks quite a bit more inflamed than it was when this all started; you're sure the workout she gave it only exacerbated the injury.
-
>Call to Hatoko, "Wait. Take a look at my friends' ankle, too." Add, after a couple seconds, "Please."
-
>Call to Hatoko, "Wait. Take a look at my friends' ankle, too." Add, after a couple seconds, "Please."
>"She'll be fine," the parrot replies dully, with barely a visible glance given to Miyuki. "I can't carry the both of them at once."
>"I can walk just fine," Miyuki says with cold determination, though it's evident to anyone around her that this is only half true.
>"At least get her some ice!" the lead tengu calls out as the pair of them reach the stairs down. There is no acknowledgment from Hatoko, though the tengu seems satisfied enough that the message was delivered.
-
>Turn back to Shameimaru. Assuming this IS the fabled pirate boss we're dealing with here.
>"That's one thing I haven't understood since all this started. I can accept there's some things I can't detect; I'm good, I'm not perfect. I can even accept someone put something on this ship to keep it out of the wrong hands." Avoid pointing out that that's happening ANYWAY, despite our best efforts. "But I've never heard of a thief that gave a damn about the well being of their victims, at least physically. Not unless they were getting something out of it."
-
>Turn back to Shameimaru. Assuming this IS the fabled pirate boss we're dealing with here.
>"That's one thing I haven't understood since all this started. I can accept there's some things I can't detect; I'm good, I'm not perfect. I can even accept someone put something on this ship to keep it out of the wrong hands." Avoid pointing out that that's happening ANYWAY, despite our best efforts. "But I've never heard of a thief that gave a damn about the well being of their victims, at least physically. Not unless they were getting something out of it."
>Aya leans in and gives you a wry smile. "Would you rather I cut you guys up some more?"
>Then she leans back and shrugs. "I already said I've got nothing against any of you. In fact, I'd love to hear some of the stories a crew like this has. I'm sure you've seen all kinds of things on the skies. And the way your captain handled that island-ducking maneuver..." she says with a glance towards the still-vacant Murasa. "That wasn't the first time she did that, was it?"
>Neu gives her a cool look. "I don't suppose it would convince you to lower your 'fee' if we agreed to fraternize for a while?"
>"Probably not," Aya replies. "Fixing that kind of damage is going to be expensive, you know."
>Neu sighs.
>"Hey, you were the ones that smashed it into the island," Aya says, sounding just a little wounded. "Actions have consequences; I'm sure you understand. In fact, I'll bet you were the one that made the shot," she adds with a finger pointed at the moth. You note the other tengu throw a less-than-kind look in Neu's direction. "Impressive aim, though. Not just anyone could land a grapple at that speed."
>Neu makes no response.
-
Oh, if you insist.
(Did we ever actually get Aya's first name?)
> "Well, I suppose I do have a story I could spin for a bit."
> Pull down our right sleeve and show off the blight mark.
> "Ever seen something like this before?"
-
(Did we ever actually get Aya's first name?)
Aya's name has been mentioned in a position of authority multiple times, if not explicitly connected with Shameimaru. But if Nazrin is going to assume that this is the pirate in charge, she has enough knowledge to connect the dots. And I'm tired of calling her 'that tengu' several dozen times...
> "Well, I suppose I do have a story I could spin for a bit."
> Pull down our right sleeve and show off the blight mark.
> "Ever seen something like this before?"
>You pull up your sleeve to reveal the blight mark on it, and Aya tilts her head to get a better look at it, scrutinizing it with curiosity, though little apparent fear.
>"So is this that deadly disease you were talking about earlier?" she says.
-
> "Yeah. Got it dealing with a very old and very angry tsuchigumo woman. Very angry. The entire Blue Maiden's hatred of you combined for all this is a drop in the bucket of her utter loathing for me. Left a lot more of myself in her lair than I have here, and now I get to bear this all over my body as my reward."
-
> "Yeah. Got it dealing with a very old and very angry tsuchigumo woman. Very angry. The entire Blue Maiden's hatred of you combined for all this is a drop in the bucket of her utter loathing for me. Left a lot more of myself in her lair than I have here, and now I get to bear this all over my body as my reward."
>"Sounds nasty," she says with a sympathetic wince. "How'd this happen?"
-
>"Well, it was a pretty average-seeming job at first, find out why the cattle around where I grew up were going missing."
>Shrug. "Sounds pretty simple right? Trust me, it was anything but. Turns out that there were giant spiders behind it all. I tracked 'em to this one cave to gather more information, and that's where I got into it with that tsuchigumo. Guess you could say it's a curse of sorts, seein' how she hated me as much as she does."
-
>"Well, it was a pretty average-seeming job at first, find out why the cattle around where I grew up were going missing."
>Shrug. "Sounds pretty simple right? Trust me, it was anything but. Turns out that there were giant spiders behind it all. I tracked 'em to this one cave to gather more information, and that's where I got into it with that tsuchigumo. Guess you could say it's a curse of sorts, seein' how she hated me as much as she does."
>"Hmm... and why's that?" she asks, nodding along.
-
> "I, uh, killed a whole bunch of her spider friends. There wasn't any other way to recover the cattle, and they would have killed me first, but I imagine you'd be about as happy with me as she was if I got your crew killed to save my life."
> Frown.
> "I can understand where she's coming form, and I don't want her as an enemy, but...it's kinda hard to think fondly on her, given how I came out of it."
-
> "I, uh, killed a whole bunch of her spider friends. There wasn't any other way to recover the cattle, and they would have killed me first, but I imagine you'd be about as happy with me as she was if I got your crew killed to save my life."
> Frown.
> "I can understand where she's coming form, and I don't want her as an enemy, but...it's kinda hard to think fondly on her, given how I came out of it."
>She frowns a little more deeply. "Were these other spiders youkai, too?"
-
> Shrug.
> "I'm not a scholar, but I don't think so. They certainly weren't humanoid, at least. Just really big spiders, following instincts and such. The tsuchigumo was the only humanoid of all of them. From some of the things she said, I think she's been alive for several hundreds of years, so it's not really surprising she's reached that point."
-
> Shrug.
> "I'm not a scholar, but I don't think so. They certainly weren't humanoid, at least. Just really big spiders, following instincts and such. The tsuchigumo was the only humanoid of all of them. From some of the things she said, I think she's been alive for several hundreds of years, so it's not really surprising she's reached that point."
>"I see, I see." She reaches into her pocket and produces a small notebook and pen, then flips the former open. "And how large were they? How many did you kill? And where exactly was this, anyway?"
-
> "Well, if I remember right, it was about-"
> Stop, than narrow eyes slightly.
> "...You're not thinking of going to find her, are you?"
-
> "Well, if I remember right, it was about-"
> Stop, than narrow eyes slightly.
> "...You're not thinking of going to find her, are you?"
>"Just professional curiosity," she says. "You can leave the information corps, but it never really leaves you."
>Then her expression takes on a sharp inquisitiveness. "Though what would it matter to you if I were?"
-
> "Because you looking for her means that either you and your crew get infected with what I have or you torment her with whatever you're already planning out in your head, and I'm not going to be responsible for either of those things happening. There's already someone on the job of recovering her and getting her to the same woman that raised me so she stops being a menace to both our society and hers. You can go meet her once she's more mentally and emotionally stable."
-
> "Because you looking for her means that either you and your crew get infected with what I have or you torment her with whatever you're already planning out in your head, and I'm not going to be responsible for either of those things happening. There's already someone on the job of recovering her and getting her to the same woman that raised me so she stops being a menace to both our society and hers. You can go meet her once she's more mentally and emotionally stable."
>"Interesting..." she says with subtly raised eyebrows, then scribbles something in her notebook. "Alright, so you don't want to tell me where she is. I can appreciate that. But are there any other details you are willing to share? As non-specific as you feel comfortable with, of course."
-
> Wave our right arm about a little bit.
> "I can tell you about this, just to make sure you and everyone else keep the hell away from her until that other person's job is done. It seems to be some sort of ancient blight. It's fast-working and has plenty of unpleasant symptoms. And if you piss her off even just a little bit, she will infect you. It's an airborne contagion, and she can spread damn fast. The only reason I'm not stumbling around like a drunk or vomiting all over your shoes is because this sword keeps the nastier stuff at bay, alongside some medicine made by the harvest goddess of Easthaven that uses whatever power's in this sword that keeps it in check."
-
> Wave our right arm about a little bit.
> "I can tell you about this, just to make sure you and everyone else keep the hell away from her until that other person's job is done. It seems to be some sort of ancient blight. It's fast-working and has plenty of unpleasant symptoms. And if you piss her off even just a little bit, she will infect you. It's an airborne contagion, and she can spread damn fast. The only reason I'm not stumbling around like a drunk or vomiting all over your shoes is because this sword keeps the nastier stuff at bay, alongside some medicine made by the harvest goddess of Easthaven that uses whatever power's in this sword that keeps it in check."
>She continues scribbling notes to herself with swift, precise motions. "And you said that the sword keeps you from being contagious, as well, yes?"
-
> Shake head.
> "Your Ren called my bluff on that one when I tried to hold your Fuuka hostage to the blight. The sword keeps the symptoms in check and extends my lifespan a little bit, but I'm not contagious. The Easthaven goddess told me as much. I'd be extremely surprised if your Fuuka actually caught it, and we were bleeding all over each other."
-
>Speaking of our medicine, where did that pirate put our pack? Did she take it with her, or put it down somewhere?
-
> Shake head.
> "Your Ren called my bluff on that one when I tried to hold your Fuuka hostage to the blight. The sword keeps the symptoms in check and extends my lifespan a little bit, but I'm not contagious. The Easthaven goddess told me as much. I'd be extremely surprised if your Fuuka actually caught it, and we were bleeding all over each other."
>A small smile creeps onto Aya's face. You can't honestly tell if it's tinged with relief or a subtle smugness. "Well, that's good to hear. Though I'm curious about how exactly that sword of yours works, now. Preserves the health of its wielder? Wards off disease? I assume it's not quite strong enough to fix things entirely, though?"
>Speaking of our medicine, where did that pirate put our pack? Did she take it with her, or put it down somewhere?
>You think it should still be with the confiscated weapons, towards the other end of the deck.
-
> "It seems specific to this blight. Clearly it hasn't helped my leg very much. The Easthaven goddess likened it to faith being imbued in this sword, faith that I guess was placed hundreds of years ago in the hopes of warding off this disease. But no, it isn't strong enough to fix everything. Even the goddess doesn't know how to cure this blight."
> Frown and look away a bit.
> "By her estimation, even with the sword and the medicine, at this point I have...about a week and a half, I think. If I'm lucky."
-
> "It seems specific to this blight. Clearly it hasn't helped my leg very much. The Easthaven goddess likened it to faith being imbued in this sword, faith that I guess was placed hundreds of years ago in the hopes of warding off this disease. But no, it isn't strong enough to fix everything. Even the goddess doesn't know how to cure this blight."
>"Specific to this one disease? That's interesting..." She makes another note.
> Frown and look away a bit.
> "By her estimation, even with the sword and the medicine, at this point I have...about a week and a half, I think. If I'm lucky."
>Aya nods again, though there is a touch of a frown on her face. "And is that it, then? No cure?"
-
> Look back at Aya.
> "None that we know of. But we know Val Razua has plenty of records, and we know this blight has appeared before, many years ago in the past. That's actually why I'm out here at all. I'm headed there to do some research."
> Look across the ship's deck to our left, then to our right, to survey the damage that's been done. Try to catch sight of Neu if we can; linger for a moment if we do. Then look back at Aya with our frown slightly deeper and tinged with annoyance. Tinge our voice with annoyance as well.
> "Or, at least, I was on my way to try to save my life."
-
> Look back at Aya.
> "None that we know of. But we know Val Razua has plenty of records, and we know this blight has appeared before, many years ago in the past. That's actually why I'm out here at all. I'm headed there to do some research."
>"Interesting... though it's not a bad plan."
> Look across the ship's deck to our left, then to our right, to survey the damage that's been done. Try to catch sight of Neu if we can; linger for a moment if we do. Then look back at Aya with our frown slightly deeper and tinged with annoyance. Tinge our voice with annoyance as well.
> "Or, at least, I was on my way to try to save my life."
>You pause a moment, then sweep your eyes across the deck. Most of it's not really in bad shape, though the signs of battle still litter it: blood and damaged boards and the spray of splinters left from Chisato's last spell. Your eyes pass Neu's and linger a moment. The moth's expression is serious and constant, though it's not hard to see the weary exhaustion beneath it. You're not quite sure what she's thinking. Then you look back to Aya with just a hint of a scowl.
>"For what it's worth," she says. "You were never part of the original plan. In fact, you can take a little pride in being the one person on this ship who managed to slip by me. That isn't easy."
-
> "Thanks. I'll be sure to have them stick that on my gravestone."
-
> "Thanks. I'll be sure to have them stick that on my gravestone."
>"How did you come to possess this sword?" Aya asks, taking no apparent notice of your remark.
-
> "Why does that matter?"
-
> "Why does that matter?"
>She flips the pen around in her hands. "Like I said, professional curiosity."
-
> Roll our eyes.
> "Tell you what. You can have the rest of my story if I survive it. Which is less and less likely by the minute, largely thanks to you."
-
> Roll our eyes.
> "Tell you what. You can have the rest of my story if I survive it. Which is less and less likely by the minute, largely thanks to you."
>"Oh, a few hours isn't going to make much difference one way or the other, now is it?" she asks. "Although..." She idly taps the pen against the side of her chin as she appears to mull something over.
>At this point, another pair of tengu swoop down onto the deck, each holding one arm of a diminutive figure that danges between them. She is garbed in a stylish vest atop a breezy white shirt, with a bright red bandanna covering her head. The floppy white ears poking through it suggest she is a rabbit. Aya looks up in their direction as they arrive.
>"I was beginning to think Sotsu was ignoring me," she says.
>"Eh?" the rabbit asks, raising an eyebrow.
>Aya shakes her head. "Nevermind that now; the faster we can find what we came for, the faster we can be on our way. You know the drill, people!"
>The rabbit sketches a impish salute. "On the job, boss." The others give their own more formal acknowledgments and the group of them head towards the stairs.
-
>"'Although'....?"
-
>"'Although'....?"
>"Oh, right," she says, then spares a glance at Murasa. The captain looks a little more aware of her surroundings now, though still oddly disoriented.
>Aya jerks her head towards the wheelhouse. "Let's you and I have a little chat in private."
-
>"Would you mind if I grab my pack first? It has the medicine I need to keep the blight at bay as much as it is, and I'd feel better having it on hand."
-
>"Would you mind if I grab my pack first? It has the medicine I need to keep the blight at bay as much as it is, and I'd feel better having it on hand."
>She seems about to object, but then pauses and glances towards the captured equipment and back to Murasa. Then she shrugs and starts walking towards where you pack is.
>"Come on, let's get you it back," she says. "But if you're thinking of pulling a fast one, just remember: I'm faster." Her tone is quite self-satisfied.
-
>"Yeah, think we've established that."
>Follow the tengu at a slow enough pace to not aggravate our legs too much.
-
>"Yeah, think we've established that."
>Follow the tengu at a slow enough pace to not aggravate our legs too much.
>You follow after Aya while favoring your leg as much as you are able. This does mean you fall behind a little, though she doesn't seem in a particular hurry, either, and waits calmly for you to cross the rest of the distance.
>The confiscated weapons and gear are neatly arranged in a pile here, near where they were originally taken; your pack stands out more prominently than the rest through shear size.
>"Help yourself," Aya says with a gracious hand gesture.
-
>Except for the one that Ren still had in her back, assuming it's still there, are all three of our remaining kunai present?
>Leave the weapons where they are, anyway, not like they're gonna do us much good, now that we've well and truly lost. Well, assuming we ever even had a hope in hell in the first place. Just grab up our pack.
>Check it for missing items.
-
>Except for the one that Ren still had in her back, assuming it's still there, are all three of our remaining kunai present?
>Leave the weapons where they are, anyway, not like they're gonna do us much good, now that we've well and truly lost. Well, assuming we ever even had a hope in hell in the first place. Just grab up our pack.
>Check it for missing items.
>Everything you would expect to be here appears to be here.
>You pick up your pack and take a moment to make sure the contents haven't been looted. Nothing appears to be missing here, either.
>"You know..." Aya says, leaning in towards you and speaking quietly. "If you wanted to speed things up, you could help us look for it."
-
> Keep our voice quiet, but raise an eyebrow with an otherwise neutral expression.
> "Somehow, I'm not surprise you'd endorse betraying one's friends to save oneself."
-
> Keep our voice quiet, but raise an eyebrow with an otherwise neutral expression.
> "Somehow, I'm not surprise you'd endorse betraying one's friends to save oneself."
>"I'm hurt!" she says, doing a passable job of looking likewise. "I always keep my promises. But who, exactly, would you be betraying? We're going to find it sooner or later; wouldn't you rather it be sooner? I think that better for everyone involved."
-
> "Well, among absolutely everything else wrong and horrible with that thought process, if the thing were actually here, and helping you find it didn't matter to them, don't you think they would have told you where it is already?"
-
> "Well, among absolutely everything else wrong and horrible with that thought process, if the thing were actually here, and helping you find it didn't matter to them, don't you think they would have told you where it is already?"
>"People are stubborn," she says casually. "Keeping their lips sealed isn't going to change anything in the end, but that doesn't mean they'll want to admit it. I thought maybe you'd be more interested in being practical, that's all."
-
> "I am being practical. I'm not doing that to them when they're my ride to Val Razua. I'd be better off dead in that case."
-
> "I am being practical. I'm not doing that to them when they're my ride to Val Razua. I'd be better off dead in that case."
>"Oh, you think they'd have to know?" She glances towards your dowsing rods. "I'm sure you can work those out of anyone's sight. Just because you didn't catch it the first time doesn't mean you wouldn't if you knew for sure there was something here to find. You'd be doing yourself and them a favor."
-
> Narrow our eyes.
> "The only person I'd be doing a favor is you. This isn't about giving me a better chance or doing anything for them, this is about you getting your meathooks on this thing faster while absolving you of the responsibility of compensating me for the damage you've done to my chances at saving myself by offering a fake solution to a problem only you actually have. I'm not going to inflate your already over-bloated ego. You can take your 'advice' and shove it."
-
Now normally, Kilga, the thought of doing anything to help Aya tastes even worse to me than vodka. But, in this case, there MIGHT be an opportunity here to help the Maiden crew. We offer to speed up the process, and in exchange, Aya doesn't steal anything else, like she's threatened.
And if she refuses, then we can tell her to go take a flying leap into a tornado.
-
If you think this line of conversation will result in her making good on that threat (which I missed but am not surprised happened), then countermand what I've put out there and I'll say no more. You know what we talked about in private a while back, and it has since come to pass, and I have not forgotten about it. If this is how things are going to be, then I would at least rather not do any further damage.
-
I'm not sure I understand. She's already said she's going to make good on that threat. Twice. This I think would be our only chance to try and talk her out of it. The way I see it, there's no harm in making the proposal. How could we do any further damage at all? Worst thing she can do would be refuse, and we'll have lost nothing.
Matter of fact, we could call her on that as well. She and her crew said they only came for one thing, and now the story's changed. So she's already broken her word once.
-
Then you deal with it. I refuse to be a part of such a path.
-
As you wish.
> "I'm not going to inflate your already over-bloated ego. You can take your 'advice' and shove it."
>Hold off on just this part.
>"However, I may be loyal to my friends, but that doesn't mean I can't see opportunity to help them, and myself, when it's there. If I knew what I was looking for, I might just be able to find it faster than your rabbit. So I'll make you a deal. I'll give you my services as a Seeker, if you refrain from stealing anything else from the Maiden, or her crew, like you've threatened."
-
> Narrow our eyes.
> "The only person I'd be doing a favor is you. This isn't about giving me a better chance or doing anything for them, this is about you getting your meathooks on this thing faster while absolving you of the responsibility of compensating me for the damage you've done to my chances at saving myself by offering a fake solution to a problem only you actually have."
>"However, I may be loyal to my friends, but that doesn't mean I can't see opportunity to help them, and myself, when it's there. If I knew what I was looking for, I might just be able to find it faster than your rabbit. So I'll make you a deal. I'll give you my services as a Seeker, if you refrain from stealing anything else from the Maiden, or her crew, like you've threatened."
>The corner of Aya's mouth curls upward and her eyes take on a sharp glint as you state your conditions. "Well, that's certainly a gutsy offer. I like your style, but I'm afraid any help you could give doesn't come close to making up for the damage to the Bunbunmaru. You're going to have to come up with something a lot more appealing than that if you want to change my mind."
-
>"How about the added benefit of proving you're good on your word, since you seem to have gone back on it here."
-
>"How about the added benefit of proving you're good on your word, since you seem to have gone back on it here."
>She cocks an eyebrow. "Oh? And what word would that be?"
-
>"That'd be the one where you and your crew said you just came here for just one thing. Assuming this Ren of yours is as honest as you claim to be. Now, instead of 'just one thing', it's 'just one thing, plus whatever we feel like.' Sound about right?"
-
>"That'd be the one where you and your crew said you just came here for just one thing. Assuming this Ren of yours is as honest as you claim to be. Now, instead of 'just one thing', it's 'just one thing, plus whatever we feel like.' Sound about right?"
>"Ah, ah, ah," she says chasteningly. "That was before their captain tried to smash the Bunbunmaru in half. Fixing damage like that is expensive! We're just making up for our losses. Now, if you have some idea on another way to do that...?" She looks at you expectantly.
-
>"Losses you had to expect. You and your lot said as much, 'we came prepared'." Pause a moment to grin. "Though I gotta confess, even I didn't think they'd be able to do that much damage. That was a good show for them."
>Look a touch dissapointed. "But I guess I'll take this as a sign that Aya Shameimaru's word is only good until someone hurts her bottom line. NOW you sound like a pirate. And I was almost starting to expect something more from you."
-
>"Losses you had to expect. You and your lot said as much, 'we came prepared'." Pause a moment to grin. "Though I gotta confess, even I didn't think they'd be able to do that much damage. That was a good show for them."
>Look a touch dissapointed. "But I guess I'll take this as a sign that Aya Shameimaru's word is only good until someone hurts her bottom line. NOW you sound like a pirate. And I was almost starting to expect something more from you."
>"Compensation for damage is standard operating procedure," she says with a faintly amused expression. "I'm sure you'd want us to make it up to you if those dowsing rods of yours got snapped in half, no? Now try multiplying that by a couple hundred. And we hadn't even done anything at that point but try to save you from your captain's recklessness." She does an irritatingly good job of playing the innocent party.
>Then her expression relaxes and she shrugs. "But if thinking that makes you feel better about what's happened, I can't force you to think differently."
-
Well, Kilga, I tried.
>Throwing you into one of those turbines a few times, that would make a mouse feel better.
>"Is that what you wanted to have that 'little chat' about? You wanting my help finding what you came to steal?"
-
>Throwing you into one of those turbines a few times, that would make a mouse feel better.
>"Is that what you wanted to have that 'little chat' about? You wanting my help finding what you came to steal?"
>"Well, you were the one worried about us holding you up," she says. "I figured we could make this better for the both of us. But if you don't want to..."
>She shrugs and starts to turn away, then stops and throws you a sidelong glance. "I don't suppose you can read the writing on that sword of yours?"
-
>Give her a scowling yet curious look, as if to say, 'What's it to you?'
-
>Give her a scowling yet curious look, as if to say, 'What's it to you?'
>"That's a 'no', isn't it?" she asks lightly.
-
>"I wouldn't have thought you could. Steal many things with this kind of writing on it, then?"
-
First of all, I want to apologize profusely for the extreme delay of this update. Around the time of the last posts, I became aware of a plot snarl developing behind the scenes and since then have spent a very considerable amount of time and effort attempting to wrangle it back into shape. Hopefully the matter has been sufficiently resolved by now and this sort of delay will have no cause to occur again before the game is complete. Rest assured, I had not simply abandoned Nazrin Quest, nor do I have any intention of doing so (despite potential appearances to the contrary). Sorry, peoples.
>"I wouldn't have thought you could. Steal many things with this kind of writing on it, then?"
>Aya sketches a wounded look; she's either a surprisingly good actor or genuinely believes her own propoganda. "Hey! Is it really so hard for you to accept that I might have come across it honestly? We're pirates, not kleptomaniacs."
>"But yes, I have seen that kind of writing more than a few times before," she continues in a more relaxed tone. "I might even be able to read a little of it for you, if you'd like. And," she adds with the faintest hint of a grin playing at the corners of her mouth, "I'd be more than happy to have Karu take a look at your sword, too. You want to know how it ticks, right? She's good at stuff like that. Might even be able to help you find the answer you're looking for."
>The tengu's expression is all business. "Provided, of course, that you're willing to reciprocate."
-
>Think back. No one we'd met before was able to translate any of the writing on our sword, were they?
-
>Think back. No one we'd met before was able to translate any of the writing on our sword, were they?
>None you had personally met, though Professor Kamishirasawa did suggest in her letter that at least a partial translation may be possible. However, she also stressed that modern understanding of the language was fragmentary and that any translation would be a time-consuming process. You also vaguely recall the student you spoke with at the Brass Lantern saying that some of the characters in your inscription do not show up in any previously known examples of Freelands Archaic, though you don't know how extensive these gaps would be.
-
>And she was reputed to be one of the best in the field.
>Taking that into consideration, is it a fair assumption that miss Freebooter here and her crew of thieves might be a better chance of getting the writing translated than we might find in Val Razua?
-
>And she was reputed to be one of the best in the field.
>Taking that into consideration, is it a fair assumption that miss Freebooter here and her crew of thieves might be a better chance of getting the writing translated than we might find in Val Razua?
>So you were told.
>You have to admit that your first instinct here is extreme skepticism - what are the odds of a pirate knowing more about ancient languages than an supposed expert on ancient languages? Particularly so, given what she's asking in return. She might just be making this up as she goes along. On the other hand, she does seem to know a fair bit about some things that she ought to have no business knowing at all. You suppose it's a matter of how much you feel you can trust her assertions of honesty and how much you feel you have to lose by trying.
-
>Sniff, then wipe our nose.
>"I suppose it couldn't hurt to ask, how much is this oh-so-generous offer gonna cost me?"
-
>Sniff, then wipe our nose.
>"I suppose it couldn't hurt to ask, how much is this oh-so-generous offer gonna cost me?"
>"I already named my price," Aya says with a confident grin. "You help me find what I'm looking for, and I'll help you find what you're looking for. Only fair, isn't it? I'll even hold up my end of the bargain first. What do you say?"
-
>"Wasn't I clear the first time?"
-
>"Wasn't I clear the first time?"
>"I just thought I'd sweeten the deal a little," she says without letting her grin falter even a little. She projects the aura of someone completely satisfied that they're in charge of the situation. It's more than a little vexing. "I'd have figured someone in your position would have to at least be curious, no?"
-
>Small nod. "I just might be. And on another day, I might just indulge it. But, I think I'd rather eat my own tail than help you steal from good people. Not that you need help doing that, anyway."
>"So, thanks. But no thanks."
-
>Small nod. "I just might be. And on another day, I might just indulge it. But, I think I'd rather eat my own tail than help you steal from good people. Not that you need help doing that, anyway."
>"So, thanks. But no thanks."
>Aya gives a resigned shake of her head. "It's not theirs any more than than it's yours, you know. They just had the misfortune to be strapped with couriering it. Unless by 'good people', you mean Remilia?" She leans in and gives you a curiously appraising look, almost as this were a matter of academic curiosity.
-
>"I don't even care who owns it, or where it was going. That's not even the point. You're not robbing Remilia, or anyone else. You're robbing the Maiden and her crew, and don't tell yourself any different. They fought hard to keep their ship safe and free of scum like you, and despite the despite the fact that I'd love to get rid of you that much sooner, helping you means spitting in their face. I won't do that."
-
>"I don't even care who owns it, or where it was going. That's not even the point. You're not robbing Remilia, or anyone else. You're robbing the Maiden and her crew, and don't tell yourself any different. They fought hard to keep their ship safe and free of scum like you, and despite the despite the fact that I'd love to get rid of you that much sooner, helping you means spitting in their face. I won't do that."
>Aya listens to your rebuttal with calm interest. She doesn't even seem to react visibly to you calling her scum; you find yourself slightly disappointed at this.
>"Impressive loyalty to your fellows," she says as you finish, scribbling something in that notebook of hers again. Then she twirls the pen in her fingers and points it at your badge. "Not a lot of people wearing one of those would have said the same thing, you know. But is this really something you're willing to risk your life over? That is, if it's genuinely in as much jeopardy as you've claimed." Her expression is still one of largely-neutral interest; the question does not seem intended to be pointed.
-
>Pause, then let out a small breath. Glance over towards the railing, then take a few steps towards it.
>"Put yourself in my boots, captain. Would you betray your crew, to save your own neck? And be able to look at yourself in the mirror after all's said and done?"
-
>Pause, then let out a small breath. Glance over towards the railing, then take a few steps towards it.
>"Put yourself in my boots, captain. Would you betray your crew, to save your own neck? And be able to look at yourself in the mirror after all's said and done?"
>You pause a moment, then sigh quietly and gaze out at the wide skies. The Skyfang looms predatorily off the Maiden's side, its size and bearing reminiscent of a warship as much as anything else. At least, that's what it reminds you of - you've never seen a real tengu warship before, though you suppose very few people have. It's rare enough to see a tengu vessel at all, let alone something like this. The graceful precision of its construction would actually be pretty impressive if you didn't resent its mere presence there. A few small forms move about on the deck with no regard at all for your disdain.
>"Of course not," Aya replies easily. "Shameimaru's word is her bond. But you're just a passenger here. In fact, I don't think you've had any dealings with them at all before a day or two ago. That's not very long to put your neck on the line for their behalf."
-
>"'Shameimaru's word is her bond.'? So, saying you're only hear to steal one thing, and then deciding to pillage a bit more. That doesn't count?"
-
>"'Shameimaru's word is her bond.'? So, saying you're only hear to steal one thing, and then deciding to pillage a bit more. That doesn't count?"
>"That's restitution for property damage," she protests with a frown on her face, looking almost as if she were disappointed in you. "And I'm sure the distinction isn't lost on you, whatever you think of us."
>At this point, you are interrupted by a new voice, issuing clearly from the other end of the deck. A quick glance suggests it belongs to the onmyouji.
>"Aya?" she calls out in a firm voice. "She's coming to."
-
>"You really believe that doesn't amount to breaking your word." Give her a sympathetic look. A genuine one, too. She believes her own lies. That's a very dangerous place to be.
-
>"You really believe that doesn't amount to breaking your word." Give her a sympathetic look. A genuine one, too. She believes her own lies. That's a very dangerous place to be.
>"I do," she replies, her forehead creasing just a little as you give her a look of genuine sympathy. She seems slightly uncertain what to make of this gesture; for once, you think you may have actually made her falter a little.
>"But I'm afraid I'm going to have to cut this short," she continues, quickly resuming her stride. "I need to go speak with your captain over there before she gets too riled up. I'd still love to hear more of that story of yours later, though. And my offer still stands, if you change your mind."
>She pauses a moment and gives you an appraising look, then gestures to your gear. "If I let you keep that with you as a gesture of good faith, do I have your word you won't cause any trouble with it?"
-
>Give her a nod. "I'm done fighting. As long as my friends are safe, you've got nothing more to worry about from me."
>Best we might be able to manage is shaking one of these pirates anyway, and that's not gonna help anybody. Although it'd make Chisato happy for a minute... Nah, better not.
-
>Give her a nod. "I'm done fighting. As long as my friends are safe, you've got nothing more to worry about from me."
>Best we might be able to manage is shaking one of these pirates anyway, and that's not gonna help anybody. Although it'd make Chisato happy for a minute... Nah, better not.
>"Glad to hear it," Aya says, returning your nod. "And don't you worry about your friends. We'll make sure the injured are taken care of; you have my word on that."
>You briefly entertain the thought of inflicting a little more injury on the pirates regardless, but quickly discard this plan as merely making a bad situation worse. And frankly, you're in no shape to instigate another battle right now. You hurt profusely from more places than you care to count and your body is battered, bloody, and exhausted; you're probably only still upright through sheer stubbornness. As much as you hate to admit it, even the thought of having a drag another round out of yourself makes you feel weary to your core, though damned if you're going to let that show on your face.
>With this, Aya turns aside and casually wings towards the rest of the group, clustered together by the rotor strut. Well, it's casual compared to how she was moving earlier, but still pretty swift by any other standard. You can see Murasa starting to stir within the ring of talismans; the onmyouji standing beside her - Karu, you assume - spares a glance back towards Aya as she approaches, then quickly turns back to her restless captive and makes a subtle hand gesture. Ishi looks ready to launch another string of invective at the pirate leader, and most of the rest of the group are splitting their attention between either Aya or the waking ghost, but you catch Neu looking in your direction instead - her expression is hard to read at this distance.
-
>Press our hand against our head for a second or two. Ward off the headache dealing with that pirate gave us. Plus, yknow, the headache of the pirate battle before hand.
>Do we still have any bleeding wounds? If so, do we have anything on hand to bind them?
-
>Press our hand against our head for a second or two. Ward off the headache dealing with that pirate gave us. Plus, yknow, the headache of the pirate battle before hand.
>Do we still have any bleeding wounds? If so, do we have anything on hand to bind them?
>You put a hand to your head and rub a little. If you don't have a headache, it would be about the only part of you not aching right now.
>The bleeding from your leg has slowed greatly from when Fuuka first dug her sword into it, but you don't think it's stopped altogether. For many of the other wounds, it would be hard to tell without wiping aside the blood already shed them from. Unfortunately, about the only thing you have on-hand that could bind your injuries would have to be salvaged from your own clothes.
-
>Left to our own devices, free but helpless, during a pirate's looting party. Wouldn't have predicted THAT a week ago.
>Come to think of it, how close ARE we being watched? And the Maiden crewers, for that matter?
-
>Left to our own devices, free but helpless, during a pirate's looting party. Wouldn't have predicted THAT a week ago.
>Come to think of it, how close ARE we being watched? And the Maiden crewers, for that matter?
>There's precious little about your current situation that you would have predicted last week. At the rate you're going, you'll have filled a whole career worth of surprises by the end of the month. ...well, assuming you're still around by then.
>Aside from Neu, you catch the other tengu throw a subtle glance in your direction, but Aya herself doesn't appear to be paying you any mind at all. Neu and Ishi are only under light watch, with most eyes on Aya and Murasa, though all three of the pirates are near to them and they're both incapacitated and bound in one fashion or another.
-
>Not like any of us are a massive threat anyway. Aya could probably handle the lot of us herself rather handily, even without her cronies backing her up.
>Are there any bleeding/open wounds present that we can see on either of the wholly living good guys?
-
>Not like any of us are a massive threat anyway. Aya could probably handle the lot of us herself rather handily, even without her cronies backing her up.
>Are there any bleeding/open wounds present that we can see on either of the wholly living good guys?
>In the shape you're in now, you don't know if you could handle a single one of the tengu you fought in the corridor earlier. Neu looks like she has even less fight left in her. As much as it bothers you to admit, you're done here.
>Neu still has the very visible hole in her wing, though it isn't bleeding as such. You think you can spot a few other scrapes and minor cuts, but none of them look very serious. Ishi still looks more aggravated than actually injured.
-
>No sense hanging around here and brooding. Make our way back towards Neu and Ishi, at a pace easy enough not to angry up the hole in our leg too much.
-
>No sense hanging around here and brooding. Make our way back towards Neu and Ishi, at a pace easy enough not to angry up the hole in our leg too much.
>You shrug and lazily make your way back towards the others in the hope that a ginger pace would be easier on your injuries. It probably is, to be fair, but it still hurts to move. Though given that it also hurts to stay still and would probably hurt to lie down, you suppose this is the best you're going to manage for now.
>"Welcome back to the land of the living," Aya says cheerfully. Murasa's eyes seem more focused now, and she slowly directs her gaze upward to lock with the pirate's. Her face is writ with an oddly muted defiance. She says nothing.
>"Those were some neat tricks you pulled off back there," Aya continues lightly. "Though I'm sure that last one wasn't much fun for you." There's even something of a sympathetic look on her face as she says this. Murasa's glower only deepens. "What's it like, anyway?" the tengu asks. "I mean, I know what everybody says, of course, but I've never heard it from a real drowned ghost themselves." She flips her notebook open again and looks at Murasa expectantly. There is silence for a moment.
>"I've got nothing to say to the likes of you," Murasa eventually replies, her tone cold and strangely dull.
>Aya frowns. "Nothing at all? Not even a little something? It would help pass the time, you know."
>Murasa's grim expression is broken only by a slight widening of the mouth that seems to say "Are you serious?" Though, if you were to guess from the resigned look on the other tengu's face, this is nothing out of the ordinary. Aya herself doesn't seem to pay Murasa's reaction any mind.
>"It seems like such a shame," she continues. "It isn't often I get to meet a skyfarer of your caliber, and I know you've racked up all kinds of interesting stories in your day. I'd really love to hear some of them from your own mouth. I've read what I could get my hands on, of course, but we both know the official record doesn't always tell the whole story. Like, say, what really happened to the Nordfalke?" She asks this with a knowing smirk on her face. "Or something else, if you'd rather; I'm not picky!"
>"Perhaps," Neu interjects in weary voice, "It would be in all our best interests if you simply got down to your business so that we could get back to ours."
>"But information is my business," Aya replies with a smile, twirling her pen deftly.
>At this point, Ishi lets out a mightly blow of air through pursed lips. You think it may have been intended to knock the spinning pen out of Aya's fingers entirely, but at this distance succeeds mostly in making the little kappa red-faced. The other tengu snickers. Neu sighs.
-
>"So what happened on the Nordfalke, then?"
-
>"So what happened on the Nordfalke, then?"
>Neu throws you a wary frown as you ask this question. Aya glances back and you and grins.
>"That's a very good question!" she says with some enthusiasm. "It disappeared with all hands a couple decades ago. Was rather convenient timing, too, given who happened to be on board. They never confirmed Waldstrom had been poised to depose the Northswald ruling council, but you can read between the lines. Unfortunately, the story goes cold pretty soon after that - hard to pull evidence back from the abyss, after all. That was probably convenient, too, given certain family connections among the still-living. You'd almost think somebody wanted it to play out that way," she adds innocently. "Though no one seemed to bother investigating that possibility for some reason." She turns back to Murasa. "I wonder why?"
>For her part, the ghost captain's glower seems to have darkened further. While her countenance is still a far cry from the disquieting hollowness of her ghostly form, it's still not a pleasant gaze to find oneself under; you can't help but wonder if just a little of that is directed at you, now.
-
>In retrospect, Aya harassing Murasa for 'stories' really shouldn't surprise a mouse too much.
>Let the tengu bait us, make her veiled accusations. Murasa let us on her ship, even after what we and Neu told her.
>And yet, that doesn't change the fact that we just helped the pirate's cause. Damned curiousity....
>Swallow uncomfortably and look away from Murasa.
-
>In retrospect, Aya harassing Murasa for 'stories' really shouldn't surprise a mouse too much.
>Let the tengu bait us, make her veiled accusations. Murasa let us on her ship, even after what we and Neu told her.
>And yet, that doesn't change the fact that we just helped the pirate's cause. Damned curiousity....
>Swallow uncomfortably and look away from Murasa.
>You find yourself a little annoyed at your own curiosity and the fact that you seem to have given the pirate leader a chance to soapbox a little. Not that she seems to need a very willing audience to start doing this.
>You swallow uncomfortably and look away from Murasa, though the ghost captain doesn't seem to actually be looking much at you at all. You suppose that's probably a relief; the last thing you want right now is to draw any of the crew's ire.
>Aya lets her last question hang in the air for a few moments, and when it becomes clear that Murasa doesn't intend to answer it, moves on with a dismissive wave of her hand.
>"Well, we can talk about that later," she says. "I suppose I ought to ask you where you've stowed that thing the archeologist gave you, so that you can tell me you don't know what I'm talking about, right?" She smiles. Murasa doesn't. "Well, it doesn't really matter," Aya continues easily. "We'll find it eventually. But what I would like to discuss is how you intend to make up for almost smashing the Bunbunmaru to pieces? In the shape she's in right now, I don't even know if we'll get her flying again at all!"
>Murasa's reply is positively frigid. "Good."
>Aya frowns, looking more disappointed than surprised. "You're still culpable for the damage, you know. You deliberately attacked another vessel, which - I should point - had neither attacked you nor was in a position to do so and you gravely endangered the lives of her crew."
>"You can fly."
>"Not all of us!" Aya replies chasteningly. Her expression is probably the most genuinely serious you've seen it yet.
-
>What do you expect, pirate, your victims to just roll over for you? Or do you just steal more things when people actually defend themselves.
>Bite our tonuge to keep from popping off at the self-righteous theif.
-
>What do you expect, pirate, your victims to just roll over for you? Or do you just steal more things when people actually defend themselves.
>Bite our tonuge to keep from popping off at the self-righteous theif.
>You find yourself grumbling bitterly at Aya's claims of 'legitimate damage' while her crew is probably busy looting the hold, but you keep your thoughts to yourself - not like it would change anything at this point, you figure.
>"You knew what you were getting into," Murasa replies coldly.
>"So you'd have been fine with them dying, then?" Aya's frown is distinctly disatisfied. "I'd hoped you'd be willing to show us the same respect we've shown you."
>Murasa scoffs. "Respect? How about you just get the hell off my ship and be glad I don't come haunt you?"
>Ishi's head looks about ready to pop from the strain of holding back her own thoughts. As it is, she does a fair pantomime of having an apoplectic fit.
>"Then what's stopping me from stripping you bare right now?" Aya says, her tone lacking a little of its earlier warmth. "If you'd be happy enough to see us dead, then why should I care about leaving you in one piece? Fair's fair, no?"
>"You don't have the tonnage," Murasa replies dully.
>"Could start with the priciest stuff and then work our way down until we're loaded full," Aya counters with a shrug, then throws a glance in Ishi's direction. Is that a chuckle you see her stifling? "Maybe strip some of the fancy bits out of the engine of yours and and let you limp back to-"
>For an instant, you fear Ishi really will spontaneously combust.
>"You keep your stupid bungling dunderheaded bird-brained hands off my engine, you... you... youuuuu!!!" Words seem to be failing her, and she flails in her bonds with renewed vigor. Aya just laughs.
>"If I may..." Neu interjects dryly, cringing a little at the sheer volume of her neighbour. "What is the point of this? If you want to strip us bare, there's little we can do to stop you."
>"True," Aya replies with a smile, though this seems as much in response to Ishi as anything else.
>"Then what is there to discuss? Or are you simply enjoying the chance to gloat?"
>Aya frowns a little. "Is it really so hard to believe that I respect you guys?"
>Neu pauses a moment. You wonder if she had been about to say 'Yes' before Aya continues on without her.
>"That little chase back there? Some of the best flying I've ever seen. Might even give a tengu a run for their money. And this ship's got a lot of power packed in her. You probably didn't even get a chance to show off half the tricks it's hiding, no? I'd love to see what you could do for one of ours. In fact, I'd take any one of you on board with me in an instant, if you wanted to sign up. You'd even start with seniority, and we're equal-opportunity - doesn't matter if you're a tengu or not." That sentiment alone is significantly at odds with everything you've ever heard about the tengu, though you suppose the human's presence here is sentiment enough to that. Aya pauses just a moment here before continuing, seemingly on the chance someone would actually take her up on her offer. "I don't want to ruin you. I actually like you. But I do need to get my ship fixed and it's your fault she's broken. So how about we work out a compromise, and then you can get back underway, hmm?"
-
>That does it. This mouse is sick of listening to that pirate gloat. And as excellent a thought as it would be to see Ishi start splitting bulkheads and pummeling pirates with them, starting with Aya, doesn't look like that's going to happen.
>Consider advising Murasa to just go along with it, but reconsider. Yeah, it would get rid of her faster, but we ourselves just had essentially the same offer, and told her to go get stuffed. Can't very well advise Murasa to do what we just didn't.
>Still, that doesn't necessarily mean we just have to sit here and bleed on the deck, depending on just how permissive our vaunted pirate captain is.
>"If it's all the same to you, Aya, ladies, I'd like to head belowdecks. I want to check on Chisato and Miyuki, as well as the rest of the crew."
>No need to mention that any kind of compromise doesn't need our presence. We know Aya's going to get her way, no need stand here and watch.
-
>That does it. This mouse is sick of listening to that pirate gloat. And as excellent a thought as it would be to see Ishi start splitting bulkheads and pummeling pirates with them, starting with Aya, doesn't look like that's going to happen.
>Consider advising Murasa to just go along with it, but reconsider. Yeah, it would get rid of her faster, but we ourselves just had essentially the same offer, and told her to go get stuffed. Can't very well advise Murasa to do what we just didn't.
>Still, that doesn't necessarily mean we just have to sit here and bleed on the deck, depending on just how permissive our vaunted pirate captain is.
>You roll a few thoughts around in your head, some irritating and some less so. Eventually, you decide to ask if you can head off and check on the rest of the crew.
>"If it's all the same to you, Aya, ladies, I'd like to head belowdecks. I want to check on Chisato and Miyuki, as well as the rest of the crew."
>No need to mention that any kind of compromise doesn't need our presence. We know Aya's going to get her way, no need stand here and watch.
>Aya gives you a once-over, then nods. "Fine with me. You've already given me your word and I'm holding you to it."
>Neu looks at you with a wary frown. Even Murasa seems to turn her glower in your direction for a moment, though it seems more appraising than angry.
>"Hey!" Ishi barks. "How come she gets to leave while we're still tied up here?"
>Aya fixes her with a wry look. "If I let you go, could you swear not to go around causing trouble? No shin-kicking, no activating booby-traps, no clobbering people poking around the engine room?" You see Ishi's eyes flash briefly at that last remark, then falter. Aya smiles. "Thought so."
-
>Glance between Murasa and Neu, "Look, the fighting may be over, but I thought the least I could do was check on the rest of the crew, see how many more injuries happened, and if they've been taken care of. I thought you could use an update from someone that wasn't a pirate."
>Sideways glance at Aya. "You understand."
-
>Glance between Murasa and Neu, "Look, the fighting may be over, but I thought the least I could do was check on the rest of the crew, see how many more injuries happened, and if they've been taken care of. I thought you could use an update from someone that wasn't a pirate."
>Sideways glance at Aya. "You understand."
>Neu nods slightly, after you explain. Murasa remains largely unresponsive.
>"Of course," Aya replies lightly.
-
>Aya's mimic youkai was instructed to take Chisato back to her room. Do we know where that is?
>Or Miyuki's room, for that matter?
-
>Aya's mimic youkai was instructed to take Chisato back to her room. Do we know where that is?
>Or Miyuki's room, for that matter?
>You do. In fact, you've already been inside it, while you were tracking Chisato's illicit pet mouse. It's opposite your own.
>You do not know which room is Miyuki's, however.
-
>Ah yeah. Seems like a long time ago.
>Ask Neu, "Which room is Miyuki's?"
-
>Ah yeah. Seems like a long time ago.
>Ask Neu, "Which room is Miyuki's?"
>Funny, that. This last day has dragged on so long that you could swear it's been months....
>Neu glances briefly at Aya before returning to you. "At the end of the hall, on the left," she says.
-
>Aya hearing that won't hurt. Pirates have the run of the ship anyway.
>"Thanks. Hope I'll have some decent news to report when I get back."
>Make for Chisato's room. And hope we don't get waylaid by any pirates wondering why there's a good guy roaming around armed.
-
>Aya hearing that won't hurt. Pirates have the run of the ship anyway.
>"Thanks. Hope I'll have some decent news to report when I get back."
>Make for Chisato's room. And hope we don't get waylaid by any pirates wondering why there's a good guy roaming around armed.
>You can't see what harm there is in Aya knowing where Miyuki's room. But Neu must have thought similarly, whatever that glance was about.
>Neu nods. "Let's both hope."
>You turn and head across the deck, towards the stairs.
>"If anyone gives you hassle," Aya calls out as you leave, "Tell them to take it up with me, got it?"
>You've scarcely made it more than a couple feet before you hear Aya start in on Murasa again. Somehow her tone feels more suited for a debate over how to split a dinner bill than for how much to loot she plans to extract from her prisoners. Murasa isn't much more responsive than she was earlier, though this doesn't seem to deter Aya at all. In fact, you're starting to wonder if she simply likes to hear the sound of her own voice. Neu ocassionally interjects a pragmatic comment that Murasa seems unable or unwilling to provide at the moment, but you get the impression they could be at this a while and find yourself glad enough to be away from it. Or at least you are for a time.
>As you make your way down the stairs, the first thing you become aware of is just what a state the place is in. There are dents in the wall where Ishi's wrench rebounded off it, what looks like a scorch mark in the corner of the landing, a mess of splinters from the fractured naginata, pieces of destroyed netting, and a considerable amount of blood, some of it drier-looking than others. Not to mention the gouges from where your kunai shots struck wood, score marks from Ren's wind blades, broken feathers, a few strands of lavender hair.... Someone seems to have shoved the larger debris out of the walkway, but it's going to take a mighty effort to make this look like it did this morning.
>The second thing you become aware of is a tengu emerging from one of the rooms along the corridor. Your nose twitches. That's your room. You can also see another milling towards the end of the hallway; she seem to be examining one of the wall lamps. Neither one of them has looked in your direction.
-
>Wonderful. Pirates in our undies. Just what our day was missing.
>Which room did we leave that concussed crewer in?
-
>Wonderful. Pirates in our undies. Just what our day was missing.
>Which room did we leave that concussed crewer in?
>If it's any consolation, you're suspect you're not the only one on board who's going to have to deal with this.
>You laid her down on your own bed.
-
>Aw, crap.
>Wait a moment until the interloping tengu emerges, then see which direction she turns.
>Presumably both pirates are visably armed?
-
>Aw, crap.
>Wait a moment until the interloping tengu emerges, then see which direction she turns.
>Presumably both pirates are visably armed?
>You grimace a little as you remember that your undies were not the only thing you left lying around in your room.
>You wait a moment and watch the tengu as she exits your room and then heads towards the next door further down the hallway. She doesn't look in your direction.
>There does appear to be a sword hanging at each of their sides.
-
>Head towards our room. As quietly as we can without actually loooking like we're sneaking around.
-
>Head towards our room. As quietly as we can without actually loooking like we're sneaking around.
>You head quietly towards your room. Or at least as quietly as you can manage while looking nonchalant about it. You have a fairly light step, but you're certainly not going to be able to make yourself entirely silent at such close range without a considerable change in your gait.
>Sure enough, though the first tengu enters the adjacent room without paying you any mind, the other glances idly in your direction as you get closer. The apparent boredom on her face quickly vanishes as she registers who she's looking at. She gives you a quick once-over and her eyes narrow slightly.
>"What're you doing down here?" she asks. There's a slight note of challenge in her voice, though it isn't openly accusatory and she makes no effort to reach towards her weapon.
-
>Do we recognize this one at all?
>"Checking on my shipmates. Your captain obliged my request to check in on the wounded, make sure everyone was taken care of."
-
>Do we recognize this one at all?
>"Checking on my shipmates. Your captain obliged my request to check in on the wounded, make sure everyone was taken care of."
>She looks like a new face to you.
>The tengu stares at you a moment, as if trying to size up how likely your story is. You note her eyes lingering on your weapon a little.
>At this point, the other tengu pokes her head out of the room she just entered and looks in your direction. This face you believe you do recognize as one of the two who carried over that rabbit a little earlier. Her expression lacks any trance of the wariness her companion is displaying. She appraises you quickly, then gives a little nod.
>"Yeah, I saw her talking with Aya earlier," she says, craning her neck back toward the other tengu. "And you know how she is."
>Her partner shrugs, a gesture which almost manages to conceal a roll of the eyes.
>"Most of them are down in the hold," the closer tengu continues, turning back to you. "Though there's a pair of them over there." She gestures at Chisato's room. "And another one back that way." She throws a thumb a couple doors down the hall. "Just don't go trying anything clever."
>The other tengu turns her attention back to the lamp, carefully pulling and wiggling various bits of it as though she expected something might happen if she did so; though given what happened the last time you saw someone do that, perhaps she's onto something....
-
>Do we know what lies beyond the other door indicated? Aside from, apparantly, a maiden crewer?
-
>Do we know what lies beyond the other door indicated? Aside from, apparantly, a maiden crewer?
>Well, it's probably someone's room, but other than that, you don't know. It's not where Neu said Miyuki's room was, anyway.
-
>That raises furthur questions. They wouldn't have moved Natsumi, would they? Well, maybe to search our room...
>Can we see in our room from here?
-
>That raises furthur questions. They wouldn't have moved Natsumi, would they? Well, maybe to search our room...
>Can we see in our room from here?
>You're not quite sure what to make of this....
>You cannot, though you wouldn't need to walk much further forward to peer inside.
-
>Start listening for the sound of hidden mechanisms preparing to fire.
>Give the closer tengu a nod, then proceed forward, still at a nonthreatening pace, until we can see the bed in our room.
-
>Start listening for the sound of hidden mechanisms preparing to fire.
>Give the closer tengu a nod, then proceed forward, still at a nonthreatening pace, until we can see the bed in our room.
>You keep an ear out for any other surprises Ishi may have planted in the hallway and then give the tengu a nod and continue forward.
>"Alright then," she says, returning to the interior of the room she was searching without further comment.
>Approaching your room, you take a look inside. On the whole, it doesn't look greatly disturbed from the last time you saw it. The chest you were keeping your clothes in has been left open - you can't assess the condition of its contents from here - and there really wasn't much else too disturb. The bed, however, is empty.
-
>Twist off a short frown.
>Check the other indicated room, the one where there was supposed to be just one crewer.
-
>Twist off a short frown.
>Check the other indicated room, the one where there was supposed to be just one crewer.
>You frown a little, then start to head off towards the second room the tengu pointed at.
>Before you get very far, however, you hear a familiar voice call out quietly from your right.
>"Nazrin?" Miyuki's voice is slightly hushed.
-
>Pause.
>Would that be from the other other door, where the pirates said there were two good guys holed up?
-
>Pause.
>Would that be from the other other door, where the pirates said there were two good guys holed up?
>You pause a moment.
>Yes, that would be Chisato's room.
-
>Well, she did call us.
>Go to Miyuki and (presumably) Chisato.
-
>Well, she did call us.
>Go to Miyuki and (presumably) Chisato.
>You stop and turn towards Chisato's room, and find the door has been left a couple feet ajar, though not enough to actually see any of the occupants. You nudge it open the rest of the way and step inside.
>Like your own, the condition of the room doesn't seem to have suffered greatly for the presence of the pirates. Well, assuming they've actually gotten around to going through this one. Chisato is lying in the bed, and you suspect she may even be asleep, judging from the lack of movement. Miyuki is sitting in the sole chair, and seems to have fetched a couple boxes from somewhere which she is using to keep her leg elevated. Her dress is drawn back a little from that leg and a large cloth is wrapped around her ankle. She looks at you with a weary, and frankly a little shell-shocked, expression, though the weak traces of the smile she attempts to wear suggest she is glad to see you.
>She glances at Kumokirimaru and the rest of your gear. "They're letting you walk around with all that?"
-
>Afford ourselves a moment of relief. Chisato was in a lot worse state not long ago. Sleeping's a lot better than a number of other alternatives.
>Keep our voice down, so as not to disturb Chisato, hopefully, "I had to promise Aya I wasn't going to shank her flunkies the first chance I got, but yeah. And to be honest, I'm pretty surprised myself. But I guess she figures I'm no threat, one way or the other."
>Glance down at our leg, then offer a small grin to Miyuki. "She may not be wrong on that one, either. I bet I look like hell."
-
>Afford ourselves a moment of relief. Chisato was in a lot worse state not long ago. Sleeping's a lot better than a number of other alternatives.
>Keep our voice down, so as not to disturb Chisato, hopefully, "I had to promise Aya I wasn't going to shank her flunkies the first chance I got, but yeah. And to be honest, I'm pretty surprised myself. But I guess she figures I'm no threat, one way or the other."
>Glance down at our leg, then offer a small grin to Miyuki. "She may not be wrong on that one, either. I bet I look like hell."
>While you can't really see any of the redhead's injuries from here, you don't think Miyuki looks quite agitated enough to suggest Chisato's in any immediate danger.
>Miyuki smiles weakly and lets out a thin sigh that is nearly a laugh. You almost think you can see some of her tension leave with it. "A little, maybe."
-
>Atta girl.
>Is there any more of that cloth lying about?
>"It's good to see you, too, Miyuki." Point with our tail towards her ankle. "Feeling any better?"
-
>Atta girl.
>Is there any more of that cloth lying about?
>"It's good to see you, too, Miyuki." Point with our tail towards her ankle. "Feeling any better?"
>You think she's doing pretty well, considering.
>Not that you can notice at a glance.
>"A bit," she says. "It'll be okay. I got off easy compared to the two of you, so don't worry about me."
-
>"And I'll heal soon enough- ups and downs of being a youkai- so that leaves Chisato here. Has she been out since you two came down here?"
-
>"And I'll heal soon enough- ups and downs of being a youkai- so that leaves Chisato here. Has she been out since you two came down here?"
>Miyuki shakes her head. "Not the whole time, but she was exhausted. Barely had energy to swear at the parrot when she told her not to get up for the rest of the day. She... probably pushed herself too hard," she says with a worried frown. "Not that I'm going to try and convince her of this - she'd never let it go."
-
>"Probably smart, too. She's gonna be fuming all the way to Val Razua, I'd bet. But the important thing is that she'll heal, so what we'll have to do is try to keep her from getting TOO angry, until she's well on the road to recovery. That, I think, we can manage."
-
>"Probably smart, too. She's gonna be fuming all the way to Val Razua, I'd bet. But the important thing is that she'll heal, so what we'll have to do is try to keep her from getting TOO angry, until she's well on the road to recovery. That, I think, we can manage."
>"I don't know about that," Miyuki says with a wry frown. "But she won't let it make things worse, at least. She's smarter than she lets on sometimes." Miyuki chuckles softly under her breath.
-
>Give another small grin. "Good to know."
>We haven't actually sat down since we got our leg run through, did we? Unless you count falling down during that pointless fight on deck. How rickety do our legs feel?
-
>Give another small grin. "Good to know."
>We haven't actually sat down since we got our leg run through, did we? Unless you count falling down during that pointless fight on deck. How rickety do our legs feel?
>"Hatoko said the bandages are enchanted to help wounds heal faster. I don't know if it does anything for the pain, though. Chisato wouldn't say." Miyuki's expression becomes distant for a moment, then she looks back up at you. "Maybe you should see if they can do something for you, too? I mean, I don't know how much you need it, being a youkai and all. But maybe it wouldn't hurt." She gives you an encouraging look.
>You've been pointedly not thinking about it - there simply hasn't been time to favor it, so you haven't. You're not sure how much longer you can keep that up, though; if you sit down, you're not sure you'll be able to get yourself to stand back up again for a while.
-
>Mutter, 'wonder where they stole those from' under our breath.
>"Not a bad idea, really. Once I'm done, anyway. I told Neu and the captain I'd check on the rest of the crew for them, make sure these pirates are actually doing what they said, and looking after the wounded." Look between Chisato's bandages and Miyuki's elevated leg. "I'm off to a pretty good start."
-
>Mutter, 'wonder where they stole those from' under our breath.
>"Not a bad idea, really. Once I'm done, anyway. I told Neu and the captain I'd check on the rest of the crew for them, make sure these pirates are actually doing what they said, and looking after the wounded." Look between Chisato's bandages and Miyuki's elevated leg. "I'm off to a pretty good start."
>"Hatoko was surprisingly helpful, just... cold." Miyuki frowns and shakes her head, then sighs. "I never thought I'd be sitting here like this. You know, just waiting patiently while pirates rummage through all our stuff. She said the others were fine and would be taken care of, but we're still not supposed to leave this room. So I get to listen to them rooting through everyone else's." Her expression is an odd mixture of frustration and weary resignation.
-
>This might be the first time she's been present for this kind of defeat. Or at least, one this total.
>Come to think of it, WE'VE never been beat that badly either.
>"I know. I hate it, too. I'm not gonna say it doesn't suck, it does. But we have to endure, at least for now. And it could be worse." Shake our head and chuckle briefly, wryly. "Boy, that sounds like a bad cliche. But it's true."
-
>This might be the first time she's been present for this kind of defeat. Or at least, one this total.
>Come to think of it, WE'VE never been beat that badly either.
>"I know. I hate it, too. I'm not gonna say it doesn't suck, it does. But we have to endure, at least for now. And it could be worse." Shake our head and chuckle briefly, wryly. "Boy, that sounds like a bad cliche. But it's true."
>It's possible. Frankly, given the crew's handling of this raid, you don't think your average pirates would have even had a chance. Though you can never quite know what sort of scrapes some people have managed to pull through in their past....
>Perhaps not, though you've managed to come out of this fight in better shape than the last one you technically won. Small consolation.
>Miyuki nods. "Yes. We're all alive, and it doesn't look like they plan to do anything else to us. At least, I don't think so. But still...." She sighs. "I don't know what shape the Maiden's going to be in when they give her back to us again. If they give her back. This ship is like a home to me now. To most of us, I think."
-
>"If Aya is to be believed, they won't take this ship. If she wanted it, we would have heard her say it by now, and we haven't. And believe me, that woman likes to hear herself talk. She gave us all an earful and then some, the self righteous...."
>Take a breath. Getting angry at Aya again is pointless.
>"If they were going to take the Maiden, Aya would have said so by now, I'm sure. So that, at least, you should try not to worry about."
-
>"If Aya is to be believed, they won't take this ship. If she wanted it, we would have heard her say it by now, and we haven't. And believe me, that woman likes to hear herself talk. She gave us all an earful and then some, the self righteous...."
>Take a breath. Getting angry at Aya again is pointless.
>"If they were going to take the Maiden, Aya would have said so by now, I'm sure. So that, at least, you should try not to worry about."
>Miyuki frowns, still looking a bit unsatisfied. "Well, we'll see. And there's nothing stopping them from taking everything in the hold and then some. It'll take a lot of overtime to make up for that."
>She sighs again. "You're right, though. What can we do? Just sit and wait and hope things work out somehow. That's all there is, isn't there?" It looks like she's almost hoping you could disagree.
-
>Sure wish I could, sister.
>"I wish I had an idea for some miracle to pull, here, Miyuki. I really do. But we did all we could and then some."
>"I half thought about trying to find this thing, this relic, myself, and trying to hide it from them, but even if I was able to detect the damn thing, that'd only make things worse in the end."
-
>Sure wish I could, sister.
>"I wish I had an idea for some miracle to pull, here, Miyuki. I really do. But we did all we could and then some."
>"I half thought about trying to find this thing, this relic, myself, and trying to hide it from them, but even if I was able to detect the damn thing, that'd only make things worse in the end."
>"I don't think they're going to leave without it," she says. "Whether that takes an hour or the whole day. Not after all the effort they put into this. And I still don't even know what they're looking for," she adds with a sad shake of her head.
-
>"That makes two of us. I tried to get an answer out of Aya on that, but she was long on talk, and short on answers. All I got was that it was old, and possibly valuable."
>Take another breath, then pass our hand over our eyes. "You know, she actually tried to recruit me into helping her find this thing, whatever it is."
-
>"That makes two of us. I tried to get an answer out of Aya on that, but she was long on talk, and short on answers. All I got was that it was old, and possibly valuable."
>Take another breath, then pass our hand over our eyes. "You know, she actually tried to recruit me into helping her find this thing, whatever it is."
>"It'd have to be valuable for them to go to some much trouble over it, wouldn't it?"
>Miyuki's frown takes on an edge of concern for an instant, though she quickly masks it. "She... did?"
-
>Give her a reassuring grin. "Sneak thief of a crow should have known better. I'm on the good guy's side, no matter what she tries to bribe me with. I may not know how to stop her getting what she wants, but I'd sooner eat my tail than help her."
-
>Give her a reassuring grin. "Sneak thief of a crow should have known better. I'm on the good guy's side, no matter what she tries to bribe me with. I may not know how to stop her getting what she wants, but I'd sooner eat my tail than help her."
>Miyuki regards you in silence for a moment, then nods. A faint smile crosses her tired face. "Thanks, Nazrin. I'm sorry you had to be here for this, of all the times you could have hitched a ride, but... thanks."
-
>Return her smile. "And speaking of thanks, girl, I've owed you one for a while."
>Cross the room, and speak as we go, "You took on an armed pirate squad with a bum wheel, and that takes a whole heap of guts. You had my back, and Chisato's too. They may well have beaten us, too, if you hadn't got involved."
-
>Return her smile. "And speaking of thanks, girl, I've owed you one for a while."
>Cross the room, and speak as we go, "You took on an armed pirate squad with a bum wheel, and that takes a whole heap of guts. You had my back, and Chisato's too. They may well have beaten us, too, if you hadn't got involved."
>"They still did," she says glumly. "And don't give me too much credit; I just reacted. I may have been here a couple of years, but in the end I'm still just the farm girl with the knife. The only reason I'm still in one piece right now is because Ren didn't want to cut me up. The more I think back on what happened, the more I'm sure that's what it was."
>She lets out a deep breath and makes an effort to smile. "But I suppose I should be gracious." She inclines her head towards you. "Thanks. And I suppose I'd probably do it all over again, if I had to. Even if I know I'm out of my league, I'm not going to just stand around and watch friends get hurt."
-
>Clap her on the shoulder all friendly like. "And that's a mighty fine quality to have in a friend. And I know the captain'd be proud of the effort, too."
>If she didn't mind us touching her like that, lay our hand on her shoulder again, lightly. "And once your ankle heals up, I'd be happy to compare notes on knife fighting with ya. That's my specialty, too."
-
>Clap her on the shoulder all friendly like. "And that's a mighty fine quality to have in a friend. And I know the captain'd be proud of the effort, too."
>If she didn't mind us touching her like that, lay our hand on her shoulder again, lightly. "And once your ankle heals up, I'd be happy to compare notes on knife fighting with ya. That's my specialty, too."
>You give Miyuki a friendly clap on the shoulder and tell her Murasa would be proud of her effort. She reacts with an annoyed grimace. "I don't need coddling, you know."
>You decide this is enough of a negative reaction not to repeat the gesture immediately. But you do still offer to swap notes on knife fighting.
>"Now that," she says with her expression easing a little, "I might just take you up on. Can always use a few new tricks." She spares a quick glance at the redhead whose room you're sharing. As if in response, Chisato lets out a muted snore, muffled by the pillow her face is currently mashed into. You have to wonder if she can ever breathe right like that.
>"I've even been bugging Chisato to teach me some magic, if you can believe that," Miyuki continues quietly. "She won't hear tell of it, though. Says she'd be a terrible teacher. And she hates to use it much - doesn't even like to let on that she has magic. Even I haven't seen her let loose like that, before." She frowns. "Actually, it... might be best if you pretend you never saw her do any of that, back on deck. I think she'd probably prefer to pretend it never happened."
-
>Have we eve known any mages you didn't seem fond of the fact that they were mages? Or at least, not of the fact that other people knew they were magically inclined?
-
>Have we eve known any mages you didn't seem fond of the fact that they were mages? Or at least, not of the fact that other people knew they were magically inclined?
>Most magicians you've interacted with (which is, admittedly, not a large number) seemed quite at ease with their magic. If anything, the stereotype is that magicians tend to be excessively fond of their magic and somewhat dismissive of those who don't share their aptitudes and inclinations. Marisa was never uppity towards others - in fact, she tended to act as though everyone, be they governor or pauper, were on the same level - but if anyone could be accused of magical excess.... Though you suppose that if you'd met someone with magical ability who refrained from either talking about it or exercising it, you'd probably never know.
-
>Note to self: Girl can't take a compliment after pirate attacks.
>"Any idea why that is? I think this might be the first time I've met a mage that didn't seem to like magic."
-
>Note to self: Girl can't take a compliment after pirate attacks.
>"Any idea why that is? I think this might be the first time I've met a mage that didn't seem to like magic."
>"Don't let her hear you call her that," Miyuki says with a nervious frown. "And I don't know for sure. She says she's bad at it, but I think it has more to do with... well, family issues." She gives you an uncomfortable look.
-
>"Ahhhh, I dig. I'll keep what I saw under my ears."
>Still, if she's that uncomfortable with using her magic, using it against the pirates ain't gonna put her in a pleasant disposition. Not that she didn't have reason enough to be angry at these theives, but that might have been like insult on top of injury, to her.
-
>"Ahhhh, I dig. I'll keep what I saw under my ears."
>Still, if she's that uncomfortable with using her magic, using it against the pirates ain't gonna put her in a pleasant disposition. Not that she didn't have reason enough to be angry at these theives, but that might have been like insult on top of injury, to her.
>"Thanks," Miyuki says, "I appreciate it."
>The certainly seems to be no shortage of reasons for her to be ticked off about the present situation.
-
>"Although..."
>We are still keeping our voice down, right? Make sure we are, anyway.
>"In the event she takes it up with me, for whatever reason- her magic, I mean- are there any.... buttons, I should avoid pushing? Aside from- Well, what you just said."
-
>"Although..."
>We are still keeping our voice down, right? Make sure we are, anyway.
>"In the event she takes it up with me, for whatever reason- her magic, I mean- are there any.... buttons, I should avoid pushing? Aside from- Well, what you just said."
>You are still talking in a quiet tone. You suspect the tengu are far enough away not to hear much of what you're saying, and if Chisato's out like a light, then you doubt you're going to wake her this way.
>"I don't think so," Miyuki says, shaking her head. "She shouldn't fly off the handle over it or anything. It's just that it's a sore spot for her, so it'd be nice if you could be respectful of that."
-
>"Of course. 's why I asked; wanted to not step on any toes, if I could help it. And I appreciate the heads up, as well."
-
>"Of course. 's why I asked; wanted to not step on any toes, if I could help it. And I appreciate the heads up, as well."
>"Of course," she says.
-
>Well, still a mission to accomplish here.
>"But either way, that's for later. For now, I still have to bring some news to the captain, after I check on the rest of our crew. But, while I'm here, is there anything I can get for you?"
>Glance at the prostate Chisato, and grin slightly, "Maybe roll her so she isn't face down?"
-
>Well, still a mission to accomplish here.
>"But either way, that's for later. For now, I still have to bring some news to the captain, after I check on the rest of our crew. But, while I'm here, is there anything I can get for you?"
>Glance at the prostate Chisato, and grin slightly, "Maybe roll her so she isn't face down?"
>That there is.
>She considers this a moment. "Maybe a glass of water? If it's not too much hassle."
>You glance at Chisato and grin a little. She lets out another muffled snore.
>Miyuki frowns. "I'm afraid she might roll onto her back if I did that. The wound there was pretty serious..."
-
>"Yeah, I know. Sorry, bit of a limp joke."
>"But a spot of water's no hassle whatsoever. I'll be right back."
>Head for the mess hall for hydration for our hobbled human.
>But along the way, glance into the room where that pirate indicated another crewer was, see if it's Natsumi. If the door is closed, or our vision of the room within obscured, leave the room be until we finish our errand for Miyuki.
-
>"Yeah, I know. Sorry, bit of a limp joke."
>"But a spot of water's no hassle whatsoever. I'll be right back."
>"Thank you," Miyuki says.
>Head for the mess hall for hydration for our hobbled human.
>But along the way, glance into the room where that pirate indicated another crewer was, see if it's Natsumi. If the door is closed, or our vision of the room within obscured, leave the room be until we finish our errand for Miyuki.
>You exit the room and head towards the galley, pausing along the way to peek into the other room the tengu indicated. The door here is also ajar, perhaps so the pirates can keep an ear on anything suspicious their captives might be plotting. Though in this case, the occupant appears to merely be plotting a nap. You can see enough of the form lying on the bed to recognize Natsumi - she looks to be asleep, or at least resting with her eyes closed. While the question of how she got there remains, this at least answers the question of where she is. You continue onward.
>The lamp-inspecting tengu has moved quite a bit further down the hallway by now, but seems to be doing nearly the exact same thing she was doing earlier, and looking none too interested in it. Judging by the lack of deployed booby-traps along the corridor, you assume her lantern-jostling has been precisely as eventful as you'd expect it to be on any other ship. You're still not convinced this isn't liable to change at a moment's notice, but at least you don't hear any mechanisms being triggered as you walk through the vicinity. The tengu herself throws you a vaguely suspicious look when you pass her, but otherwise makes no attempt to challenge you.
>You find the galley occupied when you enter. Or rather, you hear someone rooting around in the pantry. You can't actually see them, and since you aren't necessarily in a hurry to exchange unpleasantries with yet another pirate, you choose to ignore them unless they bother to come out and speak. The contents of the kitchen have been jostled and rearranged since breakfast; most of the cupboards have been emptied, and the pots and dishes and foodstuffs they once housed are scattered around whatever space was available. The cooking area is something of an obstacle course now. Though at least one thing hasn't moved since you were last here. A lonely slice of ham sits cold and abandoned on a plate atop one of the tables; it seems Ishi never got a chance to actually finish her breakfast.
>Despite the mess, it's not difficult to locate what you need and you fill a large mug with water without incident. Whether the pirate in the room behind you thinks you're one of theirs, or is simply too busy dragging heavy sacks around to notice your presence, you frankly don't care.
-
>This might not be the highest priority on the worry list, but, as far as we can determine, have they removed any refrigerated/perishable items from the Ishi-Cooler and left them lying about?
-
>This might not be the highest priority on the worry list, but, as far as we can determine, have they removed any refrigerated/perishable items from the Ishi-Cooler and left them lying about?
>The Chill-o-Matic was inside the pantry, so you can't actually inspect the device itself from here. But you don't see anything lying around that should spoil quickly, at least.
-
>Presumably we can't smell anything, either. So much the better. We'll still have to eat, after all, provided this lot doesn't steal our food. OR the Chill-o-Matic, for that matter, although given the one who made it, trying to move it could have interesting consequences.
>Head back towards Miyuki's room, but if either of the two tengu we passed are still in the hall, pause. We have a question for them.
-
>Presumably we can't smell anything, either. So much the better. We'll still have to eat, after all, provided this lot doesn't steal our food. OR the Chill-o-Matic, for that matter, although given the one who made it, trying to move it could have interesting consequences.
>Head back towards Miyuki's room, but if either of the two tengu we passed are still in the hall, pause. We have a question for them.
>None of the kitchen smells seem out of place, at any rate. And given that Maiden's cargo at the moment, you think they'd have their hands full merely trying to steal all your food.
>You exit the galley and head back towards Miyuki. The official lighting inspector is still in the corridor, albeit another few feet along it, so you pause.
-
>Attract her attention. Politely.
>Once we have it, point with our thumb towards Natsumi's room. "Did you, by any chance, move that woman from where she was?"
-
>Attract her attention. Politely.
>Once we have it, point with our thumb towards Natsumi's room. "Did you, by any chance, move that woman from where she was?"
>You gesture for the tengu's attention and then ask her about Natsumi.
>She gives you a funny look, then shrugs. "Wasn't me."
-
>"I see. Might've been your friend, then?"
>Can we hear the other one ferreting around in whichever room she was interloping in?
-
>"I see. Might've been your friend, then?"
>Can we hear the other one ferreting around in whichever room she was interloping in?
>"Ask her if you want," she replies dismissively then gives the light another twist. Something clicks. ...oh, that was just a screw coming loose.
>You hear someone, anyway, in the room adjacent to the one you last saw that tengu enter.
-
>Could have gone worse.
>But first things first. No need to keep Miyuki waiting.
>Return to her room.
-
>Could have gone worse.
>But first things first. No need to keep Miyuki waiting.
>Return to her room.
>You figure that was less objectionable than some responses you could have gotten, but decide to return to Chisato's room first.
>Miyuki looks up as you enter with her drink and smiles. "Thank you."
-
>"Anytime."
>Fork over the goods.
-
>"Anytime."
>Fork over the goods.
>You hand Miyuki the mug of water and she puts it to her lips immediately; you recognize that look of quiet joy that comes from wetting a parched throat. After a generous gulp, she lays the mug down on the table beside her.
-
>"Can I getcha a refill, or you good for now?"
-
>"Can I getcha a refill, or you good for now?"
>"That's fine, thanks," she says gently. "You go check on the others."
>A sudden flash of realization crosses her face. "Oh! I helped Natsumi into her own bed, in case you wonder why she isn't where you left her. She was up and trying to move around when we came back down here, but could barely walk in a straight line. I told her she should just rest, and that we'd take care of things." She frowns and shakes her head sadly. "A bit of a lie, I guess. She has a really nasty-looking lump on her forehead now. I asked Hatoko to get some ice for it. She's... she seemed a little more coherent when I spoke with her, but still pretty disoriented. She must have hit herself really hard."
-
>"Ahhh, that explains it. I saw her in another room, but I'd thought one of the pirates had moved her, for some reason. That makes me feel better."
>"I'll check in on her again, but I think she's just sleeping it off right now. Which is probably the best thing for her to be doing, too."
-
>"Ahhh, that explains it. I saw her in another room, but I'd thought one of the pirates had moved her, for some reason. That makes me feel better."
>"I'll check in on her again, but I think she's just sleeping it off right now. Which is probably the best thing for her to be doing, too."
>Miyuki nods. "I think she'll be okay, but she'll have to go very easy on herself for a while. At least she'll probably be willing to do that, unlike some people." She throws a pointed glance in Chisato's direction.
-
>Chuckle a low chuckle.
>Well, that's Miyuki and Chisato settled away, as best as can be expected under the circumstances. Let's go check on Natsumi.
-
>Chuckle a low chuckle.
>Well, that's Miyuki and Chisato settled away, as best as can be expected under the circumstances. Let's go check on Natsumi.
>You chuckle a little, then say goodbye to Miyuki and go check in on Natsumi.
>Natsumi's room is less spartan than Chisato's, or at least more effort has been put into making it homey. There is a bushy potted plant in the corner of the room, looking bright and lively, and several photographs in sturdy frames adorn the walls. Natsumi herself is in several of them, along with a tall man with the same shade of raven hair and an incorrigible grin. There is also middle-aged couple bearing more than a passing resemblance - parents, maybe? A few books are piled neatly on a nightstand alongside what looks like a small glass globe with a swirl of gentle blue inside it, twisting languidly. If the pirates have gone through this room, they left things in a tidy state. In fact, you think someone must have actively straightened things up after the unplanned acrobatics the Maiden endured not long ago, or some of this should be on the floor.
>Natsumi herself is lying in bed and does appear to be asleep. There is a bundle of cloth resting on her forehead - probably ice - so you can't actually see her injury from here, though she doesn't appear to be in obvious distress.
-
>Check cloth for drips or leaking.
-
>Check cloth for drips or leaking.
>You move over and examine the cloth. It is cold, certainly, but doesn't appear to be especially damp. You think it must be well-wrapped or waterproof or something.
>Natsumi stirs a little.
-
>Back away, slowly and quietly. We don't want to disturb her.
-
>Back away, slowly and quietly. We don't want to disturb her.
>You back away quietly. Natsumi shifts a bit in the bed, but doesn't appear to wake.
-
>Rest easy, sailor. If fortune favors you, when you awake, this unpleasant affair will be a memory, and open skies will be waiting for you.
>Stick our head in the doorway of our room, just to see how badly it's been ransacked, then go find that linen closet from earlier, so we can clean ourselves up a bit.
-
>Rest easy, sailor. If fortune favors you, when you awake, this unpleasant affair will be a memory, and open skies will be waiting for you.
>Stick our head in the doorway of our room, just to see how badly it's been ransacked, then go find that linen closet from earlier, so we can clean ourselves up a bit.
>You wish Natsumi well, then exit and pop back into your own room once again. It doesn't really look too disturbed, though frankly there isn't much here to disturb. It's obvious someone's rooted through your spare outfits, though, but a few wrinkles are the least of your concerns at this point. You exit and head past the galley to where they keep the linens.
>Things here still look as neat and tidy as you'd expect them to be after the ship taking a series of nose-dives. It doesn't look like anyone's made an effort to clear things out or scrutinize the insides of all the cupboards yet, at least.
-
>Hmmmm.
>Glance to our left and right. Are there any pirates in clear evidence?
-
>Hmmmm.
>Glance to our left and right. Are there any pirates in clear evidence?
>You glance around, but you're fairly certain there's none in this area of the ship at the moment. You can still faintly hear the one in the pantry and further back in the hall, as well as quite a bit more movement and conversation from below you.
-
>Enter the room and pull the door to, but leave it ajar, so we can hear things coming.
>Grab a towel or something to wipe off and wrap around the wound on our leg.
>Our treasure sense still isn't detecting anything out of the ordinary, is it?
-
>Enter the room and pull the door to, but leave it ajar, so we can hear things coming.
>Grab a towel or something to wipe off and wrap around the wound on our leg.
>Our treasure sense still isn't detecting anything out of the ordinary, is it?
>You step inside and close the door a little behind you.
>Then you fetch a towel from one of the cupboards and try to wipe away some of the blood from around the wound on your leg. You hiss and tense up the moment the fabric rubs across the injury. Dammit, the weave is too coarse to be doing this! You steel yourself and try dabbing it instead. This is somewhat better, but every contact the material makes with your wound still draws a suffuced rush of pain from it, like a smoldering burn, and the towel is quickly stained red. Your leg wobbles and threatens to buckle as you work on it, so you brace yourself up against a cabinet with your free arm. Still, once most of blood covering the injury is blotted up, it doesn't appear to be bleeding much anymore. A little, perhaps, but nothing terrible. You're not sure this is the best thing to construct a makeshift bandage out of, though. It's really too large to properly wrap around the injury without cutting it down to size and you're not sure you should be taking a knife to their towels.
>Nothing new or notable has brushed across your senses since you've been down here, at least, but you haven't really stopped for a detailed examination either.
-
>Well, we seem to have a chance now.
>Turn our senses outwards. Try to find any metal...
>Actually, we'll need our dousing rods for this, won't we.
>Produce them, and scan the area for any metallic object or substance that seems out of place aboard a ship like this. And keep our ears open for the sound of movement outside the door, of any kind.
-
>Well, we seem to have a chance now.
>Turn our senses outwards. Try to find any metal...
>Actually, we'll need our dousing rods for this, won't we.
>Produce them, and scan the area for any metallic object or substance that seems out of place aboard a ship like this. And keep our ears open for the sound of movement outside the door, of any kind.
>You decide to take this moment of privacy to have another scan of the ship, so you pull your dowsing rods out and start to look for any metallic objects that seem out of place. Metal, of course, can be found in abundance on the ship; there's nails and hinges, light fixtures and door knobs, rotors and scaffolding, and several rarer metals in the engine block itself. And, of course, weapons. Several spots of moving metal around the ship are undoubtedly these, sheathed at the side of pirates as they go about the business. They're a little hard to differentiate with precision, but nothing about them strikes you as odd. Narrowing your focus a bit, you can also detect smaller quantities of precious metals, mostly stationary. Some it's probably coinage, and others jewelry. There's no way to tell if any of it would have historical significance, of course - an inert gold ring is an inert gold ring, whether it belonged to the first emperor of Rhashaval or the florist down the row. If the relic is only important in this sense, there's no chance of you finding by this method; it could be lost among a bunch of similar items and you'd have no way to know. You let out a grumble. It would really help if you knew what you were looking for!
>Even without focusing on it, you can pick up a faint numb hum from above that you suspect may be Karu's bounding field. You can't sense spiritual power directly, but you guess that whatever she's doing has affected the space itself enough to differentiate it from the surrounding area. That or it's drawing on magic of some sort directly - onmyoudo isn't your specialty, to say the least. Ordinarily, it wouldn't be a distraction, but you find your focus difficult to muster at the moment. You may be good, but it takes a lot of effort to zero in on minute details, and you're pretty much all out of effort to spend. A broad picture is easy to get, but without a guide or something leaping out at you, you'll need to scrutinize every minor detail in methodical fashion. It's going to be a tall order.
>You hear footsteps approaching.
-
>Was worth a shot.
>Stash tools of scanning, and pick our towel back up.
>As the footsteps approach, towel off the remaining wet blood on our body. Make an attempt to look at least less-bloodstained.
-
>Was worth a shot.
>Stash tools of scanning, and pick our towel back up.
>As the footsteps approach, towel off the remaining wet blood on our body. Make an attempt to look at least less-bloodstained.
>You decide to pack up, rather than explain yourself to whoever is approaching, and quickly stash your dowsing rods once more.
>Then you resume your cleanup efforts, wiping off the various other cuts and gouges you've sustained. Most of these hurt much less to clean than your leg did, though saying that you ache all over would be something of an understatement at the moment. The one by your hip is particularly nasty-looking, though your outfit has already done much to sop up the blood from it, for better or worse. You really need a bath and a change of clothes, frankly. That bath would probably sting like hell, though...
>The footsteps stop before actually reaching the room you're in, and appear to step into another nearby.
-
>Still, better not take the chance of being caught with our rods in our hands.
>We were told that the majority of the crew was being held in the hold, so, head in that direction.
>But first, if there is a hamper or something here where we can deposit our bloodstained towel without mutzing up any others around, do so.
-
>Still, better not take the chance of being caught with our rods in our hands.
>We were told that the majority of the crew was being held in the hold, so, head in that direction.
>But first, if there is a hamper or something here where we can deposit our bloodstained towel without mutzing up any others around, do so.
>The only hamper you can see has a moderate quantity of linens already in it, so you find the freest space on the counter you can, and leave the bloodstained towel there. You think you probably look a little better for your efforts, though you know it's only a superficial improvement; there's only so much a little toweling can do to erase this kind of battle damage.
>Then you exit the laundry and head back down the hall, towards the stairs leading to the hold.
>It is almost immediately apparent that there are more pirates down here. For one thing, the open layout of the place lets you take in more of it at a glance, and also because they're talking among themselves. Some of it is idle banter, while other bits seem to concern the contents of the Maiden's cargo, its value, and what has and hasn't been investigated yet. You believe you can hear Ren's voice somewhere in the distance; she seems to be giving orders. A pair of tengu are readily visible from the stairs, grappling with a large shipping container, while another swoops above the far side of the hold before diving down and disappearing among the stacks of cargo. You suspect there are more of them hidden among it. To your right, you see a fourth tengu idly snatch a pear from one of the shipping containers and take a bite.
-
>Suck in a breath, and let it out, slowly. They won't be here forever, Nazrin, just endure a while longer...
>Are there any signs of the good guys present?
-
>Suck in a breath, and let it out, slowly. They won't be here forever, Nazrin, just endure a while longer...
>Are there any signs of the good guys present?
>You take a slow breath and keep your irritation in check.
>You do not see any of the Maiden crew from here.
-
>Well, they've gotta be somewhere. And that tengu we passed was telling the truth about Chisato, Miyuki and Natsumi. Matter of fact, dollars to donuts, they've got em put in one of those side rooms.
>But since we won't know for sure from here....
>Suck another breath, then descend the stairs.
-
>Well, they've gotta be somewhere. And that tengu we passed was telling the truth about Chisato, Miyuki and Natsumi. Matter of fact, dollars to donuts, they've got em put in one of those side rooms.
>But since we won't know for sure from here....
>Suck another breath, then descend the stairs.
>After a moment's hesitation, you steel yourself for unpleasantness and descend the stairs.
>Unpleasantness is not long arriving.
>"Hey!" one of the tengu by the large shipping container cries as your movement catches her eye. She draws her weapon. "What're you doing?"
>"I thought the ship was secured?" her partner ask curiously, though she does not seem to share the other tengu's aggression.
>The third casts an idle look in your direction as she takes another bite of pear.
-
>Arms out to the side. We're not looking for trouble.
>Gesture towards the weapon of the angry one. "No need for that, I'm not here for trouble. My captain wanted to make sure her crew was all right, and your captain let me come down here and check for her. That's all."
-
>Arms out to the side. We're not looking for trouble.
>Gesture towards the weapon of the angry one. "No need for that, I'm not here for trouble. My captain wanted to make sure her crew was all right, and your captain let me come down here and check for her. That's all."
>You spread your arms and state your intentions.
>The first tengu looks at you through narrowed eyes. "Then why are you still armed?"
>"Oh, were you the one who was supposed to go all plagued on us if we took that sword away from you?" the third tengu interjects. This draws a pair of dubious and quizical looks from the other two tengu. She shrugs and takes another bite. "I heard it from Narae."
-
>"That's me. In the flesh."
-
>"That's me. In the flesh."
>The first tengu stares at you as though she isn't certain whether this makes you less of a threat or more of one. Her partner seems slightly confused, and the third appears more concerned with her snack than anything involving you.
>"Go ask Ren," she eventually says to her neighbour. She gives you another uncertain look, then takes to the air and wings quickly towards the rear of the hold.
>The third tengu holds up her half-eaten pear and wiggles it by the stem. "These are pretty good. Want one?"
-
>Aren't we generous with someone else's stuff. Why don't you shove that up your ass.
>Sound more diplomatic than that when we say, "Thanks. Not really hungry."
-
>Aren't we generous with someone else's stuff. Why don't you shove that up your ass.
>Sound more diplomatic than that when we say, "Thanks. Not really hungry."
>You refrain from giving the tengu a piece of your mind and offer her a polite refusal instead. She makes a non-committal noise and takes another bite; it doesn't look like she's going to lose much sleep over this. The other tengu continues to stare you down, her weapon at the ready. If only she knew just how little fight there's left in you right now....
>After a short time, you see a familiar form approaching from between the stacks of cargo, the messenger sent to fetch her following behind. Ren looks a little better than when you last saw her and certainly much better than you feel. She is wearing that same serious expression on her face; you're beginning to wonder if she even has another. Your 'guard' spares a glance back towards her as she nears.
>"Stand down," Ren says simply. The tengu's stance immediately relaxes and she lowers her weapon. Ren continues on towards you without pause. "I hear you've come to make sure we're not mistreating the rest of the crew?"
-
>Nice to see you again, too.
>"Not exactly the way I put it. I knew Murasa would want to know how many injures there were among her crew, if any she didn't know about already, and that they were being looked after."
>"More to the point, if I may, I knew she'd want to hear it from someone on her side. And Aya let me come down here."
-
>Nice to see you again, too.
>"Not exactly the way I put it. I knew Murasa would want to know how many injures there were among her crew, if any she didn't know about already, and that they were being looked after."
>"More to the point, if I may, I knew she'd want to hear it from someone on her side. And Aya let me come down here."
>"Of course," Ren says with a polite nod. "Injuries among the rest of your crew were mostly light, though one did sustain a broken arm. It has been set. Otherwise there are some minor cuts and bruising. Most did not require any medical attention." She gestures graciously to the rear of the hold. "I can take you to them if you wish."
-
>"I'd appreciate that."
>Maybe while we're here, we can see if she still has that kunai in her back...
-
>"I'd appreciate that."
>Maybe while we're here, we can see if she still has that kunai in her back...
>She nods again. "Very well. This way."
>Perhaps once she turns around....
-
>She nods again. "Very well. This way."
>Perhaps once she turns around....
>Follow the pirate.
>Or take the lead, if she indicates. We're easy either way.
-
>Follow the pirate.
>Or take the lead, if she indicates. We're easy either way.
>You follow Ren as she turns and leads you towards the rear of the hold. You take a glance at her back. Not only is your kunai no longer embedded in it, but the area it once occupied has been bandaged; you can only guess at what become of the weapon itself.
>It doesn't take long to spot the numerous signs that battle visited this part of the ship as well. Several crates bear the splintered marks of heavy impacts against them and at least one has been smashed open entirely, scattering a sea of kiwis across the ground; several of them have been crushed under heavy boots and a smear of green along the floor suggests someone may even have slipped on one. Parts of the tarp and rope securing some of the cargo stacks has been slashed, and you can also see a few scattered arrows embedded in the floor or other wooden surfaces - one of them even appears to be pinning some sort of paper talisman to the wall - but there is only a small amount of blood; you suppose this battle may have taken a smaller toll on its participants than the one upstairs.
>"We've secured the crew in one of the unused adjoining rooms," Ren says as she heads towards one of the doors at the back. A pair of tengu are flanking it, looking at least a little the worse for wear, you note - one has a very nasty bruise on her jaw and the other has a blade-sized hole in her outfit, near the shoulder, through which a faintly bloodstained bandage can be seen. Ren exchanges acknowledgements with them and one opens the door for her.
>Stepping inside, you find that the room really does look as though it was entirely unused and is nearly bare, though the way the space is partitioned makes you think it was originally intended for the transport of livestock. Several crew members - the rest of them, presumably - are gathered in an open space here. Their hands and legs are bound with rope, but they're seated about as comfortably as could be expected given their condition. A few looks of unmistakeable contempt are thrown in Ren's direction as she enters, though others look towards you with uncertainty. They don't actually look in very bad shape, to be honest; maybe you and Chisato really did end up bearing the lion's share of it?
-
>Ren mentioned one with a broken arm. Scan the crowd for that one, as well as any others than bear prominant bandaging and such.
-
>Ren mentioned one with a broken arm. Scan the crowd for that one, as well as any others than bear prominant bandaging and such.
>It only takes a moment to spot the crew member with the broken arm. Or, at least you assume the one with their arm in a sling is said crew member. It seems to be well-constructed, at least as much as you can tell from this distance. Aside from that, you see one woman with a bandage around part of her forehead and another with one around their hand. Of course, it's possible others have injuries in less visible places.
-
>After seeing Chisato and Miyuki, this really doesn't come as much surprise.
>Presumably, we don't smell too much blood either, do we?
-
>After seeing Chisato and Miyuki, this really doesn't come as much surprise.
>Presumably, we don't smell too much blood either, do we?
>You smell a little, of course, but not a large amount - nothing to indicate a serious concealed wound, at any rate.
-
>Let out a small breath. Present circumstances notwithstanding, it is still good to see that many good guys in one piece.
-
>Let out a small breath. Present circumstances notwithstanding, it is still good to see that many good guys in one piece.
>You let out a small breath. Really, after getting your vessel taken over by a gang of pirates, things could be much worse....
-
>Well, knowing her people are in one piece might back Murasa feel at least a little less crappy. Maybe.
>"I saw some of my shipmates above, so, I can't say I'm entirely surprised by what I see here, Ren. But it's still good to see with my own eyes."
-
>Well, knowing her people are in one piece might back Murasa feel at least a little less crappy. Maybe.
>"I saw some of my shipmates above, so, I can't say I'm entirely surprised by what I see here, Ren. But it's still good to see with my own eyes."
>It's possible. Certainly better than the alternative, anyway.
>"As I said from the beginning, we have no desire to inflict injury. It is unfortunate that it even came to this."
-
>"You mean BODILY injury, of course. If you didn't want to injure anyone at all, you wouldn't even be here."
>There we go again, wasting breath on one of these pirates.
>"But that to one side, I only came down to check on my shipmates, not have another pointless debate. Had enough of those for one day. So, I suppose I should thank you for letting me."
-
>"You mean BODILY injury, of course. If you didn't want to injure anyone at all, you wouldn't even be here."
>There we go again, wasting breath on one of these pirates.
>Ren maintains her serious, and somehow almost disappointed expression as you point out another omission in their reasoning. Then you decide you're wasting your time to even broach the topic again. You drop it just as quickly.
>"But that to one side, I only came down to check on my shipmates, not have another pointless debate. Had enough of those for one day. So, I suppose I should thank you for letting me."
>"That's not necessary," she replies. "This is merely a security precaution. If you would like to examine their injuries more closely, you may, of course."
-
>"Security?"
>Look over them once again, make sure we didn't miss anything.
-
>"Security?"
>Look over them once again, make sure we didn't miss anything.
>"Keeping them here," I mean. "I would allow more freedom of movement if I felt they wouldn't use it to harm us."
>You take another look over the assembled crew. They're far enough away that they've probably only heard fragments of your conversation, but it's clear that more than a couple are unsure of what you're doing here, and unsure of whether or not they should like it. You don't see anything else of note; they're a mixture of tired, angry, confused, and perhaps a little scared. All about exactly what you would expect.
>"What's going on?" one of them finally asks. "Is the captain alright?"
-
>Well, our jailor DID give us permission...
>Approach the woman. "The captain's fine. She's in a lousy mood, much as anyone would be having to hear Aya talk, on top of everything else, but she's not hurt. Matter of fact, I'm here on her behalf. Least I could do was check on her crew for her, take back some good news. Make sure everyone that was hurt was looked after, like they said."
-
>Well, our jailor DID give us permission...
>Approach the woman. "The captain's fine. She's in a lousy mood, much as anyone would be having to hear Aya talk, on top of everything else, but she's not hurt. Matter of fact, I'm here on her behalf. Least I could do was check on her crew for her, take back some good news. Make sure everyone that was hurt was looked after, like they said."
>You approach the sailor and explain the current situation. She looks at least a little relieved by your words. Others still appear a little suspicious, or perhaps wary of Ren's presence.
>"They haven't hurt us since they brought us here," the vocal one says. "And they said they'd give first aid to anyone with injuries."
>"Fine thing for them to care so much after being the one what caused them!" another angrily snaps. There are some mumbles of agreement.
>"So, I guess the captain got beat, too, then?" one asks, though the tone makes it barely a question.
-
>Offer a slow nod in the direction of the one that asked the question, but there's no need to reply to the angry one. Not only is there nothing we can really do to calm them, she's right, too.
>"I noticed one of us had her arm set. Is that the worst of the injuries down here?"
-
>Offer a slow nod in the direction of the one that asked the question, but there's no need to reply to the angry one. Not only is there nothing we can really do to calm them, she's right, too.
>"I noticed one of us had her arm set. Is that the worst of the injuries down here?"
>You confirm Murasa's defeat with a slow nod and get a quiet frown in reply; though you think that answer was expected, that doesn't mean it was nice to hear.
>"Yeah, I think so," one of them says. "I sprained my shoulder pretty bad, but I don't think anyone else broke anything." There is a chorus of nods and quiet agreement.
-
>"Well, we'll call that a bit of good news. Murasa'll be happy to hear that.... Well, maybe not HAPPY, that'll come once that bunch out there is gone. But still, good news is good news."
-
>"Well, we'll call that a bit of good news. Murasa'll be happy to hear that.... Well, maybe not HAPPY, that'll come once that bunch out there is gone. But still, good news is good news."
>"Could be worse," someone says in a dull tone.
-
>Seems like we've been telling ourselves that ever since voicebox put a crossbow to our neck.
>"Sure could."
>"Well, I suppose that's my mission accomplished. I've gotta get back up on deck, report to the captain."
>Assuming we are not stopped by any of the good guys, leave the room.
-
>Seems like we've been telling ourselves that ever since voicebox put a crossbow to our neck.
>"Sure could."
>"Well, I suppose that's my mission accomplished. I've gotta get back up on deck, report to the captain."
>Assuming we are not stopped by any of the good guys, leave the room.
>It does seem to be a recurring theme....
>You tell the group that you need to head back and deliver your report.
>"Tell her we're ready for round two any time!" one of them shouts as you move to leave. The defiant tone makes you suspect it was meant as much for Ren's ears as your own, though the tengu does not seem to visibly react to it. The two of you exit the room and Ren closes the door behind you.
>"Well, is there anything else I can assist you with?" she asks.
-
>"Actually, yes. There is one thing I've been wondering for a while."
>"Your buddy back there had a point; it is damn strange for one of your enemies to be wandering around armed while you're pillaging your victims place. And yet, Aya let me."
>"Why?"
-
>"Actually, yes. There is one thing I've been wondering for a while."
>"Your buddy back there had a point; it is damn strange for one of your enemies to be wandering around armed while you're pillaging your victims place. And yet, Aya let me."
>"Why?"
>Ren gives you a curious look. "Did you not yourself claim what would happen if you were deprived of that sword?"
-
>"And I meant it, too. And if nothing else, I am genuinely grateful to you that you let me. I may not like this situation much, but I think we can both agree, it feels better than having my guts liquify."
>"But that doesn't change the fact that I'm still an armed enemy of yours. And your captain let me wander this ship regardless. She could easily have said no, have had me bound again. So could you, for that matter, the minute you laid eyes on me down here."
-
>"And I meant it, too. And if nothing else, I am genuinely grateful to you that you let me. I may not like this situation much, but I think we can both agree, it feels better than having my guts liquify."
>"But that doesn't change the fact that I'm still an armed enemy of yours. And your captain let me wander this ship regardless. She could easily have said no, have had me bound again. So could you, for that matter, the minute you laid eyes on me down here."
>Ren lets out a sort of half-sigh. "And what would that have accomplished, exactly? I might as well ask why you didn't draw that sword the moment you laid eyes on me." She pauses a moment and resumes her stoic countenance. "Evidently Aya feels she can trust you, or wishes to see if she can. Consider it a gesture of good faith, if you will. Though you may find it hard to believe, she does not wish to be your enemy. I'm sure she would rather spend an evening with your captain over drinks than at the point of a sword. Or you as well."
-
>"I find it impossible to believe. Because if that were true, none of us would be here, would we."
>"You might want to tell her that, next time you see her. She might be better received if she wasn't a thief and a pirate. And then you wouldn't have to stand here, defending her to her victims while you oversee her theivings. You say she doesn't want to be our enemies? Then maybe you should convince her NOT to be our enemy, or the enemy of anyone else whose path she crosses."
>Pause, size up this pirate, then give her a curious look of our own. "Although... I'd almost believe you've tried before."
-
>"I find it impossible to believe. Because if that were true, none of us would be here, would we."
>"You might want to tell her that, next time you see her. She might be better received if she wasn't a thief and a pirate. And then you wouldn't have to stand here, defending her to her victims while you oversee her theivings. You say she doesn't want to be our enemies? Then maybe you should convince her NOT to be our enemy, or the enemy of anyone else whose path she crosses."
>Pause, size up this pirate, then give her a curious look of our own. "Although... I'd almost believe you've tried before."
>Ren lets little sign of reaction disturb her practiced neutrality, but even she is not completely stoic. The tells are subtle, but if you had to guess, you'd actually say she felt a little hurt by that.
>"We sometimes have... differences of opinion," she says with a twinge of uncomfortableness, "but I owe her more than I can adequately express. Many of us do. She is not the person you think she is or I would not be here now. I will say only that this assault was without malice. You are free to disbelieve this if you wish. Beyond that, I fear I can change nothing."
-
>"Nor do I think there's anything I can say to change what's happening here. So why don't we just leave it at that."
>"If you'll excuse me, Murasa'll want to hear my report."
-
>"Nor do I think there's anything I can say to change what's happening here. So why don't we just leave it at that."
>"If you'll excuse me, Murasa'll want to hear my report."
>"Very well," Ren says with a slow nod.
-
>Back up on deck, then. Maybe we'll get lucky, and Aya will have talked herself out some.
-
>Back up on deck, then. Maybe we'll get lucky, and Aya will have talked herself out some.
>You make your way back across the hold while Ren returns to whatever it was she was doing. Several of the tengu inspecting the cargo have moved around in the meantime; the pear-snatcher is nowhere to be seen and the other pair are working on a new crate. The one they were grappling with earlier lies a few feet aside with its top removed - it seems to have contained boots. You ascend the stairs.
>The situation on the deck has changed a little since you were here last. For one thing, there are chairs now. You're not sure where they were produced from, but both Neu and Ishi are seated in them. The former even seems to have had her bindings undone, though a second glance suggests Ishi is actually tied to hers. She seems to be sulking. Karu is sitting cross-legged beside Murasa, while Aya appears to have elected to stand. Some other things, however, appear to not have changed very much at all.
>"Out of the question!" Murasa, at least, seems a little more lively than earlier.
>"Shame," Aya replies simply, then she glances back towards you as you approach. She grins. "Looking a little less grizzly, I see."
-
>"Got tired of bearing the sight of blood all over me, figured a little polish wouldn't hurt."
-
>"Got tired of bearing the sight of blood all over me, figured a little polish wouldn't hurt."
>Aya nods. "I hope no one gave you any hassle?"
-
>Shrug. "Nothing I didn't expect. One of your bunch drew her sword on me when I went down into the hold, but that's about it."
-
>Shrug. "Nothing I didn't expect. One of your bunch drew her sword on me when I went down into the hold, but that's about it."
>She frowns. "I hope that was all, though?"
-
>Nod. "Nothing came of it, as you can probably tell by my lack of new cuts. Ren came over at that point, and that was that."
-
>Nod. "Nothing came of it, as you can probably tell by my lack of new cuts. Ren came over at that point, and that was that."
>Aya smiles brightly. "She's good like that."
>"If I may..." Neu interjects, "What was the status of the rest of the crew?"
-
>Quietly, "I'll bet she is..."
>Turn to Neu, (good to see her loose), and deliver our report on the crew.
-
>Quietly, "I'll bet she is..."
>Turn to Neu, (good to see her loose), and deliver our report on the crew.
>You mutter a little something under your breath, then turn to Neu and deliver your report on the crew. You describe Chisato and Miyuki's conditions, and how Hatako was apparently suitably attentive to their injuries, and then cover the rest of the crew, the manner of their confinement in the hold, the level of care they have received, and the overall limited extent of their injuries. Though it all, you can't shake the feeling that Aya is beaming a smug smile over your shoulder as you more or less confirm she's been living up to her promises. For her part, Neu takes in your report with a stoic nod, though she does look a little relieved by it. Murasa, if anything, looks vaguely irritated.
>Partway through, a tengu flies up through the cargo hatch and briefly interrupts to deliver a report of her own to Aya. The pirate leader excuses herself lightly and the two of them step aside to briefly discuss the progress of their search. You don't know if she was intending to be out of earshot or not, but it's still easy enough for you to hear most of what they're saying. Not that it turns out to be very interesting - mostly logistical details concerning the cargo manifest, team distribution, and which rooms have been examined so far. They obviously still haven't found what they're looking for.
>"We're fortunate there weren't any more serious injuries," Neu says as you wrap up.
>"Yeah..." Murasa mutters.
-
>"All things told, I'd say that Chisato and I got the worst of it. And that's all right for me, yknow, Youkai and all, I'll heal easy enough. But Chisato... Well, knowing her, we'll probably want to make sure she doesn't try to jump outta bed the first chance she gets."
-
>"All things told, I'd say that Chisato and I got the worst of it. And that's all right for me, yknow, Youkai and all, I'll heal easy enough. But Chisato... Well, knowing her, we'll probably want to make sure she doesn't try to jump outta bed the first chance she gets."
>Neu screws up her face a little. "Yes, she can be quite stubborn at times."
>"We're going to be short-handed," Murasa says.
>The moth frowns, though she looks a little caught off-guard by this. "That may well be true, but-"
>"And we still need to fix that," Ishi grumbles, jerking her head towards the damaged rotor.
>Neu pauses a moment and seems to take a deliberate breath. "Perhaps that might be expedited by actually agreeing to some of their concessions."
>"Don't give 'em a thing," Ishi says.
>"This is hardly a voluntary arrangement," Neu says, throwing the kappa a firm gaze.
-
>"I gathered from what I heard on the way back up that the... 'negotiations' haven't been settled yet. I know what she wanted from me, but what did she want from you?"
-
>"I gathered from what I heard on the way back up that the... 'negotiations' haven't been settled yet. I know what she wanted from me, but what did she want from you?"
>"Nothin' she's gettin'," Ishi replies with finality.
>"A variety of things," Neu says, paying little mind to the kappa. "Technical expertise, parts and material for repairs, cargo with a high saleable value, even some of the captain's favorite brandy..."
>"Hell, I'd let her have it, too, if it would just get them the hell off my ship," Murasa mutters.
>"Unfortunately," Neu continues, "while she is not being as cutthroat as her position would allow, it will still be a significant financial loss for us. We also require repairs, which will incur additional expenses."
>"And more delays," Murasa says.
>Ishi frowns sulkily. "They should be paying us for leaving the Bunnymallow in pieces large enough to pick back up and put together again."
-
>Chuckle a little at Ishi's monniker for Aya's damaged boat. Bad situation or not, it's still funny.
>"And all this is, of course, in addition to what they came here to steal in the first place. This relic, whatever it is."
>Let out a breath. First the chase, then the attack, then the trap, then the second fight, then dealing with Aya, then scouting the ship, and doing all that with a pretty banged up body.... A mouse is starting to reach her limit here.
>"I wish I could do something more to help you guys, but, I may be a lot of things, but I'm not much of a negotiator."
-
>Chuckle a little at Ishi's monniker for Aya's damaged boat. Bad situation or not, it's still funny.
>"And all this is, of course, in addition to what they came here to steal in the first place. This relic, whatever it is."
>Let out a breath. First the chase, then the attack, then the trap, then the second fight, then dealing with Aya, then scouting the ship, and doing all that with a pretty banged up body.... A mouse is starting to reach her limit here.
>"I wish I could do something more to help you guys, but, I may be a lot of things, but I'm not much of a negotiator."
>You snicker at Ishi; it's nice to still have cause to do so at a time like this. But you really are running on almost empty now. You're not even quite sure how you're still upright.
>"The problem is ours to resolve," Neu says, "And I'm sure we eventually will, one way or another." She throws a subtle glance in Ishi's direction. "Though the losses are undesirable, they will not ruin us."
>"Frillypants might..." Ishi grumbles.
>"In any case," Neu continues, "You've already gone far above anything that could be expected of a guest."
>"Yeah, don't worry about," Murasa says. "This isn't supposed to be your problem."
-
>"We're all in this together. Simple as that."
>Besides. We owe Neu, and Murasa, for even letting us come aboard.
>"Although, if you don't think you need me up here, I'll go rest up for a while. Then I can help put things back in place when the pirates are gone."
-
>"We're all in this together. Simple as that."
>Besides. We owe Neu, and Murasa, for even letting us come aboard.
>"Although, if you don't think you need me up here, I'll go rest up for a while. Then I can help put things back in place when the pirates are gone."
>"The sentiment is appreciated," Neu says.
>There is that, true. Not that it's ended up being the kind of ride you expected....
>"Sure, go on," Murasa says, then casts a glare in Karu's direction. "And ya think you could let me out of this damn thing already? I'm startin' to itch."
>"Sorry," Karu replies without opening her eyes. She actually does sound a little apologetic, though her tone is oddly lightsome.
>You note the tengu that was conversing with Aya take flight and swoop towards the hold once more.
-
>Sorry. Yeah. Everyone's sorry.
>Let's get out of here, go lie down.
-
>Sorry. Yeah. Everyone's sorry.
>Let's get out of here, go lie down.
>You're almost getting tired of hearing it.
>You beat a hasty retreat before Aya can come back and accost you again. At least as hasty as you feel like mustering at the moment. This turns out to not be quite hasty enough to miss hearing her pick up where she left off. Contract negotiation at swordpoint, with a smug and garrulous officiator no less; they'd need to pay you to stay for it. Fortunately, you can leave this for someone else to suffer through. You wearily make your way down the stairs and back to your room. And then you flop on the bed. The relief as you finally remove the burden from your leg is almost enough to bring a tear to your eye. Almost. But since no one's watching....
>You probably should have tended to some of these wounds more properly, but now you find you scarcely care. You feel as though your whole body were suddenly leaden, and lie without moving even an inch. Still, the actual pain makes nodding off to sleep a bit difficult. You can hear the pirates walking around the ship, talking among themselves and dragging heavy objects to and fro. And Chisato snoring, for that matter. Time passes. It becomes hard to say exactly how much; the minutes blur into a sort of haze of miserable exhaustion. Maybe you really did fall asleep for a moment there - you're not even sure anymore. The throb in your leg and side dull, but do not abate. Hell, they feel more present to you than the bed beneath your back. You shift. This draws new pains from the many wounds that circumscribe your body. The unyielding surface of your berth digs into your shoulder. Well, it's different, anyway. The room seems to grow further away.
>You are pulled from your reverie by the sound of rapid footfalls approaching from down the hallway.
>"Got it!" someone cries.
-
>Snort, groan, roll over.
>It was inevitable...
>Did we recognize that voice as one of the pirates?
-
>Snort, groan, roll over.
>It was inevitable...
>Did we recognize that voice as one of the pirates?
>You groan and roll over, then grimace a little. This maneuver hurts, of course, and your brain feels like it's wrapped in cotton batting.
>It's a bit fuzzy, but maybe... the rabbit?
-
>Of course it would be. That was what they brought her for, wasn't it.
>Wait for her footfalls to run past, then gauge our condition.
-
>Of course it would be. That was what they brought her for, wasn't it.
>Wait for her footfalls to run past, then gauge our condition.
>You do seem to recall that she was part of a 'search team', anyway.
>In another couple seconds, the rabbit bounds past your door - she covers ground pretty quickly for such a short stride! You catch a brief hint of something small and black in her hands though the opening in the door, and then she's gone. As for your condition, you don't know for sure if you're feeling any better than you were earlier. You may ache less, though it's hard to tell. Your head is definitely fuzzier, though.
-
>Acquire coffee later.
>Do we feel up to moving?
-
>Acquire coffee later.
>Do we feel up to moving?
>You make a mental note.
>You could if you had to.
-
>Well, if that rabbit has what they came for, we owe it to ourselves to be there when the pirates leave.
>Let's investigate.
-
>Well, if that rabbit has what they came for, we owe it to ourselves to be there when the pirates leave.
>Let's investigate.
>You decide the seeing the backside of the pirates is enough reason to drag yourself out of bed.
>...and almost immediately regret this. You grit your teeth and stifle a wince; you'd almost gotten used to what it felt like to not be standing. Still, you pull yourself upright and head on down the corridor after her.
>You reach the deck in time to see the rabbit bounding across the other end of it. Things are a bit more crowded than when you were here last, though. They seem to have set the cargo winch up and several pirates are operating it, hauling crates up from the hold. You note the smaller pirate ship has pulled close alongside the Maiden and they seem to be coordinating receipt of cargo on their own end. Murasa and Ishi are still where you left them, though there's no sign of Neu.
>The rabbit holds up whatever it is in her hand and waves it in the air as she dashes, crying "Found it!"
>Murasa seems to swear under her breath.
>"Get over here, you little munchkin!" Ishi cries, nearly knocking her chair over as she flails in it. "I'll tie your ears in a knot!"
>You see Hatoko swoop towards them from the wheelhouse.
-
>Glance at the sky, try to gauge how much time has passed.
>Is the pirate's loot setting off our treasure sense? The bit in the rabbit's hands, speficially, not whatever else they're stealing.
>Whether it is or isn't, what does it look like?
-
>Glance at the sky, try to gauge how much time has passed.
>Is the pirate's loot setting off our treasure sense? The bit in the rabbit's hands, speficially, not whatever else they're stealing.
>Whether it is or isn't, what does it look like?
>You glance at the sky. It's hard to say for certain, but you don't think it can have been too long. Maybe an hour, at most?
>You don't... think so, though it might help if you were closer. Most of the rest of this stuff isn't, either, for what it's worth; you figure a lot of it's only valuable in bulk.
>You're not close enough to get a good view, but it appears to be a black rhombus, about the size of the rabbit's hand and fairly thin. You think there may be some detailing on it, but you can't make it out at this distance. You have no immediate idea what it is, short of an bizarrely important flooring tile.
-
>Only an hour? That's a stroke of luck in our favor.
>Let's just stand back and watch, for now. We're only here to watch them leave.
-
>Only an hour? That's a stroke of luck in our favor.
>Let's just stand back and watch, for now. We're only here to watch them leave.
>It doesn't seem to have taken them too long to locate their target, in the end. Well, assuming this is it, anyway.
>You stand back and watch as Hatoko flies down to meet the rabbit.
>The latter waves the object at the former and lets out a satisfied chuckle. "Easy as pie!"
>"I even stopped to eat it first!" Hatoko replies lightly, in an cheerful echo of the rabbit's own voice; her face somehow reflects none of the mirth in her words.
>"Y'know," the rabbit replies in a caustic tone. "It's real annoying when you do that."
>Hatoko doesn't react visibly to her words, but returns to her own voice nevertheless. "You're sure this is it?"
>"Check out their reaction, if you got doubts," she says, jerking her head towards Murasa and Ishi. "'sides, no one goes to that much trouble to hide junk."
>Hatoko gives the object an appraising look. "Where did you find it?"
>"Little compartment tucked under one of the engine maintenance ducts. Never even spot if it didn't know it was there. Lucky you got me along, eh? Couldn't figure how to pop it, though, so we had to pry the whole works apart with metal cutters and crowbars."
>Never before in your life have you been able to pinpoint with such precision the exact moment someone decided to commit murder.
>"I'll strangle you with your own ears! I'll tie you to the rotors until your brain turns into pudding, you little- gckkk!" At this point, Ishi's tirade is cut off by her finally succeeding in toppling her chair outright and planting face-first into the deck.
>"Can it, Ishi," Murasa mutters. Amazingly, the kappa actually seems to rein herself in. "Actually, nevermind - let's hear a few more. I could use a laugh." It actually takes you a moment to realize this is Hatoko.
>"And you can shut the hell up, too," Murasa says darkly. "You got what you came for, didn't you?"
>Hatoko gives her a pointed look. The corner of her mouth creeps up ever so slightly. "If you say so."
>"Where's the boss, anyway?" the rabbit asks, craning her head around the deck.
>"She's supervising the cargo transfer," Hatoko replies, then holds her hand out. "I'll del-" But the rabbit has already turned and bolted back towards the stairs. And, incidentally, you.
-
>Resist the urge to trip her.
>Resist more, it's REALLY tempting. Remember we're still gimped...
>Let her go past. The stealing's done, even a minor thing like sending this particular thief sprawling is meaningless.
-
>Resist the urge to trip her.
>Resist more, it's REALLY tempting. Remember we're still gimped...
>Let her go past. The stealing's done, even a minor thing like sending this particular thief sprawling is meaningless.
>You wrestle fiercly with the urge to stick a foot out and send the little rabbit flying. She's barely even looking where she's going - it'd be so easy! ...but you decide that it's just a waste of energy at this point, whatever the brief satisfaction it would give.
>You take another look at the object in her hands as she bounds in your general direction. Its identity remains inscrutible, but the detailing on it becomes clearer. Well, clearer in the sense that you can see it; you still don't have a clue what it means, if it even means anything at all. But the smooth black surface of the object is traced with an intricate geometric design of intersecting angular forms, writ in a subtle gradation of blues and purples. There seems to be an almost iridescent sheen to them. As she rushes past, you feel something odd brush briefly against your senses - the metaphysical equivalent of a scent you just can't place. And then it's gone. You hear the rabbit start on down the stairs behind you.
>For a moment, it looked as though Hatoko would pursue her, but she simply turns and flies back towards the wheelhouse instead. Ishi struggles to right herself.
-
>Was there anything on that object that seemed similar to either our sword, or what we saw on those torii gates underground before the spider youkai attacked us?
>Can we see into the wheelhouse from here? Specifically, who's in there that isn't a thief?
>Go help Ishi up. As best as we can.
-
>Was there anything on that object that seemed similar to either our sword, or what we saw on those torii gates underground before the spider youkai attacked us?
>Can we see into the wheelhouse from here? Specifically, who's in there that isn't a thief?
>Go help Ishi up. As best as we can.
>While both could be described as angular, this didn't really seem to resemble the writing on Kumokirimaru. In fact, it didn't particularly look like writing at all, but rather some sort of geometric pattern.
>You can't really see inside it, though Hatoko herself is standing outside. It looks like she's merely using it as a good vantage point to supervise the activity on deck.
>You go over and try to help back Ishi up, since it doesn't look like she's going to be able to manage it on her own. Though she's going at it with such vigor that she nearly clocks you in the jaw with the back of the chair as you lean over to assist.
>"Thanks," she replies curtly as you right her, though you suspect the sourness on her face is not meant for you.
>"What brings you back up here, anyway?" Murasa asks. She sounds tired.
-
>Grin and Ishi. "Besides turning kappas upright?"
>Back to serious mode. "That rabbit's shouting woke me up- least I THINK I was asleep- so I had to see for myself."
-
>Grin and Ishi. "Besides turning kappas upright?"
>Back to serious mode. "That rabbit's shouting woke me up- least I THINK I was asleep- so I had to see for myself."
>"Might have a full-time job with that unless she settles down," Murasa says, throwing a vaguely irritated look at Ishi. The kappa responds with a sulky frown.
>Murasa nods. "Fair enough, I suppose." She jerks her head towards the cargo winch and the pirates operating it. "They're busy taking their cut."
-
>"So I gathered. Is that where Neu is, down there with the pirates? I wondered, when I didn't see her up here."
-
>"So I gathered. Is that where Neu is, down there with the pirates? I wondered, when I didn't see her up here."
>She nods again. "Yeah, busy co-coordinating the transfer. And, I suppose, watching to make sure they don't take more than we agreed to, for whatever that's worth." The roll of her eyes makes clear just how little she thinks that it.
-
>Suck in a breath through our teeth. This is not the time to ask about that dingus.
>"So.... That's it, then. They'll be leaving soon."
-
>Suck in a breath through our teeth. This is not the time to ask about that dingus.
>"So.... That's it, then. They'll be leaving soon."
>You elect to save any inquiries about the relic until later.
>"Not soon enough," Murasa mutters.
-
>"Amen to that, captain. Amen to that..."
-
>"Amen to that, captain. Amen to that..."
>Murasa just watches them winch up another pallet of shipping crates with a grim, but weary expression on her face. Ishi seems content to just continue sulking. Or discontent, you suppose.
-
>Is Neu's chair still present? If so, have a seat.
-
>Is Neu's chair still present? If so, have a seat.
>It is not. Someone must have tidied it away after she left.
-
>Figures the bloody pirates would tidy up when leaving something out would have been nice.
>Find a convenient place for us to sit down, rest our back against and stretch our leg out. Then have a seat.
-
>Figures the bloody pirates would tidy up when leaving something out would have been nice.
>Find a convenient place for us to sit down, rest our back against and stretch our leg out. Then have a seat.
>Even when they're not trying, they still seem to be awfully good at raining on your day.
>You find a spot over by the rotor strut where you can sit down and sprawl out a little. Then you give your leg some blessed relief, lie back, and watch the pirates finish up their 'work'.
>It actually takes longer than you'd expected, much to your annoyance; cargo loading and unloading is apparently time-consuming, especially when the tengu ship doesn't seem set up to be top-loaded in this fashion. And so they compensate for this by throwing more people at the problem, and for a while the scene is one of many figures swooping to and fro along the neighbouring ship. It looks like they're taking a hell of a lot of stuff, to your eye, though you suppose it's probably only a fraction of what's in the Maiden's hold. It's mostly uneventful, though at one point, a mistimed hoist bombards the deck with a rain of peaches and plums, some hammering out a chaotic beat upon the deck while others splatter wetly against it. Someone swears. Ishi taunts one of the tengu who was nearly pummeled by their mistake. Murasa seems to pointedly not be watching. It leaves something of a mess, though you suppose that hardly looks amiss among the blood and other debris that will need cleaning after all is said and done.
>Eventually things start to wind down. The flow of cargo slows. Pirates disperse and start to filter back to their ships. The winch is taken down. Aya makes another appearance on deck in her characteristically enthusiastic manner, restating her invitation to tag along with her, and even asking Murasa is she's sure she doesn't want to swap stories over drinks before she leaves. The response to each of these questions is predictable, and while Aya still looks disappointed, she doesn't seem surprised.
>At Aya's word, Karu makes a series of hand gestures and speaks softly beneath her breath. The ring of talismans around Murasa springs to life and each seems to briefly assume the form of a stylized bird for a just moment as they fly back neatly into her hands. She smiles and bows her head, whispers another quiet word, then folds them up and slips them into her robe.
>Murasa stands and stretches, looking more than a little sore. There's no mistaking the tone of the glare she throws in the onymouji's direction, though she merely responds with a demure smile - a little sheepish, even. Then Murasa walks over to untie Ishi. And, rather more surprisingly, Karu starts to approach you.
-
>Keep a grip on the sheathe of our sword. No telling what Aya's spellcaster might want.
>Glance in her direction, then turn our head away slightly.
-
>Keep a grip on the sheathe of our sword. No telling what Aya's spellcaster might want.
>Glance in her direction, then turn our head away slightly.
>You shift a wary hand unto your weapon, then throw her a glance and look away again.
>She frowns a little as she approaches. "You don't need to do that, you know. I'm not going to steal it from you."
-
>"Then what DO you want?"
-
>"Then what DO you want?"
>"Aya asked me to see if I could figure out how this sword ticks," she says. "And if maybe I can do something with it to help you a bit."
-
>Okay, now she has our attention.
>Look back at her. "I beg your pardon."
-
>Okay, now she has our attention.
>Look back at her. "I beg your pardon."
>"Aya asked me to see if I could figure out how this sword ticks," she repeats. "And if maybe I can do something with it to help you a bit." She smiles.
-
>"So first she tries to bribe me with your help, now she's offering it for free?"
-
>"So first she tries to bribe me with your help, now she's offering it for free?"
>"Um... maybe?" She gives you a sheepish grin.
-
>"You'll forgive me if I'm a bit dubious."
-
>"You'll forgive me if I'm a bit dubious."
>"Sure, I can do that!" A little more color returns to her smile. "But you know, if she'd really wanted to take it, she could have done it hours ago."
-
>Aya's pet exorcist might be a touch on the simple side here.
>"Yeah, I know. I've been sure of that ever since that parrot of their's almost punctured my throat. What I don't get now is why Aya would turn around and ask you to help me for nothing."
-
>Aya's pet exorcist might be a touch on the simple side here.
>"Yeah, I know. I've been sure of that ever since that parrot of their's almost punctured my throat. What I don't get now is why Aya would turn around and ask you to help me for nothing."
>It would be a little odd for someone obviously competent, but she certainly seems on the lightsome side of things....
>"Because she'd rather not sit around and leave you to die if there's something she could do to help? Mind you, I'm not saying for sure that I can, so don't get your hopes up too much. But I'm happy to give it a try, if you're willing."
-
>Funny how she's already left us sitting around, letting our clock run down while she satisfied her greed. Guess she's only generous once she gets her own way.
>Still.... She has already stolen the thing.
>Does this spellflinger show any obvious signs of deception, something Aya said that missy here isn't mentioning?
-
>Funny how she's already left us sitting around, letting our clock run down while she satisfied her greed. Guess she's only generous once she gets her own way.
>Still.... She has already stolen the thing.
>Does this spellflinger show any obvious signs of deception, something Aya said that missy here isn't mentioning?
>You grumble inwardly at Aya once more, this gesture of hers somehow managing to get under your skin despite it being ostensibly generous. Still, perhaps it's worth considering....
>Karu doesn't show any obvious signs of being deceptive. If anything, her bearing is disarming, though you suppose this could be a practiced deceit. Still, that's not the immediate impression you get - if she's lying, she's pretty good at it.
-
>Look around. Where is Aya now? And if she's visible, is she looking at us?
-
>Look around. Where is Aya now? And if she's visible, is she looking at us?
>You glance around for Aya. She seems to be towards the stairs, speaking with Hatoko. She's not currently facing you.
-
>Getting a headache already. The idea that this miserable thief and her mage could actually help us....
>"Give me a second."
>Look at Murasa. Is she still in earshot? If so, does she show any notable reaction to our conversation?
-
>Getting a headache already. The idea that this miserable thief and her mage could actually help us....
>"Give me a second."
>Look at Murasa. Is she still in earshot? If so, does she show any notable reaction to our conversation?
>"Sure," she says, "though your captain would probably appreciate it if you didn't take too many."
>You look over at Murasa. She is still attempting to untie Ishi, and evidently struggling with it - the pirates must have gone heavy-duty on the little kappa. The pair of them may be peripherally in earshot, though you don't know how much they've heard; neither of them seem to be paying much attention to you, at least.
-
>"Let me make this clear up front." Point at her for emphasis. "Whatever the result, this doesn't mean I owe you, or Aya, anything. Clear?"
-
>"Let me make this clear up front." Point at her for emphasis. "Whatever the result, this doesn't mean I owe you, or Aya, anything. Clear?"
>Karu raises her hands disarmingly. "I'm just trying to help."
-
>Bite our tongue before saying something to the effect of 'bullshit.'
>Spit. Only a matter of time before aya comes over to gloat and/or fuel her own ego...
>But, if- IF- on the off chance that pirate isn't doing this to put us in her debt, and is only doing this for herself, then all that's at stake is our pride. Is our pride swelled enough to tell Aya and her accomplice to go take a long jump into a shallow lake?
>No. No it isn't. But not by much. And if Aya trys to use this against us later? No chance.
>"Fine."
-
>Bite our tongue before saying something to the effect of 'bullshit.'
>Spit. Only a matter of time before aya comes over to gloat and/or fuel her own ego...
>But, if- IF- on the off chance that pirate isn't doing this to put us in her debt, and is only doing this for herself, then all that's at stake is our pride. Is our pride swelled enough to tell Aya and her accomplice to go take a long jump into a shallow lake?
>No. No it isn't. But not by much. And if Aya trys to use this against us later? No chance.
>"Fine."
>You narrowly stifle the impulse to call bullshit on this whole affair and tell both Aya and her onymouji to go leap off a cliff, but... well... Can you really afford to pass up any chance at a cure, however remote? Is spiting Aya honestly worth risking your own death? You almost surprise yourself with just how narrow the margin is, so poisoned has this episode left you, but eventually concede to swallow your pride and let Karu do... whatever it is she's here to do."
>Karu smiles. "Okay, now if you could show me that sword of yours, then? You say you can't actually have it off your person, right?" Her tone is inquisitive, but lacks gravity; she might almost be asking you about the weather.
-
>Does this woman not even realize where she is, and what she's just done?
>"That's right. If I lose contact with it, well, the scene would be uglier than almost anything else that's happened today."
>Put our hand on the katana's pommel, but pause.
>"Aya did mention this to her crew, right? I don't want some tengu jumping me 'cuz they think I'm trying to cut you."
-
>Does this woman not even realize where she is, and what she's just done?
>"That's right. If I lose contact with it, well, the scene would be uglier than almost anything else that's happened today."
>Put our hand on the katana's pommel, but pause.
>"Aya did mention this to her crew, right? I don't want some tengu jumping me 'cuz they think I'm trying to cut you."
>If she does, she seems quite unperturbed by it.
>Karu tilts her head a little. "How do you know this for sure, anyway? I mean, given that you don't even know how it works in the first place?"
>You put a hand on Kumokirimaru's grip, then pause.
>"No one's going to jump you," she says dismissively. "And you can always just not point it at me, if you're worried someone's going to get the wrong impression."
-
>"Can ya blame me?"
>Withdraw the sword for its sheathe, but slowly, no need to get the pirates antsy.
>"And I know because I was told. I don't think we have time for the whole story, but the short version, I was sinking fast after dropping the sword, but after it was put back in my hands, I... Well, I didn't get BETTER, but I wasn't dying as fast."
-
>"Can ya blame me?"
>Withdraw the sword for its sheathe, but slowly, no need to get the pirates antsy.
>"And I know because I was told. I don't think we have time for the whole story, but the short version, I was sinking fast after dropping the sword, but after it was put back in my hands, I... Well, I didn't get BETTER, but I wasn't dying as fast."
>"Don't worry so much," she says. "We're not here to hurt you."
>You slowly unsheathe Kumokirimaru while Karu watches with rapt attention. Nobody pounces on you.
>Karu glances up from the sword blade. "You look pretty good for someone who was 'dying fast' a little while ago. How far away was the sword from you at the time, anyway? Did you drop it off the top of a building or something?"
-
>"I actually don't know the details. I was in a coma at the time. Woulda stayed there, too, if a local goddess hadn't had a flash of genius. One minute, I was staggering through a forest after getting blighted. Then I must have passed out, cuz the next thing I know, I'm in a bed, the sword tied to my hand, and I'm getting told I've got two weeks or less to find a cure that has a good chance not to exist. And that I shouldn't let the sword go again, or those weeks turn to hours, or less. I haven't really felt the urge to experiment with that part."
-
>"I actually don't know the details. I was in a coma at the time. Woulda stayed there, too, if a local goddess hadn't had a flash of genius. One minute, I was staggering through a forest after getting blighted. Then I must have passed out, cuz the next thing I know, I'm in a bed, the sword tied to my hand, and I'm getting told I've got two weeks or less to find a cure that has a good chance not to exist. And that I shouldn't let the sword go again, or those weeks turn to hours, or less. I haven't really felt the urge to experiment with that part."
>Karu frowns. "I suppose I can't blame you for that. What's this about a goddess, though? Is this sword her work?"
-
>"No, completely different faith. If it WAS her faith, chances are I wouldn't be here."
-
>"No, completely different faith. If it WAS her faith, chances are I wouldn't be here."
>"So how did you come by it, anyway?" she asks, reaching out a couple fingers to gently run across the flat of the blade. Her eyes grow slightly distant.
-
>"That's another long story. Short version, I found it downstream of an old temple, deep underground. Well, what was left of an old temple, anyway."
-
>"That's another long story. Short version, I found it downstream of an old temple, deep underground. Well, what was left of an old temple, anyway."
>"Underground?" She glances back up at you. "That's interesting. Any sign of what faith it was? Iconography, inscriptions, that sort of stuff? Though I suppose if they were in the same language as this, you wouldn't be able to read it, would you..."
-
>Shake our head.
>"Didn't see anything around where I found the sword. And I didn't get a good look at the temple before I got ambushed by a pissed off spider youkai."
>Snort out a chuckle.
>"Seems to be a running trend with me. Two ambushes in less than a week."
-
>Shake our head.
>"Didn't see anything around where I found the sword. And I didn't get a good look at the temple before I got ambushed by a pissed off spider youkai."
>Snort out a chuckle.
>"Seems to be a running trend with me. Two ambushes in less than a week."
>"Ill-fortune," she says with a sage frown. "I could perform a divination for you after this, too, if you'd like. Wouldn't want to make it a third, I'm sure."
>Then she looks intensely at the sword again, and offer a frown of a different sort. "I'd really like to be able to work on this properly. It's a bit awkward with you having to hold onto it. You seem fine with it at your side, so it can't just be physical contact that's required...." She pauses, then shifts her body around closer to yours. "Could you hold it out this way, and move your hand up a little so that I could hold onto it, too?"
-
>A divination on how to avoid ambushes by one of the people that ambushed you? THERE'S an irony. Smile a little at this.
>Since we became blighted, has anyone ever touched the sword the same time we did?
-
>A divination on how to avoid ambushes by one of the people that ambushed you? THERE'S an irony. Smile a little at this.
>Since we became blighted, has anyone ever touched the sword the same time we did?
>You crack a little smile despite yourself, though the irony of the situation seems to pass right over Karu's head.
>Not that you've been aware of, though presumably someone had to handle it to tie it to your hand while you were unconscious.
-
>Either Ichirin or Minoriko, then. And they seemed unaffected, and so did we. Well, presumably, anyway.
>"Yeah, that should be okay."
>Do as she says.
-
>Either Ichirin or Minoriko, then. And they seemed unaffected, and so did we. Well, presumably, anyway.
>"Yeah, that should be okay."
>Do as she says.
>You give Karu the okay and shift your hold on the sword around enough to allow her access to it. She slips her hand over the base of the grip, butting up against yours, and holds tight. Then she closes her eyes.
>After a few moments, you can faintly see her eyes start to dart around beneath closed lids, almost as though she were looking at something. She bites down on one side of her lip. "Hmmm...."
>Without opening her eyes or releasing her hold on your sword, Karu reaches a hand into her robes and produces another slip of paper, this one of a slightly different design than those which formed the ring around Murasa. She holds it to her face and blows a gentle puff of breath against it, then flicks her fingers and sends it spiraling through the air, its movement far more swift and aerodynamic than a piece of paper has any right to be. Eventually, it settles lightly onto Kumokirimaru and folds itself over the blunt side of the blade.
>"What do you think?" she asks.
-
>"I think I'd like to know what, exactly, that thing's supposed to do."
-
>"I think I'd like to know what, exactly, that thing's supposed to do."
>"Oh, I wasn't talking to you," she says absently, then her brow furrows. "Really? That's interesting..."
-
>Okay, then.
>Best let her do her thing, I guess.
-
>Okay, then.
>Best let her do her thing, I guess.
>With a proverbial shrug, you decide to leave Karu to her thing.
>The onmyouji nods thoughtfully. "Uh-huh... Wow!" Then she frowns a little. "I wonder...."
>She reaches into her robes again and produces another strip of paper.
>"Don't worry," she says. "this won't hurt a bit." And with that, she traces a sort of meandering curve through the air with the talisman and releases it from between her fingers, where it starts spriling lazily towards your face.
-
>Blow at it
-
>Blow at it
>You blow at the drifting talisman and set it spiraling off course, though by a lot less than you'd expect; it's almost as though the paper is twisting with the wind so that it ends up following something close to its original course. It manages to make this look like chance actions of the breeze, but you have your doubts. It's also probably still going to brush against the side of your head, even if it misses your face.
-
>Magic.
>Well, we're in for it now. If it's harmful, we couldn't stop her doing it anyway. If it isn't, well, one less thing to worry about.
-
>Magic.
>Well, we're in for it now. If it's harmful, we couldn't stop her doing it anyway. If it isn't, well, one less thing to worry about.
>It does seem so.
>You decide that it's going to land on you one way or another, so you may as well just get it over with. And indeed, you feel the edge of the paper touch against the side of your head as it flutters past. It seems to stick there, almost as if it were tangled on something. Karu frowns in concentration. Somewhat further away, you see Murasa look in your direction and frown as well. She takes a step towards you while Ishi, apparently free at last, rubs her wrists and stretches sore limbs.
>"What's going on over here, anyway?" Murasa asks, giving the whole scene a dubious look.
>"Shhh!" Karu says.
-
>Shrug slightly with our left arm.
>Can we be exorcised like ghosts can? Because that would be bad. More specifically, do ghosts and youkai have any commonalities in that regard, that we are aware of?
-
>Shrug slightly with our left arm.
>Can we be exorcised like ghosts can? Because that would be bad. More specifically, do ghosts and youkai have any commonalities in that regard, that we are aware of?
>You give a little shrug with your free arm. Murasa continues to watch the pair of you with a wary expression, but doesn't immediately say anything else.
>You don't... think so. At least not in quite the same way - your connection to the physical world is much more concrete than theirs. But youkai do share with ghosts a susceptibility to spiritual attacks and can sustain great damage from them, even where a human would shrug off the very same thing. Of course, you're a lot more resilient against mundane injuries, and those tend to be far more common.... But now that you think on it, you wouldn't be at all surprised if Karu had some anti-youkai techniques in her repertoire, but your life has already been effectively in these pirates' hands for a while, so you suppose this isn't really any worse.
>The look of focus on Karu's face deepens. She holds her free hand up to her face and makes a seal with it, and then another. She seems to be chanting something under her breath, but the sounds don't mean anything to you - a mantra of some sort, maybe? You feel your head start to tingle oddly where the paper touches it. It isn't really an unpleasant sensation, though you find yourself feeling just a little bit guarded after your last train of thought. But nothing worse seems to happen; the tingling intensifies a but, but never becomes painful, and the rest of you feels the same as before.
>"Well, that's interesting..." Karu eventually says, then pauses a moment. "Try letting go of the sword. Just a little."
-
>Give her a flat look.
>"You're joking, right."
-
>Give her a flat look.
>"You're joking, right."
>You give her a flat look, though this seems to be lost on her with her eyes still closed.
>"No, not at all," she says. "I actually don't think it'll do you any harm, believe it or not. And if it does, you can always just pick it back up again, right?"
-
>"You're asking too much. I barely have time enough left- less now, thanks to you lot- and now you're asking me to trust one of the people that ambushed us with something like this?"
-
>"You're asking too much. I barely have time enough left- less now, thanks to you lot- and now you're asking me to trust one of the people that ambushed us with something like this?"
>Karu opens her eyes and frowns at you. "Well, I didn't ambush you. And I'm not trying to hurt you, either."
-
>"You're on their side. Your word doesn't carry a lot of weight. For all I know, Aya got you to do this as payback on me for throwing her bribe offer back in her face."
-
>"You're on their side. Your word doesn't carry a lot of weight. For all I know, Aya got you to do this as payback on me for throwing her bribe offer back in her face."
>Her frown deepens. "You really think she'd do that?"
-
>"Why shouldn't she? Maybe she just wants to see what'll happen to me when this blight kicks into overdrive."
>"You want me to trust you? Give me a reason. And the word of theives isn't good enough."
-
>"Why shouldn't she? Maybe she just wants to see what'll happen to me when this blight kicks into overdrive."
>"You want me to trust you? Give me a reason. And the word of theives isn't good enough."
>"That's a pretty awful thing to think of someone..." She actually looks a little unsettled, imagining this.
>Karu pauses. "If you've already said you won't believe me, what can I even say? I don't want to hurt you, Aya doesn't want to hurt you, and even if she did, she could have done it without any of this." She gestures vaguely to herself and the talismans she threw. "But I suppose you can hold onto it, and we can leave it at that."
-
>Let out a long breath. Should have stayed in Braston...
>"All right. Let's start with this. Tell me why, exactly, you think it's safe for me to let go of my sword now. Have you cured me?"
-
>Let out a long breath. Should have stayed in Braston...
>"All right. Let's start with this. Tell me why, exactly, you think it's safe for me to let go of my sword now. Have you cured me?"
>This certainly hasn't turned into the trip you'd imagined, to say the very least.
>She shakes her head. "I haven't done anything to you at all. But that power that's in your sword? Well, there's some of it in you, too. And I don't think it's coming from holding it, or there should be some in me, too, and there isn't. So I wanted to see for sure."
-
>Think back to what Minoriko said....
>Wait a second, that might be because of the medicine. It was grown from the power of the sword, after all. But then, Minoriko and Ichirin said we didn't show improvement before we had both... didn't she?
>"Believe it or not, I've actually asked that question before, to the goddess who told me about the blight. She said she didn't think that it was possible to internalize that power, unless someone who was especially....."
>Oh, cheese. "Someone in tune with spirituality.", she said. Thief or not, that's this one. That's what onmyouji do.
-
>Think back to what Minoriko said....
>Wait a second, that might be because of the medicine. It was grown from the power of the sword, after all. But then, Minoriko and Ichirin said we didn't show improvement before we had both... didn't she?
>"Believe it or not, I've actually asked that question before, to the goddess who told me about the blight. She said she didn't think that it was possible to internalize that power, unless someone who was especially....."
>Oh, cheese. "Someone in tune with spirituality.", she said. Thief or not, that's this one. That's what onmyouji do.
>You think back on what Minoriko said to you those distant few days ago and then ponder the possibility that what Karu's sensed in you might have something do to with her medicine. Well, it seems possible, anyway.
>Karu gives you an inquisitive look. "Especially what?"
>To your own great annoyance, it occurs to you that Karu might be just the kind of person Minoriko spoke of back then. The implication doesn't sit entirely well with you.
-
>"... espcially adept at spiritual matters."
-
>"... espcially adept at spiritual matters."
>Karu frowns uncertainly. "But that's not you, is it? Or has someone else already had a go at you?"
-
>"No. No, that's not me, I'm nowhere near what you'd call a spiritual person. No, I think she meant an onmyouji, or a priest, someone like that."
-
>"In other words..." Gesture towards her as we say this.
-
>"No. No, that's not me, I'm nowhere near what you'd call a spiritual person. No, I think she meant an onmyouji, or a priest, someone like that."
>"In other words..." Gesture towards her as we say this.
>"Me?" She looks a little confused. "But I didn't do any of this. However you internalized the sword's power - if that's even what's going on - couldn't have had anything to do with me, at least."
(Incidentally, it's nice to know that someone else still reads this thing ^^;)
-
>"It might be the medicine she made for me. This goddess' speciality lies in plants, and she was able to grow some seeds grown in soil that this sword was stuck in. The sword's power was absorbed into the seeds, and she made a medicine for me from them."
-
(Sour's been doing a good job of things so far, so I was leaving things up to him.)
>Stare at the sword with a somewhat puzzled look. "Besides, I'm no spiritualist y'know, I'm just some seeker."
-
>"It might be the medicine she made for me. This goddess' speciality lies in plants, and she was able to grow some seeds grown in soil that this sword was stuck in. The sword's power was absorbed into the seeds, and she made a medicine for me from them."
>"Ooohh! That might do it!" she says with a smiling nod. "An interesting idea, actually..." You can practically see her making a mental note.
>Stare at the sword with a somewhat puzzled look. "Besides, I'm no spiritualist y'know, I'm just some seeker."
>"I didn't think so," she says, then hastily adds "No offense intended! It's just that youkai have a hard time working with spiritual powers that aren't part of their intrinsic nature; it's a rare thing to see. But I'm afraid this sword is a bit outside of my own domain, too."
(Sour's been doing a good job of things so far, so I was leaving things up to him.)
Fair enough. Nice to see you again, though.
-
>"None taken."
>"I got the impression, though, that the medicine was supposed to work with the sword, but she wasn't explicit on that point."
>"The... power, faith, whatever it is, that's inside me. Can you tell if it's... diminishing, degrading?"
-
>"None taken."
>"I got the impression, though, that the medicine was supposed to work with the sword, but she wasn't explicit on that point."
>"The... power, faith, whatever it is, that's inside me. Can you tell if it's... diminishing, degrading?"
>"Not quickly, anyway," she says. "Long-term, I don't know; I couldn't even really guess without observing it for longer. If it is from that medicine, I'd expect it would have a shorter shelf-life, but who knows?" A bright smile comes over her face. "That sword is ancient. I'm sure of it. And the power inside it is still intact and strong; it's an incredible piece of work, really. If its power has remained for so long, then maybe the bits of it that rub off on other things would last a long time, too? I don't know for sure. That's one of the reasons I asked you to let go of it for a bit: so I can see if anything inside you changes."
-
>Okay... Maybe this one IS on the level... Well, a thief, yes, or at least someone that supports them, but she knows her stuff here. At least, she sure seems to. She was right about the sword being ancient, and we didn't tell her how old Minoriko thought it was.
>Still, after the past couple of days, letting go of the sword.... Even if we were with someone completely trustworthy, that'd be a hell of a thing.
>"How long?"
-
>Okay... Maybe this one IS on the level... Well, a thief, yes, or at least someone that supports them, but she knows her stuff here. At least, she sure seems to. She was right about the sword being ancient, and we didn't tell her how old Minoriko thought it was.
>Still, after the past couple of days, letting go of the sword.... Even if we were with someone completely trustworthy, that'd be a hell of a thing.
>"How long?"
>Karu considers this a moment. "A couple seconds to start, maybe? And if anything feels like it's going wrong somehow, I'll let you know right away."
-
>"If anything goes wrong, I think I'll know before you."
>Still, let's not go whole hog on this god-forsaken experiment right off the bat, however competent this priestess is.
>Release our grip on the sword, then return our grip to it in a fraction of a second. Release-regrip. Then gauge the result.
-
>"If anything goes wrong, I think I'll know before you."
>Still, let's not go whole hog on this god-forsaken experiment right off the bat, however competent this priestess is.
>Release our grip on the sword, then return our grip to it in a fraction of a second. Release-regrip. Then gauge the result.
>"Well, maybe...." she admits. "But let's just hope it doesn't come to that in the first place, hey?"
>You decide to test the proverbial waters in a very cautious fashion, releasing your grip on Kumokirimaru for just a fraction of a second and then returning it. ...you don't feel any different. Well, aside from a nervous lurch in your stomach. You do it again. Still nothing. At least, you don't think there's anything.
>"That almost doesn't count..." Karu says with a frown. "Besides, you were further away from it when it was just hanging at your side."
-
>"Hey, if your life depended on this thing, you wouldn't be in a hurry to let it go, either."
>Just to make sure, that lurch was more just reacting to 'taking the plunge', as it were, wasn't it?
-
>"Hey, if your life depended on this thing, you wouldn't be in a hurry to let it go, either."
>Just to make sure, that lurch was more just reacting to 'taking the plunge', as it were, wasn't it?
>"Yeah, I get it," she says. "But you'll probably be fine, really!"
>You're fairly sure. Never can quite be certain, though....
-
>Very comforting.
>Well, fine. Go for a second release. One second, that is. Or slightly less.
-
>Very comforting.
>Well, fine. Go for a second release. One second, that is. Or slightly less.
>Or not, alternately.
>You let go of Kumokirimaru for just a little longer this time. Not much longer, but a little. Nothing disasterous seems to happen. In fact, not much at all seems to happen.
>"You can do it!" Karu says encouragingly.
-
>"You didn't sense anything weird that time, did you?"
-
>"You didn't sense anything weird that time, did you?"
>She shakes her head. "Not a thing, I promise. Go on."
-
>"I didn't, either. Just had to double check."
>She asked for two, and it... SEEMS safe. Give her that, then.
-
>"I didn't, either. Just had to double check."
>She asked for two, and it... SEEMS safe. Give her that, then.
>She nods.
>You let go of the hilt for a whole two seconds this time. The results are similarly unremarkable.
>"Can you put some distance between yourself and it?" she asks. "You're still not really any less in contact with it than you were when it was sheathed."
-
>"Still nothing outta whack on your end, either, I'm guessing."
>When she agrees, let-
>Wait a second, that means she'll be holding our sword and we won't. And it doesn't matter how harmless or helpful seeming she is, she's still on the other side of this battle.
>Still, that doesn't mean continuing this experiment isn't worth doing. Just need an extra precaution.
>Let go the sword again, then take.... oh, say a quarter step to the side. And keep our hand close to that thing, and be prepared to go evasive if she starts to swing it.
-
>"Still nothing outta whack on your end, either, I'm guessing."
>When she agrees, let-
>Wait a second, that means she'll be holding our sword and we won't. And it doesn't matter how harmless or helpful seeming she is, she's still on the other side of this battle.
>Still, that doesn't mean continuing this experiment isn't worth doing. Just need an extra precaution.
>Let go the sword again, then take.... oh, say a quarter step to the side. And keep our hand close to that thing, and be prepared to go evasive if she starts to swing it.
>"Nope!" she says lightly.
>As you consider letting go and stepping away, it occurs to you that this means leaving Kumokirimaru in her hands. Not exactly the most comforting thought, given her loyalties. Still, you decide to go ahead, albeit without letting your hand stay far. And you brace yourself for a possible attack. Neither form of unpleasantness seems to manifest, however.
>Karu looks chidingly at your hand. "That's still not really any further away, you know. It would be better if you, say... tried walking to the other end of the deck and back. You can take it slow, if you'd like, and I'll rush this back to you if anything happens, I promise."
-
>Chuckle despite ourselves, a short laugh.
>"How about we start with something a bit less?"
>As we say that, take a full step to the side. Keeping wary for bad surprises form both us and her, of course.
-
>Chuckle despite ourselves, a short laugh.
>"How about we start with something a bit less?"
>As we say that, take a full step to the side. Keeping wary for bad surprises form both us and her, of course.
>You take a nice full step to the side. Nothing bad seems to happen.
>Karu looks at you expectantly.
-
>This is fuckin' bizarre...
>Check the black spot on our arm, just to make sure it's not getting bigger.
-
>This is fuckin' bizarre...
>Check the black spot on our arm, just to make sure it's not getting bigger.
>It seem hard to reconcile your current position with the doom that's been hanging over your head these past few days....
>You pull your sleeve up and take a look at the blight mark on your arm. It appears unchanged from the last time you did this. You note Karu peer in your direction as you do so, though you think the angle prevents her from getting a good look.
-
>Take another step, pause and gauge, then another.
-
>Take another step, pause and gauge, then another.
>You take another step and pause. Nothing feels wrong - you aren't dizzy or feverish or in any more pain than you were a few minutes ago. Well, maybe a touch dizzy, but that's probably nerves. Right? Karu nods encouragingly. You take another step. Nothing else appears to change.
>"Everything looks good so far!" she says. A little further away, you can see Murasa keeping a wary eye on the pair of you.
-
>"Says you. I just had a flash of dizzyness."
>Step back towards the blade, to the point when we first noticed the dizzyness.
-
>"Says you. I just had a flash of dizzyness."
>Step back towards the blade, to the point when we first noticed the dizzyness.
>She frowns. "Really? Everything seems the same to me."
>You step back towards Kumokirimaru. Nothing changes dramatically. You may feel a little better, but it's hard to tell.
-
>"It sure doesn't to me."
>Get our hand back on that sword.
-
>"It sure doesn't to me."
>Get our hand back on that sword.
>Her frown deepens. "Really?"
>You quickly get your hand back onto your sword. You feel relieved, if nothing else.
>Karu examines you with a look of concentration on her face. "What happened?"
-
>Do we still feel dizzy, or otherwise bad apart from our injuries?
-
>Do we still feel dizzy, or otherwise bad apart from our injuries?
>Apart from that little rush of adrenalin? Probably not. For all you know, that might have been all it was in the first place. That thought irritates you for some reason.
-
>"After I got a few steps away, I got dizzy."
>Pause a beat.
>"It... SEEMS to have passed."
-
>"After I got a few steps away, I got dizzy."
>Pause a beat.
>"It... SEEMS to have passed."
>She scrutinizes you with a concerned look for a moment, then closes her eyes again and makes a hand seal. You feel the charm on your head start to tingle more strongly.
>"Are you sure you couldn't have been imagining it?" she asks. "Because nothing looks different to me."
-
>"I'm not in the habit of imagining dizzy spells. On the other hand, since I'm neither feverish, nor wracked with pain, nor anything else, it might just have been an adrenaline rush. I admit, I'm not certain."
-
>"I'm not in the habit of imagining dizzy spells. On the other hand, since I'm neither feverish, nor wracked with pain, nor anything else, it might just have been an adrenaline rush. I admit, I'm not certain."
>She gives you a nervous frown for a moment, then asks timidly "...want to give it a second try, then?"
-
>If that really was just us, some reaction to our injuries, a manifestation of out trepidation about this whole affair, something... Then we can beat that.
>After letting out a long breath first. And we do have at least one cause for relief, at least. She didn't try to slash us. This was probably unlikely anyway, but still, confirmation is good.
>"All right."
>Let's be cautious, but not nervous.
>Release the sword, take a second to gauge, then take a couple steps away, back to where we first noticed the dizzyness. If it does not return, take another couple of steps.
-
>If that really was just us, some reaction to our injuries, a manifestation of out trepidation about this whole affair, something... Then we can beat that.
>After letting out a long breath first. And we do have at least one cause for relief, at least. She didn't try to slash us. This was probably unlikely anyway, but still, confirmation is good.
>"All right."
>Let's be cautious, but not nervous.
>Release the sword, take a second to gauge, then take a couple steps away, back to where we first noticed the dizzyness. If it does not return, take another couple of steps.
>You take a few moments to try to gather yourself, letting out a long, slow breath. If you're not going to like the Blight beat you, than you're sure as heck not going to let you beat you. You can give this one more try....
>You release your hold on the sword, and wait a moment to see if anything happens. Nothing seems to. So you take a couple steps away. So far so good.... You take a few more steps. It's harder to fight back the nervousness within you than you'd like to admit, but you still seem to be in one piece; no symptoms manifest that cannot be attributed to your own state of mind.
-
>No sign of anything going pear shaped from the caster? Good then.
>About how far away are we from the sword now?
-
>No sign of anything going pear shaped from the caster? Good then.
>About how far away are we from the sword now?
>Karu still seems to have her eyes closed, and there is a look of intent concentration on them.
>Probably only about four feet.
-
>Let's go to six and a hair, and see if the human reacts.
-
>Let's go to six and a hair, and see if the human reacts.
>You move another couple feet out. There is no reaction from either Karu or your own body, as best you can tell.
-
>Mutter, "This is unbelievable..."
>To Karu, "Anything change?"
-
>Mutter, "This is unbelievable..."
>To Karu, "Anything change?"
>"What was that?" Karu asks, tilting her ear towards you slightly.
>"Everything seems fine," she says.
-
>"Yeah, no change here, either."
>"So, now that there's a... bit of distance between me and it, can you tell me if you've learned, well, whatever you were checking?"
-
>"Yeah, no change here, either."
>"So, now that there's a... bit of distance between me and it, can you tell me if you've learned, well, whatever you were checking?"
>"That's good," she says with a smile.
>"Well, even further would be better, but... Well, I wanted to see if there was some sort of sympathetic connection between the sword and you. And, well, I'm sort of thinking that there isn't, now. I suppose this doesn't rule it out, but..." She gives you a sheepish look. "Want to try going to the end of the deck?"
-
>How far away would that be?
>More importantly, how many tengu are between us and there?
-
>How far away would that be?
>More importantly, how many tengu are between us and there?
>Maybe 30 or 40 feet.
>Only one or two besides Aya and Hatoko.
-
>Well, don't let it be said we aren't.... accomodating.
>Head towards the end of the deck, but cautiously, just in case.
>When we get about... oh, another 8 feet or so away from her, assuming nothing goes wrong between there and now, turn and ask, "Is this good enough?"
-
>Well, don't let it be said we aren't.... accomodating.
>Head towards the end of the deck, but cautiously, just in case.
>When we get about... oh, another 8 feet or so away from her, assuming nothing goes wrong between there and now, turn and ask, "Is this good enough?"
>You head cautiously towards the end of the deck, keeping a very close eye on your inner state. This still feels a bit like taking a walk off a cliff, but somehow you don't seem to be falling. That's one foot... and another... and another...
>After doubling the distance between you and Karu, you stop and ask her if this is far enough.
>Karu sighs. "I guess it'll do."
-
>We'll give her another step backwards, then wait for her to do... whatever it is she's doing.
-
>We'll give her another step backwards, then wait for her to do... whatever it is she's doing.
>You take another step away and then wait for Karu to do her thing. Whatever it is.
>It isn't clear at first if she's even doing anything at all, besides looking at you expectantly. Then she moves Kumokirimaru slowly through the air, turning it around gently, almost as if she were testing the heft of it. The subtle awkwardness of the gesture makes it plain that she's no swordsman, though. She closes her eyes and repeats the gesture, holding the fingers of her other hand in a seal before her face. You hear muttered words and see her lips move faintly, then she is still for a moment. She sighs.
>"Nothing?"
-
>Do we feel any different?
>Inform her of our status.
>If we still feel fine, "I still feel fine, if more distance will help."
-
>Do we feel any different?
>Inform her of our status.
>If we still feel fine, "I still feel fine, if more distance will help."
>Not that you can tell.
>As you inform Karu of this, she shakes her head and calls out: "Sorry, that wasn't meant for you! And you can come on back, if you'd like!"
-
>Return to the side of the caster.
>"So... How'd it go?"
-
>Return to the side of the caster.
>"So... How'd it go?"
>You make your way back over to Karu, who is examining your sword with a sort of frown.
>"Well, good news for you," she says without turning her gaze in your direction. "And bad news for me. Well, I suppose that's also bad news for you, isn't it?" She gestures with her free hand, almost idly, and the charm on your head leaps free and drifts gently back into her palm. She slips it back into her robe and turns to face you.
>"The good news is that you're not going to die if you step away from this. The bad news is that I don't know how to tap into it and make it do any more than it's doing on its own. If there really was a link between the two of you, I might have been able to work with that, but nope, and the power inside it doesn't seem to respond to the usual methods. Not that I mightn't be able to come up with something if I had time to work on it!" she hastily adds. "But I don't think my ride can wait a few days."
-
>Nod. "At least you helped clear some things up about it. So it isn't too bad I guess."
-
>"Did you get any idea as to what kind of faith is in this thing? Like, what kind of god it could be connected to?"
-
>Nod. "At least you helped clear some things up about it. So it isn't too bad I guess."
>"Well, I suppose," she says, not looking entirely satisfied.
>"Did you get any idea as to what kind of faith is in this thing? Like, what kind of god it could be connected to?"
>She shakes her head. "I'm not even certain it is. I can't feel a spirit manifested in it or a link to something external that could have created it. But there is something about the... feel of it that's sort of similar. At least, as far as I can tell. But if this really is a work of faith, then you'd probably be better off asking a Shintoist. If I had to guess, I'd say there's at least a chance one of them might be able to do something with it. Like I said, the power in this sword is ancient. It's still strong, but after all those years there's a chance it might be a little..." She frowns. "Well, this is kinda imprecise, but let's say 'napping'. And, well, that means someone might be able to wake it up a little. But it would probably need to be someone who can speak its language, and they'd have to be good. And maybe that whole theory's totally wrong - I don't know." She looks a little sheepish.
-
>Nod. "That actually helps quite a bit, I know more about this sword than when I first started on this trip at least."
-
>Nod again.
>"And more of a direction, as well. I knew that finding someone well versed in 'faith' issues was an idea for a possible answer, but nothing specific. A Shintoist is a lot more specific."
-
>Nod. "That actually helps quite a bit, I know more about this sword than when I first started on this trip at least."
>"Well, I was hoping I'd be able to do a little more than that..." She takes another look at you, then glances around the deck. The pirate presence has thinned considerably by now, and Murasa returns her glance with a positively icy stare. "I actually wish I had longer to work on this. It's not every day you get your hands on something this snazzy. Even if it's a bit outside my area, I'm sure there's something I could learn from it." She pauses, then grimaces slightly. "Yes, yes, I know." This remark somehow does not appear directed at you.
>Nod again.
>"And more of a direction, as well. I knew that finding someone well versed in 'faith' issues was an idea for a possible answer, but nothing specific. A Shintoist is a lot more specific."
>"This feels like their work, is all I can say. It's hard to put into words if you haven't studied the art yourself, but trust me on that."
-
>Are we familiar with the concept of shikigami, or companion/familiar spirits in general?
-
>Are we familiar with the concept of shikigami, or companion/familiar spirits in general?
>You know of shikigami, in that they are minor spirits or youkai bound to the service of another through some sort of contract, though you're sure many of the details of this elude you. You've certainly seen familiars of a sort - at least that's what Marisa called some of the orbiting globes of light you've seen her conjure up, though those never seemed alive to you - but there are probably fine differences between what different schools of magic mean when they say that, anyway. Some of the paper forms that Karu has been using do resemble the archetypal shikigami you've heard described, though you've never seen them in action before; this particular brand of mysticism is a bit exotic around Estval.
-
>Reasonable assumption that's who she's talking to, then.
>"I.. don't suppose you'd know of one I could talk to in Val Razua, or nearabouts, would you?"
-
>Reasonable assumption that's who she's talking to, then.
>"I.. don't suppose you'd know of one I could talk to in Val Razua, or nearabouts, would you?"
>It does seem reasonable, yes.
>Karu offers you an apologetic look. "Sorry, no... I'm actually not from around here." Then she brightens up. "Aya might, though!"
-
>Make a sour face. "Yeah, I'll bet she would."
-
>Make a sour face. "Yeah, I'll bet she would."
>"She's extremely well-informed on all sorts of matters," Karu says with a sage nod, either ignoring or overlooking your reaction entirely. "It's a bit remarkable, actually."
-
>"Remarkable. Yeah. Maybe you should tell her to put it to good use, instead of preying on people. And you should think about keeping better company."
-
>"Remarkable. Yeah. Maybe you should tell her to put it to good use, instead of preying on people. And you should think about keeping better company."
>Karu gives you a slightly puzzled look. "I should think about-" Then something seems to click and her face turns into an offended scowl. "That's a little rude, you know!"
-
>"Call it my way of helping you, in return for you helping me."
>Gesture to the pirates still offloading their booty, and point to our leg.
>"This is what Aya does. And I'm inclined to believe this isn't what you want to do."
-
>"Call it my way of helping you, in return for you helping me."
>Gesture to the pirates still offloading their booty, and point to our leg.
>"This is what Aya does. And I'm inclined to believe this isn't what you want to do."
>Karu stares at you through narrowed eyes.
>You gesture to the remaining pirates and then to your leg.
>"This was just a very unfortunate misunderstanding," Karu says firmly. "That's all."
-
>Sigh. She's as bad as the rest of them.
>"Believe that if you want."
-
>Sigh. She's as bad as the rest of them.
>"Believe that if you want."
>"She's not a bad person," Karu insists. "No matter what you think." Then her head darts to the side a moment. "Oh, that isn't fair," she says petulantly.
-
>Venture a guess, "One of your... companion spirits agrees with me?"
-
>Venture a guess, "One of your... companion spirits agrees with me?"
>She glances back at you, a sort of distracted and surprised look on her face. "Oh, um... not exactly." Then she shakes her head. "Never mind, it's nothing. And don't make assumptions like that! She's been nothing but kind to me."
-
>"I think this is between you two. I'll leave you two alone, if you'd like."
-
>"I think this is between you two. I'll leave you two alone, if you'd like."
>"Oh, don't worry about that," she replies, stopping just shy of rolling her eyes. "But I'm afraid anything else I could do for you would take some time and preparation. I'm still willing, of course, but..."
-
>"Yeah. Your friends are leaving. And me and mine have to clean up the mess they left behind."
-
>"Yeah. Your friends are leaving. And me and mine have to clean up the mess they left behind."
>"I'm sure they'd help out with that if they were welcome, but..." she trails off again, looking furtively in Murasa's direction. "I guess that's not likely, is it?"
>She holds Kumokirimaru up and slowly turns the blade, the sun glinting brightly off its polished surface. Her expression is wistful. "It would be nice to have this around a little while longer, really. Um, not that I'm suggesting we'd take it!" she hastily adds. "But... you're sure you don't want to come with us for a bit? I'm sure they'd be willing to drop you off wherever you were going afterward."
-
>Reclaim our sword, and sheathe it.
>"No chance."
-
>Reclaim our sword, and sheathe it.
>"No chance."
>You reach to reclaim Kumokirimaru and give Karu your decisive answer.
>Karu sags. "Ah, well...."
>She relinquishes her grip on your weapon, then halfheartedly claps her hands together. The remaining talisman on your sword leaps free. "Okay, come on back."
>The inscribed slip of paper flits back towards her as if propelled by a favorable breeze. Karu holds a hand out to collect it, but the wind seems to send it spiraling aside just before it would have landed in her palm. She grimaces.
>"Stop trying to make a point!"
-
>Maybe her spirits realize she's on the wrong side, too. Pity she didn't listen, if that be the case.
>Go back to where we were sitting before, and plop down again.
-
>Maybe her spirits realize she's on the wrong side, too. Pity she didn't listen, if that be the case.
>Go back to where we were sitting before, and plop down again.
>Who's to say? You're not sure how much of a personality those things are even supposed to have.
>As Karu struggles to snatch her charm out of the air, you return to your spot by the rotor strut and flop back down - that isn't going to stop being a joy to do that until your leg heals, you expect. Murasa gives a curt nod in your direction, then turns her steely gaze to the last of the remaining pirates. Aya smiles back at her.
>It doesn't take long now for things to wrap up. Neu returns to the deck with a pair of tengu in tow; she looks quite weary, but still on her feet. Aya darts over in their direction and the four of them exchange a few very procedural remarks, then Aya thanks Neu for her cooperation and sends the other two tengu back to their ship with Karu slung between them. Then with a bright expression on her face, she takes to the air above middeck.
>"I think this is where we part ways, then," she says, with just a little grandeur to her bearing. "It's been a pleasure. I'll miss the stories I never got to hear, but that's life sometimes. And if any of you ever change your mind, just ask after me. Somewhere, anywhere, it doesn't matter that much - I'll get wind of it, don't you worry. Until then!"
>And with that, she turns and swoops towards the Skyfang at impressive speed, the wind itself seeming to thrust her towards her destination.
>"Be a pleasure to see you fly into a rock, maybe...." Murasa mutters. Neu slowly makes her way over towards her.
-
>We may as well allow ourselves a few choice mutterings ourselves. "Lousy bird..."
-
>We may as well allow ourselves a few choice mutterings ourselves. "Lousy bird..."
>You grumble a little more in the pirate's general direction as you see Aya touch down deftly upon the deck of her flagship and immediately set to giving orders. The ship's bearing starts to shift, angling away from the Maiden. The other ship follows suit.
>"How bad was it?" Murasa asks, walking towards the injured and weary moth.
>"About as bad as expected," Neu replies. "But she kept her word to the letter. I can have an updated manifest to you by the evening." Her words are lethargic and grey, as though she had little life in her to give them.
>Murasa shakes her head. "It can wait. What we've got on board isn't gonna change between here and Val Razua and I'd rather just get the hell away from this damn place."
>"There are few enough serious injuries among the crew that we can probably keep close to normal duty shifts," Neu says. "We'll be light-handed, but only just. Of course, there's still the issue of cleanup, to say nothing of morale."
>Murasa nods. "Ishi's already back at the engine room, probably angrily patching up that hole they ripped in the hidey-hole. And probably half the access shaft around it, from the way that rabbit told it."
>Neu actually cringes at this. "I think I may give her a wide berth for the rest of the trip."
>Murasa chuckles and shakes her head. "Might be safest. Gonna need to patch that thing up, though." She jerks her head towards the damaged rotor casing. Neu regards it with a sage frown.
-
>Stand up, and take a couple steps in the direction of the retreating theives.
>"What happened to that third ship of theirs? I knew you did a number on it, but, wouldn't they have... towed it off, or dragged it off, or something? I didn't think it had gone down completely."
-
>Stand up, and take a couple steps in the direction of the retreating theives.
>"What happened to that third ship of theirs? I knew you did a number on it, but, wouldn't they have... towed it off, or dragged it off, or something? I didn't think it had gone down completely."
>You stand up and take a few steps towards the deck railing as the two tengu vessels pull further away from it.
>"Hell if I know," Murasa says.
>"It may only be salvage at this point, as I understand it," Neu says. "But they did save it from plummeting below, so I assume they must have towed it to one of the nearby islands. It's certainly not skyworthy at the moment."
>"And they'll have a hell of a job fixing that out here, if it really is in two pieces."
-
>"Why not salvage it yourself? It's gotta have parts aboard we could use for our own repairs, maybe somethings to recoup what the pirates stole. They stole your stuff, why not return the favor?"
-
>"Why not salvage it yourself? It's gotta have parts aboard we could use for our own repairs, maybe somethings to recoup what the pirates stole. They stole your stuff, why not return the favor?"
>"I doubt they intend to simply leave without it." Neu says.
>Murasa shrugs. "Much as I've love to do that to 'em, she's right. They're not gonna leave it there for scavengers to clean up."
-
>Huff out a breath. "Yeah... Still, it was a thought."
>"Well, at least you can say you gave 'em hell, captain. And one less pirate ship means the skies'll be a bit safer for everyone else, at least for a while. Might makes the rest of 'em think twice before trying to pirate anyone else."
>Status check. Do we feel alive and healthy enough to be useful in repairs right away, or do we require more rest to be truly useful?
-
>Huff out a breath. "Yeah... Still, it was a thought."
>"Well, at least you can say you gave 'em hell, captain. And one less pirate ship means the skies'll be a bit safer for everyone else, at least for a while. Might makes the rest of 'em think twice before trying to pirate anyone else."
>Status check. Do we feel alive and healthy enough to be useful in repairs right away, or do we require more rest to be truly useful?
>Murasa stares at the retreating profile of the Skyfang as it streaks imperiously into the distance, a sleek predator in search of its next meal. "Don't know about that, somehow...."
>You still aren't in great shape - a combination of injuries and simple fatigue - but you suppose you're intact enough to be useful in some non-strenuous capacity, if you wanted to be. Of course, your body would much rather you just kick back and not ask anything of it for a while. You're suspect you're not the only one; Neu looks practically dead on her feet.
-
>Glance at Neu, then at us, then back at Murasa.
>"Either way, they're not our problem anymore. Let them crawl back to whatever hole they came out of for a while."
-
>Glance at Neu, then at us, then back at Murasa.
>"Either way, they're not our problem anymore. Let them crawl back to whatever hole they came out of for a while."
>"I'll drink to that," Murasa says. "We can worry about the other stuff tomorrow."
-
>"My leg'll drink to that. I know I'll be more useful after some more solid rest."
>If they don't object, retire to our quarters to leg our wounds heal, and rest.
-
>"My leg'll drink to that. I know I'll be more useful after some more solid rest."
>If they don't object, retire to our quarters to leg our wounds heal, and rest.
>"Go on," Murasa says, jerking her head towards the stairs. "There'll still be stuff to do once you're feeling more lively - not going to say no to a spare hand at a time like this. But don't you worry; now that the ship's ours again, we'll still make Val Razua soon enough."
>You make your way leisurely back to your quarters as Murasa and Neu head down to the hold to release the rest of the crew. It's good to lie down again, though you find yourself less sleepy than earlier. Still, you don't find yourself too motivated to get up and move as you hear the ship come back to life around you, sailors fanning out above deck and below. You already bled for them today; you've earned your time off, you think.
>Despite their injuries and the lingering defeat in the air, they're remarkably swift and efficient at taking charge of the situation. Damage is assessed, cleanup duties are prioritized and distributed and you hear orders ring out from one end of the ship to the other. Before long, you also hear Chisato rise painfully from her bed only to be intercepted by Miyuki before she can even leave her room and sent sternly back again. The redhead rails against this, of course, but Miyuki is absolutely unyielding and eventually Chisato gives up with a grumble and returns to bed. You can hear her swearing under her breath afterward, seemingly at no one in particular.
>Not long after this, Miyuki pays you a visit, a crutch under one arm and first aid supplies in the other. You contemplate protesting, but decide that this would be as much a waste of breath for you as it was for Chisato and simply let her do what she wants. The antiseptic stings and is probably unnecessary for you, but it seems to make Miyuki feel better, so you grin and bear it without too much complaint. It is nice to have your wounds cleaned up better than your hasty toweling accomplished earlier, though, and you're not about to say no to the bandages. Miyuki herself looks remarkably spirited again and studiously focused; if you didn't know better, you would never have suspected that only an hour ago she was a prisoner on her own ship, but you can't help wondering if she's simply keeping busy to avoid dwelling on it. Her eyes linger just a little on the edges of a Blight mark that becomes exposed while she works and you think you see something darker tug at the edge of her expression for a moment, but it passes quickly. You don't bother to press the issue.
>Once Miyuki is satisfied with your condition, she excuses herself and heads towards the galley. More time passes. Eventually the boredom of remaining sedentary grows to outweigh the irritation of moving, and you drag yourself out of bed in the hope of doing something useful. The hallway doesn't look much tidier than it did the last time you saw it, but you suppose the crew's had other priorities than getting bloodstains out of wood. If you had to pick between that and fixing the engine... The biggest tripping hazards seem to be cleared away, at least.
>_
-
>Well, now that we can be more than just a pretty face, let's go above decks. Find Murasa or Neu, see where we can be the most useful.
-
>Well, now that we can be more than just a pretty face, let's go above decks. Find Murasa or Neu, see where we can be the most useful.
>You make your way back above deck, testing the stability of your now-bandaged leg as you go. You actually think it's a decent bit better already; it still hurts a bit, of course, but you don't think it'll get in the way of anything short of spontaneous acrobatics.
>The situation on deck is somewhat different than the last time you were up here and, encouragingly, a lot close to how it's supposed to be. Everyone present is someone who belongs here, and there's not a single person who doesn't. You suppose you're the closest thing to that, actually, though you figure you've also earned your passage twice over now. Still, may as well go for three....
>The deck is still somewhat of a mess, though more effort has been given to cleanup here than below; the surface has been swept and mopped, and while you can still smell the remnants of blood streaking the wood, it's hard to see it now. The pile of splinters left by Chisato's last spell have also been removed, though the places where the deck itself sustained damage are still unchanged. Well, you suppose that would probably require tearing planks out and laying down new ones, so it's no wonder they've been left the way they are.
>There are several crew members spread around area, performing watch or other regular maintenance and repair tasks. You think you can spot Murasa in the wheelhouse, though it's hard to see at this angle. And is that... Ishi up there by the damaged rotor? Yes, you suppose she is the only blue-haired midget onboard who's foolish enough to be doing... whatever it is she's doing. She seems to be entangled in some sort of unreassuring-looking harness contraption, hanging a considerable distance above the deck and only a very short one below the rotor itself. Which is still spinning, it should be noted. There appears to be about one pocket of turbulence standing between her and a very comprehensive haircut. Even youkai tend to still have need of their heads.
-
>Is there... anyone manning that harness rig, anyone with a safety line or anything, or are people leaving that kappa to her own devices?
-
>Is there... anyone manning that harness rig, anyone with a safety line or anything, or are people leaving that kappa to her own devices?
>She appears to be juggling the whole works herself; you're pretty sure it's intended to be the safety line. No one else seems to be paying her any mind.
-
>Gape at Ishi and her rig for a moment, then head up into the wheelhouse.
>If Murasa's not obviously busy, point at the kappa. "Is that entirely... safe?"
-
>Gape at Ishi and her rig for a moment, then head up into the wheelhouse.
>If Murasa's not obviously busy, point at the kappa. "Is that entirely... safe?"
>You gape at the little kappa as she pull out a can of... something from her overalls, and points it at the gash in the rotor. Then some sort of foamy substance, looking almost like whipped cream, sprays out of it in impressive quantities. You hear a sailor near you snicker on their breath. They glance conspicuously away as you glance in their direction.
>You head up to the wheelhouse. You find Murasa presently steering the ship, though it doesn't seem to be taking much of her attention to do so. You ask after Ishi.
>Murasa chuckles. "Probably not. She'll be fine, though; she's a better engineer than she looks. Besides, you'd need a death wish to try getting between her and fixing things when she's in this kind of a mood."
-
>"Hopefully she'll be alright, we can't exactly lose the chief engineer can we?"
-
>"Well, if you say so, captain."
>Offer a small grin. "Though, if you'd like, I can grab a net or something to catch her, just in case."
-
>"Hopefully she'll be alright, we can't exactly lose the chief engineer can we?"
>Murasa cracks a little smile. "The place would fall apart without her. But she'll be fine, really. She's pulled off a lot worse than this. It's just there's no place around here to dry dock, so we gotta make repairs while that thing's still chugging. It's just a patch job, but it should do us until Val Razua. Lucky that rock didn't tear a bigger hole, though, or we'd probably be on the bottom of the clouds by now." She frowns. "Uh, not to give you something else to worry about or anything."
>"Well, if you say so, captain."
>Offer a small grin. "Though, if you'd like, I can grab a net or something to catch her, just in case."
>Murasa laughs again. "Her head's too hard to get hurt from that kinda fall, anyway. But thanks just the same."
-
>Nice to see the good guys laugh again.
>"Well, that does relate to what I'm doing up here, though. I may not be 100%, but I'm a damn sight better now than I was. Where can I be of most use?"
-
>Nice to see the good guys laugh again.
>"Well, that does relate to what I'm doing up here, though. I may not be 100%, but I'm a damn sight better now than I was. Where can I be of most use?"
>Murasa frowns and sizes you up. "You said you didn't have any sailing experience, right? How about welding?" Then she shakes her head. "Nah, forget I even asked - probably more dangerous than dealing with the pirates. I suppose you could help scrub some of the blood out of the hallway, maybe? Actually... can you cook?"
-
>"Enough to get by. It's a far cry from my specialty, of course."
-
>"Enough to get by. It's a far cry from my specialty, of course."
>"Well, you can probably chop things without cutting your fingers off, anyway," Murasa says. "That'll do. Go give Miyuki a hand. She says she can still manage, and I don't doubt for a second she can, but that doesn't mean she couldn't use a little help. And the lot of us can probably use a good supper more than a clean hallway, anyway."
-
>"Sounds like a plan."
>Glance at Ishi again, just to make sure she's still hanging there, then nod to Murasa and turn to leave.
>Pause, however, at the door. Damn our rodent curiosity.....
>"Captain?"
-
>"Sounds like a plan."
>Glance at Ishi again, just to make sure she's still hanging there, then nod to Murasa and turn to leave.
>Pause, however, at the door. Damn our rodent curiosity.....
>"Captain?"
>Murasa nods. "Great."
>You can't actually see Ishi from inside here, though you didn't hear anything splatter against the deck either, so she's probably still in one piece.
>You nod back at Murasa and turn to leave. Then you pause.
>She glances back up at you. "Yeah?"
-
>"What was that thing?"
-
>"What was that thing?"
>"What thing?" she asks, giving you a funny look.
-
>"You know what I mean. What were those pirates here for? It didn't look like anything I'd ever seen before."
-
>"You know what I mean. What were those pirates here for? It didn't look like anything I'd ever seen before."
>She screws up her face. "Hell if I know, but a lotta people seem to want their hands on it for some reason. Must know somethin' I don't."
-
>Blink.
>"You didn't know what it was? Then, why was it so well hidden? What's so significant about it?"
-
>Blink.
>"You didn't know what it was? Then, why was it so well hidden? What's so significant about it?"
>She shrugs. "Whatever it was that we definitely didn't have on board was important to someone, anyway. Probably magic, but what do I know? I just do delivery. Whatever it is, it's real old, that's for sure."
-
>"Yeah, but, why hide it that well, if you didn't know anything about it?"
>Frown.
>"Do you have any other things like that hidden onboard, captain?"
-
>"Yeah, but, why hide it that well, if you didn't know anything about it?"
>Frown.
>"Do you have any other things like that hidden onboard, captain?"
>"Knew someone was after it," she says. "That's enough. And if I did, I couldn't tell ya, sorry. But if you're worried about more pirates showing up, then it would surprise the hell out of me."
-
>"Actually, I'm wondering more about who would have gone to such lengths in the first place."
>"Not that I expect you to tell me, captain. Obviously this person who hired you didn't want anyone to know who they were, so you're probably sworn to secrecy."
-
>"Actually, I'm wondering more about who would have gone to such lengths in the first place."
>"Not that I expect you to tell me, captain. Obviously this person who hired you didn't want anyone to know who they were, so you're probably sworn to secrecy."
>"What people?" she asks with a staunchly neutral expression on her face. "But really, you could always take Aya's word on it, if you want. She seemed to think she had it figured out." The corner of her mouth twitches.
-
>Nod a couple times. "I hear you, captain."
>Remilia Scarlet. Some bigwig in Val Razua. Wonder if we'll cross this one's path at some point. But, one worry at a time.
>"Well, thank you for that, captain."
>If she has nothing else to say, to the galley!
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>Nod a couple times. "I hear you, captain."
>Remilia Scarlet. Some bigwig in Val Razua. Wonder if we'll cross this one's path at some point. But, one worry at a time.
>"Well, thank you for that, captain."
>If she has nothing else to say, to the galley!
>"Good," she says simply.
>She nods. "Sure. Wish I had more to tell you, really."
>You leave and head back downstairs and into the galley. You find Miyuki there, struggling to haul a large sack out of the pantry while keeping herself propped up on her crutch. She's managing fairly well, all things considered.
-
>"Mind if I give you a hand with that?"
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>"Mind if I give you a hand with that?"
>Miyuki pauses her efforts and cranes her neck back over her shoulder. She looks at you a moment. "Actually, sure."
>She lets go of the bag and straightens herself up. "Just bring it over by the counter here."
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>"Gotcha."
>Grab Miyuki's sack and either drag or carry it where she asked, which way were prefer handling sacks.
>"Captain figured that here was a good a place as many to make myself useful. Didn't go for my 'Ishi catching' idea."
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>"Gotcha."
>Grab Miyuki's sack and either drag or carry it where she asked, which way were prefer handling sacks.
>"Captain figured that here was a good a place as many to make myself useful. Didn't go for my 'Ishi catching' idea."
>You go and pick up the sack Miyuki was grappling with and haul it over to the place she indicated. It actually is fairly heavy, though not particularly unwieldy when you can use both hands. It seems to be filled with potatoes.
>At the same time, Miyuki makes her way over to the cupboards and roots around inside one. Pans and utensils clatter loudly over each other. "The place is still a mess," she says, pulling out a large metal pot, "but at least the pirates didn't break anything."
>Miyuki frowns wryly. "What's she doing now?"
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>"Dangling below the damaged rotor. By a rig that I don't think I'd trust to hold my goldfish. But the captain said she'd be all right, even got a laugh out of her, so, I left well 'nuff alone."
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>"Dangling below the damaged rotor. By a rig that I don't think I'd trust to hold my goldfish. But the captain said she'd be all right, even got a laugh out of her, so, I left well 'nuff alone."
>"I'm sure she'll be fine," Miyuki says without much concern in her voice. "She knows what she's doing. Most of the time."
>She fetches a large knife and cutting board.
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>Well, if she was hauling said sack, then obviously spud's is on the menu tonight.
>Open up the sack. "How many of these did you want?"
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>Well, if she was hauling said sack, then obviously spud's is on the menu tonight.
>Open up the sack. "How many of these did you want?"
>That would seem a logical conclusion.
>Miyuki takes a look at you and chuckles lightly. "You've never cooked for these many people at once, have you?"
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>"Not yet, anyway."
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>"Not yet, anyway."
>Miyuki smiles. "Well, we'll be going through a lot of these before the evening is out." She pulls out a substantial and study-looking potato peeler and hands it to you. "Mind going until I tell you to stop?"
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>Have we ever peeled potatoes en masse before?
>Not that it matters. I mean, how hard can it be.
>Still, assuming we do know what we're doing, "Certainly."
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>Have we ever peeled potatoes en masse before?
>Not that it matters. I mean, how hard can it be.
>Still, assuming we do know what we're doing, "Certainly."
>En mass, no. But you've certainly peeled a potato before.
>Besides, you're not about to be defeated by a potato peeler for crying out loud.
>She nods. "Great. Okay, let's get to it, then. I don't know about you, but I could use a nice hot meal after today, and I'm sure that goes for everyone else too."
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>"Damn sure goes for me."
>Start in on stripping spuds.
>"What did you have in mind? Beyond potatoes, of course."
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>"Damn sure goes for me."
>Start in on stripping spuds.
>"What did you have in mind? Beyond potatoes, of course."
>You pull a potato out of the sack and set to applying the peeler to it.
>"I thought I'd make shepherd's pie," she says, ducking back into the pantry. "It's nothing complicated, but it feels like comfort food to me. And we've still got some roast beef I've been meaning to use up."
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>Nod., "I can get behind that. Wouldn't go wrong with a little cheese added in too, but each to their own, y'know?"
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>Nod., "I can get behind that. Wouldn't go wrong with a little cheese added in too, but each to their own, y'know?"
>"I could grate some to put on top," she says. "If you want. If you're helping out, you get a say. One of the perks of doing the cooking."
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>Smile. "That works! So, what kinds of cheese we have to work with then? If we're putting Cheese on it, we're gonna be doing this right."
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>Smile. "That works! So, what kinds of cheese we have to work with then? If we're putting Cheese on it, we're gonna be doing this right."
>Miyuki laughs. "I thought you said you weren't much of a cook? Or is this just a mouse thing?"
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>Grin. "Mouse thing. I'm not much of a cook, but I know my cheeses."
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>Grin. "Mouse thing. I'm not much of a cook, but I know my cheeses."
>"Well, you can come back here and have a look for yourself," she says. "Though we don't really have a lot to choose from, I'm afraid. There's cheddar and some... Northswald mild, I think it was - a bit pungent, actually. We may have a little gouda, too, but that's probably it. Might need to stick with the cheddar, actually," she says apologetically. "I'm not sure most of the crew are adventurous enough for the Northswald and there isn't enough gouda to cover the whole thing. But you can put whatever you want on your own portion, of course."
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>Nod. "Well, it'll be melted anyhow, so it should be alright."
>What do we know about the Northswald?
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The only solution is to make a delicious horrible omnicheese out of all of them.
>"So...has Captain done a secret run like that in the past?"
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I like the way you're thinking Purvis. I actually do that when I make grilled cheese sammiches. Great stuff that.
Even the stinky cheeses like Limburger turn out awesome when melted.
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>Nod. "Well, it'll be melted anyhow, so it should be alright."
>What do we know about the Northswald?
>"Okay, great." You hear more rummaging.
>You're not actually a big fan of it yourself. You suppose pungent isn't a bad word for it; there's something just a little earthy and even bitter to its aroma, though the taste itself is fairly bland. If it's a reflection on Northswald cuisine in a wider sense, you don't envy the people who live there.
>"So...has Captain done a secret run like that in the past?"
>There is a pause. "Like this? Well, yes, I suppose you could say that." Her tone is slightly clipped.
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>Nod. "We can use all the cheeses. Northswald's a bit bland, but it should mesh well with the Cheddar and Gouda. We can just put a light sprinkling of Gouda, and make the majority of it be a Northswald-Cheddar mix."
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>Nod. "We can use all the cheeses. Northswald's a bit bland, but it should mesh well with the Cheddar and Gouda. We can just put a light sprinkling of Gouda, and make the majority of it be a Northswald-Cheddar mix."
>"You sure on that?" she asks with a touch of skepticism. "It didn't smell that bland."
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>"I meant tastewise. If all Northswald food is like that, then my sympathies to them."
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>"I meant tastewise. If all Northswald food is like that, then my sympathies to them."
>She chuckles. "If you don't like it, then why do you want it on the pie?" You hear her take a sniff of something. "I think this is Neu's doing, actually. Because it certainly wasn't mine."
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>Have we ever tried melting the Northswald before?
>If Not; "Simple, cheeses change when you melt them.
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>Have we ever tried melting the Northswald before?
>If Not; "Simple, cheeses change when you melt them.
>You have not.
>"Well, I suppose... But I think I'd like to sample it before I put it over the whole works. It's still my kitchen, after all." She says this lightly.
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>Nod. "Good idea, let's try melting it on some toast. I haven't tried melting it after all, so now's as good a time as any."
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>Nod. "Good idea, let's try melting it on some toast. I haven't tried melting it after all, so now's as good a time as any."
>"Knock yourself out," Miyuki says, emerging from the pantry with a sizeable cheddar wheel in one hand, upon which is balanced a much smaller block of Northswald and a narrow wedge of gouda - there really isn't much of it, if that's all they have. "Just don't forget about the potatoes."
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Wonder if there's enough for au gratin potatoes?
>Eyeball them cheese amounts, then grate off enough to make a toast-sized sample of this horrible omnicheese. Then whip up that toast-sized sample.
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>Eyeball them cheese amounts, then grate off enough to make a toast-sized sample of this horrible omnicheese. Then whip up that toast-sized sample.
>You scrounge up a grater and then set about making a sample of this three-cheese blend, shredding a suitable amount over a slice of bread and leaving it to toast. You peel some more potatoes while you wait, as Miyuki processes other vegetables and fills the pot with water. The aroma starting to waft from the melted cheese is rather more muted than the Northswald on its own - not as succulent as you might have hoped, but better than it could have been. You see Miyuki sniff at it experimentally; her reaction seemed mildly positive, if reserved. Soon enough you think the toast is ready to eat, and frankly, it's reminding you of just how hungry you are.
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>"Well, it smells nicer. But now comes the important part, the taste."
>Let's split the toast into two parts, and split the cheese mixture between them.
>Then hand one to Miyuki and taste our own. "Gotta make sure it's okay for non-mice too after all, and you're the closest person."
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>"Well, it smells nicer. But now comes the important part, the taste."
>Let's split the toast into two parts, and split the cheese mixture between them.
>Then hand one to Miyuki and taste our own. "Gotta make sure it's okay for non-mice too after all, and you're the closest person."
>Miyuki nods. "Right."
>You cut the piece of toast in half and hand one to Miyuki. She bites into it and chews with a thoughtful expression
>"This actually isn't bad," she says, taking a second bite. "A little different, but not bad."
>You help yourself to your own half, and taste-testing quickly turns into simply eating. Objectively speaking, it's kind of middling, but you're not really in the mood to be picky right now; you're hungry, and it's been a very, very long day.
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>Nod. "Should work pretty good on the pie, wouldn't you say?"
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>Nod. "Should work pretty good on the pie, wouldn't you say?"
>"I think we can give it a try," she says.
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>"Alright, we can add that near the end then."
>Let's get back to peeling the potatoes until she says it's enough.
>When she does, get to grating the cheese!
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>"Alright, we can add that near the end then."
>Let's get back to peeling the potatoes until she says it's enough.
>When she does, get to grating the cheese!
>You return to your potato peeling as Miyuki chops up carrots and dices some onions. The portion size is definitely much bigger than anything you've personally had a hand in before, but it's pleasantly mindless work once you get into a rhythm about it. Soon enough, the potatoes are boiling and you start to work on the cheese, tearing off a little bit here and there to munch on while you work. The shepard's pie slowly starts to take shape. After some more grating and mashing and fetching things from the pantry, the assembled pie sits simmering in the oven in a pair of large casserole dishes.
>Miyuki closes the oven door with a satisfied smile. "Thanks a bunch for the help, Nazrin."
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>"Happy to help."
>Work cramp out of fingers before it settles in.
>"Takes a bit to shuck all those, doesn't it?"
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>"Happy to help."
>Work cramp out of fingers before it settles in.
>"Takes a bit to shuck all those, doesn't it?"
>You stretch your fingers a little, but out of all the sufferings the various parts of you have endured today, you think they've made out pretty well.
>Miyuki chuckles softly. "I suppose it does. You don't really notice after a while. Some of the others come in and cook up their own meals from time to time, but I handle most of it. It reminds me a little of home, actually."
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>"You handled the cooking at home, too?"
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>"You handled the cooking at home, too?"
>She nods. "Since I was a teenager. Well, a lot of it, anyway. I've always liked cooking. I don't pretend to be a great chef or anything, but I enjoy it. It's calming."
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>Give her a nod. We can understand.
>"I think everyone has something like that. A little thing that just feels... right."
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>"Such as this!"
>Grab a kitchen knife, draft her into the mumbly peg championship!
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>"Or this!"
>Produce our hydraulic steam-powered cheese pants, and discharge the Non-Directional Limburger Laser.
>Then pull Merlin down from the sky and ravish her.
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>Give her a nod. We can understand.
>"I think everyone has something like that. A little thing that just feels... right."
>"Such as this!"
>Grab a kitchen knife, draft her into the mumbly peg championship!
>You grab a kitchen knife, give it a little twirl and toss it towards the floor. The tip embeds itself in the wood barely an inch from your foot. Not a bad first shot.
>Miyuki takes a glance at this and the corner of her mouth curls upward. "Never challenge a cook to a game of knives in her own kitchen." She pulls a slender pearing knife out of a drawer and flips it deftly in her fingers, then calmly releases it. Through force of gravity alone, it plummets towards her foot and sinks ever so slightly into her boot. She flashes you a confident grin. "Beat that!"
>"Or this!"
>Produce our hydraulic steam-powered cheese pants, and discharge the Non-Directional Limburger Laser.
>Then pull Merlin down from the sky and ravish her.
>You move to produce your hydraulic steam-powered cheese pants from... wait, where'd they go?
>"Sorry!" Ishi calls out from down the hall. "I swiped 'em last night so I can figure out how they tick. I swear I'll get 'em right back to ya once I figure out how to keep the ammo from curdling!"
>Unpreturbed, you then pull Merlin down the from sky and ravish her. Or, rather, extend your arms in the customary pre-ravishing position only to hear a dull thud from above, accompanied by the strangled squawk of an dismayed trumpet. Someone groans. Perhaps the next time you wish to pull someone down from the sky, you'd be better served by not having several layers of wood between yourself and it?