Maidens of the Kaleidoscope
~Beyond the Border~ => Rumia's Party Games => Mystia's Stored Games => Topic started by: DracoOmega on February 09, 2012, 08:51:59 PM
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>You are Nazrin, a newly inducted member of the Seeker's Guild, and you are dying.
>While investigating a series of cattle disappearances around the village of Easthaven several days ago, you uncovered a nest of giant spiders. Your subsequent investigation of their lair had dire and lasting consequences when a wild spider youkai, furious with you for killing a dozen of her kin, infected you with a supernaturally virulent disease. You narrowly escaped death that very day due to the sheltering power of Kumokirimaru and Minoriko's creative thinking. Still, she was unable to halt the progression of the disease and insists that you have no more than a week or two to live. Determined that you will survive this ordeal, you have set out in search of a cure.
>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. Perhaps someone there can give you the answers that Braston could not. To that end, you arranged for transport on the Blue Maiden, an unusually sleek and speedy cargo transport commanded by a Captain Murasa. After a frustrating afternoon spent trying to locate their stolen export permit, you were finally cleared for departure at dusk, and are now several minutes outside the city. The open skies await!
>You are currently on the deck of the Blue Maiden, conversing with Murasa about food and bedding.
> "Will I know Miyuki when I see her, or should I be watchful of any particular person?
>"She's probably the only one down there at the moment," Murasa replies, "but if not, she's the one with lilac hair. She's the closest thing this ship's got to a cook, though pretty much all of us pull double-duty on something or other."
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Missed the thread ender by half an hour.... Well, always next thread.
>Do we know if this particular region of the Expanse is prone to violent weather of any sort?
>If not, ask Murasa.
EDIT: Work now.
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>Do we know if this particular region of the Expanse is prone to violent weather of any sort?
>If not, ask Murasa.
>You don't know about prone as such, but you know that the aether currents themselves can surge sometimes, causing serious turbulence for airships trying to fly along them. You imagine the open sky can get more conventional storms as well, but you don't really know about frequency or severity; you're no aviator. You decide to ask.
>"It's not too bad, mostly," she says. "A decent chance we'll see some rain out by the Drabs, but if you're below deck, you probably won't even notice. The aether can get a bit bumpy sometimes, I suppose; you get used to it, though. Real bad storms don't happen too often."
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> "What about good stuff to gawk at like a stupid tourist?"
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> "What about good stuff to gawk at like a stupid tourist?"
>Murasa laughs. "Never been out this way, have you? 'fraid you're in the wrong part of the skies if you're looking for sights to see. Mostly just clouds and the occasional hunk of rock. The usual routes steer clear of most of it, and no one really lives out here. Might see a cloud spirit if you're real lucky. I suppose aether storms can be kinda pretty in their way, too, but they're not much fun."
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> "Aww, that's a shame. Oh well, that's not why any of us are here anyway, so it is what it is."
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> "Aww, that's a shame. Oh well, that's not why any of us are here anyway, so it is what it is."
>"I take it you're never been to Val Razua either, then?"
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> Presumably we haven't, right?
> Assuming we haven't, shake head.
> "Nope."
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> Presumably we haven't, right?
> Assuming we haven't, shake head.
> "Nope."
>You have not. Val Razua has long been an aspiration of yours - where you figured the real money was to be made - but you'd been waiting to be a full Seeker first. To say nothing of securing the proper finances. This... isn't exactly the circumstances you expected to be making the trip under.
>You shake your head.
>"Well, there's no shortage of stuff to gawk at there," Murasa says, "if you go for all that art and architecture stuff. It didn't get its reputation for nothing, let me tell you."
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> Smirk.
> "I'll have to make a second trip there some time, then."
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> Smirk.
> "I'll have to make a second trip there some time, then."
>"Yeah, not much time to be a tourist right now, I guess," she says with a faint frown.
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> Shrug.
> "It sucks. But I'm still going, and I certainly don't plan on failing when I get there. I'll lose hope and motivation when I'm actually dead, and not a moment before."
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> Shrug.
> "It sucks. But I'm still going, and I certainly don't plan on failing when I get there. I'll lose hope and motivation when I'm actually dead, and not a moment before."
>She flashes you a dry grin. "Heh, proper thing."
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> "So any rules I need to be aware of, as long as I'm here?"
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> "So any rules I need to be aware of, as long as I'm here?"
>"Probably not much that shouldn't be obvious," she says. "Don't go swiping stuff from the hold, don't go messin' with the ship's equipment, don't be a total jackass to people, that sorta thing. Otherwise you can pretty much come and go as you please. Don't worry about bothering us; if we want you to shove off, we'll say so. Ishi's kinda protective of the engine room, but she seems to like you, so feel free to ask her for a tour if you want. And if you got any questions, just ask someone."
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> What is our experience with kappa?
> "I may very well. Sounds like it could be interesting."
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> What is our experience with kappa?
> "I may very well. Sounds like it could be interesting."
>Kappa are fairly uncommon in Braston, so you've only infrequently interacted with them in person. From what you've seen, they tended to be lively, energetic, and possibly a little obsessive.
>Murasa laughs. "Fair warning: she can talk your ear off if she feels like it. This ship's her baby."
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> Grin.
> "I'm sure I can invent a reason to escape if I need to."
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> Grin.
> "I'm sure I can invent a reason to escape if I need to."
>Murasa snickers. "Just a heads up, is all. I'm sure you can take care of yourself."
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> "Okay, I'll stop bothering you and go get some linens., then."
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> "Okay, I'll stop bothering you and go get some linens., then."
>"Sure thing," she says, giving you a nod and turning back towards the wheelhouse.
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> Head downstairs for the galley.
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> Head downstairs for the galley.
>You go back downstairs and down the hallway past your quarters, to the galley. You can feel the ship shifting ever so slightly beneath your feet as you walk, though not enough to really affect your balance. The noise of the engine is muted down here, but still audible.
>The galley itself hasn't changed much since you were last here, chasing after Chisato's mouse. It also looks equally unoccupied.
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> Note exits other than the one through which we just came.
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> Note exits other than the one through which we just came.
>There is an open doorway to the parallel mid-deck hallway, just across from the entrance you came in. There is also the door to the pantry, on the other end of the galley behind the cooking area. The latter does seem to be open at the moment.
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> Head over to the open pantry door.
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> Head over to the open pantry door.
>You walk over to the pantry door. As you draw closer, you can hear someone shuffling things around inside. You move around the counter enough to peer inside, and see a young woman with pale purple hair bent over a sack of flour and hauling it aside. Some of the contents of the pantry seem slightly less well organized than they did earlier this afternoon.
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> "Need some help?"
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> "Need some help?"
>"Oh!" she exclaims, letting go of the sack and spinning around to face you, a look of surprise on her face. "Oh, I'm sorry. You must be that Seeker who was helping out with the permit."
>She pulls herself upright and brushes out her practical-looking dress. "I'm Miyuki," she says, then frowns slightly. "I'm... afraid I never caught your name."
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> "Nazrin."
> Give a short bow.
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> "Nazrin."
> Give a short bow.
>You give her your name and sketch a short bow. Miyuki smiles and responds with a little curtsy. "A pleasure to meet you."
>"Can I get you something to eat, then?" she asks. "I hadn't really put on anything yet, but I can whip you up something, if you'd like."
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>Have we hungered again?
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>Have we hungered again?
>Not much to speak of. You had a sizable meal no more than a couple hours ago. You mightn't say no to a munchie, but you're in no particular rush.
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>"Naw, I'm good for now, thanks. I just swung by to grab some dressing for my bed. Captain told me you were the one to see about that."
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>"Naw, I'm good for now, thanks. I just swung by to grab some dressing for my bed. Captain told me you were the one to see about that."
>"Oh! Of course!" She gives you a sheepish smile. "I'm sorry that your room's still so bare. The captain only told me that we'd be needing the guest quarters a couple hours ago, and I've been double-checking our food to see what Chisato's mouse got into. I'll go fix that up for you right away."
>True to her word, she quickly sets off across the galley.
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>Enthusiastic, ain't she.
>"That's not..."
>Follow that... does she smell human or youkai? Follow her anyway.
>"That not necessary, yknow. I can straighten out my own room, just need the stuff to do it with."
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>Enthusiastic, ain't she.
>"That's not..."
>Follow that... does she smell human or youkai? Follow her anyway.
>"That not necessary, yknow. I can straighten out my own room, just need the stuff to do it with."
>She certainly doesn't seem the type to waste time, at least.
>You believe she's human. You follow after her, and insist that you can make your own bed.
>"It's hardly right to make you do it yourself," she says without slowing much. "I would have done it this evening already, if we hadn't left so soon. Thanks for helping with that, by the way."
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>"No need for thanks. I'm a Seeker, that's what I do. 'sides, got me out of a tight spot as well."
>"And you make bed-making sound like a chore. You've enough to do as is."
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>"No need for thanks. I'm a Seeker, that's what I do. 'sides, got me out of a tight spot as well."
>"And you make bed-making sound like a chore. You've enough to do as is."
>"Oh, I don't mind, really," she says as you step out of the galley. She continues heading towards the back the ship, past where you've previously seen. "There's plenty of time to take care of other things afterward."
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>When was the last time we had anyone do this sort of thing for us, who wasn't named Ichirin?
>Are we, or have we ever been, the type to get annoyed when someone insists on 'looking after us', for lack of a better term?
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>When was the last time we had anyone do this sort of thing for us, who wasn't named Ichirin?
>Are we, or have we ever been, the type to get annoyed when someone insists on 'looking after us', for lack of a better term?
>Probably at an inn you stayed at while away from Braston, some time last year. Outside of such occurrences, it's damn close to never.
>You suppose that depends on why they're doing it. You don't like being 'mothered' nor do you like the insinuation that you aren't capable of doing simple tasks yourself. On the other hand, you're not about to take personal offense if you're not required to get everything done with your own two hands; context matters.
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>Well..... If she considers it her job, suppose we shouldn't complain TOO loudly.
>Crack a smile. "All right, suit yourself."
>"Oh, almost forgot. The question still hands, if you needed a hand with... Well, whatever. Like I told your captain, I'm a free pair of hands."
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>Well..... If she considers it her job, suppose we shouldn't complain TOO loudly.
>Crack a smile. "All right, suit yourself."
>"Oh, almost forgot. The question still hands, if you needed a hand with... Well, whatever. Like I told your captain, I'm a free pair of hands."
>You decide to let Miyuki take care of this if she seems so intent on it. It's not like you haven't done your share of running around on their behalf already today. You do offer you help in general, though.
>"You're also a guest," she replies. "Though... how well can you cook?"
>You reach a set of room towards the rear of the ship, and Miyuki opens a door on your left. Inside appears to be a laundry room of a sort. There are a pair of large wash basins and the other side of the room is lined with wooden cupboards reaching from floor to ceiling. The layout makes efficient use of space, but nonetheless feels rather cramped with two people in it.
>Miyuki opens one of the cupboards, revealing a decent stockpile of plain but serviceable linens, and retrieves of a set of sheets and a pillow from it.
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>"Well, I know my way around a campfire. I can handle most basic things, but, I'm not about to open up a restaurant myself."
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>"Well, I know my way around a campfire. I can handle most basic things, but, I'm not about to open up a restaurant myself."
>She smiles. "As long as you can follow simple instructions and manage not to burn things, I think that should be fine. But, um, only if you really insist," she adds. "Please don't feel like you have to, or anything."
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>Chuckle.
>"Oh, I know I don't have to. I just.... Don't like to stay idle, for too long, yknow?"
>"While we're here, though, I gotta ask, how cold does it get out on the open sea?"
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>Chuckle.
>"Oh, I know I don't have to. I just.... Don't like to stay idle, for too long, yknow?"
>"While we're here, though, I gotta ask, how cold does it get out on the open sea?"
>"I'm a little like that myself," she replies as the two of you head back towards your room.
>"Don't sail much?" she asks with a gentle smile. "It can be a little colder than on land, but it shouldn't be too bad. It's still summer out here, after all."
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>"I've mostly kept my feet on dry land, yeah. This's actually my first time heading out Val Razua way."
>Chuckle. "Always knew I'd head out to the big city one day, but I never pictured a situation like that one being part of the equation."
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>"I've mostly kept my feet on dry land, yeah. This's actually my first time heading out Val Razua way."
>Chuckle. "Always knew I'd head out to the big city one day, but I never pictured a situation like that one being part of the equation."
>"Well, all's well that ends well, I guess. Though I do wonder what happened in the first place..."
>The two of you reach your room, and Miyuki steps aside and gestures graciously for you to open it.
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>Open the door for Miyumiyu.
>"You and me both. Gotta admit, not a big fan of leaving unfinished business behind like that. But, on the other hand, I'm sure not gonna complain about the result. Though when I get back here, that's gonna be my first order of business."
>"Well.... Maybe not first..."
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>Open the door for Miyumiyu.
>"You and me both. Gotta admit, not a big fan of leaving unfinished business behind like that. But, on the other hand, I'm sure not gonna complain about the result. Though when I get back here, that's gonna be my first order of business."
>"Well.... Maybe not first..."
>You open your door for Miyuki, who gives a nod of thanks and then steps inside.
>"Hopefully it shouldn't matter either way by then," she says. "And it's not your problem to have to worry about, in any case; you've already solved the problem that really mattered."
>She looks at the clothes laid out on your bed and then turns an expectant smile in your direction.
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>"Yeah, I know."
>Attend to the clothes as we continue, "But I hate an unsatisfied curiousity, too. Somebody went to a lot of trouble to keep you folks in Braston."
>Besides, anyone who could pull this off might have a trick or two to teach a mouse...
>"You folks haven't crossed anyone's path the wrong way lately, have you?"
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>"Yeah, I know."
>Attend to the clothes as we continue, "But I hate an unsatisfied curiousity, too. Somebody went to a lot of trouble to keep you folks in Braston."
>Besides, anyone who could pull this off might have a trick or two to teach a mouse...
>"You folks haven't crossed anyone's path the wrong way lately, have you?"
>You gather up the clothes and start to pile them up on the end table, for a lack of a better place to put them. As you do, Miyuki unfurls one of the sheets in the air above the bed with graceful precision.
>You wonder whether the culprit of this caper might have a few tricks worth learning. At the very least, some useful practical hint might be gleaned from knowing how they pulled it all off...
>"Oh, it happens every now and again," Miyuki says lightly, as if that were an issue of no consequence. "But if we knew who might have been responsible, I think we'd have put the whole affair to rest long before now."
>After tucking that sheet in, Miyuki looks over at what you're doing and frowns, then glances around the rest of the room with a dismayed expression. "Oh, you don't have a chest of drawers! I'm so sorry, this room hasn't been used in ages, I forgot all about that..."
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>"No worries. I can get by."
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>"No worries. I can get by."
>"I can at least find you a storage bin or something..." she says with a frown.
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>A box, at least, would be handy.
>"Well, if you got a spare box or something, lying around. But don't go out of your way, all right?"
>About how strong does she look?
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>A box, at least, would be handy.
>"Well, if you got a spare box or something, lying around. But don't go out of your way, all right?"
>About how strong does she look?
>It would be nice to have someplace else to put things besides a small table or the floor.
>"Oh, it's no trouble at all, really," she replies. "Particularly since the only reason the room doesn't have a chest of drawers right now is Ishi stole it."
>She's of fairly average build, with no obvious sign of musculature, though she does have more concealing sleeves than Chisato.
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>"Really now."
>Grin. "Wanna see me steal it back?"
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>"Really now."
>Grin. "Wanna see me steal it back?"
>Miyuki laughs, then sketches a wry grimace. "Probably full of random metal junk and things that explode when you shake them the wrong way. I wouldn't recommend it."
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>Offer up a chuckle.
>"Yeah, picture that. All that trouble back in Braston, only to get exploded by a gunpower-stuffed pineapple, or something."
>"Let's find another box."
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>Offer up a chuckle.
>"Yeah, picture that. All that trouble back in Braston, only to get exploded by a gunpower-stuffed pineapple, or something."
>"Let's find another box."
>You chuckle.
>"It isn't how I'd want to go, anyway."
>"Oh, I can take care of that," she says as she spreads out the top sheet.
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>"Aight, suit yourself."
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>"Aight, suit yourself."
>Miyuki tucks the sheet in and puts the pillow at the head of the bed, giving it a little fluff.
>"Now, let me go see if I can scrounge up something for you," she says, ducking out of the room.
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>Sit by the window and watch the city lights dissapear.
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>Sit by the window and watch the city lights dissapear.
>As Miyuki leaves, you sit down on the edge of your bed and gaze out the window. By now, the lights of Braston are little more than a dim glow through the distant fog, though you still imagine you can see the buildings you know so well retreating beyond the horizon. You watch the clouds slowly drift by and let your thoughts travel with them, the constant hum of the engines almost lulling - already you're growing accustomed to their noise.
>After some time, Miyuki returns awkwardly lugging a sizable wooden chest. You quickly get up from your perch, giving her a hand with the unexpected weighty container, and the two of you deposit it in the corner of your room. You thank her for her efforts and exchange a bit more small talk before she excuses herself to return to the kitchen.
>After she leaves, you gather up your clothing from the end table and pack it away inside the sturdy wooden container, then go back to starring. A few minutes pass and you find yourself increasingly restless, though your fatigue from earlier still weighs noticeably upon you.
>You get up and idly make your way towards the kitchen, looking to find something productive to do. After a token protest, Miyuki puts to you work cutting up vegetables for a pot of stew while she makes onigiri. The quantity of vegetables you're given is considerable, but it is easy work and the mindless mechanicalness of it suits your present mindset just fine. A couple crewmen filter into the galley while you're at it, chattering loudly with each other and then with Miyuki. You exchange a few remarks by way of an introduction as they come up and grab an onigiri or two, then deposit themselves at one of the galley tables to eat them.
>The stew starts to take shape as more and more things get tossed into the oversized metal pot, Miyuki darting in and around the pantry and cupboard with a practiced ease. The smell of it begins to permeate the space, warm and somehow comforting, though nothing fancy was involved in its preparation. By the time you finish all of the work you were given, you are feeling substantially weary on your feet. Miyuki thanks you generously for your help, though you hardly feel as though your contribution was anything special.
>You take another deep sniff of the stew pot and consider waiting for a bowl to be ready, but eventually concede that the call of your bed is too strong at the moment to want to defer it for too many more hours. You content yourself with a quicker snack, and the onigiri you grab turns out not to be a hardship by contrast, having a very satisfying level of tangy sweetness. You remain in the galley while you munch your way through it, then say your farewells to Miyuki and drag yourself back to your room.
>As weary as you feel, you can't honestly say that your bed feels terribly welcoming. It is, rather, unpleasantly firm and rather narrow. The pillow, at least, is fluffy and supportive, but you find it somewhat hard to get comfortable otherwise. The ship sways beneath you from time to time, all the more noticeable when you're lying down, but it is just one nuisance among many.
>You roll over so that you can peer out the window while you attempt to rest. There is little by featureless black to be seen outside now, punctuated by the scattered hazy form of a dim cloud. The engines continue to throb. You feel your thoughts turn inward, towards tomorrow and then the future beyond that, but you soon find yourself too weary for coherent speculation. You shift your position as you feel sleep start to smother your mind, thick and heavy. The sensation of your hip pressing uncomfortably into the rigid bed grows muted and distant and then is gone.
>You awaken with a jolt as you are nearly tossed violently out of bed. You catch on the bedsheets, and have just enough awareness about you to suspect this is all that has kept you from rolling across the floor right now.
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>Suppress a few choice- Nah, let 'em loose.
>Try to extract ourselves in a manner that will allow us to gain footing on the floor.
I'm thinking the ship got attacked by something, or we hit one o' them aether storms the cap'n mentioned.
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>Suppress a few choice- Nah, let 'em loose.
>Try to extract ourselves in a manner that will allow us to gain footing on the floor.
>Despite, or perhaps because of your half-asleep state, you let loose a few choice curses. What the hell is going wrong NOW?!
>You quickly try to extract yourself from the sheets, but the ship lurches violently in the other direction before you can manage this, slamming your side against the cabin wall. You wince.
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>Let off a few more, just because.
>Try again, and this time, try harder to not get flung about like a ragdoll.
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> Don't make too much noise, though. We have some semblance of pride. No need to broadcast to the entire ship that we're flopping around like a dying fish when they're probably used to this.
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>Let off a few more, just because.
>Try again, and this time, try harder to not get flung about like a ragdoll.
> Don't make too much noise, though. We have some semblance of pride. No need to broadcast to the entire ship that we're flopping around like a dying fish when they're probably used to this.
>You curse again, but this time try to keep it under your breath - no need to announce your difficulties to everyone in earshot.
>You try again to get loose of the increasingly tangled bedsheets and manage to get to your feet before the angle of the floor changes dramatically again. You stagger, but succeed in staying upright this time. The wooden chest containing your clothing slides across the floor and hits the opposite wall with a heavy thud.
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> Hmm. Maybe this isn't normal.
> Leave the room.
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> Hmm. Maybe this isn't normal.
> Leave the room.
>If it is normal, then you ought to gripe to Murasa about false advertising...
>You cross the suddenly-treacherous distance to the door and open it, having to hold onto things as you do to keep from being throw into the door frame. You hear the chest scrape roughly against the floor as it slides back in the other direction.
>Once you're out in the hallway, you find you can faintly hear shouting coming from above deck, as well as the occasional clatter of objects in the neighbouring cabins. Otherwise, the hallway itself is empty and looks same as it did the last time you saw it; there's nothing loose out here to slide around.
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>Let's work our way abovedecks to see what the heck is going on, and if we can lend a hand.
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> Use whatever we can grab to hold ourselves up as we go.
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>Let's work our way abovedecks to see what the heck is going on, and if we can lend a hand.
> Use whatever we can grab to hold ourselves up as we go.
>You try to work your way topside to see what the hell is going on, using whatever you can grab hand or tail on for leverage. On the positive side, this battering has quickly shaken the sleep from you and you find your limbs more cooperative than they were just a few moments ago. And most of the lurching the ship is doing seems less violent than those first two. On the less positive side, there are stairs...
>"Two points abaft the starboard beam!" someone calls out from above. "200 yards!" You hear more distant voices answering.
>You brace yourself against the side of the ship as best you can and work your way up the narrow steps, grumbling at the now-conspicuous lack of a proper banister. A sharp lurch backward sends the steps near vertical for a moment and it's all you can do to keep yourself from tumbling over backwards. Still, you slowly make your way up to the deck, keeping low for balance and pausing a moment whenever the ship's orientation changes suddenly.
>A rather dramatic sight greets you as you crest the top of the stairs; the skies surrounding the ship are alight with a shimmering aurora of luminous greens and pale purples, scintillating and sometimes shifting violently. You've never seen the aether this distinct before. A couple crewman are scattered around the deck, keeping watch on the sky. You spot Chisato looking out over port and Neu is standing amidships, looking the same direction.
>The ship is thrown to the side again as you step out onto the deck, and you nearly stumble forward onto your face before managing to thrust a hand out in front and catch yourself.
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> When we have the chance because we aren't falling flat on our face, quickly look around. Anything we can securely latch ourselves to?
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> When we have the chance because we aren't falling flat on our face, quickly look around. Anything we can securely latch ourselves to?
>There are sturdy railings along the sides of the ship and up towards the wheelhouse on the opposite end of the deck, as well as large metal struts towards the aft end, where part of the structure bracing the main turbines crosses over the deck. Otherwise, you could hang onto the sides of the deckhouse you just emerged from, or perhaps a latch on the cargo hatch amidships, but most of the rest of the deck is fairly bare. Everyone else present besides Neu seems to be holding onto the side rails, while you notice the moth fluttering her wings and hovering ever so slightly above the deck as the ship lurches.
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>What's the wind like?
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>What's the wind like?
>The wind is fairly appreciable, but you think that's merely a consequence of the ship moving forward quickly; it's only blowing from the fore and does not otherwise feel violent or chaotic.
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>Least it's just turbulence instead of a tornado, or something.
>At least we THINK it's just turbulence. Other than fancy colors, does there appear to be anything in the skies around us?
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>Least it's just turbulence instead of a tornado, or something.
>At least we THINK it's just turbulence. Other than fancy colors, does there appear to be anything in the skies around us?
>It does seem more like the former than the latter, but it's pretty nasty just the same....
>You scan across the horizon all around you again, but see sign of neither creature nor vessel out in the skies.
>"Three points on the port bow!" Chisato shouts. "300 yards!"
>"Three points on the port bow!" Neu echoes, turning towards the wheelhouse. "300 yards!"
>You feel the ship turning to the side.
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>Hold on!
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>Hold on!
>You grab hold of the deckhouse and hang on tightly, but it seems this movement was probably deliberate on the ship's part; it is smooth and even and the deck remains level. Only a few moments after you process this thought, the ship heaves suddenly to the right, making you glad you really were holding onto something, after all
>As Neu turns to look at the other side of the ship, she seems to finally catch sight of you hanging by the top of the stairs. She frowns a little.
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> "Don't worry about me!"
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> "Don't worry about me!"
>Neu slowly nods and turns back to what she was doing, though you catch a concerned look on her face. From the other direction, you see Chisato glance briefly over her shoulder at you as you make your presence known.
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> Give Chisato an exaggerated toothy grin.
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> Give Chisato an exaggerated toothy grin.
>You flash Chisato a toothy grin as she looks at you, and her own frown gives way to a smirk. She gives you a friendly nod, then turns back to her watch.
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>How confidant are we that we can make up to the wheelhouse?
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>How confidant are we that we can make up to the wheelhouse?
>Unless the ship does something dramatically worse than it has so far, you're sure you can make it across to the wheelhouse. ...provided you're willing to accept the possibility of tumbling about on the deck.
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>Provided more of those pesky captions don't whack us upside the head, all will be well.
>Let's try for the wheelhouse, then. Safer indoors.
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>Provided more of those pesky captions don't whack us upside the head, all will be well.
>Let's try for the wheelhouse, then. Safer indoors.
>Oh, damn; here they come again!
>You let go of the doorway and try to quickly make your way across the deck to the wheelhouse. The ship rocks and shudders beneath you, reminding you a little of sledding down a bumpy hill, but you manage to keep your balance with only a few quick adjustments of footing this time. As you near Neu, she casts another concerned frown in your direction.
>"Are you sure you should be up here now?" she asks.
-
>"Just trying to figure out what's goin' on. Thought we were under attack, or something."
-
>"Just trying to figure out what's goin' on. Thought we were under attack, or something."
>You think she almost chuckles for a moment, but turns it into an understanding smile instead. "We're just navigating through an aether storm. It's nothing to worry about."
-
>Mutter, "Nothing, eh..."
>Look over to one side of the ship, then the other. "This is normal for you folks?"
>Spare a moment to wish we had wings, too.
-
>Mutter, "Nothing, eh..."
>Look over to one side of the ship, then the other. "This is normal for you folks?"
>Spare a moment to wish we had wings, too.
>You mutter under your breath and take another look at the sky around. A great ripple of violet shimmers through a curtain of blue in the distance, the shifting luminance of this display casting strange figures across the deck. It would be a rather breathtaking sight if only the damn ship would stop shaking you up and down for just one moment. It's actually getting a little nauseating....
>"Not normal at all," Neu replies. "But we've seen worse."
>Those wings of hers certainly do seem to be helping her avoid the worst of the ship's bobbing, and you imagine such things would come in handy in other situation, too. Of course, you grumble silently, she doesn't have a tail...
-
>"Any idea.... whew." Calm down, ya bloody stomach! "Any idea how long this's gonna last?"
-
>"Any idea.... whew." Calm down, ya bloody stomach! "Any idea how long this's gonna last?"
>"It's hard to say," she replies, peering into the distance. "It might be another hour or two. Perhaps a little more, though I'd like to think not."
-
>Point our thumb at Chisato.
>"So what's she doing, tracking rough spots ahead, or something?"
-
>Point our thumb at Chisato.
>"So what's she doing, tracking rough spots ahead, or something?"
>"Aether surges," she says, "though I... suppose you could put it that way. They wreck havoc on our buoyancy. The captain's trying to steer us clear of the worst of it."
-
>"Noticed a little bit of that wreaking myself."
>Search memory for location aboard ship that has the fewest loose objects, and the most things that are nailed down.
-
>"Noticed a little bit of that wreaking myself."
>Search memory for location aboard ship that has the fewest loose objects, and the most things that are nailed down.
>"Well, you're still on your feet, which is quite good if this is really your first time," she says. "This is a fairly considerable storm."
>Technically speaking, that would probably be where you currently are, though the only loose object in your quarters was the chest. ...and you, you suppose.
-
>About how... safe, would we feel, staying up here to watch the fun? Not every day we get to ride through the teeth of a storm like this.
-
>About how... safe, would we feel, staying up here to watch the fun? Not every day we get to ride through the teeth of a storm like this.
>Well, how safe do you feel? The crew look quite focused, but not necessarily worried. You've been able to keep your balance against most of the general shaking, though you suspect another lurch like earlier might send you sprawling again. Issues of safety aside, you are still quite tired and unrested. Nor are your insides enjoying all the jostling....
-
>"Thanks. All the same, though, think I'll head back to my room. Much as I like to be useful, you folks don't need me up here."
>Our window's a good enough view.
-
> How painful is tail stress? Maybe we could use it to latch onto something for additional grip. Or even tie it around something.
-
Going to bed. Honestly, if we can do it, I'd be inclined to tie our tail in a knot around something bolted down and watch the show, half because it'd be pretty neat to see and half because it'd be awesome to be able to say we actually did it.
-
You raise a fair point.
>"Thanks. All the same, though, think I'll head back to my room. Much as I like to be useful, you folks don't need me up here."
>Our window's a good enough view.
>Scratch that.
>Look around for a suitable place to hunker down that affords a reasonable view of the entertainment, and seems to be out of the way of the crew topside.
>"Thanks."
-
> How painful is tail stress? Maybe we could use it to latch onto something for additional grip. Or even tie it around something.
>That obviously depends on the degree of stress. In general, your tail is a fair bit more sensitive to being yanked on than any of your other limbs would be, and also has weaker grip strength than your hands. But you are a youkai, so it can still take a bit of abuse. Using it for additional grip wouldn't be difficult or particularly unpleasant, but using it as a primary tether, especially for most of your body weight, could be distinctly so if you ended up pulling on it sharply as a consequence. Knotting it tightly around something might be a little like kneeling on your own arm; you could do it for a while if you had to, but it wouldn't be particularly fun and you would probably expect it not to function quite right for a while afterward.
>Look around for a suitable place to hunker down that affords a reasonable view of the entertainment, and seems to be out of the way of the crew topside.
>"Thanks."
>Depending on what you mean by 'hunker down', there are a few spots that might qualify. You could go back to the deckhouse where the steps to the lower deck are, and hang onto the side of the doorway. Unfortunately, the deckhouse itself would block some of your view and the stairs might present a minor hazard as well. The struts supporting the turbine assembly are another option. They're out of the way of people and any possible through-traffic and their shape would allow you sufficient grip to hold onto them. And you would have a better view. As a third option, the stairs up to the wheelhouse have a railing you could use to hold on, and the steps provide something closer to a seat you could sit down on. Unfortunately, you might be in the way if someone needed to run up or down; there are two parallel stairways up, but neither is wide enough to sit on without causing an obstruction.
>Neu nods, and turns her gaze back to the sky.
-
>Examine the bow of the ship, and gauge it's quality as a vantage point for this baby. As well as any increased risk.
-
>Examine the bow of the ship, and gauge it's quality as a vantage point for this baby. As well as any increased risk.
>The furthermost point of the deck is actually a fair bit back from the very nose of the ship, which tapers out some yards beyond it. The same railing that encircles all edges of the deck is found at the bow as well, though since the walkway is much narrower here, it would leave you close to both edges of the ship at once; you might consider this a good or bad thing in the current situation. Also, the deckhouse would block easy sight of most of the rest of the deck from that position, for what it's worth.
-
>A good view of the storm is one thing. Perhaps we don't to stare RIGHT down the throat of the beast.
>Carefully, keeping our balance, make our way towards those turbine assembly support struts.
>Unless we fall over on the way there. In which case, get off the deck and back to our cabin. Where it's safe.
>.... But before we do either one. Check out Neu and Chisato's asses.
-
>A good view of the storm is one thing. Perhaps we don't to stare RIGHT down the throat of the beast.
>Carefully, keeping our balance, make our way towards those turbine assembly support struts.
>Unless we fall over on the way there. In which case, get off the deck and back to our cabin. Where it's safe.
>.... But before we do either one. Check out Neu and Chisato's asses.
>You decide that, while a better view is great and all, you'd rather give yourself a little bit more of a buffer zone, if only for your own peace of mind. You resolve to head over to the struts instead.
>...but before that, you take this moment while both Neu and Chisato are looking elsewhere to do a little looking of your own. Perhaps disappointingly, the moth's outfit doesn't show off anything to speak of and Chisato is far enough away that you can't get a great view. But what you do see of the latter suggests a modest but shapely derriere, in proportion with her lithely muscled frame. It helps that she wears tight pants.
>Then you carefully make your way over to the struts. Nearly every step is a test of coordination, as the deck bumps and jitters beneath you, and twice a more pronounced lurch causes you nearly to stumble, but you manage to cross to your destination without actually smacking against the ground. You decide to consider that a sort of success.
-
>Take THAT, aether storm! Not gonna get the better of THIS mouse.
>Yum, tight pants....
>Hunker down and enjoy the ride!
-
>Take THAT, aether storm! Not gonna get the better of THIS mouse.
>Yum, tight pants....
>Hunker down and enjoy the ride!
>You allow yourself a moment's triumph over the storm and steal another glance at Chisato's rear.
>Then you hunker down, getting a firm grip of the strut with your hands and wrapping your tail around another segment for good measure, and attempt to enjoy the ride. In this, you are less successful than you would like to let on. Or rather, your enjoyment of the actual ride is abysmal, while the sights remain quite spectacular.
>Your current vantage leaves you well-equipped to resist being flung around by the sharper jolts, but this still takes some effort, and there's not much at all you can do to mute the perpetual rattling of the deck beneath your feet. You were deeply fatigued when you went to sleep and woke before getting much rest. Now that the immediate sense of impending crisis has passed, every effort you expend here leaves you feeling wearier still. You think you might actually be nodding off now, if not for all the jostling making real sleep implausible. You've never been particularly prone to motion sickness, but perhaps because of your exhaustion, you're finding this a bit much even for you. You keep a good poker face, and try to think about things other than your stomach; you're certainly not about to let it embarrass you in front of these people.
>And, to be fair, it really is a sight to behold. The most you'd seen of the aether from Braston was a faint iridescent shimmer across the sky, and even then only on good days. This is in quite another league altogether; all around you, scintillating curtains of ephemeral light dance and play across each other, their languid movement punctuated by dramatic shifts in color and form that ripple out across the sky, reshaping the aether in their wake. Sometimes you can even hear a faint resonant hum in the air, like a glass harmonica, shifting in pitch as the aether swells and undulates; it adds a strangely ethereal quality to the scene. Now if only the ship would stop battering you long enough to properly enjoy it...
>After a while, you learn to associate some of the shifts in the aether with what the deckhands are shouting out and also when to anticipate some of the worst lurching and brace yourself for it ahead of time. It helps a little. Unfortunately, the more time passes, the more fatigue and nausea start to overshadow the wonder of the scene. As strangely bewitching as it is to watch, you think you would rather be sleeping peacefully right now....
-
>Smile. That little fairy Shimmer would probably love this. So would Honey. Orange, too....
>"...wish you were here...."
>Glance over at Chisato and Neu. And envy them their practiced sea legs.
>As near as we can determine, does the worst appear to be over?
-
Nue.
Who? <_<
-
DAMMIT.
-
>Smile. That little fairy Shimmer would probably love this. So would Honey. Orange, too....
>"...wish you were here...."
>Glance over at Chisato and Neu. And envy them their practiced sea legs.
>As near as we can determine, does the worst appear to be over?
>You manage a smile, despite the unpleasantness of all. You can think of a few people who would probably love to see this. Of course, poor Orange would probably have ended up spending more time on her face than her feet if she really were here.
>Still, you quietly wish you could have shared it with them...
>You glance over at Chisato and Neu, and envy how unfazed they still seem. They may look a little more fatigued than when this began, but aren't letting it show much. Of course, you think you can also take reasonable pride in how well you've managed to hold up so far. You don't feel so hot on the inside, but you're still in one piece.
>It may not be quite as bad as it was at first, but if the light show is anything to go by, you've still got a ways to go yet.
-
Personally, b'yes, I've got the impression that if we stay out here much longer, lunch may go over the side into the abyss.
Which reminds me.
>Did we pass any room that seemed to serve as a bathroom, or can we assume people upchuck over the railing whenever the need arises?
-
>Did we pass any room that seemed to serve as a bathroom, or can we assume people upchuck over the railing whenever the need arises?
>There was a bathroom downstairs, though you imagine the open sky is also a comparatively safe place to throw up, if one really needs to.
-
Yeah, I've seen enough.
-
>Maybe lying down for a while wouldn't be an entirely bad idea...
>Make our way back downstairs. Carefully.
-
>Maybe lying down for a while wouldn't be an entirely bad idea...
>Make our way back downstairs. Carefully.
>You decide that you've probably had enough of this, and start to carefully make your way back downstairs. At least you've become sufficiently accustomed to the ship's movement that this is easier than when you arrived topside.
>Neu looks at you with a slight frown as you pass by.
>"I'm sorry that your first night out of the city has ended up being such a rocky one," she says.
-
>"Key part of that sentance? "Out of the city". I'll take a bouncy flight over the alternatives aaaaaaaany day of the week. But thanks, though."
>'"sides," point with our tail towards the ambient luminescence. "Hell of a sight."
-
>"Key part of that sentance? "Out of the city". I'll take a bouncy flight over the alternatives aaaaaaaany day of the week. But thanks, though."
>'"sides," point with our tail towards the ambient luminescence. "Hell of a sight."
>She smiles. "It is pretty, yes."
-
>Heh. First time in this kind of a storm, and we come up on deck and face it like the rest of em. Say we've acquitted ourselves quite well.
>But a mouse knows when enough's enough. Let's get back to our room.
>"Think I'll, uh... See what it looks like from my room now, though."
-
>Heh. First time in this kind of a storm, and we come up on deck and face it like the rest of em. Say we've acquitted ourselves quite well.
>But a mouse knows when enough's enough. Let's get back to our room.
>"Think I'll, uh... See what it looks like from my room now, though."
>Indeed, you think you made a pretty damn decent showing for yourself.
>...even if you would wish it were over now.
>"The storm woke you up, didn't it?" Neu asks in a sympathetic tone.
-
>Nod.
>"Hadn't been asleep for long, so, not like I got jolted out of deep sleep, or anything, but, yeah."
-
>Nod.
>"Hadn't been asleep for long, so, not like I got jolted out of deep sleep, or anything, but, yeah."
>"I can give you a little something to help you get some rest, if you'd like," she says.
-
>Well, between the storm and the bargain basement bed, that doesn't sound a terrible idea.
>Did Minoriko mention how that medicine she gave us might interract with others, as we obviously took our nightly dose before we went to bed.
>"Aren't you needed up here, still?"
-
>Well, between the storm and the bargain basement bed, that doesn't sound a terrible idea.
>Did Minoriko mention how that medicine she gave us might interract with others, as we obviously took our nightly dose before we went to bed.
>"Aren't you needed up here, still?"
>No, you suppose it doesn't.
>She made no mention of it. You hope that means it isn't something you need to worry about....
>"Until we're through the storm, yes, but I wouldn't need to go anywhere. Just bring me a mug of water or something else you care to drink."
-
>Did we ever fill our canteen? If so, produce it.
-
>Did we ever fill our canteen? If so, produce it.
>Your canteen is still empty, unfortunately.
-
>Have to remedy that very soon.
>"Then I'll be back in a minute or two."
>Head for the mess hall.
-
>Have to remedy that very soon.
>"Then I'll be back in a minute or two."
>Head for the mess hall.
>Neu nods and turns her gaze back to the storm.
>You head back across the rest of the deck and downstairs again. Fortunately, the ship stays mostly upright on your way back down, avoiding the possibility of flying head over heels to the lower floor. Your progress down the hallway is slow, but without too many bumps and bruises and you make it to the mess hall without serious incident. It appears to currently be empty.
-
>Miyumiyu must have had sense enough to hunker down somewhere.
>Fill our canteen, and acquire a mug, then fill said mug with water.
-
>Miyumiyu must have had sense enough to hunker down somewhere.
>Fill our canteen, and acquire a mug, then fill said mug with water.
>Frankly, you wouldn't blame her, though it looks like someone's been through here at some point and secured many of the loose objects; the rack of large metal utensils at the back seems to have been taken down, for example, though you can still hear a persistent rattling of what you assume is cutlery in the drawers. Actually, you can hear rattling from several places, now that you're paying attention, punctuated by the occasional dull thud. Nothing sounds particularly like it's sustaining real damage, at least.
>You quickly locate a very large and firmly-secured jug of water and fill your canteen from it, then acquire a mug from the decidedly-disorganized cupboards and fill that as well. You elect for one with a lid, as you suspect this may be the only reasonable way to ensure its contents remain inside the mug on the way back up. Even filling it takes a surprising amount of finesse with the ship being buffeted about as it is, but you manage to avoid spilling more than a small amount onto the floor.
-
>A little spill won't do any harm. Hopefully.
>Do we know if Marisa ever gets/got SkySeasick?
>Return to the moth with the goods.
>Watch for flying cutlery, in the event of a massive shift.
-
>A little spill won't do any harm. Hopefully.
>Do we know if Marisa ever gets/got SkySeasick?
>Return to the moth with the goods.
>Watch for flying cutlery, in the event of a massive shift.
>You imagine not.
>If she ever did, she never bothered to share that story.
>You make your way out of the galley and back upstairs.
>Things are secured well enough that you think if the ship hit an eddy strong enough to send cutlery flying, flying cutlery would be the least of your problems.
>After a couple false starts and a small pause to catch your balance following a particularly fierce lurch, you make it back to Neu. Both you and your beverage are still in one piece.
>Neu nods and gestures to the mug. "If you could just hand me that for a moment?"
-
>Do so.
-
>Do so.
>You hand Neu the mug and she accepts it with another nod, then removes the lid and holds it below one of her wings. She flutters it a few times and you notice a fine powder scatter from that corner of her wing and rain into your drink. Then she puts the lid back on and gives it a shake.
>"I hope you don't find that off-putting," she says with an almost apologetic frown. "It's perfectly harmless, I promise you, but it will put you to sleep if you drink it."
-
>Blink.
>"So THAT'S why they call you Sleepywings."
-
>Blink.
>"So THAT'S why they call you Sleepywings."
>She grimaces slightly. "I see you've been talking with Ishi."
-
>"It came up when we were trying to pin down that date."
-
>"It came up when we were trying to pin down that date."
>"Ah, yes," she says dryly.
-
>"Sorry. But that trick with the dust caught me by surprise, just kinda... slipped out."
-
>"Sorry. But that trick with the dust caught me by surprise, just kinda... slipped out."
>"Don't worry about," she says, her expression easing. "I'm not offended."
>She hands the mug back to you.
-
>"Murasa mentioned that Ishi was the only one that really used that nickname, but didn't mention if you were... fond of it, or not."
>Have a sniff.
-
>"Murasa mentioned that Ishi was the only one that really used that nickname, but didn't mention if you were... fond of it, or not."
>Have a sniff.
>"I've gotten used to it," she replies simply.
>You take a sniff of your drink. It still smell mostly of water, but also of something rather hard to describe, like honey mixed with a faintly musky ochre. It is... different, but not entirely unpleasant.
-
>Compared to the smell produced by the last youkai that threw something at us, that's a damn sight better.
>"And... I hope you don't mind me asking, but.... there any side effects I should know about?"
-
>Compared to the smell produced by the last youkai that threw something at us, that's a damn sight better.
>"And... I hope you don't mind me asking, but.... there any side effects I should know about?"
>This is not even in the same game as that miasma, let along league....
>"There shouldn't be," she says. "Though you might find yourself oversleeping a little. I can make sure to wake you at a particular time, if you want me to."
-
>"Nah, not really. Just so long as there's something left I can scavenge for breakfast."
-
>"Nah, not really. Just so long as there's something left I can scavenge for breakfast."
>"You needn't worry about that, I suspect."
-
>"Then I guess I'll see you in the morning."
>"Thanks. And good luck with this." indicate storm.
-
>"Then I guess I'll see you in the morning."
>"Thanks. And good luck with this." indicate storm.
>Neu nods. "Thank you. And pleasant dreams to you."
-
>Return to our room.
>Return chest to its previous location.
>Retrieve arms from chest.
>Get in bed.
>Down the hatch!
-
> Action order edit!
>Return to our room.
>Return chest to its previous location.
>Retrieve arms from chest.
> Check chest for usual growths.
>Get in bed.
>Down the hatch!
-
>Return to our room.
>Return chest to its previous location.
>Retrieve arms from chest.
> Check chest for usual growths.
>You leave to return to your room just as Chisato calls out another surge, this one nearly planting you on your face despite your best efforts. Your limbs ache and you imagine your eyes look dark and bleary by this point. And your stomach... Brushing that aside once more, you pull yourself upright and make your way back down the stairs.
>You feel a heavy resistance as you attempt to open your door, and after applying a bit more force come to suspect that the chest must have slid up against it while you were gone. Once you force the door open enough to enter, you grab the chest and drag it back to where it belongs, though you recognize this is a futile effort in the current situation.
>In fact, you are forced to quickly retrieve your arms from the chest's path as another lurch sends it on a forceful collision with the cabin wall. You do still need those arms, after all....
>You take a moment to inspect the surface of the chest. Though you're no dendrochronologist, the distinctive pattern of ring upon ring in the wood grain suggests usual growth to you. Also, the others are still right where you left them, humble though they may be.
>Get in bed.
>Down the hatch!
>By now, the top sheet has tumbled into an untidy heap and your pillow has been flung across the room altogether, so you take a moment to reassemble your bedding before slipping inside it.
>Then you take your mug of soporific water and quickly down it. Ugh... that might not have been the nicest thing to do to a queasy stomach. The taste itself is not exactly bad, though it's... kind of.... whoa....
>You barely have time and coordination enough to set the mug down someplace before your limbs fall limp at your side and sleep rushes up to claim you.
>You awaken sometime later to sunlight streaming in on your face. It feels like you've been sleeping for days, though you feel quite a bit the better for it. Still, you kind of hope you weren't sleeping for days; you've got few enough of them as it is....
-
>Groan.
>Roll over.
>Take stock of stomach, head, and aftertaste in mouth.
>Is the ship still bobbing like a rubber ducky in a bath?
>Ponder why we made THAT analogy, of all things.
>Remove Orange's arm from our face.
-
>Groan.
>Roll over.
>Take stock of stomach, head, and aftertaste in mouth.
>Is the ship still bobbing like a rubber ducky in a bath?
>Ponder why we made THAT analogy, of all things.
>Remove Orange's arm from our face.
>You groan and roll over.
>Your stomach actually feels pretty settled, though perhaps a bit hungry. Your head is still somewhat foggy with sleep, but no more than you might expect it to be a few moments after waking. You can taste a bit of morning breath in your mouth, but nothing more off-putting than that.
>The ship's course seems even and calm. In fact, you could barely tell you were moving at all if not for the gentle hum of the engines.
>Bet those rubber duckies never need to worry about getting seasick....
>Oh, it was just a dream....
-
>Yawn, stretch & try to come alive.
>Make another attempt at dragging that chest back to its original place, as well as anything else that may have come dislodged.
>Take morning dose of Minoriko Special.
>Then go in search of breakfast.
-
>Yawn, stretch & try to come alive.
>Make another attempt at dragging that chest back to its original place, as well as anything else that may have come dislodged.
>Take morning dose of Minoriko Special.
>Then go in search of breakfast.
>You yawn and stretch and continue to come back to the land of the waking.
>Predictably, the chest is not where it was when you fell asleep, but not much else in the room seems out of place; of course, there's not else in the room to be out of place. You get up and drag it back into the corner.
>You take your morning dose of Minoriko's medicine. It is distinctly less pleasant than the last 'medicine' you put down your throat, and you're actually required to stay conscious through this one, to boot!
>You stretch again and work out a crick in your neck, then meander your way down the hall to the galley.
>"Well, good morning there!" Miyuki says as you enter, looking up from wiping off one of the tables. "You here for breakfast or lunch?"
-
>"Lunch? What time is it?"
-
>"Lunch? What time is it?"
>She pauses thoughtfully. "Hmmm... about 2, maybe?"
-
>"Wow. That stuff really worked."
>Chuckle. "Guess I'm here for lunch, then."
-
>"Wow. That stuff really worked."
>Chuckle. "Guess I'm here for lunch, then."
>"I think you must have been tired, too," she says. "It was pretty rough last night."
>"Well, it's up to you. We aren't very formal around here, so if you'd rather have bacon and eggs, bacon and eggs is fine."
-
>"Suppose I WAS pretty bushed. Had a pretty active day yesterday, too."
>"Well, let's just see what we have handy, I ain't picky."
>Rotate neck to finish off that kink, and head towards kitchen.
-
>"Suppose I WAS pretty bushed. Had a pretty active day yesterday, too."
>"Well, let's just see what we have handy, I ain't picky."
>Rotate neck to finish off that kink, and head towards kitchen.
>"There's still some of yesterday's soup left," Miyuki says as you head off towards the kitchen. "And I made some more onigiri. But honestly, if you'd like something else, it's no problem."
>Reaching the kitchen yourself, you note that the various utensils that were stowed away during the storm appear to have been put back in their places. You see 3 onigiri on a tray on the counter, but the soup is not obviously in evidence.
-
>"Soup and rice balls work just fine for me. But... where is it?"
-
>"Soup and rice balls work just fine for me. But... where is it?"
>"The soup's back in the chill-o-matic," she replies. "Uh... the thing that looks kinda like an ice box. You'll need to heat it up."
-
>Chuckle despite ourselves.
>Retreive soup from chill-o-matic and heat.
>"Don't tell me. Ishi made this thing?"
>Select a riceball and start nibbling while soup is heating.
-
>Chuckle despite ourselves.
>Retreive soup from chill-o-matic and heat.
>"Don't tell me. Ishi made this thing?"
>Select a riceball and start nibbling while soup is heating.
>You have a little chuckle.
>Then you move over to the icebox-like thing in the pantry and open it. Locating the pot of soup is simple, but you take a moment to have a closer look at the device. It does largely look like an icebox, though you can see no place to put the ice and there are several complicated looking mechanical components attached to it that you cannot identify. Kappa work, almost certainly. You fetch a saucepan and fill it with an adequate portion from the soup pot, then put the pot back in the chill-o-matic and head over to the stove. This also turns out to be somewhat... unconventional, though you eventually identify a series of dials that appear to control each burner and set the soup to heating.
>"Oh, no," Miyuki replies. "I think they just bought it. Not that Ishi hasn't tried to tinker with it since it's been here...." she adds in a dry tone.
>You grab an onigiri and start to munch on it while you wait for the soup to warm up. The mild savoriness of it is a fine enough start to the day and find your stomach pleasantly agreeable to it after last night's escapades.
-
>Do ANY of the gizmos in here appear to be untouched by the hands of kappa?
>Take a moment to enjoy our balance and stomach settling down.
>"Let me guess, she thought the thing would do better with some kind of.... Actually, I'm not sure what you could do with a... chill-o-matic. 'course I'm no Kappa, either."
-
>"i would also hope that its not gained a history of exploding ether."
-
>Do ANY of the gizmos in here appear to be untouched by the hands of kappa?
>Take a moment to enjoy our balance and stomach settling down.
>"Let me guess, she thought the thing would do better with some kind of.... Actually, I'm not sure what you could do with a... chill-o-matic. 'course I'm no Kappa, either."
>Some of the devices in the kitchen look more unusual than others, but most of them raise at least some suspicion of kappa involvement.
>Ah... sometimes it really is the simple things in life... such as being able to remain where you're standing without being flung back and forth like a ragdoll.
>"It happened before I was around," Miyuki says. "But I've heard stories.... Apparently she got it into her mind to turbo-charge the ice maker and turned it into some sort rapid-fire ice cube cannon - don't ask me why. Just in case you were ever fighting someone inside the pantry and needed a minor distraction?" She shrugs. "Anyway, someone came in the day after that to get some leftover ham out of the chill-o-matic and the entire inside was one solid chunk of ice. The whole thing."
>"i would also hope that its not gained a history of exploding ether."
>Miyuki chuckles. "The captain made her put it back to normal. Sometimes I wonder what state this place would be in if she let Ishi get away with half the things that pop into that head of hers. Of course, they're not all bad."
-
>Pause in mid-bite.
>"So..... Ishi tried to turn a refrigeration device into a cannon."
-
>Pause in mid-bite.
>"So..... Ishi tried to turn a refrigeration device into a cannon."
>"So they tell me. I don't know if it was a happy accident or her original plan, but there it is."
-
>Try to keep... Ah, heck, have a good laugh.
-
>Try to keep... Ah, heck, have a good laugh.
>You try to keep a straight face for a moment, but then decide to just give in and laugh. Miyuki smiles.
>"She keeps the place in one piece," she says. "Though I sometimes wonder if that's not for lack of trying otherwise."
-
>Finish laughing, then grin broadly. "Well, she's proved she can keep chill-o-matic contents in one piece, at least."
>Polish off that onigiri, that should give our soup time to warm.
>"I suppose if it had worked, the Blue Maiden could boast the safest mess hall of the skies."
-
>Finish laughing, then grin broadly. "Well, she's proved she can keep chill-o-matic contents in one piece, at least."
>Polish off that onigiri, that should give our soup time to warm.
>"I suppose if it had worked, the Blue Maiden could boast the safest mess hall of the skies."
>Miyuki snickers. "I suppose she has, at that."
>You make your way through the rest of your onigiri as you wait for your soup to heat up.
>"Oh, I think we're already fairly close to that," she says lightly.
-
>That's hot enough. Retrieve soup from oven.
>Snag another rice ball then find a seat.
>Snap fingers. Knew we forgot something while we were up.
>If Miyuki's still on her feet, "Oh, uh, would you mind putting on the kettle? Forgot to make some tea."
-
>That's hot enough. Retrieve soup from oven.
>Snag another rice ball then find a seat.
>Snap fingers. Knew we forgot something while we were up.
>If Miyuki's still on her feet, "Oh, uh, would you mind putting on the kettle? Forgot to make some tea."
>You decide your soup is hot enough now, and go serve yourself up a bowl, grabbing another onigiri for good measure before taking your meal over to a table.
>You snap your fingers and ask Miyuki if she would mind putting on the kettle.
>"Oh, of course," she replies, and heads back towards the stove.
-
>"Thanks."
>Blow on soup and have a spoonful to gauge heat.
>"Forgot to ask if you wanted some of this, too. Sorry."
-
>"Thanks."
>Blow on soup and have a spoonful to gauge heat.
>"Forgot to ask if you wanted some of this, too. Sorry."
>"My pleasure," she replies.
>You blow on your soup and take an experimental spoonful. It seems a comfortable temperature.
>"Oh, I've already eaten," she says cheerfully. "But thanks anyway!"
-
>Consume breakfast at a leisurely pace until tea arrives.
-
>Consume breakfast at a leisurely pace until tea arrives.
>You lazily work your way through breakfast, enjoying the simultaneous lack of obligations combined with the sense that you're not actually delaying progress towards a cure by resting. The soup is simple fare, but pleasant and warm, and your onigiri provides a nice contrast to its texture. Miyuki sets the kettle on the stove and then goes back to tidying, quietly humming a small tune as she works. Before you know it, the kettle adds its own shrill whistling to the melody and she quickly darts back and takes it off the heat.
>"What kind of tea would you like?" she asks. "Plain, lemon, or ginger?"
-
>"Mmm... Lemon, please. Only a little sugar."
-
>"Mmm... Lemon, please. Only a little sugar."
>"Alright," she says. You hear the sound of hot water being poured.
>A few moments later she arrives at your table bearing a gray ceramic mug; warm vapors steam from the top of it, tracing faint patterns in the air. Mmmm... the smell is rather soothing, actually.
>She deposits the mug on the table in front of you. "Here you go!"
-
>"Thanks a lot."
>Have a sip.
>"'m curious, how long you been with this crew?"
-
>"Thanks a lot."
>Have a sip.
>"'m curious, how long you been with this crew?"
>Miyuki smiles.
>You take a sip of your tea. The lemon may be a touch on the sharp side, but it still feels good going down.
>"Only a couple years," she says. "Some of the others go way back."
-
>Nod.
>"What brought you here?"
-
>Nod.
>"What brought you here?"
>"I wanted to see the world," she says with a heartfelt smile. "I'd spent most of my life tucked away in a little corner of Tatsuzume; you could practically see one end of the island from the other. We'd get a little island-hopper maybe every couple weeks, if we were lucky. I'd always said 'One day I'm going to hitch a ride on one of those and see what's out there', but something else always had a way of coming up. Then this ship arrived, bigger than anything I'd ever seen, and I just knew it was the one. I decided right then and there that I wasn't going to let them leave without me. And, well, I guess the rest is history." She lets out a quiet laugh, tinged with a gentle nostalgia.
-
>Do we know the location Tatsuzume?
>Smile a little smile over soup. That sounds a familiar story.... You'd like this one, Orange.
>Give her a knowing smile. "Believe me, Miyuki, I can relate."
-
>Do we know the location Tatsuzume?
>Smile a little smile over soup. That sounds a familiar story.... You'd like this one, Orange.
>Give her a knowing smile. "Believe me, Miyuki, I can relate."
>It is a fairly large chain of mostly tiny islands in southeastern Hanashibara. You know relatively little about it beyond this.
>You smile a little. Something about her tale rings just a little close to home.
>"Oh?"
-
>"I grew up in a little place called Easthaven, outside of Braston. Ever heard of it?"
-
>"I grew up in a little place called Easthaven, outside of Braston. Ever heard of it?"
>"Oh, of course," she says. "A lot of the cargo we're carrying at the moment was grown there, in fact. I've never been there myself, but I hear it's quite pretty."
-
>"It's a pretty enough place, aye. And a good place to grow up, as far as places go. At least if you're a youkai, but that's a bit of a story in and of itself. But, it's also small. Very small."
>Sip tea.
>"After a few years, I guess I kinda... outgrew it. I wanted something MORE, y'know? That's how I ended up with this."
>Tap Seeker's badge.
>How many years ago did we leave Easthaven?
>"Me and Orange- an old friend of mine- left there *insert answer to above question* years ago for Braston. I got into the Seekers, and she ended up a member of the Watch. But both us still wanted to make a bigger city one day, make Val Razua. Braston's a fine enogh city, too, but..." Smile. "Well, like you said. We wanted to see what was out there."
-
>How many years ago did we leave Easthaven?
>It's been about four years, now.
>"It's a pretty enough place, aye. And a good place to grow up, as far as places go. At least if you're a youkai, but that's a bit of a story in and of itself. But, it's also small. Very small."
>Sip tea.
>"After a few years, I guess I kinda... outgrew it. I wanted something MORE, y'know? That's how I ended up with this."
>Tap Seeker's badge.
>"Me and Orange- an old friend of mine- left there *insert answer to above question* years ago for Braston. I got into the Seekers, and she ended up a member of the Watch. But both us still wanted to make a bigger city one day, make Val Razua. Braston's a fine enogh city, too, but..." Smile. "Well, like you said. We wanted to see what was out there."
>Miyuki smiles gently as you relate your own story of escaping a quiet pastoral life.
>"I guess that's something we have in common, then," she says. "Though I imagine becoming a Seeker must take a lot more commitment than anything I'd been expecting back then. I really was just a clueless country girl getting in way over her head. I'll have you know that the place I grew up in makes Easthaven look like a bustling city by comparison," she adds with a hint of a smirk.
-
>Laugh.
>"Must have been quite the place."
>"But, you seem to have fit in here well."
-
>Laugh.
>"Must have been quite the place."
>"But, you seem to have fit in here well."
>"I still care for it, of course," she says. "I have family there, and good memories. But it's even more sheltered than I realized at the time. I could barely imagine some of the things I've seen since then."
>She smiles. "I try. You can learn a lot in a few years on a ship like this."
-
>"I can believe that, you learn a lot becoming a Seeker too. For one thing? Never drink more than your limit. Ain't fun the next day."
>Man, we sure know how that went down. Oof.
-
>"For another, never assume a job is as simple as it is on paper."
>"And... I'm with you there, too. Kinda feel the same about Easthaven. I may have outgrown it, but.... Well. I think you can understand. It's where I grew up, started to become where I am. Still a lot of folks I... care about. Especially Ichirin."
>That wasn't TOO hard to admit...
-
>"I can believe that, you learn a lot becoming a Seeker too. For one thing? Never drink more than your limit. Ain't fun the next day."
>Man, we sure know how that went down. Oof.
>She laughs. "I can think of someone I ought to sign up, if that really works."
>Not a morning you're in a great hurry to repeat, certainly....
>"For another, never assume a job is as simple as it is on paper."
>"And... I'm with you there, too. Kinda feel the same about Easthaven. I may have outgrown it, but.... Well. I think you can understand. It's where I grew up, started to become where I am. Still a lot of folks I... care about. Especially Ichirin."
>That wasn't TOO hard to admit...
>"Or a milk run," she agrees.
>Miyuki gives you a gentle smile. "Childhood sweetheart?"
>Then again....
-
>"Sweetheart? Nah, Ichi's the closest thing to a mom a mouse like me could have."
-
>Oh, wish you were here to hear THAT one, Ichirin... Keep a laugh to ourselves.
>"'fraid not, Miyuki. Ichirin runs the orphanage out in Easthaven. But she takes in more than that; she takes in youkai who've just turned, helps them learn how to live amongst people, now that they ARE people. She gave me my start."
-
>"Sweetheart? Nah, Ichi's the closest thing to a mom a mouse like me could have."
>Oh, wish you were here to hear THAT one, Ichirin... Keep a laugh to ourselves.
>"'fraid not, Miyuki. Ichirin runs the orphanage out in Easthaven. But she takes in more than that; she takes in youkai who've just turned, helps them learn how to live amongst people, now that they ARE people. She gave me my start."
>Miyuki gives a sheepish smile. "Oh, um, oops? She sounds like a kind person, though." She pauses thoughtfully a moment. "I've sometimes wondered if youkai ever feel like they're missing a family. For those who aren't actually born into one, I mean."
-
>"Dunno, ran into a spider youkai last job. She was a right terror I tells ya. Had a real mad-on for this sword of mine."
>"She did seem to be rather attached to all the other spiders I saw around there."
-
>From what we can recall, did any of the youkai we've known, at Ichirin's or otherwise, ever express a similar sentiment?
>"I never thought much about it myself. Tell you the truth, I barely remember anything about what my life was like before I changed. For all I, Ichirin was more a mother than the mouse that birthed me." Grimace. "She damn sure tried, I can tell ya that for a fact."
-
>From what we can recall, did any of the youkai we've known, at Ichirin's or otherwise, ever express a similar sentiment?
>"I never thought much about it myself. Tell you the truth, I barely remember anything about what my life was like before I changed. For all I, Ichirin was more a mother than the mouse that birthed me." Grimace. "She damn sure tried, I can tell ya that for a fact."
>That they were missing out on having a family? With one possible exception, it's not something you've really heard expressed, though you think the orphanage essentially was a sort of family for any youkai that honestly wanted one. Many tended to be quite independent, though; youkai can be born with wildly varying levels of maturity and self-sufficiency - for some, Ichirin was probably little more than a mentor or friend. You honestly don't know if, say, a shovel would ever feel like it was missing out on something for not having parents. Orange, on the other hand... is something of a different case, you guess.
>Miyuki giggles a little at your consternation. "But that's what I mean, though. It sounds like she tries to give that to youkai who wouldn't have had a 'family' otherwise."
>"Dunno, ran into a spider youkai last job. She was a right terror I tells ya. Had a real mad-on for this sword of mine."
>"She did seem to be rather attached to all the other spiders I saw around there."
>Miyuki frowns a little. "Well, I suppose there is that, though not every youkai has something they can call their 'own kind'. I know youkai can be very different from one another and some probably wouldn't even know what to do with a family. It's just something I've thought about every now and then, that's all."
-
>Harumph a little.
>"Well, she's got the 'motherly' part down. And she's helped a lot of people. Got a lot of success stories under her belt."
>Let eyes drift down. May she have one more when we get back....
>"Lotta hard luck cases, too. That woman..."
-
>Harumph a little.
>"Well, she's got the 'motherly' part down. And she's helped a lot of people. Got a lot of success stories under her belt."
>Let eyes drift down. May she have one more when we get back....
>"Lotta hard luck cases, too. That woman..."
>You try to brush off Miyuki's remarks a little, but find yourself thinking back on the spider youkai and whether Ichirin may may gotten through to her by the time you return.
>"Sounds like you have a lot of respect for her," Miyuki says.
-
>Take a moment.
>"I do. She's earned it. If I hadn't had her support though this..."
>Bite at our rice ball for punctuation.
-
>Take a moment.
>"I do. She's earned it. If I hadn't had her support though this..."
>Bite at our rice ball for punctuation.
>You pause for a moment and think on how things might have been without Ichirin, especially now.... Then you take a bite of onigiri. Miyuki looks on with a supportive smile.
>"No matter how much there is to see out in the world, it's still something special to have people like that waiting for you when you get back."
-
>Mutter, "If I get back...." under our breath.
>Chuckle. "No place like home, eh."
>"I admit, I wonder.... What the folks back in Easthaven'll say, once I get back."
-
>Mutter, "If I get back...." under our breath.
>Chuckle. "No place like home, eh."
>"I admit, I wonder.... What the folks back in Easthaven'll say, once I get back."
>You mutter a lingering doubt under your breath. You think you see Miyuki's brow crease slightly, but she makes no other notice of it.
>"I'll be back someday," she says. "And they're not going to believe some of the stories I'll have to tell them."
>"I'm sure Ichirin will be glad to see you again, won't she?" Then she frowns a little. "You didn't leave on bad terms, did you?"
-
>"With Ichirin? No way. I know she can't wait to see me again. Some of the other folks in town? They... might not have arms WIDE open."
-
>"With Ichirin? No way. I know she can't wait to see me again. Some of the other folks in town? They... might not have arms WIDE open."
>She gives you a sympathetic look. "I know it's none of my business, but if you wanted a shoulder to lay that on...."
-
>"It's not a private thing. That spider youkai and her friends I mentioned? They'd been stealing cattle from Easthaven up until a few days ago. The villagers didn't know what was going on, so Ichirin sent for a Seeker to find their missing cows. That Seeker was me. And... Well, I got a lot more than I bargained for."
>"After I got back, the villagers knew what they were up against. They were scared, angry, threatened. I don't blame em for it, either. But I think they were looking for someone to blame, to take their aggression out on. They blamed me making the youkai mad at them, for bringing the spiders against the village itself instead of just its cattle. And for not killing the spiders, making sure they were safe."
>Pause.
>"I guess when I get back, I can't help but think they'll see me as the girl that brought an army of giant spiders down upon them."
-
>"It's not a private thing. That spider youkai and her friends I mentioned? They'd been stealing cattle from Easthaven up until a few days ago. The villagers didn't know what was going on, so Ichirin sent for a Seeker to find their missing cows. That Seeker was me. And... Well, I got a lot more than I bargained for."
>"After I got back, the villagers knew what they were up against. They were scared, angry, threatened. I don't blame em for it, either. But I think they were looking for someone to blame, to take their aggression out on. They blamed me making the youkai mad at them, for bringing the spiders against the village itself instead of just its cattle. And for not killing the spiders, making sure they were safe."
>Pause.
>"I guess when I get back, I can't help but think they'll see me as the girl that brought an army of giant spiders down upon them."
>"Are they... still in trouble now?" she asks, a deep frown on her face.
-
>"I really, really hope not. I left after I made sure they were in as good a shape, defensively, as they could be. But," Clench fist. "I had to leave the village, before the situation was resolved, one way or the other."
>Quickly, "I didn't want to. At least, not leave and stay away. I had no choice. And I took some measures once I made Braston, too, to help them."
>Crack a grin. "I sent them back some firepower."
-
>"I really, really hope not. I left after I made sure they were in as good a shape, defensively, as they could be. But," Clench fist. "I had to leave the village, before the situation was resolved, one way or the other."
>Quickly, "I didn't want to. At least, not leave and stay away. I had no choice. And I took some measures once I made Braston, too, to help them."
>Crack a grin. "I sent them back some firepower."
>Her frown takes on a more sympathetic mien. "They didn't... run you out of town, did they?"
-
>"No, no no no. But I had-" pause for a heartbeat. She doesn't know. They didn't tell her. "-another problem. One that I couldn't find an answer for in Easthaven. Or Braston, for that matter."
>"So while I'm heading to Val Razua, hoping to find a solution to my problem there, I found what I hope is the solution to Easthaven's spider problem in Braston, and sent her back to them."
-
>"No, no no no. But I had-" pause for a heartbeat. She doesn't know. They didn't tell her. "-another problem. One that I couldn't find an answer for in Easthaven. Or Braston, for that matter."
>"So while I'm heading to Val Razua, hoping to find a solution to my problem there, I found what I hope is the solution to Easthaven's spider problem in Braston, and sent her back to them."
>She nods, and then is silent for a moment.
>"Is there... any truth to what they said?" she asks tentatively. "About bringing an army of spiders down on them, I mean. I know-" She stops and shakes her head dismissively. "I'm sorry, nevermind; I'm being nosy."
-
>Look away.
>"It would have happened anyway. The youkai made it clear that her friends didn't care about human life. Once they were done on cattle...."
>Shake our head.
>"I tried to reason with her, tried to make her see how things would end. That no good would come to either side, but she was so angry. I've never seen anyone so angry before."
>Look at her. "I'd like to think I did some good. I handled some of the more dangerous spiders, ones that a ordinary human couldn't. No offense. The villagers and I formed a plan to seal their cave, keep them in. And I hurt the youkai. Badly. She won't be a threat either, at least until... Well, I suppose it's already happened by now."
-
>Look away.
>"It would have happened anyway. The youkai made it clear that her friends didn't care about human life. Once they were done on cattle...."
>Shake our head.
>"I tried to reason with her, tried to make her see how things would end. That no good would come to either side, but she was so angry. I've never seen anyone so angry before."
>Look at her. "I'd like to think I did some good. I handled some of the more dangerous spiders, ones that a ordinary human couldn't. No offense. The villagers and I formed a plan to seal their cave, keep them in. And I hurt the youkai. Badly. She won't be a threat either, at least until... Well, I suppose it's already happened by now."
>You look away and shake your head. It's still hard to think back on that dreadful confrontation in the cavern without feeling bad about so many things that went so wrong....
>Then you turn back to Miyuki and outline all the things you did accomplish for the village, perhaps as much for your own benefit as hers. Her expression is attentive, yet still somehow gentle in its manner, though there are obvious traces of wary concern on her face; whether they're directed towards you or the village or both, you cannot say for sure.
>"You suppose what's happened?" she asks, frowning slightly.
-
>"The night I got back to Braston, I went looking for my mentor, from by days as an apprentice Seeker. Marisa Kirisame. I'm not exaggerating when I say she may be the most powerful witch in all of Estval. Let me put it to ya this way: I myself was able to defeat 12 giant spiders, some of them even more dangerous than the name implies, and I hurt that youkai as bad as she hurt me." Pause. "Marisa is way stronger than me."
>"When I found her, and explained the situation to her, she took off for Easthaven. Heh, and believe me, that witch can move when she wants to."
>"There's no one I'd trust more than Marisa to handle a problem like that, and handle it the way I asked her to."
-
>"The night I got back to Braston, I went looking for my mentor, from by days as an apprentice Seeker. Marisa Kirisame. I'm not exaggerating when I say she may be the most powerful witch in all of Estval. Let me put it to ya this way: I myself was able to defeat 12 giant spiders, some of them even more dangerous than the name implies, and I hurt that youkai as bad as she hurt me." Pause. "Marisa is way stronger than me."
>"When I found her, and explained the situation to her, she took off for Easthaven. Heh, and believe me, that witch can move when she wants to."
>"There's no one I'd trust more than Marisa to handle a problem like that, and handle it the way I asked her to."
>"And... that was?"
-
>Breathe in, then pause. Shake head slightly. "I don't think you'd believe me if I told you."
-
>Breathe in, then pause. Shake head slightly. "I don't think you'd believe me if I told you."
>Miyuki leans in a little and gives you an encouraging look. "Well... you won't know until you try, right?"
-
>Well, if she doesn't know what that youkai did to us, maybe she WILL believe it.
>"Marisa can defeat that youkai without killing her. That was our plan; have her beat the youkai, bring her out of the cave, then seal it shut to keep the village safe from the spiders."
-
>Well, if she doesn't know what that youkai did to us, maybe she WILL believe it.
>"Marisa can defeat that youkai without killing her. That was our plan; have her beat the youkai, bring her out of the cave, then seal it shut to keep the village safe from the spiders."
>It at least increases its believability, you figure.
>"And what are they going to do with her after that?" she asks.
-
>"I asked Ichirin to do for her what she's done for all those before; give the youkai a chance at a better life. And Marisa was the only one I'd trust to be willing, and able, to bring her there safely."
-
>"I asked Ichirin to do for her what she's done for all those before; give the youkai a chance at a better life. And Marisa was the only one I'd trust to be willing, and able, to bring her there safely."
>Miyuki frowns a little. "Didn't you just say that she said she didn't care about human life at all?"
-
>"She hated ME, personally. And I confess, I can't really say I can't understand why. She may never stop hating me."
>"But when it comes to surface dwellers, I don't think that's the case. I think... her feelings about surface people are based assumptions.On her people's history, a history that's been all but forgotten. She's been alone, for God knows how long. Surrounded by arachnids- beasts. Her kind maybe, but still beasts. It's entirely possible the first person she ever saw from the surface was me."
>"I couldn't get through to her; I tried, but she hated me too much, hated this sword too much, but, that's a story I don't have the answers to yet. But Ichirin isn't me. If anyone on this... Well, I suppose, that island, can get through to her, could convince her that surface people aren't as bad as she's assumed, then it's Ichirn."
-
>"She hated ME, personally. And I confess, I can't really say I can't understand why. She may never stop hating me."
>"But when it comes to surface dwellers, I don't think that's the case. I think... her feelings about surface people are based assumptions.On her people's history, a history that's been all but forgotten. She's been alone, for God knows how long. Surrounded by arachnids- beasts. Her kind maybe, but still beasts. It's entirely possible the first person she ever saw from the surface was me."
>"I couldn't get through to her; I tried, but she hated me too much, hated this sword too much, but, that's a story I don't have the answers to yet. But Ichirin isn't me. If anyone on this... Well, I suppose, that island, can get through to her, could convince her that surface people aren't as bad as she's assumed, then it's Ichirn."
>Miyuki regards you silently for a few moments after you finish, her expression warm yet somehow distant. "You have a good heart, Nazrin."
-
>I... That....
>First Ichirin, then you? Why do people keep telling us that?
>Grimace again. "I just wanted things to work out for everyone, that's all."
-
>I... That....
>First Ichirin, then you? Why do people keep telling us that?
>Grimace again. "I just wanted things to work out for everyone, that's all."
>Miyuki giggles softly at your consternation. "Isn't that what I just said?"
-
>People and their...
>"Well.... I SUPPOSE you could put it that way, if you insist..."
-
>People and their...
>"Well.... I SUPPOSE you could put it that way, if you insist..."
>She flashes you a smile. "Fine, then!"
-
>Outside of Ichirin, has anyone ever said that of us?
-
>Outside of Ichirin, has anyone ever said that of us?
>In those specific terms? You can't say it comes up much, though you mostly seem to get along well enough with the people around you. Well... you suppose Orange has expressed a similar sentiment from time to time; you'd suspect she were doing it to rib you, if you thought she had the wit for it.
-
>"I just..."
>Have a mouthful of whatever part of breakfast is left, and try not to blush.
>Damn our inability to handle that kind of praise. When did we become 'good heart'....
>"If it works, it'll solve everyone's problems. That's the best outcome of a job; everyone goes home satisfied."
-
>"I just..."
>Have a mouthful of whatever part of breakfast is left, and try not to blush.
>Damn our inability to handle that kind of praise. When did we become 'good heart'....
>"If it works, it'll solve everyone's problems. That's the best outcome of a job; everyone goes home satisfied."
>You quickly bite into the rest of your onigiri before you leave yourself a chance to stumble over the rest of that sentence, then try not to blush in its stead.
>Perhaps when you selflessly tried to extend caring towards people who had done grievous harm to you? Or perhaps you've been that way for longer than you'd like to admit....
>"Sounds like a good policy to me," Miyuki says.
-
>"And of course,"
>Flash her a jocular grin.
>"it means better pay, too."
>Gotta salvage some dignity here....
-
>"And of course,"
>Flash her a jocular grin.
>"it means better pay, too."
>Gotta salvage some dignity here....
>You grin widely and make a face-saving remark about the selfish end of making things work out for people.
>Miyuki nods. "Of course." There is just a hint of a smile on her face that makes you wonder if you're being entirely transparent, or if she's just readily cheerful. ...probably both.
-
>Damage control achieved (hopefully), finish breakfast.
-
>Damage control achieved (hopefully), finish breakfast.
>Figuring you've said enough (or perhaps too much), you apply yourself to the rest of your breakfast in earnest. All in all, while the soup may be a bit of a different start to your day than the usual fare, you're definitely going to go away feeling full. And right now, simply being able to sit and eat a meal in peace is something in itself.
>After a little while, Miyuki excuses herself to go take her shift on deck watch, leaving you alone in the galley. Though she hasn't gotten very far down the hallway before you hear her greet someone with a cheerful "Good morning!" She is answered by an incoherent mumble of syllables, only tangentially resembling a sentence.
-
>Sounds like someone had a rough night.
>Did we recognize the voice?
>Don't be grinning when she comes in.
-
>Sounds like someone had a rough night.
>Did we recognize the voice?
>Don't be grinning when she comes in.
>You would think that could go for most of the ship after last night, though Miyuki seemed in fine shape.
>It would be hard to recognize much from that grumbling, to be honest. They're probably female, at least. Hopefully humanoid....
>You can have a very good poker face when you apply yourself, so it is with a deliberately neutral expression that you observe a diminutive blue-haired figure stumble into the galley. It appears, with only slight exaggeration, than an explosion has detonated in her hair. Or that someone attempted to style it in the likeness of a pineapple and then hit it several times with a mallet. The goggles she is wearing on her head are askew, doing nothing to amend the walking portrait of dishevelment. She mutters something unintelligible, then shambles off in the direction of the cookware.
-
>Have we seen this one before? Either pre or post-implied explosion?
Or with their pants on?
-
>Have we seen this one before? Either pre or post-implied explosion? Or with their pants on?
>You... think it's the same kappa you saw at the Melon Bowl a few days back, which would make her Ishi. For better or worse, it appears she at least remembered to put clothes on. ...or perhaps she just slept in them.
-
>"Nice hairdo."
-
>"Nice hairdo."
>"Mrrfl...frlgin....brashdid..." She doesn't even take the energy to look in your direction, but merely ambles behind the counter and into the pantry.
-
>Allow ourselves a quiet chuckle.
>Have we finished our own breakfast? If so, police our dishes.
-
>Allow ourselves a quiet chuckle.
>Have we finished our own breakfast? If so, police our dishes.
>You chuckle quietly and finish up the last of your breakfast while Ishi putters about in the pantry and then shambles back into the kitchen with half a pineapple and some ham in hand.
>As you stand up to gather your empty dishes, you hear a sharp yelp issue from near the stove, followed by a sizzling sound.
-
>Leave the dishes and dash to the kitchen.
-
>Leave the dishes and dash to the kitchen.
>You leave the dishes where they are and dash to the kitchen instead. Ishi's stature makes it hard to see more than the top of her head until you round the corner, but as you do, you find her cradling her arm and looking considerably more awake, if not any less disheveled. She glares at the stove and launches a swift kick at its base. The wince immediately following this maneuver suggests she is now enduring two injuries. Her block of ham, still unsliced, is resting partially on the corner of one of the burners and sizzling merrily where it touches.
-
>Reach out and turn off the stove.
>"You alright?"
Gonna be out of town tomorrow, got a wedding to attend. But, while you folks have Ishi here, after she pulls herself together, ask her about that odd part we got from the warehouse fairys way back when. She might be able to tell us what it is.
-
>Reach out and turn off the stove.
>"You alright?"
>You turn off the dial you think corresponds to the sizzling burner, though this produces no immediate change in the ham's condition.
>Ishi continues her staring match with the stove, muttering through gritted teeth. "Razzin'... frazzin'... gah!" She elbows the appliance weekly, still cradling her arm. "Stupid thing's trying to kill me...."
-
Still out of commission here, and I don't remember this part anyway, so I'm fair useless, sorry.
> Recall known information about a 'part' acquired some time ago from warehouse fairies.
-
Happened waaaay back in thread one. I'd been re-reading the archives, just to see how many things had slipped my mind, since the beginning, and that was one of the bigger things.
>Smirk and nod. "Yeah, can't trust these stoves nowadays..."
-
> Recall known information about a 'part' acquired some time ago from warehouse fairies.
>It was a small cylindrical mechanical component of some sort which you found in a pile in the fairies' warehouse. It is quite rusted and otherwise nondescript, but something about it was pinging your treasure sense, so you decided to pocket it and see if you could find out what it is. It has sat in your pack ever since.
>Smirk and nod. "Yeah, can't trust these stoves nowadays..."
>"Second time this week..." she grumbles.
-
Speaking of things I'd found in the archives, I also found something else we need to check out in Val R. Our pendant. It was described as, as near as we can tell, once having some sort of enchantment on it, that's either worn off or run out of power. Should find a mage to tell us about that.
>Gesture at her arm. "How bad'd it get ya this time?"
-
>Gesture at her arm. "How bad'd it get ya this time?"
>She flashes you a grin. "Gonna have to try harder than that to keep me from breakfast." Then she glares at the stove again and mutters "Better not try harder than that.... Remember who's the one with the wrench here."
-
>Chuckle a bit. "Just give it a good whack or two. If anything, it'll probably help ya let off some steam."
-
>Chuckle a bit. "Just give it a good whack or two. If anything, it'll probably help ya let off some steam."
>As she continues to stare down the appliance, an almost sinister grin spreads across her face. "Ooo... I think I can do better than that...."
>"But before that," she declares, the unsettling smirk vanishing from her face as quickly as it arrived, "breakfast!"
>She rolls out a drawer and withdraws a serrated carving knife, then starts sawing vigorously at the ham. The look of intense concentration on her face contrasted with her formidable bed-head paints a rather bizarre scene. You almost expect her to start absently sticking out her tongue at any moment.
-
>Better... Back up a step or two.
>Matter of fact, she seems to be okay. Mostly.
>Go take care of our dishes now.
-
>Better... Back up a step or two.
>Matter of fact, she seems to be okay. Mostly.
>Go take care of our dishes now.
>You take a cautionary step back from the suddenly-energetic kappa, then decide that this means she's probably a sort of okay, anyway.
>You go back to the table and gather up your dishes, then bring them over to the wash-basin. While you start to clean them, Ishi finishing butchering the ham into submission and tosses the resulting slices into a frying pan. Fortunately, the stove does not make another attempt on her health; perhaps it is dissuaded by the presence of witnesses? Once the ham is merrily sizzling, she slices off a hunk of pineapple and tosses it into her mouth.
>"So, how're you findin' the place, anyway?" she asks between bites.
-
>"A lot more interesting than the last few times I've been aboard a ship."
>"How'd she hold together during that storm last night? Kinda slept though half of it."
-
>"A lot more interesting than the last few times I've been aboard a ship."
>"How'd she hold together during that storm last night? Kinda slept though half of it."
>"That's 'cause those other ships are boring," she replies with a grin. "And I bet you haven't even seen any of the cool stuff yet."
>"Takes a lot more than that to put this baby out of commission," she says. "She could fly through a storm three times that bad and come out the other side in one piece. Matter of fact, she has."
-
>"No doubt you've picked up a few stories here and there in your time. How long you been with this ship, anyways?"
-
>"No doubt you've picked up a few stories here and there in your time. How long you been with this ship, anyways?"
>"Ha!" She grins proudly. "I've been here since day 1. Used to be run-of-the-mill before I got my hands on her."
-
>"Hard to imagine the Maiden here being 'run of the mill' at any point."
-
>"Hard to imagine the Maiden here being 'run of the mill' at any point."
>"Welllll... I guess you could say she had 'potential'," she admits, "if you really wanted to. But she wouldn't be half the ship she is today if it weren't for me. Those secondary rotors? The gyro-stabilizers? Torque dampers? All me. And believe me when I tell ya, that storm would have been a heck of a lot different without 'em. I've been souping this baby up since the day I set foot on her."
>She carves another chunk from her pineapple and tosses it down the hatch.
-
>"Miyuki told me about one of your... projects, from some time back."
>Gesture with tail in the general direction the Chill-o-matic. "Something about a block of ice, and an ice cube launcher?"
-
>"Miyuki told me about one of your... projects, from some time back."
>Gesture with tail in the general direction the Chill-o-matic. "Something about a block of ice, and an ice cube launcher?"
>"Hey, I still say that was a good idea!" she protests. "It just needed a little work...."
-
>Have a quiet grin.
>"You actually thought your mess haul needed automatic weapons?"
-
>Have a quiet grin.
>"You actually thought your mess haul needed automatic weapons?"
>"Hey, you get into a fight down here and tell me you'd say no to one. Besides, it was cool!" She pauses a beat. "...I take full ownership of that."
-
>Chuckle.
>"Duly noted."
>"A mouse wonders, though, how many other things you've, uhh.... weaponized, along the way?"
-
>Chuckle.
>"Duly noted."
>"A mouse wonders, though, how many other things you've, uhh.... weaponized, along the way?"
>She gives you a sly look. "A few things, here and there. We'll call them 'surprises'." She chuckles.
-
>Gulp.
>Glance around the room.
>"Again, duly noted."
>Have to remember to check our room later. Actaully...
>"That doesn't by any chance, involve turning the beds on board into catapults, or something, does it?"
-
>Gulp.
>Glance around the room.
>"Again, duly noted."
>Have to remember to check our room later. Actaully...
>"That doesn't by any chance, involve turning the beds on board into catapults, or something, does it?"
>Ishi snickers again as you take a glance around the room, then flips her ham over.
>As you inquire about mechanical bedroom hazards, she pauses. A disturbing gleam starts to form in her eyes. "I... I think I like it."
-
>Well, good, that means she hasn't done it yet. .. Emphasis on yet. Maybe we should warn Murasa about that.
>"Oh, yeah, I found out how you coined that nickname of yours for Neu. Handy little trick she's got there."
-
>Well, good, that means she hasn't done it yet. .. Emphasis on yet. Maybe we should warn Murasa about that.
>"Oh, yeah, I found out how you coined that nickname of yours for Neu. Handy little trick she's got there."
>That might be a legitimate precaution under the circumstances....
>She snickers. "Ain't it, though? Quickest way to put somethin' to sleep south of a hammer to the head."
-
>Let us not mention the idea of adding hammer-launchers to the ship to ward off pirates.
>"How'd you find out about it?"
-
>Let us not mention the idea of adding hammer-launchers to the ship to ward off pirates.
>"How'd you find out about it?"
>You can envision all sorts of disasters stemming from that suggestion.
>"Oh, she just told us," Ishi replies. "Not like it's a big secret or anything; lotsa youkai got a trick or two up their sleeves."
-
>"Present company included on that front. But I've known a few that aren't so keen on making it public knowledge. Was pretty sure Neu wasn't on that list, or she wouldn't have shown me the way she did, but still, had to ask."
-
>"Present company included on that front. But I've known a few that aren't so keen on making it public knowledge. Was pretty sure Neu wasn't on that list, or she wouldn't have shown me the way she did, but still, had to ask."
>Ishi nods. "I hear ya. Sleepywings' been with us for years, though; not much about each other we don't know by this point."
>She gives the ham another flip. "So was it is you can do?"
-
>"Short answer: I find things."
>"Longer answer: I'm a dowser. I can pick up the presence of all kinds of things other folks can't. Drop a hammer in the middle of a forest, I can track it down."
-
>"Short answer: I find things."
>"Longer answer: I'm a dowser. I can pick up the presence of all kinds of things other folks can't. Drop a hammer in the middle of a forest, I can track it down."
>"Handy." She grabs herself a plate. "What about finding one in the middle of an airship?"
-
>Could we do that?
-
>Could we do that?
>With some time and care, perhaps. Of course, it would be very hard to tell one hammer from another without having dowsed the desired one in person first - heck, probably even then. As a rule of thumb, the more unlike an object is from its surroundings, the easier it is to spot. In that sense, a hammer in a forest would actually be a considerably easier job than one less in the middle of nowhere.
-
>"Not impossible. Be easier depending on what it's made out of, too. Say it's the only hammer made of wrought iron and every other one's made out of something else."
-
>"Not impossible. Be easier depending on what it's made out of, too. Say it's the only hammer made of wrought iron and every other one's made out of something else."
>She nods. "Cuz I've got this rivet driver that's gone and hid itself, I swear."
-
>Have we ever seen one of those before, would know what to douse for?
>If we haven't, "I can sure give it a try. What's it made out of?"
-
>Have we ever seen one of those before, would know what to douse for?
>If we haven't, "I can sure give it a try. What's it made out of?"
>You don't know that you would even recognize one if you saw it.
>"Just steel and a little rubber for the grip," she says.
-
>Rub our chin thoughtfully. No way steel would stand out on a ship like this. Rubber MIGHT....
>"Got another one of those things handy?"
-
>Rub our chin thoughtfully. No way steel would stand out on a ship like this. Rubber MIGHT....
>"Got another one of those things handy?"
>She nods. "A smaller one, yeah. Well... might have to dig that out, too, but I know where to start."
-
>Nod.
>"Makes things simpler when I know what I'm lookin' for."
>"'After breakfast, 'course."
-
>Nod.
>"Makes things simpler when I know what I'm lookin' for."
>"'After breakfast, 'course."
>"No rush," she says, starting to scoop up her ham onto the plate. "Not like it's gonna fly off on its own."
-
>Wait for a reaction to see if she now has an idea for some kind of flying whachamacallit.
>If none present themselves, finish washing dishes.
-
>Wait for a reaction to see if she now has an idea for some kind of flying whachamacallit.
>If none present themselves, finish washing dishes.
>You keep an eye on Ishi for a moment, but reassuringly do not see any disquieting light bulbs going off in her head; she currently seems more occupied with reclaiming her meal from the stove.
>You return to cleaning up, and Ishi takes her plate and the rest of her pineapple over to a table. You finish up what few dishes you used soon afterward.
-
>Wait a second.
>Did that tool she described sound like the one we acquired from Cloudy's gang back in Braston?
-
>Wait a second.
>Did that tool she described sound like the one we acquired from Cloudy's gang back in Braston?
>The mechanical part you found in the warehouse doesn't really look like a tool at all. Certainly you cannot see how you could use it to drive rivets in any manner more effective than a rock.
-
>Still, since we have an engineering expert handy...
>Dry off our hands.
>"Say, Ishi, you think you could do me a small favor?"
-
>Still, since we have an engineering expert handy...
>Dry off our hands.
>"Say, Ishi, you think you could do me a small favor?"
>You give your hands a shake and dry them on the dish towel.
>She cranes her neck in your direction and with her mouth still full of ham asks "Yeah? What?"
-
>"'bout a week or so ago, I picked up this weird machine part, but I've no idea what it is, or what it does. Mind having a glance at it? When, you're finished, of course, no rush."
-
>"'bout a week or so ago, I picked up this weird machine part, but I've no idea what it is, or what it does. Mind having a glance at it? When, you're finished, of course, no rush."
>"Eh, just bring it over here," she says between bites.
-
>Well, she's the Kappa.
>"Alright, then. Back in a minute or two."
>Return to our room, retrieve the whatsis from our pack, and mosey on back to Ishi to appraise our find. Whatever it is.
-
>Well, she's the Kappa.
>"Alright, then. Back in a minute or two."
>Return to our room, retrieve the whatsis from our pack, and mosey on back to Ishi to appraise our find. Whatever it is.
>She is most certainly that.
>Ishi nods and skewers another piece of ham with her fork. "Sure, sure."
>You return to your room and retrieve the unidentified rusty part from your pack, then head back to the galley to hopefully fix that unidentified bit at last. The amount of food on Ishi's plate has decreased in your absense, but otherwise little has changed.
-
>Hold up the part for her to see.
>"Here it is."
-
>Hold up the part for her to see.
>"Here it is."
>You hold up the part.
>Ishi stares at it a moment, then gestures with her hand. "Give it here."
-
>Not sure we'd want to handle rusty parts in the middle of a meal, but...
>Hand it over.
-
>Not sure we'd want to handle rusty parts in the middle of a meal, but...
>Hand it over.
>Well, it's not your hands at least....
>You hand the part over to Ishi and she flips it casually around in her hand, peering closely at one side and then the other.
>"It's an intake flow regulator," she says, "for an... XR-30. Rusted to crap, though."
>She looks back at you with a raised eyebrow. "Where'd you get it, anyway?"
-
>"In a pile of sutff in A warehouse in Braston. Which had been taken over by a bunch of fairys."
-
>"In a pile of sutff in A warehouse in Braston. Which had been taken over by a bunch of fairys."
>"Got any other stuff from there?" she asks.
-
>"An umbrella. But that gizmo was the only thing that I picked up with my dousing skills."
-
>"An umbrella. But that gizmo was the only thing that I picked up with my dousing skills."
>Her expression falls a little. "Oh."
>Then she shrugs. "Well, I don't know you thought you were nabbing, but this is probably too far gone to ever work again." She gives it a few taps with her finger and seems to listen closely to the noise this makes.
-
>"Well, that's a kick in the shins. You sure about that?"
-
>"Well, that's a kick in the shins. You sure about that?"
>She gives you a funny look. "What're you so cut for? Got an old XR-30 kicking around or something?"
-
>"I didn't even know what the damn thing was, but my senses don't go off for nothing. I thought I'd stumbled onto something... Ultra-rare, or something. Thought I had found three figures worth of something, in exchange for finding a cat for a bunch of fairys."
-
>"I didn't even know what the damn thing was, but my senses don't go off for nothing. I thought I'd stumbled onto something... Ultra-rare, or something. Thought I had found three figures worth of something, in exchange for finding a cat for a bunch of fairys."
>Ishi visibly tries to repress a snicker, her face twisting into an awkward half-smile. And then her resolve fails altogether as she lets out a burst of laughter. "Aww, man... that thing? Even if this was brand new, an XR-30 itself isn't much off junk, if you ask me." She takes a breath and tries to steady herself. "I suppose some sucker might have paid three figures for it at some point, though."
>She twirls it around again and holds the end of the cylinder up to her eye. "Filter might still be good, I guess. Have to take it apart to be sure."
-
>Can we determine what that's made out of underneath the rust?
-
>Can we determine what that's made out of underneath the rust?
>From the rust itself, you would assume the body is iron or steel of some sort. You don't actually know what the internals would be made of. You could try dowsing it, if you wished.
-
>Mutter, "Probably shoulda done this sooner."
>Produce dousing rods.
>In anticipation of Ishi's questioning look, "These are MY tools."
>Scan the item.
-
>Mutter, "Probably shoulda done this sooner."
>Produce dousing rods.
>In anticipation of Ishi's questioning look, "These are MY tools."
>Scan the item.
>Your dowsing rods are back in your room, with most of the rest of your gear.
-
>Ballsack.
>"Can you tell what the guts of that thing are made of? My senses don't react for nothing."
-
>Ballsack.
>"Can you tell what the guts of that thing are made of? My senses don't react for nothing."
>She moves the part aside enough to glance in your direction. "Lots of stuff. The filter's high-grade orichalcum, if that's what you're asking about. Kinda has to be for most designs."
-
>Well, now. THAT might have done it.
>Do we know the approximate value of high grade orichalcum, especially in this small a quantity?
-
>Well, now. THAT might have done it.
>Do we know the approximate value of high grade orichalcum, especially in this small a quantity?
>Orichalcum could certain ping your senses, especially from among so much junk.
>Orichalcum is quite valuable, as accessible deposits are generally very rare and it is an essential material in airship engineering, among other things. In fact, one of the reasons for Braston's economic importance is the richness of its deposits of this and other scarce metals. However, in this case, you don't really know quite how little you're dealing with. The part's external size would suggest it couldn't be too much, but even that would surely have to be worth something.
-
>"Outta curiousity, is a, what was it, XR-30? That an engine of some kind?"
-
>"Outta curiousity, is a, what was it, XR-30? That an engine of some kind?"
>She nods. "Airship engine - low-end heavy hauler. Crap lousy torque. Still see a bunch of 'em kickin' around, though."
-
>"About how much does one of those parts cost? New, I mean."
-
>"About how much does one of those parts cost? New, I mean."
>"Well, they don't make 'em anymore, and good riddance I say. But back then... maybe 200? 250? Can't say I ever spent much time pricing them; what we're running can turn circles around an XR-30 and be halfway across the Expanse before that thing could drag its butt out of dock."
-
>"Well, they hard to start somewhere, I suppose."
>"How much ohricalcum they use in one of these things? Even if the part's scrap, metal might be worth something."
>Is engine power measured in horsepower?
-
>"Well, they hard to start somewhere, I suppose."
>"How much ohricalcum they use in one of these things? Even if the part's scrap, metal might be worth something."
>Is engine power measured in horsepower?
>"They're not that old," she says. "I've run with older that I'd still lay money on 10 times outta 10. They're just lousy, is all."
>She flips the regulator around and sizes it up. "Ten to fifteen grams, maybe? And yeah, if it's still intact, it'd be worth a little."
>You may have heard the term used, but your knowledge of airship engines is superficial at best.
-
>About how much is 10-15 grams of orichalcum worth?
-
>About how much is 10-15 grams of orichalcum worth?
>That would depend on the purity and possibly a few other factors, but you'd expect it could have a market value of at least 100 guilders.
-
>That's a nice round figure. Might make even more in Val R, depending on the market.
>What else is ohrihalcum generally used in in this quantity?
-
>That's a nice round figure. Might make even more in Val R, depending on the market.
>What else is ohrihalcum generally used in in this quantity?
>You imagine you could find buyers there, though it might command a higher price in another nation. Since the export tariffs Val Razua imposed on shipments passing through their airspace a couple years back, you hear there may be something of a shortage looming outside of Val Razua itself.
>Outside of airship engines, you believe orichalcum has some applications in enchanting, as a conductor or focus of magical energies, but you aren't sufficiently familiar with either engineering or spellcraft to know much could be done with only a few grams. It's also highly resistant to corrosion, heat, and dissolution, but large-scale use of it for these benefits alone is cost-prohibitive.
-
>Well, if the part as-is is beyond repair, then letting this kappa take it apart wouldn't seem to do us any harm.
>"Well, that's two things to attend to once lunch is over. Tool location and part dissassembly."
-
>Well, if the part as-is is beyond repair, then letting this kappa take it apart wouldn't seem to do us any harm.
>"Well, that's two things to attend to once lunch is over. Tool location and part dissassembly."
>It would seem not.
>"So you want me to have a poke inside and see if the filter's still good, then?" she asks. "Well, 'good'."
-
>"If you wouldn't mind. And even if it ain't, the metal itself might be worth something to someone. I've definitely gonna need some scratch in the city."
>She's been carefree and casual around us... Murasa, didn't you tell her, either?
-
>"If you wouldn't mind. And even if it ain't, the metal itself might be worth something to someone. I've definitely gonna need some scratch in the city."
>She's been carefree and casual around us... Murasa, didn't you tell her, either?
>"Don't get your hopes too high, kid," she says. "Once this stuff is catalyzed, it's hard to reforge; not gonna be able to salvage all of it. Unless you find someone who wants the whole intact filter, I guess. But hey, if you do, they're probably a chump anyway, so I guess that works out for ya, hey?" She grins.
>She certainly doesn't seem guarded or suspicious around you, at least.
-
>Something about a kappa calling us 'kid' rankles a mouse's fur.
>"I ain't about to complain about a few extra guilders in my pocket."
>How much did Ellen pay us for finding her cat? Not counting the antiquated coin.
-
>Something about a kappa calling us 'kid' rankles a mouse's fur.
>"I ain't about to complain about a few extra guilders in my pocket."
>How much did Ellen pay us for finding her cat? Not counting the antiquated coin.
>While you may grumble inwardly, you have to admit there's a decent chance she is older than you.
>"No, I 'spose you're not," she says.
>She paid you 49 guilders (the antique coin would have made it an even 50) and a Fuwafuwa Heart Droplet... whatever that is.
-
>Chuckle.
>"I tell ya, Ishi, being a Seeker's a heck of a ride sometimes. Found this little thing while I was looking for a witch's lost cat, and I find something that, turns out, might be worth twice as much as what she paid me."
-
>Chuckle.
>"I tell ya, Ishi, being a Seeker's a heck of a ride sometimes. Found this little thing while I was looking for a witch's lost cat, and I find something that, turns out, might be worth twice as much as what she paid me."
>"Yeah, life's funny like that, ain't it?"
>She gives the regulator another spin then hands it back to you.
-
>Receive the part.
>"I'll get my tools, we can try and track down that tool of yours whenever you want."
-
>Receive the part.
>"I'll get my tools, we can try and track down that tool of yours whenever you want."
>You take the rusty XR-30 intake flow regulator back.
>"Sure thing," she says, already working on her ham again. "After breakfast."
-
>"Of course."
>"Think I'll pop up on deck for a minute, get some air."
-
>"Of course."
>"Think I'll pop up on deck for a minute, get some air."
>She nods again and skewers a piece of pineapple with her fork.
-
>Does everything with emphasis, don't she.
>Head up on deck.
-
>Does everything with emphasis, don't she.
>Head up on deck.
>She certainly doesn't seem to have much subtly around her, at any rate.
>You leave the galley and head back up to deck. The atmosphere here is a lot more peaceful than the last time you set foot topside; the sky is clear and sun bright, and the movement of the ship creates a calming breeze. It's a little on the chilly side, but not enough to be off-putting. The aether stream is reduced to a subtle iridescence now, visible only every now and again. On the other hand, the sky itself is not so empty; you can see several small islets, some barely more than floating boulders, scattered sparsely across the horizon. It doesn't look like any are particularly close to your flight path, but the points of rocky brown and verdant green help break up the featureless sea of blue that envelops you.
>Miyuki is standing near the starboard rail, gazing out across the sky with a serene expression on her face. Further down the deck, you see Murasa reclining casually, one leg cocked over the railing of the wheelhouse steps.
-
>Make a note to invest in some sunglasses.
>While Murasa deserves a warning....
>Walk to the rail and drink in the sights.
-
>Make a note to invest in some sunglasses.
>While Murasa deserves a warning....
>Walk to the rail and drink in the sights.
>It's hardly that bright out. It's rather pleasant, in fact.
>Those bedapults could well doom you all....
>You walk over to the railing and watch the islets drift slowly by in the distance, their position shifting across one another as closer ones eclipse those in the far distance. You think you can see a bird circling above one of the nearer ones, a tiny speck upon the blue.
>"It's a lovely day, isn't it?" Miyuki says.
-
>Nod slowly.
>"Seems... different, than the last time I was on board an airship."
-
>Nod slowly.
>"Seems... different, than the last time I was on board an airship."
>She turns her head toward you. "Oh? Why's that?"
-
>"Because... This is something I've wanted for years. Val R. The big city, with the big names and the big money. I've wanted- dreamed, about going there for years. Almost as long as I can remember, even. And now..."
>Smile lightly. Plague or not, doesn't change the fact that we've made it. And didn't even need to pay for a ticket!
>"This is it."
-
>"Because... This is something I've wanted for years. Val R. The big city, with the big names and the big money. I've wanted- dreamed, about going there for years. Almost as long as I can remember, even. And now..."
>Smile lightly. Plague or not, doesn't change the fact that we've made it. And didn't even need to pay for a ticket!
>"This is it."
>Miyuki smiles warmly. "I remember that feeling. No matter how much I see out here, I don't think I'll ever forget it."
-
>Grin broadly.
>"I think I like this feeling."
-
>Grin broadly.
>"I think I like this feeling."
>Miyuki's smile broadens with yours as her eyes take on a faintly distant look. "It's something special, isn't it?"
-
>"When I get back to Braston, the next time I head out, I'm bringing Orange with me."
>Let our grin becomes a little bittersweet. "Girl'd enjoy this even more than me."
-
>"When I get back to Braston, the next time I head out, I'm bringing Orange with me."
>Let our grin becomes a little bittersweet. "Girl'd enjoy this even more than me."
>"So is this one a sweetheart," she asks teasingly, "or should I just assume 'no' from now on?"
-
>Well, there was that incident a thread or two ago...
>Was Orange at the orphanage before us, or did she come to live there after Ichirin took us in?
>Was she another ascended youkai like us?
>Did she and we ever diddle around?
-
>Well, there was that incident a thread or two ago...
>Was Orange at the orphanage before us, or did she come to live there after Ichirin took us in?
>"I'll always love you darling..."
>She'd been there for a few years before you became a youkai, though you'd been close to the same level of mental development at the time you arrived. ...even if part of you still feels sheepish looking back on this fact. Perhaps because of this, Orange took to you quickly and even though your reciprocation was neither as immediate nor as expressive, the two of you soon became good friends.
>Was she another ascended youkai like us?
>No. Orange is the biological descendant of two other youkai, as near as anyone including her can tell. She was found by Unzan on an isolated islet several miles off the edge of Estval, injured, alone, and starving, the sole survivor of an apparent airship crash. She was little more than an infant in youkai terms, too young to fend for herself, too young to even remember her parent's names or where she had come from. Ichirin tried to search for her home or any family she might have left, but was never able to find anything.
>What little wreckage had landed on solid ground proved useless in identifying the vessel or its flight plan, and no ships that had either recently departed Braston or were scheduled to arrive there during that time period ever turned up missing. In fact, in all these years since, no news of the crash has ever reached any of your ears; where the ship came from and where it was going remains a mystery. Orange herself has tried to remember, tried so very hard, but she was simply too young; whatever happened on that day is gone, like a distant nightmare faded in the waking light. All she has left from before the crash are a few scattered images, almost impressions: a house on a grassy hill; the smell of warm pumpkin pie; a woman's face, smiling, her hair red as flame; a sense of home, of love. Nothing that would offer even the barest clue to this riddle.
>Ichirin left notices in Braston for a while, about the crash and Orange's survival, looking for anyone who knew anything about what happened. She even had some sent to Val Razua, but no one ever showed up at the doors of the orphanage with information. No one came looking for Orange. By now, you figure that probably means there's no one out there to look. Not that this ever would dissuade her from trying....
>That was the reason Orange tried to join the Seekers, in fact: so that she could track down her birthplace. And even when this plan was dashed, she never once changed her mind about leaving for Val Razua and finding where she'd come from. Despite the tragedy of her past, she was always a cheerful child; perhaps this is the blessing of remembering so little. She never strove to find her family out of a sense of abiding loneliness or unbelonging; Ichirin had been as much a mother to her as any biological parent would have been, and you know Orange regards her as such. It was simply about discovering the truth of her own past. If she still has living family out there, then she can meet them and know them and let them know she's still alive. And if not... then she can pay proper respects at last to the people who gave birth to her. And whatever her clumsiness or naivety or lack of cunning, there is not a doubt in your mind that she'll keep trying until she finds what she's looking for.
>Did she and we ever diddle around?
>You did not. While you never really thought of her as a sister, you wouldn't be surprised if she had sometimes regarded you as such. In either case, you were both part of the closest thing you've had to a 'family'; this just wasn't something that would have occurred to you where she was concerned.
-
>Snort-chuckle, then a small grin. "Well, she's closer than Ichirin to the mark, but still not on base."
>"Orange is another one of Ichirin's. We pretty much grew up together there. Left together, too." Pause. "'Sweetheart'? Naw. But she is my oldest friend."
>Is Orange the type to mind terribly if we discuss her history with strangers? Talking about it in Val R with someone who could help her goals is one thing, but Miyuki here doesn't meet that criteria, like as not. Although Murasa might...
-
>Snort-chuckle, then a small grin. "Well, she's closer than Ichirin to the mark, but still not on base."
>"Orange is another one of Ichirin's. We pretty much grew up together there. Left together, too." Pause. "'Sweetheart'? Naw. But she is my oldest friend."
>Is Orange the type to mind terribly if we discuss her history with strangers? Talking about it in Val R with someone who could help her goals is one thing, but Miyuki here doesn't meet that criteria, like as not. Although Murasa might...
>Miyuki nods. "Did she want to get out and see the world, too?"
>For better or worse, Orange isn't a very guarded person, though she can be surprisingly meek at times. She did tend to avoid bringing up the fact that she was an orphan, though this wasn't out of any sense of shame or pain this fact represented. Rather, it was because people tended to feel sorry for her when she mentioned it, and subsequently walk on eggshells around the topic or even her, when she always insisted she'd had a perfectly happy childhood and there was nothing to feel sorry about.
-
>"Mmm... I think she'd have enjoyed the trip. But there was something she had to do- STILL has to do, actually. Me, I wanted to make a big future for myself. Orange... she wanted to find her past."
>"Unlike the rest of us, she was an honest to god orphan. The kind that had a family... and then didn't. But she still wants to find em, find out who they were."
-
>"Mmm... I think she'd have enjoyed the trip. But there was something she had to do- STILL has to do, actually. Me, I wanted to make a big future for myself. Orange... she wanted to find her past."
>"Unlike the rest of us, she was an honest to god orphan. The kind that had a family... and then didn't. But she still wants to find em, find out who they were."
>Miyuki frowns. "She... doesn't know who her parents were? Wait- find them? But wouldn't they be... you know...?" She leaves the question hanging.
-
>"Yeah, that's what I'd bet, too. But even if they are, that'd be good enough for Orange. It'd give her a chance to know where she comes from, what kinda people they were."
-
>"Yeah, that's what I'd bet, too. But even if they are, that'd be good enough for Orange. It'd give her a chance to know where she comes from, what kinda people they were."
>"I don't think I understand," she says, frowning. "What happened?"
-
>Look back for Ishi in case she decided to come up and look for us.
>"When she was still real young, a year or two tops, Orange was on an airship that went down off the coast of Estval. Near as anyone can tell, she was the only survivor. Ichirin's co-worker Unzan found her, brought her to the orphanage."
>"Ichirin's 'like' a mother to a lot of folks, but to Orange, she's pretty much the only mother she's ever known. Still, that doesn't mean she doesn't want to know what her birth parents were like. Even if they're gone. And she's tried. Believe me, she's tried. I think between her and Ichirin, they turned over every stone on Estval for information about where Orange was born, who her folks were. And they've had about as much luck as a fairy trying to get into the Magic Academy in Val R. But a place like Val Razua might have more information about the crash, the ship, passengers, anything. That's why she wanted to head this way. At least, her main reason."
-
>Look back for Ishi in case she decided to come up and look for us.
>"When she was still real young, a year or two tops, Orange was on an airship that went down off the coast of Estval. Near as anyone can tell, she was the only survivor. Ichirin's co-worker Unzan found her, brought her to the orphanage."
>"Ichirin's 'like' a mother to a lot of folks, but to Orange, she's pretty much the only mother she's ever known. Still, that doesn't mean she doesn't want to know what her birth parents were like. Even if they're gone. And she's tried. Believe me, she's tried. I think between her and Ichirin, they turned over every stone on Estval for information about where Orange was born, who her folks were. And they've had about as much luck as a fairy trying to get into the Magic Academy in Val R. But a place like Val Razua might have more information about the crash, the ship, passengers, anything. That's why she wanted to head this way. At least, her main reason."
>You glance back in the direction of the stairs down, but don't see or hear sign of pursuit at the moment.
>You explain some of Orange's history to Miyuki. She listens with a concerned expression on her face, nodding slowly as you speak. She is silent for a moment after you finish, her eyes shifting distantly.
>"Must be strange..." she says. "Not knowing where you're from or who your parents are. After growing up in a place so small that everyone knew everyone's parents, I'm not sure I can even imagine it. It sounds... lonely. Like part of who you are is missing."
-
>"You may be partially right about the last part, but I wouldn't say Orange was lonely. Don't get me wrong, I can see why you'd think that. But Orange's made of pretty stern stuff. She loved Ichirin. Still does. And Easthaven was her home. From what I know, she fit in there real easily. And real well, too."
>Give Miyuki a pat on the shoulder. "Don't feel bad for Orange. She'll tell ya she's had a good life, and she means it. I know."
-
>"You may be partially right about the last part, but I wouldn't say Orange was lonely. Don't get me wrong, I can see why you'd think that. But Orange's made of pretty stern stuff. She loved Ichirin. Still does. And Easthaven was her home. From what I know, she fit in there real easily. And real well, too."
>Give Miyuki a pat on the shoulder. "Don't feel bad for Orange. She'll tell ya she's had a good life, and she means it. I know."
>You give Miyuki a pat on the shoulder, and she returns a tentative smile. "Well... I suppose you'd know better than I would."
-
>Come to think of it, has Orange ever had a sweetheart that we know of?
-
>Come to think of it, has Orange ever had a sweetheart that we know of?
>You recall a child-like crush she once had on another kid from the village, quite a few years back. It lasted about as long as such things tend to. There's been nothing more serious that you know about, and you're inclined to think she would have told you if there were.
-
>"And she ain't the type to give up, either. Believe you me, if she were here, first thing she'd do is go looking for answers, once we land." Chuckle. "Even if she didn't quite know where to look at first."
-
>"And she ain't the type to give up, either. Believe you me, if she were here, first thing she'd do is go looking for answers, once we land." Chuckle. "Even if she didn't quite know where to look at first."
>Miyuki grins. "Well, I guess when you make it big in the world, you'll have to come back and drag her along for the ride."
-
>"Near the top of the to do list."
>"Well, I gotta get back inside. Got a favor to do for Ish- OH, almost forgot. Something else I should do while I'm aboard. You folks have a couple pieces of paper to spare, and something to write with?"
-
>"Near the top of the to do list."
>"Well, I gotta get back inside. Got a favor to do for Ish- OH, almost forgot. Something else I should do while I'm aboard. You folks have a couple pieces of paper to spare, and something to write with?"
>"Oh, of course," she says. "There should be some in one of the supply rooms in the hold. I'd show you where, if I weren't on watch. You could ask Ishi, though; she'd probably still know where it is."
-
>Nod. "Gotcha. Thanks."
>Take our leave of Miyumiyu and, after tossing a wave in Murasa's direction, return to our room.
>Retreive dousing rods.
>Inventory
>Back to the mess hall.
-
>Nod. "Gotcha. Thanks."
>Take our leave of Miyumiyu and, after tossing a wave in Murasa's direction, return to our room.
>Retreive dousing rods.
>Inventory
>Back to the mess hall.
>"No problem," Miyuki replies.
>You take your leave, heading back across the deck to the stairs down. After descending only a couple, you hear Miyuki call out across the deck in a concerned tone.
>"Captain? I think you should take a look at this."
-
>Slow our pace, but keep moving, and keep an ear open.
-
>Slow our pace, but keep moving, and keep an ear open.
>You slow down a little and keep your ears peeled back at the deck. You hear footsteps crossing it.
>"Yeah? What's up?" you hear Murasa say.
>"I think there's a ship moving past the islands over there," Miyuki replies. "Here, have a look."
-
>Pause.
>Maybe Ishi can wait a little longer....
>About face!
-
>Pause.
>Maybe Ishi can wait a little longer....
>About face!
>You stop, then decide that Ishi's rivet driver can wait a few more minutes. You turn and quickly make your way back to the deck.
>You crest the top of the steps just in time to see Murasa slowly lowering a brass spyglass from her eye. Her gaze remains fixed in that direction as her lips form a single word, almost too low to hear. "...shit."
>Then she lifts her head and lets out a cry that rings from stem to stern.
>"Shameimaru!"
-
>Do we know that name?
>If not, "Bad news?"
-
>Do we know that name?
>If not, "Bad news?"
>It doesn't ring an obvious bell to you.
>"Go get Neu!" Murasa says to Miyuki, either failing to hear your question or ignoring it. Then without even waiting for an answer, turns and dashes back towards the wheelhouse. Miyuki runs in the opposite direction, towards the stairs and where you're standing. The expression on her face looks almost haunted.
-
>Go get our gear. We might need it.
-
>Go get our gear. We might need it.
>Without further comment, you turn and dash back down the steps and into your room.
>Stepping inside the door, you quickly round up your pack and any loose items and sling it back on. Outside, you can hear Miyuki's footsteps moving quickly down the hall, along with several others further away.
-
>Inventory.
>Status check of self: Aches, new plague growth, fatigue.
-
>Inventory.
>Kumokirimaru (worn at side)
>Prism Pendant (around neck)
>Seeker's Badge (pinned to chest)
>360 Val Razuan guilders
>Compass
>Traveling pack
>Traveling rations
>Canteen (full)
>Lockpicks
>4 kunai
>Picture of Sokrates
>Fuwafuwa Heart Droplet
>XR-30 intake flow regulator (heavily rusted)
>Antique Val Razuan 1 guilder coin
>Dowsing rods
>Tie-dyed umbrella
>Spool of baling twine
>Bottle of Kumokirimaru-imbued medicine
>Sachet of blessed soil
>List of physicians' contact addresses
>Pencil
>100 feet of rope
>2 glowsticks
>2 torches
>Small heatstone
>Basic grappling hook
>Blue ribbon
>Status check of self: Aches, new plague growth, fatigue.
>Despite the jostling and nausea of last night, you had a very sound sleep and feel in good shape; you have no notable aches, are not fatigued, and feel in overall better health than you did yesterday, even.
>Unfortunately, a quick check for new Blight growth gives a somewhat less spotless report. You suspect that each of the patches that had been visible yesterday have grown slightly, although it's sometimes a little hard to tell; the marks on your leg and torso have grown by no more than a millimeter or two, but the one on your right arm has cast its tendrils out by nearly a whole inch towards your elbow. And there are two new marks, one several inches to the right of the previous patch on your left leg, and another near your belly button. Both are quite tiny, the latter particularly so, but there's no mistaking what they are.
-
>Anything in this room that could be put to use in a fight?
-
>Anything in this room that could be put to use in a fight?
>Not very practically. The furniture is built into the ship itself, aside from the wooden chest you're using to store your clothes and that is too awkward and heavy to make a useful weapon. You suppose this leaves the pillow and bed sheets....
-
>Produce a kunai.
>Head back up on deck.
-
>Produce a kunai.
>Head back up on deck.
>You take a kunai in hand and head back up to the deck. Already there are more people moving about here and the atmosphere is tense. You can hear Neu and Miyuki making their way up the stairs behind you.
-
> Get out of the way of the stairwell.
-
Forgive me if this is me being captain obvious, but, Pirate Aya?
>"Bad news?"
-
Could be a traveling brothel.
-
> Get out of the way of the stairwell.
>You move aside from the stairwell to let the other two pass.
>"Bad news?"
>"Very likely," Neu says as she walks past you without pausing. The look on her face is grimly serious. Miyuki hesitates a moment and turns to you with a condoling smile, halfhearted and shadowed by doubt.
>"Pirates," she says simply. Her tone is oddly hesitant.
-
I liked my explanation better.
There's more diseases'n jus' scurvy to watch out fer on the high seas, yarr.
-
> Give a small frown.
> "This wasn't in the brochure. How can I help?"
-
> Give a small frown.
> "This wasn't in the brochure. How can I help?"
>"I hope you won't need to do anything," she says. "The captain's one of the best, and there's isn't much on the skies that can catch up with the Blue Maiden." The tone of the her voice belies the certainty of her words; you wonder if she's saying them as much for her benefit as your own.
-
> "I hope I don't have to either, but it doesn't really answer the question."
-
> "I hope I don't have to either, but it doesn't really answer the question."
>"I...." she pauses and glances back towards the sky. "You'll have to ask the captain. I need to get back to my watch, sorry."
-
> "Oh. Go ahead, then."
-
> "Oh. Go ahead, then."
>She gives you a quick nod and dashes back over to the starboard rail, lifting a spyglass in the same direction that the apparent pirate ship was spotted earlier. You can feel the ship starting to turn in the opposite direction.
-
> Can we see anything in that direction?
> Relative to where we're currently standing, where is the wheelhouse in comparison to the pirate ship direction?
-
> Can we see anything in that direction?
> Relative to where we're currently standing, where is the wheelhouse in comparison to the pirate ship direction?
>Your line of sight in the direction Miyuki is looking is obscured at the moment by the deckhouse covering the stairs down. You'd need to move a little further aft to get a good look.
>Miyuki is standing by the starboard rail (forward a little and to your left), and looking about 30 degrees to the right of the bow. The wheelhouse is on a raised structure at the aft of the deck, essentially directly opposite the stairs down.
-
Could be a traveling brothel.
I wish this answer was true, too. I really, really do. Then we'd have an Aya I'd like dealing with, as opposed to a parasite.
>Is there any place on deck where we could conceal ourselves from boarders?
>Have we noticed any kind of weaponry on this ship since we came aboard?
-
>Is there any place on deck where we could conceal ourselves from boarders?
>Have we noticed any kind of weaponry on this ship since we came aboard?
>Both the deckhouse leading below deck, and the twin staircases heading up to the wheelhouse would provide concealment from people on the other side of them from you, however there are no places that would be fully out of view on the entire deck. The turbine support struts are on the side of being too individually small to hide a person entirely; even if someone were directly opposite, you could probably still be spotted through the gridwork.
>Aside from the pole that Chisato was idly brandishing on your first encounter, you have not; however, there are several storerooms on the ship that you never got a chance to look at, so it's possible they do have some stored away.
-
>To the wheelhouse!
-
>To the wheelhouse!
>You quickly make your way across the deck and up the stairs to the wheelhouse, as the ship swings wide of its original course and heads off towards a cluster of distant islets.
>"Are you honestly suggesting we try to outrun a Tengu vessel through the narrows?" you hear Neu say as you enter. She is leaning over a wooden table to the back of the wheelhouse and studiously examining a large chart spread out upon it.
>"If you've got a better idea," Murasa says, giving the wheel a turn to the left, "don't hold back now."
-
Feel free to take over if you want, Kilga. Or anyone else. I don't really care for Aya at all, and I like pirates even less. You can only imagine how much I relish the idea of Pirate Aya.
>Stay out of the way for now.
-
Crap, I still need to catch up through all the mushy stuff I only quarter-read while at KatsuCon. <_<
-
>Stay out of the way for now.
>You stand aside of the doorway and keep a low profile.
>Neu takes a deep breath and lets it out as a sigh.
>"Then give me the tightest course around her that you can," Murasa says immediately, evidently taking this for an answer.
>Neu quickly scans along the chart in front of her, then deftly maneuvers a divider from point to point and starts calling out navigational coordinates. Murasa adjusts the wheel again, then leans towards a speaking tube beside her.
>"Make sure we're running hot, Ishi," she calls into the tube.
>"Like you need to tell me!" the kappa's voice echoes back, sounding just a little disgruntled.
>Murasa glances in your direction. "You got somethin' to say?"
-
> "How can I help?"
-
> "How can I help?"
>"You know anything at all about sailing a ship?" she asks.
-
Crap, I still need to catch up through all the mushy stuff I only quarter-read while at KatsuCon. <_<
You were at a con? What'd you buy me? :P
And it wasn't HALF as mushy as I might have liked.... But give me time. I'm laying foundations for Operation: Nazrin Harem all over.
>"Well.... Not as such, no. I just don't like doing nothing when there's a threat out there."
-
I don't care about no harem. I just want me some tsuchigumo.
-
>"Well.... Not as such, no. I just don't like doing nothing when there's a threat out there."
>"Then go be another pair of eyes, if you want," she says, "or just keep your head down and let us do our jobs. Tengu or no tengu, they still don't come much faster than us, and I don't plan on getting boarded today."
-
> Do we have any conventional projectiles on us, aside from the kunai?
I'm all for letting this unfold. Barring the presence of cannons or sniper rifles, there's not a whole lot we can actually do until and unless boarding takes place.
Various combat strategies come to mind...the Mouthful Katana is an obvious choice for close combat use, and I wonder if our tail can't be used to wrap itself around a leg for yanking if someone gets too close for comfort.
If all else fails, kissing someone then revealing a blight mark could scare the pirates off.
-
I don't care about no harem. I just want me some tsuchigumo.
And I ain't about to stop ya, bro.
>Did we see a spare spyglass around?
-
> "You got any projectile weapons, at least?"
-
> Do we have any conventional projectiles on us, aside from the kunai?
>Technically you have a grappling hook, which is designed for throwing but isn't a weapon, per se. Aside from your kunai (of which you currently have 4), that's pretty much it.
>Did we see a spare spyglass around?
>You don't currently see one.
> "You got any projectile weapons, at least?"
>"Can you shoot a bow?" Neu asks.
>"Not planning on letting them get that close to us," Murasa says.
-
> How are we at archery?
> Which blight location(s) did we show these two?
-
You're getting this for the night, I should have gone to be 30 minutes ago.
-
> How are we at archery?
> Which blight location(s) did we show these two?
>You gave archery a try during your early apprenticeship, though you found it rather more awkward than throwing knives and ended up devoting most of your weapons training to the latter. While you can shoot a bow, you wouldn't consider yourself very good at it.
>You showed Neu the one on your right upper arm. You didn't show anything to Murasa, though you assume Neu informed her of the aforementioned mark.
-
I'll try not to have Aya sold off by tomorrow. Not sure if anyone here actually likes her or not.
>"I can, but, it ain't my forte. Much better with kunai and throwing knives."
-
>"I can, but, it ain't my forte. Much better with kunai and throwing knives."
>"Miyuki may have something," Neu says.
>"Worry about that later," Murasa grumbles.
-
>"Right... Later."
>Stand back and shut up.
-
>"Right... Later."
>Stand back and shut up.
>You stand back and leave the situation in the crew's (hopefully) capable hands. The Blue Maiden continues to close on the cluster of islets and scattered rocks ahead, moving at a faster clip than earlier today. Both Murasa and Neu's faces are grimly focused; the latter in particular has a bleak aspect to her expression that wasn't visible even at the height of last night's storm. Her captain, on the other hand, looks more pissed than worried. You're not sure whether you should find this reassuring or not.
>Floating hunks of rock start to drift by, some uncomfortably close to the ship given that many are as large as the wheelhouse itself. You stare at one as it passes near, its uneven surface sweeping down into jagged crags of gray and red stone. Small tufts of grass cling to others, and one is nearly split in half by thick and twisted roots as a lone withered tree stubbornly claws life from it.
>The ship's course becomes less even as you move further off the main aether currents, tilting a little to one side and then the other. Neu pulls out a second chart from a cabinet beneath the table and spreads it on top of the first, shifting back and forth between them as she reads out more navigational information in increasingly opaque jargon. Every now and again, Miyuki shouts back reports on the ship chasing you. Each time, it is closer than the last. Neither Neu nor Murasa seem surprised or dispirited by this, but continue their deliberate course into the increasingly rocky sky.
>You soon draw near to the first islet worthy of being called such, a stout disc-shaped rock about five times the Maiden's size, carpeted in coarse grasses. The pirate ship has closed enough to resolve some details with your naked eye now; its slender profile combined with the swept stabilizing fins along the sides, typical of Tengu vessels, give it the look of a distant bird of prey. You think it is smaller than the Maiden, though it's hard to judge at this distance. A small consolation is that its rate of approach seems to have slowed and it's now tailing almost directly from the rear, rather than at the wide angle it was earlier. Then, as you begin to round the islet, Miyuki calls out joyous confirmation of what you'd just been starting to suspect.
>"They're falling behind!"
-
>Fast ship indeed.
>Let's just hope Miyumiyu's celebration isn't premature. Or celebrate ourselves just yet.
>Still, best not divert Murasa's attention just yet, either.
>Head back out on deck with Miyuki.
-
>Fast ship indeed.
>Let's just hope Miyumiyu's celebration isn't premature. Or celebrate ourselves just yet.
>Still, best not divert Murasa's attention just yet, either.
>Head back out on deck with Miyuki.
>No matter the circumstances, gaining on a tengu vessel is damn impressive. As you've always heard it, the only thing that can catch a tengu ship is another tengu ship. It's one of the reasons that what few pirates there are remain so elusive; the only forces capable of apprehending them are their own people, and though the official line from the tengu government is that such criminals are swiftly dealt with once identified, many people suspect that, in practice, they turn a blind eye to attacks on the other races. It certainly wouldn't be out of character.
>Still, you aren't ready to write this off as a victory yet, not with the distance the pirates closed before starting to fall back again. You decide to leave Murasa and Neu to their work and go back out on deck.
>Miyuki glances back in your direction as you draw near and flashes you a wary smile. "I told you we were one of the fastest things on the sky."
-
> "Guess so."
> How's the distance looking now?
-
> "Guess so."
> How's the distance looking now?
>"Well, I guess you won't be able to say your first trip off the island was uneventful," Miyuki offers with an awkward chuckle.
>Without more familiarity with the markers around here, it's hard to guess absolute distance with any precision; the sky is still more open than not, and there's little continuity among the scattered rocks. If you had to offer a number, you might guess somewhere in the half-mile range. The pirate ship is still receding, though only slowly. Then, as the Blue Maiden more fully rounds the islet, it disappears from sight entirely. ...wait.
>A single point of striking luminance streaks upward through the sky, glowing vividly even against the midday sun. It hangs there for a moment, then stares to flicker and fade as a second flies up to meet it, and then a third. While you cannot see their source for certain, they appear to be coming from the same direction that the pirate ship should still be.
>"Signal flare!" Miyuki calls back to the wheelhouse. "Yellow, yellow, green!"
-
>"...That's bad news isn't it?"
-
>"...That's bad news isn't it?"
>"If it's signaling," Miyuki says grimly, "that means there's probably someone else watching for it."
-
> "Pirates work together? How wonderfully irritating."
-
> "Pirates work together? How wonderfully irritating."
>"I'm... not sure that's the word I would use," she says, then offers a weak smile. "Maybe they're just saying 'Target escaped; returning to base'?"
>The sky ahead is growing more dense with larger floating rocks. As you crest the islet you're circling and start to pull away from it again, several more come into view that were previously obscured by it; a narrow snake-like island hangs a mile or so to the right of the ship's course, capped with several scraggly trees and ringed with smaller debris, and a few less notable ones dot the horizon. It's sometimes hard to judge how far away they are, or how much space there is between them; the sky is still more empty than not and the islets range from little larger than the wheelhouse to a dozen of times the size of the whole ship.
>The Maiden angles to the left, appearing to aim for a relatively wide passage between a pair of smaller islets.
-
>"With how my luck's been in the past, they might be calling more of their friends."
-
>"With how my luck's been in the past, they might be calling more of their friends."
>Miyuki frowns. "Yeah... They probably are...."
-
> Frown in return.
> "Did I ever tell you how much I hate waiting?"
-
> Frown in return.
> "Did I ever tell you how much I hate waiting?"
>"For what it's worth," she says with a downcast expression, "I'm sorry."
>You swiftly close on the passage ahead, sometimes making slight course adjustments as the ship's balance wobbles a little; you suspect the aether flows out here are less stable than on the main skyway and the Blue Maiden is not a small ship. Seconds pass by painfully. You still can't see the ship tailing you; earlier you might have thought this reassuring, but now...? You pass along the further edge of the first islet, about 500 yards off the port bow; a small flock of birds scatter from its surface as you near, their calls echoed by others of their kind from far away. And then you are between the islets.
>The rough surface of exposed rock blurs by as the Maiden moves past them at full speed. The passage feels much wider now than it looked from a distance, easily enough for several ships to pass abreast. Ahead, you can see another island or two in the distance, though the ones flanking you restrict your peripheral vision. A narrow prow crests the corner of the left islet, followed by the smooth profile of a wing.
>"Tengu corsair!" Miyuki cries. "Dead ahead!"
>Back in the wheelhouse, you hear Murasa curse loudly.
-
> "Don't suppose we have a name to attach to this one?"
-
> "Don't suppose we have a name to attach to this one?"
>"The markings are the same as the first ship," Miyuki says. "But I don't know either of their names."
>The Blue Maiden swerves hard to the right as the tengu ship moves perpendicular to the passage, shifting its broadside across the Maiden's original path. It is much closer than the first ship ever managed; you can even resolve several individual figures on the deck, dressed in loose garments of white on black with brightly colored sashes. Their raven wings mark them unmistakably as tengu.
-
> So they can fly?
-
> So they can fly?
>They can. In fact, the tengu's grace and agility in the air is considered virtually without peer, a tier above even bird youkai. It is generally believed that their affinity for the wind and the paths it weaves through the sky are why they make such superlative airship pilots. Traditional tengu vessels sacrifice size and stability in favor of maneuverability; they are able to navigate aether currents too weak to support most vessels of other races and do so swiftly. Unfortunately, you hear that this also makes them nearly impossible for any other race to pilot without capsizing. Though, given the tengu's isolationism and imperious tendencies, you wonder how anyone got the chance to discover this....
-
> Are we in good enough condition that we can be parted from the Mouthful Katana without vomiting all over the place, even if only for a few seconds?
> If possible, maneuver ourselves along the Blue Maiden so we're closer to the tengu ship.
-
> Are we in good enough condition that we can be parted from the Mouthful Katana without vomiting all over the place, even if only for a few seconds?
> If possible, maneuver ourselves along the Blue Maiden so we're closer to the tengu ship.
>You haven't had it off your person since waking up at Ichirin's, several days back. You didn't notice any obvious change in how you felt once you physically let go of it yesterday, but it's still been right at your side.
>You move off towards the Maiden's bow, then make your way over to the port side as your ship swings wide to the right; you're not sure if Murasa is aiming straight for the island on that side, or just trying to turn around. The tengu ship banks to the side and moves closer, while still staying outside the passage itself. It doesn't look like there's enough room to maneuver past it without giving it plenty of time to intercept.
>"First corsair!" Miyuki calls out. "One point on the starboard quarter!"
-
> Do we have any idea what that means?
> Is there anything visible in the starboard direction?
-
> Do we have any idea what that means?
> Is there anything visible in the starboard direction?
>You don't know all the specifics of the terminology, but you picked up the generalities watching them call aether surges during last night's storm. You think this is fairly close to directly behind.
>Turning in that direction, you can see the first tengu vessel rounding the islet you'd previously lost sight of it behind and quickly closing on the entrance to the passage. It's still fairly distant, but you're not sure the Maiden will be able to make it all the way out in that direction, either, without giving the first ship time to intercept. For that matter, you're not sure if there are any safe routes besides the one you followed into here. The tengu may be putting you in a pincer maneuver.
-
> Is there a high point near the middle of the ship we can climb to so we can see both ships while minimizing the distance necessary to travel to a side of the Blue Maiden toward an enemy ship?
-
> Is there a high point near the middle of the ship we can climb to so we can see both ships while minimizing the distance necessary to travel to a side of the Blue Maiden toward an enemy ship?
>There are no elevated points in the middle of the ship to speak of, though once the Blue Maiden turns further about, you should be able to see both from the middle of the deck without difficulty. At the moment, the starboard rail offers the best view of the tailing ship. The deck of the Maiden isn't so wide that crossing it would take much time, in either case.
-
> Head to the middle of the deck and keep an eye on both ships.
> Get mentally psyched for potential combat. We've come too far to let pirates ruin everything, and the tsuchigumo was way more motivated than any pirate could ever be.
-
> Head to the middle of the deck and keep an eye on both ships.
> Get mentally psyched for potential combat. We've come too far to let pirates ruin everything, and the tsuchigumo was way more motivated than any pirate could ever be.
>You dash back to the middle of the deck and keep an eye on both ships at once, turning your gaze from one direction to the other. The tailing ship continues to close, while its companion more or less holds position at the end of the passage, apparently content to wait.
>You take a deep breath and get ready for the very real chance that a fight is about to break out. But after the desperate fury of the spider youkai you fought in that dreadful cavern, surely whatever a bunch of pirates can throw at you will be tame in comparison.
>The Maiden stops turning and starts moving forward. ...forward? The only thing ahead of you is rock and stubborn tufts of grass clutching the island's edge! Is she trying to crash!?
-
> Is there anything in the immediate vicinity that can be latched onto?
-
> Is there anything in the immediate vicinity that can be latched onto?
>The closest thing offering decent purchase would be the rails on either side of the deck. You suppose you could try holding onto the cargo hatch, though this would be more awkward.
-
> ...There's no way Murasa would actually run this ship into the island, is there? She loves it way too much. And Ishi would probably kill her five times before she hit the ground. However one can kill a ghost, anyway.
> ...Lower our center of gravity just a bit regardless, in an attempt to brace for impact.
-
>And be ready to assist Miyuki if she loses her balance.
-
> ...There's no way Murasa would actually run this ship into the island, is there? She loves it way too much. And Ishi would probably kill her five times before she hit the ground. However one can kill a ghost, anyway.
> ...Lower our center of gravity just a bit regardless, in an attempt to brace for impact.
>You have a hard time imagining that Murasa is really planning to crash the ship... but you get ready to brace yourself just the same.
>And be ready to assist Miyuki if she loses her balance.
>And keep an eye on Miyuki, though her position near the rail frankly gives her better grip than yours does.
>The island ahead of you continues to draw closer, the texture of the rock face resolving into visible striations and . And then closer still. She's not going to have time to ever turn aside at this rate!
>"What the hell is she doing?" a crewman behind you says, in a tone somewhere between disbelief and frustrated anger.
>The ship turns slightly and then suddenly loses altitude, almost as if had fallen off a ledge. You stagger. The Maiden's forward momentum does not slow.
>"...under the island?" Miyuki breathes. There is a note of stunned horror in her voice.
>You hear a cry from the wheelhouse. "All hands, brace yourselves!"
-
> Fuck it, grab that cargo hatch and don't let go.
-
> Fuck it, grab that cargo hatch and don't let go.
>You squat down and grab hold of the cargo hatch handle as tightly as you can while you watch Murasa perform one of the most recklessly boneheaded maneuvers you can imagine. You fervently hope that she somehow knows what she's doing or the Blight is going to get beaten to the punch by either a very large rock or a very, very, very long fall.
>The ship wobbles as little as the prow starts to pass beneath the island's edge, then lurches forward and down. You are thankful for your grip on something solid; all around the deck, people seem to be holding on likewise. Then the nose of the ship rises as Murasa tries to bank to the left and the deck lurches in the opposite direction. The aether storm last night was more wild, but the cold dread you feel seeping into your veins now simply cannot be compared to that. Nobody flies under an island; it's suicidal. The forces that keep them aloft are not things airships were meant to fly through. Passing beneath one is asking for your ship to be flung upward and shattered against the island's underside. Keeping a safe distance would mean dropping below the aether currents altogether, and once that happens... there's no coming back up again. The murmurs you hear among the crew suggest you're not alone in thinking this.
>A shadow falls across the deck and you look up. Staring at the rough outcroppings of rock above you feels somehow like gazing over a great precipice. This isn't a view you were ever supposed to see. This isn't what you signed up for. Though the form and texture of the rock is scarcely different than something you might find by any cliff near Braston, you find it hard to tear your eyes away. You take in each crag and rocky protrusion, spreading out above you like a sea of daggers. Seconds pass slowly, and you have to remind yourself to breathe. Though shuddering alarmingly, the Blue Maiden somehow manages to slip fully beneath the island while still level. And then things start to get bad.
>The prow of the ship pulls up sharply and twists to the side. You cling tighter to the cargo hatch, while someone else's legs are nearly swept out beneath them. The ship swings slowly to the other side and the nose bobs down again. You can hear the engines straining; a small consolation is that the island isn't very wide, though ten meters could seem like a thousand right now. Then you hear someone call out from your left.
>"They're coming in after us!"
-
>How's Miyuki doing?
>Look around in the event anyone falls. Nobody goes overboard if we can help it.
>Do those rocks set off our treasure sense? Or anything else on that island?
>Are those ships close enough for our sense to react?
>Mutter, "I hope they steer into a rock face."
-
>How's Miyuki doing?
>Look around in the event anyone falls. Nobody goes overboard if we can help it.
>Do those rocks set off our treasure sense? Or anything else on that island?
>Are those ships close enough for our sense to react?
>She is clinging onto the starboard rail with both arms. You can't see her face, but you imagine her expression isn't much different than those of the other crew you can see; a sort of numb horror kept in check by gritted teeth.
>Everyone else seems to be holding on similarly. If last night's experience means anything, they're a lot more used to remaining upright in rough skies than you are. But you keep an eye out for anyone about to get thrown off, just the same.
>Nothing brushes strongly against you and you don't really have the focus to pay closer attention right now. You think it's a perfectly normal and mundane rock... which is above you. That's really, really not where it's supposed to be.
>Even the closer vessel is still too far away to pick up anything passively, unless that something were overpowering.
>Mutter, "I hope they steer into a rock face."
>You wish an ill fate upon your pursuers. Unfortunately, as you glance in their direction, you find that they seem to be having an earlier time staying stable than you are, though at least you can still see them wobbling a little. They're making a bee-line for the Maiden and closing the distance quickly.
>"Are they crazy?!" someone asks. The unspoken question is whether that would make two of you.
>The Blue Maiden continues to bob and rock precipitously as Murasa fights for the narrow band of sky that separates one death from another. The opposite edge of the island draws mercifully near; you don't know if you would have believed this maneuver possible just a few moments earlier. And what's more, you're going to make it out with a comfortable lead on the pursuing vessel, despite its tenacity. The sun peers through a gap in the crags descending from the island's lip. Just a few more seconds....
>Then the shaft of light is abruptly eclipsed by the sleek profile of a hull pulling across your exit route.
>"Ship dead ahead!" Miyuki cries. She is answered by an alarmed shout from the other end of the deck.
>"It's the Skyfang!"
>Before you even have time to process this, there is a loud burst of air from the new vessel and a large metal bolt streaks through the air towards the Maiden, trailed by the clattering sound of metal on metal as the chain connecting it to its source unfurls. Almost immediately, Murasa turns to deny the Maiden's profile to its attacker and pulls sharply upward. A second grappling harpoon is fired before the first has even closed half the distance between the two ships.
>You feel a abrupt thrust from beneath you as the sudden course correction puts you afoul of the deadly turbulence. The aft of the ship swings wide and you find yourself swerving unevenly away from the island's edge. The first grapple passes harmlessly beneath you, but that seems almost irrelevant as your start careening through the air. Presumably Murasa is fighting for control of her ship, but it becomes increasingly hard to separate which course corrections are her doing, and which are thrust upon her by the skies.
>With alarm, you notice the ship swerving towards a prominent crag, jutting down a hundred feet or so from the surrounding underside.
-
> Could we tell if the second harpoon connected or not?
-
> Could we tell if the second harpoon connected or not?
>It's still in midair, but given how much the Blue Maiden's position has shifted since it was fired, you don't believe it will connect.
-
> Maybe that's one thing we can do: dislodge any grappling harpoons that happen to actually connect.
> "Crag!"
-
> Maybe that's one thing we can do: dislodge any grappling harpoons that happen to actually connect.
> "Crag!"
>That does seem like something within your power to help with, though it might be even nicer if you didn't have to. Of course, a grapple seems like a small trifle at the moment.
>You shout out a warning to the deck, and are immediately answered by alarmed looks as everyone quickly seeks the danger with their own eyes. The ensuing cursing is entirely understandable.
>The Blue Maiden continues to careen towards the crag. With the way the ship is spinning, it's almost hard to keep your eyes on the looming rock without spinning in place yourself. You start to descend again, but you don't think it's going to be enough to clear the crag entirely. This leaves only a handful of seconds before it sweeps across some part of the deck like a giant croquet mallet. And unless your course straightens out immediately, it's going to be hard to call exactly what part of the deck that's going to be.
>"Clear the deck!" Miyuki yells.
-
>Have we ever heard the term Skyfang before?
>Better do what she says and get below. Rock vs. us? Rock wins.
-
>Have we ever heard the term Skyfang before?
>Better do what she says and get below. Rock vs. us? Rock wins.
>It may ring a vague bell, but nothing comes readily to mind.
>You let go of the cargo hatch and make a break for the stairs, along with just about everyone else. Though the deck is pitching wildly, a couple near the bow make it below deck almost immediately. You're not too far behind when you hear a short yelp from behind, followed swiftly by a sharp metal thump.
-
Okay. I have a completely insane idea, but why the fuck not.
> Turn around. Look for what that metal thump was.
-
> Turn around. Look for what that metal thump was.
>You turn around to try and locate the source of the noise and quickly notice a crewman lying face-down on the deck at the base of one of the rotor support struts, towards the aft. Part of the strut still seems to be reverberating slightly. The crewman starts to slide down the deck as the ship pitches backwards again.
-
Well, that's not what I was hoping for, but it works all the same.
> Nothing for it.
> Make our way down the deck in pursuit of the wayward crewman, sliding if necessary.
-
Well, that's not what I was hoping for, but it works all the same.
What were you thinking? Grappling rope we could surf on to attack the pirates?
-
Grapple harpoon that we could jam into the crag, maybe even wrapping it around the crag once or twice first if we're going slow enough.
-
> Nothing for it.
> Make our way down the deck in pursuit of the wayward crewman, sliding if necessary.
>You cut short your dash for the stairs and start moving towards the downed crewman. It takes all the focus you can muster to remain upright on the pitching deck while moving quickly, but you kept your face from kissing the deck last night and you're not about to let it happen now; if anything, the storm was good practice for this situation.
>"Be careful!" Miyuki calls from your left. She is still clinging to the starboard rail, and seems to be trying to move back down the deck with you, though you're much closer to the crewman than she is.
-
> "Bit late for that!"
> Do we see any harpoons anywhere?
> How close have we gotten to the downed crewman so far?
-
> "Bit late for that!"
> Do we see any harpoons anywhere?
> How close have we gotten to the downed crewman so far?
>"In that case, just hurry!" she replies, holding tightly to the railing as he body lurches to the side.
>You do not.
>You're a little under ten feet away now. A quick glance to your side suggests there's not much chance of picking her up and getting below deck before the ship has its appointment with that oversized stalactite.
-
> Then we'll just have to dodge it, won't we?
> Make the rest of the way to the downed crewman. Crewwoman. Crewperson. Whatever.
-
> Then we'll just have to dodge it, won't we?
> Make the rest of the way to the downed crewman. Crewwoman. Crewperson. Whatever.
>It seems so!
>You cover the rest of the distance as quickly as you can and catch the crewman as she slides back towards the strut again. A thin trail of blood seeps from a gash on her forehead, but the wound doesn't look like it's very serious. She groans.
-
> Angle our head so we aren't shouting right in her face.
> "Woman down!"
> Turn back to her and grab her arms or wrists.
> "Let's get you outta here."
-
> Angle our head so we aren't shouting right in her face.
> "Woman down!"
> Turn back to her and grab her arms or wrists.
> "Let's get you outta here."
>Though you make a point not to shout in her face, the woman still groans again as you call out her condition.
>You turn back to her and grab hold of her arms.
>The crewmen turns her head and tries to look at you as you speak, but the glazed look in her eyes suggests she isn't going to be able to help you much with moving her.
>"Behind you!" Miyuki screams.
-
> Oh damnit.
> Quick, whip our head around and see what Miyuki's screaming about, as much as we can already hazard a guess.
-
> Oh damnit.
> Quick, whip our head around and see what Miyuki's screaming about, as much as we can already hazard a guess.
>You whip your head around as quick as you can manage. The crag looms only a stone's throw from the side of the ship now, filling far too much of your field of vision. The ship is still pitching too much to be certain of where the crag will cross it, but it's going to be close to you and it's going to be very, very soon.
-
> Pull the crewwoman up a little bit so we're better prepared to roll both of us in one direction or the other.
-
> Pull the crewwoman up a little bit so we're better prepared to roll both of us in one direction or the other.
>You pull the woman up a little and get a better grip on her.
>The crag swings in from the middle of the port side, missing the rail by inches, and starts to cut an arc through the air in your direction and towards the rotor superstructure.
-
> Not a whole hell of a lot we can do to save the rotor structure, if it comes down to that. It's probably sturdier than we are.
> If this thing is cutting an arc in our direction, it is presumably coming at us not straight on, but at an angle, yes? Drag ourselves and the downed crewwoman horizontally in whichever direction (left or right) the point of the crag is coming from, but not forward toward it at all. Hopefully it will end up cutting a path across the space right in front of us instead. If we get to a point where we think we need to for the extra momentum, roll ourselves and the downed crewwoman in the same direction instead.
-
> Not a whole hell of a lot we can do to save the rotor structure, if it comes down to that. It's probably sturdier than we are.
> If this thing is cutting an arc in our direction, it is presumably coming at us not straight on, but at an angle, yes? Drag ourselves and the downed crewwoman horizontally in whichever direction (left or right) the point of the crag is coming from, but not forward toward it at all. Hopefully it will end up cutting a path across the space right in front of us instead. If we get to a point where we think we need to for the extra momentum, roll ourselves and the downed crewwoman in the same direction instead.
>You may be a youkai, but you're not made of solid steel, either. Hopefully it's solid enough.
>You scramble to the side, quickly flattening yourself against the port rail as the crag barrels down the middle of the deck. The enormous mass of rock flies no more than a couple feet past your face, absolutely filling your field of vision. Your hair and clothing flutter violently in the wind stirred up by its passing. For a strange moment, you are very aware much aware of how close you are standing to death. You could even reach out and touch it. And then the Maiden goes into a dive as the momentum of its spin bring the crag around again and you fall into a forward roll, tumbling towards the bow. The crewman groans in your arms as you hold her tight against you.
>You hear a horrific grating sound in the air behind you and the ship shudders.
-
>"Hang on..."
>Are we the only two left on deck?
>Where's the nearest way to get blowdecks, where it's safe? Safer, anyway.
>Damn you, Marisa, why aren't you here? No pirate would have a chance against you!
-
>"Hang on..."
>Are we the only two left on deck?
>Where's the nearest way to get blowdecks, where it's safe? Safer, anyway.
>Damn you, Marisa, why aren't you here? No pirate would have a chance against you!
>The woman in your arms mumbles something, but you can't make it out.
>Miyuki is still by the starboard rail, apparently watching you two. You assume Murasa and Neu are still back in the wheelhouse.
>You're close to the middle of the deck again, now. The stairs leading below are near the fore.
>At the very least, she'd provide a safe evacuation route. Well, 'safe'.
-
>To Miyuki, "Why are you still here?"
>Do we appear to be in the clear? No more massive outcroppings of earth to dodge?
-
>To Miyuki, "Why are you still here?"
>Do we appear to be in the clear? No more massive outcroppings of earth to dodge?
>"Making sure you don't get yourself killed!" she calls back, though her gaze seems drawn with deep concern to something above and behind you.
>You glance back in the same direction. It seems the screeching metal noise you heard was the crag tearing into the primary port turbine. The good news is that this seems to have provided enough of an anchor to dampen the ship's spin. The bad news is that you can see the damaged rotor wobbling and starting to sputter out. Above, you can faintly make out the clattering of loose rock, possibly dislodged by the impact.
-
>"Well, don't wait for me! I didn't come this far to get killed by a ball of dirt in the sky!"
>Is our hearing acute enough to hear, over the other racket, any stones that come loose and could be a threat to us?
-
>"Well, don't wait for me! I didn't come this far to get killed by a ball of dirt in the sky!"
>Is our hearing acute enough to hear, over the other racket, any stones that come loose and could be a threat to us?
>"I'll move when you do!" she counters.
>It would be hard to hear ones falling through open air as opposed to tumbling against stone; you barely heard them at all, as it is.
-
>Between us and the stairs, are there any of those loose rocks that are large enogh to do any damage to us, or the crewman in our arms, if they fell on us?
-
>Between us and the stairs, are there any of those loose rocks that are large enogh to do any damage to us, or the crewman in our arms, if they fell on us?
>From the height they're falling from? More than a handful.
-
>All this and the pirates are still out there....
>Well, we'll be safer indoors than out.
>Make a dash for those stairs, as fast as we can manage with a load in our arms, and while keeping an eye above us for incoming boulders.
-
>All this and the pirates are still out there....
>Well, we'll be safer indoors than out.
>Make a dash for those stairs, as fast as we can manage with a load in our arms, and while keeping an eye above us for incoming boulders.
>You dash for the stairs as you hear the crag tearing free of the turbine behind you. Miyuki follows along with you, but her pace slows as she keeps pausing to look back at the struggling rotor. Glancing up as you move, most of the rocks seem to be clattering harmlessly away from the ship, but you see a few that are probably going to strike the deck depending on how it pitches in the next few seconds. You think you should be able to dodge them without issue, but you don't know how agile Miyuki is. Then the ship shudders again and you feel it start to fall.
>"Oh no..." you hear Miyuki breathe.
-
>Where are we now, in relation to the stairs and Miyuki?
-
>Where are we now, in relation to the stairs and Miyuki?
>You are in the forward third of the deck, towards the port side. Miyuki is slightly past the middle of the deck, by the starboard rail. The stairs are not much more than 15 feet away from you now.
-
>How far away is Miyuki from the stairs?
-
>How far away is Miyuki from the stairs?
>Closer to 25 feet.
-
>Does the crewman in our arms still appear to be out of it?
-
>Does the crewman in our arms still appear to be out of it?
>Her condition has not changed much in the handful of seconds you've been holding her.
-
>Well, we can't stop and make sure Miyuki's okay, not with
a redshirt a wounded woman in our care.
>But that doesn't mean we can't help her.
>"One thing at a time, Miyuki! Just get belowdecks!"
>Progress towards the stairs, but a little more slowly, so as to allow us time to watch the rocks that could be a threat to her, as well as to us.
-
>Well, we can't stop and make sure Miyuki's okay, not with a redshirt a wounded woman in our care.
>But that doesn't mean we can't help her.
>"One thing at a time, Miyuki! Just get belowdecks!"
>Progress towards the stairs, but a little more slowly, so as to allow us time to watch the rocks that could be a threat to her, as well as to us.
>"I don't think that crag's the problem right n-" Her words are cut short by a sharp chunk of rock impacting the deck. Her eyes widen and dart back in your direction and then upward. She starts to run.
>You start moving again yourself, weaving a comfortable around another piece of falling shale. You see a larger one falling near Miyuki's head, but she seems to notice it herself and shoves off the rail before you have to mention it. The boulder strikes the rail nearly dead on and sheers in two along a cleavage plane, most of it tumbling off the edge of the ship and into the deep while a smaller chunk falls lightly on the deck. Miyuki tries to regain her balance, but the ship lurches again and her foot catches on one of the fallen rocks. She stumbles.
>You're only a couple feet from the stairs now. Miyuki is about 12 feet behind you.
-
>Dammit all to hell....
>Are there any more rocks falling or threatening to fall?
>Still no sign this girl is coming around?
>Is Miyuki still on her feet?
>Are we strong enough to sling this woman over one shoulder, giving us a free arm, while not upsetting our balance or compromising our movement speed?
-
>Dammit all to hell....
>Are there any more rocks falling or threatening to fall?
>Still no sign this girl is coming around?
>Is Miyuki still on her feet?
>Are we strong enough to sling this woman over one shoulder, giving us a free arm, while not upsetting our balance or compromising our movement speed?
>Assuming that isn't straight where you're all heading now....
>Yes. In fact, there are several more uncomfortably close to the both of your positions, though most are only small now. Still, while you could take that kind of a blow, you imagine it would be a lot worse for a human.
>Maybe slightly, but not enough to think she could walk on her own.
>She's attempting to right herself again, but the sharp wince she makes when she bears weight on that foot again is not encouraging.
>You could shoulder her with some effort, but it would definitely compromise your balance and mobility to some degree. You expect you could still manage, if you had to.
>The ship continues falling....
-
>Do there appear to be any rocks falling around the entrance to the stairs?
>No, never mind. If we put this girl down, she could slide off the ship, or fall down the stairs if we left here there...
>Is there anywhere we could leave her safely while we go help Miyuki?
>"Miyki, are you all right?!"
-
>Do there appear to be any rocks falling around the entrance to the stairs?
>No, never mind. If we put this girl down, she could slide off the ship, or fall down the stairs if we left here there...
>Is there anywhere we could leave her safely while we go help Miyuki?
>"Miyki, are you all right?!"
>None to speak off. None of these are large enough to create obstructions at any rate; they just would be quite unpleasant to have land on you.
>Falling down the stairs is possible. Sliding off the ship seems less likely given the sides of it are raised safely above the deck. Unless the ship just turns over, and at that point you're all screwed. Of course, if it doesn't stop falling soon, you're all going to be screwed either way....
>If you don't think the stairs are safe or the deck is safe, that doesn't leave much, does it?
>"Fine," she says through gritted teeth, pushing herself upright again. She grimaces, very obviously pushing against pain. Another fragment of rock clatters against the deck near her.
-
>Are we listing in either direction, or pitching forward?
-
>Are we listing in either direction, or pitching forward?
>While you are losing altitude at a disturbing rate, the ship's attitude seems to have mostly stabilized.
-
>Well, if she won't slide away on us...
>Lay the crewman down here, if we think she won't get pummeled by any rocks, then go back and assist Miyuki.
>"You're not a good lier. Now let me help you."
>Watch for more rocks above.
-
>Well, if she won't slide away on us...
>Lay the crewman down here, if we think she won't get pummeled by any rocks, then go back and assist Miyuki.
>"You're not a good lier. Now let me help you."
>Watch for more rocks above.
>You take a look above to check that your immediate vicinity is clear of any more falling rocks and then lay the crewman down and move over to Miyuki.
>"She's in worse shape than I am," Miyuki replies, still grimacing slightly while she steadies herself. "I can still move."
>You keep your eyes peeled upward for any remaining rocks. Miyuki notices one incoming near her and and quickly sidesteps, though the maneuver draws a short cry of pain from her and she loses her footing again. She wastes no time in attempting to regain it, but it's clearly taking a toll on her.
>Why won't you stop falling...?
-
>Help her up. The nlace ourselves under her arm, let her lean against us for balance.
>"I'm gonna hold you to that. Think you can get over those stairs on your own? I can't carry you both down."
>Flash her a quick grin, try to ease her mind a little. Nothing we can do about the ship but have faith in Murasa and Ishi, and hope they can come up with something to keep us in the air.
>"I'm good, honey, I ain't that good."
-
>Help her up. The nlace ourselves under her arm, let her lean against us for balance.
>"I'm gonna hold you to that. Think you can get over those stairs on your own? I can't carry you both down."
>Flash her a quick grin, try to ease her mind a little. Nothing we can do about the ship but have faith in Murasa and Ishi, and hope they can come up with something to keep us in the air.
>"I'm good, honey, I ain't that good."
>You help Miyuki up and let her lean against you. She winces again slightly .
>"It's only a sprained ankle," she says. "I've had worse."
>You flash her a quick grin in hopes of easing her mind. And perhaps even your own. The expression on her own face is deeply troubled but not yet hopeless.
>She frowns somberly. "I'm sorry."
-
>"No sorries here, Miyuki. Let's just get out of these rocks."
>Do just that with our wounded Miyumiyu.
>Once we get to the stairs, make sure she's okay getting down on that ankle, then go back for the other wounded woman.
>And of course, watch for falling rocks throughout.
-
>"No sorries here, Miyuki. Let's just get out of these rocks."
>Do just that with our wounded Miyumiyu.
>Once we get to the stairs, make sure she's okay getting down on that ankle, then go back for the other wounded woman.
>And of course, watch for falling rocks throughout.
>"...right." She nods.
>Supporting her as best you can with the height difference, you help Miyuki cover the rest of the distance to the stairs. Another couple of loose stones fall against the deck, but you manage to make it to the deckhouse without needing to perform any further acrobatics.
>You let go of Miyuki once you arrive and watch her take a first hesitant step. Her face draws tight as she shifts her weight gingerly onto her injured foot, but she turns and flashes you a defiant look once she notices your hesitation.
>"Go on!"
-
>"Right..."
>Retreive the downed crowman.
>Spare a venom-filled look at that damn tengu ship out there.
>Bring the woman to the stairs and get below, into the rock-free zone.
-
>"Right..."
>Retreive the downed crowman.
>Spare a venom-filled look at that damn tengu ship out there.
>Bring the woman to the stairs and get below, into the rock-free zone.
>With a muted acknowledgment, you leave Miyuki and quickly run back to where you leave the injured crewman. You lean down and carefully pick her up again.
>Then you throw a glare venomous glare towards the tengu ship, whose fault all this is. Unfortunately, the Skyfang appears to have shifted position and you can't spot it at this moment, but the smaller vessel that followed you under the island has gotten quite close now. It's also unpleasantly far above you. You have to be getting close to the point of no return now, surely?
>As you quickly return to the stairs, the woman groans in your arms and tries to focus her eyes on you. "W... what's going on?" she asks weakly.
>The nose of the ship starts to angle upward and you hear a mechanical grating noise from the aft, followed by a heavy clunk.
>All the way from the wheelhouse, you hear Murasa yell out loudly. "Get down and hold on!"
-
> Is there anything in the immediate vicinity we could grab onto?
> Are we right at the stairwell opening, or do we still have a little bit of distance to traverse?
-
>"Just hang on. We ain't outta the woods yet."
-
> Is there anything in the immediate vicinity we could grab onto?
> Are we right at the stairwell opening, or do we still have a little bit of distance to traverse?
>Nothing within arm's reach. There's still the railing a few feet beyond that, and you supposed the stairs themselves.
>A couple more steps and you can be inside. The stairway itself does mostly lack a banister, unfortunately, but the similar lack of risers means that you could probably grip onto a step itself if you flattened yourself low enough.
>"Just hang on. We ain't outta the woods yet."
>"...woods?" she answers uncertainly, turning her head aside as though she expected to find some somewhere.
>You hear a deafening roar begin to blast out from the rear of the ship. The deck starts to rumble.
-
>Suppose we'll have to test our grip while holding a wounded woman.
>Get inside. And do the best we can to maintain balance, use supports if need be as best as possible.
Had to rush that one, gotta get to work.
/tags out
-
>Suppose we'll have to test our grip while holding a wounded woman.
>Get inside. And do the best we can to maintain balance, use supports if need be as best as possible.
>You quickly duck inside the deckhouse, crewman in tow. Miyuki has made it almost to the bottom of the first flight of steps. She glances at you uncertainly. Both the noise and the rumbling intensify. Then Miyuki drops down to her knees and grabs hold of a step herself, wincing at the motion.
>She frowns and quietly breathes. "Oh dear...."
-
> So we're completely clear of the deck now?
> Wrap our tail around the torso of the injured woman, just to give ourselves a little extra grip on her.
> "Miyuki, your foot okay?"
-
> So we're completely clear of the deck now?
> Wrap our tail around the torso of the injured woman, just to give ourselves a little extra grip on her.
> "Miyuki, your foot okay?"
>You're not many steps down, but you are indeed clear of the deck.
>You wrap your tail around the injured crewman for a little extra leverage. She squirms slightly as you do so.
>"I'm fine!" Miyuki insists forcefully. "Now get a hold of something!"
>The ship tilts further upward and you feel it starting to move forward.
-
> Are we currently standing on a stair?
> How are we supporting the injured crewwoman, aside from the tail?
-
> Are we currently standing on a stair?
> How are we supporting the injured crewwoman, aside from the tail?
>You are. There really isn't anywhere to stand in here that isn't on a stair, until you reach the lower deck.
>You're holding her under a shoulder with one arm and around the torso with the other.
-
> How far is it to the bottom of the first flight of steps?
-
> How far is it to the bottom of the first flight of steps?
>About a dozen of them or so, spanning maybe eight feet.
-
> We're not really in a position to hold onto stairs...either we'd have to let go of the crewwoman or we'd be pinning her to the steps with our body.
> Hurry down the remaining steps to the bottom of the first flight of steps. We can positions ourselves much better in the open space between flights.
-
> We're not really in a position to hold onto stairs...either we'd have to let go of the crewwoman or we'd be pinning her to the steps with our body.
> Hurry down the remaining steps to the bottom of the first flight of steps. We can positions ourselves much better in the open space between flights.
>You elect to rush down the rest of the steps rather than risk pinning the poor woman against the angular stairs. The ship picks up momentum rapidly as you move and you find yourself nearly thrown forward from the sudden acceleration; keeping your tail around the crewman isn't helping your balance any.
>Miyuki holds a hand out towards you as you near the bottom of the stairs.
-
> As we concontinue to make our way down the stairs, reach out and grab Miyuki's hand with our hand not attached to the arm around the injured's torso.
> "She's got a head wound. Pretty dazed."
-
> As we concontinue to make our way down the stairs, reach out and grab Miyuki's hand with our hand not attached to the arm around the injured's torso.
> "She's got a head wound. Pretty dazed."
>You reach out and take Miyuki's hand and use it to help steady you down the last few steps.
>Miyuki looks at the crewman in your arms and frowns. Though the wound itself seems small, a considerable amount of blood has flown from it, streaking brightly down the side of her face and cheek. Parts of her bang are matted with it.
>"Natsumi?" Miyuki says in a firm tone. "Are you okay? Can you hear me?"
>The woman in your arms groans and tries vaguely to focus on her. "...what's that racket...?"
>This draws a frown of a different sort from Miyuki. "I think they're giving Ishi's new... project a test drive."
>The ship continues to accelerate, its shaking growing increasingly violent.
-
> "Natsumi, is it? Can you grab anything right now?"
-
> "Natsumi, is it? Can you grab anything right now?"
>"Like... what?" she asks.
-
> "I'll make this quick. Wrap your arms around my torso and grab onto yourself as best you can. Like you're hugging me from behind. Miyuki and I will handle the rest."
-
>Give Miyuki a somewhat concerned look.
>"'New project'?"
-
> "I'll make this quick. Wrap your arms around my torso and grab onto yourself as best you can. Like you're hugging me from behind. Miyuki and I will handle the rest."
>She shakes her head slowly, squinting like she's somehow confused by your statement. "Why would I... hug someone I don't know?"
>Miyuki reaches out and takes firm hold of her hand before you can comment further. "Here. Hold onto me instead."
>Give Miyuki a somewhat concerned look.
>"'New project'?"
>"Rockets," she says simply. She does not seem entirely pleased by the sound of this word. "Very big rockets. Just hold on."
-
> "You sure you can bear the weight of a second person?"
-
> "You sure you can bear the weight of a second person?"
>She actually scowls at you this time. "My arms are still working just fine."
-
> Do youkai have a natural physical advantage over humans in terms of strength and endurance?
-
>"All right, all right, sorry."
>Let Natsumi hold on to Miyuki, but keep some (most) of her weight on us.
>"Just didn't want to make anything worse."
-
> Do youkai have a natural physical advantage over humans in terms of strength and endurance?
>Yes, and sometimes considerably, though this varies depending on the type of youkai. You yourself are appreciably stronger than a human of your build would be, though less so than a particularly muscular one might; as youkai go, you're pretty much a lightweight. Endurance-wise, youkai tend to eclipse humans to a larger degree than they do in brute force. You can sustain significant injuries before being at risk of long-term harm, let alone death, and you heal considerably more quickly. Even in this, you are rather on the shallow end of the youkai scale however. With some chagrin, you have to admit that even Orange, of all people, has you significantly outclassed in this area. You've seen her tumble down an honest to god cliff and shrug it off with a smile in minutes. You're sure you would have been out of commission for at least a day or two if you'd been the one taking that fall. Of course, you would never have fallen off in the first place....
>"All right, all right, sorry."
>Let Natsumi hold on to Miyuki, but keep some (most) of her weight on us.
>"Just didn't want to make anything worse."
>Miyuki nods at you without letting much of the grit out of her expression.
>You end making a sort of compromise, handing Natsumi partially over to Miyuki while continuing to carry as much of her weight as you think you can get away with.
>"Worry about 'worse' when we're out of here," Miyuki says.
>The ship continues rattling, and the noise is thunderous even beneath the deck. You're beginning to wonder if this is any safer than you were a few moments back.
-
>"Good advice."
>Look around for things being rattled out of their housings.
>Did we pass by anything that seemed like a medical ward aboard ship?
-
>"Good advice."
>Look around for things being rattled out of their housings.
>Did we pass by anything that seemed like a medical ward aboard ship?
>There's actually very little in this part of the ship to be rattling at all; the hall lights are trembling a little, but just about anything else that could be moving around is out of view. You can only imagine what kind of state the kitchen is going to be in after this, though.
>You hadn't noticed one, but you haven't seen every part of the ship yet, either.
>Sharing the injured crewman between you, Miyuki and you cling to the side of the stairs as the Maiden is propelled violently forward. You have no idea how far you've gone or even how fast; your only indicator is the sense of force pushing against you as accelerate. This force starts to level out, then you feel a sharp knock against the rear and the sound of what was presumably the rockets sputters and quickly fades away entirely.
>"Are they... done... yelling?" Natsumi asks.
>"I... think so," Miyuki says, looking at her with a concerned frown.
>You have only enough time to catch your breath before the ship lurches violently to the right; it is only your grip that keeps you from being thrown bodily against the wall. Natsumi falls heavily against you as Miyuki's grip on her slips a little.
-
>Sleigh ride from hell...
>Did that feel like a sharp turn or an out-control-skew?
-
> "Sorry for the squeeze."
> Adjust our position so our backside is a little closer to Natsumi (if there's any distance to be gained), then reposition our tail-wrap around her so the wrap starts closer to the base of the tail.
> Once the above is complete and our tail has circled Natsumi completely, lead the tip so the end of the tail passes over the rest of the tail at about the point where it first starts wrapping around Natsumi's body, then dip the tip down and bring it up between the tail-wrap and Natsumi's body, effectively beginning a knot.
> Once all this is done, tighten our tail's grip on Natsumi as best we can given its pseudo-knotted state. Try not to crush Natsumi's ribs or internal organs in the process, of course.
-
>Sleigh ride from hell...
>Did that feel like a sharp turn or an out-control-skew?
>At this rate, you'll be happy enough just to remain in one piece.
>It did not feel intentional. But if you're test-driving something involving 'very big rockets', who the hell knows?
> "Sorry for the squeeze."
> Adjust our position so our backside is a little closer to Natsumi (if there's any distance to be gained), then reposition our tail-wrap around her so the wrap starts closer to the base of the tail.
> Once the above is complete and our tail has circled Natsumi completely, lead the tip so the end of the tail passes over the rest of the tail at about the point where it first starts wrapping around Natsumi's body, then dip the tip down and bring it up between the tail-wrap and Natsumi's body, effectively beginning a knot.
> Once all this is done, tighten our tail's grip on Natsumi as best we can given its pseudo-knotted state. Try not to crush Natsumi's ribs or internal organs in the process, of course.
>"Why'd you... push?" she asks blearily.
>You adjust your tail's grip on Natsumi and wrap it around into a sort of knot, holding it as securely as you reasonably can without being too uncomfortable to either of you. She squirms a little, but you're not sure if she entirely understands what you're doing.
>Miyuki lets go of the stairs and stands up again, a slight facial twitch betraying the discomfort she suffers by doing this. She takes the first step up carefully and then another.
-
>Wait, she's going back UP? Out THERE?
-
>Wait, she's going back UP? Out THERE?
>That does appear to be the direction she's moving in, tentative though her steps are.
-
>Draw in a breath to ask about her condition, then pause. She'd probably scowl at us again.
>Instead, ask, "So where should I go to see about getting Natsumi here patched up, or laid down, or something?"
-
>Draw in a breath to ask about her condition, then pause. She'd probably scowl at us again.
>Instead, ask, "So where should I go to see about getting Natsumi here patched up, or laid down, or something?"
>You start to suggest Miyuki be careful on that foot, but catch yourself before inadvertently upsetting her further. Instead you ask what you should do with Natsumi.
>"Neu's the closest we have to a doctor on board," Miyuki replies, "but that's going to have to wait until we're clear. Just... go get some blankets and lay her out in the galley. Get Chisato or someone to keep an eye on her. I'm going to see what just happened." She continues up the stairs.
-
>Curious ourselves, of course. But, priorities.
>Recall where Miyuki retreived the sheets for our bed. Is this along the way to the galley?
>"At least we're still in one piece."
-
>Curious ourselves, of course. But, priorities.
>Recall where Miyuki retreived the sheets for our bed. Is this along the way to the galley?
>"At least we're still in one piece."
>The room with the linens stored in it is a short distance past the galley, down the corridor behind you.
>"Ishi tries...." Miyuku says dryly.
-
>Start making our way towards the galley.
>Keep an eye for anyone else along the way.
>Call back over our shoulder. "Where is Chisato, anyway?"
-
>Start making our way towards the galley.
>Keep an eye for anyone else along the way.
>Call back over our shoulder. "Where is Chisato, anyway?"
>You start to head towards the galley. Natsumi seems present enough to at least bear some of her own weight and coordinate her limbs, though her eyes remain very glassy.
>"Your guess is as good as mine," Miyuki calls back. "Her or someone else; it doesn't really matter."
>As you continue down the corridor, you start to hear movement on the deck above you: footfalls, multiple sets of them, and a faint hint of words being exchanged. Miyuki's footsteps fall silent behind you.
-
>Silent because she's stopped, or silent because we've moved out of range of them?
-
>Silent because she's stopped, or silent because we've moved out of range of them?
>The former; you could comfortably hear movement up and down those stairs from all the way to the galley.
-
>Oh, that doesn't bode well...
>Are there any rooms between us and the galley, someplace with a bed we could leave Natsumi?
-
>Oh, that doesn't bode well...
>Are there any rooms between us and the galley, someplace with a bed we could leave Natsumi?
>You've got a bad feeling about this....
>There are several. Your own room is just a couple feet ahead of you.
-
>That'll do if need be.
>"What do you see up there, Miyuki?"
-
>That'll do if need be.
>"What do you see up there, Miyuki?"
>Miyuki crouches down and makes a quick pantomime of flapping wings, then holds up 4 fingers. Wait, 5.
-
>Bite back a curse.
>Wave Miyuki back towards us. If there's fighting coming, best keep her out of the way, with her ankle.
>Get Natsumi into our room and get her bedded down. If those are tengu boarders instead of ships, she should be out of the way.
-
>Bite back a curse.
>Wave Miyuki back towards us. If there's fighting coming, best keep her out of the way, with her ankle.
>Get Natsumi into our room and get her bedded down. If those are tengu boarders instead of ships, she should be out of the way.
>You stifle a curse and wave Miyuki back towards you. You see her take a cautious and quiet step backward and you quickly scrabble to get Natsumi into your room.
>As you open your door and step inside, you note wryly that everything which can be out of place is. Again. Not that this includes a great many things, but still; this ship seems to have tremendous difficulty staying level.
>You hear a quickly-stifled groan from Miyuki's direction, followed by what sounds like a stumble.
-
>Damnations.
>Get Natsumi seated on our bed.
>Speak firmly, "Lie down. And stay quiet."
>Go back for Miyuki.
>Bring a kunai to hand in case those are tengu boarders up there, and one of them gets adventerous.
-
>Damnations.
>Get Natsumi seated on our bed.
>Speak firmly, "Lie down. And stay quiet."
>Go back for Miyuki.
>Bring a kunai to hand in case those are tengu boarders up there, and one of them gets adventerous.
>You quickly grab your pillow off the floor, give it a shake, then toss it where it belongs and lay Natsumi down on your bed.
>You firmly tell her to stay still and she nods weakly in response.
>Then you dash back out of the room for Miyuki, kunai in hand. You find her already at the bottom, a more pronounced limp in her step than earlier but a fiercely defiant look on her face just the same. She holds up three fingers, then points to the deck and gestures downward.
-
>Tough girl.
>Spare a quick glance back up the stairs.
-
>Tough girl.
>Spare a quick glance back up the stairs.
>Certainly seems that way.
>You see nothing yet, but you don't expect it will stay that way for long.
-
>Jerk head towards our room, and lead her that way.
>Keep an ear open behind us.
-
>Jerk head towards our room, and lead her that way.
>Keep an ear open behind us.
>You jerk your head towards your room and Miyuki starts limping toward you. Unfortunately, she's no more than halfway there before you see a black-winged tengu swoop gracefully down the stairway. There's at least one more following behind her.
>The only other sound you can hear clearly at the moment is Natsumi rolling over in your bed. Wait, you think you just heard a yell from above deck; it sounded like Murasa.
-
>Do we have a clear line of fire?
-
>Do we have a clear line of fire?
>The lead tengu should be clear of any stair-related obstacles in a moment, though Miyuki is partially blocking line of fire down the corridor; although it's a rather narrow hall, you do have the leverage to attempt to fire around her if you wanted to.
-
>Are these tengu armed?
-
>Are these tengu armed?
>You can't get a good enough look at the second tengu yet, but the first is wielding a slender sword with a gracefully curved blade in her left hand.
-
>Gauge the expressions on their faces.
They're pirates. They've shot at us. They've boarded us. I say we shoot first and sell the survivors later.
-
>Gauge the expressions on their faces.
>You can't see the second's face at all, but the expression on the first's is focused and cold; it doesn't look openly aggressive so much as very serious.
-
Yeah, I'm all for going on the offensive. And don't forget that we have the Mouthful Katana.
-
*chuckles* Japanese spelling not your forte, brother? :P
If it helps, I believe the sword's name roughly translates as 'spider cutter'
Something else that occured to me, though, is that once we dispose of these two, we'd best get back up on deck. Murasa and Neu can probably handle the other three, but there could be a lot more waiting behind them. And I for one would rather welcome them with blades wide open.
I'd also like to avoid drawing Kumokirimaru, if we can. We're not extremely good with katanas, and the last thing any of us wants is for that to get knocked out of our hands.
>These two picked the wrong stairway to fly down.
>Gesture to Miyuki that she should get down. Pronto.
>Fire a kunai at the lead tengu, then draw another one.
-
I'm not going to call it 'spider cutter', that's an idea I don't want to dwell on for longer than possible.
I could probably memorize the actual name, but I like Mouthful Katana better.
-
I'm more keen on firing it just slightly past the tengu, don't want to end up wrecking a possibly peaceful negotiation do we?
Sure, pirates, yes. But who knows?
-
I imagine that if anything peaceful were going on, Miyuki would have said something.
-
Even so, you guys have wanted to resolve things without much combat yes? So I'm just going with the flow.
-
In most cases. In the case of pirates, I'm more than happy to punch faces off of heads.
-
Well, guess we could always do a little 'Pirate Purchasing', and jack their rig for ourselves.
Sure, tengu rigs can really only properly be run by tengu, but we're also clever, and we've got backup.
-
>These two picked the wrong stairway to fly down.
>Gesture to Miyuki that she should get down. Pronto.
>Fire a kunai at the lead tengu, then draw another one.
>You gesture for Miyuki to get down, and the instant she starts to duck you let loose your kunai. It cuts through the air towards the lead tengu, but she deftly turns aside and presses herself against the walls of the corridor. Her wings seem too large to spread fully in the narrow passage, but this evidently does not leave her entirely maladroit and your shot passes harmlessly by. The second, not yet in the confined space of the corridor, flares her wings and twists sideways, rising several feet above the floor as she finds herself in the line of fire instead. She evades your attack by an even wider margin and your kunai embeds itself in one of the steps behind her with a sharp thunk.
>"Stand down," the first tengu cries firmly, "and you have our word none of you will be harmed!"
>"But they-" her companion starts; there is an anger in her voice not present in the other's. The lead tengu cuts off firmly before she can give voice to her objection.
>"You heard what Aya said."
>You can hear what sounds like fighting on the deck above you, as well as footsteps on the stairs below; the latter are still quiet enough that you're not sure anyone else here could hear them.
-
> Stay tense, but don't draw another kunai yet.
> Any bows visible?
> "And what good is a pirate's word?"
-
> Stay tense, but don't draw another kunai yet.
> Any bows visible?
> "And what good is a pirate's word?"
>You remain tense, but do not take further aggressive action just yet.
>You do not see any bows on the tengu, though now that you can get a better look at the second, she too is wielding a blade of similar design to the first's.
>"Aya isn't like the others," the first replies. "She has integrity."
>"And you attacked us first!" the other growls.
>"What are you talking about?" Miyuki says incredulously, taking an awkward step back and holding one hand against her bodice, partially concealed by her other arm. It looks rather like she's cradling an injury.
>The first thrusts an arm out in front of the second in a gesture that strongly suggests she's telling her to back down. With some reluctance on her face, she does so.
>"We have no desire for bloodshed," the first continues. "And you are already injured. Stand down."
>You can see a third tengu descending the stairs behind her.
-
> "Hold up. What makes you think we attacked first?"
-
> "Hold up. What makes you think we attacked first?"
>"You want to go topside and look?" the second asks fiercely.
>The first frowns dourly. "We are often not.... well received."
>"I wonder why that could be...." Miyuki grumbles.
-
> "Did whatever's up topside happen before or after your ships tried to harpoon us twice?"
-
> "Did whatever's up topside happen before or after your ships tried to harpoon us twice?"
>"We were not trying to sink you," the first replies. "Your captain nearly killed you all by trying to evade us."
>"She knew what she was doing," Miyuki says coldly.
-
> "Still an act of aggression. Unless I'm so culturally out of touch that harpooning and boarding each other is a common tengu greeting and I just wasn't aware."
-
> "Still an act of aggression. Unless I'm so culturally out of touch that harpooning and boarding each other is a common tengu greeting and I just wasn't aware."
>"Give us the relic and we'll be on our way," the lead tengu says as the third files in behind her. "Or surrender and we'll find it ourselves. Either way, we will be leaving with it. Don't make this harder on yourselves than it has to be."
>The footsteps ascending from the hold stop.
-
> Do we know of any relics on this ship?
-
> Do we know of any relics on this ship?
>Unless they're actually referring to Kumokirimaru, you don't know of anything that would qualify; the ship's cargo manifest was pretty mundane and you haven't seen anything on board that would fit that description.
-
> Raise an eyebrow.
> "What relic?"
-
> Raise an eyebrow.
> "What relic?"
>"There's no point in trying to hide it," she says. "We know it's here; our leader is without peer when it comes to information."
-
> Look over at Miyuki.
-
I got a funny feelin' they're after Kumokirimaru yo.
-
They probably are, but let's see where this goes.
-
> Look over at Miyuki.
>You glance over at Miyuki. Her expression looks guarded, but uncertain. You're not quite sure if she knows what the tengu are referring to or not.
-
> Turn back to the tengu.
> "Humor me. Even if just with a name."
-
> Turn back to the tengu.
> "Humor me. Even if just with a name."
>"We don't know what it's called any more than you do," she replies. "But we do know that it's aboard this vessel, and we will find it, one way or another. We have you outnumbered, and we came well-prepared."
-
>"Well, any idea what kind of relic it is? Sword? Scepter? Maybe an old hat with some kind of powerful magic?"
-
>"Well, any idea what kind of relic it is? Sword? Scepter? Maybe an old hat with some kind of powerful magic?"
>"I don't intend to let you stall indefinitely," she replies. "What is your answer?"
-
> Give the smallest hint of a smirk.
> "I guess integrity and a lack of desire for bloodshed only go as far as some mysterious trinket with an unknown name."
> Resume a calmer, more neutral expression.
> "My answer is this; if there really is some relic on this ship, it's no less cargo than I am. I'm just a Seeker from Braston, hitchin' a ride with these good folks. Got a badge if you want to see for yourself. I'm not a regular on this ship, and I'm certainly not any sort of informed crewwoman. I ask about this relic because I plain don't know."
-
> Give the smallest hint of a smirk.
> "I guess integrity and a lack of desire for bloodshed only go as far as some mysterious trinket with an unknown name."
> Resume a calmer, more neutral expression.
> "My answer is this; if there really is some relic on this ship, it's no less cargo than I am. I'm just a Seeker from Braston, hitchin' a ride with these good folks. Got a badge if you want to see for yourself. I'm not a regular on this ship, and I'm certainly not any sort of informed crewwoman. I ask about this relic because I plain don't know."
>You fire off a cynical barb about the pirate's professed goodwill, and then explain how you're only a passenger on this ship, and not associated with her crew. You catch Miyuki frowning warily at you as you say this.
>"If you want to know," the tengu replies. "ask them. Or you can ask Aya herself once we're done here; I'm sure she wouldn't mind speaking with you. Or any of you, for that matter; we are not like our kin. But it's not my place to say more."
-
> "That's the funny thing."
> Jerk a thumb at the dowsing rods.
> "I don't need to ask them. I'm a dowser. If there was anything unusual and valuable on this ship, I would have spotted it when I ran a sweep over it a couple of days ago. I didn't pick up anything out of the ordinary."
> Point down at Miyuki.
> "And judging by the look on her face while I was asking about this relic thing, she doesn't appear to have any more of a clue about it than I do."
-
> "That's the funny thing."
> Jerk a thumb at the dowsing rods.
> "I don't need to ask them. I'm a dowser. If there was anything unusual and valuable on this ship, I would have spotted it when I ran a sweep over it a couple of days ago. I didn't pick up anything out of the ordinary."
> Point down at Miyuki.
> "And judging by the look on her face while I was asking about this relic thing, she doesn't appear to have any more of a clue about it than I do."
>"Perhaps she doesn't know," the lead tengu says. "But it is still here. If you can't help us find it and you don't even know what you're defending, then just stand down; we'll be done here soon enough, and you can be back on your way."
>"Even if we did have... whatever this is," Miyuki says sharply, "where do you get off thinking you can just waltz in and take it, anyway?"
>The leader's response is calm, her expression scarcely changing. "Aya thinks she'll be a better steward of it than Lady Scarlet will."
>"We're wasting time!" the second tengu cries. "We're supposed to secure the lower decks, not go and have a chat with the crew."
>The leader gives you and Miyuki a hard look. "She is right, of course. One last chance: stand down or we're going through you."
-
> Where are Miyuki and Natsumi relative to ourselves and the tengu?
-
> Where are Miyuki and Natsumi relative to ourselves and the tengu?
>Miyuki is a couple of feet ahead of you, and leaning in a half-crouch against the left wall. Natsumi is in your bed, in your room, the door to which is about six or so feet behind you, against the wall to your right. The lead tengu is standing at the entrance of the corridor from the stairs, about eight feet ahead of Miyuki, while her two companions are standing slightly behind her, at the landing of the stairs.
-
> And how far behind us would anyone be that was heading up the stairs from the hold, the ones whose footfalls we heard?
> How visible is the katana at our side?
-
> And how far behind us would anyone be that was heading up the stairs from the hold, the ones whose footfalls we heard?
> How visible is the katana at our side?
>They would actually be behind the tengu. The stairs that lead down from the deck continue on downward to the hold. They are only a few feet behind the rearmost members of the group.
>The scabbard is not concealed in any way. You have to imagine the tengu have noticed it.
-
> So our crew came up behind the tengu, who are currently facing us?
> What is behind us, aside from rooms?
-
> So our crew came up behind the tengu, who are currently facing us?
> What is behind us, aside from rooms?
>Or at least someone partially did. You assume whoever it is has been holding position since their footsteps stopped. If the tengu heard them, they're keeping good poker faces about it.
>A little further down the hall, the corridor branches into two and then leads down to the galley, the laundry, and a few other rooms you hadn't yet examined.
-
> Frown ourselves.
> Look over at Miyuki.
> "Get in my room with Natsumi."
-
> Frown ourselves.
> Look over at Miyuki.
> "Get in my room with Natsumi."
>She rounds on you with an affronted look. "What?"
-
> Let our expression soften into a sympathetic one.
> "Please, Miyuki. Trust me on this. Natsumi needs help, and I don't want either of you getting hurt any further than you already are."
-
> Let our expression soften into a sympathetic one.
> "Please, Miyuki. Trust me on this. Natsumi needs help, and I don't want either of you getting hurt any further than you already are."
>Miyuki gives you a fiery look. "This is my ship, and I'm not about to sit quietly in a room while pirates run all over it."
>"The mouse is right," the tengu leader states calmly. "Don't cause yourself further injury."
>"You keep quiet!" Miyuki cries sharply, rounding on her with a almost violent expression. The other two tengu take a step forward, brandishing their weapons in a guarded stance.
-
> "Stop it, all of you!"
> "Look, Miyuki, I know this is really hard. But I promise you I'm not going to let them 'run all over your ship'. I owe your captain and this entire crew a great debt of gratitude for me even being on this ship in the first place. As far as I'm concerned, as long as I'm here, this is my ship too, and I'm not going to let them run all over my ship any more than I would let them run all over yours. Just trust me. Please."
-
> "Stop it, all of you!"
> "Look, Miyuki, I know this is really hard. But I promise you I'm not going to let them 'run all over your ship'. I owe your captain and this entire crew a great debt of gratitude for me even being on this ship in the first place. As far as I'm concerned, as long as I'm here, this is my ship too, and I'm not going to let them run all over my ship any more than I would let them run all over yours. Just trust me. Please."
>Miyuki gives you a hard look, then takes a step back down the corridor, disguising her limp as best she can. "You'd better keep that promise."
>"So you've made your choice, then?" the lead tengu says, looking at you and raising her weapon. "You intend to stop us?"
-
> "If I have to. But I don't want bloodshed, and I'm willing to entertain the idea that you don't either."
> Sigh.
> "I am pretty sure I know exactly what you're looking for. And if my guess is correct, your claimed moral code greatly complicated matters for all of us."
-
> "If I have to. But I don't want bloodshed, and I'm willing to entertain the idea that you don't either."
> Sigh.
> "I am pretty sure I know exactly what you're looking for. And if my guess is correct, your claimed moral code greatly complicated matters for all of us."
>You catch Miyuki give you an inscrutable glance as she limps past you, but keeps on going.
>"Didn't you claim only a moment ago that there was nothing out of the ordinary on this ship?" the lead tengu asks.
>"She's obviously trying to stall for time," the third tengu says. "Half the crew's unaccounted for, and you know Aya said we can't take them lightly."
>"You have 10 seconds," the leader says. "Drop your weapons and raise your raise your hands by then, or we will subdue you."
-
> Raise our hands, but don't drop any weapons.
> "I said I had dowsed the place and they didn't have anything, and I said that Miyuki didn't seem to know anything. I also said I was an outsider. If they don't have it, where might that relic be?"
-
> Raise our hands, but don't drop any weapons.
> "I said I had dowsed the place and they didn't have anything, and I said that Miyuki didn't seem to know anything. I also said I was an outsider. If they don't have it, where might that relic be?"
>You raise your hands.
>"Doublespeak. You'll need to do better than that. Five."
-
> "The relic you're looking for is mine and if you take it from me everyone in this room will be dead in two weeks tops."
-
> "The relic you're looking for is mine and if you take it from me everyone in this room will be dead in two weeks tops."
>"False. Final warning. Disarm yourself."
-
> While keeping our arms in the air, roll up the sleeve covering the Blight mark and show the mark in the direction of the tengu.
> "False this."
-
>She mentioned a 'Lady Scarlet.' Does that name mean anything to us?
-
Out for the night.
I fully planned on using the disease as a defense mechanism, but with the added bit that the katana is keeping the disease in check and removing it will not only accelerate our sickness, but cause us to become airborne contagious. What I did NOT plan on is the squad deciding to go full-rush mode and give me ten seconds before getting skewered - I had planned on making this bluff up topside by being ambiguous for a little bit and requesting a meeting with Aya. Their original assertion regarding the relic was sufficiently ambiguous that I had designed my responses based on the assumption that the ship's crew was knowingly harboring some relic, but it appears they either didn't notice or plain don't care so whoop-de-fuckin'-do for that. Now the "confession" is likely to come in front of Miyuki, which I am more distraught about than anything else at present (as far as I'm concerned there's a talky way out of this and if it ultimately turns out that we really were in a no-win situation then we all simply lynch Draco postgame).
I am willing to operate 100% under the assumption that they actually do have some sense of integrity and don't desire bloodshed, just as they claim, if for no other reason than because if that's all a lie then we're completely fucked regardless so hey why the hell not. Doesn't matter how stupid you looked getting there, dead is dead.
Ideally I want Aya to have the story behind the disease and why we need to keep the relic with us for the time being (dying before we land vs. being cured), complete with showing her every afflicted area, and then I want to look her right in the eye and ask her if she's still going to demand we hand it over knowing full well doing so will be effectively murdering us. I want to see just how strong her sense of "integrity" is. And, again, if it turns out they were all lying about that and she never had integrity to begin with, then again, we were dead regardless, and the lynching-the-mod-in-postgame comment still applies. I obviously say this still not having gone through the archives, but I hold no personal attachment to the blade and would be willing to give it up after everything is said and done if the tengu really want it that badly.
-
I can't help but think we should keep the blight up our sleeves for the moment. Save that threat for Aya, if we see her. I've had thoughts in that area myself. If one of these three gets away from us, she'll warn Aya, and then she'll be prepared to call our bluff. Better if we can catch her offguard later, if it comes to that. If they notice the patches during the fight, well, nothing we can do about that. We'll slash that chicken when we come to it.
And I'm with you on Miyuki. She doesn't know about our disease, and I think we both want to keep it that way. We can get out of this without broadcasting our blight to her.
Threatening to vomit pure blight on Aya, though, that's got some value. In fact, she's a pirate. Scourge of the skies. A worthless parasite. If we died taking her down, that's a good way to go.
I disagree, however, on the talky solution. If there IS one, this tengu isn't giving it to us. I don't believe we can't win this, but blood will spill first. Maybe the rest will flee after they see that we can defend ourselves. They are pirates, after all. they won't put themselves at risk if they don't absolutely have to.
Keep in mind that we could get help as well. Any Maiden crewmen could come to our aid, and since this is 3-on-1, we might need it.
>Instead of showing them the blight, lower our arms slightly.
>"Damn your wings, I CAN'T disarm! I don't want to see this end up in blood, but I can't disarm, anymore than you could tear off your wings."
>The instant they start to charge, IF they charge, produce a pair of kunai, throw the one in our left hand at the one in the lead, and be ready to parry with the other one.
>What do we hear from above?
-
Man, if we're doing combat here you're on your own.
-
>She mentioned a 'Lady Scarlet.' Does that name mean anything to us?
>The name rings a vague bell, though it takes you a moment to place it. You think she's one of the bigwig nobles in Val Razua. You don't really know a great deal about her beyond that.
>What do we hear from above?
>You can still hear movement and some muffled conversation from above, but it sounds like the fighting has either died down or moved off. You're not sure if you should take comfort in this, or be even more worried.
>Instead of showing them the blight, lower our arms slightly.
>"Damn your wings, I CAN'T disarm! I don't want to see this end up in blood, but I can't disarm, anymore than you could tear off your wings."
>The instant they start to charge, IF they charge, produce a pair of kunai, throw the one in our left hand at the one in the lead, and be ready to parry with the other one.
>You lower your arms slightly.
>"It's unfortunate you feel that way," the lead tengu says, starting to close on you with her weapon extended. Her stance is more guarded than openly aggressive, but she'll still be upon you in another couple steps, and the second is following close behind her. You decide you don't intend to let them reach you.
>With a sharp flick of your wrist, you send the kunai in your hand sailing towards the lead tengu while drawing another with your free hand. Your target is already moving aside before the motion is complete, twisting her body to the right and spreading her wings flat against the other side of the corridor. Even as your kunai is sailing past her, she slashes her sword firmly through the air towards you. You stand ready to parry with the second kunai, but her weapon is beyond your reach even moreso than you are beyond its; there is still a good several feet between you and the furthest tip of her blade, and the attack seems harmlessly distant at first. However, as her weapon finishes its arc, you see a sharp distortion of air fly forth from the path traced by the blade and close swiftly on you.
-
>Is her sword magic?
>Shape and width of this distortion.
-
>Is her sword magic?
>Shape and width of this distortion.
>It wasn't obviously so at first glance, but you don't exactly have time to break out the dowsing rods and have a proper look right now.
>It is roughly crescent-shaped and quite thin - thinner than the sword itself, but nearly as long. You think it has a bit of depth to it, but the narrow side is facing you nearly directly at the moment.
-
>Thin just means it's easier to dodge for a nimble mouse like us.
>Sidestep to the left side of the corridor until the attack flies past us. And hope that no one steps into the corridor behind us.
>Flash the pirate a quick grin after it passes. "Neat trick."
>Come off the wall and advance one step after the attack passes.
>Is the corridor wide enough to allow two of them to attack us at once?
>Is there room in this corridor to allow them to fly over our head?
>Are tengu especially resilient?
>Do we know of any general tengu weaknesses?
>Can we use our ESP to detect weaknesses in peoples bodies?
-
>Is the corridor wide enough to allow two of them to attack us at once?
>Is there room in this corridor to allow them to fly over our head?
>Are tengu especially resilient?
>Do we know of any general tengu weaknesses?
>Can we use our ESP to detect weaknesses in peoples bodies?
>The corridor is wide enough for two people to stand abreast, but not by much. It would be easy enough to walk past someone if neither party were aggressive, but it would be cramped quarters for two people to fight side by side in. At best, it would hamper the maneuverability of both considerably.
>There is theoretically enough room for someone to pass over your head if they were prone, or near to it, but you don't know how much space a tengu needs to properly work their wings. It may be too confined for them to perform such a maneuver.
>As youkai go, tengu are considered high-tier in nearly all respects. While their resilience is not as legendary as their aerial agility, you're sure it would still compare favorably to most youkai, and is almost certainly greater than your own.
>None that you expect would aid you in this situation. Though they are widely considered imperious and dismissive of 'lesser' races, so perhaps it's possible for you to play upon the chance they're taking you lightly?
>Unless said weakness was a core of pure orichalcum, probably not.
>Thin just means it's easier to dodge for a nimble mouse like us.
>Sidestep to the left side of the corridor until the attack flies past us. And hope that no one steps into the corridor behind us.
>Flash the pirate a quick grin after it passes. "Neat trick."
>Come off the wall and advance one step after the attack passes.
>Thin certainly helps, though the corridor itself is fairly narrow and the distortion is quite swift.
>You quickly sidestep to the left, narrowly evading the projectile. You feel you hair rustle as if a gust of wind had just passed you by. Behind the lead tengu, you see the second pirate shift aside from your kunai as it reaches her - less deftly than the first did. She swings her sword as the dagger nears her and sends it clattering against the wall of the corridor.
>You flash the first pirate a quick grin and compliment her on her technique, but before you've even finished the sentence she cuts another slash across the air, crosswise to the last. Another windy distortion flies from it towards you. You can already see her sketching a third stroke.
>From behind the group, you hear footsteps resume on the steps up from the hold, this time at a run. The tengu at the rear turns around to face the stairway.
-
>That better be reinforcements. For OUR side.
>Relative height of the second slash, is it closer to the roof or the floor?
>Remaining kunai.
-
>That better be reinforcements. For OUR side.
>Relative height of the second slash, is it closer to the roof or the floor?
>Remaining kunai.
>So you hope....
>It is roughly at the height of your chest, which you suppose would make it closer to the floor than the ceiling.
>You have one in hand, and another one on your person.
-
>Can we get enough height from a stationary position to jump it, without bashing our head against the ceiling?
-
>Can we get enough height from a stationary position to jump it, without bashing our head against the ceiling?
>You think it would be tricky to get enough height to put your feet entirely above it with just a standing jump.
-
>Is it coming too fast to allow us to take a couple steps forward, get a little momentum to aid in a jump?
-
>Is it coming too fast to allow us to take a couple steps forward, get a little momentum to aid in a jump?
>Taking a couple of steps forward would be tantamount to running straight into it; you aren't a great deal outside of melee range at the moment.
-
>Fling a kunai at the wind-cutting tengu before she finishes her third cut, while at the same time ducking and falling forward, tucking and rolling under the distortion slash.
>Draw final kunai midroll, and come out of the roll at a lunge, going for a slash at the lead tengu.
-
Oh sure, you resurface when I'm at a convention.
-
And given us a tengu with a magical sword, to boot. As well as adds.
Ever fought a tengu with a magic sword before during your adventures in Purvisverse, Kilga?
-
Haven't fought a tengu period, as it turns out.
-
>Fling a kunai at the wind-cutting tengu before she finishes her third cut, while at the same time ducking and falling forward, tucking and rolling under the distortion slash.
>Draw final kunai midroll, and come out of the roll at a lunge, going for a slash at the lead tengu.
>You hurl your third kunai at the tengu while she's in the middle of her own attack. This does nothing to interrupt it, but the motion costs her time to properly evade and she opts to parry instead. As another slice of air whisks away from the blade's path, she turns her wrist and brings the sword around to deflect the projectile. Even as she starts this maneuver, you are rolling beneath her second slash. You feel the rush of air against you as it skims above your head, making an odd whistling noise as it passes. Behind, you hear something strike sharply against wood.
>You draw your last kunai while you're still rolling and immediately slash at the tengu as you come out of it. Perhaps because of the earlier distraction, she is not well-positioned to defend herself; though she leaps gracefully backwards as you attack, the tip of your blade still manages to score a short, shallow gash across her left leg, about halfway between knee and ankle.
>Before she has even landed, the second tengu rushes you through the gap left by the first's retreat. In the corner of your eye, you see her leveling a diagonal sweep at you, blade held out before her body.
>You hear the footsteps continuing to beat closer to the deck.
>"We've got anothe-!" the third tengu calls out from the rear, her words cut off by the sound of wood loudly splintering.
-
>Can we see the three kunai we've thrown?
>Can we tell what's going on in the rear without looking away from the two we're fighting?
>Are we standing or crouching?
>Status of wounded tengu.
-
>Can we see the three kunai we've thrown?
>Can we tell what's going on in the rear without looking away from the two we're fighting?
>Are we standing or crouching?
>Status of wounded tengu.
>Not without a moment or two to glance about, and you don't have many of those to spare before the sharp end of a weapon has an unpleasant meeting with your flesh. You don't imagine the third shot can be far away from you, though.
>They're largely blocking your field of view at the moment, and what you can see at a glance, without one of the three of you moving, isn't terribly informative.
>You're still crouching.
>She is landing gently from her retreat. You can see a thin trickle of blood marking the spot where you cut her, but you doubt it'll be much of an impediment.
-
>Are we closer to the left or right wall?
-
>Are we closer to the left or right wall?
>As you are facing, you are very near to the left wall. The lead tengu is as well, though further back. Her companion is rushing in from the right.
-
>Is she close enough that we can lunge forward and stab her before her swing cuts us?
-
>Is she close enough that we can lunge forward and stab her before her swing cuts us?
>Probably not. At the very least, you are liable to end up taking the slash while you stab her.
-
>We ain't in a "I'm taking you with me" situation yet.
>Execute another dodge roll towards the right side of the corridor, angling to the left slightly slightly to keep them in our peripheral vision when we stop. Slash out at this tengu's legs as we go past.
>Max out Tumble skill at next level if not there at present.
-
>We ain't in a "I'm taking you with me" situation yet.
>Execute another dodge roll towards the right side of the corridor, angling to the left slightly slightly to keep them in our peripheral vision when we stop. Slash out at this tengu's legs as we go past.
>Max out Tumble skill at next level if not there at present.
>You're not about to toss your own safety entirely aside just yet.
>You roll to the side, trying to move past the tengu's attack while keeping both of them in view. Unfortunately, your crouching position gives you little momentum and the corridor simply isn't wide enough to allow you a safe distance. You feel a blade catch you as you tumble past, digging into your back for a moment before you roll past the point of contact; you think your maneuver lessened the blow, but it still stings sharply. Gimacing, you attempt to slash at your assailant's legs and succeed in catching her behind her right knee. You feel the edge of your kunai dig firmly into flesh before twisting aside; you think it's a more substancial cut than the one you landed on the first tengu. You hear her draw in a sharp breath.
>Sounds of fighting are coming from the direction of the stairway. You hear someone grunt in surprise or pain and there are heavy footfalls. Something connects solidly against flesh. Then you hear a familiar whistling sound as the other tengu cuts air once more.
>Unfortunately 'Tumble Through Walls' is an oni-restricted feat
-
> Did we feel the kunai dislodge from the leg, then?
-
> Did we feel the kunai dislodge from the leg, then?
>You only slashed her. Your weapon is still firmly in your hands, and not in contact with anyone else's flesh at the moment.
-
>Can we see the incoming slash, or is our back completely to the tengu with the magic sword?
>Is there a door in front of us? If so, does it look open?
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>Can we see the incoming slash, or is our back completely to the tengu with the magic sword?
>Is there a door in front of us? If so, does it look open?
>You glance up and to your left, towards the direction of the sound, and she a blade of air only a foot or two from your face! It is coming in at a low angle, towards your shoulder; you don't think you have time to get out of the way. Oddly, the tengu who fired it appears to be glancing away from you, back towards the stairway.
>There is a door a couple of feet ahead of you, but it is closed. You believe it leads to someone's quarters, though you don't know whose.
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>If we fell over straight backwards, would the blade go over our shoulder, or is it angled in such a way that it would cut us anyway?
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>If we fell over straight backwards, would the blade go over our shoulder, or is it angled in such a way that it would cut us anyway?
>It is largely vertically-oriented and its height gives it a decent bit of coverage near the ground. If you fell over backwards, you would certainly avoid some of it, but the edge of it would likely strike you anyway.
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>Vertical, eh.
>What if we were to fall over to the left or right? Would that afford us better clearance from the thing?
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>Vertical, eh.
>What if we were to fall over to the left or right? Would that afford us better clearance from the thing?
>You could try to twist your body aside, but you're not really well-positioned at the moment. You suspect the best you may be able to do is minimize the impact.
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>Did we see either of the first two waves strike anything to let us determine of they are blunt, or sharp?
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>Did we see either of the first two waves strike anything to let us determine of they are blunt, or sharp?
>No. They would have impacted something behind you, and you haven't taken the time to look.
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>Current positions of the two tengu that have attacked us.
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>Current positions of the two tengu that have attacked us.
>The wind-cutting tengu is to your left and slightly ahead of you, while the second tengu is far enough to your left so as to be nearly behind you now. Both are quite close to you, though the first tengu is still somewhat more distant.
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This won't end well....
>Fall over backwards to try and absorb as little of that blast as we can, then maintain as much momentum as we can to roll over and get back our feet.
>Once we're back on our feet, ready the kunai to defend against sword thrusts, but do not attack.
>Take stock of where the tengu are, and what the devil's going on by the stairs.
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>Fall over backwards to try and absorb as little of that blast as we can, then maintain as much momentum as we can to roll over and get back our feet.
>Once we're back on our feet, ready the kunai to defend against sword thrusts, but do not attack.
>Take stock of where the tengu are, and what the devil's going on by the stairs.
>You fall backwards as quickly as you can, trying to twist yourself away from the blade of wind, but there's simply too little time to react. The crescent of distorted air is upon you before you can fully press yourself to the ground and you feel a sudden sharp pain as its bottom edge slices into your shoulder. Wincing inwardly, you roll to the side and spring to your feet, readying your kunai to deflect another attack. And almost before you're upright again, the closer tengu has rounded on you with another slash from close range!
>The attacking tengu is to your left, and nearly on top of you. The lead tengu is a few feet ahead of you, her head turning back in your direction. And you think you have more immediate problems than what's going on in the opposite direction of that sword right now!
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>How well to kunai hold up when used to block a sword?
>From which direction is her sword coming at us from?
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>How well to kunai hold up when used to block a sword?
>From which direction is her sword coming at us from?
>In terms of durability, they should be sufficiently sturdy to parry sword blows, barring something unusual about the sword or its wielder. The materials and forging techniques in the kunai you're using are not dissimilar to a common sword, as best you know. Their limited reach can be a disadvantage in this situation, and forces your hands into close proximity of the enemy blade, but you've dueled sword-wielders before and are comfortable in the generalities.
>It is a largely horizontal slash, leveled at your midsection. For your perspective, the blade is sweeping from right to left; or at least it would be if you were facing it directly.
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>When we've dueled sword wielders in the past, have we needed both hands on the kunai to deflect slashes, or does one suffice?
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>When we've dueled sword wielders in the past, have we needed both hands on the kunai to deflect slashes, or does one suffice?
>Parrying is less a contest of brute strength than of technique, and kunai aren't really meant to be wielded with both hands, in any case. To be fair, the people you practiced against were more likely to be human than not, which would have given you a strength advantage, but while this tengu is probably stronger than you are, you don't imagine they're monstrously so.
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>Is there enough distance between us to allow us to give her a solid boot to the gut, or are we more in kneeing range?
>Failing that, are we close enough to gouge her eyes with our free hand?
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>Is there enough distance between us to allow us to give her a solid boot to the gut, or are we more in kneeing range?
>Failing that, are we close enough to gouge her eyes with our free hand?
>You could attempt any of these maneuvers, with a slight shifting of position as dictated by the choice in question.
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>Deftly bring up our kunai to parry the tengu's sword.
>Give her a swift knee to the gut, then gouge her eyes with our free hand.
>Assuming that diverts her for a second, check on the wind-sword tengu.
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>Deftly bring up our kunai to parry the tengu's sword.
>Give her a swift knee to the gut, then gouge her eyes with our free hand.
>Assuming that diverts her for a second, check on the wind-sword tengu.
>You bring your kunai around and catch the tengu's blade a moment before it reaches you, then shift and launch a swift knee at her gut. Your adversary immediately starts to twist that side of her body smoothly away from the attack, and though you feel your knee connect her, the motion softens its impact considerably.
>Before you can even bring your other hand close enough to gouge, she follows through on her evasive maneuver, shifting the right side of her body into the air with a grace that seems only slightly constrained by gravity. Using the point of contact between your weapons as a sort of pivot, she launches a sharp kick at the side of your head from nearly level with it.
>You glance briefly in the other tengu's direction in time to see her finish another slice across the air, sending a crescent blade of wind towards your weapon arm. She seems to be turning her body away from you even as her blade traces the last of its arc. You can still hear fighting from behind you.
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I'm starting to wonder if this fight was such a hot idea...
>Another vertical or horizontal slash?
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>Another vertical or horizontal slash?
>It is positioned at a diagonal, though slightly more vertical than horizontal.
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>What is behind us?
>Assuming our back is not up against a wall, is there enough room behind us to let us spring backwards and avoid both shots?
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>What is behind us?
>Assuming our back is not up against a wall, is there enough room behind us to let us spring backwards and avoid both shots?
>The wall of the corridor, more or less. You are standing at an angle to it, but it is still the thing most directly behind you, about a foot or so distant.
>You could shift slightly and spring backwards down the corridor itself, bringing you closer to the leader tengu. You think there's a decent chance you could avoid both attacks by doing so.
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>About how far behind us is she now?
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>About how far behind us is she now?
>Several feet, and off to the side. A spring backwards would probably put you level with her, or near to it.
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I say go for it, but my spatial geometry imagination is less than stellar.
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Oh, I think jumping back is a good idea too, but there's something else I've been wondering.
Since she seems distracted, I'm wondering if we should throw our kunai at her. But it's our last one, and since the first three wre utter wastes of time, I'm wrestling with the idea that this one would be any more effective. Which I doubt.
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No. We can't spare our last kunai, since that would leave us only Kumokirimaru. And if we dropped it, we'd be boned. In more ways than just fighting a couple scurvy skydogs.
>Leap backwards away from that leg and that wind blast.
>Assuming windblade tengu doesn't fire AGAIN, gauge the situation near the stairs.
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>Leap backwards away from that leg and that wind blast.
>Assuming windblade tengu doesn't fire AGAIN, gauge the situation near the stairs.
>You shift aside and quickly leap back away from the incoming kick. The tengu's leg sweeps across empty air and the blade of wind swiftly follows after it, cutting across the space you just occupied. It hits the wall with a light splintering sound as a small line is scored into the wood.
>As your evasive leap brings you back into the lead tengu's field of vision, she turns her head towards you and starts to level another slash. She's close enough now that you can't be sure whether she's planning to hit you with another wind blade or with the sword itself.
>You hear a clunk of metal on metal from the direction of the stairs. There is an odd sizzling sound, and someone grunts with either exertion or frustration. Then you hear a cry from someone you recognize.
>"Dammit!" Chisato yells.
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>Good to hear that voice.
>Sizzle like fire, or electricity?
>Are any of our kunai within reach?
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>Good to hear that voice.
>Sizzle like fire, or electricity?
>Are any of our kunai within reach?
>It's heartening to hear someone on your side.
>Closer to electricity than fire, though not exactly like either. You're not quite sure what it was.
>Glancing down, you see one on the floor not far from you, a bit ahead and to your right.
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>Does it sound like Chisato's the only one on our side fighting near the stairs?
>Don't suppose we were lucky enough that that last wind blade cut the leg of the second tengu any?
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>Does it sound like Chisato's the only one on our side fighting near the stairs?
>Don't suppose we were lucky enough that that last wind blade cut the leg of the second tengu any?
>You think she may be; there isn't an abundance of footfalls, at any rate.
>It was aimed a safe distance away from the other tengu; she did not come into contact with it.
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>Maybe we left our luck back in Braston...
>Is that kunai within arms' reach, and if not, how far would we have to shift to get it? And how vulnerable would doing so make us to the two tengu on us?
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>Maybe we left our luck back in Braston...
>Is that kunai within arms' reach, and if not, how far would we have to shift to get it? And how vulnerable would doing so make us to the two tengu on us?
>Then you must have left it there a long way back, because you don't think much of it followed you to Easthaven, either.
>It is not within arm's reach, but is not a great deal beyond it. You believe you could reach it before the lead tengu fully finishes her slash, though the movement will put you closer to her. The second tengu is still recovering from her aerial roundhouse, and you think you should be able to retrieve it before any new attack she could launch would connect.
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>No guts, no glory!
>Go for that kunai!
>Keep an ear open for the sounds of incoming wings or blades.
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>No guts, no glory!
>Go for that kunai!
>Keep an ear open for the sounds of incoming wings or blades.
>You lunge for the kunai. As you do, the lead tengu adjusts the trajectory of her slash and shifts around to follow your movement while the other completes the motion of her kick and starts to transition into a dive, sword extended. Both are very close.
>Ducking low, you stretch you arm and reach for your lost weapon. Your fingers brush against the kunai's grip and then clasp tightly around it. You've got it! And you're also about to get slashed from two directions at once.
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>What is immediately in front us that would impede our maintaining our forward momentum in an evasive roll?
>Is the first tengu using her blade or a wind-blade?
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>What is immediately in front us that would impede our maintaining our forward momentum in an evasive roll?
>Is the first tengu using her blade or a wind-blade?
>The wall ahead of you is too close to really roll forward, and your extended posture is not necessarily conducive to maintaining forward momentum in any case.
>You can't immediately tell, but she's close enough that her attack could well be melee.
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>is it any more clear to our sides, or is backwards the only way that's free of walls and blades?
>How quickly can we turn forward movement into backwards force?
>During our previous fights with weapon-wielding opponents, have we ever parried two weapons at once?
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>is it any more clear to our sides, or is backwards the only way that's free of walls and blades?
>How quickly can we turn forward movement into backwards force?
>During our previous fights with weapon-wielding opponents, have we ever parried two weapons at once?
>Directly backwards is more open than either of your sides, or ahead, though the greatest opening is probably behind and to your right. One tengu is incoming from each of your sides, at something close to a 90 degree angle to each other, with the lead tengu towards your right, and the other towards your left, closer to your back. There is room to maneuver close around either, but you'll need to put up with being in weapons and grappling range to do so.
>In general, you are quite nimble and maneuverable; you needn't worry too much about momentum for close-quarters course corrections.
>Generally not at once, though you've had plenty of practice using both of your hands for this. Leverage may be an issue in this case, given that both tengu have greater reach than you do and are coming from opposite sides.
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Grappling range might not be all that terrible. We've got two weapons, both of which are easier to stab with in a grapple situation than swords. Plus if we're up tight with the second tengu, the one with the wind sword won't be as anxious to fire at us.
Plus, there's no point in keeping at range to throw our kunai, because that's been useless. No reason to expect any different now.
On the other hand, it seems I'm not that brave. And besides, maybe we don't have to beat these two. Just keep them occupied until we get more help. Our help's gotta be closer than more pirates.
>Break backwards and to the right.
>Keep both kunai up to ward either tengu's attack if it gets too close.
>With attacks evaded, lunge forward quickly, before they can raise their swords again, towards the tengu on the right. Feint high with our right kunai, then go for a stab with the left.
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>Break backwards and to the right.
>Keep both kunai up to ward either tengu's attack if it gets too close.
>With attacks evaded, lunge forward quickly, before they can raise their swords again, towards the tengu on the right. Feint high with our right kunai, then go for a stab with the left.
>You quickly pull your arm back, kunai in hand, and scrabble away from the incoming attacks. The lead tengu reaches out as you start to retreat, angling her sword down towards you. You raise your right kunai and block the strike solidly near the blade's midsection.
>You attempt to pull back into the open space, but she follows you in, keeping pressure upon your weapon. The other tengu levels an overhead slash at you as she rushes in from beside you, while the lead tengu twists her wrist and starts to quickly slide her blade along yours and past your guard.
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>Is our tail strong enough to sweep the legs out from under someone? Or pull them out?
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>Is our tail strong enough to sweep the legs out from under someone? Or pull them out?
>Sweeping, most certainly not; your tail doesn't actually weigh very much and you couldn't hit very hard with it in any case. Pulling on someone's leg with it may be more possible, though it would still offer less grip strength, finesse, and force than one of your hands would. Of course, it has the advantage of not requiring them, either....
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>Are there any kunai within range of our tail other than the two in our hands?
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>Are there any kunai within range of our tail other than the two in our hands?
>No. You see another one lying on the floor, but it's a good few feet to your right.
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This one has me at a bit of a loss. Knee to the gut?
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Depends. Is the one that's not rushing at us from behind right in front of us? It might be worth rolling to the side (in the opposite direction that the tengu blade is currently sliding down the kunai) and letting that one complete her swing downward, then use her own momentum against her by shoving her in the back into her buddy.
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I'm not sure we can roll anywhere without getting the first one off of us. The one that has her sword on our kunai, I mean. And I'm not entirely sure how to do that, since simply springing backwards failed.
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Well, she's pressing forward hard enough against the kunai that she's sliding down the edge of it. The idea behind moving in the opposite direction of the slide (or otherwise assisting the slide, perhaps by reangling the kunai so friction is less of a factor) is that she'll get to the end of the kunai earlier than anticipated and hopefully stumble forward from the pressure she's exerting, even if just a little bit. If the two tengu are coming at us from opposite sides, then all the better, because each of them may lose control of their forward momentum for just long enough that they smack into each other.
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Or I can just ask myself to be sure, I guess.
> Given one of the tengu is coming at us from behind and swinging her sword down at us, is the tengu that we've 'locked' blades with right in front of us or to one of our sides?
> If not, are we at least between them in some fashion?
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Sorry, had to take a nap, my brain was cooked.
I had the impression that they were both in front of us, just coming from the left and right. But if you're right, and we're between them, then I like the idea of seeing them falling into each other.
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> Given one of the tengu is coming at us from behind and swinging her sword down at us, is the tengu that we've 'locked' blades with right in front of us or to one of our sides?
> If not, are we at least between them in some fashion?
>The tengu that you've locked blades with is closer to in front of you than any other direction at the moment, though slightly to your right. The other is lunging at you from your left, placing you more or less between them with the two attacks incoming at nearly a right angle to each other.
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> In which direction is the lead tengu's blade sliding down the kunai?
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> In which direction is the lead tengu's blade sliding down the kunai?
>Towards the right, from your perspective.
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> Are we close enough to the bladelocked tengu that we could grab her with our left hand or even reach around to her back?
> What are the bladelocked tengu's hands doing? Presumably at least one is on her sword.
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> Are we close enough to the bladelocked tengu that we could grab her with our left hand or even reach around to her back?
> What are the bladelocked tengu's hands doing? Presumably at least one is on her sword.
>Your left hand has another kunai in it, and you wouldn't be quite able to reach her with it from your current position, either; not only does she have a longer weapon than you, but she also has longer arms. However, there's enough room to shift your left side forward a bit, which could give you enough leverage to reach her unless she immediately pulled back.
>One is indeed on the grip of her sword. The other is not doing much in particular, but is held close near the front of her body in a vaguely defensive position.
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> And we are currently standing?
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> And we are currently standing?
>You are.
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Almost have an idea...
> How much is our right elbow bent?
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> How much is our right elbow bent?
>Now you're just being too particular again Close to 90 degrees.
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I've got one last idea that might have a chance.
>Can we swing our left arm fast enough to slash the arm of the tengu we're bladelocked with, and get it back in a defensive position, before the second tengu can slash us?
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>Can we swing our left arm fast enough to slash the arm of the tengu we're bladelocked with, and get it back in a defensive position, before the second tengu can slash us?
>You would need to shift your left side forward a little, and the window of opportunity would be very tight. But it might be possible.
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If you don't mind, Kilga. I know you don't like people cutting in on your ideas, but this I think might give us the best chance of getting her off us. Best case, we cut her, she misses us, and we can deal with the second pirate more easily. Worst case, we cut each other and we just have to hope she gets the worst of it.
>Would throwing a knee into the tengu in front of us's gut throw off our aim when slashing at her?
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I have no ideas at this point. Apparently my imagination of what is going on was further off than I thought possible. Do whatever you want.
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>Would throwing a knee into the tengu in front of us's gut throw off our aim when slashing at her?
>You don't know how much it would throw of this individual's aim, though you can't imagine it would help it any. You're also slightly out of range for it at the moment, but could try shifting closer in the process.
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>We'll make do without.
>With all due haste, shift our left side forward slightly.
>Slash our left kunai towards the arms of the tengu crossing swords with us. Either we cut her, badly, or she backs off in defense. Or, we cut each other, and hope we get the better of the exchange.
>Whatever the outcome, try and back up a step or two and bring at least one of our kunai into defensive position, to deal with the second tengu.
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>We'll make do without.
>With all due haste, shift our left side forward slightly.
>Slash our left kunai towards the arms of the tengu crossing swords with us. Either we cut her, badly, or she backs off in defense. Or, we cut each other, and hope we get the better of the exchange.
>Whatever the outcome, try and back up a step or two and bring at least one of our kunai into defensive position, to deal with the second tengu.
>You quickly shift your left side forward as the lead tengu's sword crests the tip of your right kunai. Then you slash at her arm with your left! You see her eyes tracking your movement and she pulls her arm and then her body away before you can make contact, but this also stops her own attack short. However, you have no time to follow up on this; even as your weapon is cutting through the air her arm just occupied, you hear the sound of a fiercer cleave to your left and see its shadow upon you. You twist your body with as much haste as you can manage, the wounds on your back and shoulder stinging sharply as you do. You ignore the pain. Ducking your head low to keep beneath the onrush of her blade, you desperately bring your other kunai up to intercept it. Before either of you can even make contact, you hear a sharp whistling sound from your right. Then your arm shudders as the tengu's sword slams hard against it. Your parry is positioned awkwardly, with your right weapon guarding your left side in a half-crouch; you can feel your block slipping aside with the force of the strike. At the other end of the hall, you hear Chisato curse again. This one sounds borne as much of pain as anger.
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Well, we've gone from bad to worse. This is going very well, indeed.
>Given our current position and awkwardness, which directions, if any, can we move in, in order to evade what is most likely yet another wind blast from the first tengu?
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>Given our current position and awkwardness, which directions, if any, can we move in, in order to evade what is most likely yet another wind blast from the first tengu?
>The wall is pretty close to your left and the shot is incoming from approximately your right. You could have some room backwards, or even forward-right if you can work your way around the tengu in front of you. The awkwardness of your position will interfere somewhat with nearly anything you do, and you may need to take care to avoid leaving yourself open to another frontal attack.
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>Is the tengu in front of us on the ground, or in the air?
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>Is the tengu in front of us on the ground, or in the air?
>She is slightly in the air, with her upper body leaning forward towards you.
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>Is our position awkward enough to prevent us from dodging and/or rolling forward and to the right?
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>Is our position awkward enough to prevent us from dodging and/or rolling forward and to the right?
>Outright prevent, no, though it would impede that maneuver somewhat.
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>Is our position awkward enough to prevent us from dodging and/or rolling backwards?
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>Is our position awkward enough to prevent us from dodging and/or rolling backwards?
>While the actual maneuvering would likely be somewhat easier, the tengu you're currently blocking would have an easier time following your release of the parry with another direct attack.
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>Dodge backwards to get away from the wind blast, while keeping both kunai ready to deal with the inevitable attack from the second tengu.
>If the opportunity presents itself, slash at the second tengu with our free kunai while her sword is tied up in our other blade.
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>Dodge backwards to get away from the wind blast, while keeping both kunai ready to deal with the inevitable attack from the second tengu.
>If the opportunity presents itself, slash at the second tengu with our free kunai while her sword is tied up in our other blade.
>You try quickly shift backwards, despite the awkward downward pressure the tengu's attack is applying against you. She follows you as you start to disengage, pressing even harder against your weapon and limiting your ability to right your posture. You shift another step backwards as the blade of wind whips through the space between you. The edge of it clips your left knee and you falter a moment, gritting your teeth against the sharp pain. The moment your leg wobbles, the tengu pulls her weapon back and launches another fierce strike at your shoulder. You raise your other kunai and narrowly catch the edge of her blade, forcing it aside, but the contact is brief and her sword quickly slides free again. Then she abruptly drops her height and levels a horizontal slash against your midsection as you hear another wind blade being fired at you from behind and to your right, followed by heavier movement through air towards your rear.
>"Get back here, you fuckin' crow!" you hear Chisato yell. "I'm not done with you!"
>"Why don't you come on up and join me?" her adversary replies. While her words are cocksure and light, a fiery undercurrent smolders beneath them; you aren't entirely sure if she's angry, or actually enjoying herself. The guttural noise this draws from the red-haired sailor makes it clear which of the two applies to her, at least.
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>Is our hearing acute enough to tell if the wind blast is horizontal or vertical?
>Is the tengu in front of us slashing from our left or right?
>Damage assessment on our knee.
-
>Is our hearing acute enough to tell if the wind blast is horizontal or vertical?
>Is the tengu in front of us slashing from our left or right?
>Damage assessment on our knee.
>Not quickly enough for it to be useful at such a close distance, at any rate.
>From your right to your left.
>The blade only clipped you slightly, and you suspect the damage is superficial; it's certainly more slight than the other injuries you've sustained thus far, though it still stings keenly at the moment. You don't expect it to significantly impede the use of your leg, though you're certainly going to feel it when you move.
-
>Do we have room to get around this tengu on her right?
-
>Do we have room to get around this tengu on her right?
>There is plenty of physical space to do this, though not enough to be safely clear of her weapon's reach for the duration of transit.
-
>How much do we know about the strength of a tengu's wing? Specifically, if we tried to spin around her, and she spread her wing out to stop us, do we know enough about their physiology to guess how effective this would be?
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>How much do we know about the strength of a tengu's wing? Specifically, if we tried to spin around her, and she spread her wing out to stop us, do we know enough about their physiology to guess how effective this would be?
>You don't really know much about how strong they are, but their wings have a relatively small vertical span compared to the tengu's own height and presumably a fair bit of that is just feathers. You expect you could simply duck under them unless she crouched right into your path.
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>Are we agile enough to duck UNDER the blade of the tengu in front of us, and then get around her on that side, before the wind blade hits us?
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Currently thinking, may have an idea. I did briefly consider ducking under or jumping over the slash but given we have no idea the nature of the angle of the wind cutter I'm less inclined to try them.
Gimme a moment to write up something.
EDIT: Fuck when did it get to be midnight araahghhg
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Okay, here we go.
> Bring our right arm over so the kunai in our right hand is pointed straight down in the slash path of the sword to hopefully block said sword.
> While going through this motion, swing our left arm so our left hand is headed toward whatever part of the tengu's body with our arm's level, flipping the kunai over in our hand in the process so it ends up pointing inward and thus the combined action results in a stab at the tengu.
> In the midst of all this, dash forward toward the tengu to close the gap between us. Leave our right hand trailing behind us a little bit if necessary to stay comfortably in the path of the sword slash. Whether or not this is necessary, and while moving forward, swing the whole left side of our body toward our center just a little bit to give our left-handed stab swing a little bit of an extra impetus as well as hopefully maneuvering further out of the way of the wind cutter coming from the right.
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> Bring our right arm over so the kunai in our right hand is pointed straight down in the slash path of the sword to hopefully block said sword.
> While going through this motion, swing our left arm so our left hand is headed toward whatever part of the tengu's body with our arm's level, flipping the kunai over in our hand in the process so it ends up pointing inward and thus the combined action results in a stab at the tengu.
> In the midst of all this, dash forward toward the tengu to close the gap between us. Leave our right hand trailing behind us a little bit if necessary to stay comfortably in the path of the sword slash. Whether or not this is necessary, and while moving forward, swing the whole left side of our body toward our center just a little bit to give our left-handed stab swing a little bit of an extra impetus as well as hopefully maneuvering further out of the way of the wind cutter coming from the right.
>You quickly shift your right kunai into the path of the incoming sword and simultaneously lunge forward, flipping the grip on your other weapon and lashing its tip towards the tengu's side. You see a brief flash of startlement in her eyes at the sudden onrush, but she still starts to pull her side away you almost immediately, raising her other arm to deflect yours. Her fingers brush against your hand. The surprise created by your shift in momentum cost her only an instant. It is enough.
>She lets out a sharp and angered cry as you drive your kunai deeply beneath her ribs and collide bodily against her. You feel a sharp wind whip past where you'd just been standing, etching a thin trail of blood across your back before splintering against the wall. You let out a small gasp of your own, but refuse to falter as you press your weapon home.
>You feel the tengu's hand clamps fiercly around your wrist even as her cry is still ringing painfully in your ears. She throws you a look of bitter defiance and squeezes as though she means to crush the arm that wounded her. Then, as you hear the swift strike of foot against wood behind you, she whips her sword aside from your guard and lashes it towards your leg.
>A few feet past the tengu, you see a flash of purple hair edge narrowly past the lip of an open doorway.
-
>The same shade of hair as Miyuki?
>Is our right kunai currently free, and do we have the room to employ it to block the impaled tengu's sword?
-
>The same shade of hair as Miyuki?
>Is our right kunai currently free, and do we have the room to employ it to block the impaled tengu's sword?
>It does indeed look like it. And given that said open doorway leads to your room....
>It is free, but the tengu's sword has a lead on it and is already closer to your leg than your kunai is.
-
> So our left hand is currently grabbed?
> Is the wall now immediately behind us, assuming we are directly facing the tengu slashing at us? Or is still to the left?
> What do we have on for footwear?
-
>From we've seen of this woman's speed at wielding a sword, can we intercept her sword with our kunai despite her lead?
-
> So our left hand is currently grabbed?
> Is the wall now immediately behind us, assuming we are directly facing the tengu slashing at us? Or is still to the left?
> What do we have on for footwear?
>The tengu is holding it tightly, yes.
>Somewhere between the two. Your momentum has shifted your orientation somewhat to the right, but not enough to put the wall fully behind you.
>Decent quality light hiking shoes.
>From we've seen of this woman's speed at wielding a sword, can we intercept her sword with our kunai despite her lead?
>It's not out of the question, but you wouldn't feel at all confident about it.
-
>Are we pushing the impaled tengu backwards, or are we stationary?
>Would raising our leg and driving our knee into her gut remove our leg from harm's way?
>Can we stab the tengu's sword arm with our free kunai before her sword hits our leg?
-
>Are we pushing the impaled tengu backwards, or are we stationary?
>Would raising our leg and driving our knee into her gut remove our leg from harm's way?
>Can we stab the tengu's sword arm with our free kunai before her sword hits our leg?
>Most of your forward momentum has been stopped now.
>She has a fair bit of leverage in where her blade is aimed, so it would be easy enough for her to compensate for this.
>Possibly.
-
Still got about an hour and a half before I can get home and do anything meaningful. I trust your judgment if you decide you want to try something in the meantime.
-
Either we disengage from this one so we can deal with the tengu charging us, or we try to get on the other side of her quickly, so we don't get slashed in the back.
I'm not sure which is the better option at this point.
-
Disengaging might be difficult given we're not entirely in control of that, what with the deathgrip on our wrist.
If you think you can swing yourself around the stabbed tengu so she's in the way of her buddy, go for it. I think I'd prefer that regardless; lining them up makes dealiing with them so much easier than giving both of them open access to us at once.
-
Just trying to work out the physics of the situation.
I'm not sure we can work our way around this tengu before her buddy runs up on us and stabs us in the kidneys. And I have ever less idea how to keep this one from cutting into our leg.
-
> At what approximate level on our leg is the sword slice coming in?
-
> At what approximate level on our leg is the sword slice coming in?
>Slightly above your knee, at the moment.
-
I vote for stabbing her arm with our right kunai. Even if it doesn't stop her strike completely, it'll throw off her aim, or weaken her strike, if not both. And it'll distract her attention, so we can maneuver around her easier.
-
I would have no problem with this if not for the unknown factor of something coming in from behind us at some unknown speed.
But I have a splitting headache and can't concentrate on anything text adventure combat right now, so go for what you think is best.
-
This is the best I can come up with. I'm not entirely confidant, but, I think it's got a decent shot at at least minimizing the damage I fear we're about to take.
>Give the kunai we've sunk into her gut a good twisting, give her something else to think about.
>Quickly stab out with our right kunai, go for the wrist or forearm on her sword arm.
>Maneuver to our left, try and get around this tengu. If she maintains her grapple, then spin her as we go. Combat-dancing. Can't have tengu on either side of us.
-
>Give the kunai we've sunk into her gut a good twisting, give her something else to think about.
>Quickly stab out with our right kunai, go for the wrist or forearm on her sword arm.
>Maneuver to our left, try and get around this tengu. If she maintains her grapple, then spin her as we go. Combat-dancing. Can't have tengu on either side of us.
>You try to twist the kunai embedded in the tengu's side, but her grip on your wrist is fierce and you can barely move it. You only manage to wiggle the tip slightly, but even this still draws a sharp rasp from her. She clamps down even tighter.
>At the same time, you stab your other kunai towards her sword arm while trying to push past her left. As her blade swings inward, the tip of your weapon finds her skin and then drives firmly into it. She lets out another grunt and her grip wavers a little, but her motion is already comitted and pain alone cannot stop inertia. Her sword cuts solidly into your leg as the force of her own attack tears a small gash along her arm where your kunai holds firm in it. You feel the cold steel intrude bitterly into your flesh.
>You held it back a little, you think; the contact less forceful, the edge less steady. There is a narrow moment where you watch a jagged line of red spread slowly across her forearm, loose droplets flicking away from from your blade. And then pain washes over your awareness. You bite down fiercly on your lip to keep from crying out, and your footing falters and threatens to give out beneath you.
>In the corner of your eye, you see the other tengu lash her blade smoothly towards your arm. Miyuki tears out of the doorway at a run.
-
> Which arm, and at what angle?
> Is the stabbed tengu still standing?
-
> Which arm, and at what angle?
> Is the stabbed tengu still standing?
>She is aiming at your right arm (which is now almost side-on to her) with an underhand slash a few degrees off vertical.
>She's staggered a bit, but is still on her feet.
-
> We still have both kunai in the stabbed tengu, and she still has her sword in our leg?
> How close is the unhurt one to us?
-
> We still have both kunai in the stabbed tengu, and she still has her sword in our leg?
> How close is the unhurt one to us?
>That is correct.
>She's just outside her own weapon's range at this instant, but moving forward enough to be comfortably within it by the time the slash completes.
-
>Did we manage to turn her any?
>Damage assessment to our leg.
-
> Swing our right arm out of the way of the slash path by yanking it across our body, dragging the kunai through the stabbed tengu's arm and hopefully ripping said arm up enough that she lets go of her sword.
> Assist this swing of our right arm to the left by rotating our whole body counterclockwise, pivoted in our right leg even though it's injured. It only has to hold up for a couple of seconds...
> Utilize our body's rotational momentum to throw a side kick behind us with our left leg aimed squarely at the uninjured tengu's stomach area.
-
>Did we manage to turn her any?
>Damage assessment to our leg.
>A little, though not all the way aside yet.
>You've taken a fairly deep slash to your right leg, above the knee. It hurts fiercely and you're having a hard time keeping strength in it at the moment, but you can't say just how bad it is without a more careful examination. It certainly could have been worse.
> Swing our right arm out of the way of the slash path by yanking it across our body, dragging the kunai through the stabbed tengu's arm and hopefully ripping said arm up enough that she lets go of her sword.
> Assist this swing of our right arm to the left by rotating our whole body counterclockwise, pivoted in our right leg even though it's injured. It only has to hold up for a couple of seconds...
> Utilize our body's rotational momentum to throw a side kick behind us with our left leg aimed squarely at the uninjured tengu's stomach area.
>You pull your right arm away from the attack, doing no kindnesses to the tengu in front of you as you take the path of greatest resistance and tear your kunai through whatever flesh is in its way. She lets out a guttural growl as you rip another gash in her, and her arm quavers.
>While drawing your own arm away, you twist your whole body aside from the incoming attack and try to throw a kick behind you. You gasp as this maneuver pulls the sword across the length of the wound it's still embedded in and digs deeper into your flesh. Your leg trembles beneath you and threatens to collapse entirely. No! No, don't you dare give out now! Grimacing with single-minded determination, you ignore the pain and the intrustion of steel in your flesh and simply force your muscles to remain taut while you spin around and snap your other leg at the approaching tengu.
>The attack comes out both weaker and sloppier than you'd hoped, and it's all you can do to keep from falling over afterwards. Damn it all! Your right leg is trembling and you can feel blood starting to flow down it, warm and thick. While your kick is still mostly on target, this turns out to hardly matter. Your target turns her movement aside as you strike out at her, spreading her wings and neatly gliding away from your attack without even giving up much forward momentum. Her sword smoothly curves to strike at you from this new angle, but then her eyes dart urgently to the side and she twists her sword away and lashes out against the air. A crescent blade of wind leaps from her blade and flies down the corridor.
>"Fuuka!" she cries. "Behind you!"
-
> So she's not looking at us anymore?
> Could we see what she was firing at?
-
> So she's not looking at us anymore?
> Could we see what she was firing at?
>Not directly, but you're sure you're still in her peripheral vision.
>You can't see without craning your neck back in the other direction, but given that Miyuki was from coming that way....
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> Where is our right hand now in relation to the stabbed tengu's sword hand?
> Is the wind cutter slash horizontal or vertical?
Going to bed. If her uninjured buddy's distracted, and her hands are still occupied (and the one that's freer to defend is still on the sword, which is still in our leg), I'd recommend using our now-free right hand to throw a punch at her throat. It shouldn't be too hard at this angle since we'd just be throwing a fist out to the side instead of straight forward. She can't be too focused right now and her throat's a lot harder to whip out of the way than her head (and probably easier to track and change our fist's course to follow if she does try to move it), and she can't exactly back away with the knife in her side even if she didn't have a deathgrip on our hand.
Miyuki we can call out to (probably tell her to drop to the ground) but I don't think we can babysit her without taking at least one immediate threat out first.
Whatever's done, though, don't forget to drop our left leg to the ground while doing it. We need the balance and I'm amazed we got as much out of the leg as we did.
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> Where is our right hand now in relation to the stabbed tengu's sword hand?
> Is the wind cutter slash horizontal or vertical?
>It's a foot or two ahead of it, from your perspective.
>It is largely vertical.
-
Don't think me grisly, Kilga, but....
>Do we know enough about tengu to know if they can survive having their throat cut?
>For that matter, do we think we can cut her that high up before our leg gives out entirely?
-
:C
I would rather not go that route if we can avoid it. I was hoping to avoid death entirely here.
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So am I. I really am. For a number of reasons, but, not the least of which being I was hoping to capture these three alive. If Aya gives a damn about her crew, we might be able to use them for bargaining chips. Not that I really expect this from a pirate, Aya or no, but it's an avenue that could be worth exploring.
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>Do we know enough about tengu to know if they can survive having their throat cut?
>For that matter, do we think we can cut her that high up before our leg gives out entirely?
>To be honest, your knowledge of tengu physiology is based mostly rumor and hearsay, but you think a high-tier youkai could probably survive such an injury. Probably.
>You still have one good leg. It's enough.
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That was one of the reasons, yes.
I think you're underestimating what it's like to be punched in the throat if you're considering slashing it at the same time, though. The point of aiming there was that she won't be holding on to us any longer if we connect, in addition to targeting an area that will be hard to get out of the way of our fist.
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I've BEEN punched in the throat. And I couldn't breathe right for hours afterwards.
But I'm only human. These are youkai, and evidently, tougher than your average youkai on top of that. And we don't have an excess of upper body strength, so I don't know a tengu's throat is weak enough to allow a Nazrin punch to do any real damage at all.
That said, I'm also not anxious to slit anyone's throat, however effective it might be, whether they're a pirate or no. So if you want to settle for slugging her windpipe, I won't stop you.
On the other hand, we've lost a leg. That means we're pretty much screwed. Sideways. With a forklift. Our only edge was our agility, and now it's gone. I think it's time for drastic measures, if we're going to have any slim hope of winning.
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I don't entirely expect it to be an end; I figure she'll be stunned long enough that we can give a good stabbing in whatever non-fatal areas we desire that'll still put her down (shoulders, knees).
> Set our left leg down and shift some weight to it so we're not putting it all on the injured leg.
> As we're bringing it down, throw a sideways punch straight at the injured tengu's throat. Keep the kunai pointed to the side so we don't end up stabbing her through the throat. Keep careful watch of dodging attempts: if she tries to crane her neck out of the way, try to change our fist's flight path to follow. Also, if she moves her hand gripping our left arm up to defend herself from the punch, rip our other kunai back toward us through her flesh.
> While doing all this: "Miyuki, down!"
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> Set our left leg down and shift some weight to it so we're not putting it all on the injured leg.
> As we're bringing it down, throw a sideways punch straight at the injured tengu's throat. Keep the kunai pointed to the side so we don't end up stabbing her through the throat. Keep careful watch of dodging attempts: if she tries to crane her neck out of the way, try to change our fist's flight path to follow. Also, if she moves her hand gripping our left arm up to defend herself from the punch, rip our other kunai back toward us through her flesh.
> While doing all this: "Miyuki, down!"
>You cry out for Miyuki to get down as you reestablish your footing and turn back to face her.
>You shift your weight back onto your good leg and feel an immediate wash of relief as you take much of the pressure off the other one; it still hurts like a bitch, but you don't have time for that now.
>Miyuki seems to be ignoring your directive, though her eyes are locked on the crescent of razor wind whistling towards her. She takes a quick step sideways even as she moves forward, leaning her body into the motion. The blade sails narrowly past her head, scattering strands of lavender in its wake. Then her foot connects with the floor again and she winces and nearly stumbles, but somehow keeps her momentum.
>Fuuka tries to turn around to face her, bringing her sword back up, but you slam your fist into her throat before she can get anywhere, drawing a strangled gasp from the tengu and abruptly halting her movement. Her companion dashes through the gap along her side towards Miyuki, but the latter has already fallen against the injured tengu, raising her hands above her. Is that... a knife?
>Even as you first catch the flash of metal in Miyuki's hands, she drives it sharply into the tengu's arm. Fuuka's eyes flare open. Gipping the weapon with both hands, Miyuki tears it down the length of her sword arm, then tumbles awkwardly to the ground. Blood splatters wetly against wood. Fuuka's cry of pain is choked off by coughing and her sword slips from her fingers. You feel her grip on your left hand falter.
-
> Where is the other tengu doing at present and what is she doing?
> From what we can remember of earlier, is Fuuka the calmer leader or the hot-headed subordinate?
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> Where is the other tengu doing at present and what is she doing?
> From what we can remember of earlier, is Fuuka the calmer leader or the hot-headed subordinate?
>She is rounding Fuuka and descending upon Miyuki.
>The latter. The leader has been the one flinging those wind blades around.
-
> Are we still in her peripheral vision?
-
> Are we still in her peripheral vision?
>At this point you expect not, but Fuuka is also sort of in-between the two of you.
-
> Can we at least see enough of the leader that we could reasonably throw a kunai at her?
-
> Can we at least see enough of the leader that we could reasonably throw a kunai at her?
>You would need to shift around or under Fuuka to get an open line of fire, but you could try.
-
Hmm.
> How visible is Miyuki?
-
> How visible is Miyuki?
>Partially obscured by Fuuka's legs and torso, but still visible enough. You can't see her face at the moment, though.
-
> And the wall is still kinda-sorta behind us to our left?
-
> And the wall is still kinda-sorta behind us to our left?
>Generally so, though currently more to your left than behind.
-
> Nothing for it, then.
> Try to yank our left hand back toward us, simultaneously ripping the hand out of her grip and the kunai through her side.
> Whether or not we succeed, also try to shove Fuuka to our left (her right) by getting our right hand up against Fuuka's shoulder (don't let go of the kunai, but try not to stab her in the shoulder) and using it to push her over with whatever strength we can muster. We gotta get her out of the way so we can save Miyuki from the leader...
> Since we're pulling our left hand toward us and pushing our right hand from right to left, aid our own momentum in both endeavours by twisting our upper body counterclockwise.
-
> Nothing for it, then.
> Try to yank our left hand back toward us, simultaneously ripping the hand out of her grip and the kunai through her side.
> Whether or not we succeed, also try to shove Fuuka to our left (her right) by getting our right hand up against Fuuka's shoulder (don't let go of the kunai, but try not to stab her in the shoulder) and using it to push her over with whatever strength we can muster. We gotta get her out of the way so we can save Miyuki from the leader...
> Since we're pulling our left hand toward us and pushing our right hand from right to left, aid our own momentum in both endeavours by twisting our upper body counterclockwise.
>You yank your left hand out of Fuuka's grip, tearing your kunai free from her side in the process. Still gasping, she throws a sloppy punch at you with her uninjured arm, but you duck deftly underneath it and slam your right hand against her shoulder. She staggers, but remains upright.
>The lead tengu dives at Miyuki with sword and hand extended as the latter tries to right herself from her awkward fall. Pinned against the wall and with no chance of getting mobile in time, Miyuki instead lashes her arm at the tengu as she falls upon her and lets the knife fly. Her form is a bit sloppy, but the range is almost too close to evade. The tengu quickly turns her blade aside and blocks the knife with the flat of it, but the motion costs her the attack and Miyuki is already rolling away from her.
>You hear rapid footfalls approaching from behind. Chisato's voice rings out from behind them. "Oh no you- daaagh!"
-
> Ugh. We're gonna need a hostage if we need to protect the other crew members, if not outright stop the fight entirely.
> As long as we're ducking, stab at the back of both of Fuuka's knees with both our kunai.
-
> Ugh. We're gonna need a hostage if we need to protect the other crew members, if not outright stop the fight entirely.
> As long as we're ducking, stab at the back of both of Fuuka's knees with both our kunai.
>You're technically not still ducking, as you needed to regain height on the other side of her fist to reach her shoulder. Do you still wish to do this, nonetheless?
-
> Yeah, duck down and shank both of her knees.
-
> Yeah, duck down and shank both of her knees.
>You duck down and lash out at the back of both of Fuuka's knees with your kunai. She throws a sharp kick at your head as you move in, but you twist aside from that leg and slash at its underside as it passes. You feel your weapon bite into it and she lets out a short cry, but immediately rises away from the strike and glides backwards with her wings spread, pulling her other leg out of reach. You find yourself almost surprised that she still can, after all this. Blood is flowing freely down her left arm and a large patch of brilliant red on her right glistens in stark contrast with the white fabric around it. She has a pair of injuries on her leg, her breathing is labored and her face contorted, yet her expression is still furiously determined. Even as she draws away, you wince at the pain that maneuver caused in your own leg.
>Behind her, you see Miyuki push herself to her feet and break into a run back down the corridor towards your room. The lead tengu turns to pursue even before the knife she blocked has clattered against the floor.
>"Fuuka!" she cries as she closes the gap between them almost immediately. "Fall back to the deck!"
>"I've got your exit!" the third tengu call out from your rear.
>"You've still got me!" Chisato counters with an oddly frustrated tone.
-
>How much distance is there between Miyuki and her tengu?
>How much distance is there between that tengu and us?
>Have we straightened up?
-
>How much distance is there between Miyuki and her tengu?
>How much distance is there between that tengu and us?
>Have we straightened up?
>Not much more than a foot.
>Several more feet than that, and Fuuka is still at least partially in your way.
>You're somewhere in-between crouching and standing at the moment.
-
>Do we have a clear shot at the one yelling at Fuuka?
-
>Do we have a clear shot at the one yelling at Fuuka?
>Not ideally clear, but doable: between Fuuka's legs.
-
>Is Fuuka still armed, and does she seem to be carrying any other weapons, as near as we can tell?
-
>Is Fuuka still armed, and does she seem to be carrying any other weapons, as near as we can tell?
>Her sword lies discarded on the ground in a smear of her own blood. No other weapons are obvious on her, at least.
-
I trust Chisato enough to be able to hold her own against her tengu. Maybe not WIN, but keep that one off us while we deal with the wind-sword tengu. As much as I'd like to use Fuuka here as a hostage, I'd wager she's been effectively taken out of the fight. I can very much live with that. And it might (emphasis on might) make Aya think twice about the opposition here, seeing one of hers cut up that bad.
But wind blade.... Honestly, I don't know how we're gonna beat her on one leg, assuming Chisato and Miyuki can't help us against her, but I know we've got a better chance than Miyuki does now that she's lost her knife.
Actually,
>Does it look like Miyuki's carrying any more knives?
-
>Does it look like Miyuki's carrying any more knives?
>You can't see her very well at this instant, what with the other two tengu in the way, but you didn't notice anything else in her hands a moment ago.
-
My kingdom for a clear shot.... Oh, well.
>Sound as cock-sure as we can manage with a gaping wound in our leg, and straighten up. "Chisato? If yours doesn't wanna fight you, I'm free now. I got one bird full of holes, and one running away from me."
>Start down the corridor towards Fuuka, but keep our kunai ready for a throw. If we can get a clearer shot than what we have now, without risking Miyuki, throw a kunai at the back of the tengu chasing her.
>Keep an ear open for sounds behind us, in case Chisato's opponent falls for our taunt. And an eye on Fuuka, in case she's pissed enough to ignore orders.
-
>Sound as cock-sure as we can manage with a gaping wound in our leg, and straighten up. "Chisato? If yours doesn't wanna fight you, I'm free now. I got one bird full of holes, and one running away from me."
>Start down the corridor towards Fuuka, but keep our kunai ready for a throw. If we can get a clearer shot than what we have now, without risking Miyuki, throw a kunai at the back of the tengu chasing her.
>Keep an ear open for sounds behind us, in case Chisato's opponent falls for our taunt. And an eye on Fuuka, in case she's pissed enough to ignore orders.
>If you're intending to attempt to keep that tengu off Miyuki, you don't think you have nearly enough time for all this.
-
> How much thrust force can we get out of one leg, if we wanted to jump?
-
> How much thrust force can we get out of one leg, if we wanted to jump?
>Enough to get a little height, anyway, and you could probably force some extra lift out of your other leg as well, if you were willing to suffer for it.
-
> Enough to, say, cover the distance between ourselves and Fuuka?
-
> Enough to, say, cover the distance between ourselves and Fuuka?
>She isn't very far above the floor, given the restriction of the ceiling, and really only two or three steps away from you, along the ground. You could leap into weapons range, at the very least, though you imagine she'd be free to retreat as you did so. There's probably a decent chance you could still clip her if she tried.
-
> How do we feel about the prospect of walking?
-
> How do we feel about the prospect of walking?
>You'd need to take a few steps on the leg to know for sure, but you're fairly certain you can manage to get around by favoring it. Besides, in a situation like this, whatever pain you have to put up with by pushing it is probably less than would be inflicted upon you for trying too hard not to.
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> If Fuuka retreated straight backward, would she run into anyone? Or have the others moved on from being behind her from our perspective?
-
> If Fuuka retreated straight backward, would she run into anyone? Or have the others moved on from being behind her from our perspective?
>The tengu leader is only a couple feet behind her, and Miyuki barely a foot beyond that, though they are both running in the opposite direction, so you doubt Fuuka would hit either if she retreated.
-
This is a right dilly of a pickle. I can't see any way to save Miyuki from leaderface outside of getting off a projectile shot, but that runs the added risk of leaderface dodging and us hitting Miyuki instead.
> Is the loose tengu sword in grabbing range?
> Based on what we've seen of the tengu swords, how cut out are they for throwing?
-
> Is the loose tengu sword in grabbing range?
> Based on what we've seen of the tengu swords, how cut out are they for throwing?
>Essentially yes.
>They are slashing rather than stabbing weapons, with smoothly curved and tapered blades. They look fairly light-weight, but their design would necessitate an entirely different sort of throw than what you're most used to. You imagine you could still hit someone with one, but it would be an inexact thing.
-
> How much larger is the sword than our kunai?
-
> How much larger is the sword than our kunai?
>It is probably somewhere around two and a half times the size of one of your kunai.
-
Suggestion: Grab the sword, jump at Fuuka, chuck sword at her when she tries to dodge.
> How quickly could we stash a kunai to free up a hand for that sword? Or could we transfer a kunai between hands so one hand has both of them and the other is empty?
-
> How quickly could we stash a kunai to free up a hand for that sword? Or could we transfer a kunai between hands so one hand has both of them and the other is empty?
>Shifting a kunai to your other hand would probably be quicker, but either is likely to be quick enough.
-
Throwing a sword? I like that. It means that even if it fails outright, we still have our two kunai.
>Have we ever thrown swords before?
>Does this one seem particularly... aerodynamic?
>Would we have time to switch both kunai to one hand, grab the sword, and send it flying into the tengu assaulting Miyuki before she's likely to gut her?
>Is the discarded sword setting off our treasure/curse sense any?
-
>Have we ever thrown swords before?
>Does this one seem particularly... aerodynamic?
>Would we have time to switch both kunai to one hand, grab the sword, and send it flying into the tengu assaulting Miyuki before she's likely to gut her?
>Is the discarded sword setting off our treasure/curse sense any?
>No. And frankly, most of them don't make great throwing weapons.
>As far as swords go, you suppose it's not bad, though you couldn't guarantee you wouldn't just whack your target with the blunt end of the sword rather than any part which would cause real damage.
>It's within the realm of possibility.
>You don't think so, but you hardly have time to take a close look at it at the moment. And since when can you passively detect curses, anyway?
-
For the record, I really don't think this is going to work. But I see little other options here.
Throwing a sword may not be effective (no surprises there) but wielding one? That's something else.
>Lean around Fuuka as much as possible and throw a kunai at the tengu attacking Miyuki. Get her thinking about us again.
>If the kunai connects, say, "And you've got me!"
>Grab up the sword Fuuka dropped. And hope the hilt isn't too slick with blood.
>Keep our spare kunai handy to ward off Fuuka's attacks, if she gets ballsy.
>Keep an ear open behind us in case Chisato's dance partner comes after us.
-
>Lean around Fuuka as much as possible and throw a kunai at the tengu attacking Miyuki. Get her thinking about us again.
>If the kunai connects, say, "And you've got me!"
>Grab up the sword Fuuka dropped. And hope the hilt isn't too slick with blood.
>Keep our spare kunai handy to ward off Fuuka's attacks, if she gets ballsy.
>Keep an ear open behind us in case Chisato's dance partner comes after us.
>You lean around Fuuka and take your shot, flinging one of your kunai at the tengu chasing Miyuki.
>"Left!" Fuuka cries as you release your weapon. Almost immediately, the other tengu twists her body aside and to the left, drawing her wings close around her. Your shot sails wide of her, and fortunately wide of Miyuki as well. She gains another step on the tengu, though the latter manages to somehow conserve much of her forward momentum even as she evades.
>Before your kunai has even hit the wall, Fuuka lunges for her discarded weapon. You quickly pivot your body back in front of her and slash out with your remaining kunai while stretching your free hand towards the sword. You grimace tightly against the stab of pain this maneuver tears from your injured leg, but your attack does force Fuuka back slightly - enough for you to claim her weapon first. You grumble dryly as you feel a smear of wetness beneath your fingers as they grasp the hilt, but at least it's not enough to impact your grip.
>You hear a thunk as your kunai sinks into the wall beyond your missed target. A swift footstep rings out very close behind you and you hear something heavy woosh through the air towards you. Miyuki lets out a sharp cry of pain.
-
> Is our hand still on the floor from grabbing the blade?
> How close is Fuuka to us now?
-
> Is our hand still on the floor from grabbing the blade?
> How close is Fuuka to us now?
>Just slightly above it.
>Quite close; potentially within striking distance.
-
> Striking distance with the sword, you mean? A sword that has presumably less range than our legs?
-
Going to bed. Try handplanting and swinging our good leg around to kick at Fuuka.
I honestly have no clue how we can stop the leader from getting to Miyuki because projectile attacks are completely ineffective and we no longer have meaningful ground mobility, so I think our best bet is to take Fuuka down and get into a hostage standoff.
-
> Striking distance with the sword, you mean? A sword that has presumably less range than our legs?
>With the sword, yes. And you would assume the sword to have greater reach when you account for the arm that it's attached to. Fuuka might still be in kicking range, though this would also mean bearing your weight on your bad leg in the process.
-
>What's that sound behind us sound like, and how close it is?
>From what direction does it seem to be coming from, or is it dead behind us?
-
>What's that sound behind us sound like, and how close it is?
>From what direction does it seem to be coming from, or is it dead behind us?
>It's from only a few feet away, and sounds like something modestly large and relatively aerodynamic being thrown through the air towards you.
>Pretty close to dead behind you.
-
>How much room to we have to our left?
-
>How much room to we have to our left?
>About two feet or so.
-
>Does it sound like the object is coming dead to the center of our backs, or more to our head? IE, if we ducked, do we think we'd clear it?
-
>Does it sound like the object is coming dead to the center of our backs, or more to our head? IE, if we ducked, do we think we'd clear it?
>More towards your head, you think, though you might need to duck fairly deeply to be safe.
-
Cross your fingers, boys and girls, Sour's going back to the well one last time.
>Slash our sword at Fuuka's eyes, slashing from our left to right.
>Dodge to the left to get away from whatever Chisato's dance partner fired at us. That should be easier on our damaged legs.
>While Fuuka's eyes are upon our blade, while we're moving laterally, fire our last kunai at the tengu attacking Miyuki.
>If Fuuka is no longer in our way, advance down the hall towards miyuki and her attacker. But keep an ear open, in case she or her 'friend' decide to attack us again.
-
>Slash our sword at Fuuka's eyes, slashing from our left to right.
>Dodge to the left to get away from whatever Chisato's dance partner fired at us. That should be easier on our damaged legs.
>While Fuuka's eyes are upon our blade, while we're moving laterally, fire our last kunai at the tengu attacking Miyuki.
>If Fuuka is no longer in our way, advance down the hall towards miyuki and her attacker. But keep an ear open, in case she or her 'friend' decide to attack us again.
>You slash at Fuuka's face with her own weapon while sidestepping left to avoid the projectile from your rear. Her sword is quite light and well-balanced in your hands and you feel the air part smoothly in front of it. Unfortunately, your two actions are at something of cross-purposes with each other, and you end up pulling out of weapon's range with your body even as you attempt to extend towards Fuuka with your arm. You doubt she would even need to move to stay safe of the blade, yet she pulls hard aside and backs against the other wall just the same. You find yourself frowning slightly.
>Behind her, you see Miyuki crashing face-first towards the floor, only a step or two away from your door again. She shifts an arm to brace against the fall, but the other tengu is upon her before she even hits the ground, clamping a hand around Miyuki's other arm and hauling her upright.
>You twist your wrist to send another kunai into the tengu's back when something smacks you hard in the side of your head. The impact is enough to daze you mid-motion. Dimly, you see something long and wooden spin unevenly past the edge of your peripheral vision, tumbling towards the ground.
>Fumbling to push aside the haze and find your shot again, you see the tengu pull Miyuki close to her. The latter immediately rounds on her assailant with a backhand swing despite being held upright by nothing more than her captor's own arm. The motion is wide and made before even confirming a target by sight, but she launches it with such suddenness that the tengu's attempt to tilt away from the blow still doesn't stop it from clipping her in the head. While unsteady yourself, you're not about to let this shot slip past. You hurl your kunai towards the tengu.
>Two voices immediately ring out almost as one. The tone of Fuuka's words lacks the impassioned fierceness of Chisato's, but the message is the same.
>"Behind you!"
>Even as the words are being spoken, you hear the air part amid the rush of a body at your back. Fuuka lunges towards you from the right.
-
>Does that blow to our head seem to have done serious damage?
>Was that long wood thing a boomerang, or did we see enough of it to identify it?
>Can we determine of the tengu charging our ass is closer than Fuuka is to us?
-
>Does that blow to our head seem to have done serious damage?
>Was that long wood thing a boomerang, or did we see enough of it to identify it?
>Can we determine of the tengu charging our ass is closer than Fuuka is to us?
>You don't believe so. In fact, the impact didn't actually feel all that heavy; it was more stunning than actually damaging, though you still feel slightly dazed.
>It looked a bit like a wooden pole of some sort, actually.
>You suspect she is.
-
the tengu charging our ass
Kinky.
-
Kinky.
I still haven't given up on that floating brothel of yours.
>Are there any kunai within reaching distance?
-
>Are there any kunai within reaching distance?
>No, although the knife that Miyuki used is lying on the ground not far ahead of you.
-
>Close enough to grab with either free hand or tail before either tengu is on us?
-
>Close enough to grab with either free hand or tail before either tengu is on us?
>There's a chance, though you really don't think you have much time to work with.
-
What do you think, Kilga, slash at them to keep them at bay, or try and dodge?
-
I think I haven't been able to follow the game for a few days due to life. Sorry. I'll leave it to your best judgment.
EDIT: Though in a vacuum, with the way these tengu are moving around, I slightly prefer offensive defense than defensive defense, so I guess I vote slashing.
-
Given their agility, and the fact that we have a compromised leg, I'm inclined to agree. But we should still try to get closer to Miyuki, in the entirely likely event that that shot misses, too.
>If that tengu behind us is armed.... Sorry, Miyuki, but we can't help you if that one impales us.
>Turn around, slashing at Fuuka during the turn to keep her off us, and bring up our sword defensively to protect against her attack, if she attacks, or to warn her off she she seems about to.
>"Chisato! Little help!"
>Try and move towards that discarded knife if we can, in order to grab it with our tail. Or grab it from here with our tail, if we are able.
-
>If that tengu behind us is armed.... Sorry, Miyuki, but we can't help you if that one impales us.
>Turn around, slashing at Fuuka during the turn to keep her off us, and bring up our sword defensively to protect against her attack, if she attacks, or to warn her off she she seems about to.
>You spin around as quickly as you can while keeping most of your weight on your good leg, sweeping the tengu blade across Fuuka's path as she lunges at you. In the corner of your eye, you see the lead tengu attempt to twist aside from the wall, but Miyuki continues to struggle against her and tries to bash her in the head again. You don't see whether she's successful in this, but you do hear her captor hiss sharply as you turn away from her.
>Fuuka pulls her lunge short of contact with her own weapon, and tries to shift towards the side you're now exposing, but it is without the grace she demonstrated earlier. She is still bleeding freely and breathing heavily, her movements leaden compared to before.
>And as you round enough to glance the tengu rushing you from behind, you see that it was not a moment too soon that you did so. In fact, you're already almost too late. With as much speed as you can muster, you bring your sword across her weapon's path and twist your body aside from the thrusting blade. The edge of your weapon catches hers as it comes within a mere inch of your body, narrowly pushing it aside before it can impale you. It is a straight-edged sword, rather resembling a wakizashi, and quite unlike the weapons wielded by the other two tengu. Its wielder leaps back quickly as her weapon is intercepted and banks around to your side.
>With a degree of grim satisfaction, you note that she is not without injury. Her face shows definite signs of being bludgeoned, with a pronounced redness on the side of her jaw and another patch above one eye, trailing a thin line of blood. There are also multiple sizable splinters of wood dug into her shoulder and arm, almost like shrapnel. Blood wells around the edge of the larger ones, and there are several bloodier marks along the arm that make you almost wonder if other splinters had been forcibly removed. She seems to be doing a good job of shrugging them off, though.
>"Chisato! Little help!"
>Try and move towards that discarded knife if we can, in order to grab it with our tail. Or grab it from here with our tail, if we are able.
>"What the hell do you think I'm doin'?!" the redhead snaps as she runs towards the two of you, wooden pole in hand. She looks a little the worse for wear herself, with a thin slash cut across the side of her shirt and the skin beneath and a more showy wound on her forehead, trailing blood down the side of her face and over her eye. Her right hand also looks somehow... charred?
>You shift a step back and carefully feel for Miyuki's knife with your tail. ...there it is!
>The new arrival lunges suddenly at you again while Fuuka disappears behind the edge of your peripheral vision.
-
>How close is Chisato to the tengu with the wakizashi?
>Does it seem like she will have time to strike the tengu with the sword before she can launch an attack after this one?
>Does it seem like any of Chisato's wounds are debilitating? Wounds on her legs?
>Does Fuuka's motion seem to indicate she's going for the knife, too?
-
>How close is Chisato to the tengu with the wakizashi?
>Does it seem like she will have time to strike the tengu with the sword before she can launch an attack after this one?
>Does it seem like any of Chisato's wounds are debilitating? Wounds on her legs?
>Does Fuuka's motion seem to indicate she's going for the knife, too?
>About a half dozen feet or so.
>It's possible, depending on whether the tengu moves away from her, or goes for a second strike while still in close range of you.
>She seems more pissed off than actually impaired. You don't see any obvious injuries on her legs.
>It's possible, but she rounded past your field of vision before you could really see what she was doing.
-
>Grab that knife with our tail.
>Follow her lunge, parry her strike, then slash back at her if the opportunity presents itself.
>If no opportunies to slash her with the sword present themselves, transfer the knife to our free hand, and give her a sneer. "Wanna keep dancing?" Then feint a stab with the knife, keep her focused on us, give Chisato time to brain her with that stick of hers.
>Keep an ear open for fuuka, make sure she's not sneaking up on us.
>Take a step backwards after repelling the tengu attacking us's attack. Miyuki's still in trouble, after all...
>"Is this relic REALLY worth this?"
-
>Grab that knife with our tail.
>Follow her lunge, parry her strike, then slash back at her if the opportunity presents itself.
>If no opportunies to slash her with the sword present themselves, transfer the knife to our free hand, and give her a sneer. "Wanna keep dancing?" Then feint a stab with the knife, keep her focused on us, give Chisato time to brain her with that stick of hers.
>Keep an ear open for fuuka, make sure she's not sneaking up on us.
>Take a step backwards after repelling the tengu attacking us's attack. Miyuki's still in trouble, after all...
>"Is this relic REALLY worth this?"
>You slide your tail over the hilt of the knife and carefully wrap around it while bringing your sword around to receive the tengu's attack.
>Her movement is quick and forceful, and though you manage to catch her blade and turn it away of your torso again, she continues to press forward; she pushes you back towards the wall, partially pinning your sword arm against your body. She attempts to twist the angle of her weapon and press it into your side from behind your guard, but you tilt the angle of your own sword and force it wide again.
>Having gotten a solid grip on it, you swing your tail back towards your hand. Or at least attempt to. As you pull the end of it off the ground, something slams down hard on it from above and you cringe involuntarily. Dammit, not the tail! The tengu quickly pulls her blade free of yours and stabs again.
-
>Did that something feel like a foot, or something grabbing it?
-
>Did that something feel like a foot, or something grabbing it?
>Much more like the former.
-
>I'm gonna mount that damn bird's wings on my wall for that...
>Can we tell where she is, other than just 'behind us somewhere'? Specifically, if we threw an elbow backwards, could we aim it at where her face is likely to be?
-
>I'm gonna mount that damn bird's wings on my wall for that...
>Can we tell where she is, other than just 'behind us somewhere'? Specifically, if we threw an elbow backwards, could we aim it at where her face is likely to be?
>Arms and legs are one thing, but the tail's off limits!
>You can tell where her foot is and that's about it. You could only take a wild guess at how the rest of her body is positioned.
-
>Has much closer as Chisato gotten to the tengu with the sword?
-
>Has much closer as Chisato gotten to the tengu with the sword?
>Just outside of striking range now, you think.
-
>Good, then she might be able to get this one off us while we deal with the uppidy bitch that stepped on our tail.
>Even though her foot is on our tail, we can still move it. Is her foot in a position that would allow us to cut her leg with that knife?
-
>Good, then she might be able to get this one off us while we deal with the uppidy bitch that stepped on our tail.
>Even though her foot is on our tail, we can still move it. Is her foot in a position that would allow us to cut her leg with that knife?
>This has just crossed the line!
>Unfortunately, it appears that the part wrapped around the knife is the very part she stepped on. You have very little mobility in that part of your tail, though the rest still functions fine.
-
>Figures. She's disabled one limb, makes sense she'd go for another.
>We'll have to make do without.
>Are we impeded enough to be unable to lunge forward and headbutt the tengu in front of us?
-
>Figures. She's disabled one limb, makes sense she'd go for another.
>We'll have to make do without.
>Are we impeded enough to be unable to lunge forward and headbutt the tengu in front of us?
>You're at something of a disadvantage in stature if you were to try this on the tengu ahead of you, though there's enough slack in your tail that you don't expect that would cause you any difficulties. The fact that you'd practically have to jump into the underside of her head might, however....
-
>Follow the tengu's stabbing motion and turn it aside with our borrowed saber. Then press forward a step (insomuch as we can) and offer a returning backhanded slash. Either we cut her or, preferably, get her to back off a step. Either way, gives Chisato an opening.
>Hang in there, Miyuki....
>If that step frees our tail, use the knife to slash at Fuuka's ankle, make her think twice before stepping on it again.
>If our tail remains trapped, try to sweep it our from under her boot.
-
>Follow the tengu's stabbing motion and turn it aside with our borrowed saber. Then press forward a step (insomuch as we can) and offer a returning backhanded slash. Either we cut her or, preferably, get her to back off a step. Either way, gives Chisato an opening.
>Hang in there, Miyuki....
>If that step frees our tail, use the knife to slash at Fuuka's ankle, make her think twice before stepping on it again.
>You bring your sword around to push her stab aside again, but this time she anticipates the motion and deftly tilts her angle of attack as the blades close upon each other. You turn you own sword to compensate, but are forced to hastily pull your torso away from the strike as her weapon passes the edge of your guard before you can make contact.
>And find yourself turning into the path of an oncoming fist.
>"This is for the Bunbunmaru!" Fuuka cries.
>With an even more frantic motion, you lean your upper body away from the punch, applying the limboer's art in its most practical form. Her fist passes narrowly over your head as you struggle still to keep her friend's blade away from your innards. And dammit, would she lay off the tail! You hear the rough scrape of metal on metal and feel the sharp edge of a blade graze across your side. Then a shadow passes over your right and the blade is pulled away with painful speed, like a razor swiped against skin. You hiss.
>The tengu leaps aside from Chisato's swing, ducking her head below the wooden pole's sweep. Without even halting her forward momentum, the redhead turns the attack's motion into a forceful thrust. Her target deftly sidesteps this as well, extending her blade as she withdraws and scoring a shallow cut against Chisato's midsection as the sailor's momentum is used against her. She curses illegibly.
>If our tail remains trapped, try to sweep it our from under her boot.
>You try to tug on your tail, but you don't think you can generate enough force this way to pull it free.
-
>Is Chisato's tengu still in our sword range?
>From our current position, what can we see?
-
>Is Chisato's tengu still in our sword range?
>From our current position, what can we see?
>No.
>Fuuka is still looming over you and Chisato is visible to your right. The third tengu is partially obscured by the two of them, and you can't see much of anything beyond this from this position.
-
>Can we at least slash from this position, or would that knock us off balance?
-
>Can we at least slash from this position, or would that knock us off balance?
>You could, but your posture would make it awkward and your injured leg isn't exactly helping matters. You probably have room to straight up, though, with the other tengu distracted for the moment.
-
>Then we shall indeed straighten up.
>Hoping that Chisato can KEEP her tengu distracted, throw a punch at Fuuka face, and swing our sword at her torso. We don't NEED to hit her, just get her off our tail.
-
>Then we shall indeed straighten up.
>Hoping that Chisato can KEEP her tengu distracted, throw a punch at Fuuka face, and swing our sword at her torso. We don't NEED to hit her, just get her off our tail.
>You pull yourself upright, bending around Fuuka's fist as she draws it back and lash out with your own. She shields her face from the blow with her arm, but you immediately follow your fist with a slash at her torso. Fuuka tries to bank aside from it but her motion is clumsy. You feel the pressure on your tail wane a little.
-
>Yank our tail out from under this broad!
>"And this is for my tail!"
>And give her a solid overhead slash, either to keep her off balance, or do some damage. Either's good.
-
>Yank our tail out from under this broad!
>"And this is for my tail!"
>And give her a solid overhead slash, either to keep her off balance, or do some damage. Either's good.
>You give your tail give your tail sharp jerk and wrench it free of Fuuka's foot. You feel something pull unpleasantly from the effort, but the sense of relief from its liberation is palpable and immediate.
>Then, with a shout, you slash fiercely at the tail-stomper. She attempts to pull away from the blow, but before you can move to follow, her companion slips beneath another of Chisato's attacks and lunges at you with a low thrust.
-
>HOW unpleasantly?
-
>HOW unpleasantly?
>Less unpleasant than leaving it where it was much longer, certainly.
-
>Unpleasant enough to indicate it's been weakened enough to prevent us from using it to block strikes against us with the dagger?
-
>Unpleasant enough to indicate it's been weakened enough to prevent us from using it to block strikes against us with the dagger?
>Blocking strikes with appreciable force behind them would probably have always been tricky with your tail. You don't think you've impaired it appreciably, though.
-
>Best not take any chances yet, then.
>Sidestep to the left and swing our saber low to parry her strike.
>If Fuuka's still in range, swing our tail in a wide enough arc to slash her.
>If she's not in range, swing our knife in a wide enough arc to keep her at bay while we deal this distraction. And do so by lunging forward with a low-sweeping slash of our own.
>What kind of sounds are Miyuki and her tengu making?
-
>Best not take any chances yet, then.
>Sidestep to the left and swing our saber low to parry her strike.
>You pull your sword back to deflect her stab, but the overhead arc of your attack against Fuuka leaves you poorly positioned to parry such a sudden thrust from below. Though hemmed in against the wall by her assault, you try to scramble left, twisting your torso aside and pushing fiercely off the ground. Perhaps that was a mistake in judgement. As you suddenly bear weight upon your injured leg, a stabbing pain seizes it and you falter just a little.
>You see the tip of the wakizashi disappear inside you almost before you feel anything. The smooth wet sound of its entry ends abruptly in a dull scraping noise and you feel a curious reverberation in your side. Your body clenches hard against the cold intrusion and you feel your breath catches in your throat. Then, almost as soon as it was driven into you, the tengu pulls her blade free, slicing a thin line along the edge of its passage and drawing it back red.
>As pain starts to surge from the wound, you see her deftly flip her weapon around and catch a forceful strike from Chisato without even turning to face it.
>If Fuuka's still in range, swing our tail in a wide enough arc to slash her.
>If she's not in range, swing our knife in a wide enough arc to keep her at bay while we deal this distraction. And do so by lunging forward with a low-sweeping slash of our own.
>There is a flash of movement to your left and you reflexively lash your tail towards it, even as you clench a hand against your side and grimace fiercly. You are answered by a harsh cry that descends almost into a growl.
>"Fuuka!" comes another voice from further down the hall, followed by a grunt of exertion. "I said withdraw!"
>"There'll be time later!" the third tengu adds as she pivots beneath Chisato's staff only to catch the other end of it across the jaw, sending her tumbling sideways.
>What kind of sounds are Miyuki and her tengu making?
>They don't seem to be saying much, but you can still hear sounds of struggle. However, you've heard neither the distinctive whistle of a wind blade nor any loud cries of pain, at least.
-
>Can we determine if that blade struck anything vital in us?
>'Sideways' towards her allies or away?
-
>Can we determine if that blade struck anything vital in us?
>'Sideways' towards her allies or away?
>You don't think so, but it still hurts fiercely and you can feel blood welling up between your fingers.
>Away.
-
>Let's just hope that doesn't affect our mobility too much more than it already is.
>Follow after that tengu while she's reeling, and deliver another two-handed slash overhead. Go for the wing!
>"Why don't you all withdraw, save us all some grief?"
-
>Let's just hope that doesn't affect our mobility too much more than it already is.
>Follow after that tengu while she's reeling, and deliver another two-handed slash overhead. Go for the wing!
>"Why don't you all withdraw, save us all some grief?"
>Sadly, you suspect it will, as the twist of your torso as you take your very next step makes you feel nearly as though you got stabbed a second time.
>But there's no time for that now! You steel yourself against the pain and lunge at the reeling tengu, gripping your weapon tightly in both hands and slashing forcefully. You try to aim for the wings, but her tumbling makes it difficult to be selective; you'll just have to take what you can get! You feel your sword strike her solidly as she starts to right herself from her tumble, digging in across her shoulder and part of her back. With a rasp of pain, she manages to catch her footing and bring her blade around to push yours off.
>"Go!" she cries while cringing from your blow.
>You hear a pained grunt from the tengu grappling with Miyuki, followed by a loud thud. Miyuki gasps.
-
>A gasp of surprise, or pain, or both?
-
>A gasp of surprise, or pain, or both?
>Somewhere between the two, you think.
-
>Hold our ground, keep our saber out before us, and watch the tengu in front of us carefully for offensive moves. Be ready to intercept her if she persists in attacking. But hold off on attacking her again, for now.
>"Miyuki?"
-
>Hold our ground, keep our saber out before us, and watch the tengu in front of us carefully for offensive moves. Be ready to intercept her if she persists in attacking. But hold off on attacking her again, for now.
>"Miyuki?"
>You hold your ground, and the tengu before you seems content to hold hers, keeping her blade extended defensively while she straightens herself up. With some satisfaction, you note that one of her wings seems to be subtly drooping on one side.
>You call out to Miyuki, but even before you finish speaking her name, you hear Chisato take off down the corridor at a run.
-
>The tengu in front of us is looking behind us. What's the expression on her face like?
-
>The tengu in front of us is looking behind us. What's the expression on her face like?
>Pained and a little wary, but still spirited. She seems to be looking more in Fuuka's direction at the moment, though.
-
>"Chisato, talk to me."
>And keep an ear open for that Fuuka girl, in case she still wants to fight.
-
>"Chisato, talk to me."
>And keep an ear open for that Fuuka girl, in case she still wants to fight.
>"Eyes on me!" she yells, still hammering down the corridor. You hear a coarse scraping sound, like a blade drawn roughly against wood. A distinctive sharp whistling answers it.
>You hear Fuuka approach, more from the sound of her labored breathing than anything else, but her movement is measured rather than sudden. She passes into your peripheral vision on the right.
>"Go," the tengu repeats firmly. "We're fine here."
-
>That was the whistling of a wind blade, wasn't it?
-
>That was the whistling of a wind blade, wasn't it?
>It was.
-
>Does it sound like it's coming towards us?
-
>Does it sound like it's coming towards us?
>In a general sense, though it might well be aimed at Chisato; she is rather closer to it.
-
>Guess we must have missed again.
>"If your boss has hurt Miyuki, you're a very long way away from fine."
>Are there any kunai in grabbing range?
>Are we as good at throwing regular knives as we are throwing kunai? Like the one in our tail, specifically.
>Are we as good at throwing knives with our tail as our hands?
-
>Guess we must have missed again.
>"If your boss has hurt Miyuki, you're a very long way away from fine."
>Are there any kunai in grabbing range?
>Are we as good at throwing regular knives as we are throwing kunai? Like the one in our tail, specifically.
>Are we as good at throwing knives with our tail as our hands?
>Perhaps.
>"Should've thought of that before you started this," the tengu in front of you counters. "Can't say we didn't warn you."
>No.
>You are slightly less experienced with them, but you don't think it should be a problem.
>Unfortunately no, but you can probably manage if the shot isn't too tricky.
-
>Transfer the knife to our left hand.
>Firmly, "I don't roll over for thieves, and I refuse to be bullied. Not by the likes of you."
>How far ahead of us is our opponent?
-
>Transfer the knife to our left hand.
>Firmly, "I don't roll over for thieves, and I refuse to be bullied. Not by the likes of you."
>How far ahead of us is our opponent?
>You flip your tail around and transfer the knife to your hand.
>"It's your blood," she replies coolly as Fuuka moves past her and down the hall, glancing back at you with a loathsome expression. You hear something clatter light against the wall behind you. Chisato lets out a pained grunt.
>Just slightly beyond weapon's range.
-
>"Not just mine."
>Lunge forward, pressing off with our good leg, angling towards her left side.
>Stab forward towards her gut with our knife. And when she moves to block it, slash down at her arm with our saber.
-
>"Not just mine."
>Lunge forward, pressing off with our good leg, angling towards her left side.
>Stab forward towards her gut with our knife. And when she moves to block it, slash down at her arm with our saber.
>You lunge forward and are unable to suppress a groan as fresh pain stabs through the wound in your side.
>You try to keep your aim straight regardless and stab your knife at her gut. Rather than attempt to block the attack, however, the tengu instead takes advantage of her longer reach and drives her blade towards that arm. Too far yet to aim for her own, and in no shape to twist and roll beneath the attack, you're forced to slash your sword at her weapon instead to ward it off. Steel rings sharply against steel and she pulls away from you again.
-
>All right, that didn't work.
>Press the attack, keep working to her left. Try to push her back against the wall.
>Come in low this time with our saber, sweeping a slash at her legs. She can't slash our arm if we use the longer weapon.
>Angle our sword to try and force her to dodge to her right. If she does, give her a stabbing, preferably in the legs, or wings, if the opportunity presents.
-
>All right, that didn't work.
>Press the attack, keep working to her left. Try to push her back against the wall.
>Come in low this time with our saber, sweeping a slash at her legs. She can't slash our arm if we use the longer weapon.
>Angle our sword to try and force her to dodge to her right. If she does, give her a stabbing, preferably in the legs, or wings, if the opportunity presents.
>You continue forward, sweeping your sword at the tengu's legs. She simply springs off the ground as you start the motion and lunges towards you with sword extended. You raise your knife and catch the edge of her blade as it dives towards your shoulder, but she twists her body aside as the weapons scrape against each other and... pitches awkwardly to her left, suddenly losing much of her altitude.
-
>Must have hit her deeper than we thought before.
>Is she still in the air?
-
>Must have hit her deeper than we thought before.
>Is she still in the air?
>Perhaps.
>Yes, though what you assume was meant to be a precise aerial maneuver has become anything but. The expression on her face strongly suggests this was not intentional.
-
>Well, let's give her an even worse day, shall we?
>Close in and launch a two-pronged attack, knife and blade! Go for a wing, or her sword-arm. Or both!
-
>Well, let's give her an even worse day, shall we?
>Close in and launch a two-pronged attack, knife and blade! Go for a wing, or her sword-arm. Or both!
>You step in as the tengu falters, slashing your sword at the nearer of her two wings and readying the knife in your other hand to strike. She tilts her blade and brings it crosswise in front of her side as she attempts to regain stability. Despite her awkward posture, the parry is quick and solid, but the angle she was forced it make it at exposes the arm itself. Although she recovers quickly from her stumble, it is not quickly enough to evade a second strike. As your sword clangs against hers, you shift into the opening and stab your knife firmly into her wrist. The tengu does an impressive job of stifling a cry.
>You hear another sharp whistling behind you, followed quickly by a second. Chisato snarls bitterly and there is another heavy thump against the wall.
-
>Hold on, Chisato....
>Give that knife a good twist, let's sever some nerves. That'll take some of the sting out of her fight.
>Sneer, "Told you."
>Aim a quick slash at her midsection with our saber.
-
>Hold on, Chisato....
>Give that knife a good twist, let's sever some nerves. That'll take some of the sting out of her fight.
>Sneer, "Told you."
>Aim a quick slash at her midsection with our saber.
>You twist the knife in the tengu's wrist and her voice turns into a smothered rasp.
>"Suit... yourself," she hisses through clenched teeth.
>You aim another slash at her midsection, but she pulls away from you before it can connect, tearing her arm free of your knife with sickly squishing sound. Blood splatters wetly against the floor. Somehow she manages not to cry out, instead shifting her sword into her other hand and opening up some more distance. Her face is drawn tight with what you assume to be pain, but her composure is considerable nonetheless.
>You hear the lead tengu's voice speak firmly. "I promise neither of you will be harmed if you will just stand down!"
>"Like hell!" Chisato cries, then grunts in pain again.
-
>Commendable pirate, not showing the kind of pain she must be in.
>Take a half step backwards, partially turn towards Chisato and her tengu, just a little. Keep our weapons raised defensively.
>"You can't seriously expect us to take the word of the people that invaded our ship to rob us, do you?"
>Are there any weapons on the ground within our tails' range?
-
>Commendable pirate, not showing the kind of pain she must be in.
>Take a half step backwards, partially turn towards Chisato and her tengu, just a little. Keep our weapons raised defensively.
>"You can't seriously expect us to take the word of the people that invaded our ship to rob us, do you?"
>With more than a little annoyance, you suspect you would not be as stoic in her place.
>You take a half-step backwards and turn slightly to the rear without taking your eyes of the tengu in front of you. She is maintaining a defensive posture of her own, but doesn't look eager to charge again just yet.
>"What she said!" Chisato seconds.
>"I'd suggest asking your captain about that," the tengu replies with a note of exertion in her voice. You hear Chisato let out a small curse and then yelp. Miyuki groans.
>Are there any weapons on the ground within our tails' range?
>You see what appears to be a broken pole on the ground a couple feet behind you and to the right. It's about as long as your arm and maybe an inch and a half in diameter, and looks to be made of solid sturdy wood. Despite this, one of its ends is dramatically splintered. It's not quite inside grasping range, but it isn't much beyond it.
-
>Do we still hear the sounds of fighting from above?
-
>Do we still hear the sounds of fighting from above?
>No. Things have seemed quieter up there for a while now, and appear to be fairly quiet elsewhere as well, though you can hear some movement above and below and what might possibly be sounds of struggle towards the other end of the hold. It's hard to say for sure, though.
-
>"Until the captain gets on the horn and tells us to stand down, I expect her to be doing the same thing we are: Defending her ship from robbing scum."
>We trust our ears to warn us if wakizashi-girl charges us.
>Spare a glance backwards.
-
>"Until the captain gets on the horn and tells us to stand down, I expect her to be doing the same thing we are: Defending her ship from robbing scum."
>We trust our ears to warn us if wakizashi-girl charges us.
>Spare a glance backwards.
>"I am sure that she tried," the tengu replies.
>You spare a quick glance behind you in time to see Chisato narrowly block a slash of the tengu's sword with her pole. Her opponent gives no pause after the attack, lashing out immediately with sharp kick at her gut and then closing in to backhand her in the head with her other hand. Chisato stumbles away, clumsily trying to push the tengu back with her weapon. Miyuki is bracing herself heavily against the wall nearby. It looks like she's having trouble standing.
-
>How much distance is there between that tengu and us?
-
>How much distance is there between that tengu and us?
>Around two dozen feet.
-
>Piss.
>Does that tengu look damaged at all, or does it seem like she's just been wailing on our friends willy nilly?
>Are there any discarded kunai between us and her?
-
>Piss.
>Does that tengu look damaged at all, or does it seem like she's just been wailing on our friends willy nilly?
>Are there any discarded kunai between us and her?
>She seems to have a long cut running down the side of her face, but doesn't otherwise appear to be in bad shape.
>You see one on the floor, about 2/3 of the way towards her and another near her feet.
-
>How banged up does Chisato look?
>Does Miyuki have any fresh wounds?
-
>How banged up does Chisato look?
>Does Miyuki have any fresh wounds?
>She looks a little off-balance and you think you can see a cut on her arm, but you can't get a good look at most of her while she's back-on.
>Likewise with Miyuki, particularly so since she's not standing upright. You don't see any obvious wounds, but she doesn't look in great shape just the same.
-
>If that bird's mostly undamaged, then the humans are gonna need all the help we can get.
>Are our legs damaged enough to prevent walking backwards?
-
>If that bird's mostly undamaged, then the humans are gonna need all the help we can get.
>Are our legs damaged enough to prevent walking backwards?
>You definitely don't feel comfortable trusting the two of them to handle her on their own.
>They are not, but any movement you make is likely to have some cost and the quicker or more acrobatic this movement, the higher this cost is likely to be. You think you're getting past the point where you can try anything too deft and expect not to mess it up.
-
>"I don't think she's been beaten yet. And neither are we."
>Walking backwards, retreive that piece of broken staff with our tail.
-
>"I don't think she's been beaten yet. And neither are we."
>Walking backwards, retreive that piece of broken staff with our tail.
>"Just a matter of time," the tengu in front of you says. "We didn't come here to mess around."
>You take a few steps backwards and reach out for the splintered pole with your tail, wrapping it tightly around. The tengu maintains range with you, following slowly as you retreat.
>You hear metal strike against wood again, followed by a curious muted echoing.
>"Dammit!" Chisato spits, then grunts as you hear something slam against skin. Something hits the ground heavily.
-
>I'll give you messing around, you arrogant pigeon.
>Spare another glance back. Was that Chisato hitting the ground?
-
>I'll give you messing around, you arrogant pigeon.
>Spare another glance back. Was that Chisato hitting the ground?
>You don't care how many places you're bleeding from at the moment, there's the damn principle!
>You quickly glance behind you. Chisato does appear to be splayed on her back on the floor, though trying to push herself back up. The tengu descends swiftly upon her.
-
>Does it look like that tengu has any wounds on her that could have come from the second kunai we threw at her?
>If not, does the kunai near her feet have blood on it?
-
>Does it look like that tengu has any wounds on her that could have come from the second kunai we threw at her?
>If not, does the kunai near her feet have blood on it?
>Given that it was aimed at her back and she's currently facing you, it would be hard to tell.
>You think it might, but can't be sure at this angle.
-
>No guts, no gory....
>Turn all the way around, and take a step towards Chisato and her opponent. "We ain't done yet!"
>When the one behinds us charges, follow the sound of her blade, spin back around and deflect her sword with our saber.
>If this occurs, step back in towards her and try to stab her with our knife.
-
>No guts, no gory....
>Turn all the way around, and take a step towards Chisato and her opponent. "We ain't done yet!"
>When the one behinds us charges, follow the sound of her blade, spin back around and deflect her sword with our saber.
>If this occurs, step back in towards her and try to stab her with our knife.
>You turn full around and take a step towards Chisato as she pushes forward with her staff to try and keep the tengu off her.
>You hear motion behind you and spin back around as quickly as you can manage - thankfully this can be done on your good leg. Your opponent is indeed attempting to capitalize on your apparent lowering of guard, but you're ready for her. You swing your sword swiftly across the path of her own, deflecting it with a sharp clang. Unfortunately, she pulls back as soon as you turn and the more cautious nature of her attack did not commit enough forward motion to leave her in range of your knife afterward.
>You hear footsteps down the hall behind you, past Chisato and Miyuki, approaching at a brisk pace, if not quite a run.
-
>Damn. Well, it was a good ploy. Won't work twice, though.
>More footfalls... Either we're about to get some help, or we're up a very long creek.
>Well, what the hell. If it's help for us, then why not take a chance. If it's their help, then we're screwed anyway.
>Spring backwards as best as we are able.
>Turn and fire our knife towards the tengu attacking Chisato.
>Continue in a spin and lunge towards the tengu that's sure to be attacking us again, and give her a backhanded slash with our saber.
-
>Damn. Well, it was a good ploy. Won't work twice, though.
>More footfalls... Either we're about to get some help, or we're up a very long creek.
>Well, what the hell. If it's help for us, then why not take a chance. If it's their help, then we're screwed anyway.
>Spring backwards as best as we are able.
>Turn and fire our knife towards the tengu attacking Chisato.
>Continue in a spin and lunge towards the tengu that's sure to be attacking us again, and give her a backhanded slash with our saber.
>With the way Chisato is struggling to rise, you couldn't be sure that any shot aimed at the tengu above her mightn't be intercepted by the redhead herself, by the time the projectile arrives. Assuming, at least, that she does make it partially back to her feet. Do you still wish to attempt this?
-
>Hmmm..
>Sacrificing a weapon is one thing. But not at the risk of our friend. And a warning shot won't make enough difference at this point, however safer it might be.
>We'll employ a different strategy.
>Make our way backwards as quickly as possible while keeping our eye on the tengu in front of us.
>Have we ever tried to throw anything like this piece of wood with our tail before? And if we have, how well did it go?
>Provided our tengu doesn't lunge at us again, if those footsteps sound like they're getting very close, give them a glance, to see whose side their on.
-
>Hmmm..
>Sacrificing a weapon is one thing. But not at the risk of our friend. And a warning shot won't make enough difference at this point, however safer it might be.
>We'll employ a different strategy.
>You consider a course of action, but then discard it and choose another.
>Make our way backwards as quickly as possible while keeping our eye on the tengu in front of us.
>You start to backstep as quickly as you reasonably can at the moment. Your opponent's eyes narrow a little, but she follows you in without getting inside your range.
>You hear continued sounds of struggle behind you. Chisato grunts and then the tengu, followed by the swoop of wings through the air.
>"Hey!" Chisato shouts. Miyuki gasps sharply and you hear something metallic clatter against the ground.
>Have we ever tried to throw anything like this piece of wood with our tail before? And if we have, how well did it go?
>Provided our tengu doesn't lunge at us again, if those footsteps sound like they're getting very close, give them a glance, to see whose side their on.
>You've idly tossed the occasional thing, but never something quite like this. You don't know how accurate you'll be able to be with it, but the flipside is that you probably don't need much accuracy to hit something with a piece of wood this long. You doubt it would do more than stun someone very briefly, though.
>The footsteps are definitely getting closer, but still beyond sight. They sound like they're passing by the hall beside the galley, so you probably have a few more seconds before they come around the corner.
-
>Metallic like a sword, a dagger?
>Never mind, glance backwards again. She can't have gone after Miyuki again, the girl was nearly helpless before.
-
>Metallic like a sword, a dagger?
>Never mind, glance backwards again. She can't have gone after Miyuki again, the girl was nearly helpless before.
>More like the latter than the former, at least in terms of weight of impact.
>You glance behind you. Despite what you might have thought, the tengu is gripping Miyuki's wrist with one hand and appears to have bent it sharply. A kunai lies on the floor at their feet. The tengu pulls Miyuki's arm behind the girl's back and raises her sword with her other hand as Chisato pushes off the floor and rushes her. The footsteps seem to be nearing the corner and you can hear a grumbling voice accompanying them.
-
>She went for our kunai. That girl's got heart.
>Do we have a clearer shot now than we did when she was harassing Chisato?
>Are we close enough to the other kunai in the hall to grab with our tail?
-
>She went for our kunai. That girl's got heart.
>Do we have a clearer shot now than we did when she was harassing Chisato?
>Are we close enough to the other kunai in the hall to grab with our tail?
>She's certainly spirited, at the very least.
>If anything, it may be worse, with both Miyuki and Chisato partially in the way. You're close enough now though that you might be able chance it without their positions changing too much before you shot arrives.
>Not quite yet, but you're very close. You'd need to discard the pole in your tail first, of course.
-
>Then we'll chance it.
>Take a step backwards, then pivot on our good leg.
>Send our knife down the corridor towards the tengu threatening Miyuki, her sword arm shoulder, if we can help it. In the same motion, send the stick in our tail flying behind us towards our adversary. Might not hit her, but it'll keep her off balance for a second until we face her again.
>When our pivot takes us back to facing our tengu, bring up our saber to ward her off if she got around our stick, and take another step backwards. Must get that kunai.
-
>Then we'll chance it.
>Take a step backwards, then pivot on our good leg.
>Send our knife down the corridor towards the tengu threatening Miyuki, her sword arm shoulder, if we can help it. In the same motion, send the stick in our tail flying behind us towards our adversary. Might not hit her, but it'll keep her off balance for a second until we face her again.
>When our pivot takes us back to facing our tengu, bring up our saber to ward her off if she got around our stick, and take another step backwards. Must get that kunai.
>You take a step back and pivot around on your good leg. Unfortunately, there's only so much this can do to avoid drawing a renewed stab of pain from the wound in your side, but you do your best to keep your focus despite it.
>As the lead tengu comes into view, you take the best shot you can manage and send Miyuki's knife sailing through the air towards her. At the same time, you sweep your tail out and release your grip on the wooden pole; you can't really tell how true the toss is, but hopefully it's enough for a distraction.
>You spin back to face the tengu near you and find that she's brought her sword up to block the tumbling piece of wood before it can hit her, but this seems to have occupied her enough to prevent an attack of her own. You take another step backwards as she pushes it aside. There is another thump against the wall behind you. Chisato lets out a tensed breath at the impact, then the tengu hisses sharply.
-
>Are we close enough now to grab that kunai with our tail?
-
>Are we close enough now to grab that kunai with our tail?
>Very nearly; you could step back and grab it in a single motion, you think.
-
>Take one step backwards and snatch up that kunai.
>Look behind us.
-
>Take one step backwards and snatch up that kunai.
>Look behind us.
>You take another step back and deftly retrieve the kunai with your tail as the tengu in front of you sends the pole tumbling aside.
>You glance behind you. The tengu leader has pressed Chisato up against the wall, pushing down crosswise on her pole with her sword. You can see Miyuki's knife sunk into the side of her arm. Her sword arm is on the other side of her body, unfortunately, but at least it's a hit!
-
>How's Miyuki look?
-
>How's Miyuki look?
>Not in the greatest shape, but you don't see any obvious injuries on her.
-
>Good on you, Chisato. Now let's see if we can help YOU.
>Turn again. And make a break for the tengu attacking chisato.
>While moving forward, raise our saber for a slash at her exposed back. "Shoulda come after me!"
>If it sounds like the tengu behind us is giving chase, flick the kunai in our tail back towards her, that should slow her down.
>If we cross the distance between us before the tengu behind us catches up to us, ATTACK.
-
>Good on you, Chisato. Now let's see if we can help YOU.
>Turn again. And make a break for the tengu attacking Chisato.
>While moving forward, raise our saber for a slash at her exposed back. "Shoulda come after me!"
>If it sounds like the tengu behind us is giving chase, flick the kunai in our tail back towards her, that should slow her down.
>If we cross the distance between us before the tengu behind us catches up to us, ATTACK.
>You turn around and charge towards the other tengu, yelling a taunt as you raise your sword for a strike.
>Chisato throws a knee at the tengu's gut, but the pirate quickly darts away from it and flips her sword beneath Chisato's pole as the redhead thrusts it out at her. With a deft flick of her wrist she strikes the blade against the top of Chisto's hand then bats it the other way, striking the pole hard and breaking Chisato's grip on that end of it. Miyuki crawls over to the discarded kunai.
>You hear swift footfalls behind you and flick out your tail, sending a kunai behind you in an attempt to slow down your pursuer.
>The tengu leader grabs the open end of the staff with her other hand as she brings her sword across your path and slices a horizontal wind cutter at your torso.
-
>Taking into acount our forward momentum, and our damaged legs, can we jump it?
>If not, does it have enough ground clearance to let us roll under it?
-
>Taking into acount our forward momentum, and our damaged legs, can we jump it?
>If not, does it have enough ground clearance to let us roll under it?
>Not a chance.
>Possible, though you're going to hate having to do that in this condition, and it'll likely cost you some of your attack opportunity as well.
-
>Does it cover enough of the hallway to prevent us going around it?
-
>Does it cover enough of the hallway to prevent us going around it?
>It covers a lot of it, but there's a gap on the left side of the corridor large enough for you to fit through. Unfortunately, it's going to take some scrambling to get that far over before it hits you.
-
>Better that than have to drag ourselves back to our feet on these legs. Besides, not much of an attack opportunity left.
>Well, at least she fired the damn thing at us, rather than slash Chisato.
>Like the man said, Scramble to the left side of the corridor, as fast as our little mouse legs can carry us. And hope that this thing carries far enough to slow down our pursuer, or she could give us a real hard time.
-
>Better that than have to drag ourselves back to our feet on these legs. Besides, not much of an attack opportunity left.
>Well, at least she fired the damn thing at us, rather than slash Chisato.
>Like the man said, Scramble to the left side of the corridor, as fast as our little mouse legs can carry us. And hope that this thing carries far enough to slow down our pursuer, or she could give us a real hard time.
>You scramble to the left as quickly as you can, cursing your injuries as you abuse them yet again for the required speed. You're tired of hurting and frankly getting just plain fatigued in general.
>As you pull out of the line of the projectile, the tengu sweeps her leg beneath Chisato's and pulls hard on her staff, using her own shoulder as a pivot to send the redhead tumbling to the ground towards you. She immediately flares her wings and leaps backwards, landing near Miyuki and reaching down to grab her.
-
>We're not close enough to Chisato that we have to dodge HER, now, are we?
>Doesn't she still have a knife in her arm?
>How close are we to Miyuki and that tengu?
>Is the kunai Miyuki was going for the only discarded weapon in the immediate vicinity?
-
>We're not close enough to Chisato that we have to dodge HER, now, are we?
>Doesn't she still have a knife in her arm?
>How close are we to Miyuki and that tengu?
>Is the kunai Miyuki was going for the only discarded weapon in the immediate vicinity?
>Technically yes, but she isn't exactly airborne or moving at projectile speed; you don't think it'll be hard to step over or around her.
>She does. A pity it doesn't seem to be stopping her from putting that arm to good use. Though, for that matter, you've been managing on worse for a while now....
>About a half dozen feet or so.
>You spot another kunai a couple feet ahead, on the right side of the corridor.
-
>Does it sound like that tengu behind us is still coming, or did she get slowed by that wind blade, too?
>Just to make sure, that location would the kunai on the other side of Chisato, yes?
>Are those footfalls still coming towards us? If so, how close are they?
-
>Does it sound like that tengu behind us is still coming, or did she get slowed by that wind blade, too?
>Just to make sure, that location would the kunai on the other side of Chisato, yes?
>Are those footfalls still coming towards us? If so, how close are they?
>You heard her take to the air as you moved around the wind blade, but she does seem to have fallen slightly behind; you assume your distraction must have been effective.
>Yes.
>They are. In fact, you expect whoever it is to come into view any second now.
-
>Any second might not be soon enough for Miyuki.
>"Leave her alone and fight me."
>While avoiding our tossed friend, and giving her a quick grin that shows WAY more confidance than we have against the two remaining pirates, press forwards towards the pirate in front of us.
>If we manage to get within melee range of her without her firing yet another wind blast at us, offer up a forehanded slash towards the arm she's using to reach to Miyuki.
-
>Any second might not be soon enough for Miyuki.
>"Leave her alone and fight me."
>While avoiding our tossed friend, and giving her a quick grin that shows WAY more confidance than we have against the two remaining pirates, press forwards towards the pirate in front of us.
>If we manage to get within melee range of her without her firing yet another wind blast at us, offer up a forehanded slash towards the arm she's using to reach to Miyuki.
>You certainly don't have much time to work with....
>You sidestep around Chisato as she tumbles towards you and raise your sword for an attack, flashing a grin whose confidence greatly outstrips your own.
>Miyuki suddenly stabs at the tengu with a kunai held in her other hand, its presence concealed just a moment before by her own body. Unfortunately, the tengu seems to have anticipated the move and flicks her sword out to catch the back side of the blade even before it's fully visible. She strikes it with enough force to wrench the weapon from Miyuki's grip entirely and send it clattering towards the wall.
>You're more or less in melee range at this point, but the tengu has interposed Miyuki between the two of you and any frontal attack would risk hitting her instead. The tengu's eyes focus on you as she starts to bring her sword back around towards her captive and opens her mouth to speak.
>At this point, you see a short begoggled figure with a mop of unruly blue hair round the corner in an angry huff.
>"You stupid birdbrains!" she yells, then hurls something in her hand towards the tengu's back. Is that a... wrench?
-
>Never been happier to see a Kappa before. Even one with a rather unorthodox weapon. But we'll talk to her about that later.
>If that wrench continues on its current trajectory, assuming the tengu dodges it and Miyuki moves out of its way as well, will it hit us?
-
>Never been happier to see a Kappa before. Even one with a rather unorthodox weapon. But we'll talk to her about that later.
>If that wrench continues on its current trajectory, assuming the tengu dodges it and Miyuki moves out of its way as well, will it hit us?
>You're not sure you would call it a weapon, as such, but it looks hefty enough to give someone a decent thump on the head just the same.
>It was tossed from someone even shorter than you towards the upper body of someone quite a bit taller; if it continues on that trajectory, the ceiling is more in the way of it than you are.
-
>So much the better.
>As near as we can determine, is that wrench likely to connect with the tengu in front of us before the tengu behind us is in a position to attack us again?
-
>So much the better.
>As near as we can determine, is that wrench likely to connect with the tengu in front of us before the tengu behind us is in a position to attack us again?
>By the sounds of it, you suspect so.
-
>Opportunity.
>If the tengu releases Miyuki to dodge, and Miyuki moves out of the way of the wrench on her own, follow the tengu's movement and slash at her forehanded.
>If the tengu releases Miyuki to dodge, and Miyuki remains where she is, shout a warning, "Down!", then lunge forward, grab her arm and pull her back, out of the line of that wrench.
>If the tengu spins Miyuki around and puts her between the wrench and herself, make the bitch pay for that by slashing at her wing or her back, whichever we think we can do the most damage to.
>In whichever event unfolds, use our tail to try and grab one of the discarded kunai in the area, if we get close enough to do so.
-
>Opportunity.
>If the tengu releases Miyuki to dodge, and Miyuki moves out of the way of the wrench on her own, follow the tengu's movement and slash at her forehanded.
>If the tengu releases Miyuki to dodge, and Miyuki remains where she is, shout a warning, "Down!", then lunge forward, grab her arm and pull her back, out of the line of that wrench.
>If the tengu spins Miyuki around and puts her between the wrench and herself, make the bitch pay for that by slashing at her wing or her back, whichever we think we can do the most damage to.
>In whichever event unfolds, use our tail to try and grab one of the discarded kunai in the area, if we get close enough to do so.
>The tengu turns her head to glance at the new arrival when a bright orange flame suddenly bursts from the wrench, sending it hurtling end over end towards her at high speed. She tucks her wings in and tries to fall back beneath its screaming trajectory with Miyuki in tow, but the girl elbows her in the side of the head the moment her guard wavers and the tengu simply shoves her at you instead.
>As you catch the stumbling girl, the tengu dashes backwards through the air, pulling low to the ground. The wrench literally rockets above her head, trailing a cloud of thick smoke behind it before slamming into the ceiling.
-
>Take stock of Miyuki's state, noting any obvious injuries we didn't have a chance to catalogue before.
>A wrench with rockets. Man, these kappa are a unique bunch!
>"Damn, Ishi!"
-
>Take stock of Miyuki's state, noting any obvious injuries we didn't have a chance to catalogue before.
>A wrench with rockets. Man, these kappa are a unique bunch!
>"Damn, Ishi!"
>Miyuki looks pained, fatigued, and a little battered, but mostly free of visible injury save her ankle. That, however, looks to be in a terrible state, distinctly swollen and almost purplish in places.
>You might need to retract that statement about it not being a proper weapon. What other possible purpose could rockets even serve on such a thing?! Unless her method of remove nuts involves demolishing the object they're attached to....
>"Don't you damn me!" she retorts. "Damn them!"
>The wrench's rockets sputter out and it starts to tumble away from its forceful rendezvous with the ceiling. You hear a thunk of metal striking wood behind you, followed by shifting of feet; Chisato must have intercepted the other tengu.
-
>"Way ahead of you, there!"
>More quietly, "You've done enough, Miyuki. We can handle this now."
-
>"Way ahead of you, there!"
>More quietly, "You've done enough, Miyuki. We can handle this now."
>"Less talking, more stabbing!" Ishi cries as the tengu turns and dives towards her. The kappa stumbles back a step.
>"No... promises," Miyuki rasps.
>About halfway to the ground, the wrench's rockets suddenly reignite and send it hurtling erratically back towards Ishi and the tengu in its path.
-
>It's a BOOMERANG rocket-wrench?
>Stifle a laugh.
>Ishi's going to need our help more than Chisato. Perhaps we'd better heed her advice.
>"Well, help Chisato, if you can."
>Grab the closet kunai with our tail, and start down the hall towards Ishi and that tengu. But, uh... try and give the wrench a decent berth.
-
>It's a BOOMERANG rocket-wrench?
>Stifle a laugh.
>Ishi's going to need our help more than Chisato. Perhaps we'd better heed her advice.
>"Well, help Chisato, if you can."
>Grab the closet kunai with our tail, and start down the hall towards Ishi and that tengu. But, uh... try and give the wrench a decent berth.
>Apparently so!
>Despite the situation, you find yourself almost chuckling at the contraption.
>Miyuki nods as she braces herself against the wall.
>You dart towards the kunai that just got knocked out of Miyuki's hands and grab it with your tail before scurrying down the rest of corridor. You find yourself glad to be behind that wrench rather than in front of it - the rapid spirals it's tracing through the air are growing increasingly erratic.
>The tengu swipes her sword in front of her as she dives, flinging a wind cutter at the diminutive kappa. With a cry of "Gyah!", Ishi steps away from it and ends up planting backwards onto her rump. She scrunches her head into her shoulders as the projectile whisks narrowly above her and splitters against the wall, giving her untamed bed-head a quick trim in the process. The wrench careens into one wall of the corridor and rebounds, banging against the other before tumbling towards the pair of them. The tengu spins around to gauge its course and you see her eyes widen slightly. To be honest, you're not entirely sure how one times a dodge against something that wild.
-
>Glad we ain't on the receiving end of it.
>Watch her movements. Since throwing our kunai is useless against her, we'll have to get all up in her business.
>Transfer kunai to hand.
>Predict the direction she's most likely to dodge in, then lunge in that direction and offer a sweeping slash with the saber. And if she evades it by moving to our left, as she's demonstrated she very much can, keep the kunai prepped to shank her. Or guard against her retalitory strike.
-
>Glad we ain't on the receiving end of it.
>Watch her movements. Since throwing our kunai is useless against her, we'll have to get all up in her business.
>Transfer kunai to hand.
>Predict the direction she's most likely to dodge in, then lunge in that direction and offer a sweeping slash with the saber. And if she evades it by moving to our left, as she's demonstrated she very much can, keep the kunai prepped to shank her. Or guard against her retalitory strike.
>You toss your kunai into your hand and watch the tengu's movements closely as you dash towards her, attempting to predict and intercept where she's going to move. Unfortunately, you don't think you're going to be in melee range in time enough to act on this.
>You see the tengu's eyes trace the course of the wrench for another fraction of a second, then she banks hard to her right. Unfortunately for her, the deranged bolt-tightener makes no pretense of flying in a straight line and strikes against her side just the same, before rocketing on towards its owner. Ishi dives for cover as yet another projectile whizzes over her head and slams into the wall behind her.
>You try to capitalize on the hit, but the tengu has just enough lead time to bring her sword around to parry yours. She pulls back wincing before you can move in to shank her.
-
>Oh, no, you ain't gettin' away.
>Press forward hard, slashing out at where that wrench impacted against her side with our saber.
>If she parries this attack, bring the kunai into play again, aiming for her sword arm.
-
>Oh, no, you ain't gettin' away.
>Press forward hard, slashing out at where that wrench impacted against her side with our saber.
>If she parries this attack, bring the kunai into play again, aiming for her sword arm.
>You press forward as hard as you can manage, but you're really not moving as quickly as you were when this started. Neither is she, but the difference somehow doesn't seem as great. You slash at her side, but she catches it lightly with her blade and shifts away again. You rush inward and drive your kunai towards her sword arm, but your leg falters as you shift towards her and the tengu retreats safely once again. Ishi back-peddles along the ground as she draws near and pushes herself back upright.
>"Aren't you tired of this?" the tengu asks. You note she seems to be breathing a little heavier than earlier. Then again, so are you.
-
>Okay, if she's gonna give us a second to get our legs back under us, we'll take it.
>Take advantage of the opening to steady ourselves. And give Ishi more time to either retreive her wrench, or get something else ready.
>"Maybe. But that doesn't really matter, does it."
-
>Okay, if she's gonna give us a second to get our legs back under us, we'll take it.
>Take advantage of the opening to steady ourselves. And give Ishi more time to either retreive her wrench, or get something else ready.
>"Maybe. But that doesn't really matter, does it."
>You steady yourself and hope that Ishi can capitalize on the delay. Unfortunately, her wrench has landed on the other side of the tengu, and she seems to be watching her carefully to see if she has a chance to sneak past.
>"I still guarantee your safety if you stand down," the tengu says. "But there's a dozen more of us on board if you don't."
-
>"Yeah. See, that's the problem with us surrendering."
>Point our kunai at her.
>"You're still here."
>"If you want everyone to go home safe and sound, which I might add, none of us have any reason to believe, at all, then get off this ship."
-
>"Yeah. See, that's the problem with us surrendering."
>Point our kunai at her.
>"You're still here."
>"If you want everyone to go home safe and sound, which I might add, none of us have any reason to believe, at all, then get off this ship."
>The tengu slowly shakes her head; her expression seems almost... regretful. "I'm afraid I can't do that."
-
>"So, there you have it. You won't stop robbing us, and we're not about to roll over and let you. Maybe you should have picked a target that couldn't fight back if you didn't want a fight."
>Does it sound like Chisato and our old tengu are still fighting?
-
>"So, there you have it. You won't stop robbing us, and we're not about to roll over and let you. Maybe you should have picked a target that couldn't fight back if you didn't want a fight."
>Does it sound like Chisato and our old tengu are still fighting?
>"We came here prepared," she says. "But I take no joy in your pain. I wish you would spared yourself that."
>Yes, though it sounds rather less spirited than their first match.
-
>"And I wish I could believe you. But you standing in someone else's house, trying to steal from them, and claiming to actually care about thier health? Put yourself in my boots. Would YOU believe it? Now let's get this over with."
>Spring forward.
>Make the motions of throwing our kunai towards her right side, but do not throw the weapon.
>If she moves to parry the kunai, bring our saber up in a slash across her sword arm.
>If she dodges in response to the feint, swing our saber in a forehand slash towards her damaged side, where the wrench hit.
-
>"And I wish I could believe you. But you standing in someone else's house, trying to steal from them, and claiming to actually care about thier health? Put yourself in my boots. Would YOU believe it? Now let's get this over with."
>Spring forward.
>Make the motions of throwing our kunai towards her right side, but do not throw the weapon.
>If she moves to parry the kunai, bring our saber up in a slash across her sword arm.
>If she dodges in response to the feint, swing our saber in a forehand slash towards her damaged side, where the wrench hit.
>You say a few last words to the tengu and then spring forward. Though perhaps this would be better described as a rushed ambling rather than any sort springing motion, courtesy of your injured leg and side.
>You lash your wrist out as though you were to throw your kunai and the tengu starts to lean away from the shot so you rush in and swing your sword at her side. She retreats smoothly away from it again, nearly flying over Ishi's body in the process. The kappa takes this chance to scrabble towards her wrench as the tengu slices the air in front of you yet another time.
>There is a flash of light behind you, accompanied by a grunt from the tengu in the rear. You see the eyes of the tengu in front of you dart in that direction with a look of concern on her face.
-
Make a note, troops. If possible, steal that sword. No guilt in stealing from theives.
>Angle our body to the right and sidestep the incoming attack, hoping our leg doesn't falter again.
>Presuming our leg doesn't give way under us, spare a glance backwards ourselves. Bursts of light don't come outta nowhere, and Ishi and whatever other gadgets she may have are here.
-
>Angle our body to the right and sidestep the incoming attack, hoping our leg doesn't falter again.
>Presuming our leg doesn't give way under us, spare a glance backwards ourselves. Bursts of light don't come outta nowhere, and Ishi and whatever other gadgets she may have are here.
>You angle your body to the right and quickly push yourself against the wall as the razor crescent blows past you, ruffling your hair.
>You spare a quick glance behind you to see the other tengu staggering backwards with her arm raised in front of her face. You see a kunai sail a few short feet through the air and embed itself in her neck as Chisato rounds to her side and bashes the tengu in the head forcefully enough to knock the other side of her skull off the corridor wall. You hear the tengu behind you swoop swiftly towards you.
-
>Her neck? That's gotta hurt. That's her taken care of. Nice going girls.
>Turn back to face the last tengu standing, while springing.... well, as near to springing as we can get, backwards and to the left, to try and give us more time to interecept the coming attack.
>Trust our refelxes and raise our saber to ward off her incoming slash.
-
>Her neck? That's gotta hurt. That's her taken care of. Nice going girls.
>Turn back to face the last tengu standing, while springing.... well, as near to springing as we can get, backwards and to the left, to try and give us more time to interecept the coming attack.
>Trust our refelxes and raise our saber to ward off her incoming slash.
>You turn back to the tengu near you and shift aside from her charge as quickly as you can manage, raising your sword defensively. But she... doesn't seem to be charging at you at all, instead angling to the other side of the corridor and moving past at high speed.
>"Kazuha!" she cries. "Down!"
-
>"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.
-
So are we going this route, then? I think I'd have preferred to get the fight to stop on the grounds of people getting injured on both sides, because I want to talk Aya down from this (since she has a responsibility to her crew and we've got the blight working for us serving as a danger to them).
-
The problem with the blight option, now that I've had more time to think about while I was trying to win this fight, is that if we reveal it to Aya, we reveal it to the Maiden crew. And they'll want to strand us on this island here rather than travel with someone plagued. Neu may have been able to convince Murasa, but convincing one person is a lot easier than convincing a paranoid, angry mob. Of course, if it's only Neu and Murasa with Aya, then that's a moot point. We won't know until this fight's over.
Really, that's all I've been thinking about; this fight here. If we had lost, then, well, that would have been it. But if we win, I want to take at least this lead tengu prisoner. Maybe get some answers out of her, maybe use her for a bargaining chip with Aya. And if she actually DOES give a damn about us, which makes no sense since she's a pirate, then I've had a radical idea.
Keep her. Maybe we can fix her. I mean, if nothing else, that's one less pirate making life miserable for good people.
This pirate won't stop the fight. Not unless we surrender. At least, that's the impression she's given me. Aya might, but we have to get through these two first. And maybe one, now, since her flunky's taken a kunai to the throat.
-
And since evidently this evaded everyone, including myself, this thread's over. And that means...
>"Chisato! Change of plans!"
>Tackle the flying tengu to the ground.
>Pull Chisato and Miyuki down to the ground.
>Have faith that Ishi has a video camera tucked in there somewhere, and ravish them all.
-
>"Chisato! Change of plans!"
>Tackle the flying tengu to the ground.
>Pull Chisato and Miyuki down to the ground.
>Have faith that Ishi has a video camera tucked in there somewhere, and ravish them all.
>You have a sudden change of heart and decide that making love really is better than war.
>You announce the change of plan to Chisato, then tackle the charging tengu to the ground along with the two sailors and put your nimble fingers to work proving this point.
>Ishi lets out a lecherous whistle. "You go, Mousey! Show those birdbrains who's on top!"
>"Hey! That's my ankle!" Miyuki groans.
>"Oww, I've still got splinters in my butt!"
>"Stop bleeding on me!"
>A soft voice calls out timidly from your room. "...hello? Did... did everyone forget about me?"