Chapter V: The dangers of a voyage at sea

[Ta'lia of the Seven Jewels]

They are back in the rudder room, where the others have already been and obviously have cut the ropes . Is the ship now unable to find its way, Talia wonders.
Koldar is looking out a small window, searching for a way to get to the captains cabin. Talia squeezes herself  next to him to take a look out. Sdoesn‘t know what to do right now , climbing out of the window, hanging somehow on the outside of the ship, the vastness of the water below is not to her liking. And she fears for Koldar.
Talia looks at the others to see, if they have a solution to their problem, if they think that this climbing up there has to be done. Everybody is hesitating. Capher sits in a corner, writing something in a book and looks somehow devastated. So Talia crosses the room to sit next to him. He looks old. And somehow desperate. Has all this talking about him being different affected him so greatly, probably this transformation into a demon. He seemed quite shocked about himself. But though Talia is aware , that in principle a totally stranger sits next to her, whose true form she doesn‘t know and whose inner strifle she is feeling, she nevertheless doesn‘t have the impression to be in danger. So she puts her arm around his shoulder, trying to comfort him:

„Capher, you didn‘t hurt me. There is something strong in you which will not allow this strange other in your inner to succeed. Have faith in yourself,be reassured, that we won‘t leave you alone. Fight with whatever it is. I trust you, though I don‘t know who you are nor what you are.“

Talia moves around to sit in front of him, now being able to look into his face. And taking  his hands in hers she continues:

„Capher, look at me, we are with you, and we need you, so don‘t give in, but be strong!  And we will give you all the strength we have!“

And she puts her arms around him like around a weary child and hugs him tightly.

[Terra Artemos]

Koldar adresses Terra stating that it is time to seekout the captain, and tells her a few of the closest ports. Terra responds, "Just find me a way up there, I will convince our cowardly captain that we are not worth the trouble, and more worth letting us go in peace. I will discuss the possiblities with Capher, it will depend on how urgent his business is in Milkengrad is, and how much risk he is willing to bare.", then walks toward Capher as Talia gets up and goes towards Koldar, and Terra thinks to herself, 'I find it quite interesting that Talia is so drawn to Koldar, and he so deeply connected to that thief in Strata.', a small wisp of a smile crosses her face, 'I kind of like her.'.

Terra kneels down beside Capher, and puts a reasuring hand on his shoulder, then speaks in her normal cool mannor. "Leave what has happend to the past for now, we need to make a descission. Koldar tells me that the port at Varcopas is closest, but the ports at Chyllkis or Elving, will save weeks of travel by land. This should be decided before the captain is confronted, it is far easier to get what you want form the unwilling when you know exactly what you want. As I do not know the urgency of any business you may have in Milkengrad, it is your descission to make."

'I am grey. All but those like me see only darkness and light, they do not see the grey between them. In this greyness I dwell. I would not wish this fate on any other.'

Terra Artemos Character Description

[Capher]

Capher looked up at Talia's touch.  Tears flowed down his face as he heard her speak. such gentleness, such love, such faith, Oh, that there were more like her. he thought.  Then Talia took his hands and looked into his eyes.  She told him many things but the one thing that rang out was that even though she did not know who or what he was she would stand by him.  That was all he needed.  He straightened himself and looked into her.  "Someday Talia I will tell you all about myself.  Someday if Ava wills I will be granted my greatest wish.  But for now, just to know I have friends, such as yourself, to stand by and with me.  Gives me strength to go on.  I told you at the beginning that this adventure would be a hard one.  That one or even more of us may be maimed or killed.  We only have completed a third of our mission.  We must go on and... Thanks Talia.  Your wisdom far exceeds your years."

Capher gently kissed Talia on the right cheek.  Then Terra comes and tells him their situation and that he must make a decision.  Capher looked up at Terra, put a hand upon Talia's shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. He rose.  His features changed and once again Capher was himself, at least for the time being, and replied. "Terra our mission is of the utttermost importance.  The closer we can sail to Milkengrad the better."

Capher looked at Koldar.  He walked over and peered out the opening. "I believe Koldar we have one in our entourage that can climb this, Avour.  She can climb anything and she is the right size to get out of this small opening and up to the upper deck.  If we give her a rope, tied in knots at intervals, once she reaches the top she can secure the rope and let it down.  Then with our mage here,he can widen this opening and we can then all climb up the rope.  Once on top.  I believe that all of us can persuade our captors of their folly and persuade them to take us to Milkengrad."

Capher turned to Avour.  "Well Avour are you ready for another adventure?" he asked a smile upon his face.  He turned, Terra and Talia see if you can find a good strong length of rope.  This room should have some compartment with some rope in it.  Then tie the rope in knots at about a ped length between each knot.  When all is done.  We send Avour out and up the side of the ship.  I am sure she can climb it."

"Well lets not just stand there gawking at me.  I am back and in control, at least for the most part.  So lets get moving, Ok?" he asked them all with a jovial smile and chuckle in his voice.  Capher looked at Talia and his eyes told her more than he could ever have told her in words how much he needed her friendship and support.

Capher.

Edited by: Capher at: 2/17/03 5:27:21 pm

[Koldar Mondrakken]

Koldar is still unsure aboiut Capher's emotional situation, but is more than happy that he deals at least for now with the situation instead of his problems - whatever that might be.

He nods to Capher's suggestion. "Well, that sounds like a good idea, though I plan to go up there now. Cannot risk the captain calling for his guards when Avour is detected. I think I can climb that wood though not as well as Avour. Not the first time I play thief, remember?" referring to his Strata stories.

He looks closely at the right opening examining its size and the wood. After some consideration he opens his shirt and removes his boots. While not one of these battle-scarred veterans Koldar is still not a weak person and not one without a sign of fight, too. Picking up his sword again he weighs it for a moment and then sinks it into the wooden panel of the window. Several time he bashes freely at the wooden frame till it hangs shattered in the opening.
Grinning he gives Capher the sword to Capher.

"I think that should do for now."

Wrapping his shirt around his right fist he pushes the loose wood away gaining some more inches as the wooden frame falls down into the sea.

"Terra, I guess I found a way to our beloved captain. It should do fine but that none comes to the conclusion he needs a bath right now. I think I just saw some fins down there!"

Koldar looks at the others for a moment considering the best march order.

"I'd say, I go first and deal whatever unpleasant person might be so unfortunate to be at the end of this climb, Avour next with the rope." Koldar looks excusingly at Terra. "Don't worry, I'll leave enough for you to deal with okay?" Koldar blinks to Talia an assuring smile on his lips..

This done he pulls himself and squeezes himself through the widened opening. He groans as it is still a way too small to be in any way comfortable but after some shoulder acrobatic gets himself halfway through the opening. Turning himself towards the ship's wall he settles on the edge of the window opening looking for the next station on the way up. Luckily the ship is loaded with ornaments and sculpures here in the stern of the ship so enough grip can be found.
Signing that everything looks good he waves his hand towards Capher.

"Capher, ... sword. Don't want to fall into that mess beneath me without one." he adds sarcastically.

Koldar Mondrakken, Knight of the Moonlight
--Santharian Master of Disaster--
One day I'll be the greatest of all Jedi!!

[Ta'lia of the Seven Jewels]

Talia is glad and relieved that Capher seems more his old self now. And that he takes action again. Koldar decides to climb first to the deck and Avour - Baveras and Foiros both may bless this girl - will carry a rope up there.

Oh great, I can pretend to climb on an Aj, I may just not look down to these fins ??? what does Koldar mean , what are these fins??? Oh well, I better do not ask. I wish he would have allowed avour to climb first, but I hope he knows, what he does. Let see what we find on deck, hopefully the wind will blow away the stench..

So Talia waits till it is her turn to climb to the deck of the ship.

***Astropic of the day***

[Capher]

Capher looked down and saw the fins of the large fish following the ship.  He grinned.  "Sword coming, Koldar.  Besides if you did fall into the water, I would pray for the sharks and not you.  But I have great confidence in your ability to climb the ship.  If I recall correctly Issa had told you that the captain was dead.  Whether that is true or not, I do not know. However once we are all on the top deck then we will decide what to do.  My suggestion is to stay close to the bulwarks of the ship.  Try and hide thyself as best as you can until we are all up there.  Then we can attack and defend in force.  Good luck, my friend."  Capher said to Koldar as he handed him his sword.

Capher turned and said to Avour.  "Are you ready?  As soon as Koldar gets to the top then we are sending you with the rope.  Talia and Terra have you found and readied the rope?" Capher asked.

Capher.

[Terra Artemos]

Capher seems to regain his energy and composure, when he replyed, but Terra could still sence the hint of shadow within him. Perhaps it had always been there but her attention was not brought to it.

He then addessed the whole group directing her and Talia to start looking for rope, which she set to doing emediatly without hesitation. Terra began looking in storage closets set into the wall, the first she found hammers, and other tools aparently to maintain the ship, then moves to the next one only to find a spare anker, then come to the last one which is locked, with a flange and padlock arangement. Terra looks around the room for any other sources of rope theth could use, but the only other source was for the rubber, and though that rope is sturdy, it is also too thick to carry any length of it up the side of the ship.

Terra returns to the locked door, and examines the lock more closely. It is a sturdy lock and nothing they had alone would work to break it open. Concidering how to open the locked door she remembers something the armeror that had worked to make her armor, and repeats it to herself in thought. "Steel that is not properly heated will weaken rather than temper...", this emediatly gives her an idea.

"Hajarian, I am in need of your skills.", Terra indicates towards the lock." I can not break it myself, but if you could heat it somehow without setting fire to the wood, it should weaken, then I may be able to break it with one of the hammers."

'I am grey. All but those like me see only darkness and light, they do not see the grey between them. In this greyness I dwell. I would not wish this fate on any other.'

Terra Artemos Character Description

[Hajarian Ryelliin]

"Hajarian, I am in need of your skills." the magi heard the red-haired warrioress address him. He turned to face her, watching her gesture towards the lock on the chest, " I can not break it myself, but if you could heat it somehow without setting fire to the wood, it should weaken, then I may be able to break it with one of the hammers."

He nodded. "Of course, maddam. As long as you don't smash my hand in the process." he ended with a slight grin. Waltzing over towards the chest, he knelt down besides it and took hold of the lock in his hands. Concentrating, he looked on as the metal lock he gripped beneath his hands began to glow a dim red, gradually brightening. "Tell me when to stop and drop the lock." he stated to Terra.

- - - - - -
Hajarian Ryelliin
Ice Elven Magus -10th Circle

[Koldar Mondrakken]

Koldar bends down to take a peek through the window again and sees that the others are looking for some rope to use for climbing. He sees that Talia looks rather unsure about the following travel route but tries not to show her unease too much. Koldar has no problem with that feeling rather uneasy himself but at the moment he does not see another way so he can very well live with that uneasiness.
He smiles happily at talia and blinks at her.

"Don't worry, Talia, when you fall and something tries to bite you, just bite first. At least That will be what I do when I'm taking a bath!"

Showing her a far too happy smile his face disappears again and he looks for a way to climb up. As his hands find a hold in the decorated ship wall he pulls himself out of his sitting position till his feet find something to rest on.

Slowly he dinds foothold for foothold a way to the next deck wall though now all alone outside the ship and the loud wind around him he cannot stop gritting his teeth. "I hate adventures..."

Koldar Mondrakken, Knight of the Moonlight

[Terra Artemos]

Hajarian comes over and starts heating the lock, and says "Tell me when to stop and drop the lock.". Terra nods her agreement and goes to the closet she had found the tools in and takes a hammer, then returns.

"Be prepared to move your hands quickly when I tell you. I will hit the lock just after you remove your hands so it will not cool to much."

Terra watch to lock, and raises the hammer ready to strike. When it starts glowing a brilliant red she sharply says "Now", beginning her down stroke almost as the mage begins to remove his hands, striking the lock just after his hands were clear, hitting it by luck just in the right place, the lock breaks with a metallic snap and the tinkling of the broken mechanism rattling inside.

Nodding her thanks, Terra draws her dagger and lifts it clear of the flange. Then suspecting the flange itself may he hot as well, uses the tip of her dagger to pry the door open enough that she could get her fingers behind. Being careful not to touch the flange, remembering the pain of the burns she had suffered in the dessert, pulled the door open to find a collection of ropes. There was thick rope like the on used for the rudder, and thin smooth rope that Terra could not think of a purpose for on a ship, and some rope in between that looked like it would normally be used for repairing rigging, but was also perfect for there need. Only then did Terra realize the purpose of the thin smooth rope that did not seem to belong.

Just then Capher asked if they had found and readied the rope.

"I have the rope, it is yet to be prepared."

Terra approaches Capher to speak more readily to him.

"Capher, taking over the ship may not be as easy as it seems.", Terra gestures to the open door and the ropes inside before continuing, "It would appear this is not the first time they have done this, and they may be more prepared than we think. Though I can not be sure they had this much resistance. We must proceed carefully"

'I am grey. All but those like me see only darkness and light, they do not see the grey between them. In this greyness I dwell. I would not wish this fate on any other.'

Terra Artemos Character Description

[Capher]

Capher looked at the rope Terra was pointing too and alluded that the dwarves may be more prepared than we thought.  Capher nodded. "It may be Terra, but we have no choice. I have complete confidence in you all.  Just prepare the rope so that when Koldar says he is ready, Avour can climb up with it and then let it down so then we can climb up also."

Capher.

[Terra Artemos]

"I am not saying I have no confidence in what we are doing, just that we should expect heavier and more co-ordinated resistance."

With this being sead Terra goes back and takes the apropriate rope, thinging of the knots she has learned. All were ment to fasten the rope to something, not for making the rope easier to climb, she had always used a straight rope.

Terra looks to Talia, "I could use your help as I am not femilior with doing this."

'I am grey. All but those like me see only darkness and light, they do not see the grey between them. In this greyness I dwell. I would not wish this fate on any other.'

Terra Artemos Character Description

[Avour]

Quietly Avour follows along in to the room. Capher sits in a corner and write in a book. That strange she-human has something to do with Capher-kin being silly. She thinks to herself. Tilting her head as Capher seems some what let down when the book doesn't reply to him. Talking book? She presses her brows together and watches as Talia comforts him.

Pretty Talia-kin, wish Ava let me be as pretty as Talia-kin, then Avour-halfling be smart With a sigh Avour continues to watch as people move about the room.

"Well Avour are you ready for another adventure?" Capher says to Avour and having been lost in her own thoughts, she is unsure of what he is referring to. Before she gets a chance to answer Koldar butts in, for which she is greatful.

"Well, that sounds like a good idea, though I plan to go up there now. Cannot risk the captain calling for his guards when Avour is detected. I think I can climb that wood though not as well as Avour. Not the first time I play thief, remember?" Handsome Koldar-kin, make nice father. Avour thinks with a small smile on her face.

Nervously Avour raises her right hand behind her ear and starts scratching with a slight frown. She knew that she was wanted to climb something, some where, with rope. But didn't know what, where or how... Her eyes followed Koldar and she looked at him bemused.

<occ - he climbed out side the ship?? I'm not sure where we're meant to be climbing out of other than a whole...>

Avour stops scratching her ear and hick-ups. Covering her mouth with both hands her eyes boggle some. She giggles as she hick-ups again. "Avour-halfling not *hic* drink smelly small-human *hic* drink. Why Avour*hic*ling" She stopps and giggles some more. "*Why Avour*hic*ling hic for?" Avour looks at Terra as she prepares the rope

<hic-uping from nerves... She's unsure - like me, of what she's meant to do...>

Youd be lost if I wasnt here to annoy you - Little Sister speaking to Big Sister... (My sister talking to me)

[Capher]

Capher chuckles. "It's ok Avour.  Once Koldar reaches the top of the ship, checks to make sure everything is ok.  Then I want you to take the rope that Terra and Talia are preparing and climb up the side of the ship.  Koldar will then help you tie it securely to something and then you lower the rope down to us.  Then we all climb up to the top of the ship.  Once there we hope to find the captain and convince him to take us to Milkengrad and forgoe his other plans he may have had for us."

Capher winked, "Just another adventure, Avour. Just be careful you don't fall into the water.  We have some sharks following the ship.  But I complete faith in your skills."

Capher turned to Terra, "Are you ready with the rope yet? I believe Koldar is up on top by now."

Capher.

[Ta'lia of the Seven Jewels]

"Let see!"

Talia takes the rope out of Terras hands and test its strenght and material.

"Well, I donb't know if there are special bends to do to climb up a ship, but those we use with the climbing help on our Aj'nuvics will do as well. I'll show you!"

So Talia shows Terra how to do the knots  and they apply them about every fore.They just have started as Capher asks impatiently if the rope is finished.

"Seems you feel not very well down here,Capher" Talia says to him with a little grin. "But that is no wonder, or is there somthing else???

***Astropic of the day***

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