Welcome newbies to the Alcyone

[delugional]

Who: Crew of the Alcyone
Where: The Alcyone
When: October 21-Nov 1
What: Simple crew mingle with contemplations on life, the universe, and everything this world, what's to come, and maybe even home. Oh, and a boatload of supernatural weirdness following. Literally.
Warnings: Possible violence, undead, and blood-lusting.
Style: Prose or brackets, either is fine
Status: Closed to the crew

The night before...(21rst)

All was quiet for the night, the cleaning finished, the crew in bed, except for one. It was still fairly warm, much cooler than it had been in the southern seas, but they had only left Isla Empieza that morning. The waves to weave and crash upon each other in a soft lull. Clear skies for the most part, the not quite full moon overhead cast some excellent mood light where the lantern nearby wouldn't suffice. Anyone else having trouble sleeping tonight, feel free to go find Archie chilling out on the deck.

Fog, phantoms, and the RPG norm...(22nd)

Being out on the water, fog was a pretty normal occurrence. Warmth of the day with the cool of the night, casting vapors at dawn and dusk. Usually it was quite ethereal. This fog... even more so. It possibly wouldn't be nearly as worrisome if it weren't for how quickly it came rolling in, covering everything in a faded bone chilling haze. And speaking of bone chilling, what was that coming closer.... A ship...? And those figures on board.... PREPARE YOURSELVES!

The morning after...(23rd-end)

Its not all that hard to believe the attack from the night before. Considering the crew, stranger things have happened than mere ghost ships (although ghost ship isn't exactly something they've all had to face before) appearing from nowhere. Perhaps that was what Dog had mentioned about something coming and by sunrise they would.... hey has anyone seen the sun today? And it still feels like something isn't right to the magically sensitive. Something is still going on, and that moon sure doesn't look too friendly either...

Comments

Feel free to come interrupt (21rst)

[delugional]

((ooc: I'm apologizing now for this length OTL))

Archie couldn't sleep. Not that he had slept well the past few nights, but it was less because of fears or worry and more because when things quieted down at night his mind seemed to focus on other things. He took a seat near the rail of the ship, the soft breeze flowing just hard enough to cause the waves to weave and crash upon each other. Despite all that, the normally man who normally seemed so at peace in this world did not appear so even as he stared out over the shimmering waters.

"...Tenstair Excavation Team Company discovered the Heart of the Sea..."

The former leader tied to hold back a grimace at the thought. Old memories of such a similar fateful encounter he had once been a part of trying to rise to the surface. The image of that bright green orb as it glistened in the sunlight after thousands of years trapped in the earth. He may not have been part of the diggers, researchers, or even the leading crew members, but he remembered how ecstatic everyone was to have that ancient treasure of Hoenn finally in hand to return to its alter. One of three sacred treasures to their backwater island home, the Jade Orb had marked the beginning of the end for him. Almost absentmindedly, he reached into his pocket gods know how he much he can really hide in there and pulled out the Rose Orb, rolling it around in hand and giving a slight smile as the moonlight touched it just enough to light it with a deep crimson glow. It wasn't what they were looking for, that much he was certain, but it did leave his mind to wander. "The Heart of the Sea" they called it in the book their team so unwillingly fought to obtain. At least that's what they all agreed the now infamous red ruby they were forced to seek out had to be the same in the book. Ponderisms, though, all they knew for certain of their goal was that it was a large mystical ruby that had the power to take them home.

.... Was that same power what brought them here to begin with? Perhaps it was just from his own experience, a sort of sick fancy sometimes that the orb he kept on his person was whispering to him, but was it possible this world had honestly called them here to find it? After all, they weren't just dropped into this world by some possible sea god's amusement to watch them spend their days fleeing from land to land with no hope of ever belonging here. Well, maybe. But even when they first arrived here they were given an order to seek out this gem, and with the Dog's guidance to stay out of trouble if at all possible, it did seem likely they were called here to help. Which they failed obviously since in the passed few weeks the journals had been overflowing with confusion and rage and terror and wonder of a whole new wave of strangers brought in with the same command. Everyone seemed concerned with wondering where it was, and how to find it, and what it does, but he couldn't help but wonder how it had gotten shattered in the first place and why.

"How would a body keep going if it's heart slowed down...?"

Archie let his hand with the Rose Orb drop as he ran his free hand run through his hair. Why did that have to come to mind now? It was true though. In a way, if their target really was the "Heart of the Sea" or, given the sea's utmost importance to this place, the "heart of the world" being shattered like this it was possible that the world had gone adrift. The heart was broken, weakened, not dead but most definitely lost. Given the natives' lack of concern for the strangers, their hostilities toward the unknown and the sense of dread that seemed to come through their silence on the subject, it was unlikely that they'd ever try to piece it back together with out being forced. Still, Piers' words grated on him. Simple silly phrase that it was from one of their earliest meetings, Archie did still try to figure its meaning. Honestly for all their talk together this past month on sailing, on food, on navigation, on the weather, on theories of the world from other off-worlders, they hadn't spoken much of their home worlds since those early meetings. What he could figure of the young man's uneasiness was either their home world was dying and slowly falling apart, or that it was unpleasant for him and Sheba to avoid the subject so much. Either way, if they found the Heart of the Sea, they wouldn't want to go back to that, would they? Even now they had picked up yet another of their friends from home, so it was possible this might be a continuing thing from their world. Unless they planned to use the wish to somehow restore their world, but even then with only one wish, that would still leave them stuck here wouldn't it?

The sailor had given thought to this before. If there was only one wish to be granted, then would it be a round for all who helped piece the heart back together, or.... Or would the crew have to decide who among them deserved the wish? Their group was small thankfully, but imagine the bloodshed to be had when that time came. Another sick fancy came to mind as a voice inside him suggested maybe they shouldn't go after it at all. After all, monsters aside, and the Navy, it wasn't all that bad here right? And even with those so far this has actually been a pretty fun ride. And with Piers. Ivan and Sheba's world dying, Jade and Luke's racked with war, his own world..... The man slumped back down into his seat with a heavy sigh, and gazed into ball he held up to the lantern light. As much as this resembled the home he wished for, he still had his own world to think about. And a duty to fulfill no matter what it took even if it meant fighting his own crew.

.... What a mess....

INTERRUPT!

[lost_sailor]

"That's a lovely gem."

The tone was low and soft, but the note of curiosity was evident in his step and in his eyes. He wouldn't pry, but he recognized the heavy contemplation in Archie's movements. A good friend of his did the same from time to time, with a gem that was uncannily similar to the one Archie held.

It almost looked like the Mars Star-- the final key to saving his world-- and what he feared that the Piedra Roja might be.

Inexperienced as he was, he still could read people to a degree. He was far older than people realized, and decades of watching his king and the senate have their disagreements had proven valuable from time to time.

Piers simply wanted to see if his comrade was alright, especially if they were to be at sea together in the long term. That, and he was never able to sleep the night through when he heard the night wind in the sails.

He liked to look at the stars.

Stopping a few feet away from Archie, Piers also looked up at the gem held out in the light, and for a moment admired it's beauty.

"What is it?"

oh shit ghosts (23rd, dawn)

[brbvirmire]

Ashley wouldn't call herself a big believer in omens, but it seemed an appropriate term for this fog. A bad omen. Seriously nasty mojo. That kind of thing. It put her on edge, drew her out of her bunk way too early in the morning.

She shivered, drawing her coat closer against the clammy air as she walked up the deck. At least some of this murk ought to clear off once the sun came up...

Then the bells rang out, unnervingly clear compared to the fog-muffled silence of the past night, and shortly afterwards she could see the red lights through the fog.

Ash didn't wait for the ships to come into full view before scrambling down the ladder back into the ship to go wake the others.

[jadethenecromancer]

Jade was still awake, sitting on his bunk with the old genealogy book open in his lap, trying to make sense of the more damaged pages in the dim light. He absently considered getting some sleep when the sound outside made him strain his ears. Were those... bells?

The book forgotten, he leaped from the bed and made a dash for the deck, nearly running straight into Ashley.

"Williams! What's going on?"

[brbvirmire]

"Something's coming," she said, reflexively stepping aside to avoid a collision. "From the looks of it, it's something big. Is anyone else up?"

[jadethenecromancer]

"They will be."

Without another word, he strode back and unceremoniously threw open the door to the crew quarters.

"Everybody up! We may be under attack -- prepare for battle and report to the deck!"

[lost_sailor]

The fog and the low ring of the encroaching bells pulled Piers from his drafts before Jade barked his orders. 'Colonel' Piers recalled, was Jade's title-- one that was enough to give authority, although it was clear that he didn't need it.

He responded quickly, grabbing his blade as he made his way to the decks.

"Jade. Ashley."

His gaze flicked between the two. They were clearly more familiar with an orderly, more regimented style than the one he generally maintained in his actions and demeanor.

The bells rung again, feeling almost like thunder in the silence of the fog. It sent chills down his spine.

They didn't need to explain further.

"This is what the Dog was trying to warn us about, isn't it?"

Open

[jadethenecromancer]

Oct. 26

[Most people would be horrified to find themselves turning into a vampire. Jade was not most people; it was somewhat alarming, yes, but it was difficult not to be fascinated as well. The colonel paid close attention to the changes -- the paling skin, the sharpening canines, the heightened senses -- and even took a blood sample in one of the test tubes he had borrowed from Trucy. It was a shame he had nothing to analyze it with, but old habits die hard.]

[Then he had started to get thirsty. Thirsty for his crewmates' blood. That was probably a bad sign.]

[It was a few days after the battle and Jade had gone rather quiet, staring off into the fog-covered sea. He seemed to tense whenever someone passed by; perhaps it was fortunate that no one had approached him that day.]

[Perhaps you should stay away, too.]


Nov 1

[The dawn broke at last, allowing Jade to leave the Captain's cabin where he had locked himself up. The precaution seemed to have kept him from attacking anyone, though it also meant he hadn't had water or food in... He wasn't sure, actually. Being driven mad with bloodlust makes a man lose track of time.]

Anybody else hungry? I'd kill for a good steak about now.

[...He might faint. Help.]

26th

[lost_sailor]

[The quietness on his crewmate's part was as unnerving a the fog that still lingered over the sea, in Piers' opinion. In the aftermath of the battle, where Jade had taken the forefront by grace of his experience, the changes in his demeanor were quite obvious to Piers.

Perhaps he noticed because of his concern for his crew, especially since more had gone missing in the fog. Or, perhaps he noticed because of his instincts as a healer.

It didn't matter.

The fog was so thick that he could stare into eternity and not find anything.]

Jade.

[His tone was low, as if he were trying to quell a storm before it bubbled forth.]

Do you see anything out there?

[jadethenecromancer]

[Piers' voice brought him back to present -- unfortunately. The emptiness of the fog had helped keep his mind in a kind of meditative state, away from the constant smell of blood.]

[By now he could practically hear his crewmate's blood flow. It made his hands twitch in his pockets.]

No. [His tone was curt.]

[lost_sailor]

[Piers didn't move, stubbornly holding his ground in the face of a potentially volitile encounter. It dawned on him that he barely knew anything about the other man-- just that he was a Colonel and experienced fighter, and that he covered these traits with heavy layers of snark and dry humor.

He couldn't guess anything about Jade's current condition without knowing more, but the tone of voice in which the man had answered told him plenty.]

I see. [He settled back against the wooden mast and listened to the plaintive flap of the sails that they had left open in a desperate attempt to catch a breeze. The cold mist in the air sat on his skin, soaked his headband.]

...I've sailed in fogs like this. We should be glad that there are no spires around. Or whirlpools.

['haste, make haste without waste...lest you meet a watery grave.']

[jadethenecromancer]

[It seemed Piers wasn't just going to leave. Jade sighed, rubbing his temple in resignation. He wasn't sure if the beginnings of a headache came from the lack of blood -- something like dehydration, maybe -- but whatever the cause, it wasn't improving his mood.]

Indeed. Now if only we could avoid any more scuffles with the undead, this trip might almost be worth it.

[It was a fine mess they were in, with even less crew members than they had started with... and this. The curse.]

...Have any of the others reported anything unusual?

26th!

[brbvirmire]

[Ashley was looking a bit hairier since the battle. Today found her out stalking around the deck again, as she'd been doing for much of the past few days; belowdecks was nearly unbearable. The wolf side didn't like being penned in, apparently. Even outside, she was a bit twitchy and irritable.

Certainly it would be wiser to stay away, but Jade's presence on deck annoys her. He doesn't smell right.]

Well? What are you looking at?

[jadethenecromancer]

[Jade found himself involuntarily wrinkling his nose. Ashley was the only one in the crew whose blood he felt no craving for, but that wasn't much of a comfort -- her smell had turned unpleasant since the fight, even more so as his senses had begun to pick it up from further away. It was irritating.]

Obviously I'm looking at the fog. There isn't much else to look at, you know.

[brbvirmire]

[It was worse at close range. Ash could practically feel her fur stand on end (and wow, just having fur was still all kinds of weird and Not Okay.)]

Oh, excuse me. I just thought there might be a reason you're sitting around.

[... besides the fact that they were going nowhere in the fog, so there wasn't much to do. Really, it was just an excuse to hassle him.]

[jadethenecromancer]

Why not? The view is less of an eyesore than certain faces on this ship.

[Not that he was referring to her or anything.]

[23rd, dawn]

[bitty_blue_brother]

[The bells were the first thing Hubert had heard as he slowly slid out of slumber with the coming of the new day. Though a little worried about their coming, it isn't until Jade's authoritative voice rings out over them that he snaps to full alertness, suddenly very conscious of approaching danger. He sits up in the bed he shares with Asbel and tries to shake his brother awake.]

Asbel, wake up! We're under attack!

***

[Hubert doesn't want to be on deck when there are bad guys around, but at the same time it doesn't seem like a good idea to hide out below in cramped quarters. Besides, he'd feel a little guilty about doing something like that. If everyone else was pulling their weight, then so should he. Somehow.

After picking up a sword from a fallen ghost soldier, Hubert goes to hide behind some crates -- excuse me, I mean, "lie in wait to spring a surprise attack on an enemy." Unfortunately, a group of other ghosts get the jump on him first, managing to corner him. Someone please save this kid!]

on deck!

[brbvirmire]

[Hubert. Hubert, no.

Ash is nearby, trying to drive ghosts away from the helm with another salvaged sword, as she'd determined bullets were doing little to dissuade the invaders. Better to save the thermal clips, as they're less replaceable than swords at the moment. She saw Hubert run behind the crates, and she's already moving in that direction when the ghosts start to converge on his hiding place.]

What are you doing? You should be below!

[bitty_blue_brother]

S-stay away!

[The cry isn't directed at Ashley, of course, but at the ghost soldiers approaching Hubert. He clutches his pilfered weapon tightly, holding it out defensively in front of him. He eyes a gap in their ranks, trying to decide if he could survive making a run for it or not. But his mind refuses to work through the haze of fear.]

Don't come any closer! Y-you'll regret it...

[This is his poor attempt at channeling Asbel's bravado.]

[brbvirmire]

Just stay there, I'll run them off!

[She goes in swinging. It's clear she's no expert with the sword; a more experienced swordfighter would likely wipe the floor with her, but her swings are at least as powerful as they are clumsy. It's helping somewhat, anyway, creating a bigger gap in the crowd.]

[bitty_blue_brother]

[Ashley's swordswinging skills may be crude, but to a scared little kid like Hubert, she's as graceful as any trained knight of Windor. Eyes wide, he backs up against the nearest hardest surface, waiting for the right moment to flee.]

Good luck with that.

[curries]

[Asbel groans and buries his head under an arm. It's bad enough someone's shouting while he's trying to get a little shut eye, but now someone else's shaking him? Probably Hubert.]

[Mutter mumble.] ...'top it okay? Go by yourself...

[bitty_blue_brother]

Asbel, this is serious! We have to go!

[Shaking him more insistently now. Don't make Hubert whap you with a pillow.]

[curries]

[Asbel groans again, finally prying his eyelids open and peering groggily at his brother. He isn't too happy about it either.]

Go where?

[If it isn't going back to sleep, he doesn't really want to, and besides, they're on a boat. But he's also starting to pick up the fact that Hubert's terrified. That, at least, gets him to swing his legs over the edge of the bed and rub at his eyes.]

What's going on now?

[bitty_blue_brother]

J-Jade just said we're being attacked!

[By other pirates? But what was up with the bells, then?]