Title: A Ship On Our Tail
Author: Zea
Date: Sat Apr 9 2005

The night's watch noticed something strange in the distance across the water. Along the horizon where there is no land were lights. Word was sent to the Captain and the two ships were quickly filled with activity. Whispers of a good old pirate attack and fight circulated, while more seasoned sailors glared at the younger men and told them they'd better hope it isn't a pirate ship. When the Captain arrived on deck he sought the aid of the other wind mage to bring in a fog to mask the Amarada and the Makara from the strange ship. The distance was too great to identify the ship and so Atlantean crewmembers were called in to scout the waters around the two ships, in case they were being led into an ambush. One of the younger Atlantean women was seen shifting into a dolphin and took off for a couple hours to investigate the ship. She returned with some troublesome news, the flag appeared to be black, the sign of a pirate. With the help of the ship's cartographer a plan was put into action to lead the Amarada and the Makara towards land and into a series of coves to sit in wait on the pirate vessel. Both ships are ordered to sail silent and dark until orders come from the Captain that say otherwise.

OOC: Just so everyone knows, the two ships have pulled in towards land and are hiding in a small cove, out of site of the sea and the pirate ship. If you RP this weekend, please be aware of that fact, we are *not* out at sea at the moment. We are looking to RP the pirate attack sometime on Sunday (though we have no definite time yet, this was a spur of the moment scene that sprung from RP, nothing was planned ahead for this event.) If you have any questions you can ask me, or speak with staff if I'm not around.

Title: An Embarrassing Mistake
Author: Sailor Chat
Date: Sun Apr 10 2005

It could have happened to anyone, really, but it happened to the crew of the Amarada. After holding up for a day in a foggy cove the two ships finally set out to chase down the pirate ship that had been trailing them. The surprising event has tongue wagging all over the Amarada and it did not take long for the news to reach the Makara either.

Mathias (Matty): Had us all excited to go and hun' down some them pirates and what do we get? Nothin'! Not even a piece a' treasure to claim as my own.

Jaron: I got in a slice or two before the capt'in stared yellin' about stoppin' and headin' back to the Am'rada. Not 'nough ta kill or nuttin, but damn tha' fel' good! I cannae believe it wasn' a real pirate ship, takes all th' fun outta it.

Matty: You daft mate, The Defiant be a pirate ship jus' as any other be, don' let that red-headed temptress fool ya. Didja see tha' kiss she gave the cap't? They knows each other they do, tha's why he stopped th' fightin'. He's even offerin' up our healers to fix 'em up. Don' know wha's up, but we're all suppos' ta fix up our own and remain beside tha' ship. Don' know wha' the capt'in has planned, but sounds like we ain't see the en' of the Defiant.

Jaron: I saw that alright, bold lil' minx sh' is. I tell ya though I don' envy the capt'in wha' he's gonna deal with from tha' woman of 'is. Did ya see her? Swear she coulda burn'd a hole in that otha ship's hull with the glare she was givin' that other capt'in. So what's gonna happen now you suspect?

Matty: Ya deaf? Said I didn' know. Think I kin read minds like them fishies?

Title: Unfair punishments?
Author: Angry Sailors
Date: Wed Apr 13 2005

"Did you hear what happened? Can you believe it?"

"All it was was a small fight between sailors."

"Nearly killed that Sylvan he did."

"Of course that wind mage doesn't get punished, that's what you get when you sleep with the captain."

"I heard he knocked that Sylvan so hard that he couldn't walk straight."

"That colorful Empyrean put the fear of the gods in them, that's for sure."

"Negri's punishment is too harsh if you ask me, just a simple brawl, they happen all the time."

Statements such as these can be heard all over the two boats after an evening of drinking turned bad. Seems things got a a bit heated when a bit of ale was accidently spilled. Some of those who where were there swear that Soft-Feather transformed into a great beast, but others call that nonsense, that he just yelled at the sailor who backed into him. The fight got ugly and even after the Sylvan apologized for his temper Negri, the other sailor, hauled off and smacked the Sylvan upside the head with his mug, knocking Soft-Feather unconscious. Two Empyrean sprung to his aid, the painted winged Aurelio and the wind mage Zea, the later taking the brunt of Negri's drunken anger. When Negri departed with his friends those there say they felt a great gust of wind and that Negri stumbled into a crate. Others claim the man was just drunk. In any event, Negri told the wind mage that this wasn't the end of it and the tension has been felt ever since. Negri finally backed down as Aurelio confronted him. In the morning it was revealed that Negri's punishment for the assult on Soft-Feather would be additional shifts and a dock in his pay. The Second spoke for a long while with the wind mage in the Chart Room, but as to what her punishment is, neither will say which leaves some to speculate that she got off without any punishment at all.

Title: Arrival in Njororn
Author: Eos
Date: Sat Apr 16 2005

The two ships sailed into Njororn waters to find an odd sight, basically there was nothing to see. No Aesir longboats came out to meet the approaching ships, no fishing vessels where spotted in the region and there was no one at the docks when they arrived. Atlantean scouts where sent out into the water to search for any possible ambush. The Najada - the northern Atlanteans - are known to be a warlike race and the captain did not want to be ambushed. The Empyrean crew-members took to the skies to fly over the town and then drop to earth to further investigate. The ships were left with a partial crew and they were not anchored. Should they come across an ambush the captain wanted to get out of there as soon as possible.

But it seems there has not been much at all to find. The businesses near the shore look untouched. The blacksmith and shipwright buildings are neat and tidy, like their owners cleaned up after a day's work and left their shops for the evenings with every intention of returning. But no one has yet been found. The group ventured further into the town, thinking they might find someone in the tavern. The stone building would be a good hiding place but when the crew members entered all they found was a foul stench of ale, piss, blood and other unsavory body by-products mixed into the bed of straw that covered the floor. A few items were taken away from the tavern. Epi was seen picking some items out of the straw and Lyri was ordered to take some of the foul-smelling ale back to the ship. Perhaps with some of the other crewmembers skilled in herbalism they might find out what is in the ale. Even in the tavern nothing seemed to have been stolen, though many of the chairs and tables were broken or overturned. The search through the village goes on. Crew members are ordered to not travel alone and not to eat or drink anything they find in the town until they determine what happened to the people that lived there.

OOC: We've paused the RP in the middle of the exploration of the town. We'll be continuing tomorrow (Sunday the 17th) roughly around 2pm EST. Even if you weren't around for today everyone is still welcome to join in tomorrow, there's still more to examine and find! If you have any questions, please speak with Eos.

Title: Shift in Rank
Author: Flynn
Date: Sat Apr 16 2005

The day before the two ships arrived in Njororn port, sailor Aurelio challenged the second officer of the Makara for his position, pointing out several moments of laxity on the part of the officer. Per the rules of the Code, the two sailors were put to a number of tasks and duties and scenarios with Mister Burke and Captain Xaverius as judges to their speed, accuracy, skill, and reasoning abilities. By the end was decided that the second officer indeed was not able to hold his own as capably as seasoned sailor Aurelio, and the position of second officer of the Makara was passed on to the colorful Empyrean.

OOC Note: Aurelio OOC'ly requested a shift in position and due to some RP and the need for more PC senior staff he has been made the second officer of the Makara. We were unfortunately unable to RP this, but perhaps if the opportunity arises we will be able to have a back scene. In the meanwhile, he is now an authority figure on the Makara, but not on the Amarada unless instructed to act as such. Questions, concerns, or silly drivel should be directed to Flynn. Many thanks!

Title: Captain Away!
Author: Sebastian
Date: Mon Apr 18 2005

With the recent horrific discovery made this day, several things have been decided. The Amarada and the Makara will stay in an attempt to figure out exactly what has happened and to give the dead bodies found a proper funeral pyre and cast their ashes out to sea. They are also on the alert for either returning and/or visiting Aesir or the enemy, be they Najada or other. If the Aesir come, Mister Burke will need to convince them of their innocence of the crime, using his long association with Captain Demetrius and his own reputation to convince them of their innocence and honor along with the help of the entire crews of both ships. Why Mister Burke and not the Captain? Because Sebastian has taken it upon himself to act as ambassador and fly word of this news and what has happened here to the city of Idavoll in the hopes of creating a bond of trust and good faith as well as to alert the Aesir that there is a threat within their midst. His orders however stand as thus. The ships are to remain and do the best that they can, but not at the cost of either ship or the crew. Should the Aesir be unconvinced and decide to attack, both ships are to defend themselves as need be and flee these waters - with or without their captain.

OOC Note: This is not me getting to have a grand adventure without the rest of you. ;) I'm not going to be available to be on for the next two days and with the way today played out (I'm as much in the dark on this TP as the rest of you) it seemed a good way to get me out from under foot ICly and explain why I'm not around. Many thanks everyone and have fun! :)

Title: Horrors found in Njororn
Author: Eos
Date: Mon Apr 18 2005

"Th' stench was horr'ble it was, never smelled nothin' like it in me life and I hope I nev'r do again."

"I'll take tha' stench over the sight a all them bodies. Disgustin' foul play that was."

"Crazy one-ey'd 'rati wen' in and dragged on a them out to poke around at it. Glad I didn' get pulled inna all that. 'Bout lost me lunch. Some others did. That prissy birdie los' hers just from enterin' that barn. That red-hair'd chit los' hers too I saw.

Vile news spreads back to the two ships of the gruesome sight found in one of the barns in the town. After searching Njororn and finding it shockingly empty a horrible discovery was made by one of the search parties. Sealed in the stalls of one of the bars are the bloated bodies of most of the townspeople, women and children mostly. The sight had more than one sailor rushing for some fresh air, the stench of all those bodies could make even the strongest sailor tear up and gag. But where are the men? While there were some men found, they were either very young or very old. The town has warriors, but where are they? What happened to them and why are they not here to protect their town?

Crew members will be taking shifts of duty. Some will remain on the ships to serve as protection while the others will be in town building pyres and looking for anything they can find to wrap the bodies in. The captain is determined that these poor souls will have as proper a funeral as the Amarada and Makara can provide. Bodies will need to be moved out of the barn, but no one will be forced to take on this horrific task, it is strictly voluntary. However, those who cannot stomach that task will be put to work building the pyres and finding sheets and blankets.

Title: Puzzle pieces
Author: Epi
Date: Mon Apr 18 2005

At first, Muirea Epi was tagging along with the rest of the crew as they investigated the strangely vacant town, despite not being much of a warrior. Figuring if they finally did discover anything, she'd only be in the way while others dealt with it, Epi made her way back to the docks to wait word on what was happening next. It was too much to hope that leaving soon would be the option, no matter how much she wanted to go.

The slight Atlantean young woman sat on the edge of the docks, looking at the water, for the scent and taste of death lingered there, and was as noisome and unsettling to her as the smells on land were to the land dwellers. But she wouldn't remain alone for long.

Two creatures approached the dock... a pale Beluga whale and an orca. Being from the south natively, Epi had not seen many of these types at all, and their behavior was odd. Were they shifters like she? She slipped into the water to see if perhaps they were hurt. They were not, nor were they shifters, but companions to two others.

Strange creatures they were. Pale as the froth of the sea crashing upon an unyielding reef, with dark, dark eyes like seals... and delicate wings upon their backs like those of an insect. Rusalki. Eloyna Cyrene, the elder of the rusalki, introduced Epi to her niece Eloyna Rhian, and their respective bond mates of Jiun the beluga and Khyo the orca.

Unfortunately, they were as mystified about the fates of the villagers as the crews of the Amarada and Makara, though they had their own suspicions that it may have been the Najada who did the evil deed. Epi and the rusalki parted ways, the Atlantean taking the news back to the captain and the rest of the crew as the rusalki went to the deeper waters to see if they could discover any more with the promise to return.

What's Epi's take on it? Grisly murders, deaths, and danger aside... rusalki have /wings/! Even if they can't fly in the air, it's not -fair!-. Hmph.

Title: Accident at the Barn
Author: Zea
Date: Tue Apr 19 2005

With the pyre finished and the crews bundling up the bodies in blankets in preparation for burning them it seemed as if the gods were smiling on the crew. At least, as much as gods could smile on something so horrible. But as two of the sailors, Soft-Feather and Aurelio, were in the barn getting the last couple of bodies out the rafters began to creak and without warning they crashed down on the two. The reason for the collapse could be attributed to many things. The barn is obviously old and with some members of the crew tearing down the roof to use it for kindling there isn't too much reason to believe it was anything but age and stress. Trapped inside the barn, the two were aided by the wind mage, Zea, who was nearby helping to spread out the makeshift shrouds. Anyone who might have expected herculean efforts from the wind mage were disappointed for her efforts were not quite visible. The weight of the roof was just too much for her to do much more than add a bit of strength to the half-shifted Soft-Feather and Aurelio keep the beams up above their heads long enough to squeeze out to safety. The Sylvan seemed to have emerged unhurt, save for some splinters in his hands, but Aurelio seemed to have taken the brunt of the injuries where were seen to by Lyri. The healer also saw to an upset and scowling wind mage who was sent back to the ship with her magic-induced headache. The rest of the bodies have been removed and Aurelio has ordered the barn secured so that no one else is accidently trapped inside.

Title: Attack!
Author: Eos
Date: Thu Apr 21 2005

As the sun rose over Njororn this morning a few members of the crew headed towards the gigantic pyre that had been lit the night before. All had different reasons for going, but those that did were respectful. Prayers and songs were offered to the dead and there seemed to be nothing to do but wait for the pyre to extinguish itself.

But there was to be no peace today. The thing most of the crew had been fearing since they discovered the bodies in the barn is that their fellow Aesir would stumble across them before an explanation could be offered. With the captain still gone, the crews of the Amarada and Makara can only sit and wait and hope he gets to Idavoll before they are discovered. That hope was dashed when an Aesir ship called The Skelfing was sailing in nearby water, say the massive plume of smoke and sent a scouting party over land to investigate. Because few people speak the Aesir language the reasons for the attack were not easily determined, only that they were suddenly set upon by five well-armed and furious warriors intended on killing anyone they could get their hands on. Aesir fought members of the two crews until Mister Burke arrived with the rest of the ships' crews to bring a halt to the fighting. As Burke has traveled those waters for well for twenty years he was well-versed in the Aesir language and was able to bring the scouting party to see reason, but not before a few members of the crew were injured, some severely. Most of the crew still does not know all that was between the Aesir leader and the First Mate, but when it was all said and done it seems that the Aesir scouts have been invited to stay on the Amarada and Makara until word arrives from Idavoll or three days have passed. If no word comes in three days, the two ships will travel to Idavoll with The Skelfing to explain what happened in Njororn.

Mister Burke has made it clear that the Aesir are to remain on deck when they are on the ships and are not permitted to go below, nor are they permitted to eat from the ship's stores. A hunting party was suggested and it is likely that such a trip will take place while the ships wait for word from Idavoll. The Aesir are expected to behave themselves and have been reminded time and again that the two crews could overpower them in necessary and any misstep by the Aesir is to be reported to Mister Burke immediately.

Title: Message from Idavoll
Author: Eos
Date: Mon Apr 25 2005

Tensions between the Aesir and the crewmembers has not been as tense as was first thought. The Aesir have been abiding by the rules set down by Mister Burke in the captain's absence. As the second day drew to a close, a messanger bird arrived from Idavoll, bearing with it information the crew had eagerly been awaiting. It seems that the captain has made it to Idavoll in one piece and was able to speak with the Hoevding (the Aesir chieftan), but not everything has gone as planned. The message comes from one of the city's Jarls, stating that the captain will be held in Idavoll until such a time that he crew might arrive in Idavoll and explain just what is going on in Njororn. There was also mention of the two ships offering their service to the Aesir of Idavoll, but with the short message there was not room for elaboration. No further explanation as to how the captain was being treated were forthcoming but a couple of the Aesir suggested that he would likely not be treated as an honored guest.

And so the two ships, accompanied by The Skelfing, left the deserted shore of Njororn and heading northwest, to the walled city of Idavoll.

OOC Note: The two ships will be set back in the ocean Tuesday morning, so please get back to the ships. We'll probably hit Idavoll on Wednesday or Thursday. If you need any more information or have any questions, please feel free to ask.

Title: Arrival in Idavoll
Author: Eos
Date: Thu Apr 28 2005

The three ships, the Amarada, Makara and Skelfing, arrived in Idavoll this afternoon in record time, thanks to the aid of the ship's wind mage. A contingent of Aesir warriors was awaiting the arrival of the foreigners, but there was no immediate celebration of their arrival, but rather some unspoken distrust. The crew members of the Skelfing were taken to speak with the city's Hoevding (their chieftan) and the crew members of the Amarada and Makara were offered entry into the city, but under the watchful eye of the city's citizens.

No word has been offered as to the location or state of the Amarada's captain, only that he is still alive and he will be freed shortly. Crew members are permitted into the city during the day, though they will never travel alone. There will always be at least two Aesir watching what they do and where they go and by sundown all non-Aesir are expected to return to their ships. Overnight stays in the city are currently forbidden. No one is quite sure yet what is expected of the crew members, only that the Hoevding expects their help in regards to the tragedy at Njororn.

OOC Note: We've reached the city of Idavoll and we'll try to have a welcome scene on Friday afternoon EST. Until then, respect the rules set forth in the rumor post and assume that you're never alone in the city. If you have a question about something, don't hesitate to ask.