Post by Joliette Thorne on Jul 17, 2008 6:34:38 GMT -5
Myrall groans and rolls over as she slowly starts to regain consciousness, still not truly awake she clutches her cloak closely round her body and sinks back into blissful sleep.
Leoxander suffered a small nap, a light snooze, to recover from the amount of liquor consumed at that wedding, and the pub to follow. But long before anyone else might stir, from and afternoon rest, the lycan was grumbling and opening his eyes in time to see Sam the Rat running off his desk to seek refuge a floor above. Rubbing out the crink in his neck, he stood up and moved over to check on Myrall at once, having propped the Dwarf against some barrels with his duster a makeshift blanket. Still asleep? Good, it was time to set off. Now where was Tenebrae?
Tenebrae was attempting to struggle up the rope ladder with a large, wiggly dog slung over her shoulders, which wasn't really working all that well. "Mmph, Jack, dun lick me... ugh no, bad dog!" Her face was scrunched aside, and balance was precarious. How did Leo do this? She thought of the sling she'd had built for hoisting Saiyah aboard, but the thing was up top. She'd holler for a crewmate, if there was one available. Jack seemed to be having a good time, if the wag of his tail was not simply in anticipation of being reunited with Leoxander.
Leoxander couldn't ignore the noise Tenebrae was making, once he heard her and the dog. A heavy sigh, and he was glad that Myrall still seemed out of it, to the point they might just make it without problems. He shoved open the twin doors at the top of the steps carelessly, jogging to the side of the ship where Jack's head suddenly poked up, but he was probably thrashing a bit in discomfort. Leo normally kept him held by the scruff to kind of paralyze him, which was worse. Somehow, that mutt still loved his companion, and would scramble over the side into his arms before being tossed aside. Leo's hands pressed to Tenebrae's ribs and he stood from his crouch, hoisting her to her feet up and onto planks that swayed tediously toward the water. Balance would be maintained, so long as she held on.
Leoxander said to Tenebrae, "Is this all you brought?"
Leoxander gestured toward the dog.
Tenebrae poked the pirate in the ribs. "You should have got a parrot, they dun weight much and don't lick." She glanced aside to Jack. "Y'alright, Polly?" She did indeed hang on, though less to keep her balance than simply indulge in the act itself. Peridot eyes shifted toward the hatch. "She's not awake yet?" The vampiress sought his unevenly-coloured gaze, fingers brushing a swathe of hair out of the way for a better view, and she'd grin, then. "I don't hear any hollering."
Leoxander let his hands linger on her waist just a moment, taking a moment to look toward her recently licked features. Maybe next time he should insist to be carried up that ladder. Damn dog. "We're gonna need more than rum an' a dog for this lil' expedition. I'm not sure I can do this on my own, still..." It would be a challenge to try, but what if he decided to shift in the middle of sea and destroyed his crew, priestess and all? Apparently this was a risk Tenebrae was willing to take. "Extra rigging for the sails. Guns are almost out of powder. Not to mention my pouch is nearly empty. Wasn't that crazy eyed San-michel at the wedding?"
Tenebrae huffed softly, and pointed back to the beach. "Got plenty of rope in the cove. Flour, salt, limes. We could do with meat and the rest. Shall I send Maladroit to fetch Sanmichel, then?" She thought about the possibility of a shift mid-ocean, frowning. "A giant aboard might be just the thing. Or a few strong deckhands." That grin was back. "I could always tie you to a bunk?"
Leoxander said, "I don't know that I want him on the ship, but he'd definitely have the supplies we need." His eyes caught enough light from the cove to shine when he looked that way, a slight nod given. His hands would fall from her waist and he'd walk to the edge, curling his fingers into the weather worn wood. So eager to be out to sea, he was already daydreaming of it. "We'll be alright, either way. Might consider an extra hand on board."
Leoxander lifted his head to sniff the air around him, squinting his eyes into the dark. He remains quiet for awhile, listening to a voice in his ear.
Tenebrae nodded, her own hands finding the rail. "I'll send the goblin out, see who he can find." The creature, who still preferred his former shipboard home in the crow's nest, was even now peering down to the couple below. "Maladroit! Ashore, and fetch us a crew?" Long minutes later, during which Tene would enjoy a quiet moment with the Cap'n, a similar look in her eyes as she scanned the horizon, and the familiar was grumbling his unwieldy self down the ladder, wheezing some ill-spoken curses as he took up oars too long for his little arms, and started rowing to the beach.
Leoxander mumbled to himself "Well there's a willing subject..." But was this a good thing? Not necessarily.
Leoxander gripped into the railing, shaking his head much like Jack would try to shake sand from his ears. A gruff sound in his throat and he'd lift his slightly sun-spotted nose to the sky, squinting through the cove in order to see it. "We should leave by sunrise... I hope you've figured out where we're going."
Tenebrae said to Leoxander, "I thought..." She averted her gaze from the sea, the Cap’n, stared at her hands as she thought of her first journey there. "... there's an island I found. Interesting place, secluded. Perfect for this."
Leoxander turned slowly toward the newcomer, really glad that somehow they wouldn't have to deal with helping someone onto the ship. Pacing back from the bow, a smirk crossed his features. "Maybe that was worth the extra gold?"
Tenebrae bent for he pack she'd somehow hauled aboard with Jack, who was snuffling after the rat as usual, and took out a tightly scrolled parchment. This was handed to Leo. "Chart's there. Rough though, we lost our navigator.." Then she realised there was somebody else aboard and eyed her narrowly. Tene was a bit territorial that way.
Leoxander looked over toward Tenebrae again, reaching out for the map that he paused when he'd first start to open it. A nudge given in Hayvin's direction, right down to business. "What're you talents? Nothin'? Not even a cartwheel?" Tenebrae might interrupt that display if she could in fact do such a move.
Hayvin bows to Tenebrae. " I am sorry for the inconvenience, I was recently turned and I have lost all my abilities... I need to learn a new ay to fight."
Leoxander gives Tenebrae a look that communicates without words. It was coin, and gold solved problems, and they needed a crew. What harm could this helpless girl be?
Tenebrae'd be more likely to interrupt it with a sword. She gave Leo a sharp look. "Who's this, then?"
Jaidin was fetched by the lovely little goblin; taken from his 'woe is me' pitiful existence at his home. Grumbling all the way (one would suppose he should be happy for the second chance at life), he finally made it to the ship. To have gold stuffed into his hands. Having not spoken in... a considerably long time, the stiff undead merely stared at the girl.
Leoxander said, "Just someone I met on Kelay. She was nice enough not to go complaining to the authorities when someone caught me looting a pocket. -Don't look at me like that, it doesn't happen often."
Leoxander would wear a fairly blank look seeing Jaidin move, and his eyes would dart to Maladroit. Then at last he would look back at Tenebrae and ask with a slight grimace. "You didn't..."
Tenebrae's brow was hitched up, and she eyed the woman again. "You want me to fight her?" The vampiress did not look all that opposed to the idea, especially if the female'd been hanging around her Captain. "And I did. Terra was sad. And.. all."
Jaidin nods by way of saying 'you're welcome', then moves past this stranger to come stand semi-near Tenebrae; for some odd reason, he felt like he owed her. In the background there, he tried to clear his throat... Where was whisky?
Leoxander raised a hand to rub some of the hair from his eyes as though suffering a sudden headache, and he'd look back up to the corpse of Traye. Stiff or not, he was still one of their most reliable men. "Bloody hell... this is goin' to be the weirdest lot to ever sail..." His attention was eventually turned back toward Hayvin.
Hayvin looks at the ones around her and a sudden feeling of fear hits her, what would happen if the Vampress attacks her, she was defenceless.
Tenebrae rolled her eyes, a curt tone inflecting her voice as she spoke to Hayvin. "Stop lookin' like such a jellyfish is your first lesson. Smarten up, show some confidence even if you don't feel it." She didn't move to put her armour on, yet. "So what do you know, and what do you want to know?" She wasn't going to attack a weakling, without a good reason. And she'd fed, pretty recently.
Leoxander paces half a circle around the lone elf, and back again. Yes, a vampire, an undead (or so he would appear), and a lycan... and here this poor girl was suddenly in their mercy without even knowing how she'd arrived. "Well, best way to learn would be to practice. Tene, you could... maybe gimme a hand, here. But go easy on 'er, just at first, would you?" He shot his scarred mate a look from the corner of his eyes, messy hair hiding most of the wicked gleam.
Jaidin looked up at Leoxander all of a sudden, his one eye wide with what might have been fear... "Sail?" his voice croaked out from behind parched lips; it was a grotesque sound, but with the lycan likely having spent several weeks at sea... He'd hopefully be able to understand 'dying-of-thirst-speech'.
Tenebrae shot him a look right back that might have curdled his whisky, if he'd had one. "Yes, dear..."
Hayvin looks over at Tenebrae a bit more relaxed now that she was spoken to. " Well, before I mastered the elements so I never learned how to fight physically, I am fast and I have good balance, that is about it."
Leoxander cast a bored look in Jaidin's direction to remark sarcastically. "Well, don't tell me you got anythin' better to do."
Tenebrae nodded, having started strapping her armour in place. "Swords or knives?" She grinned and added, "Or we could slug it out bareknuckle?"
Hayvin opens her vest to reveal a dozen small throwing daggers and there was another larger dagger on her waist. Two more concealed in either bootstrap and no sword at all.
Leoxander turned toward the cabin wall along side tall oak doors, approaching it and walking passed Traye. Noticing how parched the corpse like being would appear, he'd nudge his jaw in the direction of stairs that led to the ship's underbelly. "There's a bag of reserve and spirits next to the drunk." He wouldn't need to explain more than that. A drunk dwarf was hard to miss.
Leoxander said, "Least you came prepared..." This remarked with a glance over his shoulder, and he'd pry open the lock on the front of that weapon rack, removing a rusty cutlass and a weather worn quarterstaff, carved in a pirate's spare time. "Now, you might get a little bruised up..."
Jaidin sank back visibly at that look-- perhaps not the look itself, but most definitely the confirmation. At Leoxander's remark, however, the assassin did his best to try to mold his face into the expression resembling 'hardy har har'... He could be heard croaking out curses as he fumbled slowly-- like a ninety-year-old man-- through his cloak; likely trying to find that drink.
Jaidin stopped at Leoxander's remark, and seemed rather grateful. "If I'm sailing, I'd best be drunk," he snorted to the Captain. But with a nod of thanks, and eternal appreciation -- though wondering whether it was any longer possible to be drunk -- he walked to those large oak doors. With a visible gulp for bravery, he creaked one half open, and then slid his narrow frame between the opening. And down, down into the depths of darkness, where the sea roiled the ship about and one could feel the strange vertigo tenfold than above deck. Oh, joy. But for the whisky, press on!
Hayvin was a small frail little thing, once able to hold her own in any battle was now lost in her own skin. The turning, by Shishi washed away her connections to nature and now she was already beginning to hate nature as it didn't respond to her will. Even healing caused her more pain then it was worth and she was suddenly hungry for blood. She stood there like a weak twig, ready to break under the weigh of her new need to wear armor and it practically swallowed her up. Her black hair hung low past her hips and her entire attire was adorned with sparkly, reflective twinkles of her dozens and dozens of concealed blades. A pouch on either hip held about twenty or so Shirukins, easily thrown and penetrating to most targets. She had good aim but was as of yet unable to take much of a actual hit.
Tenebrae 's lips curved to a subtle smile when she perused the woman's arsenal, her own slight frame now clad in light armours that wouldn't bulk her down in a fight that would prove faster than swordplay. She wouldn't reveal all of the various weapons stashed about herself. Lesson two. But Hayvin would have to figure that out for herself. The vampiress made as though to pick up another bit of armour, slipped a wicked little dagger from a sheath ensconced between her ample cleavage and palmed it, and with a lithe motion that appeared only as though she was gaining upright stance again followed through with a smooth flick of wrist that's send the weapon riveting in a silver blur through the air between the two. Tene's perfected aim would angle it toward Hayvin's shoulders, rather than some vital organ.
Leoxander took a moment to watch Jaidin's fumbling, just a little amused by the assassin's stealthy technique, but he would keep that cruel humor to himself. A crack of his neck as he stood to face the two facing off on the boat, and he'd toss the heavy stick on the planks with a clatter. It might be good for training, but the cutlass was preferred in his hands. Twin daggers were buckled to his ribs, and possibly other things fully concealed in black armor. He took a moment to look over this scrawny looking elf, and had his doubts. "Alright then, Princess. Hit us..." It was as simple as that. He twirled the rusty, sailor styled blade in his left hand.
Leoxander would realize a moment later someone was quick on the trigger. He should have expected that.
Meanwhile, as the fight ensued updeck, the newly undead man did his oh-so-best to voyage into the underbelly of the ship. First thing to get over: the stairs. Muttering more curses though it hurt his throat, the determined-to-drink Traye actually turned around on the first step, so that he faced the way he had come. Fingers took some coaxing to wrap around the edge of the staircase; but, they did a decent grip, and now it was the legs' effort. Slowly he extended his left leg behind him, and wincing at the load creak of his right knee as it bent, his left foot was able to touch the stair behind him. All right! Only five or so more to go...
Hayvin watches Tenebrae fix herself up and is unaware of the thrown projectile until it was too late. She had been in many a battle before and was used to pain and the sharp dagger too root just under her collar bone where the joint of her shoulder meets. She looks down as the pressure gives notice of pain soon too follow and with a quickness she unlatches her hip pouches and sends a handful of shining stars to the female, she drops into a roll and yanks the blade from her shoulder. " Ow." is all she said.
Aerindir moves onto the deck of the ship, for the moment just quietly observing the others, while showing the others the respect due to Leoxander, Tenebrae and Jaidin. Upon doing so, he just leans across the railing, unintrusive really, for the moment.
Lesson three: wear armour, and keep your weapons at hand in strange company. Hayvin might learn this by the way her target had time to leap, and skive up a handy bit of rigging-rope so that the deadly stars whizzed past flailing boots rather than lodging anywhere painful. One of the nasty little weapons did manage to stick in thick leather, even draw blood that trickled to fill her boot and force Tene to waste precious time kicking it free with her other foot. So, her pupil liked to throw things? Harder to do in close proximity, which had been her plan in jumping for the rope. She planted her heels to the mast and kicked off, swinging hard through the saline air, twisting in place so it'd be sharpened heels that were aimed Hayvin's way, whether the woman was under them when she landed or not. Either way, pale fists were bunched, in one of them another dagger, a corrupt and snake-like blade stolen from some dark temple or other, and this would be swept in a graceful arc from left shoulder to right hip, though little pressure was behind the strike. Whatever ensued, she'd make an effort to step back now, taking the same wary stance as the pirate, who wasn't far away. His turn, she thought.
Leoxander let go of a heavy sigh as he watches the expert throw land as aimed, and of course she'd going to buckle under the first wound. "Yanno, we don't really have a healer available..." Sure, they had one, but was she conscious? Not for a few hours. Suddenly wildly thrown stars are chucked in Tenebrae's general direction, but the thief is still jumping out of the way to dodge one or two of them, since the girl mentioned her lack of practice. A sharp clang of connecting metal and causing one to ricochet into the deck planks. "Damn, watch the dog!" Poor Jack, so forgotten, he was scrambling through the oak doors and willing to take refuge whether Jaidin was below or not. Hopefully he didn't knock a struggling assassin over, rushing by like that. Leo turned in time to witness Tenebrae's vicious counter attack, and staying close to the wall to avoid any more randomly thrown objects, he gave Hayvin the chance to recover, whatever the outcome. So much for reminder on their inebriated healer.
Aerindir has since moved to aid Tenebrae, once he's realized that the woman is fighting, even if he's unaware of the battle's cause. Gray eyes appraise the situation in just a few moments while he scowls almost, though he gives no explanation for this action, as the bow he'd constructed is readied for use. As the metal halves snap together, and the string is clasped down at either end, he now readies a single arrow, comprised of his energy is prepared to be fired. However, at the moment, he doesn't dare shoot, for the realization that he could wind up hitting Tenebrae, or Leoxander, has occurred. Thus, he just keeps the metal coated string taut, fully prepared to take his shot, only when the opportunity presents itself.
Hayvin watches her panic defense whisk under the female and with her new added speed on top of what Shishi had gifted her she immediately moves in a shadow step to avoid the attack, she fades for a moment out of view only to appear briefly on every foot fall, she stops where Tenebrae had left off. Speed was her only asset at this moment, and even she may not be fast enough to dodge the next one. Her only thought was to keep a reasonable distance, maybe her only means to come out relatively unscathed. She pulls two smaller jeweled daggers from either bootstrap and incants one of the few elven spells she still knew. “Hyandae en' luhta" (blade spirits) and a shining whisk of razor like waves scatters around her opponent, they wouldn't dig deep but they should keep her from any more acrobats. Hayvin keeps her back to the main mast and concentrates only on keep that crazy lady far away.
Jaidin was slowly making his way. Inch by painful inch his bones groaned and his joints creaked with the laborious effort to get down the stairs to his beloved whisky. He was on perhaps the third step; he had stopped counting, lest he become discouraged at his ... ridicule slow progress. Now, what is the one thing that could speed up this man? That damn dog he hated so, rushing through the barely-narrowing door opening, and careening through the air to crash into Traye's face. The undead barely had time to react; no sir-ee, because as he was busy looking down for his foot to take the next step, a solid body of fur collided with his really pale face. Loosing his balance, the assassin fell from the staircase (more like a ladder, in his opinion...) and fell to the ground, that scruffy little dog like a weight to sink the undead. With a -crash- he fell to the ground.... And happened to fall into a boy carrying a large pot of meatballs in sauce.
Leoxander risked a look back toward the direction Jack had bolted off, before realizing it was his 'turn'. His lycan eyes fixed upon the elf in time to hear her chant, and he'd find a quick match to her speed with well trained reflexes. Leo had time to stab the cutlass right into the ship wall to free his hands, gripping the hilt of twin daggers sheathed at his ribs. A hard jerk displayed dragonforged blades in time to counter the rip of spell enhanced knives and with a swipe of each tattooed arm he deflected the majority of a scattered impact, sparks of contacting metal flashing like a strobe light where he'd stepped in the way to protect Tenebrae. One random cut on his forearm was ignored, and whether she'd actually thrown all her handheld weapons or not she'd now have to find a way to deflect the pirate's own. Twisted like butterfly knives, he took one careful step after another, closer, closing in, cornering her toward the bow of the ship. Out of the corner of his eye he caught sight of Aerindir aiming, but Leo would ever expect him to fire without a real need, and this fight appeared to be several versus one. He suddenly caught the hilts of blades to use them more like iron knuckles to strengthen what would be a painful but less deadly punch, and one upper right hook followed by a lower cut jab would give Hayvin two near simultaneous attacks to dodge. Her lesson wasn't quite over, yet.
Tenebrae was half-impressed -- not so much by the use of magic in what she'd thought would be a melee brawl, but with the woman's speed and sharp-thinking. Of course, her retreat had been deliberate, the close range attack part of the lesson that she hoped the woman was smart enough to pick up on. Keep your enemies close-- especially if they throw things. But for now, she was happy to see just what Hayvin could do, as far as missiles went. And was to remain undisappointed in something of a painful way when those daggers -- more magic -- exploded into a glittering slew of shrapnel that whizzed in a deadly lateral shower her way. Some of Leo's thieves’ Luck must have rubbed of on her, while they were... Whoops! That bucket of meatballs had her feet skid out from under her, the vampiress landing in a saucy heap on her back, all wind knocked out of her, while all but a few of the flying shards flew overhead. The rest not deflected by her lover's protective move would lodge in arms brought to cross in front of her face, to save her eyes, or stick in heavy prek-armour covering her chest. Lying down wasn't the best battle-stance in the world, so she struggled to gain her feet, slipping and sliding on the rocking deck, while Leo took charge of their pupil.
Hayvin is surprisingly hit by a deflected blade from her own spell and it slices into her cheek, she touches a frail hand to her face and stares at the blood." what the..." She looks up again just in time to see Two unavoidable swings coming at her she winces as she takes the first on, the metal cutting deep in her already wounded cheek and the other riding upwards, knocking her breathless. She raises a skilled foot between his legs " What is wrong with you..." She spits a coughing of blood on the deck and goes to run, tripping on one of the many tangles of rope on the ground she falls hard, driving her own blade through her hand, A painful scream emits from her chords and she makes no move to take out the blade, driven in to the hilt.
Aerindir does still remain on guard, at least for a time, until he realizes that there is likely no danger posed. Relaxing, though only slightly, he fires off the energy forced arrow, sending it rushing upward into the sky, so that it can explode safely, and pose no harm, all while he still remains alert. This, when he realizes Tenebrae has since fallen, knocked down by the food scattered upon the floor, he's moving to her aid, the battle avoided as best he can, so that support can be offered to the armour clad female.
Leoxander gave a rough toss of his head when the victim fell. It was difficult not to take advantage of that moment, and tear her to pieces. But seeing as her own clumsy fall would impale her hand, Leo took a calm step back and stabbed twin daggers precisely into their sheath, buckled to his torso. Game over, but she'd lasted a lot longer than the pirate would have suspected. In a low, deep voice that could easily suit a werewolf, standing over her with yellow tainted eyes of different colors focused and faintly glowing, he responded to her question. "I'd say you're getting you're gold's worth. Do you think an enemy would stop at this point?" He takes a moment to study the overworked pupil, bloody, bruised, introduced to her own weapon more closely than anyone could want. The rogue had a cure for nights like those. "You look like you could use a drink." If Aerindir hadn't already stepped on board, Leo would glance over and encourage him with a jerk of his unshaven jaw. Something distracted him from the scent of blood. Meatballs...
Tenebrae was on her butt again. Glowering at anyone who happened to be in eyeshot. "Might --somebody-- get a bucket and mop, and swab this... " She retrieved a meatball from her hair. ".. mess?" The pupil wasn't given a second thought, sympathy not something she was known for.
Jaidin went flying, Jack went flying, the boy went flying... And so did those big, delicious meatballs. Evidently, the cook had thought it a right nice thing to do, to cook up some good food, and bring it to the Captain and those mates of the ship he was... Entertaining. But Jack spoiled it! As Jaidin lay, covered in sauce and with a chunk in his mouth, sputtering, the dog seemed rather in heaven. He had been protected by Jaidin's face; he was perfectly fine, in no pain, and enjoying the spilled food entirely. Thanks to the slow-closing door-- some of those delicious compact-meats had flown through the air to interrupt the fight. Damn... Groaning, the boy whimpering at the lashing he would receive for this, Jaidin listened above-deck to the fray and afterward... Did someone mention drink? Panicked that he would be left without enough, the undead did his best to scramble to a stand-- though with stiff joints and a slippery floor, it was a comical sight of flailing limbs and hookah-dances.
Aerindir has since reached Tenebrae, the bow broken apart in the one way to ensure it isn't ruined. His left arm is then stretched out so that if she wishes, it can be grasped and used as leverage to help her stand, while he remains looking worried. Once she has spoken, he now says, while still waiting to see if he's able to assist her, "I'll make sure to clean it up.. and get the deck back to its regular state."
Hayvin stands up and nods. No tears fall for this one until she forces a healing. The old magic was wreaking war on her new body and it burned in every inch of her veins, but she preferred to remain fully functional at all times. She slowly pulls the dagger from her hand as it heals up around it, she is careful not to loose too much blood by plucking it out carelessly. Her right eyes glow it's newfound purple and tears escape her, there was no way to hold it back. After the process is done she ties up her long locks and walks over to offer Tenebrae a hand. " Get up, you look ridiculous."
Leoxander won't rush to Tenebrae's side. Instead, he'll follow behind Hayvin, studying the woman with a squint of his mismatched eyes. Something about her seems off, he's noticed that since the day he met her, but all the same to see her bravely approach the Necromancer, he finds a little respect. A scowl given at the meatball mess, and he avoids as much of the mess as he can, steps over the dog who is helping clean up as much as his tongue can handle on slivered floorboards, and leaving large red footprints across in his wake, the captain makes his way to that bag of bottles Tene' hauled in. The black duster is casually hoisted up over a sleeping drunk, snores muffled into his jacket.
Tenebrae already had Aeri's offered hand in her grasp, so Hayvin was ignored while the long-missing clansmate was met with a brief but tight hug of welcome. "Thankyou, dear, " she'd tell to the bowman, while a small, compactly-curled fist would shoot abruptly for Hayvin's jawline. Whether it connected or not, she snarled, "Watch yer bloody manners on my ship, or I'll beat the liver outta ye." Spoken like a true pirate, which she wasn't. All the same.
Hayvin takes the hit and rolls her eyes, she made no effort to heal her minor wounds, the gash on her cheek was already swelling her eye shut. The hit from Leoxander was gonna take a while to heal and it was not worth the suffering to fix now. Also her shoulder, hit by Tenebrae, a constant reminder to come in well armed. She grabs a few of her stranded Shirukins and replaces them in her pouches. Dropping a small bag of coin on the ground she give a nod in thanks and disappears.
Jaidin finally conquered the meatball mess. He stood up, and with a glare to the boy, made his way to find this drunken dwarf... A turn and there he was-- in all his fat glory, asleep near the bottles. For good measure, Traye took two. Tucking one in his cloak-- a deep pocket sewn in specifically for this purpose-- he then unscrewed the cap of the other, and drank deeply. Oh, beautiful fire of the gods! With renewed vigor and feeling much more like himself, as he drank and made slow, careful steps back toward those steps that would lead out of the hull and back onto the deck, the assassin grinned wildly. Of course, getting back up proved to be laborious as well as the journey down into the pit, but he did eventually make it. And well... The sight on deck was one to behold. Traye couldn't help it; a trickle of laughter escaped the confines of his chest and burst forth, a loud, barking fit that went well over the wind and various noises made from those gathered. The undead likely wasn't going to stop, anytime soon, and the only other movement he made besides doubling over in that fit, was to tilt his wrist upward to save the amber nectar from spiling from the glass bottle.
Aerindir says nothing to the hit that had been taken by Hayvin, for it's not his place really to comment. All he does instead is nod, a warm smile offered to the one he's sworn loyalty to, while he says, "Any time, for you are family to me.. all of the Cabal are, and there's nothing I’d not do, or try to do, to help."
Aerindir is also moving now to get a mop and clean the mess up, as much as possible.
Tenebrae eyed the vanishing woman narrowly, but Aerindir's words brought better cheer to her face. "We've missed you." This confession spoken, she glanced up to Traye, paling slightly-- f course her blasted goblin --would-- fetch the one clansmate she was ashamed to look in the eye. Gaze fixing on the boards, she muttered a greeting. "Good to see you.. out and about." Through the not-yet-swabbed mess came Jack, a sudden and hairy bullet that shot from the hold, tail between legs. A moment later came Sam, a near-comical reversal of the usual order between the pair. Both animals took cover and this was what had Tene paling now. "Oh no…”
Aerindir doesn't say another word until he's ensured that both halves of the metal bow have been resecured to the strap where they typically reside. Once he has however, Tenebrae is spoken to again, as he says, 'And I you, Lady Tenebrae.." what was said next lost as her expression is noted. Now, tense, and perhaps rightly so, he's just waiting to see what's got her so bothered, no attempt made just yet to reacquire his weapon, not until he has the proper information.
Jaidin is usually the slow one-- not just in body now, but in mind, always. He's left a hootin' and a hollerin', still cracking up about the lovely little mess that damn dog had caused. It's not until that damned dog-- or Jack as the others more affectionately call the scruffy chien-- runs by him, that he noticed that something's akilter. He was almost bowled over; and with the stamping of his feet, the undead almost stomped on poor little Sam; a rat that he assumed is determined to keep his 'home'. Finally, he sombered enough to look at both the ranger and vampiress... And their expressions. "Oh no...?" That could mean anything. Traye, too dense to move away from the entrance to the hull, stood there staring blankly at both packmates.
Tenebrae nodded slowly, not really addressing either of her clansmates but more the hatch door, where her eyes were rivetted. "Something..." Leo. "... scared the animals." Because he's turning wolf down there, maybe. "And there's a woman..." The Dwarven Queen, kidnap victim and ally, not to mention good friend. Tene's features paled further. "Aeri.. Leo is a lycan."
Jaidin stopped and stood as upright as he could manage, muscles stiff from days of sitting amongst the dust on the floor of his shack-for-a-home. "Lycan?" He hadn't known that; or realized. Likely, it was sheer ignorance that he didn't know.
Aerindir therefore is just watching the undead as he shuffles up, even though he's devoted much of his attention to the vampiress with whom he's been speaking. At her words, he is surprised, naturally, having been unable to detect such a thing due to his restored mortality. Regardless of that, he's not bothered, and soon afterward, he's saying to her, "It seems I truly have missed a lot.. unfortunate, but necessary, at the same time."
Tenebrae gave Traye a quick glance --all she could bear to do, anyway. "Aye, been a while now." Aeri's comment had her nod again. Being the pirate's mate, and having been on her own solitary journeys, she understood all too well the necessity. Whatever differences were apparent in both men would have to be studied in more detail later, though; right now, she was worried for Myrall's safety. "Don't hurt him." She'd take that first tentative step downward. "Unless you have to. And even then..." There'd be a pleading look in her eyes as she glanced toward them, and then was gone below.
Jaidin felt downright uncomfortable around the vampiress as of late-- it's why he'd been so damn hard to yank by the hair to get on The Eternity, in the first place. Thankfully Maladroit's a persuasive character, if you could call it that. The fact that the one woman he had looked up to since getting back to civilization all those years ago could barely stand to look at him-- did wonders for his mind. Really. Tore him up inside, it did. With some lame excuses made, and that bottle of whisky in his hand-- they'll likely assume he wanted to drink by himself-- the assassin stalked off... About the time the vampiress had left for the hull of the ship. He didn't know what was going on. Traye went to the other side of the boat, and well.. The wind was bad enough that he didn't hear her pleas.
Leoxander suffered a small nap, a light snooze, to recover from the amount of liquor consumed at that wedding, and the pub to follow. But long before anyone else might stir, from and afternoon rest, the lycan was grumbling and opening his eyes in time to see Sam the Rat running off his desk to seek refuge a floor above. Rubbing out the crink in his neck, he stood up and moved over to check on Myrall at once, having propped the Dwarf against some barrels with his duster a makeshift blanket. Still asleep? Good, it was time to set off. Now where was Tenebrae?
Tenebrae was attempting to struggle up the rope ladder with a large, wiggly dog slung over her shoulders, which wasn't really working all that well. "Mmph, Jack, dun lick me... ugh no, bad dog!" Her face was scrunched aside, and balance was precarious. How did Leo do this? She thought of the sling she'd had built for hoisting Saiyah aboard, but the thing was up top. She'd holler for a crewmate, if there was one available. Jack seemed to be having a good time, if the wag of his tail was not simply in anticipation of being reunited with Leoxander.
Leoxander couldn't ignore the noise Tenebrae was making, once he heard her and the dog. A heavy sigh, and he was glad that Myrall still seemed out of it, to the point they might just make it without problems. He shoved open the twin doors at the top of the steps carelessly, jogging to the side of the ship where Jack's head suddenly poked up, but he was probably thrashing a bit in discomfort. Leo normally kept him held by the scruff to kind of paralyze him, which was worse. Somehow, that mutt still loved his companion, and would scramble over the side into his arms before being tossed aside. Leo's hands pressed to Tenebrae's ribs and he stood from his crouch, hoisting her to her feet up and onto planks that swayed tediously toward the water. Balance would be maintained, so long as she held on.
Leoxander said to Tenebrae, "Is this all you brought?"
Leoxander gestured toward the dog.
Tenebrae poked the pirate in the ribs. "You should have got a parrot, they dun weight much and don't lick." She glanced aside to Jack. "Y'alright, Polly?" She did indeed hang on, though less to keep her balance than simply indulge in the act itself. Peridot eyes shifted toward the hatch. "She's not awake yet?" The vampiress sought his unevenly-coloured gaze, fingers brushing a swathe of hair out of the way for a better view, and she'd grin, then. "I don't hear any hollering."
Leoxander let his hands linger on her waist just a moment, taking a moment to look toward her recently licked features. Maybe next time he should insist to be carried up that ladder. Damn dog. "We're gonna need more than rum an' a dog for this lil' expedition. I'm not sure I can do this on my own, still..." It would be a challenge to try, but what if he decided to shift in the middle of sea and destroyed his crew, priestess and all? Apparently this was a risk Tenebrae was willing to take. "Extra rigging for the sails. Guns are almost out of powder. Not to mention my pouch is nearly empty. Wasn't that crazy eyed San-michel at the wedding?"
Tenebrae huffed softly, and pointed back to the beach. "Got plenty of rope in the cove. Flour, salt, limes. We could do with meat and the rest. Shall I send Maladroit to fetch Sanmichel, then?" She thought about the possibility of a shift mid-ocean, frowning. "A giant aboard might be just the thing. Or a few strong deckhands." That grin was back. "I could always tie you to a bunk?"
Leoxander said, "I don't know that I want him on the ship, but he'd definitely have the supplies we need." His eyes caught enough light from the cove to shine when he looked that way, a slight nod given. His hands would fall from her waist and he'd walk to the edge, curling his fingers into the weather worn wood. So eager to be out to sea, he was already daydreaming of it. "We'll be alright, either way. Might consider an extra hand on board."
Leoxander lifted his head to sniff the air around him, squinting his eyes into the dark. He remains quiet for awhile, listening to a voice in his ear.
Tenebrae nodded, her own hands finding the rail. "I'll send the goblin out, see who he can find." The creature, who still preferred his former shipboard home in the crow's nest, was even now peering down to the couple below. "Maladroit! Ashore, and fetch us a crew?" Long minutes later, during which Tene would enjoy a quiet moment with the Cap'n, a similar look in her eyes as she scanned the horizon, and the familiar was grumbling his unwieldy self down the ladder, wheezing some ill-spoken curses as he took up oars too long for his little arms, and started rowing to the beach.
Leoxander mumbled to himself "Well there's a willing subject..." But was this a good thing? Not necessarily.
Leoxander gripped into the railing, shaking his head much like Jack would try to shake sand from his ears. A gruff sound in his throat and he'd lift his slightly sun-spotted nose to the sky, squinting through the cove in order to see it. "We should leave by sunrise... I hope you've figured out where we're going."
Tenebrae said to Leoxander, "I thought..." She averted her gaze from the sea, the Cap’n, stared at her hands as she thought of her first journey there. "... there's an island I found. Interesting place, secluded. Perfect for this."
Leoxander turned slowly toward the newcomer, really glad that somehow they wouldn't have to deal with helping someone onto the ship. Pacing back from the bow, a smirk crossed his features. "Maybe that was worth the extra gold?"
Tenebrae bent for he pack she'd somehow hauled aboard with Jack, who was snuffling after the rat as usual, and took out a tightly scrolled parchment. This was handed to Leo. "Chart's there. Rough though, we lost our navigator.." Then she realised there was somebody else aboard and eyed her narrowly. Tene was a bit territorial that way.
Leoxander looked over toward Tenebrae again, reaching out for the map that he paused when he'd first start to open it. A nudge given in Hayvin's direction, right down to business. "What're you talents? Nothin'? Not even a cartwheel?" Tenebrae might interrupt that display if she could in fact do such a move.
Hayvin bows to Tenebrae. " I am sorry for the inconvenience, I was recently turned and I have lost all my abilities... I need to learn a new ay to fight."
Leoxander gives Tenebrae a look that communicates without words. It was coin, and gold solved problems, and they needed a crew. What harm could this helpless girl be?
Tenebrae'd be more likely to interrupt it with a sword. She gave Leo a sharp look. "Who's this, then?"
Jaidin was fetched by the lovely little goblin; taken from his 'woe is me' pitiful existence at his home. Grumbling all the way (one would suppose he should be happy for the second chance at life), he finally made it to the ship. To have gold stuffed into his hands. Having not spoken in... a considerably long time, the stiff undead merely stared at the girl.
Leoxander said, "Just someone I met on Kelay. She was nice enough not to go complaining to the authorities when someone caught me looting a pocket. -Don't look at me like that, it doesn't happen often."
Leoxander would wear a fairly blank look seeing Jaidin move, and his eyes would dart to Maladroit. Then at last he would look back at Tenebrae and ask with a slight grimace. "You didn't..."
Tenebrae's brow was hitched up, and she eyed the woman again. "You want me to fight her?" The vampiress did not look all that opposed to the idea, especially if the female'd been hanging around her Captain. "And I did. Terra was sad. And.. all."
Jaidin nods by way of saying 'you're welcome', then moves past this stranger to come stand semi-near Tenebrae; for some odd reason, he felt like he owed her. In the background there, he tried to clear his throat... Where was whisky?
Leoxander raised a hand to rub some of the hair from his eyes as though suffering a sudden headache, and he'd look back up to the corpse of Traye. Stiff or not, he was still one of their most reliable men. "Bloody hell... this is goin' to be the weirdest lot to ever sail..." His attention was eventually turned back toward Hayvin.
Hayvin looks at the ones around her and a sudden feeling of fear hits her, what would happen if the Vampress attacks her, she was defenceless.
Tenebrae rolled her eyes, a curt tone inflecting her voice as she spoke to Hayvin. "Stop lookin' like such a jellyfish is your first lesson. Smarten up, show some confidence even if you don't feel it." She didn't move to put her armour on, yet. "So what do you know, and what do you want to know?" She wasn't going to attack a weakling, without a good reason. And she'd fed, pretty recently.
Leoxander paces half a circle around the lone elf, and back again. Yes, a vampire, an undead (or so he would appear), and a lycan... and here this poor girl was suddenly in their mercy without even knowing how she'd arrived. "Well, best way to learn would be to practice. Tene, you could... maybe gimme a hand, here. But go easy on 'er, just at first, would you?" He shot his scarred mate a look from the corner of his eyes, messy hair hiding most of the wicked gleam.
Jaidin looked up at Leoxander all of a sudden, his one eye wide with what might have been fear... "Sail?" his voice croaked out from behind parched lips; it was a grotesque sound, but with the lycan likely having spent several weeks at sea... He'd hopefully be able to understand 'dying-of-thirst-speech'.
Tenebrae shot him a look right back that might have curdled his whisky, if he'd had one. "Yes, dear..."
Hayvin looks over at Tenebrae a bit more relaxed now that she was spoken to. " Well, before I mastered the elements so I never learned how to fight physically, I am fast and I have good balance, that is about it."
Leoxander cast a bored look in Jaidin's direction to remark sarcastically. "Well, don't tell me you got anythin' better to do."
Tenebrae nodded, having started strapping her armour in place. "Swords or knives?" She grinned and added, "Or we could slug it out bareknuckle?"
Hayvin opens her vest to reveal a dozen small throwing daggers and there was another larger dagger on her waist. Two more concealed in either bootstrap and no sword at all.
Leoxander turned toward the cabin wall along side tall oak doors, approaching it and walking passed Traye. Noticing how parched the corpse like being would appear, he'd nudge his jaw in the direction of stairs that led to the ship's underbelly. "There's a bag of reserve and spirits next to the drunk." He wouldn't need to explain more than that. A drunk dwarf was hard to miss.
Leoxander said, "Least you came prepared..." This remarked with a glance over his shoulder, and he'd pry open the lock on the front of that weapon rack, removing a rusty cutlass and a weather worn quarterstaff, carved in a pirate's spare time. "Now, you might get a little bruised up..."
Jaidin sank back visibly at that look-- perhaps not the look itself, but most definitely the confirmation. At Leoxander's remark, however, the assassin did his best to try to mold his face into the expression resembling 'hardy har har'... He could be heard croaking out curses as he fumbled slowly-- like a ninety-year-old man-- through his cloak; likely trying to find that drink.
Jaidin stopped at Leoxander's remark, and seemed rather grateful. "If I'm sailing, I'd best be drunk," he snorted to the Captain. But with a nod of thanks, and eternal appreciation -- though wondering whether it was any longer possible to be drunk -- he walked to those large oak doors. With a visible gulp for bravery, he creaked one half open, and then slid his narrow frame between the opening. And down, down into the depths of darkness, where the sea roiled the ship about and one could feel the strange vertigo tenfold than above deck. Oh, joy. But for the whisky, press on!
Hayvin was a small frail little thing, once able to hold her own in any battle was now lost in her own skin. The turning, by Shishi washed away her connections to nature and now she was already beginning to hate nature as it didn't respond to her will. Even healing caused her more pain then it was worth and she was suddenly hungry for blood. She stood there like a weak twig, ready to break under the weigh of her new need to wear armor and it practically swallowed her up. Her black hair hung low past her hips and her entire attire was adorned with sparkly, reflective twinkles of her dozens and dozens of concealed blades. A pouch on either hip held about twenty or so Shirukins, easily thrown and penetrating to most targets. She had good aim but was as of yet unable to take much of a actual hit.
Tenebrae 's lips curved to a subtle smile when she perused the woman's arsenal, her own slight frame now clad in light armours that wouldn't bulk her down in a fight that would prove faster than swordplay. She wouldn't reveal all of the various weapons stashed about herself. Lesson two. But Hayvin would have to figure that out for herself. The vampiress made as though to pick up another bit of armour, slipped a wicked little dagger from a sheath ensconced between her ample cleavage and palmed it, and with a lithe motion that appeared only as though she was gaining upright stance again followed through with a smooth flick of wrist that's send the weapon riveting in a silver blur through the air between the two. Tene's perfected aim would angle it toward Hayvin's shoulders, rather than some vital organ.
Leoxander took a moment to watch Jaidin's fumbling, just a little amused by the assassin's stealthy technique, but he would keep that cruel humor to himself. A crack of his neck as he stood to face the two facing off on the boat, and he'd toss the heavy stick on the planks with a clatter. It might be good for training, but the cutlass was preferred in his hands. Twin daggers were buckled to his ribs, and possibly other things fully concealed in black armor. He took a moment to look over this scrawny looking elf, and had his doubts. "Alright then, Princess. Hit us..." It was as simple as that. He twirled the rusty, sailor styled blade in his left hand.
Leoxander would realize a moment later someone was quick on the trigger. He should have expected that.
Meanwhile, as the fight ensued updeck, the newly undead man did his oh-so-best to voyage into the underbelly of the ship. First thing to get over: the stairs. Muttering more curses though it hurt his throat, the determined-to-drink Traye actually turned around on the first step, so that he faced the way he had come. Fingers took some coaxing to wrap around the edge of the staircase; but, they did a decent grip, and now it was the legs' effort. Slowly he extended his left leg behind him, and wincing at the load creak of his right knee as it bent, his left foot was able to touch the stair behind him. All right! Only five or so more to go...
Hayvin watches Tenebrae fix herself up and is unaware of the thrown projectile until it was too late. She had been in many a battle before and was used to pain and the sharp dagger too root just under her collar bone where the joint of her shoulder meets. She looks down as the pressure gives notice of pain soon too follow and with a quickness she unlatches her hip pouches and sends a handful of shining stars to the female, she drops into a roll and yanks the blade from her shoulder. " Ow." is all she said.
Aerindir moves onto the deck of the ship, for the moment just quietly observing the others, while showing the others the respect due to Leoxander, Tenebrae and Jaidin. Upon doing so, he just leans across the railing, unintrusive really, for the moment.
Lesson three: wear armour, and keep your weapons at hand in strange company. Hayvin might learn this by the way her target had time to leap, and skive up a handy bit of rigging-rope so that the deadly stars whizzed past flailing boots rather than lodging anywhere painful. One of the nasty little weapons did manage to stick in thick leather, even draw blood that trickled to fill her boot and force Tene to waste precious time kicking it free with her other foot. So, her pupil liked to throw things? Harder to do in close proximity, which had been her plan in jumping for the rope. She planted her heels to the mast and kicked off, swinging hard through the saline air, twisting in place so it'd be sharpened heels that were aimed Hayvin's way, whether the woman was under them when she landed or not. Either way, pale fists were bunched, in one of them another dagger, a corrupt and snake-like blade stolen from some dark temple or other, and this would be swept in a graceful arc from left shoulder to right hip, though little pressure was behind the strike. Whatever ensued, she'd make an effort to step back now, taking the same wary stance as the pirate, who wasn't far away. His turn, she thought.
Leoxander let go of a heavy sigh as he watches the expert throw land as aimed, and of course she'd going to buckle under the first wound. "Yanno, we don't really have a healer available..." Sure, they had one, but was she conscious? Not for a few hours. Suddenly wildly thrown stars are chucked in Tenebrae's general direction, but the thief is still jumping out of the way to dodge one or two of them, since the girl mentioned her lack of practice. A sharp clang of connecting metal and causing one to ricochet into the deck planks. "Damn, watch the dog!" Poor Jack, so forgotten, he was scrambling through the oak doors and willing to take refuge whether Jaidin was below or not. Hopefully he didn't knock a struggling assassin over, rushing by like that. Leo turned in time to witness Tenebrae's vicious counter attack, and staying close to the wall to avoid any more randomly thrown objects, he gave Hayvin the chance to recover, whatever the outcome. So much for reminder on their inebriated healer.
Aerindir has since moved to aid Tenebrae, once he's realized that the woman is fighting, even if he's unaware of the battle's cause. Gray eyes appraise the situation in just a few moments while he scowls almost, though he gives no explanation for this action, as the bow he'd constructed is readied for use. As the metal halves snap together, and the string is clasped down at either end, he now readies a single arrow, comprised of his energy is prepared to be fired. However, at the moment, he doesn't dare shoot, for the realization that he could wind up hitting Tenebrae, or Leoxander, has occurred. Thus, he just keeps the metal coated string taut, fully prepared to take his shot, only when the opportunity presents itself.
Hayvin watches her panic defense whisk under the female and with her new added speed on top of what Shishi had gifted her she immediately moves in a shadow step to avoid the attack, she fades for a moment out of view only to appear briefly on every foot fall, she stops where Tenebrae had left off. Speed was her only asset at this moment, and even she may not be fast enough to dodge the next one. Her only thought was to keep a reasonable distance, maybe her only means to come out relatively unscathed. She pulls two smaller jeweled daggers from either bootstrap and incants one of the few elven spells she still knew. “Hyandae en' luhta" (blade spirits) and a shining whisk of razor like waves scatters around her opponent, they wouldn't dig deep but they should keep her from any more acrobats. Hayvin keeps her back to the main mast and concentrates only on keep that crazy lady far away.
Jaidin was slowly making his way. Inch by painful inch his bones groaned and his joints creaked with the laborious effort to get down the stairs to his beloved whisky. He was on perhaps the third step; he had stopped counting, lest he become discouraged at his ... ridicule slow progress. Now, what is the one thing that could speed up this man? That damn dog he hated so, rushing through the barely-narrowing door opening, and careening through the air to crash into Traye's face. The undead barely had time to react; no sir-ee, because as he was busy looking down for his foot to take the next step, a solid body of fur collided with his really pale face. Loosing his balance, the assassin fell from the staircase (more like a ladder, in his opinion...) and fell to the ground, that scruffy little dog like a weight to sink the undead. With a -crash- he fell to the ground.... And happened to fall into a boy carrying a large pot of meatballs in sauce.
Leoxander risked a look back toward the direction Jack had bolted off, before realizing it was his 'turn'. His lycan eyes fixed upon the elf in time to hear her chant, and he'd find a quick match to her speed with well trained reflexes. Leo had time to stab the cutlass right into the ship wall to free his hands, gripping the hilt of twin daggers sheathed at his ribs. A hard jerk displayed dragonforged blades in time to counter the rip of spell enhanced knives and with a swipe of each tattooed arm he deflected the majority of a scattered impact, sparks of contacting metal flashing like a strobe light where he'd stepped in the way to protect Tenebrae. One random cut on his forearm was ignored, and whether she'd actually thrown all her handheld weapons or not she'd now have to find a way to deflect the pirate's own. Twisted like butterfly knives, he took one careful step after another, closer, closing in, cornering her toward the bow of the ship. Out of the corner of his eye he caught sight of Aerindir aiming, but Leo would ever expect him to fire without a real need, and this fight appeared to be several versus one. He suddenly caught the hilts of blades to use them more like iron knuckles to strengthen what would be a painful but less deadly punch, and one upper right hook followed by a lower cut jab would give Hayvin two near simultaneous attacks to dodge. Her lesson wasn't quite over, yet.
Tenebrae was half-impressed -- not so much by the use of magic in what she'd thought would be a melee brawl, but with the woman's speed and sharp-thinking. Of course, her retreat had been deliberate, the close range attack part of the lesson that she hoped the woman was smart enough to pick up on. Keep your enemies close-- especially if they throw things. But for now, she was happy to see just what Hayvin could do, as far as missiles went. And was to remain undisappointed in something of a painful way when those daggers -- more magic -- exploded into a glittering slew of shrapnel that whizzed in a deadly lateral shower her way. Some of Leo's thieves’ Luck must have rubbed of on her, while they were... Whoops! That bucket of meatballs had her feet skid out from under her, the vampiress landing in a saucy heap on her back, all wind knocked out of her, while all but a few of the flying shards flew overhead. The rest not deflected by her lover's protective move would lodge in arms brought to cross in front of her face, to save her eyes, or stick in heavy prek-armour covering her chest. Lying down wasn't the best battle-stance in the world, so she struggled to gain her feet, slipping and sliding on the rocking deck, while Leo took charge of their pupil.
Hayvin is surprisingly hit by a deflected blade from her own spell and it slices into her cheek, she touches a frail hand to her face and stares at the blood." what the..." She looks up again just in time to see Two unavoidable swings coming at her she winces as she takes the first on, the metal cutting deep in her already wounded cheek and the other riding upwards, knocking her breathless. She raises a skilled foot between his legs " What is wrong with you..." She spits a coughing of blood on the deck and goes to run, tripping on one of the many tangles of rope on the ground she falls hard, driving her own blade through her hand, A painful scream emits from her chords and she makes no move to take out the blade, driven in to the hilt.
Aerindir does still remain on guard, at least for a time, until he realizes that there is likely no danger posed. Relaxing, though only slightly, he fires off the energy forced arrow, sending it rushing upward into the sky, so that it can explode safely, and pose no harm, all while he still remains alert. This, when he realizes Tenebrae has since fallen, knocked down by the food scattered upon the floor, he's moving to her aid, the battle avoided as best he can, so that support can be offered to the armour clad female.
Leoxander gave a rough toss of his head when the victim fell. It was difficult not to take advantage of that moment, and tear her to pieces. But seeing as her own clumsy fall would impale her hand, Leo took a calm step back and stabbed twin daggers precisely into their sheath, buckled to his torso. Game over, but she'd lasted a lot longer than the pirate would have suspected. In a low, deep voice that could easily suit a werewolf, standing over her with yellow tainted eyes of different colors focused and faintly glowing, he responded to her question. "I'd say you're getting you're gold's worth. Do you think an enemy would stop at this point?" He takes a moment to study the overworked pupil, bloody, bruised, introduced to her own weapon more closely than anyone could want. The rogue had a cure for nights like those. "You look like you could use a drink." If Aerindir hadn't already stepped on board, Leo would glance over and encourage him with a jerk of his unshaven jaw. Something distracted him from the scent of blood. Meatballs...
Tenebrae was on her butt again. Glowering at anyone who happened to be in eyeshot. "Might --somebody-- get a bucket and mop, and swab this... " She retrieved a meatball from her hair. ".. mess?" The pupil wasn't given a second thought, sympathy not something she was known for.
Jaidin went flying, Jack went flying, the boy went flying... And so did those big, delicious meatballs. Evidently, the cook had thought it a right nice thing to do, to cook up some good food, and bring it to the Captain and those mates of the ship he was... Entertaining. But Jack spoiled it! As Jaidin lay, covered in sauce and with a chunk in his mouth, sputtering, the dog seemed rather in heaven. He had been protected by Jaidin's face; he was perfectly fine, in no pain, and enjoying the spilled food entirely. Thanks to the slow-closing door-- some of those delicious compact-meats had flown through the air to interrupt the fight. Damn... Groaning, the boy whimpering at the lashing he would receive for this, Jaidin listened above-deck to the fray and afterward... Did someone mention drink? Panicked that he would be left without enough, the undead did his best to scramble to a stand-- though with stiff joints and a slippery floor, it was a comical sight of flailing limbs and hookah-dances.
Aerindir has since reached Tenebrae, the bow broken apart in the one way to ensure it isn't ruined. His left arm is then stretched out so that if she wishes, it can be grasped and used as leverage to help her stand, while he remains looking worried. Once she has spoken, he now says, while still waiting to see if he's able to assist her, "I'll make sure to clean it up.. and get the deck back to its regular state."
Hayvin stands up and nods. No tears fall for this one until she forces a healing. The old magic was wreaking war on her new body and it burned in every inch of her veins, but she preferred to remain fully functional at all times. She slowly pulls the dagger from her hand as it heals up around it, she is careful not to loose too much blood by plucking it out carelessly. Her right eyes glow it's newfound purple and tears escape her, there was no way to hold it back. After the process is done she ties up her long locks and walks over to offer Tenebrae a hand. " Get up, you look ridiculous."
Leoxander won't rush to Tenebrae's side. Instead, he'll follow behind Hayvin, studying the woman with a squint of his mismatched eyes. Something about her seems off, he's noticed that since the day he met her, but all the same to see her bravely approach the Necromancer, he finds a little respect. A scowl given at the meatball mess, and he avoids as much of the mess as he can, steps over the dog who is helping clean up as much as his tongue can handle on slivered floorboards, and leaving large red footprints across in his wake, the captain makes his way to that bag of bottles Tene' hauled in. The black duster is casually hoisted up over a sleeping drunk, snores muffled into his jacket.
Tenebrae already had Aeri's offered hand in her grasp, so Hayvin was ignored while the long-missing clansmate was met with a brief but tight hug of welcome. "Thankyou, dear, " she'd tell to the bowman, while a small, compactly-curled fist would shoot abruptly for Hayvin's jawline. Whether it connected or not, she snarled, "Watch yer bloody manners on my ship, or I'll beat the liver outta ye." Spoken like a true pirate, which she wasn't. All the same.
Hayvin takes the hit and rolls her eyes, she made no effort to heal her minor wounds, the gash on her cheek was already swelling her eye shut. The hit from Leoxander was gonna take a while to heal and it was not worth the suffering to fix now. Also her shoulder, hit by Tenebrae, a constant reminder to come in well armed. She grabs a few of her stranded Shirukins and replaces them in her pouches. Dropping a small bag of coin on the ground she give a nod in thanks and disappears.
Jaidin finally conquered the meatball mess. He stood up, and with a glare to the boy, made his way to find this drunken dwarf... A turn and there he was-- in all his fat glory, asleep near the bottles. For good measure, Traye took two. Tucking one in his cloak-- a deep pocket sewn in specifically for this purpose-- he then unscrewed the cap of the other, and drank deeply. Oh, beautiful fire of the gods! With renewed vigor and feeling much more like himself, as he drank and made slow, careful steps back toward those steps that would lead out of the hull and back onto the deck, the assassin grinned wildly. Of course, getting back up proved to be laborious as well as the journey down into the pit, but he did eventually make it. And well... The sight on deck was one to behold. Traye couldn't help it; a trickle of laughter escaped the confines of his chest and burst forth, a loud, barking fit that went well over the wind and various noises made from those gathered. The undead likely wasn't going to stop, anytime soon, and the only other movement he made besides doubling over in that fit, was to tilt his wrist upward to save the amber nectar from spiling from the glass bottle.
Aerindir says nothing to the hit that had been taken by Hayvin, for it's not his place really to comment. All he does instead is nod, a warm smile offered to the one he's sworn loyalty to, while he says, "Any time, for you are family to me.. all of the Cabal are, and there's nothing I’d not do, or try to do, to help."
Aerindir is also moving now to get a mop and clean the mess up, as much as possible.
Tenebrae eyed the vanishing woman narrowly, but Aerindir's words brought better cheer to her face. "We've missed you." This confession spoken, she glanced up to Traye, paling slightly-- f course her blasted goblin --would-- fetch the one clansmate she was ashamed to look in the eye. Gaze fixing on the boards, she muttered a greeting. "Good to see you.. out and about." Through the not-yet-swabbed mess came Jack, a sudden and hairy bullet that shot from the hold, tail between legs. A moment later came Sam, a near-comical reversal of the usual order between the pair. Both animals took cover and this was what had Tene paling now. "Oh no…”
Aerindir doesn't say another word until he's ensured that both halves of the metal bow have been resecured to the strap where they typically reside. Once he has however, Tenebrae is spoken to again, as he says, 'And I you, Lady Tenebrae.." what was said next lost as her expression is noted. Now, tense, and perhaps rightly so, he's just waiting to see what's got her so bothered, no attempt made just yet to reacquire his weapon, not until he has the proper information.
Jaidin is usually the slow one-- not just in body now, but in mind, always. He's left a hootin' and a hollerin', still cracking up about the lovely little mess that damn dog had caused. It's not until that damned dog-- or Jack as the others more affectionately call the scruffy chien-- runs by him, that he noticed that something's akilter. He was almost bowled over; and with the stamping of his feet, the undead almost stomped on poor little Sam; a rat that he assumed is determined to keep his 'home'. Finally, he sombered enough to look at both the ranger and vampiress... And their expressions. "Oh no...?" That could mean anything. Traye, too dense to move away from the entrance to the hull, stood there staring blankly at both packmates.
Tenebrae nodded slowly, not really addressing either of her clansmates but more the hatch door, where her eyes were rivetted. "Something..." Leo. "... scared the animals." Because he's turning wolf down there, maybe. "And there's a woman..." The Dwarven Queen, kidnap victim and ally, not to mention good friend. Tene's features paled further. "Aeri.. Leo is a lycan."
Jaidin stopped and stood as upright as he could manage, muscles stiff from days of sitting amongst the dust on the floor of his shack-for-a-home. "Lycan?" He hadn't known that; or realized. Likely, it was sheer ignorance that he didn't know.
Aerindir therefore is just watching the undead as he shuffles up, even though he's devoted much of his attention to the vampiress with whom he's been speaking. At her words, he is surprised, naturally, having been unable to detect such a thing due to his restored mortality. Regardless of that, he's not bothered, and soon afterward, he's saying to her, "It seems I truly have missed a lot.. unfortunate, but necessary, at the same time."
Tenebrae gave Traye a quick glance --all she could bear to do, anyway. "Aye, been a while now." Aeri's comment had her nod again. Being the pirate's mate, and having been on her own solitary journeys, she understood all too well the necessity. Whatever differences were apparent in both men would have to be studied in more detail later, though; right now, she was worried for Myrall's safety. "Don't hurt him." She'd take that first tentative step downward. "Unless you have to. And even then..." There'd be a pleading look in her eyes as she glanced toward them, and then was gone below.
Jaidin felt downright uncomfortable around the vampiress as of late-- it's why he'd been so damn hard to yank by the hair to get on The Eternity, in the first place. Thankfully Maladroit's a persuasive character, if you could call it that. The fact that the one woman he had looked up to since getting back to civilization all those years ago could barely stand to look at him-- did wonders for his mind. Really. Tore him up inside, it did. With some lame excuses made, and that bottle of whisky in his hand-- they'll likely assume he wanted to drink by himself-- the assassin stalked off... About the time the vampiress had left for the hull of the ship. He didn't know what was going on. Traye went to the other side of the boat, and well.. The wind was bad enough that he didn't hear her pleas.