"It's definitely pirates," Sea Dog said as he looked through his eyeglass.

[GEM]

"Do they look like they're wandering or are they trying to fight?" Greenhood asked.

"How big is their ship?" Buckle added from the bow as he readied a ballista on the ship's portside.

"Bigger than ours," Pirate commented as he sharpened his sword. "Turn us around, lads."

"Wait, they see something and they're turning around in fear," Sea Dog told them.

"See what?" Pirate demanded.

But their eyes were all on the dragon in the sky as it carried someone on its back.

Apostle rode bareback on Ikatere, as fast as they could, fleeing the volcanic island as they shot towards their ship. The dragon was young so it wasn't a smooth flight but Apostle was too busy trying to catch his breath after what just happened, fear making his bones into ice as he felt his blood running down his neck.

Jun 11, 2023, 4:51 PM

[MELODY]

Ikatere was clearly totally distressed about what just happened. He had wanted to step in and help apostle but that presence..it just had made him freeze in pure fear like he had been paralysed. Only until apostle came to him he reacted again. He now flew rather uncomfortable and clumpsily towards the ship as he had never had someone ride him. He tried to land carefully when they reached the ship but it went rather hard. He just smashed into the deck as he stopped himself too late.

Jun 11, 2023, 5:10 PM

[GEM]

Apostle caught his body on his hands and knees as he breathed hard, gripping the wooden deck as he shut his eyes.

The others were rushing over to them immediately, Pirate pointing to Sea Dog as he ordered him to get a cloth for Apostle's face.

"Easy, lad," Buckle said with his hand on his shoulder.

"What happened?" Greenhood asked with his eyes wide.

"Get us away from here..." is all he managed to say.

"Tell us what happened—" Pirate began.

"Get us out of here now!" Apostle shouted angrily at him, demanding for their retreat.

They were taken aback by this because Apostle was always positive and soft spoken but he looked shaken to death, like he'd just seen a phantom. Regardless, they scattered about as they weighed anchor and dropped the sails.

Sea Dog handed him a rag for his face and he took it to wipe the blood off and stop further bleeding.

[MELODY]

Ikatere was breathing rapidly almost hyper ventilating from the spot he landed in having his claws digged into the wood of the deck. He clearly hadn't experienced anything like this before.

[GEM]

"What's going on? Where are Captain and the others?" Sea Dog asked as he looked around frantically, wondering why they were sailing off without them.

"Dead," Apostle said without looking at him, still on the ground as he didn't feel stable enough to stand.

"What do you mean dead?" the man asked as if that was an impossible notion.

"They were slaughtered, Arne! Slaughtered by something in that tomb! Something that possessed Captain's body like a ghost! It only left me alive to tell others a name!" he explained in a way that sounded frustrated but they knew it was because of how scared and traumatized he was.

They were gathering before him again as Buckle stayed on the wheel to turn the ship west.

"What name?" Pirate asked, his expression serious as the others had similar looks on their faces.

"...Tempus Mora."

"Get on, boy!" a harsh voice said as he shoved the shoulder of a fifteen year old into his cage and locked the door, his collar now tightened again as he grasped the rough metal bars.

A man wearing an expensive but casual tunic and cloak; thickly layered clothing for the northern weather, stood in front of the cages counting out coin before he nodded.

The man in front of him waved to others bringing out three chained slaves that were not fit for this weather, handing them over as the man's guards took them to his ship.

"I can see you care about quality... how much for thirty healthy boys?" another said when approaching the market, the people on display like swine in their cages.

The one who counted the coin tilted his head towards another; An older man with a thick silver and black beard, sitting behind a table with even more expensive clothing on his back. He scribbled away on parchment with his quill, not realizing they were getting his attention. Upon approaching, he stood and smiled. "How can I help, lad?"

"I have a rather large plantation in the making, some dragons attacked a few days ago and slowed down progress heavily. Either way, I'm short of men to work the fields and help with construction," he explained.

"Well... you've come to the right place," he said proudly as he walked from behind the table and gestured to his lot. "As you can see, We in Dublin have the best of the best. These men have the strength of ten each, and sold at a bargain. What say you to thirty silver pennigs? One for each lad?"

"A bargain indeed," he agreed and the man put a hand on his shoulder in response to this.

The boy who had his collar tightened glared at the man who sold him as he was ripped from his cage again, joining twenty-nine others who were dragged to a ship for transport, where he would spend the rest of his days in servitude. The anger in him burned when he saw the smile plastered on the trader's face.

That night, the slave trader had a nice meal with his wives and children that his servants made, had a bath run for him by more servants, and wore some expensive but comfortable robes in his chamber as he looked through the profits he made today. On the table that sat a coffer, he began to count. The silence in the room was intense as he only heard the occasional coin against coin while counting.

He was too negligent to realize there was a man shaped shadow against the wall behind him.

Of course when he could feel eyes on him he turned his head but saw nothing out of the ordinary there. He felt odd now, like something was coming for him. His eyes scanned the room more. Perhaps there was a mouse scurrying about...

He then turned to focus on what he was doing again...

Fingers slipped between the smooth metal as coins dropped one by one...

clink

...clink

...clink

That was when a figure stepped from a shadow that had been practically in plain sight, striding with steps as silent as a cat's paws as he stood behind the trader, the light of the fireplace catching his pale skin and scar that ran along the entire left side of his clean shaved face.

Hands suddenly grabbed the head of the trader and the killer behind him pressed his small blade against his throat. He spoke in a slithering but dark voice despite his age being only his late twenties, it carried experience in the art of killing, saying into his ear, "Tempus Mora sends his regards," before slicing open the flesh just beneath his beard, letting his body drop onto the floor, flailing as he choked on his own blood that spewed from his throat.

A guard heard his body drop and ran up to his chamber, seeing no one there but the corpse of his master on the ground and the window of the room open... He ran to the window quickly but saw no one outside of it...

"Master!" someone was calling as he ran up the steps, stopping when he saw the body and widening his eyes.

"His killer is running free! Go!" the guard in the room said in alarm as he drew his blade.

"The slaves—" he began.

"What?"

"They're setting free all of the slaves!"

He furrowed his brows more and he ran past the man, both of them panickingly trying to stop this but it was too late.

The largest slave trade of the north was destroyed.

The cluttered noises of a busy port filled the air as pirates from every corner of the north flooded the poorly made structures that were built from old ships and rickety walkways on stilts that connected it to the various docks that vessels of all sizes and types were tied to.

[GEM]

The island itself was shaped like a crescent moon, the inside holding the village as some buildings (mostly shops) were on land but others (like the tavern) were build on the water with stilts supporting the parts that the two old ships it was made from was weaker. The tavern was the largest building at the port and even had two levels, the bottom one serving as the bar and common area with gambling, live music, and the best drinks that petty sea criminals could get their hands on.

It was a location that only criminals knew of and no rules were to be had, no judgment, and no dragons allowed. They made the mistake of letting the beasts near before and had to rebuild shortly after due to someone thinking it was a good idea to get their dragon drunk.

[GEM]

Ikatere was unfortunately kept in the ship's interior but they made sure the beast was fed and given water as well while they gathered some more supplies and had a moment inside to eat themselves.

The band in the corner of the large room was playing a rather jolly tune as sea criminals from all backgrounds came through the doors of the ship, ordered drinks, gambled, arm wrestled, and drank themselves to death. It was loud to be sure. And there was even a fight going on in another corner that soon came to a sudden halt when one of them passed out from being punched hard in the face.

"Here we are chaps," Greenhood said when he plopped down at their table with cups for each of them.

[GEM]

"Is this whiskey? How on earth did you pay for that?" Sea Dog commented with skepticism.

"Easy. I plucked this off a drunkard about five feet back from us," he answered innocently as he tossed a coin purse up in his palm.

"What have we told you about stealing?" Apostle said to him like he was his teenage son.

"Hey he stole this off a rich widow in mourning. I at least had the decency to make him pay for that," he defended with his brows raised.

Buckle sucked down his and burped. "That's not bad," he commented. "But I'm going to get myself some—,"

"A tankard of mead?" a young woman about fourteen with dark brown hair said as she brought him just that.

He seemed delighted.

"I got yuh, don't you worry," Greenhood told him with a smirk, Buckle putting his hand on his shoulder gratefully.

[GEM]

The woman placed the drink down on the table and smirked at Greenhood when she saw the coin purse. "Careful carrying around money like that. Or these barkeeps will ask for tips," she said before she then put her hand out.

He chuckled and dropped a coin in her palm. "I should put it away. Imagine if it was stolen," he played along, forcing an eye-roll from Apostle who wasn't in the most jolly of moods. How were they just able to carry on like this after what just happened back there?

Even Sea Dog chuckled at that.

But this made Apostle stand up and leave out the large doorway, standing on the wooden overlook that displayed the vast docks, the lamps providing light on an otherwise dark night as distant lightning flashed north from the storm that occurred before...

Jun 12, 2023, 3:18 AM

[MELODY]

Ikatere didn't like being left alone like that so he had protested a lot before they went but he was glad to be safely inside the ship.

Suddenly a cloaked figure walked past Apostle into the tavern. While she walked past him a strand of hair revealed itself. It was curly and bright red. She quickly tugged it away. As she walked into the light of the tavern you could clearly see she was wearing a bow and holder for arrows underneath her cloak. She was about twenty-five years of age.

Jun 12, 2023, 12:22 PM

[GEM]

Apostle glanced her way but continued to look out over the ocean as he tried to think more critically about this afternoon, his mind flooded with questions.

Entering the establishment, it was no surprise that several half drunk men looked her way. Even with her cloak on she was a beauty, with the firelight kissing her porcelain skin.

[MELODY]

The woman clearly had no interest in them as she went to take a seat at one of the empty tables in the back. Her gaze fell on the group where the young woman was helping them and tried to get her attention. She needed someone for information and she didn't trust these men.

[GEM]

While waiting for her, she caught the gaze of a ruffian ahead leaning back in his seat as he almost glared at her from under his scarred brow.

"What can I get you, m'lady?" the tavern girl asked her when she came to her table, a rather smooth English accent on her lips which was uncommon this far north.

[MELODY]

"..Can I get a whiskey?..and yer information?" The woman asked her with a thick Scottish accent. She almost invisibly showed her the coin purse she was carrying. When she leaned forward to her, her eyes showed. They were both a different colour. What also showed was a silver necklace around her neck hidden under the cloak and a locket hanging from it hidden in the top of her dress. She did ignore the ruffian but felt him glare.

[GEM]

The young woman's eyebrow lifted slightly at this, eyeing the corn purse and other details about her with swiftness, a nearly undetectable study as her mind made its conclusions. "The whiskey is a fine choice, being the newest drink in the north. Ten silver coins. Fifteen if you want to add some friendly rumors to your bill," she said to her while she wiped off some ale spilled on the table with a damp cloth.

[MELODY]

The woman sighed softly knowing she brought it upon herself that she had to spend that much silver coins. "..Alright..that's reasonable.." she said handing her the coins. "..so tell me who do ye trust most..among these men?"

[GEM]

"I don't think trust is something I should have for these types and if you know what's good for you, you wouldn't trust anyone here either. Especially with what you're carrying around. Gives them more reasons than just one to accost you," she said rather plainly, something about the way she spoke giving off hints that she knew more than girls her age usually did.

[MELODY]

"Alright let's put it another way then.." the woman said sitting up more straight up now. She had a very proper posture which showed she clearly came from a rich family with good education. "..who will take me to where I want to go without killing me for a good price?" She asked calmly but felt more men started to stare and look her way.

[GEM]

She snickered and shook her head. "I think you stumbled into the wrong port, my lady." She then left to go retrieve her drink for her.

When her body was out of the way, another rugged older individual was looking her way from the bar, chewing something in his mouth as he narrowed his eyes.

[MELODY]

The woman noticed immediately and sighed irritated. "Great.." she said before taking a deep breath staying seated like she was. She wasn't going to show them how unsafe and frustrated she felt right now. She just waited patiently for her drink while she looked around observing the crowd around her until she heard a familiar accent from one of the men as she looked over at Buckle. Another Scot?

Jun 12, 2023, 2:35 PM

[GEM]

He slammed down his tankard on the dirty table and his booming laugh became the loudest thing in the tavern. "Fill me up again!" he said as he engaged in a drinking contest with a pirate.

Greenhood and Sea Dog were standing there with their arms crossed as they watched. Sea Dog put his fingers to his temple and rubbed his nose in stress. "Bloody hell does he have to do this every time we go drinking?" he muttered to his friend with a sigh.

[GEM]

"At least it's always entertaining," Greenhood replied with a smirk.

Pirate was leaning back in his seat as he lit a pipe to smoke, trying to take some much needed relaxation before dealing with whatever happened in that tomb, even though it felt like nothing they needed to take upon their shoulders. He had a feeling they'd get dragged into it anyway.

The young tavern girl set down a clay cup for the redheaded woman before she went back to a table of loud cursing criminals who spilled their drinks everywhere, handing them more as she was careful when placing the last before a dark haired ruffian with a braided beard and rotting teeth. She eyed him once before leaving again.

[MELODY]

The woman thanked her before picking up her cup holding it between her hands as she watched the group of criminals. She still felt being stared at which made her really uncomfortable but she was used to it by now. Unfortunately for her she had now no way of this island as she had hoped to find someone willing to take her further. She was quietly sitting there sipping from her whiskey while figuring out what to do next until she saw a very shady looking man approaching her. She quickly drank the rest of her drink before making her way out of there.

Jun 12, 2023, 3:03 PM

[GEM]

"Uh oh, looks like someone is looking to make his move," Sea Dog murmured between his teeth as he watched several large men get up and follow the woman out of the tavern the back way that led to land. Greenhood followed his gaze and then exchanged a look with him. "A fair maiden in distress? Seems like a good way to earn favorable coin for saving her life?" he asked with a smirk.

"Let's go," he decided and the two hooligans caught their tail.

[GEM]

Pirate was the only member of their group left there and he watched them leave before his eyes caught something more attention grabbing. The dark haired man with bad teeth who had just gulped down a drink that fourteen year old tavern girl handed him began to choke as he grasped his throat and fell over, his friends laughing as they thought it was a joke but then one of them kelt down in alarm as he tried to help, white foam seeping from the pirate's mouth and onto the worn wooden floor...

[GEM]

Pirate narrowed his eyes as he watched this, smoke coming from his pipe. He glanced over to see if he could spot the young tavern woman but she was nowhere in sight.

When the wealthy young Scottish woman was outside the tavern, the men who caught her eye were still following her, one of them cutting off her path before she could make it to where others would see them, now standing on a wooden walkway between large dark stones, matching the rocky and sandy aesthetic of the island.

"Long way from home, aren't yuh princess?" the man in front of her asked in a horribly tattered northern accent. She couldn't even tell what province it was from. He had his left eye sewn shut as his eye was missing but his right one looked her up in down in a disrespectful gaze, his clothing soaked with salt water and booze like his breath.

[MELODY]

"I am not a princess, I don't know what yer talking about so can I pass?" The woman asked calmly but inside she was freaking out. Going outside alone in the dark was not a good idea as a woman traveling alone. Her arms were under her cloak now as she had grabbed the handle of the dirk on her side. Even with her being scared and way smaller then them she looked up at him narrowing her eyes at him.

[GEM]

He unsheathed his rusted rapier and used the tip of it to fold back her hood, revealing her face better under the light of the torches, her striking curly red hair now visible. "What a beauty you are, huh...?" he said with a sneer, his attitude giving off a threat without him even having to utter one. "Your dad wants a pretty price for your capture and return, doesn't he? ...But that doesn't have to happen. After all... maybe we can come to some... understanding?" he offered, the men behind her eyeing her the same way.

[MELODY]

The woman flinched slightly when he did that but tried to stay calm still while keeping eye-contact with him. "..I don't think we want the same..so no thank ye.." she said sharply while she in her mind quickly calculated what she could do. She didn't have the strength like they did but she was small and quicker then them. She quickly unsheathed her dirk and with one swift move behind her stabbed the man standing closest to her in his stomach before moving it to the side quickly pulling it out again slicing his stomach open. She didn't have the strength to do it any other way but she hoped that would startle and distract them enough for her to get out.

Jun 12, 2023, 3:54 PM

[GEM]

The man she cut was startled to say the least and he fell back into his friend who pulled out his weapon after tossing the body aside.

Before the fight began, Greenhood and Sea Dog stood with their backs against the stone outside the tavern. "Alright. You take the big one and I'll take the little one," Sea Dog whispered.

He frowned and looked at his friend. "Now hold on, why is it that every time we are doing something together, I get the harder task?"

"Because of what happened the last time you were in charge," he argued, while behind them, the woman and the three men already began to skirmish while they just bickered, not noticing.

"That was Buckle's fault," he replied.

The man standing in front of the woman kicked the side of her leg as soon as she stabbed the man behind her and he grabbed her wrist before she could whirl her weapon around to stab him in return.

[MELODY]

The woman bit her bottom lip when he kicked her not wanting him to hear that she had pain to have that satisfaction. She glared up at him furiously as she let go of the dirk before catching it with the other and stabbed him in his leg hoping he would let go.

[GEM]

The man cringed as his back bent forward from the pain, the man behind her grabbing her around her arms and torso, locking his hands together as he tried to overcome her with strength in order to give his partner a chance to fight back without killing her.

[MELODY]

Moira let out a scream mixed with a sort of Scottish battle cry when she was grabbed from behind trying to get free but since she wasn't that big she could just swing him over her shoulder. "Let me go ye bastard!!" She yelled out as she kicked him in his private area. It was clear this lady wasn't to be underestimated and stereotyped.

[GEM]

He released her when she did that, falling to his knees and giving her the chance to gain the upperhand, the one who was stabbed gritting his teeth and managing to pull her dagger from his leg before trying to attack again and punch her in the face with the hilt of her own weapon.

[MELODY]

She couldn't react in time as she was hit in her face and fell to the ground. She felt a warmth from the spot he hit her running down the side of her face as blood started dripping down. She tried to ignore that all as she had no time to give into that dizziness and pain it had caused and tried to get up again to face her attacker.

Jun 12, 2023, 4:59 PM

[GEM]

She could feel the man trying to grab her arms to bind them but then someone cleared their throat.

"Well that's no proper way to treat a lady," an unfamiliar man said as her vision was too fuzzy to see who spoke.

https://youtu.be/ZnvAGM4-KB0

(track: "Meet Dredger" by Hans Zimmer)

But the ruffian who was trying to bind her got up and grabbed his sword, charging for the stranger but Apostle just dodged his attack and tripped him with his hurt leg, causing the attacker to fall clumsily onto the wooden walkway before he scrambled to his feet, Apostle waiting for him to get back up as he stood between the pirate and the redheaded woman on the ground, hands behind his back plainly.

[GEM]

The pirate lunged for him again, and again the man dodged swiftly, pulling his sword from behind him as he blocked the man's next move and punched him in the face before he could swing again, the one eyed criminal stumbling back as he regained his composure, Apostle not attacking first as he just politely waited for the man to make another move. "Your footing is lacking but you can do better." He motioned for him to come back and attack, a smirk on his face.

The pirate grit his teeth and ran once more with anger, swinging his blade for the Irishman with all his might. Unfortunately that was a bad move. Apostle spun and lopped off the arm of the man before twirling his blade and jamming it through the throat of the pirate, yanking it back out as the attacker fell dead.

[GEM]

He shugged. "I guess he couldn't do better," he said plainly before looking over at the last man who still had his hands on his crotch, trying to get back up and failing. Apostle made a sarcastic look of pity and motioned for him to just stay down. "It's alright, lad we've all been there," he told him with a grimace of empathy.

[MELODY]

she felt her head throb from bleeding and the pain and she looked up at the stranger killing her attacker. Although she couldn't see much thanks to her blurred vision. She carefully tried to get up not knowing if she could trust this man but failed falling back down from the dizziness.

[GEM]

Apostle approached her, kneeling down to help her up as he examined her head wound. "Aye, can you hear me lass?" he said gently, trying to get an understanding as to her level of consciousness. When he was closer she could see his face a bit better and from what she could tell, she didn't see anything but honestly concerned eyes.

Jun 13, 2023, 1:29 AM

[MELODY]

The woman closed her eyes in pain before opening them again and looked up at him slightly trying to make out what he said before just giving him a small nod. She clearly couldn't stand like this and was on the edge of passing out. Blood was still dripping from the side of her head. Her clothes were also covered in blood from that other man and it was on her arms and face as well.

Jun 13, 2023, 3:10 AM

[GEM]

He put his hand on her shoulder—

They almost jumped when someone shouted behind them and hit the last attacker in the head with the handle of Greenhood's dagger, both crewmates standing there mustering prideful looks as Sea Dog took in a breath through his nose and put a hand on his hip. "We, uh... we got that one."

"Got that one, we did," Greenhood agreed.

Apostle gave them an unimpressed look.

The young fourteen year old barmaid was outside ringing out her apron when she looked up at the scene as it was ended. But something caught her eye. It was the clearly sliced X shape that was carved into the side of Apostle's face, scabbed over now.

[GEM]

Her eyes seemed to carry deep weight and realization when she saw this, something inside of her changing; shifting...

She looked away before they realized she was staring, glancing back at them once more when Apostle helped the red haired woman walk away from the bodies of her assailants and the other two followed...

They found a spot on the sand that was far from the noise and Sea Dog made it back with a clean cloth for her wound. Pirate finding them as well.

[GEM]

Apostle took the cloth and pressed it against her head where the bleeding was coming from, as she sat on the soft sand with her back against a large stone. "Hold this here and keep the pressure, lass. Doesn't look too bad so the bleeding shouldn't last much longer," he said to her.

"Aye, not another charity situation of yours is it?" Pirate asked with exasperation as he cleaned out his pipe.

"I'm not sorry to have helped someone, friend. Your approval isn't the one I seek in earnest," he replied plainly as he stood back up.

"Don't forget we helped," Sea Dog commented.

"Helped quite a lot," Greenhood added but they couldn't tell if he was being sarcastic or not.

"Where's Buckle?" Apostle asked, noticing he was missing.

"Passed out from the drinking contest he won," Pirate answered.

That didn't surprise him.

[MELODY]

The woman flinched when he pressed that cloth against her head but nodded in a reply pressing it against her head now. "T-..thank ye..f-for the help.." she managed to get out as her voice was shaking from the pain. Often people found her accent to be distracting and making what she said not understandable. But she tried to speak proper English when she talked to someone not from Scotland. Although she could also talk French and Latin being taught by her mother. She now just closed her eyes in pain leaning back against the stone behind her trying to breath deeply.

Jun 13, 2023, 3:37 AM

[GEM]

"Are we staying the night then?" Sea Dog asked.

"I don't think there's a risk in it seeing as we have no treasure for anyone to burgle," Greenhood pointed out.

"And then what?" Pirate asked.

The others didn't know how to answer this.

"What is the plan now? What could be the plan?" he continued as he stepped closer to Apostle. "I know you won't let things go—"

"No, Pirate. No I won't. My friend was taken by that thing and I will find a way to free him. I won't lose him to the darkness," Apostle said back with equal sternness.

He sighed, not wanting to be tasked with something like this and he didn't even know where to start.

"Let's just focus on getting sleep and resupplying for now," Greenhood suggested.

Apostle turned back to the woman and walked over to her as he asked, "So... mind telling us why those ruffians wanted your head?"

[MELODY]

"..n-not really.." the woman replied holding her eyes closed. She didn't want them to know her secret and buy her of to her father. But during the fight her cloak got off revealing the tartan of her dress with her clan's colours and her necklace had come out revealing her clan's crest. "..b-but I have to, don't I? I-I can't fight like this..so will ye just make me say it?"

[GEM]

"I won't ask you to reveal anything you do not wish to say freely, lass," he told her. "I merely speak for curiosity's sake and concern for your wellbeing of course."

[MELODY]

The woman opened her eyes slightly looking up at the man in front of her and sighed deeply. "..L-let's just say someone very powerful w-wants me.." she replied plainly not revealing she was a princess to them.

[GEM]

"And you came here?" He seemed surprised, his brows raised.

[MELODY]

The woman let out a dry chuckle before nodding. "Well..I-I am out of options.." she said clearly frustrated about it. "..I just need to get away and g-go up further north..I think.." she said before closing her eyes again.

Jun 13, 2023, 4:18 AM

[GEM]

"I see." He nodded and glanced over towards the constant commotion of the port. "I trust you have some sort of arrangements for this plan?" he asked, wondering how many other people here wanted her bounty.

[MELODY]

"I had..s-someone to take me there but he dropped me off h-here and left me here.." the red-haired woman said sighing deeply. She wasn't going to trust someone again so easily. "..t-that's why..I came into the tavern.."

Jun 13, 2023, 4:38 AM

[GEM]

He thought about that and walked over to the boulder she sat against, leaning his back against it casually as he sighed. "Well... seeing as we have no heading of our own, perhaps north can be where we search for answers. I don't speak for the whole crew but I think my art of persuasion can get you aboard our little ship... if you wish," he added and looked down at her with his arms crossed, a slight smirk on his lips. "I'm I allowed to know your name, lass?" he said with a brow slightly raised.

[MELODY]

The woman opened her eyes again as she looked surprised and clearly hesitated before she spoke. "..I-I have no other options a-anyway...m-my name is Moira.." she said before she gave him a small weak smile.

[GEM]

He held out his hand politely for her as a respectful greeting.

[MELODY]

Moira gently grabbed his hand before shaking it. "S-So yer name is?" She asked as she let go off his hand again.

[GEM]

"Uriah," he told her after giving a small bow when their hands were connected, letting go after. "Pleasure to meet you, despite the way we met of course."

[MELODY]

Moira nodded in agreement as she tried to sit up a bit more straight. She regretted it immediately as a sharp pain shot into her head almost making her pass out immediately but she managed to stay away just barely.

Jun 13, 2023, 5:14 AM

[GEM]

He noticed this sudden shift and bent down to make sure she was alright. "Careful, lass. You took a wicked blow to the head and it might be a while to recover. Try not to move your head too much." He checked to see how badly the wound was bleeding and it didn't seem terrible so long as they could keep pressure on it. So he took one of this utility belts off and wrapped it around her head to hold the cloth in place. "Might be a rather strange fashion choice but I think you pull it off," he commented, as if making her feel better was his job and adding humor would be the way to do this.

This always seemed to be Uriah's way of pleasing others around him. Of course his cremates often mocked him lightly for the crazy situations he always managed to get himself into with the excuse that he was trying to help someone, but he didn't really care. It was who he was.

[MELODY]

Moira barely reacted when he said that apart from letting out a chuckle again. Since she had been hit on her temple and the adrenaline of the fight wore off she started feeling worse now. She leaned back again as she closed her eyes not being able to stay awake much longer.

[GEM]

"We need to get some sustenance in your system," he said and stood up. "Lads, gather supplies and meet me back at the ship. We leave tonight. I'll take the first watch and keep a hold of the wheel," he told them as they turned around to listen.

"What? Why?" Sea Dog asked, clueless.

"Moira is coming with us and no one in this god forsaken pirate port is trustworthy to not do the same as those men. So we sail for the north tonight. We can discuss a real heading when we're at sea."

They didn't want to follow his orders but they relented. He knelt down to her again. "My lady," he said gently and pulled her arm over his shoulders to carefully lift her from the sand and begin walking towards the docks, making sure she was conscious the whole time.

Jun 13, 2023, 7:24 AM

[MELODY]

Moira flinched and groaned in pain when he helped her up like that before walking with him to the docks. She tried to start a conversation with him to try to distract herself and to stay awake as far as that was possible. "S-So..where..are ye from?" She had noticed a slight accent.

Jun 13, 2023, 2:59 PM

[GEM]

"Dublin, my lady," he told her. "My father was Irish. My mother was Israeli. They met during his travels southeast. Moved here when they got married and had me. I stayed there until they both died and that's when my nomadic lifestyle started," he told her, trying to do the same, distracting her. He was about to ask about her own life but remembered she didn't want to discuss it.

Jun 13, 2023, 4:47 PM

[MELODY]

"I-I thought I heard an I-Irish accent." Moira said with a small smile as she listened to the rest he said. "..I-I am not fully Scot as well..me mum was French.." she said as sadness showed in her eyes for a second. She didn't really want to bring everything up. "..losing both parents must be hard..b-but what made ye decided to travel so much after?"

Jun 13, 2023, 5:11 PM

[GEM]

"Well... when my father died my mother became ill when we tried to get by impoverished. I was desperate that she would not die, and in that desperation I turned to matters outside the law; thieving, unethical paid jobs, even mercenary work. You see my view of morality was flawed for most of my life, and got even worse after I wasn't able to save my mother. I embraced the corruption, became a trained killer... and fought for selfish gain. It wasn't until I met Elijah that my life took a turn. He showed me a better way to live and quickly became like a big brother to me. My eyes were opened to love and mercy, forgiveness and salvation... and then I became a traveler, bringing with me the Good News of the Way wherever my foot landed... That was made easier when I tamed my first dragon, of course. Now I've been all over the place," he explained, very open about his life as he kept a rather casual and positive demeanor.

[MELODY]

Moira seemed really surprised that he told her that much about him feeling bad about not telling him about her life now. "..seems like y-ye been through a lot..b-but gained much as well.." she said before she became silent again "..can I-I trust ye with me story?" She asked suddenly then. "..L-like ye won't tell yer friends?"

[GEM]

"Well that trust is up to you, my lady. Either I am the honest man I say I am, or I am a skilled swindler with a tongue so sharp it could convince of any lies," he said in a slightly humorous way, smirking.

[MELODY]

Even with her injuries Moira rolled her eyes at his comment. "..well funny guy..I-I am not going to tell ye now.." she said as they had reached the dock to the ship. Ikatere could hear their voices as he woke up out of his nap.

[GEM]

He chuckled, his mouth spreading to a wide smile. But he added, "I'm sorry lass. You see what kind of shenanigans I put up with when it comes to this randy lot. But I speak the truth when I say you can tell me anything without fear of judgment or possible gossip. My ears are yours and my lips are sealed," he said honestly as he helped her over the margin between their ship and wooden planks that made up the dock.

[MELODY]

Moira miled slightly back at him when he said that and nodded "I-I will think about it then.." she said before looking a bit around once they were on deck. She then suddenly heard scratching and whimpering below them. Did she really hear that or was her mind playing tricks on her? "D-Do ye..hear that?" She asked just to be sure.

[GEM]

"Oh yes don't mind that. You weren't the only new passenger we picked up in last couple of days, my lady," he told her before approaching the hold to take her to the beds below deck. Little did he know that Ikatere was at the bottom of the steps staring up at them eagerly like a dog waiting for his owner to come through the door.

Jun 14, 2023, 2:15 PM

[MELODY]

Moira looked a bit confused at that but nodded letting him help her get below deck still wondering what that sound was. As soon as the hold opened Ikatere made his way out knocking them over. He had no idea what Apostle came with someone else. He froze immediately when he saw the stranger. Moira let out a surprised yelp as she fell back.

Jun 14, 2023, 7:45 PM

[GEM]

Uriah grabbed her before she could trip properly, being mindful of her head as to not let it move to suddenly. "Bloody hell, you stupid beast!" Uriah cursed through his teeth but not harshly, as the dragon didn't understand what it did wrong. "Can you perhaps calm yourself? Else we'd put you down there for good," he added with a slightly lighter tone, giving Ikatere a look.

Jun 15, 2023, 2:40 AM

[MELODY]

Ikatere flinched when he cursed like that and backed away with a whimper really not seeing what he did wrong. He went to lay down in a corner of the deck looking over at him with big eyes. He really acted like a dog that just got punished for something. "W-What..is that?" Moira asked still shocked by what she just saw as she looked over at Ikatere

Jun 15, 2023, 11:20 PM

[GEM]

"Uh..." Uriah seemed taken aback by Moira's question. Everyone in the known world had either seen a dragon or knew of their existence for thousands of years. How was she kept ignorant of it? Especially traveling a foot outside one's door. "A dragon, my lady. Are you alright?" he questioned, puzzled.

Jun 16, 2023, 2:32 AM

[MELODY]

Moira nodded at his question "I-I am fine.." of course Moira had heard of dragons but she hadn't seen one in real life before and this close.

[GEM]

He chuckled a little and then looked at her with his eyes narrowed. "Where are you from again?" he questioned, suspecting she was a high born of some sort with clothes like that and unfamiliarity with the serpents of the north.

[MELODY]

"..I-I am from Scotland.." Moira said looking up at him now seeing the expression on his face. She still wasn't sure she could tell her secret to him but she knew it would come out whether she wanted it to or not.

Jun 16, 2023, 8:18 PM

[GEM]

He still looked slightly amused and knew she was keeping secrets but he didn't care. He just held his arm out to help her down into the hold. "Right," is all he replied with, a half smile on his lips.

Jun 17, 2023, 1:02 AM

[MELODY]

She seemed glad he didn't ask further as she walked with him below deck. She seemed really exhausted now that she decided to let that show.

Jun 17, 2023, 11:02 AM

[GEM]

"I know it's not what you are used to but..." he walked her over to the hammock he slept in and let her sit down. "It's the best we got." He went to fetch something and came back with half a loaf of bread and an orange. "The last bit of food we had. You should eat before you sleep. It will help with the dizziness."

Jun 17, 2023, 11:59 AM

[MELODY]

Moira carefully sat down in it making sure not to fall off the other end. She seemed to hesitate when he handed the food to her but accepted it and nodded. "T-Thank ye...I don't want to t-trouble ye and yer friends..but thank ye for the food.."

[GEM]

"Oh don't worry about that. They're collecting more supplies now. So we will have plenty for the journey--wherever that journey is to," he said with a kind smile. "And you're welcome, of course. Sleep for as long as you like. I'll be taking the first watch anyway," he added. "And if there's anything else you need, just let any of us know. The others will help even if they are... well... you'll get used to them," he said with a little smirk.

[MELODY]

Moira raised an eyebrow when he said that last part but nodded. She started to eat the bread then looking around but tried not to move her head too much. "So ye all live down here? Plus..the dragon?"

[GEM]

"Indeed. Though I'm sure it seems cramped to you, lass. We don't have our own rooms with beds that could fit a horse," he teased a little.

[MELODY]

"..I have seen worse.." Moira said calmly back as she was eating. She looked back up at him when she said that. Like teasing him back.

Jun 17, 2023, 1:39 PM

[GEM]

"I won't ask what you mean despite you trying to tempt me. Instead I shall wait patiently for you to disclose your story to me when you see fit and not a moment before," he told her with much the same attitude as if it was a challenge.

Jun 17, 2023, 2:04 PM

[MELODY]

Moira shrugged then finishing her bread and started on the orange. "W-We shall see.." she said and continued with the same attitude

Jun 19, 2023, 1:51 PM

[GEM]

He smiled back at her.

The others bought and gathered goods for their journey, restocking the ship and doing everything necessary to set sail again.

The young tavern girl was watching them leave the port, standing on a cliffside before she turned around and threw off her apron and head bandana. She began walking briskly with a cold expression on her face, stepping up the stone steps and around the corner where her dragon was waiting for her on the far side of the island. It was a Devilish Dervish with scales black like the night but with fire colored spikes and tail end. It shook its head when it saw her, stretching out its wings from the relaxed position it had been in. She mounted the beast as it bellowed at her and kicked its side gently like a horse. The dragon took off and soared through the wind.

[GEM]

The journey south took her a bit but the dragon was fast and the wind was with her. She landed in a remote village in northern Ireland in a few hours, dismounting from her beast and pulling out the tight braided do her hair was in, letting it fall as dark brown locks about shoulder length, the top part still back into a ponytail to keep it from her face. She continued to walk as her dragon flew off to feast for the night, walking in a straight line towards a smith as she passed by a lone farm with sheep behind the fence, an inn to her left as well.

The forge wasn't lit as it was the middle of the night. But she used a key she had with her to open the door to the smith, shutting it behind her as she locked it once more for the sleeping owners. It was a small interior but she made her way through the dark, over to the basement door, unlocking it with a different key this time, before disappearing inside and locking it again from the top of the basement stairs.

[GEM]

Walking down the steps, she passed by a rat that scurried into the darkness, walking past stacks of ingots and crates of raw ore, some broken weapons and greasy work clothes in storage. She made her way to the large crate at the far corner of the room and unlocked the lid of the box before opening it to see a hatch it was covering up. She opened the hatch and disappeared into the lower level of the basement...

Coming down a ladder, her feet stepped onto the familiar stone ground and she turned to walk down the hallway that led into the main chambers, making sure to step over a tripwire on her way. There was a vast cavern carved from under the caves that hid away itself beneath that small peaceful town of thirty residents, made of dark carved stone.

[GEM]

The cave wasn't enormous but it was about the size of the village above them, with hallways and steps leading into different alienated quarters and rooms. The main room had rather high ceilings once you stepped all the way down to the floor. The room was circular and there was a waterfall that fell from one side, creating a moist air. There was a large table for communal dinners at one end, and a training ground at the other end, She could hear the sound of steel on steel when she entered, looking down as she saw tow of her sisters sparing, the older doing a better job than the younger, one of the men sitting at the table reading a book as he watched them idly.

[GEM]

The ones sparing were wearing dark browns and black colored leather armor, lightweight, and even some dragons hide pieces on the shoulders and chest. There was a hood as well, with a small bunched up capelet to one side of the armor.

But she kept walking straight down the hallway that was a ledge on one side and had a wall on the other, until she walked through the doorway of a large sanctum with a stone podium ahead, holding an opened book on it. There were lit candles all around the dark figure that stood there with his palms pressed to either side of the book, studying its contents. There was a scroll hanging on the wall above the podium that held a half circle with an ex inside.

The girl passed by two shrines on either far side of the room. One was to Hella, and the other to Forseti.

[GEM]

She stopped then, looking at the back of the cloaked and hooded figure, knowing who it was before she even saw his face. "I heard your show in Dublin went well," she told him plainly, speaking with little emotion aside from the small hints that her tone and facial expression gave. She kept her arms behind her back.

The man looked up, the familiar pale face of the one who had killed the slave trader still not yet visible to her as he didn't yet turn around. He was also not startled by her entry as he could tell it was the footsteps of the sister he knew as Runa entering. "I'm beginning to think it's not the top product in the north any longer," he said, meaning something more to that.

She waited for him to explain, hardly changing her expression.

[GEM]

He dropped his hands from the podium and turned around as he walked towards a table in the room, coal black cloak swaying from the movement as he kept the large hood over his head. "There's a new trade in the north now that Berk has risen to such power. The other nations around it tremble and clamber in desperation to get it." The candlelight highlighted his sharp cheekbones as he opened up another book on the table, eyebrows and hair as dark as his cloak. "Dragons," he finished.

"Rumors speak of trappers in the north. I heard the industry is growing more this year than it did the last."

"And it will keep increasing with a relentless force, I'm afraid," he replied. His voice was smooth and his accent was like hers; a very proper English. He was also, of course, twelve years older than her.

"I'm not sure it will matter in the end." She remained where she was.

"No, I'm sure it will not..." he trailed off as he focused on something else.

[GEM]

She waited for a quiet moment, the news hanging over her until she finally said, "Muiredach... he's back."

He lifted his head from his book, his eyes turning to shock as all of his thoughts shattered from a second before she said these words, and collected again slowly with the news that changed everything.

Runa and Muiredach traveled down the hallways of the sanctuary at a brisk pace, Runa having to almost jog as she was only five-foot-two in height and he was six-one.

But they descended down some spiral steps into the doorway of a chamber that was lined with dragonfire, keeping it warm but, more importantly, lit well. The figure they approached was named Valmaor. He was an older, white haired man with lazy eyes and pale skin; the kind of eyes that conveyed a strange darkness, as if when you looked into them, you suspected death was near. He was in dark dragon scale armor and had a cloak on his shoulders of black.

[GEM]

"What disturbs your minds on this day, brother and sister?" he asked as he stood facing the fire, looking through a black and purple stone before they interrupted him. His voice was deeper and darker, holding an elegantly sinister tone to it.

"Something that should plague your mind as well—" Muiredach said.

"Though good news for once," Runa added.

"I'm listening..." he began, not turning around.

"The ex was seen on a man's face in Shipwreck Port," Muiredach told him.

Valmaor's eyes drifted upwards, a satisfaction and anticipation rising that did not appear on his face. "Then it is time for us at last to make our way to Citadel..." he said before turning around. "Brother, fetch the stone."

[GEM]

Muiredach glanced at Runa before turning to do as he asked, walking from the room on a mission.

"Sister... I hear of a great power in Scotland..." he began as he turned to walk over towards a desk where a map lay. "King Malcolm the Third is celebrating the unity of all of the surrounding clans at... Edinburgh Castle. I heard they're even considering signing a treaty with Berk..." he gave her a side-eye without actually turning to look at her.

"I'll see to it," she told him plainly before turning to leave as well.

Muiredach traveled to the depths of their sanctuary, opening doors that were vowed by all to not be opened until it was time. And as second in command to Valmaor, he was the one authorized.

[GEM]

Sliding just the right pieces of stone over as a pattern to complete a puzzle, he opened the last door which lead into a small room, the center holding a rope that was tied to a platform in the ground. Alongside the walls were all different stones held by ropes. But he, of course, knew the right one to cut. Taking his dagger, he sliced the second on to his right, the counterweight released as the rope pulled up the stone platform to reveal a coffer inside. Approaching the center, he took it out carefully and with his gloved fingers, he opened the lid to let his eyes fall upon the glowing blue stone...