OOM All Skate Skellig Dream Magic Weirdness -Part Nine

[brave_kreyu]

Kreyu has gathered plenty of henna and even woad, a blue dye, for some experiments with designs on Skellig's skin.

"The blue would look lovely on you, I think," she remarks. "Your fairer skin would show it off quite well. Though I am far more experienced in applying henna."

She's gathered bits and pieces of designs to look at for inspiration. Celtic style knots, viking style abstract patterns and stylized beasts, the mandala and floral type designs he's admired on her, and more.

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[brave_kreyu]

Most of the sailors have gone ashore at their Captain's orders, which makes this easier. Once enough Hippocampi have gathered, Kreyu soars skyward, shrieks a word of command.

The ship SURGES up into the air, born aloft on a column of water to land near the rock outcrop. The wood groans, the ship leans, and it thunks against the stone, mostly upright.

Kreyu lands again on solid ground, but she conjures a tiny ball of fire in front of her beak. "I believe it is time we renegotiate terms, Captain."

[27_53]

The slaves all cower in fear - the women shriek in terror, some grabbing the children protectively as they cry out in fright; a few men break from their positions in the line and go to shelter the women instinctly.

Even Skellig yells in surprise, as he was not expecting that to happen, wings flaring rapidly as he moves away from the sudden upthrust of seawater and an entire ship before it comes to rest upon the rocks.

His heartbeat is now racing, and the expression on his face has to be briefly priceless, before he works to bring it under control. A few of the sailors who have the forethought to protect the captain draw small knives, but not all of them do so.

[brave_kreyu]

"Your trade in human lives is an abomination, but I am going to offer you a chance to make better choices," Kreyu tells them.

"These people will be free, and all of you will swear to never again engage in such work. Or you can die here, if you would prefer."

The Captain snarls, goes for the sword at his hip. Some of the others make similar moves, but most don't seem terribly keen to fight.

[27_53]

Under his breath, but loud enough that the captives at his back (and the young sailor who has also moved on instinct with the rest of the men to stand in a sort of half-circle in front of the women and children, protecting them from harm) can hear him, he mutters: "Stand steady and no harm will come to you."

There are another few sailors that are between Skellig and Kreyu (and the Captain) that are a bit conflicted, as their 'honor' would tell them to draw their swords, fight against these beasts, protect the cargo from thievery!

But at the same time...they do not wish to die here, upon this rocky shoreline.

Skellig flexes his hand (feeling for his talons, hidden as they are yet still ready if needed) and his wings, carefully observing the body language of all of the men. He will strike if needed, step in if she seems to struggle...but he suspects she may be able to handle herself.

[brave_kreyu]

The Captain snarls and points his blade at her. "I'm going to mount your HEAD on the bow of my ship you feathered whore! Then I'm going to put that beast fucker in chains and sell him with the rest of the cargo."

He's trying to make her so angry that she acts without tactics, leaves an opening that he can exploit. It works, in a manner of speaking. The sound that comes out of Kreyu's throat is a roar of monstrous rage and her form BLURS as she lunges forward into an amalgam of her eagle and draconic forms. Scales, feathers, teeth, talons, wings, smoke and gold intermingled as she tries to tear the Captain asunder.

Only two of the other sailors are brave enough to try and attack the creature ripping their Captain apart and they don't seem to be having much of an effect.

[27_53]

His initial instinct is to lunge forward and do the same thing to the Captain that Kreyu is currently in the midst of - tear him limb from limb, shred his skin from his muscles, pull muscle from bone, reduce him into a finely ground pile of viscera on the shoreline for the birds to pick at later. But she is doing a very fine job of that herself, and he also knows that while she would not harm him intentionally, there might be a chance off-hand that her attacks could go astray and land on him by mistake.

So instead, he launches himself off of his feet and dives at one of the two who have chosen to attempt to attack Kreyu; he hits the first one square in the side of the ribcage (a half-second too late to completely block the strike of his club against Kreyu's shoulder, a glancing blow that causes her to growl in frustration - or perhaps that is just another sound she is making as she works on the Captain) and drives his talons between the ribs, reaching to pierce lungs, arteries, heart, anything he can hit during this tackle as they land on the dirt.

[brave_kreyu]

Kreyu is too preoccupied finishing off the Captain to notice the blow much, she finally stops tearing at the body, casts her gaze on the fighter on her right who hastily backs away.

Skellig's talons dig deep, he could rip the man's heart out if he was inclined to! (Though that would be excessive and spectacularly messy.)

[27_53]

Briefly, a flash of Dark energy surges up within his chest and he is oh so tempted to make a bloody spectacle of this sailor, a messy statement that leaves absolutely no doubt as to his level of seriousness - but just as suddenly as it courses through his body, it is replaced with something else. An opposing surge, Light and mercy and everything that he KNOWS he stands for.

So rather than ripping out the sailor's heart, he simply severs the organ in two, followed by the spinal cord (no pain is felt, death is instant) as he draws his talons back, eases the man's body to the ground beneath him.

(He does not simply drop him to the dirt.)

With one hand (not the one that was just buried in the chest) he reaches up and closes the sailor's eyes; he is listening to Kreyu with his ears, doesn't need to turn to look at her to see that she is fine.

[brave_kreyu]

Mercy, after the first Dark flush of rage is passed. Yes, there should be mercy, even for these.

"Retrieve your personal belongings from the ship, then get you gone," she tells them. "Make better choices, for we did not HAVE to show you mercy today."

Some sailors do not even bother trying to retrieve their belongings, they simply run down the dirt road toward the village. The rest move hastily toward the ship, keen to get their things and get OUT of here as quickly as possible.

"I didn't give you my name," the young man says into silence. "Xenophon. I am, I am Xenophon."

[27_53]

"Xenophon," Skellig bows his head (not out of reverence, simply in greeting) but does not introduce himself - not yet. "Well met."

(He will let Kreyu introduce herself first, if they are to do so - he isn't completely sure if that is the best idea in this instance or situation.)

"I spoke to my wife of your plight, and that of your sister. We think we may have an idea of sorts, to settle your situation...we would discuss it with you. Do you have things to gather, from the ship? Supplies, for those who were captive?"

(The slaves are all still huddled in a group, terrified of everything that is going on right now. These are the...people...that have paid for them? Stolen them? What is their status, other than to obey those with wings?)

[brave_kreyu]

"I had planned to strip the ship, once the rest of the crew was gone," Kreyu pipes up. "We can distribute them among those here who might need them."

She turns to face the slaves, forces herself back to just the eagle shape of her soul. Her voice is as gentle as she can make it when she speaks to them. "You are all free people, may do as you will. Though I hope you will stay to receive a portion of the ship's supplies, I would not send you off to your new lives with nothing."

"I have a few belongings on the ship, but not many," Xenophon replies. "I will fetch them when we are stripping the ship of supplies."

[27_53]

"Your assistance will be appreciated," Skellig says. "There are areas that she cannot fit, and you likely know where the most useful things have been stored." As he suspects that Xenophon was often tasked with fetching those things and bringing them to be used when needed.

Several of the (former) slaves are clearly in shock, some overcome with relief and similar emotions, ripples of surprise and disbelief at their suddenly granted freedom. A few of the younger, fit men also volunteer to help with gathering supplies.

Once the remainder of the crew has left the vessel, the men set out to traverse the short distance on the outcropping; Skellig takes the shortcut and launches himself 'skyward', though it is only to the deck itself, to find a prybar or some sort - he wants to get into some of these crates, see what is useful.

(Also, there COULD be treasures on board, to add to their own hoard at home. Though those might be located below deck, perhaps in the Captain's private quarters...)

[brave_kreyu]

Kreyu also takes flight onto the deck, quite willing to pry open crates with her talons.

Xenophon leads Skellig to a portion of the cargo hold he was never allowed in. "There might be something good in here."

The first few crates Skellig finds are the ancient equivalent of hardtack. Useful on long voyages for staying fed, but not something one would likely choose to eat in other circumstances. There are amphora of olive oil, sacks of dried fruit and dried meat. This must be where the ship's food supplies were stored. The most precious commodity here is a small wooden casket that holds some salt!

Xenophon huffs. "Don't know why they wouldn't let me anywhere near these supplies, what did they think I was going to do, eat it all?"

[27_53]

"Maybe they considered you might offer it up to the slaves as you may have been most likely to take pity on them," he shrugs (as much as he can in this hold, with his wings folded as they are) and glances through the crates. "This will be a good start. I am not certain how long the journey is to the village - I assume not far, else my wife would not have chosen this spot to aim the ship to dock."

The sacks of dried fruit and meat are taken to the entrance to the upper deck, then carried out by others. The salt might be valuable and worth a fair bit in trade, so Skellig sets that aside for now...

But there must be other things within the cargo hold that are worth gathering! The exploration continues. (Skellig would be lying if he did not get a small thrill from this - Kreyu might be rubbing off on him.)

[brave_kreyu]

"Maybe," Xenophon shrugs. "I know what's in most of the rest in this section, supplies and tools for repairing the ship. Should be easy enough to sell in the village if they can't use them outright. Rope, planks, tar, and sailcloth have plenty of uses."

"Never got the chance to poke around at those crates and amphora near the cages though."

THESE crates seem to be a better bet, trade goods! Linen cloth, bars of bronze, fine leather, painted pottery urns, a few carved statuettes. The greatest mysteries are some small, tightly sealed copper boxes. When shaken, there is a sound of many small things inside of them.

[27_53]

"I am not sure what those are," Skellig reaches for one of the small copper boxes, shakes it gently and cocks his head curiously - it is an interesting rattle. He sniffs the air and then sniffs the box itself - while the seal is tight, it is not perfect (not for his nose) and even though smell is not his strongest sense, he is hit with the aromatic smell of herbal resins.

"I believe this to be for use as incense," he says. "If I remember from when we were in Amikaya last, the scent is familiar."

Some other ones are different - spices, those he is familiar with, Kreyu has cooked with some of them and they bring back memories of dishes she has prepared. But the frankincense - that is a lovely scent. And there is a fair amount of it, as well, several boxes. "This fetched a fine price in the markets when I saw it. Here," he hands one over to Xenophon. "Use it as you would, sell or trade."

[brave_kreyu]

Xenophon takes the box automatically. "I, you're sure?" he asks.

"I think the most valuable items must be in the Captain's quarters," Xenophon tells Skellig as he picks up the small bag that holds all his worldly possessions.

"One of the sailors tried to break into them near the start of the voyage, the Captain beat him so badly with a whip he couldn't get out of bed for days."

[27_53]

Among the things that they're 'browsing' through, Skellig finds a bigger bag than the tiny one he brought with him originally; the copper tins go into it, as well as some of the fine leather. (He has ideas for something to make with that, which he will contemplate in greater detail the next time they are back at the Lair with free time on their hands that is not being spent in bed.) He frowns slightly at the telling of the Captain whipping the other sailor, though he is not surprised.

"Even if it is not the brightest idea to try to thieve while you are stuck upon a ship at sea...that is still not right."

The door is locked; there is obviously no key to be found, but that does not matter when you have tricks up your sleeve. Skellig easily bypasses the mechanism with a few utterances, and then pushes the door open, stepping inside.

[brave_kreyu]

"No," Xenophon agrees. "I, I was afraid he was going to die," he admits. "He left when we next made port, can't say I blame him."

Xenophon is surprised at the magic. "Oh, I, I suppose I should have guessed. With the wings." He flushes.

The cabin is far more luxurious than the rest of the ship, though it is still far below their Lair in terms of quality. The wooden walls are covered in fabric decorated with colorful patterns or scenes. A figurine of some unknown sea god sits in a small altar in one corner, the offering bowl full of fresh grapes.

The biggest draw is likely the two large chests, heavy wood with bronze fittings.

[27_53]

"I imagine I am probably one of the first born-winged men you have come across," he offers with another faint shrug. "A guess would have been valid, but it could have gone either way, as far as the abilities go."

Skellig studies the charts on the desk, papers, a logbook sits open. There are some basic 'tools of the trade', though in one corner of the room sits a bucket which contains a few...implements, previously mentioned whip included. He notes it, but pays it little heed; his focus is on the chests.

"Unless we can find a key - perhaps within the desk," he suggests. "These may take a slight bit more effort..." He kneels before one, places a hand on the top of the wood, lightly drums his fingertips against the surface, listening closely.

[brave_kreyu]

"The first," Xenophon replies. "I have never met someone like you before."

Xenophon dutifully opens a drawer in the desk searching for the key. Skellig hears a mechanism activate, drive the tip of a bronze needle into one of Xenophon's fingers.

"Ow! What was that doing in there?" he complains, but he holds up the key triumphantly. The needle was more than bronze, bore a potent poison, and potential death is spreading slowly up Xenophon's arm.

[27_53]

He is listening to the way the echoes of his fingertips drumming on the surface vibrate within the lock, debating on forcing it or trying to pick it with tools, when he hears the mechanism and a faint click as the needle drives itself into Xenophon's finger.

And then he can sense the death, as if the temperature suddenly begins dropping in the room (only he can feel the change) and he whips his head around to stare sharply at the key in the younger man's hand.

"Fucking hell," he hisses angrily. Based on the confused expression on his features, Xenophon has no clue what Skellig is referencing. "Don't touch anything else," he orders firmly, eyeing the blood welling up on his skin. "And don't panic."

Kreyu will likely sense Skellig's mood shift; she definitely will sense the darkness that swirls in his emotions as he takes hold of Xenophon's hand at the wrist, to better study the spread (it is slow, not going to kill him in the next thirty seconds, but he needs to work quickly) and try to get a grip on what this is. A toxin, a poison. It would be easier if he would just take hold of it and pull it out, but that would put him at risk...amputation is also a consideration, but to take a man's dominant hand, in this time, he would be considered useless...

Kreyu he 'calls' firmly, urgently across their connection. Need you here now. Don't tear it all to hell, if you can help it.

Skellig at least has the presence of mind to move them out of the Captain's quarters, back into the main hold - that will be easier for her to reach.

[brave_kreyu]

He can feel her fear spike, her worry, then a feeling of assent. Less than a minute later, a housecat runs full tilt into the hold, turns BACK into Kreyu's giant eagle shape as she skids to a stop. Her heart is racing in her chest!

"What's wrong?"

[27_53]

"A trap laid within the Captain's quarters. I didn't sense it soon enough," Skellig grumbles under his breath, a few expletives (directed at the Captain or at himself, who's to say) and other utterances. "I think it is a slow moving toxin."

He cuts his eyes to Kreyu.

"I could pull it, but only if you think it would do you no harm to take it from me should I not be able to rid myself of it alone."

"A toxin?" Xenophon asks, concern growing in his voice as he flexes his hand. "Like...poison? My hand...my hand is starting to go numb..." Clearly the order of 'don't panic' is not helping, even though he's trying.

[brave_kreyu]

"I can pull it out of him with his blood," she suggests. She grabs a a cracked cup to 'catch' the poison and blood in.

"It hasn't spread far yet, so he shouldn't lose much blood. And if you can heal him as it leaves, that would be even better."

Xenophon is trying to stay calm, he really is. He shakily nods his assent.