Ill at Ease [Issima, Denen, Luke]

[Lariat]

A heavy footstep and the pronounced draw of a bow responded to the drykas's posed question, though perhaps that would be the only indirect answer they would get that night for the hulking figure seemed to just laugh at the question. At the end of the deck, behind Sama'el and Luke, a slightly large figure with a mask of a horse stood, his bow drawn fully, his aim on the direct center of Sam's back. The upper deck just above and behind the clothed masked man with the twin swords, another figure appeared, a lion mask adorning his head and a longsword bare in his hand. His other hand he kept behind him, as if he was hiding a surprise for the party.

"You're in no position to be asking questions" The man holding Issima chuckled as he drew closer to the woman, and brought his blades to hover close enough to her. Below the wood beneath their feet, a slight cracking of splintering wood could be heard as the crew men's valiant attempts grew fiercer. The only questions was would they be able to break through the wooden portal in time to help out with the situation above deck. In any case the sound quickly turned the masked figures mirth sour, and those surrounding the pair tensed similarly as well. Slowly the figure above walked down the stairs, and slowly to stand beside his companion, leaning in close with a cupped hand. "We have the item, no need to waste time here any more" Came the lion masked man's whispered words, drawing a nod from the man in cloth. "Release our prisoner then, and let us get going"

The one with the lion mask immediately straightened up then, taking a step backwards and keeping his sword firmly in front of him. The banging below deck was growing in intensity with every moment, but if the figures were at all worried about it, they didn't much show it. "Hey drykas, here's your friend back" The one with the lion mask said as he revealed what was in his hand, a bloodied, mangled head with matted dark hair, and almost immediately his hand flicked up to toss grisly trophy the watchman's way.

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

Sam felt the tickle between his shoulder blades, that inexplicable knowing that something was creeping up on a body, or aiming violence its way. His shoulders hiked up a bit in reaction, but he could not move, not with Denen being spirited away, Issima threatened, and both he and Luke without their weapons to hand. He kept his mouth shut once his question was mocked, and he began to resign himself to being captured as he had been as a child. In his heart, he knew he should fight to the death rather than risk capture, but this was not his sole sacrifice, but one that might be shared by others. In his head, he knew he should not despair, but he could feel the cold claws scratching at him. He was grateful that Luke had followed his leadership, had not pressed the issue and gotten Issima killed. There was a tenderness growing within him for her, and it was supported by his oath to protect his people. Hope flared when the sounds of the sailors increased in volume, but he could not help asking another question even knowing it would not be answered. "What item?" But then a disembodied head was thrown at him and his guts fell down to his ankles, mad sparklers of half-flamed res jumping into the air as his concentration was broken and he focused only on not letting Denen's head hit the ground without his hands behind it. Sama'el caught the head, tried to identify it in the weak light. He could not speak.

[Issima]

As common a thing as death might have been among the Drykas, Issima was certain she lacked the strength to watch Sama'el die, like this. Her entire body was taut, frozen, as she had no idea what to do. She couldn't see any way of being helpful, and so she opted not to act at all, lest she make it worse. Luke's resentful comments were ignored. Later she would dislike him for it, but in the face of death, she couldn't spare the emotion to be angry with him. The din beneath her feet might have been hopeful. Before she could pull together anything akin to that bright, flickering emotion, however, Sam was holding a disembodied head. Issima heard a cry pierce the air, and only realized a moment later that it had come from her own lips.

[Lariat]

A loud crack shattered through the quiet tension of the moment, the barrier breaking apart at last allow the crew to spill forth, but not in time. At the heralding sound the stowaways snapped into motion with the lion masked man skipping over the side of the vessel as the one bearing twin swords brought the hilt to bear against Issima, taking her from consciousness. Luke would have barely a moment to register the hostile action before an arrow whizzed out of the gloom behind him and buried itself in his calf and parted the flesh on the other side.

Gore dripped through Sam's fingers as he caught the head, or better yet what was left of it. Even in the faint evening light it was clear the face had been mangled beyond recognition, the identity of it lost to its' sole observer and as the watchman looked up he'd see the last of the shadows departing over the side of the vessel just as the crew came clamoring aboard the main deck, their weapons bared and their eyes wild. With no enemy to pin their ire, an assault of questions would bury the men after Issima was taken care of, and in the early dawn light of the next day work would begin in full to repair the damages wrought on the ship during the night. Quietness prevailed on the deck as well as tendrils of confusion wondering as to the nature of bandits that did not steal a thing but killed and damaged the ship anyways. Another tale to haunt the weary captain.

oocWrapped up this thread with this post. Grade is soon to follow, and I apologize for the delay. Hopefully this little excerpt will become more enlightening as things progress in the coming seasons, and I enjoyed writing with the four of you.

[Lariat]

Sama'el

Experience:

Reimancy: 3xp
Observation: 4 xp
Scimitar: 1 xp
Tactics: 1 xp
Rhetoric: 2 xp

Lores:

Battle Intuition: Prepare for the unexpected
Handling well a tense situation under great stress

Denen Brokensong

Experience:

Herbalism: 1 xp
Observation: 2 xp

Lores:

Ginger helps treat seasickness

Issima

Experience:

Observation: 3 xp
Rhetoric: 2 xp

Lores:

Lesson Learned: How one life can have a profound effect on a battle

Luke Lammergeier

Experience:

Longsword: 1 xp
Tactics: 1 xp
Observation: 3 xp
Rhetoric: 1 xp

Lores:

Compensating for the mistakes of others

Comments
If you have any questions just send me a pm!