Family Circle Log, 6/17

[leticia]

You say "Okay, barring protests from PCs that don't want to go on board a ship, the five of you have loaded back on board (for Shai, Green Cove, and Allen, anyhow) Shai's ship at the docks and cast loose. Zahen suggested there was very little point in trying to find a cargo until Nexus; there's nothing major between Whitewater Bend and Nexus, and the runs in the area are regular runs done by local captains who keep to a tight schedule. The crew is efficient; as soon as everyone's on board, they cast off. Long poles are brought out and mounted through eyes near the bow to fend off the bank if a mishap occurs. Yasutora takes Ten Rive Wind to one of the three passenger cabins below decks for a lesson."

<<OOC>> Leti says "Pose in; you can be pretty much anywhere on the ship, though above decks is probably easier for interaction."

Yoru is not quite hugging the rail literally, but his grip on it is rather firm. He stares out at the countryside as it passes by with a tightening around his eyes. So far he hasn't lost any food over this trip but some might notice he isn't too happy on board a ship.

Shai expressed minor discomfort at bringing Ten River Wind onto her ship; among other things, she's _heard_ what Dragon-Blooded animas can do to the surrounding area, and while he's at least not Fire-Blooded . . . well. But as long as Yasutora's keeping an eye on him, she's fine, and projects cheery confidence as she wanders about the deck, checking in with crew and occasionally pitching in on navigation or the poles or other useful places. The captain looks in her element, even if this is a river rather than open sea or ocean.

In the process of wandering, Shai pauses by Yoru, peering at him. Then asks, sympathetically, "First time?"

Green Cove sits on a railing, legs tucked back under it towards the deck so that she has enough balance to lean out over the water. She's singing to herself, a jaunty little assonant tune made of no actual real words, and watching the bow cut through the river's water.

It takes a second or two for Shai's voice to penetrate Yoru's fixation on the horizon. "Hrm? First time what?" He blinks and focuses on the captain and forces a smile. "Oh, I'm fine and yes, it is my first time on a ship."

<<OOC>> Leti says "This is a downstream journey, and the river is wide and deep; as long as the ship is kept away from the banks - not much of a problem - the ride is easy and the sails are kept furled."

<<OOC>> Leti says "...There being no major rapids between Whitewater Bend (just below the first major rapids) and Nexus."

Shai chuckles. "Thought so. First one can be discomfiting, especially if you didn't get to grow up on shipboard like Cove there." She waves a hand over at the little Twilight, cheerfully. "Although at least you're getting introduced to the river rather than the ocean. Me, I like the second one more, but it's a bigger change... --Mm. Any seasickness?"

Yoru manages to keep his smile and shakes his head. "Everything is staying down so far." Glancing down at the water sloshing against the side of the ship, and then quickly away, he comments, "I didn't think it would be so... full of movement I guess..."

Green Cove drops back down to the deck, and goes bounding over towards where Shai and Yoru have been talking. "It's a river," she says, in an accusatory tone. "The fish are all wrong."

Shai looks amused at the description, and starts to respond, but pauses when Green Cove arrives and grins. "River in the East versus ocean in the West? Yes, they'll be different. --Still edible, though, if anyone decides to try supplementing our current stores."

Green Cove scrubs her nose with the back of one hand. "They're all wrong," she says. "Maybe tasty. But wrong. Something should be done about it." She leans over the railing where Yoru has been propping himself, to see if there's anything more interesting on that side. "Perhaps it isn't their fault. A fish can't help where it's born."

Yoru looks towards Green Cove and offers her a bow along with the smile he is keeping plastered upon his lips. He'll remain quiet for the moment however.

Floating Leaf informs Green Cove that river fish are a nice change from sea fish once in a while. Less oily and sweeter.

The tiger adds that she's still interested in the difference between sea-pirate and land-pirate, too.

Green Cove scratches Leaf behind the ears. "We'll find out eventually," she promises. After a moment's consideration, she decides it would be better not to ask Yoru and Shai for their opinions on the matter.

Shai says cheerfully, "I doubt it's anyone's fault. Fish just grow differently around here, you know? --but on the subject of food," she asides to Yoru, "if the sickness gets bad, just keep an eye out for the woman with the scar across her face." She traces a line on her own face with a fingertip, running from above her left eye to below her right. "Ship's cook and occasional medic, she ought to be able to help." --then blinks at Cove. "Hmm?"

Yoru looks at Green Cove and blinks a few times more than necessary. "How can fish be wrong? Do you mean like touched by the Wyld?" To Shai he nods. "I'll keep an eye out for her then."

"They're different," Green Cove explains, patiently. "There are all the fish in the sea, counted up. Even little princesses know their names and habits and how to cook them. These aren't any of the fish in the sea. They're all wrong. The right ones get taught to people. And Leaf was just wondering if land pirates taste as different from sea pirates as river fish do from sea fish."

"Well if you live by the sea then I would be surprised if you were taught about river fish," comments Yoru. "I am sure there are animals on your islands that are different than ones here on the mainland. That doesn't make any of it wrong, just different. And, ah, I can't comment on the difference between land and sea pirates." Looking around to catch sight of the aforementioned Ship's cook and medic he adds quietly with a smirk, "I may be able to tell you how the females taste..."

"Really?" Green Cove smiles toothily. "It's Leaf who wants to know. Sea pirates usually don't taste too good. Like salt fish and old bread." She bounces on her heels, and then pulls herself up to stand on the railing. "I don't eat pirates myself. It seems a little strange for me to eat people. But Leaf is a tiger, so it's fine for her."

Yoru didn't expect to be overheard from the surprised expression on his face. "Ah, um, ahem. Well, I don't exactly eat them like your tiger would, though I do agree they have a fishy taste to them." The mirth in this conversation helps distract him from his slight seasickness.

"It must be all the river fish they eat," Green Cove says, Yoru's meaning apparently flying right over her head. (Or possibly under her, as she's now strolling back and forth along the railing in front of him.) She pauses to stare down at the river, and bounces on her toes. "Leaf, would you like a fish?"

Floating Leaf confirms - though only Green Cove can understand her, as usual, that she would indeed like a fish. Or two. Or, well. Fish!

Yoru nods and continues to smirk. He stares at Green Cove wondering where the obliviousness comes from. It could be a language thing. He isn't thinking about how she'll be getting the fish for Floating Leaf.

<<OOC>> Green Cove says "Are we passing by any particularly populated areas right now?"

<<OOC>> Leti says "Not really. This is mostly wilderness; occasional fishing and farming communities."

Yasutora heads out from belowdecks; he's had a long talking-to with Ten River Wind, and has decided to leave the outcaste in peace for the moment. At the top of the stairs he yawns and stretches out, huge popping noises coming from his long frame.

<<OOC>> Leti says "He's gonna explode!"

Green Cove drops down over the side of the ship, landing squarely on both feet on the surface of the water. She paces alongside the ship, watching her footing about the foamier places where the water cuts away from the craft's sides, peering down into the water for darker moving shapes.

Allen waves to Yasutora from his point near the bow, where he has been relaxing and watching as the water splits around the hull, sprays, and streams past.

Shai turns back from her conversation with another crewmember -- who promptly skitters back off to play lookout -- just in time to watch Cove jump. She blinks. And then facepalms.

Yoru tears his eyes away from the enigma of Green Cove, though she does look lovely up on the railing, to glance around the deck. It is about that time Green Cove jumps off the ship. Head whipping around he jumps towards the railing and looks down. "Man, er woman over... board..."

Shai says, with her hand to her forehead, "The crew's seen it before; at least there's nobody else around to watch. I think."

The crew doesn't pay much attention to Green Cove jumping off the ship - they've seen it before after all - until Yoru calls out. Well trained responses bring a couple to the railing, but then they shrug and go back to work when they realize who went in, one saying, "The girl'll be fine," to Yoru.

Yasutora smiles broadly and begins to make his way over to Allen... Just before Green Cove jumps over. He turns to charge, and looks decidedly confused when ... no one else but Yoru is. o.o

Yoru replies simply with a "So I see."

<<OOC>> Leti says "Green Cove, however, is encountering a small problem; she's walking on the water, and the current doesn't have as much of a drag on her feet as it does on the ship."

<<OOC>> Leti says "Which means the ship is moving down stream away from her."

Shai calls over the side, "Cove, are you coming back on soon?"

Green Cove tches at the current. Ocean ships are much easier to deal with. "The water is being all river," she calls back, and sprints back up alongside the ship. She leaps up, grabbing Yoru's offered hand to help her back onto deck. "I don't think I like rivers," she says.

Yasutora blinks quietly as he looks at Allen, then at Green Cove, then back at Allen, over at Yoru and Shai for good measure, and then just shrugs. "Good afternoon," he says cheerfully.

Yoru lifts Green Cove back up onto the ship and says, after a chuckle at the 'being all river' comment. "That is a neat trick. Is it anything you can teach me?"

Shai shakes her head, with a wry expression. "I'd prefer ocean as well, but you don't really get those in the East..." She blinks, and waves at Yasutora, wandering a bit in that direction. "How's your protege?"

"Can't teach it," Green Cove says absently. She seats herself on the railing again. "You need to wash up on an island with no one there but a god to make it work properly. I suppose that could be arranged." She leans down to whisper to her tiger, "I'll get you fish when the ship stops next."

Yoru ahs softly and nods. "I see..." The dark-skinned Night turns away from the confusing woman and waves to the rest of his Circle. "Greetings." As the distraction of Green Cove fades from his mind, the seasickness returns a bit and the corners of his mouth tighten.

Leti asks everyone to give a perception+Awareness roll. Those with sight bennies (that's GC) can add those dice. :)

<<OOC>> Leti says "Shai, you can use per+sail if that's better. :) Same for the rest of you, but."

<<DICE>> Yoru rolls 7 dice: <1 3 4 6 8 8 8> for 3 successes.

<<DICE>> Allen rolls 5 dice: <2 3 5 6 9> for 1 success.

<<DICE>> Green Cove rolls 12 dice: <1 1 2 2 2 4 5 6 6 9 9 10> for 4 successes.

<<OOC>> Leti says "O_O"

<<DICE>> Shai rolls 6 dice: <1 2 6 6 6 10> for 2 successes.

<<DICE>> Yasutora rolls 3 dice: <4 5 10> for 2 successes.

Glancing behind the boat, Shai and Yasutora may notice a faint ripple - moving faster than the current. Yoru and Green Cove, however, both notice a huge dark shape following the boat under the river, and gaining. Green Cove, it's some kind of beast; you can see legs paddling dimly beneath it. Allen, alas, sees nothing unusual.

Green Cove stands up on the railing, and begins walking towards the back of the boat. "Look," she says. "River fish."

Yoru follows to the back of the ship, albeit not too fast. His stomach doesn't like him too much right now. "What in the blazes is that?" He looks to Shai, hoping she might have an idea.

Shai glances up at Cove's comment, frowns, and peers in that direction. "--I see _something_, but I'm not sure what." Her frown deepens, and she waves at Allen and Yasutora as if to say 'follow me?', before heading sternward to get a better look.

Yasutora frowns, and is surrounded by a brief burst of light. In an instant ... there is considerably more of him, and shiny. The Unyielding Bastion cloaks itself around him from the aether of Elsewhere, standing him up to its massive bulk. With a quiet prayer to the suit's least god, he activates the sensors and Essence Sight of the armor, scanning the ripple.

Allen raises his eyebrows and starts for the stern, right behind Shai. "Something's there?"

"River fish," Green Cove repeats. "A big one. With legs. Some fish are like that."

<<OOC>> Leti says "Everyone else looking in will now see the same shadow; it's definitely some kind of creature, and it's gaining on the ship."

<<OOC>> Leti says "And I'll take another per+awa roll, no sail this time."

<<OOC>> Yoru says "And then Yasutora sank to the bottom of the river, never to be seen again. Alas."

<<OOC>> Leti says "Hee."

<<DICE>> Green Cove rolls 12 dice: <1 1 1 2 3 3 5 5 6 7 9 10> for 4 successes.

Yasutora [to Leti]: Essence Sight is sort of like that 3D vision-clearing thingie. Do I get any bonuses for not having water obscuring?

<<OOC>> Leti says "I'll describe what Yasutora sees with Essence Sight in a minute. IT doesn't apply to the roll I just asked for. ^^"

Shai blinks briefly at Yasutora's invocation, then says to Allen, "See that?" She gestures toward the ripple. "That's not just the river--" --and then blinks at Green Cove. "--uh-_huh_." But trusts the Twilight's eyes, so she doesn't write off the explanation, instead trying to get a better look for herself.

<<DICE>> Shai rolls 3 dice: <1 6 10> for 2 successes.

<<DICE>> Yoru rolls 7 dice: <1 1 2 4 4 5 7> for 1 success.

<<OOC>> Yoru blames the sun glinting off the water...

<<DICE>> Yasutora rolls 7 dice: <1 2 4 4 6 9 10> for 3 successes.

<<DICE>> Allen rolls 5 dice: <1 1 3 4 6> for a botch!

<<OOC>> Leti says "O/kay/."

<<OOC>> Leti needs to look at Allen's sheet. ^^

<<OOC>> Leti says "Okay. Everyone but Allen and Yoru see a blackish stain on the water behind the ripple. Allen, you see nothing but the river, deceptively calm for all its fast current. However, you feel a deep sense of unease and your scar aches; make a Sta+Occult roll, please?"

<<DICE>> Allen rolls 5 dice: <2 3 6 8 10> for 3 successes.

<<OOC>> Leti says "Okay, no penalty. :) You resist the pain."

<<OOC>> Yasutora says "And the Essence Sight? ^^"

<<OOC>> Leti says "Coming, coming!"

<<OOC>> Leti says "Patience!"

<<OOC>> Leti says "Annnd... Yasutora, you see... clearly without the deflection of the water or the sun on it... a monstrosity. Whatever is under the water is moving, but it is not alive; it seems unhindered by the appearance that its flesh strings in tatters from its bones behind it. What, exactly, this thing was... is actually, not positive. It may be assembled from several creatures. Regardless of how decomposed its flesh is, though, the teeth and claws seem to be in excellent condition."

Shai unshoulders her bow, frowning, and calls out in her 'captain voice', "JAY! Take a look back here and tell me what you see?" Sometimes it's good to have a local on the crew.

<<OOC>> Shai says "(If he can't see it or can't ID it, 's cool, but he comes from Nexus, so Shai figures he might have _a_ clue compared to her. ^_^) --eeeeeeeeek. o.o"

<<OOC>> Yasutora says "... How far is it away?"

<<OOC>> Leti says "Probably about ten yards behind the ship right now."

<<OOC>> Yasutora says "Oh, good. :>"

Yoru watches the thing, and the uneasiness in his stomach isn't all from the movement of the ship.

Yasutora arches up his shield and rumbles from within the Bastion. "Ware," he calls. "Something beyond death follows us," is all he says before raising his hand high. A coruscating ball of burning solar heat forms in the palm of his hand and he throws it forward towards the beast.

<<OOC>> Yasutora says "Anima ability, activating with peripheral, 5e, does Essence in unsoakable aggravated damage.

<<OOC>> Yasutora says "It's UNDEAD. It DIES. :P"

<<OOC>> Leti says "Everyone give me one round's worth of what you intend to do?"

<<OOC>> Allen says "I want to turn on Fivefold Bulwark Stance. :)"

<<OOC>> Green Cove says "Snake Form, actually."

<<OOC>> Yoru will turn on Ebon Shadow Form.

Allen claps a hand over his scar, wincing - and then drops it at Yasutora's call. "Ah," he says, grimly, and gathers threads of Essence about him in preparation. "Thank you, Yasutora."

<<OOC>> Leti says "It subtracts Essence from enemy's attacking pools."

Shai blinks, blinks again, and takes a step back while simultaneously pulling an arrow from her quiver. "_Shit_," she says, fervently, before whirling around and calling, "Watch out--undead!"

<<OOC>> Shai says "Shai's going to pull back to something better suiting her range; since her range is something like 300 yards, that...means she's going to back up enough to still be able to see the thing enough to aim at. She won't fire unless it looks like it's still moving and it looks like nothing else is attacking, though."

<<OOC>> Leti says "Go ahead and roll your damage dice, Bear."

<<DICE>> Yasutora rolls 4 damage dice: <3 3 5 6> for 0 successes.

<<OOC>> Yasutora ;_;

<<OOC>> Leti says "Blame the water. :p"

<<OOC>> Yasutora says "It's a blast of holy fire! ;_;"

<<OOC>> Yoru says "The water is being a river again."

<<OOC>> Shai says "Clearly the Unconquered Sun wants you to be more defense-minded? ...or be like me and buy Lucky for these moments of dice-cruelty. >_> <_<"

<<OOC>> Yasutora will just KEEP blasting it then!

Yasutora's fiery wrath strikes the water and mostly dissipates, but it clearly outlines the beast beneath the surface as it does; everyone else gets the chance to see what Yasutora's Essence Sight revealed.

<<OOC>> Allen says "No, don't really have anything I want to do, I think. I mean, aside from extend Allen's claws, but that doesn't require an action, I think."

<<OOC>> Leti says "No, that's also reflexive. :p"

<<OOC>> Leti says "You could throw yourself into the river!"

<<OOC>> Shai says "Aaaand since, yes, the beast _isn't_ re-dead yet, I think Shai would like to shoot it twice, please. --hmmm. Is it mostly bone with bits of flesh or flesh with bare-bone spots? Arrowhead tactics. >_>"

<<OOC>> Leti says "It is... bone, but retains flesh where protected by bone."

<<OOC>> Shai blinks at Yasutora? And nods to Leti. "So it's safe to assume natural armor, and therefore target arrows are good-- ahhhhhhhh." [meeps, scritchies]

Shai turns back around just in time to see the outline, and inhales sharply, eyes wide; but her reflexes are good, and a target arrow is on the string and drawn in the same breath. She aims at the head, releases, and uses the motion to pull out a second arrow and send it after the first, while shifting around so the rest of the Circle won't be in her way as she shoots.

<<OOC>> Leti says "Two dice! Roll 'em. (so standard dice, and -1.)"

<<OOC>> Leti says "Still turning on the Charm; Shai doesn't have anything to activate, so she's attacking."

<<OOC>> Leti says "...And she has ranged. So."

<<OOC>> Shai says "Base of 12 dice, so 10/9 before stunt, so 12/11 after, right?"

<<OOC>> Shai grins.

<<OOC>> Leti says "Yep."

<<DICE>> Shai rolls 12 dice: <1 2 4 4 4 6 8 8 8 9 9 10> for 7 successes.

<<DICE>> Shai rolls 11 dice: <3 3 3 4 4 5 5 5 7 9 10> for 4 successes.

<<DICE>> Leti rolls 9 dice: <1 1 1 1 2 4 4 7 8> for 2 successes.

<<DICE>> Leti rolls 8 dice: <4 5 5 7 7 7 10 10> for 7 successes.

<<OOC>> Leti says "Okay..."

<<OOC>> Shai eyes the 7s warily. And waits for math! [grins]

<<OOC>> Leti says "Straight Strength... and you have that dang armor. :p"

<<OOC>> Yasutora patpats. There aren't Interventions in this game. :P

<<OOC>> Leti says "Straight str damage dice. Just once. :p"

<<DICE>> Shai rolls 8 damage dice: <2 6 6 6 8 10 10 10> for 4 successes.

The beast is not entirely prepared for the first assault, and starts a roll through the water, but the target arrows still strikes deep into the flesh protected by its rib-cage, adding another trail of black corruption to those in the water behind it; however, the roll carries it out of the way of the second arrow, which sinks into the water.

<<OOC>> Leti says "Init rolls!"

<<DICE>> Shai rolls 1d10 + 8 for init: 14

<<DICE>> Green Cove rolls 1d10 + 16 for init: 23

<<OOC>> Shai says "...wait, no, I'm stupid. Wits + Dex or Wits + Awa? That's right for +Awa (and I have to fix my notes), wrong for +Dex. >_<"

<<DICE>> Leti rolls 1d10 + 7 for init: 13

<<DICE>> Yasutora rolls 1d10 + 4 for init: 11

<<OOC>> Yoru will be using the long chain for this one.

<<DICE>> Yoru rolls 1d10 + 19 for init: 23

<<DICE>> Allen rolls 1d10 + 8 for init: 11

<<OOC>> Shai says "Heeee. Thought so!"

<<OOC>> Shai says "So she's actually at 23, tied with Yoru."

<<OOC>> Leti says "So it's actually 23. So we have Yoru (because his speed was higher), GC, Shai, Beastie, Allen, and Yasutora."

<<OOC>> Leti says "Yeah. I think we'll just have to continue next time."