Forums » Fantasy Roleplay » Across the Sea [closed]

"Hah, 12 over 7, that puts you at serious disadvantage my fair lady" smiled Calico Jack with a grin,

"Next bet we will be finding out if you truly have scales and what colour' grinned Calico

"Old Prodius, our trusty brigand has heard many tales from the sea, he believes that under the moonlight, when your power is at its strongest, you could briefly turn into a dragon or other creature of his choosing if you are placed under the watchful gaze of the warlock which is why your manservant keeps his eyes downcast and averted at all times and why he seldom comes out to sea at night. Prodius calls it, a lover's gift, must be hard to watch your true love die by your side and be forced to live on in her place..." mused Calico turning the cup upside down

"At your next lost bet we shall find out the truth to such fairy tales, it would certainly help you retrieve the gems from the skull rocks where we're heading to" muttered Calico "Few ships pass it unscathed" added as a matter of fact

---

"Snake?" Quizzed Rufus looking up after her descriptive details, spotting her right away

"Seems it was yesterday when captain Golden Eyes walked the plank and down to Davis Jones locker he went..." mused Rufus trying to juggle his memory

"What a fine lover you make... maybe too friendly already... I won't be sharing my cot with you for sure, I'll stick to me lady Rum and lady Ale for the matter. " frowned Rufus with retorted lips at the memory of the man eaten by sharks and his loud screaming

---

"Captain Sally Croft of the Emperor's royal navy, a recently appointed captain who was supposed to be escorting this very ship yet never made it... Next I hear you made a new name for yourself, a new ship and crew. I would hang you for treason if you were not her highness lady-in-waiting or the fact we both crossed the same line..." muttered Calico staring at his dice and hers

Ryiah frowned dismally at her next roll, but wouldn't let it take away her enthusiasm for long! A wry grin lit her face after she listened to Calico Jack's next words to her. "It sounds like this old Prodious enjoys his power of telling tall tales. I have been under the moonlight many times before, and never have I felt any sparking of power, but for the beauty of the moon itself. For surely, it's beauty and that of the night sky filled with stars - far outshine my own beauty. If placed beneath them to be compared, you would find me sorely lacking I am sure." She gave a soft laugh, shook her head, then took a deep breath and shook her dice for the last time spilling them onto the table, swiftly covered by her cup to once again reveal simultaneously with her betting partner, who seemed all too eager to win.

Kendra's words, and Calico Jack's response got an eyebrow raise out of her, yet for the most part, the call of the dice held her enthralled. She was about to complete her first pirate game, for better or worse.

As she lifted her cup, revealing the dice and did the mental math, a soft laugh escaped her lips and her eyes glinted with amused excitement. "I think I won Master Pirate. Beat you at your own game. Lady luck favors me tonight I suppose." She rose and gave him a small courtesy, enjoying a grin at his expense. "It seems that the ladies have won the evening." After a pause she tilted her head to the side and added, "but because I make my own luck, I will yet sing for you if you wish it. You may look at it as a consolation prize."

____________________________________

The sea serpent had gotten enough of a feel for the ship, the way it moved and cut the waters. It was time to remove the beauty and replace it with chaos. In the air, the taste of human flesh mingled with an odd flavor, blood that smelled much like the serpents own, distant relatives perhaps? This gave it pause for a moment as it's nose rose the barest hint out of the waters to better catch the scent. Part of it smelled... female. How odd, the creature thought, so like human, yet not so.

But no matter. Perhaps once the ship was sent to the depths, the serpent would find these creatures and examine them more closely. Moving further up to the prow of the ship. It began to slither and glide up, so that its tail curled around first the figurehead of the dragon, and then shot it's body up and over to make its first loop, tightening over the railing and smashing it 'neath its powerful coils, splintered wood flying with a crash which would no doubt begin to alert those aboard of their impending doom.

"Uhmmm what an interesting throw, lady Luck clearly favours the damsels today." Chuckled Calico at the sudden turn of events

"Let's see, you've got 13, 7 and 14 that's 34... my 10, 12, 10 only adds up to 32, seems, on this occasion, I fell short by 2 points, your highness, you get to keep your dress, your sword and me for a slave for a day and night" yielded Calico Jack

"Did you ever bring Taff when you walked by the sea under the moonlight?" Quizzed Calico Jack at her response

"Of course not, royal manservant doesn't bring disrepute to her highness wandering around in the dark" protested Taff quickly in a huff going to the deck and cellar to bring back more drinks

---

"All hands on deck, brace for the worse" barked Prodius alarmed

"Come on Snake we need all the help" urged Rufus opening the door and rushing on deck trusting the woman enough

"Yes it would seem so!" Ryiah agreed, already looking forward to their dueling. She stood "And no..." she glanced at Taff as he interjected. "He was not there...why do you ask?" She was beginning to have an idea already that there was much more to Taff than met the eye. But what?

Suddenly the cries from out on deck reached her, just as the ship lurched, throwing her from her place to send her stumbling a bit towards Calico Jack, though she was able to brace herself somewhat on the table. Throwing a glace out the window she just caught sight of blue and sea green scales slither by the window.

Eyes wide she inhaled a quick breath in surprise. Turning to Calico Jack she spoke in a rush. "I need to get out of this dress and get my sword. I will not be a liability here." She was glad she'd won her bet even more now, her seaworthy clothing and sword still hers to claim. Turning she headed quickly for the door.

"No time, you can change later, seems we're under attack" hissed Calico Jack giving her his sword and keeping two daggers for himself not having missed the serpent sliding past.

He tried to open the door only to find out Taff had securely locked it to prevent any of the four guests from running out into danger, Rufus efforts were all in vain as the man struggled with the door too, resorting to try to kick it down to no avail as if it were made of solid cast iron

---

"Drop the anchor, we need a steady grip and hold. All oars in now before they break, fold the sails, tighten the crew with ropes" ordered Morgan breaking free from his shackles and rushing over to the harpoon shooting the beast with certainty, quickly reloading too, shooting several times and reloading each time as he gave away orders.

"Cannons ready, spears to hand, crossbows loaded and shoot on sight!" Barked Morgan taking over for the sake of everyone's survival even if later on he was done for mutiny.

---

Taff Gelligen leaned over the railing looking into the waters.

"Shoo, leave, go away before you are maimed beyond healing... you can't have this ship... not tonight" frowned Taff Gelligen his golden eyes staring intently into the waters concerned for the serpent's welfare as much as the crew

"Don't force me to turn you into a fish or a seagull" muttered Taff with pursed lips

The serpent had completed one more circle, bowling over the few men who had bravy, yet foolishly come to try and hack at her coils as she tightened them down, breaking another portion of the railing. Just a few more coils and her length would be ready to tighten completely.

She hisse in satisfaction, enjoying her power. But something was amiss... painful pricks lodged in a few choice places between her scales, annoyances for the moment. But still... she eyed the man roaring orders atop the deck. He would make a tasty meal...

As she moved the free portion of her length towards Morgan, her ling tongue hissing out and back, tasting the air in anticipation of her snack, she halted abruptly. An eye focused on the lone figure leaning over the railing and she tasted the odd flavor of kin once again.

In a gust of curiosity, she left off her pursuit of Morgan momentarily while she lifted her mighty head before the small figure.

Her voice struck his mind like a blow, hissing and slithering through with her question remaining behind as if an echo.

"What arrre you? " She must know. Her curiosity grew by the moment. "And how dare you presume to tell me leave off my chosen prey? You will soon join the fisssshesss yourssselllf" . Arrogance held no sway against her and her elengant length. He could not merely call her off like a mere curr.

---

Ryiah had found the door locked as well and pounded a fist against it in frustration, eyes sparking. "The ship is being torn asunder and we are stuck here to watch?" Her voice in its urgency was yet musical and soft, her orange amber gaze tinged with sorrow for the already broken bits of the Nonesuch how much more of the ship would be sent to the sea?

Taff Gelligen looked at the beast.

"I'm the immortal warlock, the keeper whom Elektra called love..." explained Taff calmly with a hint of regret if melancholy in his voice

"Now you should have taken heed of my words without questioning. I was trying to keep you and them safe.

I could have turned you into a slimy eel, instead of an elegant mighty serpent, or maybe a dove? They are love birds after all" mused Taff with a broad smile

"But since you eye these humans so much I am making you one too, that way you can repair that which you have damaged and earn your food" concluded Taff satisfied with the choice and reason, dropping his arm into the water muttering unintelligible words.

"You're free from your curse after the last bit is repaired and not a moment sooner" informed in a firm voice but soft tone

"Hold your breath momentarily and welcome on board, oh... one minor detail... don't you dare tell a word about me or else.. you'll be stuck a human for good..." murmured Taff stretching his arm to help what would appear to be a castaway tossed overboard, a gesture that concealed his conversation tooo

Kendra would stare at Rufus, and shoot him a smile. "Snake indeed." She would say. "Golden Eyes was far too friendly for his own good, have I seen you somewhere before, you seem to know quite a lot?" She asked before the beast began its attack, once it did she was up, almost reaching for her sword as it shook the ship. Some beast it must be, what type of destination were they heading for where there were monsters like this? She questioned as she went after Rufus but only saw the man fumble with the door.

"This is an interesting turn of events." She said as she looked out the window to see Taff letting someone on board, was that a castaway? "Who is out in these waters alive?" She asked glancing back to the others. She felt something strange going on, there was no reason a castaway would be out here, after something like that. She walked over to the door and looked for anyway to open it, finding none. It was useless having her over by the door, she moved away, allowing the others to look at it as she took a step back, this was strange, very strange. She could only question why Taff locked them inside, was it for protection, or to hide something?

The girl gasped as breath came to her lungs, rather than filtering sea water through gills. Her eyes changed to a humans, the color of the deep sea with green around the edges, her hair to raven black. She shivered in the sudden cold, clad only in a light shift as she was hauled aboard by taff. Her teeth, which she bared in a bit of snarl at the boy, were a tiny bit sharper than was usual. Otherwise, there was nothing strange about this castaway. She glared at Taff, unable to speak for the moments coming as her vocal chords shifted to adapt to human form.

Once finished, she gave a low unhappy sound, looking down at her pitufully human form. "No..." she said. Wind stirred the locks of hair and she reached up to touch them. So frail she was. She missed her powerful coils, missed the sea. "Why have you done this. It is you who tresspass on my sea..." she whispered.

"My name is Nephaeth, taker of the depths. Return me to the sea."

---

Ryiah felt the ship go still, the silence complete but for the cries of the still bewildered crewmen scrambling to orders. She looked at the others, her eyes holding wonder and astonishment.

"It's gone..." she murmered. "How can that be?"

"Suit yourself... you know the the terms, there's hammer, chisel and nails, some resin and wood planks, I suggest you get some help from these less than fine gentlemen if you're eager for water depths sooner, you caused quite some damage" advised Taff with a small warm smile, offering her his warm cloak and bringing her to the captains, calmly opening the door with ease as if nothing, leaving her there without saying a word, just going back to the kitchens causally.

"Lunch will be ready within the hour" informed like a proper butler

---

"By Neptune I was down the brig with you back then, till you changed sides and sold me in Siracuse along with the rest of army slaves" scoffed Rufus, gawking at Taff easing the door, he himself opening and closing it a few times to make sure it worked

"Must have been jammed" muttered Rufus embarrassed

Ryiah heard the click of the door as it swung open to reveal Taff with a girl in tow. She seemed to be soaking wet, wearing a a cloak on one shoulder despite the heat, with only a shift beneath. She studied Taff a moment before he turned to go, an eyebrow raised in what she hoped was an "I'm on to you" glance, which he may or may not have caught before heading out. How could she have been so oblivious to the young man, a servant in their palace? But then, it seems he worked very hard to not stand out.

Shifting a bit and looking to Calico Jack and Kendra to see what they thought of the recent events, she turned her attention to the girl who stood uneasily near the door, as if fighting the urge to flee. "Are you okay?" She asked her, moving a bit closer and tilting her head.

"I am Nephaeth, the sea is my home." The voice seemed slightly off, intoned without much emotion. "I need a hammer and some nails so that I may begin repairing the damage done to the ship." The eyes glittered a bit with what Ryiah could only call menace, and a shiver went up her spine.

Unsure how to respond to such, she bit her bottom lip and turned to face her Pirate Slave. "Well.." She murmured, a quick grin returning to flash across her features in a bit of a smirk. "It seems the girl needs some help Captain... best hurry though, as I need to begin my lessons soon."

"Aye aye, your highness... we have enough craftsmen on-board to have the ship repaired soon, and enough provisions and materials to do so too" nodded Calico Jack coming over to Henry Morgan

"Get your men sanding, fixing, repainting the ship." ordered Calico watching Morgan let out a light sigh of relief at the knowledge that he wouldn't be punished for daring to take command. He looked at Prodius who unlocked the army slaves to get them to work, each taking up different tasks as per Morgan's instructions. Morgan looked at Rufus meaningfully who winced in response.

"I was but a child when this ship was built, you can't expect me to remember every detail of it" moaned the man sitting at the desk in the room to start drawing the vessel in its finest detail, drawings that would help identify anything missing and rebuild it, whilst Morgan got onto the woodwork side of things, well aware carving the dragon head and the fine hand-railing would take a lot of skill thus not trusting clumsy hands ruining such a task.

While Calico Jack was busy with getting the ship repairs underway, the odd castaway following him out on the deck and finding a place to insert herself in the workings, Ryiah offered Kendra a smile. "Well that was an unusual beginning to this adventure." She murmered. "I think you and I need to prepare for our duels..."

With that she exited the room, her feet easily remembering the path back to her mother's quarters, where she stood a moment glancing about. Her gaze went to the pile of clothing she had initially donned, and a grin flitted across her lips for a moment. Well, it didn't matter for the moment that Jack didn't srem to like the idea of her in clothing such as this. She had won the bet after all. Still, a thought crept into her mind as she proceeded to remove the evenings dress and slip back into the white blouse and pants, tied with a sash. Why did he, and so many others, think such garb wasn't suited to one of her rank? Or even perhaps women in general? She wondered momentarily if she were somehow letting her legacy down by dressing as such. Yet how was she to accomplish the many adventures ahead dressed in such restricting finery?

Her resolve coming back at the thought she slipped her scabbard onto the sash and pulled the beautiful blad free of it, running her gaze down its perfectly wrought length. The weight of it fell just right into the palm of her hand, and it's length was well suited to her stature. While it was not a thick blade it was strongly forged. Despite this, it lent itself more to quickness than brute force.

With a glance she checked to see if Kendra had followed and changed as well. If the other woman had, she would give her a somewhat feral grin, excited to be dressed for action once again. "Let's show these men what our blades are capable of, shall we?" She murmered.

Returning to deck on softly booted feet, Fiery red ringets still fall around her shoulders, rather than being restrained for the time being, Ryiah sent her gaze around the ship. She was glad there were men aboard who could enact such swift repair on the Nonesuch it was always hard to see her frame be less than what it could be.

Spotting Calico Jack, she moved across the ship a ways, ignoring any hateful looks Morgan's men shot her way, as well as any oggling done by the pirates. "Pirate slave..." she said, eyes glinting with amusement, voice kept on the soft side. No need to shout out her winnings to everyone, "I'm ready to begin our dueling if you are finished with your task."

As she spoke, she glanced over her shoulder, looking for Taff, who had mentioned Lunch would be ready soon. Well, lunch might wait, but she did look forward to having a few words woth the manservant. Not a manservant... a warlock, she reminded herself, having finally decided that Taff himself was the one Calico Jack had spoken of in his stories.

"Captain Ryiah... as you can see your slave Calico here is rather busy fixing your ship, madame" shouted Calico aloud causing Morgan to frown most disgusted and displeased, cringing at the sudden rise to power of the woman he would rather see dead "Nice outfit too..." complimented Calico with a nod, not wearing his pirate hat, rather a bandanna to keep the hair tied and out of the face

As Ryiah approached closer, Calico Jack paused from his work, he wiped the sweat off the forehead with the back of the hand, drenched between sweat and sea water, still dangling on the ropes. He was clearly busy fixing the railing and side damage with hot pitch and paint before water got in and rotted the ship or caused further damage to the exposed wood. He was repairing and sealing the wood planks, hammering nails, replacing broken slates and recovering it to make it water proof again, whilst they waited on Rufus to produce the drawings

"I'll have to ask an extension on the duelling this will take us quite a lot longer..." muttered Calico apologetically

Kendra had indeed had changed. Instead of the frilly dress she wore her usual attire that she has smuggled with her onto the ship. She wore a white jacked with gold trim a pair of black trousers and black boots. She looked at Ryiah with a sigh. "See lady, men take so long to do such things." She said with a chuckle. Knowing that it would still even take anyone else to fix the ship the same amount of time.

"If you'll excuse me." She said with a smirk leaving to find Rufus and torment him. As she found him drawing away she quickly looked at the drawings and pointed to a place he had drawn a particular pattern. "That's not where that goes, the pattern goes off the starboard bow." She said pointing to the true place. "Memory is not a simple game, although on such a beautiful ship it's not hard to remember, everything is basically made for the ship itself." She said.

Ryiah gave a smirk in response to Kendra's words and nodded, watching the men hanging from the ropes on the side of the ship. After the other woman walked off to find Rufus, she unstrapped her sword and set it safely off to the side. Then, she pulled a bandanna out of her pocket and used it to tie back her unruly locks before grabbing a spare hammer and jumping up onto the railing just above Calico Jack. Gazing down, she offered a bright smile before leaping off onto a rope nearby and settled onto it, holding it between the crook of her elbow, so that she could better use both hands. Her foot hold was another rope, stretched taught below.

"So let me help then. Perhaps it'll go just a bit faster. When I sailed with my mother I helped with all sorts of tasks aboard the ship - mostly when she wasn't looking." She grinned, eyes sparkling. Glancing downward she watched the cerulean waters below shift and churn with the waves as they lapped against the boat's hull and sides. A soft sea breeze picked up, stirring her locks and releasing one stray curl to hang by her face. She seemed momentarily mesmerized by the water as it played with the wind, stretching out a hand to catch a bit of the spray with a soft laugh, eyes lit with glee. This was freedom, and she felt it surge through her creating an almost giddy feeling.

Twisting her head a bit further to look ahead of their charted course, she could just see a mass of land, faint and looming in the distance. It was too far to make out any distinct landmarks, but she knew it was their first destination. For a moment, as she hung suspended over the sea, she felt a moment of doubt that she would be able to accomplish her quest, her smile faltering momentarily, before she gave a wild shake of her head. No, she would succeed. She had to.

"So let's get back to work!" She murmured, beginning to pound nails where needed, or hold down boards so that her pirate companion could, even taking a turn brushing the tar on, though she seemed to get more on her arms and cheek than she did on the boards.

Rufus looked at the woman and then forward at the portray of the ship clearly before his eyes.

"Snake!, why do you enjoy taunt me so? I am drawing it as it should be, as it has always been since I was nipper, it is not too difficult when you have the portray to draw from" countered and smiled Rufus seeing her intentions

"I have a feeling you are enjoying yourself at my expense, teasing me, mistress... is it not?" mused Rufus "I used to be the cartographer for Calico and Morgan, a looong time ago, I drew maps and the various vessels among other things to help in the rebuilding tasks..." muttered Rufus his eyes gazing out the window briefly as he reminded himself of the endless hours he spent by the candle lit desk working away on parchments

---

Calico Jack smiled briefly at Ryiah "Well captain, the more help we get, the sooner we finish" nodded the man clearly seeing her enjoy her taste of freedom

"Don't get too used to it, though, your place is between the safety of palace walls" reminded Calico happily squashing her dreams of freedom

Turning a slightly sour pout toward Calico Jack, Ryiah considered him a moment, pausing in her work. In her hand, a brush with tar on it dripped forgotten (on purpose or otherwise) upon the blasted man's leg. With an eyebrow raised, she bit back the first retort which came to her mind.

"We'll see." She finally said, a bit of the spark leaving her at the idea. "An empress can make her own freedom, whether it is frowned upon or not. I will never forget my duty, but that doesn't mean I must give up my life." She left the brush there a moment longer, flicking a glance at it with a quirk to her lips in what could have been amusement.

On impulse she added sullenly, "perhaps when I go back, I will change the very definition of proper decorum. Instead of balls, we will hold duels. Instead of fancy gowns, clothing that actually makes sense. None of that corset nonsess to hold anyone back." Most of her words were in jest and retort, for in reality she enjoyed a ball every so often as well as a beautiful feminine dress. But there was a twinge of seriousness in her tones as well, as she finally removed the brush and continued her tar painting.

"I enjoy teasing you." She said with a shrug. "Although I would appreciate if you made haste with your drawings, I'm still waiting for our dance." She said boredly. "It will probably be the best activity we could have on this ship."

She walked out in from behind him. "I remember repairing Goldy's ship after a harsh storm, it wasn't the hardest task i had ever done, but it was quite time consuning." She said taking a seat on the desk, her sword hanging off of her belt.

"Hah! that vessel was barely called so, plain sailing and plainly built too. This is a precious hand carved gem, it will take the whole day, the entire crew working hard at it, we might be lucky to be hoisting that dragon head by sunrise if Morgan and Calico work on it together throughout the night. But... such masterpiece indeed takes time, hand carving wood to exact measures and detail takes time when drawn on paper and thrice as much when actually applied to the actual model" informed Rufus with a wide grin squashing her plans for a duel any time soon

---

"Ouch! Watch it, will you, flower pot?! That's hot... I knew you women were good for nothing but honestly, injuring your crew is a sure way to slow down work, captain" hissed and accused Calico the hot tar burning his trouser and blistering his calf